What outdoor activity can’t you do here? In the winter, there’s skiing (regular, cross-country, snowcat and heli-), snowshoeing and dogsledding. In summer, there’s fly-fishing, rafting (white-water or scenic) and hot-air balloon rides.

Catapulted to fame for its part in the 1988 Winter Olympics, this former coal-mining town in the Canadian Rockies is a perfect base for visiting some of the country’s most impressive national parks. First stop for most visitors is the ski trails in Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. Contemplate natural wonders at the Museum and Geoscience Centre, and mush through the snow on a sled-dog tour.

Atlantic City draws tourists by the car- and bus-load, topping more than 20 million visitors per year! Stroll along the famous Boardwalk with its numerous amusements and eateries or visit the historic Absecon Lighthouse and the new Wheel at Steel Pier. Several championship golf courses are within a 30 minute drive to attract golf enthusiasts. In summer, the local free beaches are popular with families. Beach bars are peppered throughout the resort and you can dig your toes in the sand and enjoy your favourite cocktails. Water-based activities include parasailing, charter fishing and dolphin-watching cruises. Casino hoppers have 9 establishments to choose from and there is something for everyone's taste. Those who remember Atlantic City in its pre-gambling days can wax nostalgic with a taste of saltwater taffy and iconic rolling chairs which have been Atlantic City favourites for over 100 years.

If watching the sunrise from atop a 10,000-foot volcano, swimming under waterfalls, hiking through craters and luxuriating on white-, red- and even black-sand beaches sounds like paradise, then Maui awaits. Maui is the place to surf and windsurf. Or hop a catamaran to scuba and snorkel on Molokini Island, a crater emerging from the sea that hosts a wealth of marine life. Golf, fine dining, a winery, museums and sipping a mai tai on the beach round out the perfect tropical holiday.

Not the sporting type? You’ll still enjoy a trip to Stowe—just plan on hitting the spa instead of the slopes or the golf course. The area’s big ski resorts offer huge spas with pretty much any treatment you can think of—try all of them and pick your favourite!

Say aloha to tropical breezes, oceanfront luaus and iconic Diamond Head on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island. Follow in the footsteps of surfing forefather Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki Beach, visit the royal quarters of Iolani Palace and tour Pearl Harbor. Sample hot malasadas (local doughnuts) and shaved ice while shopping for vintage floral-print shirts on Honolulu's Kapahulu Avenue. Get off the tourist trail with a hike to Makapuu Lighthouse on the South Shore. You can even learn to hula.

The landscape that inspired Anne of Green Gables entices legions of lovers to Canada’s smallest province. Peaceful P.E.I. is a slow paced haven, full of distinctively Maritime delights. Red sandstone cliffs rise above gentle beaches. Lonely lighthouses dot rocky bluffs. Deserted trails beckon for romantic roaming.

Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography—of course. This is the Caribbean, after all.