Ingonish, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Grab your binoculars, and head to Cape Breton for some of the best birding in Nova Scotia. Ingonish, near Cape Breton Highlands National Park, is a great place to start. Build your nest at Lantern Hill & Hollow's oceanfront cottages just off the Cabot Trail, where bird lovers can view shorebirds and seabirds, including Atlantic puffin and northern gannet; 800/565-0000 or novascotia.com.
Virginia Beach boardwalk, Virginia
More than 30 blocks of Virginia Beach�s boardwalk light up each evening for the annual Holiday Lights at the Beach, beginning in mid-November. This is the only time of year cars are allowed the boardwalk. For six weeks, visitors are treated to more than 250 animated displays, including sailboats, mermaids, colorful fish, and holiday icons. Each vehicle gets a CD of holiday music to listen to on the glowing drive ($10 per car); 800/822-3224 or vbfun.com.
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Tee up on Sunset Beach, the southernmost of North Carolina's Brunswick Islands. It's a golfer's dream, with more than 100 courses within 40 miles, and semitropical weather enjoyed year-round (autumn and winter temperatures rarely drop below 50 degrees). Take advantage of Sea Trail golf resort's "Day with the Pro" special (available October through March), or try out one of three award-winning courses within the resort; 888/229-5747 or seatrail.com.
La Jolla Cove, California
The sheltered waters of the cove, a protected marine sanctuary within the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, provide some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the area—at times, underwater visibility can exceed 30 feet. In the off-season, you can leisurely explore a submarine canyon, reefs, and shipwrecks. After all that work, close the day with dinner in the Ocean View Room at Georges California, or on the rooftop at the more casual Ocean Terrace (georgesatthecove.com); 858/454-5718 or lajollabythesea.com.
Long Beach, Long Beach Peninsula, Washington
Don't be scared off by bad weather. This peninsula, approximately 200 miles southwest of Seattle, hosts some excellent storms—and savvy visitors. The boardwalk offers an up-close-and-personal look at the "Graveyard of the Pacific," if you can brave the wind and rain (beware of "sneaker" waves and slippery logs). For a drier storm-watching experience, the Lightship Restaurant offers a bird's-eye view of nature's glory. Photo ops are endless, and beachcombing after a storm can't be beat; 800/451-2542 or funbeach.com.
