Gatlinburg, at the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is an ideal base for a family looking to explore the park's numerous offerings. After you've gone hiking, fishing, rafting or horseback riding, ride an elevator 342 feet to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle for stunning views of the Smokies. There's also an amusement centre next door with nifty rides and games.

Helen, a Bavarian Alps replica town in Appalachian Georgia, is home to an Oktoberfest for the ages, overflowing with two-litre beer glasses and Germany's famous bratwursts.  To recover from the festivities, the savviest make their way to Cedar Creek Luxury Cabins on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Ashville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries.

Once a busy river port sending military supplies shipped from California to forts and camps in the Southwest to fight the Apache wars, today Yuma is a winter retreat for thousands of visitors craving its warm, dry and sunny climate. With warm weather comes golf, and the city has several excellent courses. Birdwatchers will enjoy the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, which is rich in migratory bird life and also offers hiking, fishing and boating facilities. For a step back in time to the days of frontier justice, visit the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, a prison dating back to 1876, or the Yuma Crossing State Historic Park, for a walk through restored historic buildings. If these sites whet your appetite for more pioneer lore, visit the Century House Museum, which is full of pioneer artefacts and exhibits. And, speaking of appetite, make sure and stop for burger and chips at Lutes Casino, Arizona's oldest pool hall, where old movie memorabilia grace the walls.