In addition to being the most affluent city in the U.S., Plano is home to the headquarters of numerous top companies, making it a popular destination for business travelers to the Dallas area. Its proximity to Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and other Dallas area cities makes it a perfect base for a leisure vacation, as well, with plenty of entertainment within reach, ranging from the Six Flags Over Texas park to Southfork Ranch. Plano's annual Balloon Festival draws visitors from far and wide.

You may have all heard that everything is bigger in Texas. Well, Dallas does its best to fulfill that promise. You'll find several museums with vast art collections and fascinating specialty museums like The Sixth Floor Museum/Texas School Book Depository, which, though small in size, offers an immense amount of information about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. And of course, visit a local steakhouse for a terrific (and enormous) meal.

Conveniently located just next to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Irving is perfectly situated to provide the base for a Dallas area vacation. Many of the country's Fortune 500 companies find their headquarters here. Irving's several museums and heritage parks give visitors a glimpse at the history of the area. Its proximity to Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and other Dallas area cities ensures access to an abundance of nightlife, sporting events, trails, shopping and much more.

Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale.

Sosua is everything you want a beach town to be. Clear waters teem with coral, perfect for snorkeling and diving. Above sea level you’ll find multicolored sands lined with beach shacks. This small enclave of the Dominican Republic was once a haven for Jewish refugees. Historic sites and synagogues offer great perspective on Sosua’s postwar identity. On a lighter note, a community of ex-pats helps fuel a boisterous, international nightlife scene.

Once a mere pineapple patch, the red-dirt island of Lanai is an oasis of calm. Reaching the island is difficult - no direct flights from the mainland - but once you arrive, the tropical surroundings are the ideal backdrop for snorkeling and scuba diving, swimming in Hulopoe Bay (a marine preserve), whale watching, horseback riding, golfing, hiking, four-wheeling and exploring the red spires of the Garden of the Gods. The 1920s-era town is small but quaint, and the locals go out of their way to be friendly.