If you're looking for some great Florida beaches but aren't necessarily interested in a mega-resort or theme park atmosphere, Pensacola might just be the place for your perfect weekend. Home to Gulf Islands National Seashore, the city offers some of the best fishing and boating in the area. Inland, canoeing enthusiasts won't want to miss the beauty of the Blackwater River. Closer to town, the city has a proud military heritage, which can be seen at attractions like the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Just 10 miles east of La Romana lies the fishing town of Bayahibe. Here, divers will find spectacular coral formations and three shipwrecks: the Atlantic Princess, St George and Coco. In the national park, nature enthusiasts will find lagoons and wildlife, including a variety of birds. There is much to do, but the inviting, soft white-sand beaches are perfect for travelers seeking relaxation.

Set in the picturesque Coachella Valley, Indio boasts spectacular panoramas with distant foothills, soft blue skies, and easy access to phenomenal golf courses and other outdoor activities. Known as the “City of Festivals”, Indio has annual festivals that celebrate Native American culture, hot air ballooning, art, and food. The Coachella Valley is home to golf-happy communities like Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta. A unique combination of year-round temperate weather, distinctive desert and mountain terrain, and exceptionally high maintenance standards rewards golfers with fantastic play experiences in and near Indio. The Indio golf menu, please: Heading the list of places to tee up are The Golf Club at Terra Lago, Eagle Falls Golf Course, Indio Golf Course, and Indian Palms Country Club. A fun family-oriented activity is the Shields Date Farm, a great educational experience where you can learn how dates are grown and sample a date shake. To learn more about the area, visit the Coachella Valley History Museum on Miles Avenue. If you like to wager, Indio is home to the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, which has 2,000 slots and video poker and 40 table games, including bingo. Popular Indio festivals include the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in February, The Coachella Valley Stagecoach Country Festival in April, and the Indio International Tamale Festival in December.

Sausalito is just a ferry ride across the bay and offers unique tours, attractions such as “Bay Model” and “Bay Area Discovery Museum,” enchanting boutique shops, art studios and galleries and a wide selection of restaurants, outdoor cafes and bistros, many with stunning views back across the bay to the city.

If you want to step off a plane and be at a mega resort 15 minutes later, Jericoacoara probably isn’t for you. But if you want an unspoiled beach town, and don’t mind bouncing along rough dirt roads for an hour to get there, you might just think it’s paradise. Kitesurfing, windsurfing, Capoeira, and, of course, just lying on the beach are popular activities.

Situated on Maui's western shore, Kihei has grown exponentially over the years and now offers an impressive selection of hotels and restaurants, catering to visitors who flock to dive, swim and sun themselves on Maui's fine white sand beaches. Home to the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kihei is an excellent place to spot the vast mammals. Head out on a boat charter, eco-tour, rafting trip or fairway, or rent a car and drive the coastline or to volcanoes Haleakala and Puu Kukui.

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, has become an increasingly popular place to visit in recent years, with a warm Mediterranean climate in spite of its place facing the Atlantic Ocean. Full of bleached white limestone buildings and intimate alleyways, Lisbon's mix of traditional architecture and contemporary culture makes it the perfect place for a family holiday. Things to do in Lisbon: As Portugal's capital, there is a lot to see and do in Lisbon. Even exploring the city centre will take a few days out of a family holiday as there is no real central district, although Praça do Comércio is a good central place to start, in Baxia, or Rossio, the city's main square which has a sort of Trafalgar Square feel to it. Or you might try climbing up the Cristo Rei, a huge statue of Christ with spectacular views across the whole city. The Castelo de São Jorge also offers great views and isn't quite such a steep climb. A short tram ride to the west of Lisbon will also bring you to Belem, where you can explore attractions like the Belem Tower and the Belem Cultural Centre, which features a fantastic art collection including works by Dali, Picasso, Warhol and Magritte. In downtown Lisbon, you'll also want to visit the Gulbenkian, which has to be Portugal's answer to the British Museum full of fascinating cultural artifacts and with some superb gardens in the grounds. It's possible to have a fascinating educational family holiday in Lisbon, and there are also plenty of great beaches to work on your tan.