Vacations on the Cheap

Grand Junction, CO: $52.00 for Colorado Hotel near Rocky Mountains ($87.00 value)

Hotel near National Monuments and Ski Trails

Grand Junction is where the Rocky Mountains meet the high desert on the Western slope of Colorado. The city's picturesque setting, studded with red-rock canyons and rushing rapids, appeals to a wide range of outdoors enthusiasts who descend upon the rugged landscape year-round. Grand Vista Hotel is in the heart of this recreation center, with access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities and famous natural attractions. Twenty miles west, bighorn sheep and golden eagles share the sandstone cliffs of the Colorado National Monument. The city's lush riverside location also makes it fertile ground for vineyards and orchards.

This region is well-known for its downhill skiing?take part in this tradition with a lift pass (included in Option 2) at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Located about 40 miles from the hotel, this family-friendly resort features beginners' trails, forest glade runs, and terrain parks. Afterward, unwind in the hotel's newly renovated standard guest rooms, replete with comfortable chairs and cable TV.

Grand Vista?s Oliver's Restaurant, located just off the lobby, serves complimentary breakfast from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., including scrambled eggs, waffles, and fruit. The evening menu features assorted entrees for between $10?$11, and at the lively Bailey's Lounge, bartenders whip up a complimentary cocktail for each guest. The European-style pub?which stays open until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday?also hosts themed happy hours and karaoke nights.

Grand Junction, Colorado: Dramatic Mountain Ranges in Colorado Wine Country

Grand Junction is located on Colorado's Western Slope between Denver and Salt Lake City. Massive rock formations surround its high desert landscape?to the south, the Grand Mesa, and to the north, the Book Cliffs, a desert mountain range. Paved roads and well-marked trails connect many of the mountain ranges, so you can bike or hike your way through the rugged terrain. For an up-close look at the region's diverse wildlife, head to Colorado National Monument, where mountain lions and mule deer dart in and out of red-rock canyons.

The city is also a critical member of Colorado's wine country, due to its optimal grape-growing conditions. There are more than 20 vineyards and wineries scattered throughout the lush Grand Valley region that serve samples of award-winning blends and varietals, including chardonnays and merlots. Within a two-hour drive, you'll also find the natural hot-springs pools of Glenwood Springs and the thousand-foot-deep gorges of Moab, Utah.

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Denver, CO: $99.00 for Romantic Suites at Mansion near Downtown Denver ($199.00 value)

Victorian Mansion Steeped in Lore Right Outside Downtown Denver

In 1890, John Mouat?a prominent figure in America's booming lumber industry?built his family an elaborate Victorian mansion in Denver. Fittingly for a logging tycoon, Mouat decked out the rooms with intricately carved sycamore, maple, and walnut woodwork. A century later, Walter Keller and his wife Julie transformed Mouat's mansion into the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens. The name of the place is a tribute to the original owner, who might be pleased to know much of the original woodwork has been carefully preserved. Then again, maybe he already knows: paranormal experts claim the bed and breakfast can count a ghost or two among its regular guests.

Each of the inn?s four rooms feels like a meticulously curated museum exhibit, with authentic Victorian decor and sumptuous imported furnishings. These are set amid modern touches, such as flat-screen TVs, jacuzzis, and an iPad in each room. The Valentine suite features an Indonesian wedding bed carved from teak wood and imported from Java. In the Anniversary suite, stately columns impart a sense of Grecian grandeur, augmented by drapes of gold brocade and a bedside bust of John Stamos.

Downtown Denver, Colorado: Artsy Neighborhoods and Victorian Architecture in Mile-High City

A full mile above sea level, the glittering skyscrapers of Colorado?s capital city cut an imposing figure against the Rocky Mountains to the west. Downtown, contemporary architecture stands alongside historical landmarks such as the Denver Mint and Union Station, which has been a stop on the railroad since the 1880s.

Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens lies just outside downtown in the city's historical Highlands area, which CNN Travel dubbed "one of Denver's best-kept secrets." There's a nice mix of Victorian architecture and chic stores throughout the area. The highest concentration of boutiques, bodegas, and galleries can be found in the Tennyson Street Cultural District.

If shopping doesn?t appeal to you, you can learn about Rocky Mountain flora and fauna at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Through January 13, it will be showing A Day in Pompeii, an exhibit full of preserved artifacts from the Roman city that was covered in volcanic ash.

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Burgundy and Paris: $1,799.00 for Tour of Paris and Burgundy with Airfare ($2,999.00 value)

Tour of Burgundy and Paris

After spending time in Paris, Ernest Hemingway dubbed the city "a movable feast.? There's plenty to stimulate the senses in France's capital city?from the classical artwork at the Louvre to the night sky lit by the Eiffel Tower?but Burgundy, one of France?s main wine-producing regions, also leaves a lingering impression with its stunning chateaus, historic wineries, and quaint villages. You'll start your seven-day, six-night self-guided tour by spending several days in Burgundy, sampling French wine from a 250-year-old vault, touring centuries-old abbeys, and exploring verdant gardens, then cap off the trip with a visit to some of Paris? most famous landmarks.

Click here to see a full suggested itinerary.

Days 1?2: An overnight flight takes you from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris. Once in the fabled City of Love, you can pick up your rental car and set out for Burgundy.

Along the way, feel free to make a pit stop at the Ch?teau de Fontainebleau, a sprawling palace set on 130 scenic acres. The massive castle took three hundred years to fully complete, but the end result is dazzling, with more than a thousand rooms featuring elaborate frescoes and period furnishings from the collections of Marie Antoinette.

The Abbey of Fontenay is another iconic landmark en route to Burgundy. The UNESCO World Heritage site is nearly a thousand years old and is set amid a picturesque landscape of manicured gardens and stone fountains. Check out the abbey's forge, one of the earliest examples of its kind; it's also the supposed site of the invention of the hydraulic hammer and its initial testing on several cartoon characters.

The elegant 16th-century Ch?teau de Chailly will be your home base for the next few days. For eight centuries, the palatial structure served as a fortress, complete with a drawbridge. Today, historical touches include colorful tiled mosaics, old-fashioned chambermaids, and exposed wooden beams. There?s now an 18-hole golf course onsite as well, designed by professional French golf champions.

Days 3?5: In Burgundy's wine country, rolling vineyards and Renaissance-style buildings showcase the city's strong Italian influence. At Beaune, Burgundy's unofficial wine capital, you?ll partake in an included tour and tasting in the massive vaults of Patriarch P?re et Fils winery, which has been around for nearly 250 years. The winding underground cellars can be traced back to the 13th century and are stocked with millions of wine bottles.

A tour of the Hospices de Beaune, a former Flemish-style medieval hospital known for its gabled, tile-lined roof, is included in your trip, as is entry into Ch?teau du Clos de Vougeot, a former wine farm that now serves traditional French cuisine. The chateau sits along the famed Route des Grands Crus, a 60-kilometer stretch of the C?te d?Or, or Gold Coast, that passes by some of the region?s most spectacular vineyards and French villages. Along the way, there are numerous opportunities for exploring gardens by foot or bike and places to fish.

Day 6: The next day, venture toward Paris to settle in at the lavish, four-star Mercure Paris Op?ra Garnier and explore the city at your leisure. The hotel is a scenic stroll from the Champs-?lys?es, the famous picturesque avenue dotted with caf?s, boutiques, and fountains.

A short trek south takes you to Notre Dame Cathedral. Its looming bell towers, stained-glass windows, and stone gargoyles recall medieval times.

Day 7: Head back to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight back to the States.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Durango, CO: $149.00 for Elegant French Manor amid Colorado Wildlife ($358.00 value)

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Lightner Creek Inn

• It?s only 5 miles from downtown Durango and 33 miles from Mesa Verde National Park, known for its Native American cliff dwellings.
• The inn resembles a French country manor; it has landscaped gardens and a backyard pond.
• Each morning, the innkeepers prepare a fresh breakfast, served in the sunroom or on the veranda.
• You might see wildlife, as the inn is located across the street from a peregrine falcon sanctuary and next door to an elk preserve. In nearby Durango, you can hike, bike, whitewater raft, or shop downtown. *The famous jumping scene from the classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed at Baker?s Bridge, which is located above the Animas River, about 13 miles north of Durango.

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Ridgway, CO: $199.00 for Mountainside Adobe Lodges in Southwest Colorado ($506.00 value)

Luxurious Adobe Lodgings in San Juan Mountains

The Hollywood producers behind the 1962 epic film How the West Was Won needed a shooting location that would do justice to the film's huge budget and star-studded cast. They found a stunning backdrop amid the San Juan Mountains in a tiny town called Ridgway, where bighorn sheep, deer, and elk roam the green fields south of town. You can experience the film's iconic backdrop at Chipeta Solar Springs Resort, which is dotted with adobe-style lodges.

Each lodge at the resort exudes southwestern style: there are rough adobe walls, tiled baths, and knotted-wood furnishings. Some lodgings overlook the property?s solarium, and the Loghill and Mears rooms feature private covered porches looking toward the mountains. For the best view, head to the rooftop of the Four Corners Cafe, an onsite restaurant manned by chef Adrian Musgrove, who recently won the Master Chef competition at the annual Taste of Ouray. If you?re undecided on what to choose from Four Corners' menu, Chipeta Solar Springs general manager Roger Gardner recommends chef Adrian?s Cajun shrimp, followed up by a signature mojito at Skybar.

The resort's spa provides massage treatments with herbal oils, marble stones, and other natural elements. You can also unwind in Chipeta's saltwater thermal pools, which are heated by solar panels. Stop for a cup of tea at the solarium, too, a two-story room teeming with indigenous plants.

Ridgway, Colorado: Old West Town near Telluride Ski Area

Known as the "Gateway to the San Juan", Ridgway lies between the Cimarron and San Juan Ranges in southwestern Colorado's Uncompahgre Valley. Vestiges of old Ridgway are on display at the Ridgway Railway Museum, which houses a collection of antique rail cars. Nearby Telluride's slopes and the renowned Telluride Ski Area draw skiers until early April. Here, they slice through powder skiing, test limits on a vertical drop, and revel in free gondola rides. Ten miles south of the hotel, climbers scale the town of Ouray's public ice climb park. Ouray's historical Victorian buildings house boutiques and art galleries, where artisans blow glass, handcraft metals, and whittle wooden statues with sharp rhetoric.

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Online: $1,377.00 for Weight-Loss Program near Utah?s Red-Rock Canyons ($2,295.00 value)

Award-Winning Weight-Loss Retreat in Southwest Utah

Since 2004, tens of millions of viewers have tuned into the hit reality show The Biggest Loser to watch contestants shed pounds and revamp their eating habits during an intense weight-loss competition. Season winners invariably emerge 100?150 pounds lighter, with completely reshaped physiques. The show?s focus on committing to strict exercise and nutritional regimens is also at the core of The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge Utah, which was voted #1 in the Spas of America's Top 100 Spas of 2011.

The resort's weight-loss program fits exercise, healthy meals, and lifestyle seminars into a daily schedule from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Certified personal trainers might jump-start mornings with hikes through the region's red-rock canyon landscape, which enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine per year. At mealtimes, the resort provides nutritious, low-calorie meals designed by registered dieticians, holistic nutritionists, and Executive Chef Cameron Payne, who received training at Le Cordon Bleu and from Wolfgang Puck. For dinner, you could celebrate a productive day with a Hawaiian chicken bowl, topped off with key lime cr?me brulee for dessert. Breakfast and lunch provide energy for additional exercises throughout the day, which may include water aerobics, kickboxing, or yoga.

Between workouts, groups attend lectures on weight training and nutrition education, including food-label reading and body-workout recovery. The onsite spa, The Retreat, rewards hard-working participants with massages, facials, and acupuncture treatments (not included with this Groupon). In 2011, The Retreat won Spa magazine's Reader's Choice Award for Best Weight-Loss Spa.

One of the hallmarks of the program is a supportive team environment, as each person encourages other members of the team to push further than they thought they could go. At the end of the week, trainers record each guest's weight and measurements and note their progress. But the program doesn?t necessarily have to end there; the experience should help guests stick with a healthier lifestyle long after their stay.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Online: $1,617.00 for One-Week Weight-Loss Program in Malibu ($2,695.00 value)

Award-Winning Weight-Loss Retreat near Sunny Pacific Coast

Since 2004, tens of millions of viewers have tuned into the hit reality show "The Biggest Loser" to watch contestants shed pounds and revamp their eating habits during an intense weight-loss competition. Season winners invariably emerge 100?150 pounds lighter, with completely reshaped physiques. The show?s focus on committing to strict exercise and nutritional regimens is also at the core of The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge, Malibu, which was voted a top 10 fitness program in the SpaFinder Readers' Choice Awards in 2011, and named one of Spas of America's top 100 spas.

The resort's weight-loss program fits exercise, healthy meals, and lifestyle seminars into a daily schedule from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Certified personal trainers might jump-start mornings with hikes through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a beautiful, Mediterranean-like mountain range with both beginner and expert trails. At mealtimes, the resort provides nutritious, low-calorie meals designed by registered dieticians, holistic nutritionists, and Culinary Institute of America-trained executive chef Rodolfo Reyes. For dinner, you could celebrate a productive day with a Hawaiian chicken bowl, topped off with key-lime cr?me brulee for dessert. Breakfast and lunch provide energy for additional exercises throughout the day, which may include water aerobics, kickboxing, or yoga.

Between workouts, groups attend lectures on weight training and nutrition education, including food-label reading and body-workout recovery. An onsite, full-service spa rewards hard-working participants with massages, facials, and acupuncture treatments (not included with this Groupon).

One of the hallmarks of the program is a supportive team environment, as each person encourages other members of the team to push further than they thought they could go. At the end of the week, trainers record each guest's weight and measurements and note their progress. But the program doesn?t necessarily have to end there; the experience should help guests stick with a healthier lifestyle long after their stay.

Las Vegas: $85.00 for South Beach Glamour at New Tropicana Las Vegas ($158.00 value)

Whitewashed High-Rise Hotel on Strip with Tropical Ambiance

Resorts in Vegas seem to take great pleasure in defying their geography: in a quick cab ride through town, you can visit a replica of the Eiffel Tower and a decadent Roman palace. Tropicana Las Vegas is no exception. Palm trees and white day beds line the nearly 2-acre pool, though the nearest coastline is hundreds of miles away. The resort's South Beach atmosphere is the result of a $180 million transformation that was completed in 2011. It was money well spent, according to Las Vegas Weekly, which recognized the hotel as Best Comeback of the Year. The Tropicana's sprawling pool snakes underneath a pedestrian bridge that connects the resort's two 20-story towers. Waterfalls splash beside the pool's edge and next to the outdoor patio of the Beach Caf?, which serves poolside cocktails alongside salads and burgers. Dine at the elegant Biscayne Steak, Sea & Wine, which serves aged rib eyes and lobster tails. At Bacio by Carla Pellegrino, the eponymous celebrity chef whips up Old World classics such as penne alla vodka and scaloppini al marsala.

Tropicana on the Las Vegas Strip: Multifaceted Entertainment Center with Casino and Shows

Modern slots no longer dispense piles of quarters, but the trill sound of a winning slot machine is still the siren song that attracts people to Vegas. The Tropicana Las Vegas's own casino is lined with more than 850 slots, set among a race-and-sports-book area and tables huddled over by card sharks who play no-limit hold'em poker. Gambling, however, is hardly the property?s only source of entertainment. The onsite Laugh Factory club welcomes pro comedians such as Mark Pitta and Grammy nominee Judy Tenuta. In the Tropicana Las Vegas's southern tower, Mob Attraction Las Vegas showcases the underworld history of the Vegas Strip dating back to Prohibition. More than 1,000 historical artifacts?including personal mementos of mobsters from Benjamin ?Bugsy? Siegel to Charles ?Lucky? Luciano?and live actors illustrate the nebulous behind-the-scenes workings of organized crime.

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Tempe, AZ: $69.00 for Southwestern Resort near Phoenix ($139.00 value)

Palm-Shaded Southwestern Resort near Airport

Among the rough-and-tumble prospectors pouring into Arizona in the 1860s, there was an Englishman and self-appointed aristocrat who called himself "Lord" Darrell Duppa. Drawing on his Cambridge education, he named one town Phoenix to suggest its rebirth from the ashes of older settlements and another Tempe, after the Valley of Tempe in Greece. Today, the two cities are inhabited by more than 14 million people and are still growing. Within Tempe is the Fiesta Resort Conference Center, which lies a few miles from the Phoenix airport. The hotel simplifies travel plans by offering a complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle and a business center equipped with touchscreen printing stations.

The hotel's southwestern decor includes sunburst carvings, geometric fabric prints, and paintings of saguaro cacti posing as stadium goalposts. The guest rooms are housed in low-slung buildings inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, who built his winter home, Taliesin West, in nearby Scottsdale.

Slender palm trees shade the outdoor pool, and cacti flank Milagro's, the onsite restaurant. You can sample the eatery's signature chicken-tortilla soup at lunch or dinner or show up for complimentary snacks during Kachina Lounge's happy hour (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays). Outdoor patio seating surrounds a fireplace shaped like a step pyramid.

Tempe, Arizona: University Town near Downtown Phoenix

If you hear Tempe natives referring to "A Mountain," there's no need to ask which one. It's the local nickname for Tempe Butte, a steep-sided hill with a giant letter A painted near its peak to represent Arizona State University. The butte rises above the school's campus, which dates back to 1885. Along the western edge of campus lies the Mill Avenue District, an area popular with students for its brewpubs and shops.

Downtown Phoenix, a 15-minute drive away, boasts an ASU satellite campus as well as several acclaimed museums. Escape the sun in the air-conditioned confines of the Children's Museum of Phoenix or the Phoenix Art Museum, which includes a collection of Thorne Rooms?miniature dioramas of ornate interiors kept tidy by a fleet of tiny Roombas.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Niagara Falls, NY: $89.00 for Riverfront Hotel Near Niagara Falls ($167.00 value)

Riverfront Hotel Minutes from Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls flows along the border of both New York and Canada, and it's essentially consensus that Canada has the best panoramic view of the cascades. But where the Canadian side features fun houses, high-rise hotels, and sprawling commercial sites, Niagara Falls, New York, taps more into the roughhewn wilderness of the area. The rapids' sense of raw power is also readily apparent in the winter, when attractions close, ice bridges form over the Niagara River, and chills crystallize the surging mist onto the surfaces of trees and railings. Situated right along the river, Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls sits about 5 miles east of Niagara Falls State Park. After you explore the natural wonderland, the hotel acts as a home base: there's a fireplace in the lounge, and the heated pool is housed in a glass atrium overlooking the river.

You'll get a bottle of wine and an appetizer at the onsite Bella Vista Ristorante upon arrival. The Italian eatery's menu?crafted by celebrated chef Jason Chmiel?features hand-rolled pastas and housemade pizzas. All the wines hail from CK Mondavi?a third-generation family winery that uses cold fermentation and sterile filtration techniques to create bold, crisp varietals. Meals can be enjoyed on a seasonal patio overlooking the Niagara River, or in a casual dining room, where diners can catch sports on large flat-screen TVs or make their own milk shakes by roasting scoops of ice cream in the flickering fireplace.

Included with this Getaway, the $30 casino voucher can be redeemed for slot play at the Seneca Niagara Casino, located a few miles west of the hotel. The casino is home to more than 4,200 reel-spinning and video slot machines, as well as more than 100 table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette.

Niagara Falls, New York: Preserved Natural Beauty and World-Class Wines

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States, and its rustic beauty has been preserved partially because of its resistance to overcommercialization. Most nearby attractions help to heighten appreciation of the falls? natural majesty, such as the Hurricane Deck, a wooden platform located a mere 20 feet from the rushing rapids of Bridal Veil Falls, and an aquarium that houses more than 1,500 marine animals from both local and nonnative ecosystems. Nearly 15 miles of hiking trails wend through the park; along the way, learn about the area's history at the discovery and visitors centers or by eating the informational panels that pop up along the trails.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Gatlinburg, TN: $59.00 for Gatlinburg Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains ($119.00 value)

Expansive Lodge Surrounded by Great Smoky Mountains Woodlands

The old-school Gatlinburg Trolley connects all the big attractions in town, including Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Great Smoky Mountains National Park; it even makes a stop at Glenstone Lodge. Tucked amid rolling hills covered with ash and hickory trees, the rustic lodge exudes backcountry charm, though it's just a short ride away from Gatlinburg's family destinations.

The surrounding mountains and nearby attractions are the main draw, but there?s plenty to do at the lodge. You can hone your short game on the putting green, or train for the 400-meter individual medley in the outdoor pool. There?s also a two-level indoor pool fed by waterfalls within a cavernous, tropical-plant-filled atrium. The guest rooms are accented by warm green hues and offer views of either the pool or surrounding woodlands.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Family-Friendly Fun amid the Great Smoky Mountains

Gatlinburg sits amid the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee, near the border of North Carolina. Glenstone Lodge is less than a mile from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of America?s most popular national parks. Here, you can hike more than 100 trails that wend past waterfalls and pioneer-era log cabins tucked deep within the densely forested mountains. Or, take a bicycle ride on the 11-mile loop through Cades Cove, a broad valley known for its ample wildlife-viewing opportunities; deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and vacationing college mascots are known to frequent the open meadows. One of the best places to catch a glowing sunset is Clingmans Dome, the park?s highest point of elevation at 6,600 feet.

Downtown Gatlinburg is packed with attractions geared toward vacationing families. There are indoor water parks, ghost tours, and quirky museums, which include Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium, Guinness World Records Museum, and a museum showcasing more than 20,000 salt and pepper shakers.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Seaside, Oregon: $84.00 for Up to Half Off at Sandy Cove Inn in Seaside, OR ($168.00 value)

Chic Inn Steps from Pacific Ocean

In just a few short years, the Tucker family has transformed the Sandy Cove Inn from a timeworn motor lodge into a stylish and comfortable retreat, and it?s located just two blocks from the beach and the promenade. Managers Mike and Betsy Tucker bring enthusiasm as well as expertise from their former roles in advertising and event planning to provide personalized, concierge-like services, including a carefully vetted guide to local eateries and a welcome doggie bag for four-legged guests.

The family's resident decorator, Ann Tucker, has given each of the inn's 18 rooms a unique design scheme?ranging from the whimsical Monopoly and Wave rooms adorned with hand-painted murals to the elegant Garden and Country Charm rooms, accented with French furnishings and artwork collected at Parisian shops and flea markets.

Seaside, Oregon: Historical Coastline Where Mountains and Rivers Meet the Sea

"More than just a day at the beach" is Seaside's well-deserved motto?a reference to the many year-round activities available beyond the town's stretch of sandy coastline. Along the oceanfront, you'll find an eclectic mix of carnival rides and one of the West Coast's oldest aquariums. The Seaside Aquarium offers seal shows and a touch tank inhabited by sea anemones, starfish, and sea urchins.

Among the area's numerous hiking trails, the winding Clatsop Loop Trail at Ecola State Park follows in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark past ancient sitka spruce trees. From December to April, the trail?s scenic promontories also make for ideal spots to view migrating gray whales as they swim past Seaside twice a year on their way to and from their homes in northerly Arctic waters.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Online: $87.00 for Texas Retreat on Shores of Lake Texoma ($139.00 value)

Golf, Fishing, and Boating on the Shores of Lake Texoma

More than 70 species of fish, including striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish, swim the blue waters of Lake Texoma. Both locals and out-of-towners flock to go fishing at this 89,000-acre lake that spreads across the Oklahoma border; it's also popular for sailing. Tanglewood Resort lies just steps from the shore, and you can get a nice look at the water from lake-view rooms.

Renowned golfer Arnold Palmer and course architect Ralph Plummer designed the resort's 18-hole championship golf course, which has a unique, eco-friendly grass hybrid that relies on less water and fewer caddy tears for irrigation. For more recreation, Tanglewood offers volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, and tennis courts.

Tanglewood Resort has two onsite restaurants. You can get a nice steak at the upscale Commodore Room, which overlooks Lake Texoma, or enjoy pizza and brews at Barnacle Sports Bar and Pizzeria. In the morning, there's a cornucopia of eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and make-your-own waffle ingredients for breakfast.

Pottsboro, Texas: Desert Oasis North of Dallas

Pottsboro lies just over an hour's drive north of Dallas. With massive Lake Texoma nearby, people come here to enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

While here, take a boat cruise aboard the 55-foot Last Call. The two-hour tour of the lake skirts sandy islands where you can get a closer look at wildlife. Alternatively, the 80-foot party boat Oasis boasts an expansive upper deck that holds more than 40 people. Adjacent to the hotel, the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is an ideal spot for hiking, fishing, and bird heckling, with more than 11,000 acres populated by native flora and fauna, including deer, turkeys, bobcats, hawks, and songbirds.

Las Vegas: $97.00 for Spacious Suites Minutes from Vegas Strip ($178.00 value)

Quiet, Spacious Suites near Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip has no shortage of glitz, from the Bellagio fountains' kaleidoscopic light show to the dozens of casinos, nightclubs, and sparkling neon signs everywhere you turn. Yet just a few blocks east of the Strip, the city's casual side emerges. Here, the Alexis Park All Suite Resort?the first nongaming hotel in Vegas?cultivates a tranquil atmosphere with three sparkling pools and secluded courtyard gardens. Come nightfall, you won't hear the jingle of slot machines or banter at the blackjack table, but there's still plenty of entertainment in the stylish sports lounge. And if you should heed the siren call of Sin City, the action is just a few minutes away.

Quiet walking paths lead to more than a dozen two-story guest-room buildings. Along these walkways, you'll pass swimming pools encircled by lounge chairs, palm trees, and colorful flower beds. At the Pegasus Bar & Lounge, bartenders pour ice-cold cocktails, and the Alexis Gardens Restaurant?where guests enjoy 20% off meals during their stays?serves prime rib and surf 'n' turf specialties on a poolside patio.

Renovated in 2011, the Crown Loft suites' unique two-story layout includes a whirlpool tucked halfway up the staircase. Downstairs, you'll find a kitchenette and a living area, where you can stretch out after a long night or build replicas of Mount Rushmore with your chip winnings. The Monarch suites feature a simple layout and a stylish palette of crimson and cream.

Las Vegas: The Strip Past and Present

Mentioning Las Vegas usually conjures up images of spinning roulette wheels and stone-faced poker players. If that?s what you?re looking for, you?ll want to make a beeline for the casinos lining the neon-lit Strip. But for lower-stakes gambling in a throwback Vegas atmosphere, head downtown to Fremont Street. Vintage signs and showgirls crowned with headdresses recall the days of Sinatra and Martin, but this Glitter Gulch burns much brighter today than it did in the Rat Pack era: beginning at dusk, a canopy of more than 12 million LED lights erupts in a psychedelic light and music show every hour.

Educational attractions have never been Sin City's strong suit, but the Mob Museum boasts a winning formula: bank robberies, prostitution, and money laundering. Exhibits profile legendary Mafiosos from Capone to Gotti, and mob artifacts include the bloodstained, bullet-pocked brick wall from the St. Valentine?s Day Massacre. Within the former federal courthouse, you can fire a Tommy gun simulator, participate in a police lineup, or enter witness protection for the rest of your life.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Greater Traverse City: $79.00 for Upscale Michigan Mountain Resort ($142.00 value)

Family-Friendly Resort with Lake and Mountain Views

No interior designer, no matter the budget, can compete with Mother Nature. As luxurious as a recent multimillion-dollar overhaul has made Shanty Creek Resorts? Summit Village Lakeview Hotel?s lobby, a look past the elegant chandeliers and velvet seating can only complement the resort?s sweeping views of hardwood forests along Lake Bellaire. Just out the door, the Summit and Schuss Mountains draw visitors year-round to their 53 trails and four terrain parks. And while the weather?s still warm enough to hit the links, golfers come for the Legend and Summit Golf Courses, which inspired Conde Nast Traveler to name Shanty Creek one of the world?s best golf resorts.

For dinner, guests can wander down to The Lakeview Restaurant, for local smoked whitefish gratin, roasted duck, and other regionally influenced cuisine. While you?re having dinner, you?ll take in picturesque views of the lake from floor-to-ceiling windows. The dining room?s large, wood-burning fireplace warms up the space on winter nights, while a handsome wooden bar draws guests looking to relax with a cocktail or perform a rousing clog-dancing routine on its surface.

Rooms have a private balcony or patio. With its dark-wood furniture and pale-gold walls, the room simultaneously feels both rustic and stately. For quick access to the ski trails, the other two villages, or nearby downtown Bellaire, hop on the resort?s complimentary shuttle. While you?re here, there?s plenty to do: horseback riding, boating on Lake Bellaire, wine tasting on the Leelanau Peninsula, and much more.

Bellaire, Michigan: Quaint Lakeside Village with Mountain Activities

Located about 1.5 hours east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the area around Bellaire, Michigan undulates with modest peaks and valleys. The dual peaks at Shanty Creek become a skier's haven in the winter. Supertickets provide all-day access to trails on Summit Mountain and Schuss Mountain, which include NASTAR racing courses that let skiers time their slalom runs or snowball-pitching speeds. Before winter arrives, the resort?s golf courses offer a scenic challenge?tee off from the hilltops at the Arnold Palmer?designed Legend course, or putt amid the wetlands at the Schuss course.

Both tourists and locals enjoy a leisurely walk down downtown Bellaire?s historic main street, where several quaint stores sell locally crafted items. For a break, you can grab a locally brewed pint at Shorts Brewing Company, where more than 20 beers are on tap each day.

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Riviera Maya: $539.00 for All-Inclusive Resort on Riviera Maya ($1,620.00 value)

All-Inclusive Spacious Suites Steps from Private Beach

Halfway between Canc?n and Playa del Carmen, a large private beach is tucked into the coastline of the Yucat?n Peninsula. The beach belongs to Hotel Marina El Cid Spa and Beach Resort, whose sunshine-yellow stucco walls are only a few steps away from the sand. Past an entrance flanked by palm trees, check in for a relaxing, all-inclusive vacation, during which all meals, snacks, and alcoholic drinks are covered; you don't have to worry about anything but enjoying the sparkling Riviera Maya.

The resort's primary attraction is its 22,000-square-foot pool, which is accessorized with water slides, rock formations that occasionally resemble someone you know, and separate play areas for kids. The poolside Hacienda Arrecife restaurant and swim-up bar serve fresh Mexican food and cocktails. Sun chairs, set in the shallows of the water and under palapa huts, are surrounded on all sides by palm trees and winding garden paths.

Later, head to one of the four onsite restaurants for dinner. There's La Marina, where you can dine on fresh seafood while taking in views of yachts bobbing in their slips at the resort's marina; El Alcazar, which serves Asian Mediterranean fusion food in an intimate setting; and laid-back Alhambra, home to a wide-ranging buffet.

In airy junior suites, private balconies overlook the Caribbean Sea, the pool, or the lush hotel gardens. Inside, each suite features sleek yet comfortable furnishings, an in-room jacuzzi, and a spacious marble bathroom. The hotel has complimentary 24-hour room service, and stocks each room?s mini bar with beer, soda, and bottled water for no extra charge.

Puerto Morelos, Mexico: Reefs, Snorkeling, and Ancient Mayan Culture

Hotel Marina El Cid is located less than a mile from the quaint fishing village of Puerto Morelos, and about a 30-minute drive from both Playa del Carmen and Canc?n. The resort overlooks the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park, one of the largest reefs in the Western Hemisphere. It's a popular snorkeling site thanks to its diverse underwater wildlife.

Nearby, stalactites and stalagmites jut from the ceiling and floor of Aktun-Chen, an underground cave where adventurers can snorkel through an ancient natural well. Eighty minutes from the resort, ancient Mayan culture is on display at the Tulum ruins, where crowds flock to see an impeccably well-preserved walled city overlooking the sea.

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Catalina Island, CA: $79.00 for Resort in Catalina Island Foothills ($159.00 value)

Mediterranean Resort in the Southeastern Foothills of Catalina Island

The mountains in southeastern Catalina Island are crisscrossed with multilevel hiking and biking trails that wind past rugged terrain speckled with St. Catherine?s lace and prickly-pear cacti. The dirt trails are open year-round, but in 2006 the San Diego Reader recommended attempting them between late October and March when ?crystal-clear days?[afford] an ever-changing panorama of the blue ocean, San Clemente Island to the south, and the snow-capped summits of the San Gabriel Mountains on the mainland.? Many of the most popular trails, including the Trans-Catalina Trail that stretches along the entire island, are just a short walk from Catalina Canyon Resort & Spa in Avalon.

The Mediterranean-style resort overlooks the town of Avalon from the foothills of southeastern Catalina Island. The private balconies of some guest rooms open to views of the mountains; others look out onto the resort?s heated pool, set in an outdoor courtyard shaded by towering palms.

In the morning, use your dining credit toward a California-style breakfast or dinner at the Canyon Bar & Grill, also located in the courtyard. At the Spa at Catalina, you can get an organic seaweed body wrap in a candlelit room.

Santa Catalina Island, CA: Desert Foliage and Secluded Coves in the Pacific Ocean

Santa Catalina Island, most often referred to as Catalina Island, is just 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, but it?s a world away from the crowded metropolis. The island?s unpopulated interior is home to a vast array of desert foliage and wildlife, and its many secluded coves are nice spots to soak up rays or snorkel among starfish, sea urchins, and bright-orange garibaldi. Travel + Leisure called these coves ?ready-made for romance,? naming Catalina one of the most romantic islands in the world.

Much of Catalina Island is accessible only by dirt hiking and biking trails, but you can see many of its endemic plants in town at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. The memorial, which was constructed with blue flagstone rock from the harbor and hand-painted tiles from Catalina Pottery, is just a short drive or half-hour walk from Avalon, the island?s only major city. To see a little more of the interior, take the all-levels Garden to Sky Hike from here for spectacular views of the island and surrounding ocean.

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Downtown Vancouver: C$139.00 for AAA Four-Diamond Hotel in Downtown Vancouver (C$236.00 value)

AAA Four-Diamond Boutique Hotel in Heart of Downtown

The Hotel Le Soleil?s stone archways, gilded molding, and oil paintings evoke an aristocratic estate plucked from Rococo France and replanted in downtown Vancouver. At the entrance, a doorman dressed in a gold waistcoat ushers guests into the lobby, where they?ll find red velvet armchairs set in front of a crackling fireplace. The hotel?s easy elegance earned it a nod as one of the Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Canada in the 2012 TripAdvisor Travelers? Choice Awards.

Upstairs, the regal theme continues throughout one-bedroom suite accommodations. Rooms with damask-striped gold wallpaper are furnished with 19th-century European decor, including down duvets and pullout couches adorned with crimson and gold brocades. A corner suite adds an expanded sitting area, bathed in sunlight from two floor-to-ceiling windows.

The onsite Copper Chimney restaurant serves Indian-inspired small plates, such as a lamb kebab dressed with crushed lentils and mint chutney (C$12).

Vancouver, British Columbia: Bustling Metropolis near Skiing Wonderland

Despite playing host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver enjoys relatively mild winters; because of its coastal climate, very little snowfall sticks to the ground or any slow-moving pedestrians.

Along the northeast edge of downtown, the historic Gastown has a brick-paved pedestrian mall that runs along the waterfront. Once a salty cluster of saloons, the area today is lined with coffee shops and nightclubs, as well as an iconic, steam-powered grandfather clock hugging a sidewalk grate. To the south, across the inlet of False Creek, the Granville Island Public Market hosts booths filled with artisanal foods and homemade crafts, and the up-and-coming neighborhood of South Main attracts hip crowds with its progressive eateries and indie boutiques.

Although numerous ski resorts stand just outside city limits, Whistler Mountain, a two-hour drive to the north, boasts the world-class ski trails that hosted the Olympic downhill events. The peak is blanketed in powdery snowdrifts by late November, when both the slopes and the apr?s-ski nightclubs come to life.

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Online: $129.00 for Quiet Bed and Breakfast near Cedar Rapids ($215.00 value)

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Die Heimat Inn B & B:

• The bed and breakfast is located in one of the seven villages comprising the Amana Colonies, where you?ll find art galleries and craft shops, homemade German cuisine, and the Millstream Brewing Company.
• Guest rooms reflect the local heritage with handmade quilts and simple wood furnishings carved from walnut and cherry.
• The innkeepers serve a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning that may include homemade granola, fresh fruit, and hot dishes such as breakfast casserole, specialty pancakes, and fresh scones with lemon curd.
• The property is 5 miles from The Old Creamery Theatre, where you can watch professional stage productions in a 300-seat auditorium.
• Several towns lie within 30 miles, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Kalona, the largest Amish Mennonite community west of the Mississippi River.

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Hot Springs, VA: $339.00 for 4-Star Resort in Allegheny Mountains ($678.00 value)

Historical Four-Diamond Resort with Mineral-Springs Spa

Since it first opened in 1766, The Homestead has enjoyed a reputation as one of the most luxurious resorts in the country, with a prestigious guestbook that includes more than 20 US Presidents. Golfing legend Sam Snead honed his game on the resident Old Course, and the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts once strolled the Grand Halls and gaming lawns. Today, The Homestead is as grand as ever. An outdoor water park was recently added to the property, and in 2011 and 2012, the resort was named one of the best in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. Set on 3,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, The Homestead is a premier Southern retreat.

The resort?s popularity has always been influenced by its proximity to natural mineral springs. Take a soak in the healing waters that Thomas Jefferson claimed to be ?of the first merit? at the Jefferson Pools, where the mineral content is so high that you?ll float with ease. Other presidents, including Taft and Eisenhower, favored the resort?s golf courses. Play a round on the Old Course, which dates back to 1892 and boasts the oldest tee in continuous use in the nation.

The resort's mountain environs make it an ideal base for outdoor recreation. Catch a glimpse of waterfalls and edible plants on a guided hike along the Cascades Gorge trail, or cast your line into a stream stocked with rainbow trout during a fly-fishing adventure. The Homestead also operates one of the few downhill ski resorts in the South, so when the slopes open, grab a complimentary lift ticket and race snowmen on 45 acres of scenic trails.

The Homestead?s 10 restaurants and bars include Sam Snead?s Tavern and the main dining room, which draws a sophisticated dinner crowd with fine dining and live music. In the morning, you'll find pancakes, pastries, and cooked-to-order omelets at the breakfast buffet, which is included in some purchase options.

Bath County, Virginia: Warm Mineral Springs amid Allegheny Mountains

Bath County?a highlands region in western Virginia?has a very fitting name; the area is home to a wealth of natural thermal springs that can reach temperatures upwards of 100 degrees. Since the early 1700s, visitors such as George Washington have traveled to Bath County to soak in the hot springs, whose healing properties are said to promote mental and physical well-being.

This area is also known for its unspoiled scenery. Spend an afternoon hiking the trails that wend through forests next to freshwater streams. Or, hop in your car for a scenic drive on country roads that crest over the Allegheny Mountains.

Bath also supports a prolific arts community. Just 3 miles from the resort, at the Garth Newel Music Center, you can enjoy an intimate concert followed by a gourmet meal with the musicians. The center also hosts festivals and champagne brunches throughout the year.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Greater Palm Springs, CA: $55.00 for Desert Resort near Palm Springs Golf Courses ($107.00 value)

Chic Desert Hotel with Hollywood Pedigree

Founded in 1957 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Indian Wells Resort Hotel attracted a roster of A-list guests from the get-go. Designed as an exclusive winter getaway, the resort gave celebs a chance to play tennis or golf and lounge poolside in the desert sun. You can follow in their footsteps today at the retro-chic hotel, which still channels the glamour of Palm Springs' midcentury heyday.

Golfers will want to schedule a tee time at Indian Wells Country Club's private course; it was the original home of the PGA's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. In 1995, the tournament brought presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Gerald Ford to town for a legendary round of bipartisan golf. Newer additions at the resort include the Celebrity course, which features streams, split-level lakes connected by waterfalls, and trash-talking holograms of Fred and Ethel Mertz.

Pop into the onsite Loren restaurant for a meal, or relax with a whiskey on the rocks in the retro lobby lounge, dubbed Frank's Place after Ol' Blue Eyes himself. Singer Frank DiSalvo belts out Rat Pack classics in the lounge every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from September through May. Next to the outdoor pool, chefs sling sandwiches, salads, and tropical cocktails at the Palm Terrace, which overlooks the 11th green of the course at Indian Wells Country Club.

All guest rooms are equipped with private balconies offering views of the pool or the surrounding desert landscape. One-bedroom suites overlook the Santa Rosa Mountains and the country club. Come morning, dig into Loren's breakfast entrees, which include breakfast sandwiches, belgian waffles, and french toast.

Greater Palm Springs, California: Desert Cities with Outdoor Recreation and Hollywood History

Indian Wells is located just 17 miles southeast of Palm Springs. As Hollywood royalty began flocking to the area in the 1950s and '60s for the temperate weather and tucked-away feel, Indian Wells grew into a celebrity destination in its own right. President Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed the area so much that he made Indian Wells his winter home.

Though it experienced a lull at the turn of the century, the greater Palm Springs area has emerged once again as a vacation hotspot. The sun shines roughly 350 days a year here, so the abundant hiking trails and designer golf courses stay open all year. Luxury spas and boutique shops fill the city's glitzy downtown area, which is surrounded by chic midcentury hotels and elaborate, Mediterranean-inspired villas.

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San Diego: $99.00 for Hilton in San Diego?s Mission Valley ($196.00 value)

Mission Valley Hotel Just a Few Miles from SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo

The first electric trolleys rumbled through the streets of San Diego in the late 1800s. Passengers rode in style?some early models featured cherry-wood interiors, solid-bronze hardware, and mother-of-pearl push buttons, which contrasted sharply from the previous years? sooty locomotives and horse-drawn carriages. Today, visitors and locals still get around by electric trolley on the modern San Diego Trolley lines. Railcars run to some of the city?s most popular attractions; you can catch a Green Line trolley just two blocks from the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley.

The hotel is located in the north San Diego neighborhood of Mission Valley, just 5 miles from SeaWorld in Mission Bay and 4 miles from the San Diego Zoo. After a full night?s sleep on Serta mattresses topped with down-filled comforters or on an elaborate pillow fort, head to the hotel?s restaurant and lounge, Stish, for a full breakfast buffet (extra fee). Stish also serves a full menu of steaks and seafood?the name is a combination of ?steak? and ?fish??as well as cocktails made from local fruits, juices, and herbs. This getaway includes one appetizer and two cocktails at the lounge.

San Diego: Historical Attractions and Electric Nightlife in Southern California

San Diego's sunny, comfortably warm weather and 70 miles of coastline have long attracted vacationing out-of-towners, but the city's inland scene is no slouch, either. The Gaslamp Quarter is arguably one of the trendiest listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The area forms both the historic center of town and a hub of San Diego nightlife, with nearly 100 Victorian-era buildings now occupied by high-end boutiques, jewelers, and gourmet restaurants.

During the day, a stroll through iconic Balboa Park takes you past 17 separate museums, as well as the world-famous and much beloved San Diego Zoo. There's also the vibrant Spanish Village Art Center, a living gallery where local artists continuously produce pottery, handblown glass, and oil paintings for sale.

Farther north, in Old Town?site of the first European settlement in California?shops in Mission-style stucco buildings sell colorful wrestling masks, woven baskets, and maracas. Nearby stands The Whaley House Museum, dubbed one of the Most Terrifying Places in America by the Travel Channel. Ghosts of former residents are said to inhabit the rooms, which are filled with Victorian furniture, eerie dolls, and squeegees for ectoplasm cleanup.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Daytona Beach, FL: $54.00 for Daytona Beach Resort with Ocean Views ($99.00 value)

Palm-Flanked Pool and Ocean Views near Daytona Beach Attractions

Along Daytona Beach's 23-mile stretch of sun-kissed coastline, parasailers soar above the ocean, scuba divers delve beneath the surface, stock cars zoom around the track at the Daytona International Speedway, and families stroll past glittering amusement-park rides on the Daytona Beach boardwalk. Acapulco Hotel & Resort sits on a narrow barrier island just a short drive south of Daytona Beach, offering easy access to the area's fun-filled attractions and beaches.

If you need a break from the sand, you can take a dip in the resort's palm-fringed outdoor pool, which overlooks the ocean and stays open year-round. You can also take in partial views of the waterfront from the balcony of your ocean-view room. The spacious rooms exude a tropical vibe; double beds are topped with brilliant-red bedspreads decorated with colorful blooms. Each ocean-view kitchenette room has the additional convenience of a two-burner glass-top range, cookware, and an intimate two-person breakfast nook.

If you'd rather leave the cooking to the professionals, visit the hotel restaurant, where you can savor breakfast amid warm lighting and comfy leather chairs. The restaurant is open for limited hours, so you may want to check out the range of nearby restaurants, which run the gamut from big-name chains to seafood restaurants and upscale alfresco eateries.

Daytona Beach, Florida: Racing Legacy and Renowned Coastline

At the turn of the 20th century, motorists began racing on the packed sand of Daytona Beach out of practicality: the beach had a wide, unobstructed stretch and a smooth surface ideal for high-speed sprinting. Today, stock-car racing has moved to the Daytona International Speedway, but it?s still possible to park your car along the oceanfront?one of the few beaches in the world where you can do so.

Hundreds of thousands of racing fans visit the speedway each year to watch world-class champions such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Jeff Gordon. The calendar's main event is the Daytona 500 in February?the first race of the Sprint Cup Series and typically regarded as the most prestigious. On various behind-the-scenes tours, you can explore the speedway's elevated press boxes, banked infield turns, and decadent hot tubs filled with motor oil.

Meanwhile, on Daytona Beach itself, cars toting beach gear roll across the hard-packed sand through oceanfront driving zones (there are also traffic-free areas). South of town,] you can visit the 175-foot Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, where a spiral staircase leads to views at the top of a 52-acre park filled with armadillos, shore birds, and native wildflowers.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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