1. New York City’s renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s largest art museums, houses an astonishing 2 million pieces. Save energy for the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum.

2. Treat yourself to a peek at the new “Art of the Americas” wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Across the street, lush artworks adorn the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, an Italianate palazzo.

3. Art lovers converge on the Santa Fe Indian Market. The city’s 200 galleries are a major attraction, as are the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

4. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. – “America’s art collection” – is always free. Plan to linger awhile in the outdoor sculpture garden.

5. Savor a “Monet Moment” at the Art Institute of Chicago – this 1 million-square-foot museum houses one of the world’s best collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art.

6. You might call Tacoma, Washington, America’s most breakable city – it’s home to the 500-foot-long Chihuly Bridge of Glass, the Museum of Glass and the art glass-adorned Hotel Murano.

7. At the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, view 7,000 years of Western art, enhanced by dramatic architecture and dazzling views.

8. Enter the temple-like Philadelphia Museum of Art and explore the diverse heritage that shaped American art. Stick around for live music at Art After 5 (Fridays).

9. Tour art galleries in turn-of-the-century Victorian buildings in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then relax in natural thermal waters.

10. Once a sleepy railroad town, Roanoke, Virginia, is home to the ultra-modern Taubman Museum of Art and a burgeoning gallery scene.

1. Life abounds in the tidal pools on Shi Shi Beach near Neah Bay, Wash. Visitors must hike two miles to reach the shore; the marine life is worth the effort.

2. Locals love Little Beach near Makena, Hawaii, for its boogie-boarding, drum circles and lack of tourists. Be warned: The four-mile drive from Wailea is winding.

3. Quartz sand as white as sugar characterizes Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Fla. The water here is warm most of the year, making for great swimming.

4. The warm-water beaches on South Padre Island, Texas, are great for swimming, sunbathing and sandcastle-building.

5. Every summer, celebrity-spotters flock to sandy Main Beach in East Hampton, N.Y., for a glimpse of stars and starlets soaking up the sun. The beach has sizable sand dunes.

6. Mavericks is an annual surfing contest that attracts the best big-wave boarders in the world, and the Pillar Point Bluffs near Half Moon Bay, Calif., are the best place to watch.

7. Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, S.C., is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Thousands of birds – including brown pelicans and sandwich terns – fly through Captain Sam’s Inlet every summer.

8. New Englanders flock like seagulls to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Mass., every summer. On clear days, you can spot harbor porpoises frolicking in the waves.

9. Winter is high-time to spot harbor seals pupping and resting on Casa Beach (also known as Children’s Pool) in La Jolla, Calif.

10. Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Alabama coast in 2005, but Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have recovered nicely, with championship golf courses, a historic fort and sand that stretches for miles.

1. Every winter, fishermen hoping for perch, pike and trout head to Lake Champlain in Vermont for ice-fishing. Rental cottages are available near Grand Isle.

2. The white sturgeon is like a white whale for fishing-crazed visitors to Idaho’s Snake River; it’s elusive but worth the chase. Spend the night at family-friendly Anderson Camp in Eden.

3. The Madison Valley in southwest Montana offers some of the best fly-fishing in the west. West Fork Cabin Camp in Cameron is centrally located; 13 streams are within a 30-minute drive.

4. Humans and resident killer whales spend summers fishing for salmon around the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Make reservations early for a campsite at San Juan County Park.

5. Camping can be done just about anywhere in tidal zones on the Beardslee Islands in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Kayak-fishing for salmon is popular.

6. Lost Creek and Mazama are the two camping options for Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park. Both are within a short drive of Cleetwood Cove, with lake access for fishermen.

7. Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida, is renowned for its bass fishing. The Lake Okeechobee Outpost in Pahokee offers RV sites, cabins and tent camping.

8. The Au’Au Channel between Maui and Lanai in Hawaii teems with marlin, mahi, ahi and ono. Stay at the waterfront Camp Olowalu near Lahaina.

9. At 227 feet below sea level, California’s Salton Sea is one of the lowest spots on Earth. Believe it or not, the lake is full of tilapia. Campsites at Headquarters Camp have flush toilets and showers.

10. In autumn, surf-casting for striped bass at North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore is second to none. Ocracoke campground takes reservations.

1. Downtown Las Vegas has changed considerably since the 1950s, but the Golden Nugget, on Fremont Street, still boasts a vintage marquis and its signature chunk of gold.

2. CityCenter is the newest attraction on the Las Vegas Strip, and the 150,000-square-foot casino inside Aria Hotel & Casino is by far the centerpiece.

3. Upscale gambling returned to the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., when the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – with its marble floors and Doric columns – opened in 2003.

4. Harrah’s Tunica in Tunica, Miss., is a poker mecca. The casino hosts the largest World Series of Poker Circuit every year.

5. Top-notch restaurants, Native American artwork and walk-up drink windows highlight the casino at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Wash., about an hour north of Seattle.

6. Southern California residents flock to Pala Casino Resort & Spa in Pala, Calif., which offers smoking and non-smoking gaming areas.

7. Horse-racing fans love the timeless elegance of the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The track, which opened in 1863, remains the oldest organized sporting venue in the U.S.

8. Rising like Oz above the countryside near Mashantucket, Conn., Foxwoods Resort Casino represents the largest casino in North America. An on-site museum informs visitors about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, owners since 1986.

9. The main gaming floor at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Resort in Hollywood, Fla., displays music memorabilia used by The Beatles, Gloria Estefan and others.

10. The Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Ky., hosts the annual Kentucky Derby, but the track operates three other months of horse racing, too. After placing a wager, watch the race at the rollicking Silks or Champions lounges.

1. Travel to the country's most-visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tenn., to bond with nature. Go hiking, biking, camping and fishing, or simply see the stunning scenery via car.

2. An amusement park in a mall? Yes. At Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., go for a spin at Nickelodeon Universe or tour the wet world of Underwater Adventures Aquarium.

3. Don't miss Orlando for adventures at Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and more.

4. Get those swimsuits on and head to Wisconsin Dells, “the waterpark capital of the world.” Families will also enjoy amusement parks, museums, live entertainment and interactive exhibits.

5. Chocolate-lovers should head straight for Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Penn. While there, create your own candy bar, learn how cocoa beans become chocolate and watch Hershey's Kisses get made.

6. Immerse yourself in American history with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va. The country's largest living-history museum, it includes many important 18th-century historical sites.

7. Learn about natural history, outer space and aquatic life at Chicago's Museum Campus, home to the Field Museum of Natural History, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. The three museums have hands-on activities and exhibits suitable for all ages.

8. Jaws will drop at the magnificent scenery along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park near Whitefish, Mont. Tour the area by car, visit historic lodges and stop for a picnic near a mountain stream.

9. San Diego remains one of the country's best family destinations, with its beautiful beaches, action-packed SeaWorld and well-regarded San Diego Zoo.

10. A New York vacation isn't complete without a trip to Central Park. Families will love the park's zoo and playgrounds; stroll the grounds and explore the sculptures.

1. The Sundance Film Festival celebrates independent film each January in Park City, Utah. Actor Robert Redford launched the festival in 1981.

2. Also in January, the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., kicks off the new year with a burst of energy and color. The parade, which began in 1890, features flower-covered floats.

3. Nobody puts on a party like New Orleans at Mardi Gras. With parades, beads, masks and crazy costumes, it's a carnival of excess to usher in the fasting of Lent.

4. Sample a buffet of foods from dozens of Chicago restaurants during the 10-day Taste of Chicago festival each summer around the July Fourth. The event attracts millions of people each year.

5. Ring in the Chinese New Year with colorful festivities in New York City. A parade with floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances and acrobats makes its way through Chinatown.

6. Soak up the Midwest's farming heritage at the action-packed Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. The fair includes theme-park rides, concerts, agricultural exhibits and competitions and lots of traditional fair food.

7. Celebrate spring at the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. The two-week event commemorates Japan's 1912 gift of the pink-blooming trees to the U.S.

8. Food-lovers shouldn't miss the fall Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Sample food, wine and beer from around the world and take part in culinary demonstrations.

9. Experience Native American art and culture at the three-day Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City in June.

10. America is fortunate to host numerous music festivals around the country. There's Seattle's Bumbershoot, Milwaukee's mammoth Summerfest, SXSW in Austin and Chicago's Lollapalooza, among many others.

1. Mingle with chefs and food lovers at one of New York City's more than 50 Greenmarkets. Union Square's market is the biggest, with produce, meats and other items.

2. Sample American-made beer during a brewery tour in Milwaukee. Historic Pabst Brewing Co., Sprecher and MillerCoors (among others) offer fun, educational tours.

3. Seattle, with its large Asian population, is home to Uwajimaya, a huge Asian grocery store selling everything from durian fruit to Kobe beef. Stop for lunch at the popular food court.

4. Wine lovers shouldn't miss San Francisco and nearby Napa Valley, with dozens of postcard-perfect vineyards and tasting rooms. Dine at Yountville's The French Laundry, one of the country's finest restaurants.

5. The East Coast is known for its fresh-caught seafood. Find some of the best on Cape Cod in Wellfleet, Mass., which celebrates its premium oysters with a festival every October.

6. Head to Memphis for American barbecue. Try a pulled-pork sandwich basted with tangy sauce and creamy cole slaw at legendary Rendezvous, Cozy Corner or Central BBQ.

7. In Las Vegas, indulge yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet at Wynn or Le Village Buffet at Paris (the casino). Or, savor fine dishes from star chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck or Joel Robuchon.

8. A Chicago visit should include a slice (at least) of rich, cheesy, deep-dish pizza. Try a pie from Lou Malnati's or Gino's East.

9. The American West is known for big cuts of beef. Have a quintessential Western dining experience at Wolf Lodge Steakhouse, in northern Idaho, with a char-broiled 24-ounce Porterhouse steak.

10. Enjoy Creole and Cajun specialties at New Orleans' restaurants and cafés. Don't miss Commander's Palace turtle soup or hot beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

1. Denver Botanic Gardens and its two satellite locations offer a range of experiences for plant lovers, from alpine tundra at Mount Goliath to plants from around the globe at the York Street gardens.

2. The 446-acre U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., is run by the government as a research facility, but it’s open to the public and boasts and impressive collection.

3. Rose lovers shouldn't miss the Rose Gardens in Portland, Ore., including the International Rose Test Garden, the oldest such garden in the U.S. and a testing ground for new rose breeds.

4. Boston's Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is one of the world's leading facilities for the study of plants. It hosts a daylong festival each year for the lilac.

5. Enjoy native Midwestern plants and many others at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill. The arboretum features an extensive interactive Children's Garden.

6. Explore rare tropical plants at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Fla. The garden is dedicated to conserving rare plants.

7. Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is the country's oldest continuously operating garden. It boasts a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden and a large collection of rare orchids.

8. Rare and exotic rhododendrons are the centerpiece of Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens in Greenbank, Wash. The gardens feature 53 acres of woodlands and more than 5 miles of trails.

9. Experience arctic horticulture on a 110-acre woodland at the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage. Take a leisurely 1.1-mile walk along the Lowenfels Family Nature Trail in the spruce and birch forest.

10. Relax in the Japanese Garden of Tranquility and the Sensory Garden, two stars of the 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden. Each summer, the garden hosts a popular concert series.

1. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia. Steeped in tradition, this course set on a former plantation has hosted the Masters Tournament since 1934.

2. Pebble Beach, California. This upscale coastal town has four famous courses: Pebble Beach, Spyglass, The Links at Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf Course.

3. Bandon, Oregon. Along the rocky Pacific coastline, this town is home to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, with four links-style courses. Also nearby is the highly ranked Bandon Crossings Golf Course.

4. Southampton, New York. Four nationally acclaimed courses are located in this Long Island resort town, including Shinnecock Hills and the National Golf Links of America.

5. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina. This oceanfront golf resort has five championship courses and has hosted top tournaments, including PGA Championships, Ryder Cups and World Cups.

6. Sawgrass Golf Resort, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The second-largest golf resort in the U.S. includes the world-famous THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.

7. Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, North Carolina. The largest golf resort in America and one of the largest in the world includes eight courses sprawled across 2,000 acres.

8. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach encompasses more than 100 golf courses along the South Carolina coast, among them the Barefoot Resort’s four championship courses.

9. Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. This luxury resort has two 18-hole championship golf courses, including the Plantation Course, a frequent host of the Tournament of Champions.

10. Scottsdale, Arizona. Set against a Sonoran Desert backdrop, this upscale Southwest resort town has more than 200 courses. The Thomas Fazio-designed Grayhawk Golf Course is consistently ranked as one of the top in the country.

1. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail stretches 2,175 miles across 14 states from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

2. Following the highest portions of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range in California, Washington and Oregon, the strenuous Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail runs 2,650 miles.

3. The 3,100-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail ultimately will follow the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains through five states from Montana to New Mexico. In 2010, the trail was about 70 percent complete.

4. California’s Yosemite National Park features one of the most iconic day hikes in America: the 16-mile round-trip from the Happy Isles trailhead to the granite knob known as Half Dome.

5. Great hikes abound in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, but the most epic journeys are of the rim-to-rim variety. Itineraries vary, but most measure about 25 miles one-way.

6. Nearly 45 miles of carriage roads make Acadia National Park, in Maine, a great destination for mountain bikers. Ride the challenging Park Loop Road to the 1,532-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain.

7. Biking along the 42-mile Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway in Arizona delivers one mind-boggling vista after another. The route traverses the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the U.S.

8. Minneapolis was named the No. 1 U.S. destination by Bicycling magazine. This Midwestern city has 46 miles bike lanes along streets and 84 miles of off-street bike paths.

9. Climbs are formidable along Colorado’s 55-mile Peak to Peak Highway, a scenic bike ride between Estes Park and Black Hawk. Marvel at old mining towns and aspen stands.

10. In Virginia, Skyline Drive follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. In spring, wildflowers and wildlife are abundant.

1. Built over the course of 36 years, the Washington Monument sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The obelisk is the tallest structure in town.

2. Between 1892 and 1954, New York City’s Ellis Island processed more than 12 million immigrants. Today, combined with the nearby Statue of Liberty, the monument celebrates America’s diversity.

3. What would Los Angeles be without the Hollywood Sign? These iconic letters, which have stood on Mount Lee since 1923, welcome visitors to the film and television capital of the U.S.

4. Carved into the Black Hills near Keystone, S.D., Mount Rushmore National Memorial depicts the busts of four former U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

5. Former President Thomas Jefferson designed and inhabited the neoclassical Monticello mansion near Charlottesville, Va. Today, the site provides an informative look at the politician’s life and times.

6. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, downtown Boston’s most famous shopping center, has been a commercial hotspot since the 1740s. Don’t miss the food vendors in Quincy Market.

7. The Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis was built in the 1960s as a monument to the westward expansion of the U.S. For amazing views, take a tram to the top.

8. Bells were rung to mark independence in 1776, and historians believe that Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell was among them. The icon is now part of a national park.

9. Engineering buffs will love Hoover Dam, which spans the Colorado River on the border of Arizona and Nevada. The structure, which created Lake Mead, provides power to four states.

10. The floating USS Arizona Memorial commemorates all military personnel who perished in the bombing of Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.

1. Stand in awe at the massive Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, S.D. Sculptors spent 14 years carving the faces of U.S. presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln into granite.

2. Honor fallen veterans at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The site also houses the eternal flame on President John F. Kennedy's grave, among other memorials.

3. A trip to the National Mall in Washington D.C., includes many of America's most-beloved monuments, including the Washington Monument, and memorials to Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veterans.

4. Pay a somber visit to the Tribute WTC Visitor Center at the World Trade Center site in New York City to honor the 2,973 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

5. High atop Lookout Mountain Battlefield in Chattanooga, Tenn., is Point Park, a memorial completed in 1905 to honor those who fought in the Civil War “Battle Above the Clouds.”

6. Possibly America's most famous symbol, the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York City symbolizes enduring freedom. The neoclassical sculpture was a gift from France to the U.S. in 1886.

7. The USS Arizona Memorial near Honolulu commemorates those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It pays tribute to 1,177 crewmen – the greatest loss of life on any U.S. warship in American history.

8. Board a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis to experience America's tallest national monument. The arch celebrates westward expansion in the U.S.

9. Philadelphia's 2,000-pound Liberty Bell proclaims America's foundation of freedom.

10. The iconic Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., conveys the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, but it’s dedicated to all fallen Marines since 1775.

1. Stroll down Beale Street in downtown Memphis to soak in the history of American blues music at a variety of clubs and cafes.

2. Jaws drop at the whimsical architecture of Seattle's Experience Music Project. Inside, find interactive exhibits and artifacts on rock, jazz, soul, gospel, country, blues and hip-hop.

3. Immerse yourself in the Chicago style of blues music by touring the city's most popular clubs, including Kingston Mines, Buddy Guy's Legends and Blue Chicago. Every June, the city hosts the Chicago Blues Festival.

4. Celebrate rock with a visit to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. You'll find memorabilia from the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and many others.

5. Look up in awe at the mammoth canopy of twinkling lights in downtown Las Vegas' Fremont Street Experience. Light shows are choreographed to popular rock songs.

6. Billed as “the jazz corner of the world” by musician Charlie Parker, New York City's Birdland jazz club hosts some of the most talented artists in the genre.

7. The heart of America's traditional country and bluegrass music, Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, has seen some of music's biggest stars on its stage in its 80-plus years.

8. An eclectic mix of musicians perform at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif. The club is covered in ornate folk art.

9. Austin's Stubb's Bar-B-Q is equal parts good music and good food. In this music-loving Texas town, Stubb’s is a gem.

10. Check out the live-music clubs and bars on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' historic French Quarter and sip a traditional Hurricane cocktail. Enjoy the city's famous cuisine at a range of area restaurants including NOLA and K-Paul's.

1. To say Arizona’s Grand Canyon is immense would be an understatement; the chasm is one mile deep, 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide. Much of this grandeur lies within Grand Canyon National Park.

2. When Yellowstone National Park was created in Montana and Wyoming in 1872, it became the first national park in the world. It’s best known for Old Faithful geyser, which spews boiling water skyward roughly every 90 minutes.

3. Waterfalls fueled by snowmelt draw millions of visitors to California’s Yosemite National Park every spring. The 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America.

4. Set in the heart of New York City, Central Park has two skating rinks, 250 acres of lawns and dozens of bridges.

5. Boats are essential for navigating Florida’s Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. and home to the Florida panther, American crocodile and West Indian manatee.

6. Referred to as Chicago’s “front yard,” Grant Park sits between downtown and Lake Michigan. Bring a picnic to enjoy in front of Buckingham Fountain, dedicated in 1927.

7. Acadia National Park, in Maine, covers most of granite-peaked Mount Desert Island. To reduce car traffic on park land, rangers encourage visitors to hike, bike or use free public buses.

8. In Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, wildflowers bloom year-round, but the colors are most resplendent in spring and summer.

9. The perspective is vertical at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The park boasts more than 60 peaks over 12,000 feet.

10. Golden Gate Park stretches three miles from San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the Pacific Ocean. It’s home to museums, botanical gardens and two windmills.

1. The coal-fired, steam-powered Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train was built to lug silver and gold out of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. It has hauled passengers since 1882.

2. At Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in West Virginia, restored 100-year-old, steam-powered locomotives lead trips to three former logging sites.

3. The Alaska Railroad stretches across Alaska from Fairbanks to Seward. A highlight: The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America.

4. Before helicopters and buses, train was the best way to tour the Grand Canyon. Today, the vintage Grand Canyon Railway travels 130 miles between Williams, Ariz., and Grand Canyon National Park.

5. Visitors to Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, Calif., have two options: a narrow-gauge train that chugs through redwood forest up Bear Mountain, or a standard-gauge train that runs to the beach in Santa Cruz.

6. The California Zephyr, one of Amtrak’s longest and most scenic routes, stretches from Union Station in Chicago through seven states before terminating in Emeryville, Calif.

7. A popular shore excursion among cruise ship passengers, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad climbs 2,865 feet in 20 miles from Skagway, Alaska, to the summit of the White Pass.

8. Beat the traffic on I-95 by shuttling your car aboard Amtrak’s Auto Train service. Vehicles embark in Lorton, Va., and travel through six states before driving off in Sanford, Fla.

9. Cape Cod Central Railroad operates a number of excursions past the cranberry bogs and woodlands between Hyannis, Mass., and the Cape Cod Canal.

10. Located near Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota, the seasonal Black Hills Central Railroad operates along a 10-mile stretch of track originally built for a mining train.

1. Celebrity sightings are commonplace at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Calif. Spacious rooms overlook the Pacific Ocean. After a soak in the infinity pool, walk along the private hiking trail.

2. Enchantment Resort is an oasis in the red-rock desert near Sedona, Ariz. The Mii Amo Spa features all-day packages.

3. Located just two hours from New York City in Washington, Conn., the Mayflower Inn & Spa features a yoga and meditation garden, as well as an outdoor labyrinth in which to lose yourself.

4. With only 40 rooms, the Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas, exemplifies intimate. During the Java Pedicure, lower legs are exfoliated with a blend that includes ground coffee.

5. Grizzly bears and wolves are among the animals you might see on a wildlife safari organized through the Wilderness Adventure Spa at Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson, Wyo.

6. Individual cabins maximize privacy at Solage Calistoga in Calistoga, Calif. The spa’s signature Mudslide treatment comprises a mud wrap and a soak in mineral water.

7. Some of the wellness packages at Westglow Resort & Spa in Blowing Rock, N.C., focus on weight loss and stress management. The historic property sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

8. The Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., features accommodations in the circa-1897 Bellefontaine Mansion and spa treatments including candlelit massage.

9. Wynn Las Vegas, on the Las Vegas Strip, features a Good Luck Ritual, which includes a massage, a scalp treatment and a hand and foot scrub.

10. Sunbathe far from the crowds of South Beach at Acqualina Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. It specializes in skin-care treatments that incorporate ocean salt and seaweed.

1. Red rocks abound on Scenic Byway 12 through 124 miles of canyons, plateaus and valleys of south-central Utah.  Be sure to save a full day for Bryce Canyon National Park.

2. Retrace history for 1,410 miles along Historic Route 66 in parts of Arizona, Illinois, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The thoroughfare, dubbed “The Mother Road,” was one of America’s first highways.

3. “Driving” means something different on the Alaska Marine Highway, where automobile ferries shuttle road-trippers from one coastal city to another.

4. Autumn is the best time to drive the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway through North Carolina and Virginia; as leaves change color, they paint the hillsides shades of orange, red and yellow.

5. Originally a primitive trail, the modern-day Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles past forests, cypress swamps and farmland in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

6. Following in the footsteps of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, the 202-mile Northwest Passage Scenic Byway passes some of Idaho’s sparkling rivers and rugged mountains.

7. The 106-mile Florida Keys Scenic Highway is a ribbon of road that connects dozens of islands – each one a tiny paradise.

8. Tumbling down North America’s deepest canyon, the Snake River is the star of the show along the 218-mile Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, which winds among the basalt cliffs of eastern Oregon.

9. Landmarks abound along the 565-mile Santa Fe Trail through Colorado and New Mexico. The road was one of America’s first great trade routes.

10. The Red Rock Scenic Byway through red rock country near Sedona, Ariz., is only 7.5 miles long, but it offers a number of side trips including hiking and fishing.

1. Shop 500-plus stores, ride roller coasters, take in the Underwater Adventures Aquarium or even get married in the chapel – all at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

2. Stroll down one of America's most-famous shopping districts, Chicago's Michigan Avenue, also known as The Magnificent Mile. Find gifts for everyone, appreciate the architecture and dine at a variety of restaurants.

3. Experience the heart of luxury fashion with a walk down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Calif., to tour high-end boutiques. Even if you're not buying, the area is great for window-shopping and people-watching.

4. Or pick up quirkier finds on New York City's Lower East Side, where you'll see a mix of vintage and contemporary wares – often at bargain prices. The immigrant neighborhood was once filled with slums and pushcarts, but it’s now a bustling commercial district.

5. Step into a live runway show at Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas. The 250-store center hosts regular fashion shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday.

6. Explore 3 million square feet of retail space at the super-sized King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania. With more than 400 stores, the mall is the East Coast's largest shopping complex.

7. Find one-of-a-kind candles, jewelry, sculptures and other artisan-made items at the outdoor Saturday Market in Portland, Ore. Musicians entertain shoppers at the market, which takes place Saturdays and Sundays.

8. Wander around the upscale Houston Galleria to find some 375 shops under the beautiful glass atriums. The mall also features an ice-skating rink.

9. San Francisco's Union Square is surrounded by major department stores as well as smaller boutiques, restaurants, theaters and hotels. The plaza was a rallying spot for the Union Army during the Civil War.

1. On a river cruise with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, you’ll see the Windy City’s lofty landmarks by boat, enhanced by expert narration.

2. Take in the best sights of San Francisco – including Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square – on a Segway scooter. Wary of those famous steep streets? Don’t worry: The San Francisco Guided Segway Tour starts with a lesson.

3. Real New York Tours’ “Dozen Apples Tour” offers a peek at NYC’s most intriguing neighborhoods with an in-the-know guide.

4. A guided mule ride down the Bright Angel Trail is a Grand Canyon tradition. You’ll travel through the colorful layers of the canyon, with amazing views at every turn.

5. Put on your sunglasses and see star-studded Los Angeles – including the famous Hollywood sign, stars’ homes, Venice Beach and Rodeo Drive – aboard an open-top bus with Starline Tours or LA City Tours.

6. On a Boston Duck Tour, you’ll board a WWII-style amphibious landing vehicle for a wacky tour of Boston landmarks and a dunk in the Charles River.

7. Hop on and off the Old Town Trolley and linger as long as you like at Key West attractions including the Shipwreck Museum. Irreverent narration adds to the fun.

8. Swoop alongside the waterfalls and verdant cliffs of Kauai’s Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast, Bali Hai and Hanalei Bay on Blue Hawaiian’s Kauai Eco Adventure helicopter tour.

9. Looking for a memorable winter adventure? The Winter Wolf Discovery program at Yellowstone National Park definitely qualifies. On this naturalist-led, four-night tour, you’ll stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

10. Young, energetic guides make a DC by Foot walking tour the most fun, lively way to sightsee in Washington, DC.

1. Salt Lake City, Utah. Boasting “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” this city has nine top ski resorts less than an hour apart, including Alta, Snowbird and Deer Valley, which has been ranked the No. 1 ski resort in North America.

2. White Mountains, New Hampshire. Stay in North Conway, the epicenter of New Hampshire skiing, with eight resorts within driving distance. Intermediates like the groomed trails at Bretton Woods. Wildcat and Cannon Mountain are known for their narrow chutes.

3. Lake Tahoe, California. Lively casinos, 300 days of sunshine and seven world-class resorts make this one of the top destinations in the country. Heavenly Resort is the largest ski resort in the U.S.

4. Mount Hood, Oregon. Picturesque Mount Hood is home to four ski areas, including Timberline Lodge, with North America’s longest ski season.

5. Summit County, Colorado. Four world-class resorts are less than two hours from Denver, including Arapahoe Basin, known for its chutes, and Breckenridge, with black-diamond moguls.

6. Aspen-Snowmass Colorado. This upscale ski town in the Rockies, with lively nightlife and four mountains, is a favorite with celebrities.  Aspen Mountain is famous for its expert terrain.

7. Northern Vermont. From your base in Burlington, on shores of Lake Champlain, you’ll have access to five resorts within easy driving distance, including Jay Peak, Stowe Mountain Resort and family-friendly Smugglers’ Notch.

8. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This Western-style cowboy town in the heart of the Tetons has some of the wildest backcountry terrain in the country.

9. Sun Valley, Idaho. America’s oldest ski resort still maintains its down-home friendliness, with few crowds and top-notch dining and lodging.

10. Vail, Colorado. Three distinct mountains, towering 11,570 feet, have more than 5,000 ski-able acres, including the resort’s legendary back bowls.

1. Experience late-night baseball during the Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks, Alaska. The game begins at 10:30 p.m. on the summer solstice; because the city sits above the Arctic Circle, it’s light all night long.

2. Adrenaline is on display during California’s answer to the Tour de France: the AMGEN Tour, a multi-city road race that covers between 650 and 700 miles every May.

3. Card lovers will go “all-in” for a glimpse at live action during the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas. The tournament draws more than 4,000 players.

4. Headline entertainment and corporate freebies are among reasons fans will pay big bucks to visit Dallas for the 2011 Super Bowl, the championship of the National Football League.

5. History abounds in Boston, so it’s fitting that the country’s oldest marathon (since 1897) is the Boston Marathon, held every April.

6. Hoops fans live for the three-week National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament every March. The 2011 finals are in Houston.

7. Competitors wield axes and chainsaws during various events at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wis., every July. Also on the schedule: log-rolling.

8. Every April, galleries inside Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., come to life for The Masters, one of the most celebrated (and raucous) golf tournaments in the U.S.

9. The U.S. Open tennis tournament, a seen-and-be-seen event in New York City, welcomes the game’s top talent for three weeks every September.

10. Fans call the annual Kentucky Derby horse race in Louisville, Ky., “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” For the full experience, grab a spot in the infield and drink mint juleps.

1. No theater district in America is better known than New York City's Broadway. The avenue is home to some 40 large professional theaters, with countless smaller stages nearby.

2. Some of the biggest names in American comedy in the past half century have performed at The Second City in Chicago. The theater is famous for sketch revues based on improvisational comedy techniques.

3. The award-winning Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is known as one of the country's best regional theaters. The Guthrie unveiled an architecturally impressive new building in 2006.

4. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore., is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit theater companies in the U.S. It produces 11 plays in three theaters during its nearly nine-month-long season.

5. The La Jolla Playhouse near San Diego, Calif., has a reputation for eclectic and adventurous performances. The playhouse has been honored with a Tony Award as America's Outstanding Regional Theater.

6. The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles is one of the country's most innovative. The theater has produced a number of plays that have won Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prizes.

7. America's first professional ballet company and one of its finest, the San Francisco Ballet began in 1933. It hosted the U.S. premieres of Swan Lake and Nutcracker.

8. Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet is well-known for its annual Nutcracker performance, a tradition for nearly 20 years. The ballet also runs one of the country's top dance schools.

9. The Miami City Ballet performs works by some of the best-known in the field, including George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp.

10. The Atlanta Ballet serves as an ambassador for the city at events around the world. The company performs both classic and original works.

1. Billed as “the roller-coaster capital of the world,” Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, has more thrill rides than any other amusement park.

2. San Diego's SeaWorld is famous for its animal shows, attractions, rides and aquariums. See killer whales, belugas, dolphins and more than 400 other species.

3. Head to Orlando, Fla., for an impressive number of theme parks, including Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and Discovery Cove.

4. Put on your Mickey Mouse ears and fly to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Opened in 1955, it's Walt Disney's original theme park and includes a variety of memorable attractions.

5. Fans of little toy bricks won't want to miss Legoland California in Carlsbad, Calif. See more than 15,000 LEGO models made from some 35 million bricks, and enjoy rides, shows and other attractions.

6. Go behind the scenes of your favorite films at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles. Take the Studio Tour or feel your stomach jump during movie-themed rides.

7. The whole family will find something to cheer about at America's first theme park, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif. There are thrill rides and coasters for the most daring and plenty of tamer ones for little visitors.

8. Cool off in New Braunfels, Texas, by splashing at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort. Get soaked on water coasters, slides, the wave pool or in multiple swimming pools and water playgrounds.

9. Little ones will smile when they step inside Sesame Place in Langhorne, Penn. Meet colorful characters from the award-winning children’s show Sesame Street and take a spin on dozens of rides.

10. Explore a bit of Africa in Tampa, Fla., at Busch Gardens. Take a safari, climb a playground “jungle” or ride a 100-mph wooden coaster.

1. Surfing in Oahu, Hawaii. It’s considered the “Surfing Capital of the World,” known for its big water, high-level championships and famous personalities. Surfers call the North Shore “the seven mile miracle,” with some of the world’s best surf breaks.

2. Canoeing in Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota. Paddlers have access to more than two million acres along the United States-Canada border, connected by portages and canoe trails.

3. Water skiing in San Diego, California. This city, with year-round mild temperatures and sunny skies, is home to Mission Bay Park, the largest manmade aquatic park in the U.S. The park offers lessons and hosts national shows and championships.

4. Sailing in Annapolis, Maryland. “America’s Sailing Capital,” on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, is home to sailing schools, cruises and charters, as well as the U.S. Naval Academy.

5. Snorkeling in Biscayne National Park, Florida. Follow an underwater interpretive trail through a natural coral reef. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is nearby.

6. Kayaking in San Juan Islands, Washington. Kayak among orcas in this pristine northwest archipelago, with more than 400 islands. The area’s mild weather, calm seas and stellar scenery add to the experience.

7. Wind surfing in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Wind whips across this 200-mile stretch of barrier islands. There are lessons, rentals and enough variety to please novices and experts.

8. Scuba diving in Miami, Florida. Dubbed the "wreckreational" dive capital of the world, the waters near this lively city hold more than 75 sunken ships.

9. Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River, Arizona. Paddle through the Grand Canyon, with towering rock walls, waterfalls and Anasazi Indian ruins.

10. Boating near Knoxville, Tennessee. Some of the top boat builders in America are located here. The Tennessee River, Fort Loudon Lake and Tellico Lake are boating hot spots.

1. With more members than any other zoo in the world, the San Diego Zoo is a national favorite. See more than 4,000 animals at the 100-acre zoo – including the rare giant panda.

2. New York City's Bronx Zoo is the country's largest metropolitan zoo. Don't miss the restored Beaux Arts Lion House.

3. When visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., be sure to see Disney's Animal Kingdom, a 250-acre animal theme park home to tamarins, llamas, zebras, hippos and hundreds of others. Take a jeep safari or ride the rapids.

4. Ohio's Columbus Zoo is a leader in conservation and breeding of rare and endangered animals. Colo, the world's first captive-born gorilla, was born here in 1956 and six of his relatives still live here.

5. Head to Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., to see big cats in the largest cat breeding facility in North America. The zoo also hosts the world's largest nocturnal exhibit.

6. Be wowed by Great Lakes sealife as well as dolphins, sharks and stunning coral at Chicago's John G. Shedd Aquarium. Little ones will love the new Polar Play Zone.

7. Some 16,000 animals live in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., buildings that make up the National Aquarium, which reigns as America's first aquarium.

8. Located on the site of a former sardine cannery on the Pacific Ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium pumps fresh ocean water into its exhibits.

9. Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium boasts more animals than any other in the world. Aquatic creatures from oceans, rivers and the tropics thrive in some 8 million gallons of water.

10. The environmentally innovative Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., houses more than 11,000 ocean animals in 19 habitats.