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Joshua Tree National Park wildflowers: Joshua Tree National Park attracts people throughout the year, but is in full bloom with wildflowers during March and April. You may have to hike off the beaten path to find the colorful flower beds, but you'll be rewarded with the reds of the chuparosas, the blues of the canterbury bells, and the yellows of the desert dandelions. A seven-day vehicle permit (encompassing the entrance fee for everyone inside) costs $15.

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Crossroads Cafe and Tavern: Before you hit the open desert road, stop by Crossroads for one of the best breakfasts in town. Along with the traditional staples such as pancakes and eggs, you'll find stuffed challah French toast or homemade beef hash. Vegans delight in the Vegan Sunrise, which includes baked tofu and a slew of veggies. The funky restaurant/bar also serves lunch and dinner. Breakfast items start at $3.50.

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Spin and Margie's Desert Hide-a-way: At Spin and Margie's Desert Hide-a-way, you can become one with the dry landscape while staying in a cozy hacienda-style inn. Choose from four colorful suites or a one-of-a-kind studio cabin, each equipped with a private patio, outdoor grill, and queen bed. All suites also have a kitchen, making it easy to create your own meals from the comfort of your room. Prices for suites start at $125 per night and the cabin begins at $135 per night. A two-night stay is required during weekends.

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Strong National Museum of Play: Fun and education are the name of the game at the Strong National Museum of Play, where kids and grown-ups alike are encouraged to play. You could spend days exploring the more than 150,000 square feet of space filled with interactive exhibits and hands-on displays, including a child-size supermarket, Reading Adventureland, and the Sesame Street neighborhood. Be sure to stop at the National Toy Hall of Fame, which currently showcases 38 historic and contemporary toys worthy of the honor. Admission costs $10 per adult and $8 per kid.

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Wegmans: Wegmans is more than just a supermarket—it's a way of life for those in the know. The store offers fresh produce and high-quality products from around the world, sold in an open and inviting space. Recently, its Rochester location has opened Tastings, a gourmet restaurant featuring the store's best products. The best deal for adults is the three-course lunch tasting menu for $25.

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Spot Coffee: If you're in need of a little pick-me-up or your kids are craving something sweet, Spot is the place to be. With two floors, this coffeehouse features ample space to spread out and relax. As you refuel on a freshly brewed coffee or espresso drink, you can watch as the little ones savor a cup of rich cocoa.

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Noyo-Pacific Outfitters abalone diving: Saying "diving for abalone in Albion" may be a tongue twister, but it's also a must-do activity for any visit to the California Coast. Feel the invigorating rush of searching for the elusive mollusks as you dive from a kayak or the beach. If you're unsure about how to dive for abalone, Noyo-Pacific Outfitters offers a two-hour guided trip with an experienced diver for $150. However, if you think you can handle it on your own, you can rent the proper equipment for $25 all day.

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Ledford House Restaurant: Sitting high above the water on a bluff in the Albion Headlands, the Ledford House creates Provencal-inspired dishes with California produce. The menu changes monthly based on seasonal products and the chef's whim, almost guaranteeing you won't have the same meal twice. Most entrees cost between $20 and $30, but you can save money by ordering from the small-plates menu, which features items such as duck pate with lavender jelly for $12. The restaurant is open Wednesdays through Sundays, and you can listen to live jazz music as you enjoy sweeping views of the ocean.

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Fensalden Inn: Once serving as a stagecoach stop, the Fensalden Inn still offers weary travelers a place for rest and relaxation. The hotel sits on 20 acres of land 400 feet above the ocean, and you can wander through a meadow with deer or read a book by your room's fireplace. Be sure to have a drink in the Tavern Room, where the ceiling is still marked by bullet holes dating from the inn's livelier days. Rooms start at $149 per night, and include breakfast.

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Elm Wildlife Tours: Located outside Christchurch in Dunedin, you'll find a tour operator with an eco-friendly heart. Elm Wildlife boasts a negative carbon footprint, since its self-planted forest absorbs more carbon than its tours create. Come along on the Peninsula Encounters half-day tour, where you'll travel to the Otago Peninsula to view the Hooker's sea lions and blue penguins in their natural habitat. Tours cost 89 NZD (about $65.50 US; check XE.com for current exchange rates).

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GreenSpace: GreenSpace goes to great lengths to offer guests a comfortable place to stay while preserving nature. From the solar water heating system to the plantation timber flooring, the entire house is eco-friendly. Choose between two rooms that come with cotton bathrobes and cruelty-free toiletries. Daily breakfast is made with ingredients picked from the hotel's own organic garden. Rooms with breakfast start at 115 NZD per night.

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Seven Fields Organic: As the first certified organic retailer in Christchurch, Seven Fields sells items right from the farm such as fresh meat, salsa, nuts, and dried fruit. Prices depend on the item, but you can create a picnic lunch for less than you'd spend at a restaurant.

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Shotgun Players: As the first completely solar-powered theater in the country, the Shotgun Players brings a little sunshine and culture to Berkeley. Watch the talented actors light up the stage during one of the theater's many performances, including acts like Beowulf or Macbeth. Ticket prices vary, but if you can swing by during a show's first week, you can pay whatever you can afford.

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Chez Panisse: Alice Waters helped jumpstart the local-foods movement by opening Chez Panisse in 1971. Rooted in the idea that all food should be organically and locally grown, the restaurant's prix-fixe menu changes nightly to highlight the best of the season. The main restaurant offers two seatings per night, priced accordingly for each day of the week, starting at $60 on Mondays. The upstairs cafe, where you can watch your dishes being prepared in the open kitchen, offers a more affordable a la carte menu that also changes daily, starting at about $18.

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Ecohome Improvement: Carrying a range of recycled, renewable, and regionally-made goods, Ecohome Improvement can turn any home into a greenhouse. Even if you're not looking to paint or redecorate your abode, you can still learn a thing or two about making your surroundings a bit more eco-friendly. Prices depend on the items, but the knowledge of how to make an earth-loving home is priceless.

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Wupatki National Monument: Walk in the footsteps of an ancient tribe at the Wupatki Pueblo, which is the largest pueblo within the park and was once home to nearly 100 people in the 1200s. Hike the self-guided half-mile trail to witness the achievement of a determined tribe who thrived in an area without abundant food or water. Entrance to the park costs $5 per person, and is good for seven days at both Wupatki National Monument and the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Download the Wupatki trail guide for a history of the pueblo and things to look for along the path before setting out.

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Beaver Street Brewery: Brewing beers since 2001, Beaver Street Brewery is the place to go in Flagstaff for a cold one. The bar offers two seasonal beers alongside its four traditional drafts throughout the year. Enjoy a Rail Head Red ale, the local favorite, while sitting at the bar or outside in the beer garden beneath the San Francisco Peaks. Happy hour specials are available everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the brewery's Brews and Cues pub next door.

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Hotel Monte Vista: Located just one block from Route 66, the Hotel Monte Vista has served as an oasis for weary road warriors. Bank robbers and major Hollywood hitters have graced these halls, rubbing shoulders with the everyday traveler since it opened in 1926. With the downtown shops, restaurants, and attractions right at the front door, the hotel is an ideal jumping-off point for a Flagstaff vacation. Stay in one of the rooms named for the celebrity guests who spent the night, such as the Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart. Rooms with a private bath start at $70 per night.

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The River Rock Lodge: With easy access to skiing, fishing, and nearly everything outdoorsy, this western-style hotel can't be beat as a place to hang your poles, rod, or boots. For the skiing enthusiast, the lodge offers a special package starting at $174 per person, which includes an all-day lift ticket to Big Sky or Moonlight Basin, one-night accommodations, and continental breakfast. If a day outdoors isn't your cup of cocoa, you can also sit next to the warm fireplace in the lobby and relax.

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The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center: This wildlife preserve near the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park invites you to experience these creatures up-close-and-personal. Many of the animals at the center ended up here because they were injured, abandoned, or became too comfortable around humans. You'll learn all about their lives through educational videos and museum artifacts, then watch as the grizzlies interact with each other, or possibly listen as the wolves howl. The $10.50 admission helps keep these animals fed and cared for, and the nonprofit organization always accepts donations.

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Black Bear Bar and Grill: If you're hungry like a wolf, or a bear for that matter, then stop by the Black Bear for a hearty hamburger or a Philly cheese steak. The bar has the largest selection of microbrews around, including drafts of the locally brewed Lone Peak. So grab a seat and enjoy a pint while gazing at the mountain for which it was named. Every night has some sort of drink or dinner deal.

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Between the Covers Bookstore and Espresso Bar: Between the Covers tempts you to come in from the cold with hot beverages and insightful literature. From Hemingway to Rick Steves, this nifty bookstore overflows with fictional worlds and local Telluride guidebooks. You can also combat the whipping winds with a cup of hot cocoa by your side. Books are priced accordingly, but it's free to browse.

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Baked in Telluride: There's nothing like the scent of fresh baked breads, pizza crusts, and pastries to wake you up in the morning, noon, or night, and Baked in Telluride is a surefire eye-opener. Taking inspiration from far flung destinations around the world, owner Jerry Greene's menu includes New York-style pizzas alongside Nepalese samosas. Sandwiches start at $5.79, but don't miss the Thursday Thanksgiving special each week for $12.99.

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New Sheridan Hotel: For more than 100 years, the New Sheridan Hotel has been a hotspot for weary snow bunnies. The Victorian-style hotel greets you with its historic charm and modern amenities, including roof-top hot tubs with sweeping views of the San Juan Mountains. During your stay, you'll enjoy a complimentary breakfast, well-stocked drink pantry, and home-baked chocolate chip cookies. Rooms start at $129, depending on the season.

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Kayak Amelia: Between the ocean and IntraCoastal Waterway lies a magical salt marsh ecosystem that Jacksonville's beach-bound visitors never see. Paddle the creeks on a guided tour ($55) with Kayak Amelia and you'll learn about ecology, history, and the dolphins and manatees that live in and around Amelia Island State Park. Kayak Amelia also leads bike eco-tours in other nearby state parks. 

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House on Cherry Street: Jacksonville's most picturesque sunrises might be over the ocean, but its best sunsets are on the St. Johns River. This charming riverside B&B is an ideal place to end the day. From the dock you can see herons gliding over the water and snowy egrets swooping back to their roost. Downtown attractions are only a short walk away. Antiques grace the inn's two guest rooms, $105 or $115 per night, which includes a full breakfast and afternoon tea.

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Twisted Martini: Girls flaunting tans and guys flexing brawn flock to this swank martini bar at the Jacksonville Landing. Along the St. Johns River, high style and designer cocktails are standard issue at Twisted Martini. You can even get bottle service and VIP treatment in a specially designated chic lounge, but instead save the cash and opt for daily happy hour specials.

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