Vancouver, British Columbia offers you and the guys with natural beauty for outdoor sports with a cosmopolitan party vibe for indoor fun. You can hit the dirt and water by day, get cleaned up, and then go out on the town at night.
Aruba is one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean yet offers a breathtaking amount of beauty and overall character. Tropical trade winds make Aruba a perfect place to windsurf. It's also a great place for diving and all-night entertainment.
Kids of all ages love New York for its parks, holiday spirit, famous toy stores, planetarium shows, baseball, fun stuff to eat, and hands-on museums. Visit attractions like Ground Zero, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and the Empire State Building.
Endless possibilities for exploration outside of The City: art classes, wineries, cafes, outdoor adventure, spa and fitness, great festivals, and shopping for one-of-a-kind products.
Among the Valley of the Sun's desert landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery, golfers can enjoy high blue skies, dry desert air, and close to 200 golf courses.
Puerto Vallarta boasts all the services and infrastructure typical of a modern city, but has the charming feel of a colonial Mexican village, with its cobblestone streets, enchanting cathedral and numerous public sculptures.
Utah's dry powder is billed as 'The Greatest Snow on Earth'. Many of its top-rated resorts including Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, The Canyons, and Park City, are just a short drive from Salt Lake City.
For North America, it's tough to beat Whistler as "the" destination for group ski trips. It's very convenient - just a short trip from Vancouver, B.C., plus the low-altitude base makes it very easy to acclimatize. As for the skiing, the Whistler and Blackcomb areas offer 5,280 vertical feet of skiing and over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, with endless options for all levels and skills.
Few destinations offer the combination of bright sun, rolling hills, incredible food, wine, and the enjoyable pace as the Provence region in Southern France. Rent a picturesque villa and get deeply immersed in all the region has to offer.
The opportunities for exploration, sightseeing, and outdoor activities are virtually limitless. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway, explore wine country, or visit Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.
New Orleans serves up plenty of excitement for a weekend getaway. Those interested in delving deeper into Louisiana's history and culture will find further exploration outside the city rewarding.
Stay in Banff National Park and take the scenic drive to ski the excellent mountain at Lake Louise. The best food and nightlife options are in Banff and nearby Canmore.
Friends and family celebration of a milestone birthday in luxury. The group had a very relaxing time wine tasting, shopping, swimming, and hanging out at the beautiful hotel.
The Chateau du Sureau in Oakhurst, just outside of Yosemite National Park, had incredible service and world class food at the restaurant next door, the Elderberry House.
You don't have to rough it to enjoy the National Parks in Utah. The Sorrel River Ranch, right in Moab, proved to be a great base for rafting, hiking, and repelling. Telluride (3 hours by car) was a great side trip from here as well.
Women's only surf camp was tiring, fun, scary and refreshing...with less pressure and more fun having female instructors. The accommodations at the Ritmo Hotel included all meals, free yoga, and an outdoor spa complete with crickets' serenading.
Christmas vacation getaway with two recommended discoveries - a private island and a family-owned spa, both within a few hours of travel from Panama City.
Flew into Ontario to hit the Desert Hills Premium Outlet stores, then spent a relaxing weekend at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage hanging out with the family and friends by the pool - with a fun birthday dinner at an old-school Italian place in town.
Eight friends rented a boat and sailed around the coast of Sicily, including visits to Agrigento, Syracusa, and Taormina, and up into the Aeolian Islands. Every morning started with an espresso/cappucino dingy run to the local village. Not a fan of canoli? Then you haven't had it in Sicily.
The town of Lucca offered the "most authentic Tuscany left". A stay in a sweet stone villa with a full view of town, the enjoyment of culinary delights, a day trip to Cinque Terra, and a joyous and lively New Year's in a tiny square back in Lucca added up to a very effecting vacation.
Budget Travel's special summer 2006 issue is a must-read, with spa deals, shopping guides, girlfriend getaway blogs, and even a story on "where the boys are".
Welcome to the real Southern California - a peninsular playground of migrating whales, tony resorts, and the continent's last remaining undeveloped beaches.
This article, printed in USA Today in September 2005, covers ten popular adventures available at a good price: Machu Picchu, the Himalayas, Northern Thailand, Egypt's Valley of the Kings, and more. All are excellent options.