From the first Spanish Mission founded by the "Sacred Expedition" in 1776, through the Barbary Coast and Gold Rush, to its rebirth after the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco delights the eye, heart, and palate. With Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Pacific Heights' Victorian homes, Union Square, colorful trolley cars, Muir Woods, and nearby Napa and Sonoma, the "City by the Bay" is a must-see West Coast destination.

Honolulu is the capital and most populous city of Hawaii. In Hawaiian, honolulu means "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter." Settled by Polynesian migrants at an unknown date, the city remained the main seaport through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, U.S. annexation, and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Discover Hawaii's Garden Island at Nawiliwili, Kauai: dramatic landscapes from the nearly inaccessible Na Pali Coast to the wettest place on earth, Alakai Swamp, and the colorful, barren beauty of Waimea Canyon. See it all by helicopter, then enjoy the island's cuisine, shopping, and Aloha spirit. Stroll Kalapaki Beach, shop for famous Niihau shell leis, and savor locally grown tropical fruit in drinks, salads, or with fresh grilled seafood in this natural paradise.

Explore Kahului, Maui, Hawaii's Valley Island, with land and sea treasures: Haleakala Crater, Iao Needle, and beaches for swimming, diving, and surfing. In Lahaina, see the world-famous banyan tree by the Old Courthouse, stroll Front Street's shops, galleries, museum, and restaurants, and try shave ice. Pick up Maui souvenirs like "Kitchen Cooked" chips, coffee, and leis. In Kahului, visit the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Enjoy Hawaiian pig, poi, or fresh seafood in this lush tropical setting.

On Hawaii's Big Island, Hilo welcomes visitors with a historic downtown full of restaurants and shops. Don't miss Hilo Bay Beachfront Park, a beautiful black-sand spot popular with surfers and canoeists. Other highlights include Pana'ewa Zoo, the only rainforest zoo in the U.S., and Nani Mau Gardens, where a tram passes the iron bell tower and orchid pavilion. Day trips range from volcano tours and kayaking to hikes in Akaka Falls State Park.

Bora Bora lies 150 miles northwest of Tahiti in the Society Islands. The main island, home to 4,225 inhabitants, is in the center of a multicolored lagoon, surrounded by offshore "motu" islets inside a protective coral necklace. Its lagoon is world-famous for its beauty. A partially paved road circles the island, passing colorful villages, archeological sites, and old Army bunkers and cannons left over from WWII, when 5,000 American GIs made a "friendly invasion."

One of the most picturesque and geographically diverse islands in the Society Group, Enclosed in a single lagoon, it covers 75 square miles. Huahine is located 109 miles northwest of Papeete. The highest point on the island, Mt. Turi, reaches 2,200 feet and is located on Huahine Nui. Mt. Tavaiura in the Fitii Peninsula looks like a women's face, leading to her chest and her round belly, hence one of the interpretation for Huahine's original name (pregnant woman).

The islands of Polynesia are a gorgeous collection of volcanic islands and atolls strewn lazily across the grand Pacific Ocean. The island of Tahiti proper is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls that comprise French Polynesia. Papeete, the modern capital of Tahiti and her islands, contains government offices, hospitals, banks and many other services dedicated to serving the islands as well as tourists who come to these islands for a life-enriching experience.