Tampa is a laid-back city with a vibrant arts scene and plenty of opportunities for adventure. Busch Gardens offers thrills for families and risk-averse adrenaline junkies, as does the domed IMAX theater of the Museum of Science and Industry. Spend a day touring Tampa’s many art museums, then cheer on your favorite Tampa Bay team at a home game. Get up close and personal with the majestic lions, tigers, and leopards of the Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary.

Windswept beaches, sand dunes, blinking lighthouses and a charming pace of life await on this 50-square mile island. The world's former top whaling port is now designated a National Historic District. Leave the car and take the shuttle or bike around. Seaside cottages, old whaling captains' mansions and historic harbors contain quaint inns, boutique stores, chowder shacks and upscale dining delights. Swim, surf or load up the tackle for Nantucket's excellent striper, bluefish and bonito fishing.

Known as the home of “the happiest place on Earth,” there’s more to Anaheim than thrilling theme parks. Bring your appetite to the Anaheim Packing District and Center Street Promenade for some eclectic eateries and award-winning craft breweries. Explore the latest exhibits at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center. Enjoy live music at the all-new House of Blues, now at the Anaheim GardenWalk.

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.

The "Mother of Cities" was founded in 1537, and declared independence from Spain in 1811. The charming historic section can be explored on foot. The friendly Paraguayan capital, gateway to the grassy Gran Chaco region, has long been a center of music, poetry and the arts, but only in recent years has Asunción been able to escape its long history of dictatorship rule. Sites to visit include Panteon Nacional de los Heroes, Casa de la Independencia and Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Asuncion.