San Diego, California's southernmost city, blends sun, sea and surf with a cool, easy vibe. Bordering Mexico and home to 1.3M+ people, it's made of distinct neighborhoods like Mission Beach, Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter and Downtown. Settled by Native Americans 12,000 years ago, later under Spanish and Mexican rule, it's long called "America's finest city."

Honolulu is Hawaii's only true metropolis: seat of government, commerce, shipping, entertainment, and constant debate. From a small harbor settlement by Mamala Bay, it grew around Nuuanu Stream and King Kamehameha I's 1804 compound, then spread after piped water arrived in the early 1900s. Today the City and County of Honolulu stretches from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki and into the hills, with sights in Waikiki, Downtown, Chinatown, and beyond.

Honolulu is Hawaii's only true metropolis: seat of government, commerce, shipping, entertainment, and constant debate. From a small harbor settlement by Mamala Bay, it grew around Nuuanu Stream and King Kamehameha I's 1804 compound, then spread after piped water arrived in the early 1900s. Today the City and County of Honolulu stretches from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki and into the hills, with sights in Waikiki, Downtown, Chinatown, and beyond.

Kona on Hawaii's west coast has a north-south contrast: the north has sandy beaches and barren lava slopes, while the south is greener and feels more like old Hawaii. Its main resort, Kailua-Kona, is the island's most developed area, though low-rise buildings keep much of the shoreline open. Ali'i Drive is lined with shops, hotels, and flowers. Nearby are Mount Hualalai, Hulihee Palace, Ahuena Heiau, Kealakekua Bay, and the Kona coffee-growing region.

Nuku Hiva, the second-largest island in French Polynesia's Marquesas after Tahiti, is still largely undiscovered by tourism. It offers dramatic mountains, eight harbors, one of the world's highest waterfalls, deep clear waters, lush forests, and archaeological sites like tikis and pae pae. Though French is official, Marquesan/Tahitian is more widely spoken, and younger locals also speak English. Herman Melville's stays here inspired Typee and Omoo.

Fakarava is an oblong Tuamotu atoll, the second largest, 450 km NE of Tahiti and 120 km SE of Rangiroa. Its eastern edge has a 40 km reef-and-motu chain. It is known for drift diving at Garuae Pass near Rotoava and Tamakohua Pass in the south. Tetamanu by the southern pass was the old capital and has the archipelago's first church (1874). Declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2006, it has no overwater bungalows. Bellingshausen "discovered" it in 1820; missionaries arrived later.

Rangiroa is French Polynesia's largest atoll. Over 400 motu enclose a vast lagoon, giving it the name "wide/long sky" or "immense sky." Avatoru and Tiputa sit by the main passes, where drift diving and snorkeling on incoming tides attract visitors to sharks and manta rays. Income comes mainly from government jobs, ecotourism, and pearl farming. Its calm turquoise lagoon, guesthouses, schools, and award-winning white and rosé wine also draw year-round visitors.

Papeete is the capital and gateway to French Polynesia, a tropical paradise of islands, beaches, and turquoise seas. It's a superb base for exploring Tahiti, with clear lagoons for snorkeling, black volcanic beaches, blowholes, and lush green mountains. Visit to relax and soak up the rhythm of Polynesian life.