Say aloha to tropical breezes, oceanfront luaus and iconic Diamond Head on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island. Follow in the footsteps of surfing forefather Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki Beach, visit the royal quarters of Iolani Palace and tour Pearl Harbor. Sample hot malasadas (local doughnuts) and shaved ice while shopping for vintage floral-print shirts on Honolulu's Kapahulu Avenue. Get off the tourist trail with a hike to Makapuu Lighthouse on the South Shore. You can even learn to hula.

Kapolei, named for the volcanic cone Pu'u o Kapolei (loosely meaning "hill of beloved Kapo"), is locally known as Oahu's "second city" after Honolulu. Built on former sugarcane and pineapple plantations, Kapolei is an affluent and vibrant city that is growing rapidly. It has an ever-changing urban scene as well as the Ko Olina resort and marina community and the Disney Aulani Resort. Sportsmen can play a round of golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club before a sophisticated evening on the town. 

Once a mere pineapple patch, the red-dirt island of Lanai is an oasis of calm. Reaching the island is difficult - no direct flights from the mainland - but once you arrive, the tropical surroundings are the ideal backdrop for snorkelling and scuba diving, swimming in Hulopoe Bay (a marine preserve), whale watching, horseback riding, golfing, hiking, four-wheeling and exploring the red spires of the Garden of the Gods. The 1920s-era town is small but quaint, and the locals go out of their way to be friendly.

Northwest of Tahoe City, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics still seduces ski fanatics to its slopes. Squaw Valley's impressive stats--34 lifts, 6 great peaks, 4000-acres of world-class terrain—give winter visitors a major high. High Camp's Olympic Museum provides skiers sights to aspire to.

About an hour south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach has a spectacular clifftop setting above some of the finest beaches in California. Outdoor enthusiasts can snorkel, scuba dive, body-surf, or hike the trails in nearby Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. A centre for artists, there are a number of special events and festivals,such as the Sawdust Art Festival, Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, Art-A-Fair and Plein Air Painting Invitational. The Laguna Art Museum focuses on California artists. Window shoppers and collectors will enjoy strolling the village’s quaint streets, as well as visiting galleries spotted along Pacific Coast Highway.

Prospectors discovered gold when they founded Breckenridge in 1859. Today, this historic mining town is fostering a whole new set of riches: world-class skiing, an expansive trail network, festivals and events, a vibrant Main Street and plenty of ways to unwind. In Breckenridge, all four seasons are packed with the best of the outdoors, the indoors, and everything in between.