Virginia features thousands of acres of state and national parks as well as the U.S.’s first national water trail. For those who like mountains, hike in Shenandoah National Park and for those who seek water, paddle the historic trails and waterways of Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

Want an upmarket, large ship cruise experience? Then look for the “X” painted on the ship’s funnel, marking the vessel as belonging to Celebrity Cruises. We like the line for such big ship amenities as dining and entertainment choices and also for the line’s good food and gracious décor.

Taos, NM, offers a variety of good places to eat, shop and play. That’s because the town, nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, has grown from a 70’s era haven for backpackers into a getaway destination for those interested in art and Native American history and heritage.

Taos, New Mexico, known for its historic Pueblo, towering mountains and plunging Rio Grande Gorge, lures art lovers too. At the Millicent Rogers Museum and the Harwood Museum as well as in adobe walled galleries admire historic and contemporary southwestern art.

Jamaica’s Half Moon Resort, Montego Bay, features one of the Caribbean’s largest and best spas, the 68,000-square-foot Fern Tree Spa. The facility uses indigenous products, provides custom treatments and takes advantage of its tropical locale to create indoor and outdoor spaces.

The islands of the Bahamas lure vacationers with palm-tree lined sands, top resorts and bountiful reefs teeming with rainbow colored fish. You can also explore aspects of the rich Bahamian culture in Nassau’s art museum and listen to indigenous music on the out islands.

A weekend at a charming inn or country hotel can be as welcome and rejuvenating as the harder to plan seven day plus vacation. These six Virginia properties each offer something special. Choose a retreat with noted cuisine, or expansive grounds, friendly hosts or an historic hotel.

It’s not just about endless drinks and ever-available buffets. All-inclusive resorts cater to a variety of needs. Anthony's Key, Honduras, the Inn at Robert's Grove, Belize, and the Hard Rock Hotel Dominican Republic offer different flavors of the classic all-inclusive vacation.

Whale watching off Nantucket is both fun and rewarding. The island, reached by ferry or plane from the Massachusetts mainland, offers a nautical and nice getaway, one that’s low-key, but upmarket.

The Titanic Museum Attraction, Pigeon Forge, TN, is a find. Shaped like the front half of the fated ship, the building looms over the parkway, forever foundering on its faux iceberg. “Tacky,” we assume, but we’re wrong. The museum delivers a tasteful retelling of the tragic story.