1. Juneau, Alaska

Alaska’s capital is remote and can’t be reached by car, unless you put your car on a ferry. Sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, Juneau is the country’s most scenic capital and rich with history and Native heritage.

Because of its wild location, Juneau is a great spot for amazing recreational experiences—it’s just 13 miles from Mendenhall Glacier, (pictured here) a wildlife hotspot for seeing bears, bald eagles, and whales, plus plenty of kayaking, rafting and hiking opportunities.

2. Page, Arizona

Page was created as a housing site in the 1950s for the workers who were building the Glen Canyon Dam, which dams the Colorado River forming Lake Powell. The lake is a top spot for water-based recreation and the region is rich with gorgeous views and geologic wonders.

Page is a good launching-off point for other sites such as Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley. Pictured is nearby Horseshoe Bend, where a .6-mile hike will reward you with this view.

3. Salem, Massachusetts

An historic maritime town north of Boston, Salem is best known for the witch trials that took place in 1692. But its seaside charm and beauty lend itself to plenty of other pleasures and historical interests.

Follow the Salem Heritage Trail through over 400 years of the town’s history. It will take you to the Salem Witch Museum and the House of the Seven Gables, best known today as the setting of world-renowned American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel. The tour includes Hawthorne’s birthplace, waterfront views, and a unique museum store. 

If you go to the historic graveyard, don’t miss the understated Salem Witch Trials Memorial, pictured here, a quiet and somber spot remembering the victims of hysteria who were killed for being so-called witches.

4. Sonoma, California

Just next door to Napa Valley, the town of Sonoma is the heart of California’s other most famous wine valley, and known as well for its cheese, historic adobe mission, and the oldest winery in California. Pictured is the historic plaza, where you can browse shops, eat at fine restaurants, see the mission, and taste wines and cheeses.

Sonoma County boasts beautiful parks within minutes of the town square, plus coastal and redwood parks farther afield with great recreational opportunities. 

5. Tierra Verde, Florida

This boating community near St. Petersburg, Florida, is a gateway to Fort De Soto Park, which has some of the best nature and wildlife viewing in the region. 

Tierra Verde has marinas, fishing spots, casual restaurants, award-winning beaches, waterfront campgrounds, miles of pedestrian and kayak trails, and the ruins of an historic Spanish-American War-era fort made of shell and stone, pictured here. 

  >>Plus: 10 Top Cultural Travel Destinations

6. Philadelphia

Spend a long weekend in one of the country’s most historic cities where you can take in the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed.

Philadelphia is a renowned culinary destination, but you can also take the opportunity to eat like a local with some comfort food classics, including soft pretzels, hoagies, and cheesesteaks. 

Each neighborhood has a different style of food, from Italian to Asian-fusion. Check out the Southeast Asian market in South Philadelphia, where you can try Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisines.

7. San Juan Island, Washington

There are a lot of islands in the Seattle-Vancouver area, but San Juan is one of the largest and most populous with lots of lodging, dining and tourism activities. You can fly there, take a ferry or water taxi.

San Juan Island is a good spot to launch a whale-watching trip or go kayaking, cycling or hiking. The island has beaches and one of the country’s largest lavender farms. Tripadvisor recommends the bustling Friday Harbor with plenty of restaurants and shops, plus the 19-acre sculpture garden at Westcott Bay Reserve.

8. Camden, Maine

If you feel like you’ve seen this place before, it’s because its picture-perfect setting has made it a popular location for many movies, including “Thinner,” “Forrest Gump,” “Olive Kitteridge,” “Peyton Place” and “In the Bedroom.”

This beautiful seaport town with a harbor full of sail boats is made for ocean lovers and sailing enthusiasts, plus it has great food, shopping and other outdoor adventure opportunities. There are several historic lighthouses in the area, too.

9. Galena, Illinois

This picturesque town of just 3,200 in northwestern Illinois is close to the Mississippi River and the borders of both Iowa and Wisconsin. The six-block Main Street has remarkable examples of various architectural styles, ranging from French Colonial to Greek Revival, and 85% of the town is a national historic district.

Galena has numerous bed and breakfasts, and is a great spot for fine dining, golfing and antiquing. You can also visit the elegant mansion home of Ulysses S. Grant.

    >> Related: Hidden Gems: Most Underrated Tourist Attractions in the U.S.

10. Whitefish, Montana

A gateway town to Glacier National Park, Whitefish is a recreation haven with Rocky Mountain scenery that will heal the sorest eyes. It’s great for winter skiing as well as cycling, horseback riding and whitewater rafting in summer. 

Give yourself a few days to see Glacier National Park, a rich tapestry of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. Bring your kayak, your tent, your hiking boots, your camera, your fishing pole, and your vehicle reservation, which is required.

11. Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan is a popular stop for cruise ships, as it’s located along the coastal route of Alaska’s panhandle. 

Ketchikan is a gateway town to the beautiful Misty Fjords National Monument, part of the Tongass National Forest, the largest, intact coastal rainforest in America. Misty Fjords is just 22 miles from Ketchikan; you can take a flightseeing trip in a sea plane or a day cruise to see the stunning scenery. 

12. Durango, Colorado

This former mining town in southwestern Colorado is a popular spot for outdoor recreation, thanks to its scenic beauty.

Take a trip through the canyons of the San Juan National Forest on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, or walk around the historic downtown and enjoy some fine dining and entertainment.  

From Durango you can check out Mesa Verde National Park where you can see some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the country. Other parks you can visit nearby include Chaco Canyon, Hovenweep, and Four Corners.

13. Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Saint Simons Island, part of the Golden Isles chain near Brunswick, is a nearly 18-square-mile island once dominated by rice and cotton plantations. It’s known for its salt marshes and sandy stretches of beach. Pictured here is the historic Christ Church which was rebuilt in 1884 after it was burned in the Civil War.

The charming St. Simons Island Lighthouse has a museum that traces its history; the lighthouse, also destroyed in the Civil War, was rebuilt in 1872. The island is a great spot for birdwatching, whale watching, fishing and other recreation.

14. Ogunquit, Maine

A few miles north of Portsmouth on Maine’s southern coast, Ogunquit offers a long sandy peninsula with grassy dunes and sheltered white sand beaches.

There’s a lighthouse in Ogunquit too, and a charming working fishing cove where you can wander through shops and galleries and eat at numerous restaurants or catch a musical at the Ogunquit Playhouse in summer. The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is known for its waterside sculptures and works by Maine-related artists.

15. Paso Robles, California

Paso Robles is California’s quieter wine country, 250 miles south of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, and 125 miles north of Santa Barbara, the wine region featured in the film “Sideways.” Besides wine tasting, you can take a ride in a hot air balloon and visit the historic Estrella Warbird Museum and Paso Robles Pioneer Museum.

Downtown Paso Robles is very walkable, with good shopping and dining, and more wine tasting. It’s an easy drive to the college town of San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, too.