On the eastern coast of Texas, Rockport is a relaxing town with plenty of visitor attractions. The Fulton Mansion, overlooking Aransas Bay, showcases Second Empire architecture and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Also visit the Texas Maritime Museum, the Rockport Center for the Arts and Rockport Beach Park, a great place for swimming or fishing.

The quaint feel of Anna Maria Island makes it the perfect place to eat grouper sandwiches and kayak with dolphins. While you’re here visit Bean Point Beach, tucked away on the north end of the island — a cozy paradise with an Old Florida vibe. Then hop on over to Anna Maria Bayfront Park, which includes sweeping views of Tampa Bay and the iconic Sunshine Skyway. Numerous beaches, restaurants and events make Anna Maria Island the perfect relaxation spot for your next holiday.

Astounding natural wonders, invigorating outdoor recreation and fascinating cultural attractions make Flagstaff the perfect getaway to rejuvenate the body and replenish the mind. Set at the base of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks, and surrounded by lush national forests, the city provides ample opportunity for fresh air fun. Spring, summer and fall bring hikers, campers and mountain bikers, while winter draws skiers and ice skaters. But don't let a focus on the "good old outdoors" fool you. Fostered by the local university, Flagstaff is also chock-full of educational and cultural attractions. Be sure to see the award-winning permanent exhibit "Native Peoples of the Colorado Plateau" at the Museum of Northern Arizona. The Pioneer Museum offers a glimpse of what life was like for the early settlers of the region and includes a 1929 Baldwin locomotive in its collection. The city also has an arboretum and a planetarium. The entire area is a living anthropology and geology lesson, with ancient Native American ruins and stunning scenery at the Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments, just waiting to be explored.

Located in the sunny Coachella Valley area of California, Rancho Mirage offers the perfect place to enjoy nearby Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Cathedral City, but it’s also a fabulous destination in its own right. With four courses in Rancho Mirage, not counting the surrounding areas, we guarantee you’ll find something you like. Like the late Bob Hope in days gone by, you’ll love teeing up among the palms! Rancho Las Palmas Country Club and Spa features three nine-hole courses designed by Ted Robinson. The Rancho Mirage Country Club has a PGA clubhouse, views of the San Jacinto Mountains as well as first-class driving ranges and practice facilities. Or put your clubs at the condo for the day and attend one of the many pro-golf tournaments in the area, including the ANA Inspiration. Rancho Mirage welcomes families in a big way! You and your children can explore the abundance of activities for all ages. Try the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert or Joshua Tree National Park. At the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens, get up close and personal with desert animals from North America and Africa of every shape and size. Book a tour or explore the grounds on your own time table. Ride a camel, see an eagle and pet a turtle.

Guardalavaca, a coastal paradise on Cuba's northern shore, promises an array of adventures for tourists of all stripes.  You can tranquilly explore the countryside on horseback, take a speedboat across the Bahia de Naranjo to the Dolphinarium, or spend a full day on the Beautiful Bariay Jeep Tour, which includes a trip to a local village where you'll visit a doctor's house, a school, and a ration shop. 

Nevada's "other" gambling and resort town, Reno is located in the western part of the state near the California border. What the city lacks in glitz or reputation it more than makes up for in attractions and amenities. There are first-rate hotels, golf courses and casinos to rival its southern counterpart and, also like Las Vegas, Reno has become a popular destination for families. Galena Creek Park offers nature trails that even young children can navigate, plus organised educational events for families.

It’s no wonder Napa made three of our lists this year… it might just be the world’s most perfect spot for a weekend getaway. What more do you really need than romantic inns, great food and wine, and relaxing spas?

Lush and luxuriant, the exotic tropical island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is a romantic paradise. St Kitts' wonderful beaches remain relatively crowd-free, and nature lovers delight in seeing lava formations, tropical forest and lagoons and underwater marvels while snorkelling or diving. Among more than 200 historical sites, former plantation homes now offer elegant accommodation. Eco-rambles, bio-tours and climbing are Nevis attractions. Hire cars or mopeds on-island and catch ferries between the two.

An hour or two south of Recife, Porto de Galinhas was made for the not-so-extreme tourist. Raves one traveller, "It's what it doesn't have that makes it great:" no heavy traffic, no nightlife to speak of. Explore the natural tidal pools that form in the reef, feeding fish that swim all around you; or ride a dune buggy to romantic Muro Alto beach. Or skip all that and doze in a hammock by the warm, green, clear Atlantic.