This is the best place to find a bargain on the islands. Greet the sunrise at Diamond Head, the iconic volcano near Waikīkī Beach. Then visit Honolulu’s historic downtown, including ‘Iolani Palace, the royal family’s 19th-century home.

This city’s best beaches include Isla Verde and the restaurant- and hotel-lined Condado. For a culinary beach experience, visit Piñones, a nearby coastal area renowned for its street-food stalls. Old San Juan’s colonial buildings date to the 16th century.

The Indian River Lagoon separates mainland Melbourne from its barrier island beaches, popular with surfers and beachcombers. In several reserves along the coast, nature lovers can look for birds, sea turtles and manatees that populate the Canaveral National Seashore.

Start at the 1.2-mile-long Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade, home to the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel. In North Myrtle Beach, take a free class in “shag” dancing, a style of swing dance, at Fat Harold’s Beach Club.

Visit Galveston Island State Park for hiking, seabird viewing and fishing. In town, tour some of the impressive mansions that testify to the port’s early shipping wealth. Stroll the colorful Postoffice Street district for art galleries and antique shops.

Spend your days on the white-sand beaches, with views of the Biloxi Bay Bridge, dramatic at sunset. Learn about local ecology along the Davis Bayou Trail, which winds through a coastal forest, at the Gulf Islands National Seashore’s visitor center.

Don’t rule out one of Florida’s top beach towns as too expensive. This is a popular destination for several budget airlines, so that reduces your cost. Travelers have multiple beaches to explore, including the busy Deerfield Beach, with its popular fishing pier. —Elaine Glusac