Hawaii

The Hawaiian archipelago sits in the middle of the Pacific, and each of its main islands has a distinct personality. Hawaiʻi Island, the youngest and largest, has the active Kīlauea volcano, snow-capped Mauna Kea and the resorts of the Kohala Coast. Maui is known for Haleakalā crater and the beaches of Wailea and Kapalua; Oʻahu pairs Honolulu and Waikīkī with the surf of the North Shore; and Kauaʻi, the greenest, hides the Nā Pali cliffs and Waimea Canyon.

Trade winds keep the islands warm rather than hot all year; winter brings more rain to the north and windward coasts, and humpback whales arrive from December to April. Hawaii suits honeymooners, families, divers and hikers, and short inter-island flights make it easy to combine two or three islands in one stay.