The unique and ubiquitous island of Tahiti is world-renowned for its Polynesian charm, colorful culture and romantic ambiance. The grass-skirted hip shaking of Tahitian dance is sure to get your toes tapping and heart thumping—let the celebratory vibe of this magical locale rejuvenate and excite you to the core. Warm-water lagoons and crystalline ocean tides are host to a rainbow’s worth of colorful marine life, and the food, drink, spas and dramatic nightlife provide an experience to stimulate all the senses.

Sure, it’s a bit rainy here. But a lush tropical paradise needs water—otherwise you wouldn’t see such brilliant flowers everywhere. The black-sand beaches provide contrast to the riot of color everywhere else. Nature-lovers can see many of Fiji’s indigenous species, especially in Bouma National Heritage Park (where you should also stop at Bouma Falls).

Originally planned as a barony of the young Prince Albert, who would never live to see its fruition, the present resort community of Princeville is nothing less than regal with its emerald cliffs overlooking magnificent Hanalei Bay. Two championship golf courses offer challenging fairways and unsurpassed views over the ocean. The coastline is a magical mixture of natural beauty and careful landscaping, with pristine beaches, lush vegetation, crystalline waterfalls and sapphire waters.

Goleta, home to University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the Santa Barbara Airport, hugs the coast 12 miles west of Santa Barbara. First called "The Good Land" by the Spanish, Goleta was once known for its rich agriculture, and smaller scale farms still pepper the landscape. The California Lemon Festival at Girsh Park is a must-see every October. Visitors seeking outdoor adventure can fish off Goleta Pier, surf at Campus Point and hike along bluffs overlooking untrammeled coastline.

Part unspoiled nature, part manmade wonder and part luxury paradise, Newport Beach enchants every type of traveler to its glowing shores. Trendsetters flock to the shopping havens of open air Fashion Island, the seaside shops of Corona Del Mar and the new developments on Newport Coast. The estuary on Back Bay is a birder's paradise, while the protected beach at Crystal Cove is favored by hikers. Surfers catch the best breaks on The Wedge while families enjoy the Fun Zone on Balboa Peninsula.

About an hour south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach has a spectacular clifftop setting above some of the finest beaches in California. Outdoor enthusiasts can snorkel, scuba dive, body-surf, or hike the trails in nearby Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. A center for artists, there are a number of special events and festivals,such as the Sawdust Art Festival, Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, Art-A-Fair and Plein Air Painting Invitational. The Laguna Art Museum focuses on California artists. Window shoppers and collectors will enjoy strolling the village’s quaint streets, as well as visiting galleries spotted along Pacific Coast Highway.

In Sonoma, you can go wine-tasting… or cheese-tasting… or olive oil-tasting… or just let the chefs of the area’s renowned restaurants put everything together for you. Then burn off some of that good food and wine by hiking or biking through redwood forests.

Here’s your day in Calistoga: Yoga. Massage. Spa lunch. Hike. Wine-tasting. Facial. Mud bath. Gourmet dinner (with more wine). Dip in a mineral pool. Does it get more relaxing than a spa town built around natural springs in the middle of wine country? We don't think so.