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Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States, and it is as well know for Ernest Hemingway as sunset celebrations. It was originally settled by the Spanish, who calle the island ‘Cayo Hueso’, which means Island of the Bones, as the treacherous reefs nearby sank many ships before the lighthouse was erected. When the English came in, ‘Cayo Hueso’ evolved into Key West.

Many famous artists and writers have called Key West home, including Ernest Hemingway, Thornton Wilder, Robert Frost, Tennessee Williams and James Audubon. The island declared its independence as the “Conch Republic” in 1982 to protest a federal roadblock which blocked the one access road – US 1 – to Key West. That certainly raised media attention enough to stop the government, but to this day, many islanders still fly the ‘Conch Republic’ flag.

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Wailuku, Maui - There are two ways to explore the diverse ecosystem of the warm and tranquil waters of the Alalakeiki Channel here on the leeward side of Maui: Don flippers and a snorkel mask and head for the surf, or drive your vehicle along Highway 30 to the Maui Ocean Center.

Offering a virtual immersion in Hawaii’s diverse marine life, the 3-acre complex sits on a bluff overlooking Maalae’a Harbor (pronounced MAH-ah-lie-ah). All told, the $20 million facility, which opened in 1998, is home to more than 300 species - the largest collection anywhere in Hawaii.

The aquarium displays these creatures in a variety of exhibits, including re-creations of a living reef, a turtle lagoon and a tide pool. A separate open-ocean habitat teems with stingrays, eagle rays and six species of sharks. There’s even a new wing focusing on marine mammals, though it does not contain any of the creatures themselves.

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