Located along the Willamette River and its namesake lake, the city of Lake Oswego has a beautiful downtown area featuring riverfront parks, boutique shopping and specialty dining including a European-style farmers market open from May – October. Lake Oswego also offers visitors an active arts scene: Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the outdoor “Gallery Without Walls,” or attend the annual Festival of the Arts in June.

Steeped in history, Vancouver is the oldest city in Washington. Once the largest western outpost of the British Hudson's Bay Company, where supplies and food were bartered in the 1800s, it was closed in 1860 as Americans took over commerce. The outpost was later recreated as the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. For more history, check out the Pearson Air Field, the oldest operating airfield in the West, where vintage aircraft are displayed at the Pearson Air Museum. If adventure is your bag, Vancouver is the perfect base for day trips to the Columbia River Gorge, the breathtakingly beautiful 70-mile river stretch that cuts through the Cascade Mountains, or Mount St. Helens, the site of the famous volcano, both of which offer a slew of outdoor activities. For calmer pastimes, cruise the picturesque river in the Columbia Gorge riverboat, or visit Beacon Rock, the world's second largest monolith, where a walking trail leads to spectacular panoramic views.

Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory offers visitors an incredible range of experiences that reflect the diversity of the landscape, from the Willamette Valley’s wineries, flower farms and farm-to-table dining to the iconic 11,250-foot peak of Mt. Hood itself. Adventurers can enjoy skiing and snowboarding all winter long, as well as hiking and mountain biking in warmer months. Cities near Portland also offer a wide selection of craft breweries, tax-free shopping, and a thriving arts scene.

Hood River beckons travelers with the scent of orchard blooms and the promise of adventure on the rushing waters of the Columbia River. The winds through the Columbia River Gorge provide the perfect conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing, making the city a hotspot for those sports in recent years. The surrounding area is ripe with orchards growing cherries, apples, peaches and other sweets. Take the Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad through the orchard route and take in the views of Mt. Hood.

With the distinctive Haystack Rock and Needles marking its shoreline, Cannon Beach is one of Oregon's quaintest and most picturesque destinations. Nine miles of beach make a perfect setting for strolling along the seaside, watching diverse wildlife in its natural habitat and building a sand castle in the annual sand castle building contest. With strict regulations in place limiting the infiltration of large chain stores or restaurants, Cannon Beach retains its small town charm.

Historic Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, first established as a fur trading post before it expanded to become the bustling port city it is today. Its storied past is documented in numerous museums, from the Columbia River Maritime Museum with its collection of nautical relics to the Uppertown Firefighters Museum, whose collections of firefighting memorabilia is complimented by the interactive Children's Museum on the second floor.

Whether you’re a high roller or a low-key lounger, Las Vegas has something to suit your vacation taste. Sample fare from top chefs and cornucopian buffets, try your luck at one of the world’s premier casinos, or take in a spectacular show. Just wandering the Strip is enough to get your heart pumping. Once you’ve had enough of the razzle-dazzle, wave hello to the toothy sea life at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, hike Red Rock Canyon, or visit the Neon Museum, where old signs take on new life.

Sunny Cancun has much more to offer than its party-town reputation might suggest. Plenty of gorgeous, drama-free family resorts cater to folks who want to experience the tropical Yucatan climate. There are significant Mayan ruins here, such as El Rey and the Yamil Lu’um, a crumbling tower of pale gray stone. Learn more about this ancient civilization at the Museo Maya de Cancun. For a literal taste of Mexico, take a tour of the Museo Sensorial del Tequila.