Top Student Vacations: Editor's Top 10

The capital city of Panama is also the country's largest. It's highly varied, including the original 16th-century settlement of Panama la Vieja, the Spanish-colonial capital of Casco Viejo, the modern business district of El Cangrejo and the Latin downtown area of La Exposicion. Built along the curve of the Bay of Panama on the Pacific coast, the city's waterfront continues to develop, with high-rises and a huge yacht marina-the newest arrivals along the seashore highway. Panama City has a vibra... Goto Destination Guide »

South Padre Island, a booming seaside resort area on the Gulf Coast at the southern tip of Texas, includes the island and the neighboring mainland town of Port Isabel. The area, about 150 mi/240 km southeast of San Antonio, is especially popular among high-school and college students during spring break.... Goto Destination Guide »

Mexico's original seaside resort, Acapulco has enticed vacationers for more than half a century. The Kennedys and the Clintons honeymooned there, Elizabeth Taylor was married there, Placido Domingo and Danny DeVito have homes there, and other film stars have been relaxing beneath its palms since the heydays of Errol Flynn and Frank Sinatra. These days, Acapulco is bigger and, in some ways, better than ever.... Goto Destination Guide »

Cancun is wrapped in crystal clear water and brilliant sunshine, so it's no wonder the shoreline gets top billing. Developers created this comfortable resort area on the Mexican Caribbean from the sand up to take advantage of the gorgeous aquamarine water and temperate climate. Cancun is the top resort in Mexico.... Goto Destination Guide »

If sand and surf-and sunbathers-appeal to your senses, then visit Daytona Beach, Florida. The self-proclaimed "World's Most Famous Beach" is an epicenter of activity for Florida-bound college students, NASCAR fans and motorcycle enthusiasts from mid-February through March.... Goto Destination Guide »

Key West is a haven for the famous, the nonfamous and for those looking to get a little lost. Everyone seems to enjoy the Key West relaxed pace, storybook architecture, colorful history, live-and-let-live local attitude and end-of-the-world feel. The natural surroundings are just as pleasant: Hibiscus, bougainvillea, palm trees and other flora and fauna give the island a tropical feel and smell. And when the sun begins to set each day, there's cause for celebration as street performers, arts-and... Goto Destination Guide »

Cozumel, Mexico, has long been compared to Cancun, the splashy resort just 40 mi/65 km to the north. In the past, Cozumel had a laid-back, sedate atmosphere, and its superior fishing, snorkeling and diving gave it a definite edge. Today, Cozumel is still a better choice for those who don't like planned resorts, but the island is no longer an escapist's paradise. The snorkeling, diving and fishing are still great, but no one would mistake present-day Cozumel for the sleepy backwater it once was.... Goto Destination Guide »

Punta Cana and its neighbor Bavaro are ground zero in the all-inclusive resort explosion of recent years. They're located along a beautiful 20-mi/32-km stretch of white-sand beach lined with coconut palms and nicknamed the Costa del Coco for marketing purposes. This lovely strip of shore looks like it was taken straight off a travel poster and has perhaps the finest (and certainly the longest) beaches and most beautiful seas in the country.... Goto Destination Guide »

This relatively new town on the border with California (established in the mid-1960s) is home to-of all things-the London Bridge. It all came about when the bridge (then still in England) was put up for sale in 1967. The structure (built in 1831) was sinking and no longer able to support high volumes of traffic. One of Lake Havasu's founders bought the bridge and spent a fortune having it moved brick by brick to Arizona, where it became the centerpiece of the new community. If nothing else, Lake... Goto Destination Guide »