Located 4,000 feet up the southern slope of Mt. Hood, Government Camp is an acclaimed destination for winter recreation including the Mt. Hood Skibowl and Timberline Lodge ski resorts. Home to a wide array of mountainside dining, shopping and lodging options, Government Camp also offers year-round opportunities to travel the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway or the historic Barlow Road and follow in the path of pioneers on the Oregon Trail.

With a convenient location off I-5 along the Willamette River and a variety of lodging options, Wilsonville serves as an excellent base for any Oregon trip and has much to offer on its own. The community boasts kid-friendly activities like the World of Speed Museum and the Family Fun Centre, as well as co-op farms like Our Table Cooperative and a vibrant farmers’ market. Wilsonville visitors also enjoy shopping, beautifully landscaped parks and equestrian opportunities.

Elko brings the drama of the high desert to vivid reality with its unspoiled nature, its breathtaking vistas on the rugged beauty of the Ruby Mountains and its rich Western history. Whether hiking the rocky trails, taking a chance at one of the casinos, visiting one of the museums or taking a tour to see firsthand one of the area’s many Gold Rush ghost towns, visitors have no shortage of activities to choose from.

Is there any possible way Las Vegas could not be on our "best nightlife" list? The only way we could possibly omit it is on a technicality—since you can do pretty much anything 24/7 in Vegas, it might be wrong to call it "nightlife."

Despite its name and reputation as a world-class ski resort, Snowmass is not just a one-season Colorado wonder. More than 3,000 acres of terrain parks and halfpipes woo skiers and snowboarders, but 40 miles of hiking and biking trails keep active travelers on the move when the snow melts. The mountain town's boutiques and casual eateries complement the festivals, free music events and rodeo held each summer. When the flakes fall again, a groomed cross-country ski trail links Snowmass to Aspen.

Known primarily as the only place in the USA that manufactures Corvettes and for the large ancient cavern in the centre of the city, Bowling Green has built a thriving tourist business on cars and caves. At the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, visitors can see the step-by-step production of America's favourite sports car. The Corvette Museum includes one-of-a-kind prototypes that were designed but never manufactured, among other Corvette memorabilia. To view stunning creations made by nature, head to the Lost River Valley and Cave. Take the underground boat tour, on the shortest deep river in the world, to see a land formation that is more than 10,000 years old and has been used as shelter by Native Americans and Civil War soldiers. Though Bowling Green never officially left the Union, it's home to a number of historic war landmarks, exquisite old homes and remarkable buildings that can be visited on foot or by car during a leisurely drive through this beautiful part of the country.

Nature lovers unite on this barrier island on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 21 miles south of Charleston. Brimming with lush foliage at every glance, Kiawah Island has ten miles of wide sandy beaches, 123 acres of parks, 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, and world-class golf courses.

To get a true sense of the beauty of Kiawah Island venture to Marsh Island Park where you’ll be rewarded with stunning scenic views atop the Marsh Island Lookout Tower of the Kiawah River, saltwater marshes, and island hammocks. For animal lovers, don’t miss the Heron Park Nature Centre where you can participate in nature tours and programmes, birding walks, butterfly walks, and alligator walks. Bird admirers love the Great Egret Rookery, a spot where you can typically see several dozen of the magnificent white birds in trees over a lagoon. For an exceptional picnic area head to Beachwalker Park, which has a wide boardwalk that winds through palmettos, oaks, and pines. Golf on Kiawah Island is not just any recreation amenity, it’s a way of life. There are five championship courses on the island highlighted by the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course site of the 1991 Ryder Cup matches and 2007 Senior PGA Championship. In 2012, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship. Other courses to play include the Jack Nicklaus designed Turtle Point and Gary Player designed Cougar Point courses.