After the Jesuits built a series of missions along the coast of Alta California, the Spaniards established a port in 1781 as a supply stop for their coastal shipping routes. With the arrival of the transcontinental railroad and the discovery of oil, people began to arrive in droves. In 1923 the much-photographed giant letters were erected on the hill, and the golden age of Hollywood was born. The scale of Los Angeles, 90 miles long by 50 miles wide, defies belief.

Cabo San Lucas on Baja's southern tip offers two sides: lively, bar-and-restaurant-filled Cabo and quieter, historic San José del Cabo. Once a sleepy fishing village, Cabo now draws beach vacationers; Playa El Médano is the main draw, and Land's End has Playa del Amor and El Arco. In San José, see a 17th-century Jesuit mission, a bird-filled estuary, and the Art District's cafes and galleries.

Mazatlán offers palm-lined beaches and a relaxed resort pace. In Old Mazatlán, see the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with its gold ceiling, then Plaza República and its Victorian bandstand. Teatro Angela Peralta, from the 1800s, is a national landmark. "The Pearl of the Pacific" is not complete without the cliff divers at Sanchez Taboada esplanade on the oceanfront boardwalk.

Acapulco, the "Pearl of the Pacific," is famed for soaring cliffs, white-sand bays, and the Sierra Madre del Sur. Watch the La Quebrada divers from La Perla at Hotel Mirador, explore the Fort of San Diego and El Zócalo, and visit the botanical garden. Finish with cliffside ceviche: fresh chopped raw fish with peppers and lime.

Drive into the mountains to beautiful old Antigua, once the country's colonial capital, and discover its lovely bougainvillea-draped buildings and breathtaking views of emerald volcanoes. Travel to famed Lake Atitlan and step back in time as you encounter the indigenous people in all their finery still living along the lakeshore. Whether you opt to explore the ancient Mayan history of the region or it's more-recent colonial past, its architecture, culture and locals are sure to inspire.

This small port city on Costa Rica's west coast is a gateway to mountains and wildlife. Cruise the Tárcoles River, home to birds and many crocodiles. In the Puntarenas highlands, see purebred Andalusian horses perform at a hacienda. Travel the Pacific coast to Carara National Park to spot scarlet macaws in rainforests and mangroves. Stroll Paseo de los Turistas by Puntarenas Beach and try a "Churchill," the local snow cone.

Panama City blends a shimmering skyline with cobblestone streets, rooftop bars, and centuries-old ruins. Founded in 1519, Panamá Viejo was abandoned in the mid-17th century and replaced by Casco Viejo; together they are a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site. Visit the Panama Canal Museum for exhibits on the "Big Ditch," and honor the 22,000 workers who died building it at Plaza de Francia.