Charming Mackinac Island is a throwback to old-timey seaside leisure, from the candy-colored facades of downtown shops to the impressive (record-breaking, in fact) front porch of the Victorian-era Grand Hotel. Mackinac is world-famous for its homemade fudge, available in every flavor you can imagine. Work off your sugar high with a round of golf, a bike ride along a seaside trail, or exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.

Petoskey, sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, has been a popular vacation spot for decades. Earnest Hemingway spent the first 18 summers of his life sailing and fishing on nearby Walloon Lake, and the area features prominently in several of his stories. The Little Traverse History Museum shows how the Petoskey area was a formative influence on young Hemingway. The area is also a well known winter destination, with three popular ski resorts featuring everything from dog sled rides to tubing.

Just north of Cancun, this seaside resort community is a far cry from the spring-break crowd. Bordered on one side by the Mexican Caribbean and the other by a wetlands wildlife preserve, the vibe in Playa Mujeres is one of laid-back luxury in a natural, untouched landscape. Unlike many other such tranquil places, Playa Mujeres is not a pain to get to. It's an easy ride from Cancun airport.

San Teodoro is a typical seaside Sardinian town, with lovely beaches, great restaurants, and a giant flock of pink flamingos. Well, maybe those flamingos aren’t so typical… but they’re certainly distinctive! Visit the San Teodoro Lagoon between beach excursions to see them and other rare birds.

Visit the charming Italian town of Cattolica during the annual Pink Night summer celebration, and you’ll be rewarded with lively concerts and glamorous parades. The rest of the year, you can enjoy beautiful golden beaches that span the Adriatic Sea. Once a resting place for traveling pilgrims, Cattolica was also a favorite spot of Lucien Bonaparte, younger brother of Napoleon.