While you could spend a two-week vacation in Mexico sitting beachside and come home happy and refreshed, there is much more to this vast nation. Tropical breezes and sun-kissed beaches are just two of the many reasons why travelers flock south of the border for vacation.

Visit the Mayan antiquities of the Yucatan Peninsula or explore the world of the Aztecs. These ancient societies rival Greeks and Romans for architectural genius, and there are dozens of fascinating ruins and, of course, the famed pyramids. Another truly unique vacation idea is taking a train journey through Copper Canyon, which is deeper and covers more area than the Grand Canyon. Of course, there are plenty of fantastic beach towns, from the Pacific to the Gulf Coast.

KarenBrown.com has several interesting trips outlined with comprehensive Mexico itinerary details. Our readers have also chosen the following hotels and inns as Mexico’s best:

Just a couple of miles from the bustling resort town of Ixtapa, Zihuatenejo is the place where you’ll find what Karen Brown readers have chosen as Mexico’s “Most Romantic” lodging. La Quinta Troppo is located on a hill overlooking the ocean, which is a mere 5-minute walk away. There are just eight guest rooms, so privacy is a guarantee. Most of the rooms boast a view of the spectacular Bay of Zihautenejo, and each has a unique feature. El Jardin de Frida and La India include private garden areas with a hammock. The hotel owners offer tours of the area on their private boat. There is a lap pool, set in a beautiful garden area with plenty of places to sit and relax. Guests are greeted with a margarita upon check-in, and each morning, a tropical-style continental breakfast is served.

Karen Brown readers have chosen La Casona in Mexico City for the “Warmest Welcome” award, and despite its city location, you’ll feel more like a guest in a private home than a hotel guest. The late 19th-century hotel boasts beautiful architecture and decor. Each of the rooms is unique and filled with historic charm, but there are plenty of modern amenities, including wireless internet and room service. This Mexico City hotel is located in a residential neighborhood, about four blocks from the Paseo de la Reforma, one of the city’s main boulevards.

Located in the state of Chiapas, Casa Felipe Flores is a perfect spot to bask in Mexican charm. The Chiapas bed and breakfast, which was chosen by Karen Brown readers as the “Greatest Value” in Mexico, has five guest rooms decorated with Colonial-style furnishings, hand-woven fabrics and Mexican crafts and art.

The innkeepers prepare a bountiful, made-to-order breakfast, as well as offering a full-service bar. Meals are often enjoyed in one of the garden courtyards. The Mexican inn is located in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas, one of the country’s oldest Spanish settlements.

After years of searching Guadaljara, we have found the perfect hotel at Quinta Real. Our readers also named this boutique hotel as Mexico’s best “Splendid Splurge.” Located in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, this Guadaljara hotel is stunning with its ivy-covered brick exterior. The interior is equally impressive filled with posh guest rooms and suites that rival any five-star hotel. The hotel has an indoor-outdoor restaurant in a garden setting, as well as an inner courtyard with fountains, trees and gardens.

For more information on travel and hotels in Mexico, explore the many resources available at KarenBrown.com today.

The Pacific Northwest is truly a feast for the eyes. Waterfalls, mountains, rugged coastlines, picturesque islands and plenty of city attractions lure visitors each year to this region, which includes Oregon, Washington and Canada’s province of British Columbia. There is no shortage of things to do, and whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or wish to simply relax and enjoy the scenery, the Pacific Northwest has something for everyone.

Doing a little research using KarenBrown.com, you can find several interesting itineraries to consider. Travelers could spend time exploring the coast or perhaps stick with a region like Southern Oregon, which offers everything from cave exploration to a world-class Shakespearian festival. Exploring Portland with its day trips to hot spots such as Mount St. Helens is another option. Discovering Seattle and the Cascade Mountain region is yet another fun-filled itinerary. Travelers also might consider exploring the San Juan Islands or heading up into British Columbia, where you’ll find Victoria Island and all the sites of Vancouver. For more information, check out our Pacific Northwest itineraries.

As for lodging, readers at Karen Brown’s World of Travel have chosen some of the region’s best hotels and inns. Here are some award winners:

For a romantic interlude, try the Channel House in Depoe Bay, Oregon. This secluded inn was named by KarenBrown.com readers as the Pacific Northwest’s Most Romantic place to stay. The guest rooms all afford a sea view and also include a fireplace and an outdoor whirlpool tub where guests can relax and listen to the waves as they crash upon the shore. You can take a whale-watching trip, drive to some of the area’s lighthouses or take a trip to the world’s largest sea lion cave.

Although it’s billed as a fishing lodge, the Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge is probably one of the world’s most romantic. While it’s a great spot for a men’s weekend retreat, you could celebrate the happiest of honeymoons here, as well. The Van Zante family’s hospitality has earned the lodge the Warmest Welcome award by Karen Brown readers. The lodge boasts views of the river and tree-covered mountains. There are plenty of guest rooms and suites to choose from, as well as two guest houses. All feature romantic, contemporary dcor, and many have fireplaces. Several suites include outdoor soaking tubs.

Named by Karen Brown readers as the Pacific Northwest’s Greatest Value, the Otters Pond Bed and Breakfast is a secluded retreat located on Washington’s Orcas Island. Guests at Otters Pond will be enchanted by the natural setting. The Washington bed and breakfast is surrounded by 20 acres of protected wetland and home to plenty of birds and a few of the namesake otters. A few guest rooms include a fireplace (some a clawfoot tub), and there is a huge outdoor hot tub sheltered by a Japanese-style teahouse with shoji screens.

The Sooke Harbour House is one of those places where you can just relax and pamper yourself to your heart’s content. The oceanfront setting, located on the whimsically named Whiffen Spit Beach, offers stunning sea views. There is a full-service spa as well, so you can book a relaxing massage. Each of the guest rooms this British Columbia bed and breakfast has been individually decorated with a special theme and features handmade artwork, from pottery to pillows to Native crafts. Several rooms include an outdoor soaking tub on a private patio or balcony, and all of the guest rooms have a fireplace. The Sooke Harbour House was named as the Pacific Northwest’s best Splendid Splurge by KarenBrown.com readers.

Check out our selection of properties for Oregon, Washington or British Columbia hotels and bed and breakfasts.

The very name of Austria conjures up images of snow-capped mountains, beautiful architecture and, of course, the music of Mozart, Haydn and Strauss. While many travelers just hit the hotspots of Vienna and Salzburg, there are many wonderful villages and towns waiting to be discovered by travelers. There’s plenty to do and see in Austria, and here are some of the top places to stay — all winners of Karen Brown’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Ranked by readers at KarenBrown.com as Austria’s Most Romantic lodging is Schloss Kapfenstein. Perched atop a hillside and offering expansive views of the surrounding hills, this Kapfenstein, Austria, castle hotel was once a fortress. The innkeepers raised their family here, then transformed their castle into a romantic hotel. You’ll find spacious guest rooms, including intimate suites in the gate keeper’s quarters and in the castle tower. The innkeepers’ son serves as executive chef, preparing the delicious food, In the summer, meals are often served on tables outside where guests can enjoy the wonderful views. The grounds include a vineyard that has produced award-winning vintages.

Landhaus Zu Appesbach in Saint Wolfgang is another charming KarenBrown.com award winner. This ivy-covered manor is the recipient of the Readers’ Choice Award for the Warmest Welcome, and you will enjoy no shortage of hospitality. Like most destinations in Austria, there is no shortage of beauty, either. Woodlands and expansive lawns decorate the acreage, and the hotel looks out to a stunning lake with the hills behind. There is even a pier and swimming dock. Many of the twenty-seven guest rooms include a balcony or deck with a lake view. There are plenty of places to relax, including a drawing room, a cozy bar or perhaps on the veranda. Your host, Maximilan, sets the gold standard for Austrian innkeepers. His hospitality is unparalleled.

If you want to pack all the Austrian charm possible into a more affordable hotel, try the Hotel Wolf. This Salzburg hotel won our 2007 Readers’ Choice Award as Austria’s greatest value. The hotel is located in the center of Old Salzburg, and the family-owned lodging offers a variety of charming and comfortable rooms. An expansive breakfast buffet is served each morning. Best of all, the hotel’s location can’t be beat. Many of Salzburg’s most popular attractions are just minutes away.

If its luxury and romance you crave, Salzburg’s Hotel Goldener Hirsch is sure to fit the bill. Rated by KarenBrown.com readers as Austria’s best Splendid Splurge, the hotel features a variety of individually decorated guest rooms. Many of the furnishings are antiques. Within the hotel, you’ll find a bar and a restaurant that serves traditional Austrian cuisine.

Whatever cities or regions you choose, Austria has something special for everyone. You might try hitting the highlights of Austria with a tour that begins in Salzburg and journeys by car or rail to Vienna with plenty of interesting stops in between. Perhaps you wish to visit the southern lakes or enjoy the fresh, clean air and scenery on a trip to various mountain villages. Be sure to pack good walking shoes, a camera and your sense of adventure. Check out our downloadable itineraries for more information about itineraries in Austria.

It’s not only visiting the wineries that makes this area so special—these valleys are also memorable for their beauty. A visit to the wine country makes a pleasant excursion any time of year.

With several hundred wineries spread among scenic Napa and Sonoma counties, you’ll have plenty of tastings to select. There are also hot-air balloon rides for the not-so-faint at heart, plenty of shops to explore, gourmet restaurants and top-notch spas.

One particularly special town is Calistoga, where you’ll find hot springs that have soothed many a visitor for hundreds of years. A trip to Calistoga wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Chateau de Vie (winner of Readers’ Choice Award for California’s Warmest Welcome).

This Calistoga bed and breakfast is surrounded by vineyards, and offers a variety of amenities. Each morning, coffee and tea is placed outside your guest room door, and whenever you are ready, there is a full, seasonal breakfast to enjoy. There is a lap pool, as well as a hot tub in the private garden where you can relax under the stars. The inn sells its own Chateau de Vie wines, so be sure to pick up a bottle as a souvenir.

Check out our itineraries for more details on Wine Country travel.

If you are doing any California trip planning, be sure to check out our itineraries. The first part of this route includes many well-loved attractions: Muir Woods, the Russian River, Sonoma County wineries, the Mendocino Coast, and the Avenue of the Giant Redwoods. Then it becomes less “touristy” as you reach the Victorian jewel of Ferndale, the bustling town of Eureka, and the coastal hamlet of Trinidad, and concludes amongst the giant coastal redwoods of Redwood National Park.

San Francisco is an iconic town, famous for its skyline, its marvel of a bridge, and its many unique neighborhoods. You’ll need several days exploring the city before heading north to Mendocino. Along this four-hour drive, be sure to make time for the Point Reyes National Seashore, which offers bird-watching excursions, nature trails and the often-photographed Point Reyes Lighthouse.

Mendocino, your next big stop, is a bit like a trip to an old New England fishing village. After exploring the town, you’ll want to head up to the Avenue of the Giants, where you’ll feel a bit Lilliputian compared to the trees, the world’s tallest.

For a lavish treat near San Francisco, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and the posh Inn Above Tide (winner of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for Splendid Splurge). The view is absolutely spectacular — a panorama of city lights and rugged coastline. The spacious, contemporary rooms are pricey, but this is one experience you’ll always treasure. All guests enjoy a great view, whether you choose a simpler double room or the opulent Penthouse. Many rooms have private decks, fireplaces or spa tubs. Here’s more information on this San Francisco Boutique Hotel/Inn.

You can find more information on this area here: California Travel Plans.

From the redwood forests of the north to the sunny shores of San Diego to the snow-capped peaks perfect for skiers, California offers a little something for everyone. With so much do and see, planning that California trip can be a little daunting, so the best advice is pick a region and explore.

From the North to the South

One way to hit a lot of major attractions is to plan a coastal trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles; you’ll be amazed at the scenery and the myriad of places to visit. You’ll want to spend at least two or three days exploring San Francisco, hitting the big sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and maybe Alcatraz and Chinatown. From San Francisco, head south toward Monterey and Big Sur, where you’ll find some of the best views on Earth, as well as some of the best bed and breakfasts. 

If budget is an issue, the Sea View Inn in Carmel (winner of the Karen Brown Reader’s Choice Award for Greatest Value in California) offers the best location with the best rates. The charming historic Victorian is within walking distance to Carmel’s beautiful beaches, and the home’s third story offers a peak view of the sea. Continental breakfast is served, as well as afternoon tea and evening wine and sherry.

If it’s romance you seek, the Tickle Pink Inn is ideal for couples. Many of the rooms boast stunning ocean views, and guests can enjoy a soak in the ocean-view spa. Several rooms have wood-burning fireplaces and balconies. The Deluxe Ocean View Suites include the aforementioned, as well as a whirlpool tub and wet bar. Upon arrival, guests are treated to a glass of champagne, and each night there is a wine and cheese reception. The Tickle Pink Inn won the Readers’ Choice Award for Most Romantic in California. Check out this great California inn.

After your stop in Carmel, head south to Hearst Castle and on to Santa Barbara, where you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. After that, it’s just over an hour’s drive to the edge of Los Angeles, where you’ll find everything from the finest shopping to art galleries to museums to amusement parks to spectacular sunsets at the beach. Head into Orange County for a trip to Disneyland or the art Mecca of Laguna Beach.

Check out our detailed California Travel Itineraries to make your next trip a memoriable one.