This charming oceanfront community is located on the barrier island directly south of Daytona Beach, and just north of Ponce Inlet. Here oceanfront hotels offer breathtaking views of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and pristine beaches to the east… and gorgeous sunsets over the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. While just a short drive away from all the excitement of Daytona Beach, this beachside retreat offers a welcome escape to travellers looking for relaxation and a little solitude.

Cape Canaveral and the neighboring Kennedy Space Center have become synonymous with space travel in the U.S. The first phases of the U.S. space program were conducted at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, now a historic landmark and home to the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, before operations were moved to Kennedy. In addition to its Space Coast reputation, Canaveral also boasts the historic Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore.

Dolphins frolic in the waves, manatees loll in the canals, and colourful umbrellas confetti the sands of Cocoa Beach. Watching a space launch from Kennedy or Cape Canaveral, or exploring the restaurants and nightlife of cruise ship dock Port Canaveral, adds to the excitement of this barrier island city.

Kissimmee provides the perfect base camp for a date with Mickey. Only a few minutes' drive from the Walt Disney World theme parks, the Florida town is packed with family-friendly activities like mini golf, dinner theatre and ice skating. Get close to nature on an air boat ride through the swamps or pick oranges at a local grove. For a more educational diversion, stroll through the historic downtown or visit the Osceola County Historical Society and Pioneer Museum for a peek into turn-of-the century life.

Clermont is a small city in Florida, west of Orlando. Clermont, which is known as the “gem of the hills,” is surrounded by gently sloping hills in an otherwise flat state. The historic downtown has not changes much in 50 years. Clermont is also home to one of the first constructed landmarks in Florida: the Citrus Tower. When you are settled into Clermont, plan a visit the Citrus Tower. It was built in 1956 on one of the highest hills in the area and serves as a monument to Florida’s citrus industry. It stands 226 feet high and has a glass-enclosed observation deck at the top. You can also visit the Showcase of Citrus to pick your own oranges or take an eco-tour in a giant swamp buggy and enjoy a glimpse into Florida’s past. The entire family will enjoy a perfect day in the citrus groves. When visiting Clermont, be sure to visit Revolution: The Off-Road Experience. It is a unique off-road motor and sports venue perfect for families staying in holiday rentals in the area. You can ride ATVs and dune buggies, water ski, or go bass fishing. In Clermont, you can hike, bike, go boating, or drop your line in a lake and wait for the fish to bite. Play a round of golf on one of the many world-class golf courses in the area. Lakeridge Winery is Florida’s largest premium winery and offers winery tours and wine tastings seven days a week. A visit to the President’s Hall of Fame, with wax figures and White House memorabilia, is a perfect afternoon trip. A short drive away from Clermont, is Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and the bustling city of Orlando.

Dubbed the Queen City, Charlotte reigns over a 300-square-mile (482-square-kilometre) hodgepodge of neighbourhoods that spin out from the banks of the Catawba River. From brewery-heavy art districts to historical corridors dripping in charm, consider Charlotte a crowd pleaser.

From the 27th-floor observation deck of the new Capitol building, you can take in the beauty of this lovely city on the Mississippi, at one time the heart of plantation country. Stately antebellum mansions line the river, some now bed and breakfasts, others offering tours. A visit to the Louisiana State University (LSU) Rural Life Museum will transport you to a 19th-century plantation. The 34-storey Capitol, built in the 1930s by controversial Governor Huey P. Long, and the building in which he was assassinated, contrasts sharply with the Old State Capitol, a Gothic Revival-style castle perched high on a bluff. A college-town atmosphere permeates this friendly city, home to LSU and Southern, the largest African-American university in the USA. You'll find many historic sites, museums and galleries to explore, some on the LSU campus. For the more outward bound, there are great running and hiking trails. The city's unofficial motto is "Let the good times roll", and roll they will as you dine on spicy Cajun food, sample a riverboat casino or gaze out at the mighty Mississippi.

The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sight-seer—everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighbourhood and go deep. You’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars, great delis, quirky shops… exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an incredibly rewarding experience for a traveller.

Artists, farmers, scholars and professionals come together in harmony in beautiful Northampton, where the Connecticut River winds through the wooded hills of the Pioneer Valley. Once home to such diverse notables as U.S. president Calvin Coolidge, abolitionist Sojourner Truth, author Kurt Vonnegut and punk rockers Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, and current home of the all women's Smith College, the city is famed for its arts scene and liberal values, plus a thriving lesbian community.

Antigua has hundreds of beaches, from the bustling Pigeon Point to the kitesurfing paradise of Jabberwock Beach. It's fun to mix it up—a day spent in a secluded cove, another spent people-watching at a tourist magnet. When you’re tired of sun and sand you can shoot ‘em up at Reservoir Range, where archery and air pistols are a fun way to work out any lingering pre-holiday stress. A tour of the Antigua Distillery is a spirited way to experience a true taste of the island.

The city of Sitka, located on Baranof Island along the Alaska Panhandle, was once the capital of Russian America. Nearby Sitka National Historical Park was established to commemorate the Battle of Sitka in 1804, the last major conflict between Europeans and the native Alaskans. The park now helps preserve the culture of the Tlingit people, as well as the Russian and American settlers, with collections of rare artifacts, the preserved remains of the Tlingit fort and a Russian Bishop's House.