Seen from the air, the Banff Springs brings new meaning to the word "majestic." It's as if an ancient castle has been plucked from a Scottish estate and set down in a river valley surrounded by the snow-dusted peaks of the Canadian Rockies. The "Castle in the Rockies" was constructed a century ago and is so authentic that any Scottish baron strolling its halls and great rooms would feel at...

Barbados became an independent nation in 1966, but more than 300 years of British rule had an everlasting effect on the island and its people. The Bajans are proud of their heritage and hospitality, so visitors experience warm island welcomes with British accents.

One of the most notable British bastions on Barbados is the Sandy Lane resort, a beachfront retreat for royals, captains...

It's easy to drive right past the unobtrusive white brick pillars in the village of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Before you know it, you've missed the small brass plaques announcing The Greenbrier. First-time visitors expect a flashy entrance. After all, this is the American icon that was named the 20th century's top resort by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report. Every major travel...

One of the grande dames of American golf resorts, The Homestead was built in 1766 as an inn in the Allegheny foothills of western Virginia. Because of the area's warm springs (which still feed the historic indoor swimming pool), it grew into a popular spa resort during the 1800s. Destroyed by fire, the hotel was rebuilt of red brick, with east and west wings flanking a clock tower....

In 2006, the five-star Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua was ranked the No. 1 golf resort in Hawaii by Travel+Leisure Golf. It's even more appealing today after a $180 million renovation in 2008 that remodeled rooms and suites and added a luxurious spa, fitness center, children's pool, and poolside cabanas. Set in 54 oceanfront acres, the resort is part of the 22,000-acre Kapalua Resort, a...

Mexico's Puerto Vallarta was first recognized by Americans as the romantic hangout of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Puerto Vallarta ("PV" to aficionados) is still a charming coastal village, but a major draw these days is golf—world-class golf by major designers. Golf to rival Los Cabos. Golf to put Mexico firmly ahead of Hawaii as North America's favorite golf destination....

It's one of the largest golf resorts in the country, but size is not the main thing that draws golfers to Marriott's Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa. It's ranked among the country's top 50 golf resorts by Golf Digest, but that's not the defining asset, either.

Ask anyone. It's the opportunity to play The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Just thinking about the No. 17 island...

Isn't it great when someone with lots of money spends it on world-class golf courses everyone can play, with no homes crowding the fairways? That's the story of Herb Kohler and the golfers' paradise he created on the shores of Lake Michigan. The plumbing-fixture magnate's "factory town" is a charming village with gardens, a variety of accommodations, fine dining, and specialty shops—and...

The epicenter of Mexican golf lies in Los Cabos—20 miles of shoreline on the tip of the Baja Peninsula—between the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. A four-lane highway joins the two towns, creating "The Corridor" where many upscale resorts are located.

Cabo del Sol Beach & Golf Resort lies midway between the two towns—both of which are worth a visit. The...