The South Kohala coast of the island of Hawaii is home to Waikoloa Beach. Ancient Hawaiian history and culture, including petroglyphs believed to represent the heavens, stands side-by-side with ultra modern full-service resorts. Waikoloa is also home to fine examples of traditional Hawaiian aquaculture. In 1985, the University of Hawaii renovated the Anchialine ponds which today nuture a wide variety of sea life. Nearby Anaeho'omalu Bay has the Ku'uali'i and Kahapapa Fishponds. 

Ecologically diverse and sparsely populated, the Big Island of Hawaii is larger than all the other better-known Hawaiian islands combined. Rental cars allow visitors to discover wonders from snow-capped mountains to rainforests to deserts. Best known for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to the longest volcanic eruption in recorded history, the Big Island caters both to those who crave adventure and to those looking for luxury, with the flotilla of decadent mega-resorts dotted along Kohala Coast.

The landscape of Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is diverse. Beaches of black, grey, brown and white sand contrast with mountains and dramatic waterfalls. Hilo's Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only US zoo in a tropical rainforest. A day trip away are the snow-capped mountains Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, both with observatories near 11,000 feet, and Kilauea Caldera, an active volcano. Back in town are a farmer's market, restaurants, shopping and banyan trees planted by celebrities and politicians.

Isolated from the rest of Maui by a 52-mile winding drive through coastal rainforest, Hana is an unspoiled beauty dangling from the island's northeastern tip. Untamed Kahanu Garden contains the world's biggest collection of breadfruit and a lava-rock structure believed to be the largest ancient place of worship in Polynesia. Soak up the tropical splendor on beaches with red or black sand. Winter and spring bring humpback whales, visible from Hana Beach County Park.

Sure, some people go to Hawaii for adventure, but if golf, shopping and being pampered are the most strenuous activities on your itinerary, Wailea’s your destination. With one of Maui’s best beaches at Keawakapu, three championship courses at Wailea Golf Club and a trio of top spas, visitors will have every opportunity to relax. And if adventure is your goal, an outrigger canoe is only a rental away.

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.

Situated on Maui's western shore, Kihei has grown exponentially over the years and now offers an impressive selection of hotels and restaurants, catering to visitors who flock to dive, swim and sun themselves on Maui's fine white sand beaches. Home to the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kihei is an excellent place to spot the vast mammals. Head out on a boat charter, eco-tour, rafting trip or fairway, or rent a car and drive the coastline or to volcanoes Haleakala and Puu Kukui.

Set in the picturesque Coachella Valley, Indio boasts spectacular panoramas with distant foothills, soft blue skies, and easy access to phenomenal golf courses and other outdoor activities. Known as the “City of Festivals”, Indio has annual festivals that celebrate Native American culture, hot air ballooning, art, and food. The Coachella Valley is home to golf-happy communities like Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta. A unique combination of year-round temperate weather, distinctive desert and mountain terrain, and exceptionally high maintenance standards rewards golfers with fantastic play experiences in and near Indio. The Indio golf menu, please: Heading the list of places to tee up are The Golf Club at Terra Lago, Eagle Falls Golf Course, Indio Golf Course, and Indian Palms Country Club. A fun family-oriented activity is the Shields Date Farm, a great educational experience where you can learn how dates are grown and sample a date shake. To learn more about the area, visit the Coachella Valley History Museum on Miles Avenue. If you like to wager, Indio is home to the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, which has 2,000 slots and video poker and 40 table games, including bingo. Popular Indio festivals include the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in February, The Coachella Valley Stagecoach Country Festival in April, and the Indio International Tamale Festival in December.

High-speed, history and good old Hoosier hospitality are a few reasons to put Indianapolis on your list of great getaways. Sports is another. From the legendary Indianapolis 500 to the Pacers and the Colts, the city offers ample opportunities to view professional and amateur sporting events, take part in athletic events and visit sports museums. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall Of Fame Museum you can tour the famous track (try to reserve tickets if there is a race in town) or visit the museum dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Other sporty museums include the NCAA Hall of Champions. To get in on some of the action, head to SportZone which features six acres of indoor athletic facilities the whole family will enjoy. Those less interested in sports, or with kids in tow, can still find tons to do in and around the city. History, art and other cultural attractions abound. Visit the Children's Museum or checkout the zoo. Stroll along cobblestone streets past 19th-century buildings in the Lockerbie Square District or visit any number of historic landmarks. Known as the "Crossroads of America," more interstate highways bisect Indianapolis than any other city in the country, making it an exciting and easily accessible destination.

Rising from the rolling hills of the Western Reserve along the Ohio & Erie Canal, Akron is a vital heartland city and an ideal meeting point at the center of multiple major transportation routes. Surrounded by lush greenery and adjacent to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Akron is a playground for active travelers. The downtown hosts a vibrant arts scene and world class shopping. Summer brings excitement with the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational and the All-American Soap Box Derby.

We won't lie: Niagara Falls is uber-touristy. There are wax museums and a Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, and if it's a fast-food chain, you can probably find it here. But even the most jaded hipster shouldn't pass up a chance to visit this town, because the Falls themselves are spectacular.