1. Cape Perpetua, Oregon
Travelers who love the Central Oregon Coast venture to Cape Perpetua again and again, as I have countless times. Each day I head to a different trail among the cape’s 2,700 acres of forested mountains and seaside paths that abut the Pacific Ocean. At the St. Perpetua trail overlook, the view extends 35 miles to the sea’s horizon, south to Florence’s wavy dunes, and north to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. After my first visit, I cried when it came time to leave. On later trips, I headed home with a smile, knowing I’d be back; 541/547-3289 or fs.fed.us (type “perpetua” into the search box). —Susan Haynes
2. Grand Feature Pool, Point Clear, Alabama
The Grand Feature Pool at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa lives up to its name. Designed to resemble a free-form, oak-shaded lagoon, it features several fountains and waterfalls. Its “zero-entry” design allows swimmers to wade in on a slope, without stairs or ladders—perfect for small children. Older kids enjoy the supervised spiral slide. Purists can swim laps in a quiet indoor pool adjacent to the spa; 800/544-9933 or marriottgrand.com. —Julia Dowling Rutland
3. The Whole Enchilada, Moss Landing, California
I can eat Mexican food for every meal. So it was with great enthusiasm that I accepted an assignment at The Whole Enchilada. Chef Luis Solano taught me the finer points of making tamales and sipping tequila. And oh, the food. Luis’ innovative coastal Mexican cuisine includes creamy guacamole, crab-stuffed poblanos, shrimp seviche—I must have devoured five meals total. Stop by, but be smart: Stick to one entrée at a time; 831/633-3038 or wenchilada.com. —Sarah Brueggemann
4. Schoodic Peninsula, Maine
Acadia National Park, which occupies most of Mount Desert Island, ranks as one of the most visited U.S. parks. With Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach—and the popovers at Jordan Pond House—it’s easy to understand why. But my favorite spot lies an hour’s drive northeast, where Schoodic Peninsula, the only slice of the park on the mainland, juts boldly into the Atlantic. Take in panoramic sea views, then walk with care over the precipitous granite boulders. “Ayup,” a Winter Harbor lobsterman told me on my last visit, “Schoodic’s Down East at its best”; 207/288-3338 or nps.gov/acad. —James H. Schwartz
5. Restaurant 213, Fruitland, Maryland
Like an octopus, the Chesapeake Bay extends watery arms in all directions, stretching its influence far inland. One of those tentacles, the Wicomico River, brushes past the town of Fruitland on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. There, in an easy-to-miss strip mall, Restaurant 213 offers a blissful dining experience. Chef-owner Jim Hughes’ “fine American dining with global influences” encompasses lots of seafood, prepared and served with care, flair, and a refreshing lack of pretension; 410/677-4880 or restaurant213.com. —Steve Millburg
