If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Ashville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries.

Steel and coal may have built this city, and you'll see the names "Mellon" and "Carnegie" on an awful lot of things, but Pittsburgh has come a long way from its gritty, industrial past. The Waterfront Complex, a collection of shops, restaurants, a cinema and even a water park, was recently built on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Works, and two new professional sports stadiums have opened downtown in just the past two years. However, history buffs will delight in a visit to sites like the Point State Park (home of the Fort Pitt Museum) and the Duquesne Incline, where you can ride an antique cable car and browse displays about this unique form of transport. If you don't mind the extra drive, a trip to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater makes a rewarding detour.

travellers say Halifax is best seen on foot, so park the car and start walking. Immerse yourself in Halifax's rich history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and be sure to survey the city from the 18th-century Citadel National Historic Site. Then walk into any of Halifax's great bars and restaurants and catch some live music to round out your day.