Just 12 miles southeast of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria (called “Carp” by locals) is a charming, coastal community with a pedestrian-friendly main street (Linden Avenue), mom-and-pop shops, gourmet cafés and antique stores. The pavement leads to Carpinteria’s sparkling beaches, including Carpinteria State Beach, dubbed “the world’s safest beach.” Beyond the shoreline, Carpinteria’s foothills and verdant mountains are peppered with flower nurseries, polo fields, avocado orchards and horse ranches.

Nestled between the shrub-covered slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the clear blue shores of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is California at its best. Mission Santa Barbara is an example of 18th-century religious architecture, boasting beautiful grounds and a wonderfully detailed interior. Work up an appetite with a walk through Shoreline Park, then dine above the water on Stearns Wharf. Fig trees, parks, waterfalls, and botanical gardens round out Santa Barbara’s natural beauty.

Everything about Santa Monica sizzles, from hundreds of funky shops and restaurants to more than three miles of white sandy beach, to the multitude of celebrities zipping into the local airport and out on Montana Avenue. The subject of popular songs, movies and television shows ("Baywatch" was one of many filmed here), the city has a vibe like no other. Hollywood haute couture meets surfer chic meets hippie casual, and somehow it all works. A word of advice: ditch the car and walk everywhere. Santa Monica is small and prides itself on being pedestrian- and environmentally friendly. You won't need wheels at the auto-free Third Street Promenade, a stroller's paradise known for its multitude of cinemas, restaurants and street performers. Or at the famous and historic Santa Monica Pier, home to tempting smells from fast-food stalls and the solar-powered, nine-storey high Ferris wheel that has long been a symbol of the city. If your feet start to fail, hop on the electrically powered Tide Shuttle, a bus service that runs along the beach offering great views plus a ride to the artsy Bergamot Station and the Santa Monica Museum of Art, or your next spirited Santa Monica destination.

Developed as a shopping district in the 1970s, Beverly Hills' high end Rodeo Drive is a ritzy throwback to the halcyon days of Main Street shopping. Celebrities stalk the sidewalks, big name bags in hand. More than 60 elite clothing and jewellery stores line this main affluent shopping artery.

Frequented by A-listers and ranked as one of Los Angeles’ trendiest enclaves, West Hollywood is known for its nightlife, upscale shopping areas, destination restaurants, and live-entertainment venues. The area's famed thoroughfares include Sunset Strip and Melrose Avenue.

Burbank, which is home to Bob Hope Airport (formerly known as the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport), is close to Universal Studios, downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and other popular LA destinations. Visitors to the city can take a backstage tour at NBC or Warner Bros studios, shop and dine in Burbank’s charming city centre and attend an outdoor concert at the Starlight Bowl. Also of interest is the Gordon Howard Museum, a historical collection of aviation and vintage-car displays.

Greenville, South Carolina, is a welcoming place to shop, dine, see historic homes and watch minor-league sports. The city is also home to significant art collections and a vibrant performing-arts scene. Families can enjoy child-friendly activities such as searching for nine bronze mice scattered around the city, visiting the Greenville Zoo, relaxing in the many outdoor spaces and enjoying numerous annual festivals. State parks and Revolutionary and Civil War sites are a short drive away.

El Salvador's capital, San Salvador, is a modern city of wide boulevards and narrow streets, outdoor markets, government buildings, high-rises, monuments, an exuberant nightlife, museums and other cultural institutions. And all set against the backdrop of San Salvador volcano. The city is surrounded by shantytowns as well as affluent suburbs with restaurants and large shopping malls. Peaceful settings such as the botanic garden of Parque Cuscutlan provide a break from the city's hectic pace.