Most holiday spots are either relaxing (Tahiti) or family-friendly (Orlando). Sanibel Island, however, is that rare place which is both. Spend a quiet afternoon shell-collecting, or find a hotel with a kids' programme so you can enjoy a trip to the spa or a round of golf.

Wild horses can actually drag you away…to Chincoteague Island. Here, ponies run wild, you can catch or dig up your own seafood, and the beaches bring literal breaths of fresh air. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderfully unspoiled spot for bird watching, horseback riding, swimming and biking. Every summer since 1925, all of the feral ponies on Assateague are rounded up for the world-famous annual Pony Swim over to Chincoteague.