Halfway between San Francisco and L.A., San Luis Obispo can be a relaxing getaway or a buzz of activity. For serenity, pack a lunch and head to one of dozens of wineries or take a drive to the beach for a leisurely swim. For a dose of history, visit the heart of the city at the beautiful Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Kids will love the Children’s Museum or Skate Park. Be sure to stroll along the creek downtown, where there are breweries, wine bars, restaurants and shopping for all tastes.

Monterey offers a host of historic attractions from Cannery Row to the famed Monterey Aquarium. This incredible sliver of oceanfront offers an amazing bounty of things to do, with marine, floral and vine-fresh delights to savor. Monterey-Salinas Transit and Amtrak let you take your eyes off the road. Charming towns, world-class golf courses and idyllic inns lie at the hem of the glittering Pacific. Whether you're looking for calm or noisy beachside fun, the Monterey Peninsula has it in buckets.

Enjoy an old-fashioned beach vacation, complete with a boardwalk, at one of Delaware's most popular resort towns. Long a traditional summer getaway for families, Rehoboth Beach is now also a favorite of gay and lesbian travelers. Serious golfers will want to test their skills at the Kings Creek Country Club, while Old Landing Golf Course offers great views of the local scenery. Along with enjoying the famous beach and strolling the boardwalk, there's also a nearby amusement park called Funland to check out.

Entertainment can be experienced in a variety of ways in Santiago de Cuba.  Your ears may find comfort in the Casa de Las Tradiciones, a venue of the Trivoli neighborhood where Cuba's finest musicians gather for improvisation;  your mouth, in Paladar Salon Tropical, where mainstays of the national cuisine arrive in generous portions; your eyes, in the Jardin de Los Helechos, home to a floral explosion of 90 types of orchids and 350 types of ferns.The gentile Tivolí district, some of Santiago de Cuba's most exciting ensembles, singers and soloists take turns improvising. Friday nights are reserved for straight-up, classic trova, à la Ñico Saquito and the like.

Located on Puerto Rico’s north coast, Dorado is a resort town of relatively recent vintage. You’ll find luxury hotels and several championship golf courses. Of course, if you’re used to your local, scruffy public course, your score might suffer—gorgeous ocean views can be quite a distraction.