Baja Peninsula, Wine Country And PNW

San Diego is a vacationer's paradise, with year-round temperatures in the seventies and near-constant sunshine. One of America's most family-friendly cities, San Diego is home to LEGOLAND, the New Children's Museum, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Sunbathers and surfers are guaranteed to find their perfect beach, and foodies find delights in artisanal breweries, local bistros, and gourmet restaurants. From the Broadway excitement of La Jolla Playhouse to the European feel of Little Italy to the nouveau-chic of the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego has something for everyone.

Found at the tip of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas is where the desert meets the ocean. Although it has received a makeover of modern Americana in recent years, this place is still a world away from everywhere else in Mexico. A trip to Cabo (the San Lucas is optional) will not leave you disappointed. With swaying palm trees, turquoise seas and long ribbons of white sand, this is a resort that ticks every box: great food, great nightlight which equal great times – for some. Others may prefer to scratch the surface just a bit deeper and travel along the peninsula that is known for its dramatic scenery of desert terrain and rugged coastline marked by many unusual formations. The sweeping views of the bay are simply sensational. A quick turn inward takes you to San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas’ older and more grown up sister. Offering a very much calmer and much more authentic atmosphere, just half an hour along the coast leaves you in its desert terrain, and leaves a very different impression from the lively beachfront bars and cafes of San Lucas. Perhaps one of the most stunning ways to see Cabo though is from the water. With the Arco de Cabo San Lucas featuring highly on many must-see lists, a trip around the bay is a must. The braver among you might also like to indulge their inner adrenalin junkie and swim with whale sharks – a memorable and totally risk-free experience if there ever was one. End your day of sightseeing with a fabulous sunset, a (tequila) sunrise in hand, watching the fishermen come home from their adventures.

A tranquil way of life abounds in La Paz, which means "peace." Among its simple pleasures: strolling the palm-shaded malecón, lazing on the beautiful beaches of nearby Pichilingue Peninsula, snorkeling sapphire seas at lovely Los Islotes, home to a colony of inquisitive sea lions. Sample shore excursions: Snorkeling at Los Islotes; Highlights of La Paz; Discover Todos Santos; Blandra Bay Snorkel.

This ancient and beautiful destination, cradled by the lush hills of the Sierra de la Giganta and the cobalt waters of the Sea of Cortez, immerses you in history and culture from the moment you step onto its shores. Dating back nearly 12,000 years, Loreto is thought to be the oldest human settlement on the Peninsula of Baja California, and you can explore its fascinating cave paintings and petroglyphs. It is also where the Jesuit missionaries landed, founding the first Mission of Baja California and establishing the Church of Our Lady of Loreto, which still anchors the town. Mexican heritage and colonial influences can both be seen as you wander through the quaint streets, browsing curio shops, sampling local fare and meeting the friendly people. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring Loreto's sun-drenched and scenic surroundings. Sparkling beaches and dramatic cliff-top vistas invite thrill-seekers and eco-travelers alike to discover the local flora and fauna and the abundant water activities. Kayaking, snorkeling, sailing and sport-fishing are popular, as are more extreme off-road adventures and, in the winter months, whale watching. Come experience the unspoiled beauty of Loreto for yourself!

San Diego is a vacationer's paradise, with year-round temperatures in the seventies and near-constant sunshine. One of America's most family-friendly cities, San Diego is home to LEGOLAND, the New Children's Museum, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Sunbathers and surfers are guaranteed to find their perfect beach, and foodies find delights in artisanal breweries, local bistros, and gourmet restaurants. From the Broadway excitement of La Jolla Playhouse to the European feel of Little Italy to the nouveau-chic of the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego has something for everyone.

Catalina, one of California's Channel Islands, lies offshore about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Los Angeles. The island's distinctive landscape—a mix of mountains, canyons, beaches and coves—is mostly undeveloped outside the charming port town of Avalon. Here you'll find a beach community with a Mediterranean flair reminiscent of a quieter time, and one that seems far from the traffic and bustle of Los Angeles. Sailboats bob in crystal-clear waters in the crescent-shaped bay, and the main street is lined with boutiques and restaurants in brightly painted bungalows. You can easily explore Avalon in a few hours, as nearly everything is concentrated in a few blocks. That leaves the afternoon for exploring the rest of the island. Purchased in 1919 by William Wrigley, Jr., the chewing-gum magnate, Santa Catalina Island (to use its full name) once served as the spring training ground for the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Today most of the island is owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy, which works hard to preserve its flora and fauna, from Catalina Island foxes to the bald eagles flying overhead and the schools of bright orange Garibaldi fish swimming in the bay. VIEW CRUISES

The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.

The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.

Scenic Astoria, Oregon, is awash in history and raffish port town charm. For a city of just 10,000 people, there’s much to do. Climb its famous column to see a vast panorama of water and woods. Pub-crawl the waterfront Riverwalk with the help, in season, of an old-fashioned trolley. Feast on fresh seafood. Explore a state-of-the-art maritime museum, a low-tech cannery museum or a river pilot’s Gilded Age mansion. Or take a short trek to Fort Clatsop, named for the local tribe, where Lewis and Clark hunkered down in the cold, rainy winter of 1805. Six years later, John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company started the first permanent U.S. settlement on the west coast. Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria became a vibrant port with a strong economy based on shipping, fishing and timber. In the 1980s both the Bumble Bee Seafood canneries and the Astoria Plywood Mill closed and the era of tourism began. Starting with The Goonies, the town also became a popular movie set—scenes in Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Short Circuit, The Ring Two, Into the Wild and The Guardian were all shot in the charming, steep-hilled town. Today Astoria’s fine restaurants, brewpubs, trendy hotels and quirky shops—along with its impressive views and nearby Pacific beaches—make it a great place for a relaxed visit.

Of all the cities in Canada, Victoria may be the furthest from Great Britain, but it has the most British vibe. Between sipping afternoon tea, visiting flower gardens and castles and stopping in at pubs, one could easily forget about the Pacific Ocean lapping at the other side of Vancouver Island. The influence of the First Nations culture is also strong here in Victoria, with totem poles taking a front-and-center position on the Inner Harbour and in Beacon Hill Park. Extensive galleries are devoted to the history of the First People at the Royal British Columbia Museum, too, one of Victoria's top tourist attractions. Other waves of immigration besides that of the English are evident in the streets of Canada’s oldest Chinatown here, as well as on the menus of the city’s many restaurants, pizzerias and tavernas. Start your visit to Victoria's sights and attractions at the Inner Harbour. Whale-watching cruises and sightseeing floatplanes take off and return from their excursions here and government buildings, museums, the Visitor Centre and the grand Fairmont Empress provide a dignified welcome. Just around the point, Fisherman’s Wharf offers a lively contrast with working fishing boats, barking harbor seals and busy seafood restaurants serving up the catch of the day. Take time for a jaunt to the famous Butchart Gardens, a truly stunning show garden developed on the site of a depleted quarry. Enjoy afternoon tea or a walk in the park or a shopping trip to Market Square or along Government Street. However you choose to spend your day here or decide where to go in Victoria, the city’s civilized delights will charm you.

Boasting mountains, sea, culture, art and so much more, many cities claim to have it all, but few can back it up like Vancouver. Famously livable, just visiting this highrise city - surrounded by staggering natural beauty - is a thrill. Offering all of the creature comforts of an ultra-modern, worldly metropolis - even downtown has a hint of mountain-freshness to its air - and part of Vancouver's appeal is how easily you can swap the skyscrapers for whale-filled oceans and mountain-punctured skies. View less Head up to the Vancouver Lookout Tower for the ultimate 360-degree views of the city glistening, amid the beautiful embrace of the beckoning wilderness beyond. But what to see first? Art lovers might choose the Vancouver Art Gallery or the Contemporary Art Gallery. Nature lovers might rush for the ferry to visit Vancouver Island - where they can encounter grizzly bears, whales and orcas. Culture vultures, on the other hand, will probably head for the sights and sounds of Canada's biggest Chinatown. From steaming dim sum for lunch to Chinese apothecaries offering herbs to soothe any illness, it’s all here thanks to the migrant workers of the 19th century. The one-of-a-kind treasure of Stanley Park brings wild wonder and natural beauty to this cosmopolitan city's doorstep, and the pine-tree clad park offers isolated trails and amazing views. Wander the Seawall that encircles it - a 20-mile coastal path, full of joggers, whizzing skaters and wandering couples. Grab a bike and cycle between Coal Harbour and Kitsilano Beach. You can top up your tan on the shore, as you soak in the glorious views of the mountains and cityscape from the sands.