In friendly Great Exuma, you'll want to be up early so you don't miss a moment outdoors. From fishing and sailing to snorkeling and windsurfing, there's almost too much to do. Design your own adventure and plunge in—particularly around Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, where the scuba diving is world-class.

Cat Island is simply ameowzing. Really, all puns aside. Legend has it that magical creatures inhabit the underground caverns of Mermaid Hole, and the ruins of Deveaux Mansion and Armbrister Plantation are breathtaking. A hike up to the Hermitage stone monastery on Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the Bahamas, will reward you with panoramic views. A guided tour of the island’s diverse creek systems is a must for nature lovers.

Forty miles south of Tampa and just seven miles west of Bradenton, Anna Maria is a paradise island. With the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound to the east and Sarasota Bay to the south, the seven-mile-long tropical island is a gem, with beautiful white-sand beaches on all sides and a year-round population of just 1800. The island was originally discovered by the Timucan and Caloosan Native Americans and then by Spanish explorers.

Combining the redwoods and the sea into one idyllic setting, Aptos is a quaint town that serves as home to the forested Nisene Marks State Park, perfect for mountain biking and hiking. Historic Aptos Village features antique shops, restaurants and boutiques. For the perfect spot to picnic, barbecue, or take a seaside stroll, head to Seacliff State beach and walk to the end of the pier to see the S.S. Palo Alto, an experimental concrete vessel known as “the cement ship”.

Brigitte Bardot frolicked on the beaches of St. Tropez in the '50s; now it's the playground of rap stars and international socialites. Most of the sandy hot spots lie southwest of town on the Baie de Pampelonne. But if you're not P. Diddy, take heart: you'll find a few family-friendly, public beaches where the sun, sand and waves are just as fabulous.