Consistently rated as one of the top places to live in America by Money Magazine, Naperville is a family-friendly suburb. Take a walk downtown along the Riverwalk and dine at one of Naperville's many great restaurants or learn about the history of the city at Naper Settlement.

Don those cowboy boots and journey back to the Wild, Wild West in this frontier city, tamed, of course, but with the western spirit alive and kicking. If your weekend getaway to Wyoming's capital and largest city starts on Friday, take the whole family to the Friday night rodeo to get into the spirit of things. In keeping with the cowboy frame of mind, saddle up and go for a tour on the Outlaw Trail, the very same route used by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, among other notorious outlaws, to evade the authorities. Or visit the Terry Bison Ranch, where you can hop on a horse or horse-drawn wagon, tour the winery and see the several thousand bison that live here. History buffs will enjoy the inviting Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, which houses one of the best western horse-drawn wagon collections in the USA. For a political perspective, visit the Corinthian-style Capitol building or the Historic Governor's Mansion. There are plenty of family-oriented attractions, but if the children want something all their own, take them to the IKON Center for arcade games, laser tag and more. Whether it's rodeos, golf, parks, national forests, museums or symphonies, there's no shortage of options here to fill a fantastic weekend.

Is there any possible way Las Vegas could not be on our "best nightlife" list? The only way we could possibly omit it is on a technicality—since you can do pretty much anything 24/7 in Vegas, it might be wrong to call it "nightlife."

California's capital city is often overlooked by tourists seeking out better known destinations in other corners of the state. Look again: Sacramento offers a range of exciting, educational and historic attractions sure to entertain all. Families will want to check out the cheetahs, jaguars and crocodiles at the Zoo while political buffs should head to the state Capitol, which features a park and museum on California history, or the Governor's Mansion. Anyone with an interest in trains will enjoy the Railroad Museum's massive collection of antique locomotives. Everyone will enjoy the restaurants and shops of historic Old Sacramento on the city's lovely waterfront.

Ecologically diverse and sparsely populated, the Big Island of Hawaii is larger than all the other better-known Hawaiian islands combined. Rental cars allow visitors to discover wonders from snow-capped mountains to rainforests to deserts. Best known for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to the longest volcanic eruption in recorded history, the Big Island caters both to those who crave adventure and to those looking for luxury, with the flotilla of decadent mega-resorts dotted along Kohala Coast.

Amsterdam is truly a biker’s city, although pedaling along the labyrinthine streets can get a little chaotic. Stick to walking and you won’t be disappointed. The gentle canals make a perfect backdrop for exploring the Jordaan and Rembrandtplein square. Pop into the Red Light District if you must—if only so you can say you’ve been there. The Anne Frank House is one of the most moving experiences a traveller can have, and the Van Gogh Museum boasts a sensational collection of works.

Many people travel through Frankfurt for business, as it's a major transportation hub and an industrial and financial metropolis. Of course we know that business travellers hate to have any fun on the road (wink), but it's worth lingering in Frankfurt if you can. The 2,000-year-old city has much to offer: skyscrapers, the Main River, a famous opera house, thriving theatre district, zoo, pedestrian shopping street, parks, scores of bars and dance clubs, and more than 50 museums.