California’s desert regions fascinate visitors with the unexpected. Vast expanses, wide salt flats and ghost towns are on full display in In the quintessential desert at Death Valley National Park. Visit Joshua Tree National Park to see both the Mojave and Colorado desert landscapes, where wildflower blooms offer a spectacular sight every spring. Don’t miss the sculpture gardens and hiking trails of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Far from the north coast resort towns, Kingston is Jamaica at its most authentic, a sprawling city of contrasts spread between the east coast and the Blue Mountains. Kingston's diversity is reflected in its disparate neighborhoods, from the wealthy northern suburbs to the less affluent downtown. Travelers can discover the spirit of One Love at the Bob Marley Museum, or sample delicious ice cream at Devon House. Nearby, the former capital of Spanish Town offers insight into the area's history.

The small, friendly town of Taganga attracts budding SCUBA divers who want to get their PADI certification on the cheap. It can also serve as a base for visits to the Lost City and and Tayrona National Nature Park. If you go, take cash—there’s only one ATM!

Santiago de Leon de Caracas, Venezuela's capital, sits in Cerro Avila Valley, where mountain ranges soar 8000 feet from the Caribbean. Once inhabited by Toromaimo Indians, the city was founded by the Spanish in 1567. Chacao is the see-and-be-seen place to eat, drink and socialize, but restaurant destination Las Mercedes is one of the few places safe to walk around. Iglesia de San Francisco is a beautiful example of colonial architecture. Mountainous Parque Nacional El Avila teems with tempting trails.