Southampton, New York, on the east end of Long Island, shines in the summer. Sandy beaches and celebrities make this the place to be. The rest of the year, enjoy the museums, luxury shopping and fine dining. Visit farms and wineries nearby.

The home to Yale University since 1701, the city of New Haven is packed with an unrivaled collection of arts and antiquities, with collections ranging from natural history specimens to antique musical instruments. The towering translucent marble cube of the Beinecke Library contains 600,000 rare volumes, including one of the only surviving Gutenberg Bibles. The Yale University Art Gallery is as famous for its collection as it is for its building, a Modernist masterpiece designed by Louis Kahn.

Greater Palm Springs is an oasis for art, culture, adventure and relaxation. Take in the views from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, before exploring exhibits at the Palm Springs Art Museum and its Architecture & Design Centre. Visit the Empire Polo Club, home of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Dozens of spas in Desert Hot Springs let you soak in the healing mineral waters that flow beneath the city.

Lefkada's name means "white," from the famous white cliffs of Cape Lefkata, site of an ancient temple of Apollo, where rumor has it that the celebrated Lesbian poet Sappho flung herself from the rocks. To stay with the mythology theme, don’t miss a boat tour on the mighty Odysseia, a colorful replica of a Greek war ship. You can also explore deserted monasteries in the mountains, splash around under the Nidri waterfalls and swim at some of Greece's most famous and beautiful beaches.