Acapulco is Mexico's original resort town. Still a hugely popular tourist destination, the city sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast between the rugged Sierra Madre mountains and sun-splashed Acapulco Bay. Even with the high-rise hotel zone, streets congested with traffic and 1 million-plus residents and tourists who visit each year ... See more

Once a rough and rustic outpost, Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja Peninsula,  has morphed into one of Mexico’s most elite resort destinations and a thriving port of call on Pacific Coast cruise itineraries. With its large marina and gleaming bay, ... See more

As one of the most popular beach destinations in North America, Cancún, on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, is famous for its 14 miles of white-sand shores, luxury hotels and endless nightlife. The popular resort destination attracts more than 2 million visitors a year from around the world. ... See more

Costa Maya is the best of two worlds: a modern port built from the ground up for cruise passengers and an evocative gateway into the Mayan culture of yesterday and today. Tucked into the Caribbean coast between Riviera Maya and Belize, Costa Maya has an enviable concentration of Maya archaeological sites and the largest existing Maya population in Mexico. ... See more

There are two basic types of tourists in Cozumel: scuba divers and cruise ship passengers. And there’s lots to interest both throughout this island, just 30 miles long, 10 miles wide and 12 miles off the Yucatán Peninsula mainland. ... See more

Stretching 15 miles along a beach-studded coastline, Mazatlán is one of Mexico’s most established and alluring tourist destinations. It’s also the country’s largest Pacific port and a popular retirement spot for Americans and Canadians. ... See more

Playa del Carmen, the wild heart of the Riviera Maya, isn’t a port of call for large cruise ships,  but it is a popular day-trip destination for ships docking at Cozumel, 12 miles offshore, and at Calica, a small port five miles south. ... See more

Anyone who calls Puerto Vallarta a “fishing village” hasn’t been there in 50 years. Expect a resort city of 500,000-plus residents and tens of thousands of snowbirds and tourists, with all the attendant congestion. During the high season of November to March, as many as 8,000 visitors a day arrive by cruise ship alone.. ... See more

Stretching from Puerto Morelos  to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Riviera Maya is a tourism and resort district that dazzles visitors with 75 miles of sun-splashed Caribbean shoreline. Along with a growing string of all-inclusive resorts and small ... See more

Stretching nearly 200 miles between Mexico’s Pacific coastline and the jungle-clad western Sierra Madre range, Riviera Nayarit offers travelers everything from bohemian surfer towns to exclusive gated hotels. It’s flanked on the south by the resort community of Nuevo Vallarta, just across the river ... See more

You don't have to go looking for breathtaking scenery in Anchorage; it's everywhere. The vastness and drama of the Alaskan landscape cradles this city where 40 percent of the state's population lives. Set between shrouded peaks and the chilly sea ... See more

This awe-inspiring landscape of 15,000-foot peaks, fjords, coves, coastal beaches and forests and massive glaciers is not just part of the national park system, it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can thank the perseverance of 19th-century conservationist John Muir for recognizing Glacier Bay's importance and unique attributes and for pushing President ... See more

Haines is a small town in a huge landscape, arguably one of the most scenic settings of all towns on Alaska's Inside Passage. It sits on the shores of the Lynn Canal, the deepest, longest fjord in North America. Haines is 90 sea miles north of Juneau, 14 south of Skagway and just 40 miles from the Canadian border. That fact has ... See more

Icy Strait Point is located on Chichagof Island near the town of Hoonah, which was settled 2,000 years ago by the Tlingit and today is the largest Tlingit settlement in Alaska. Fur traders arrived in the 1880s, and in 1912, the Hoonah Packing Company opened the area's first cannery. In 1944, when a fire destroyed major parts of Hoonah ... See more

Tucked into a narrow stretch of shoreline along the Inside Passage in southeast Alaska, Juneau is a relatively small city (population of about 31,000) where nature looms spectacularly large. Descendants of the Tlingit people still call Juneau home, giving Alaska's capital multicultural appeal. Narrow streets, totems, art galleries, ... See more

Ketchikan lies at the southern end of Alaska's Inside Passage and at the meeting place of three Alaska native cultures: Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. Evidence of the rich artistic and dance traditions of the native cultures is apparent throughout town, most visibly in the totem poles scattered through the historic district and found in larger groupings in totem parks near town. ... See more

Seward is located on Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Cruise lines typically list the Gulf of Alaska port as Seward/Anchorage because it's the gateway to Anchorage, 125 miles to the north, to which passengers are transported via road or on the ... See more

Sitka is the only major city on Alaska's Baranof island. Its intriguing history and cultural appeal is matched by an embarrassment of riches when it come to scenery. Perched at the edge of Sitka Sound, the city has been influenced by Tlingit, Russian and U.S. culture, and visitors will find signs of all three throughout the region ... See more

The Klondike Gold Rush lives on in Skagway, where time hasn't entirely caught up with the future. Skagway is perhaps most famous as the setting for part of Jack London’s book “The Call of the Wild.” Although its population reached 10,000 at one time, today just 920 residents call Skagway home ... See more

Valdez is set on Prince William Sound with Chugach National Forest and the Chugach Mountains behind it. It has a storied past, including ties to the heady days of the Klondike Gold Rush, but it's hard for anything here to compete with the magnificence of ... See more

Whether you embrace or dismiss pop culture's one-dimensional portrayal of Los Angeles, everyone can agree that when the weather is spectacular, which is most of the year, the City of Angels is a dreamy destination. Residents who are intrinsically happy ... See more

With arguably the best weather in the United States, picture-perfect waves, a steady stream of visitors and some of the friendliest people around, San Diego is nothing if not unrelentingly pleasant. San Diego’s downtown ... See more

As with any world-class city, San Francisco offers both iconic landmarks as well as hidden jewels. Travelers who parachute in and out without staying a couple of days on either end of a cruise are missing out on a wide range of sights and experiences in this diverse, ... See more

At 4,028 square miles, the island of Hawaii, commonly referred to as the Big Island, is by far the largest in the archipelago. And it’s still growing, with active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea, which recently sent lava flowing through the town of ... See more

The largest city in Hawaii, Honolulu is a montage of white-sand beaches, high-rise hotels and condominiums, with a myriad of shopping, dining and entertainment. While it has a tropical ambience, Honolulu is the state’s political, economic, military, ... See more

The oldest and fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is lush, rugged and not as heavily developed as the other major islands of Hawaii. Visitors come to explore the island's beaches and natural wonders, and maybe do a little canoeing or ... See more

Just the word — Maui — is for most folks enough to get the fantasies flowing. And it’s all here, from a sweet, flower-kissed climate to perfect waves, perfect beaches and scenery so lush it won’t give your eyes a break even for a minute. The surprises ... See more

Most people know the island of Oahu for the state capital, Honolulu, home to the famous Waikiki Beach district. This storied piece of real estate, a miles-long, white-sand strand lined with high-rise hotels, is hands-down the premier urban beach resort ... See more

A destination of vast diversity and energy, Miami — self-proclaimed cruise capital of the world — boasts year-round warm weather and miles of beaches, making it an urban playground for U.S. residents and global travelers. Two million people call Miami ... See more

As one of the most popular and family-friendly vacation destinations in the world, Orlando, Florida, is a one-stop shop for theme parks. In addition to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Adventure Park Orlando thrill everyone from ... See more

Tampa is one of the country's busiest seaports. From its modest beginnings as a small port town, Tampa has grown into a center of commerce for West Coast Florida, and this growth is reflected in the diverse attractions located inside the city. ... See more

Halifax, the largest city in maritime Canada, is known abroad for its beautiful North Atlantic coastline, preserved architectural monuments and, occasionally, tropical storms. Serious weather has not stopped Nova Scotia’s capital city from growing into maritime Canada’s largest city and, arguably, its cultural center. ... See more

With a mix of old-world European flavor and modern urban vitality, Montreal charms guests just by being itself. High fashion boutiques, cutting-edge art galleries, fantastic restaurants and cafes dot the city, and make Montreal the Canadian epicenter for ... See more

Ontario supposedly derives from an Iroquoian word meaning “shimmering” or “glittering lake.” Bordered by Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to the southeast, Lake Huron to the south, Lake Superior to the southwest and Hudson Bay to the north, the Canadian province ... See more

Occupying the northeastern corner of North America, Quebec is Canada’s largest province by area. Its preserved French heritage and Francophone culture sets it apart, and it’s the only province where French is the official language and all the signs are in French. ... See more

Québec City is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico. This distinct characteristic is one of the facets that make Québec City a magnificent place to visit. The atmosphere, official language and culture of the town is French, and this becomes evident as you find out that 95 percent ... See more

Vancouver offers an exciting mix of natural beauty and urban sophistication. Start with the stunning harbor and glorious mountain setting. Spend time checking out the locally sourced dining options and dig into the region’s diverse cultural heritage. ... See more

The landscape of British Columbia is as diverse as it is beautiful, and the west coast, home to glorious Victoria, is no exception. From beaches to mountains, exquisite parks to enchanting architectural sites and museums, Victoria has it all. ... See more