Enjoy an old-fashioned beach holiday, 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 favourite of gay and lesbian travellers. 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.

Yes, Cape May is, technically, on the Jersey Shore. But it’s the antithesis of the Jersey Shore you’ll see on TV—instead of nightclubs and tanning parlors, you’ll find Victorian mansions and a famous lighthouse.

Calling itself "The Heart & Soul of the Chesapeake Bay," the town of Saint Michaels, Maryland retains the look and feel of a 19th century seaport. Walk on red brick sidewalks past the Victorian homes and boutique shops of the historic district, or head down to the pier in search of famously fresh seafood. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum preserves the history of Saint Michaels, with restored examples of "bugeyes" and "skipjacks," unique boats developed by the fisherman of Chesapeake Bay.

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.

Miles of white sand and romantic island resorts beckon from the hem of the Palmetto State. Families gravitate to Myrtle Beach and the 60- mile span of Grand Strand, where over 100 championship golf courses, tennis courts and nightclubs await. Charleston's hundreds of heritage buildings and irresistible charm are part of its allure. Beach resorts at Kiawah Island, Seabrook and Edisto Island make for romantic getaways. Marshes, moss-bearded palms and oak groves create a haunting atmosphere in the Lowcountry.

Florida's Southwest Gulf Coast contains a constellation of enticing coastal gems. Stunning beaches, including Fort Myers Beach, Tigertail Beach and Pensacola Beach, fringe the Gulf, down the I-75 from Tampa to Naples. Sanibel Island's shells attracts thousands. Cape Coral's waters are paradise for fly-fishing. Golfers adore spectacular courses in Marco Island and Naples. Glorious sunny days and deliciously warm turquoise waters beckon in this often overlooked corner of the Sunshine State.

Eugene is a great city for the arts and outdoors. You can shop from a variety of local artisans, get lost in a museum or dive into the thriving culinary scene. Visit craft breweries and artisan wineries while winning prizes with the Eugene Ale Trail and Pinot Bingo programs. Known as Track Town USA, Eugene is home to track and field year-round; in the fall, it’s a college football hub. There are scenic bike rides and urban hikes to fit visitors of all abilities in all seasons.

The “little nest” of Kenmare is part of the famed Ring of Kerry, making it a prime stop for a spot of lunch and a pint. But before you go on your merry way, check out the area’s Bronze Age stone circle, one of the largest in southwest Ireland. The peaceful glens and streams of Gleninchaquin make a wonderful backdrop for a picnic, which you can work off on a walk along the Kenmare section of the Beara Way.

Highland Perthshire places some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery within easy reach of both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and Pitlochry is the most geared-up base from which to enjoy it. It’s been a bustling mountain resort since the railways arrived in 1863, and these days manages to be both a cozy favourite for tourists who enjoy browsing in its woolen mills and taking in the repertory of plays at its famous Festival Theatre, and a magnet for adrenalin junkies in search of bungee jumping, canyoning, tubing and white water rafting adventures. Visitors of any age will be intrigued by the Pictish carvings on the huge Dunfallandy stone at nearby Ballinluig and, after a bracing mountain walk or visit to the famous salmon ladder, adults can enjoy a warming dram of malt whiskey after a tour at one of the two local distilleries, Edradour and Blair Athol.

A rare year-round resort on the Island of Winds, Alghero makes an atmospheric destination. Occupying armies have all left their marks on the old, walled city; Italian kingdoms, Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs and Catalans have all come and gone. Offering an irresistible combination of history, architecture, culture, stylish shopping, fine food and wine, and water sports, Alghero's cobblestone streets can be explored on foot or by bus. Don't miss spectacular sea cave, Neptune's Grotto.

Nearly crossing northern Italy from the Adriatic Sea westward, Emilia-Romagna gets its name from Via Emilia, the Rimini-to-Piacenza ancient Roman road it straddles. With a rich mix of age-old agriculture and modern industry, the region is home to many historic and cultural gems, both in its larger towns like Bologna, Modena and Ravenna, as well as in its many small hilltop villages. Of course, the region’s best offerings also include native culinary wonders like parmigiano cheese and tortellini.

The picturesque lakeside town of Zell am See offers about 80 miles of local slopes, with beginner, intermediate and advanced runs all well represented. One hundred and twenty-five miles of cross-country trails offer gorgeous panoramic views. The neighbouring town of Kaprun is famed for its glacier skiing.