Washington, D.C., is a city of flowers. The most famous blooms, the cherry blossoms, are expected to peak at the end of March, lacing the Tidal Basin surrounding the Jefferson Memorial with a ribbon of pink. Enjoy the sight; but as locals know, take advantage of the city’s less crowded gardens.

What do a log cabin, 20,000 books and a guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen have in common? They’re all part of the Mansion on O Street’s surprises. The Mansion not only offers hotel rooms and event space, but hosts teas, brunches, treasure hunts, blue grass jams and drag shows.

One morning on our "gulet" (yacht)cruise of Turkey's turquoise coast, we awoke to the tinkling of bells and the touch of soft breezes that wafted across Karaloz Cove. A colony of goats was making their descent of a nearby hillside.

Carnival’s newest and largest ship, the 3,646 passenger Dream, launched September 2009, may be the “Fun line’s” best vessel yet, despite some crowding at maximum capacity. Several new features create smooth sailing aboard the Dream.

Cruises offer families a great vacation. But you must choose the right sailing. Years ago, before our first voyage, we worried that we’d come home fat, bored and broke. Instead, we had one of our best family vacations. Here are some tips to find the ship of your family’s dreams.

A European and Mediterranean cruise comes with the excitement of exploring museums, cathedrals and ancient ruins in France, Italy and Greece while unpacking only once. What we learned early on that mars the fun: long drives from ports plus planning too much to do in one day.

Rock climbing, ice skating and even surfing—care of the FlowRider, a clever contraption that generates waves—are just some of the adventures onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas, the third in the line’s triumvirate of activity packed mega-ships.

Looking for a winter sport that won’t break your budget and probably not your bones, but still moves you through the winter woods? Then go cross-country Nordic) skiing. Safer, easier to learn, and less expensive than downhill Alpine) skiing, cross-country is also a great deal of fun.

Cozumel, along Mexico’s Caribbean, offers white sands as well as first-class snorkeling and diving. In Los Cabos on Mexico’s Pacific coast, the desert meets the sea and jagged mountains rise. The sands turn coral in the sun and blue waves send plumes of white spray crashes against the shore.

A toucan landed just a few beak lengths away from our plates of chicken stew and fried plantains at a farmhouse in Costa Rica. Such animal encounters are commonplace in eco-friendly Costa Rica, a nation that protects more than 25% of its land as parks, refuges or reserves.