Desert meets sea in Puerto Penasco, a California Gulf getaway. With its seafood markets, snoozy streets, and sandy beaches, it's easy to see how the port town has retained its traditional charm. There's something for everyone, from nature parks and water sports to upscale resorts.

Located between Austin and San Antonio in Texas Hill Country, San Marcos has numerous attractions, especially for the adventure-seeking visitor. At the center of the city is the San Marcos River, which offers tubing. The nearby Rio Vista Falls has three drops for a great kayaking adventure. Explorers can visit the Wonder World activity center to discover a cave formed by an earthquake.

True to its name, Hot Springs, Arkansas, is renowned for its thermal springs. Hot Springs National Park, and its hiking trails and bathing facilities, is the region’s starring attraction, while the city’s art deco architecture is another big draw for day-trippers from Little Rock.

Savannah is a classic Southern city—mannerly, to be sure, but with a rich and complex history. Stroll historic Savannah and visit places you may remember from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (especially Bonaventure Cemetery)… then enjoy a mint julep on your hotel’s verandah.

What do you bald eagles, migrating whales, coal mining and Alexander Graham Bell have in common? (Besides that your grandfather can probably spout factoids about all of them.) Cape Breton, that's what. With learning opportunities at every turn, the island is an eclectic blend of rich histories. Hear Celtic music in the pubs of the Ceilidh Trail, get a taste of 18th-century military life at Fortess Louisbourg and see what life was like for early Scottish immigrants at the Highland Village Museum in Iona.