Flanked by lakes, mountains and intriguing rock formations, Grand Junction offers a different side of Colorado. Mild weather year-round creates an agricultural oasis for 22 different wineries. Mountain bike along winding desert trails, wine and dine next to majestic rivers, and peruse a variety of shops, galleries and boutiques. For breathtaking natural beauty, don’t miss Grand Mesa National Forest and Colorado National Monument’s 23-mile stretch of scenic overlooks.

Get a blast of the past in this western Kansas state capital, which was founded in 1854 by a group of anti-slavery activists and later played a key role in the civil-rights movement. Visit the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site, which celebrates those involved in the 1954 Supreme Court decision that deemed segregated schools unconstitutional. Continue your back-in-time travel at Ward Meade Park, which features an early 1900s town, Victorian mansion, one-room schoolhouse and log cabins. View aircraft dating from World War I at the Combat Air Museum, and visit Cedar Crest, the historic Governor's home, overlooking the Kansas River. Topeka is known for its world-class motor-racing site, Heartland Park Topeka, with its record-breaking quarter-mile drag strip. The city also has its share of cultural attractions in the form of numerous art galleries, live theatre and local symphony and opera companies. For a great family outing, head over to the Topeka Zoological Park for a visit to the tropical rainforest, naturalistic bear dwelling and the children's petting zoo, featuring llamas and sheep.

Named after Abraham Lincoln, this state capital is a great place for children, history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts. Soak in the panoramic view of the city from the observation tower of the 400-foot-high capitol building. The white stone Art Deco spire can be seen from miles around. Then take a tour of the building and its grounds, where you'll find a Lincoln monument created by the same artist who sculpted the famous Lincoln statue in Washington, DC. While you're on a history roll, visit the Governor's Mansion, whose Georgian Colonial exterior belies the varied architectural styles inside, and make sure and see the collection of dolls representing the state's first ladies dressed in their inaugural gowns. Kids will love the Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens, where they can circle the zoo in a miniature train and see over 300 animals living among spectacular gardens. For some outdoor fun, head to one of the city's beautiful parks, the largest of which is Wilderness Park. The hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails will keep you on the move for hours.

Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, majestic mountains, rushing rivers, rolling foothills and dramatic landscapes, Ashland is a gorgeous little city with an arts scene as vibrant as its setting. Ashland hosts festivals for all seasons, with Christmas celebrations and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in winter, a film festival in the spring, classical music festival in summer and wine tasting celebrations in the autumn.

Seattle's petite downtown area and many attractions make it possible to pack a week’s experience into a weekend. Grab a latte and start at the world-famous Pike Place Market. Watch the fish fly and then head to the Space Needle for a dramatic view of the city and its surrounding waters. Return to earth and jump aboard a moonlit dinner cruise to Blake Island or canoe through the arbouretum.

Culture-seekers will be charmed be La Isla's heritage and history, from Old San Juan's charms to folk art and festivals in the outlying towns. You can drive round Puerto Rico in a day, but take your time. Coffee plantations, colonial towns, beaches, bars and restaurants wait to be explored. Old San Juan, with famed Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, is an atmospheric place to wander. Experience life at a different pace by rainforest hiking, scuba diving or swimming Vieques' glowing bioluminescent lagoon.