Sunny Florida skies, year-round warmth, nightlife, and a diverse culture define this cosmopolitan city. South Beach draws crowds, while the Art Deco District is the world's largest collection of Art Deco architecture. Shop from Bal Harbour to Lincoln Road and Coconut Grove, enjoy Cuban culture on Calle Ocho, or visit the historic Venetian Pool. There's something for everyone in this "Gateway to the Americas."

Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay lie in Jamaica's north-coast heart, near where Columbus first landed over 500 years ago. Island Village by the cruise pier offers casual dining, entertainment, souvenirs, and duty-free shopping. Dunn's River Falls and Waterpark is Ocho Rios's top attraction, with guided climbs or a waterfall massage. Coyaba Gardens and Mahoe Falls feature intricate water gardens and Jamaican Spanish architecture, while Shaw Park Botanical Gardens spans 25 acres of tropical beauty.

Drive through Manga's residential area to admire late-19th-century Republican-style mansions. Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, once Latin America's most important military fort. Take a boat to the Islas del Rosario-26 coral islands off Isla Barú-and continue to San Martín de Pajarales for the aquarium, dolphin and shark show, and other marine attractions. Then board the Spanish Galleon, a replica 17th-century ship, for a cruise of Cartagena's inner bay.

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.

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.

Discover Puerto Vallarta's old-world charm in Banderas Bay, framed by the Sierra Madre. In Old Town, follow the bells to The Lady of Guadalupe Church, ringing every 15 minutes, and admire its carved interior and architecture. Walk cobblestone streets to the Rio Cuale, where vendors sell silver jewelry, designer clothing, leather goods, and handmade pottery. Enjoy fresh seafood, grilled meats, café de olla, and sweets.

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.

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.