Families with kids of all ages will love this mountain village, located just two hours from Panama City. Whether you’re up for active sports such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and ziplining through the rainforest—or sightseeing adventures such as the El Nispero Zoo and Serpentario (a snake habitat), you’ll find it here. El Valle de Antón is home to the world’s second-largest extinct volcano—but you’ll still find more modern pleasures here, such as its well-known Sunday Market and elegant spas such as Casa de Lourdes.

A tiny village with two miles of pure white sand and fabulous conditions for swimming, Uvita might become your favorite place in Costa Rica. It's part of the Marino Ballena National Park (Whale Marine Park), named for humpback whales who meet and mate here every winter and spring. Take a boat ride to Caño Island, a nature reserve with incredible marine life.

Charleston is known for great food (you won’t find better grits on the planet) and colourful history. But why do travellers return year after year? We’ll blame the genuine Southern hospitality this city extends to each and every visitor.

Wild horses can actually drag you away…to Chincoteague Island. Here, ponies run wild, you can catch or dig up your own seafood, and the beaches bring literal breaths of fresh air. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderfully unspoiled spot for bird watching, horseback riding, swimming and biking. Every summer since 1925, all of the feral ponies on Assateague are rounded up for the world-famous annual Pony Swim over to Chincoteague.

The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sight-seer—everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighbourhood and go deep. You’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars, great delis, quirky shops… exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an incredibly rewarding experience for a traveller.

Despite its name and reputation as a world-class ski resort, Snowmass is not just a one-season Colorado wonder. More than 3,000 acres of terrain parks and halfpipes woo skiers and snowboarders, but 40 miles of hiking and biking trails keep active travelers on the move when the snow melts. The mountain town's boutiques and casual eateries complement the festivals, free music events and rodeo held each summer. When the flakes fall again, a groomed cross-country ski trail links Snowmass to Aspen.