Yes, Cape May is, technically, on the Jersey Shore. But it’s the antithesis of the Jersey Shore you’ll see on TV—instead of nightclubs and tanning parlors, you’ll find Victorian mansions and a famous lighthouse.

There's a variety of water sports in Redding, from whitewater rafting on the Sacramento River to waterskiing, swimming, fishing and sailing on Shasta Lake, one of four magnificent artificial lakes in this northeastern California town. When you're ready to dry off, there are also plenty of land-based activities, such as camping or hiking in the national forests and parks, following walking trails through the 220-acre arboretum or spending time exploring two fascinating parks: Shasta State Historic Park and Turtle Bay Exploration Park. At Shasta State, you'll find the ghost town of Shasta City from the Gold Rush days, complete with restored stagecoach, barn and courthouse, with eerie reminders of where prisoners were kept and sometimes hanged. The ever-expanding 300-acre Turtle Bay Park houses the recently opened Turtle Bay Museum, with extraordinary hands-on exhibits focusing on the environment and an outstanding collection of American Indian baskets. Children will love the park's Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, which includes a playground, logging and ecology exhibits and the popular summer butterfly house, where the fragile winged creatures flit about and alight on welcoming visitors.