The 84th Annual Academy Awards are almost here! And nothing inspires a great motion picture more than a beautiful, historic, tragic, or otherwise one-of-a-kind destination.

As this year's Oscar buzz builds, we're taking a look at some of the Best Picture nominees and the locations that inspired them, from the tropical sands of Honolulu to the bright lights of Paris.

The Descendants: Honolulu, Hawaii

Explore Honolulu with TravelMuse
Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the capital and largest city of the state of Hawaii. It is the government, transportation, and commercial center for the state, and home to its best known tourist destination, Waikiki Beach... Read more>

Midnight in Paris: Paris

ParisLogue.com from BootsnAll
Be virtually transported to the City of Lights on this fantastic website completely devoted to all things Parisian, including what to pack, where to bring the kids, and of course the all-important question: where (and what) to eat? Bon voyage! Read more>

The Help: Jackson, Mississippi

The Deep South, USA from PilotGuides.com
Down here, the life seems simplified; the big-hearted folks of the Deep South seem genuinely pleased to see you. The beer is cold, the food comes piled high on your plate. The region is a little at odds with time and life seems to have slowed down.... Read more>

Moneyball: Oakland, CA

Oakland, CA City Guide from DesignSponge
Oakland is experiencing a revival similar to Brooklyn, the alternative sister city to New York. It offers a younger, hipper underground scene and fresh, new, exciting things to see and do! Read more>

War Horse: Devon, England

Discovering Devon and Cornwall with Rough Guides
At the western extremity of England, the counties of Devon and Cornwall encompass everything from genteel, cosy villages to vast Atlantic-facing strands of golden sand and wild expanses of granite moorland. ... Read more>

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York City

Visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum With Viator
The defining moment of America's last decade is burned into our collective imaginations: the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when New York's World Trade Center crashed to the ground. Ten years later, on the spot where the Twin Towers fell, a memorial to those lost that day was finally unveiled in a solemn ceremony... Read more>

With Memorial Day weekend already behind us, the rush is on to make the most of your summertime travels. Get a jump on the crowds by reading our picks for some of the best summertime getaways this year. Whether you're looking for a hopping beach scene, an invigorating hike, or a weekend city break, we've got lots of options for you.

Let's Go's Top Travel Destinations for the Summer
Let's Go has compiled a list of its Top Travel Destinations this summer. Whether you're on a tight budget, looking to splurge after a winter of Scrooge-like miserliness, or simply studying abroad for the summer, this top ten list has got you covered. Read more>

Valencia, Spain: The Perfect Summer City
Dreaming of a sunny weekend dash to Europe? This excerpt from Lonely Planet Magazine shines a light on the juiciest picks of Valencia, the Spanish city that checks all the summer city break boxes. Read more>

Have Car, Will Travel: Eight New Ideas For Summer Road Trips
We’re drawn to the idea of the unknown, the adventure, the spontaneity of just hopping in the car and driving. Besides that, it’s cheap. Of course you’ll take a road trip this summer, it goes without saying, but why not spice it up this year with some new twists on an old favorite? Read more>

Top 10 Summer Cities
From city beaches to summer arts festivals, make the most of urban life with Rough Guides' list of top ten summer cities around the globe. Read more>

The Best Summer Hikes Around The World
From spectacular Mount Massive, Colorado to storybook beautiful Cinque Terre, Italy, these are some of Tripwolf's users' favorite hikes around the world. Read more>

GoNomad's Guide to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
These Massachusetts islands are the jewels of the New England coast, with wonderful beaches, clean streets, friendly people and are both top notch travel experiences. They are the vacation choice of many of the rich and famous, but their charms are also easily available to the rest of us. Read more>

There's nothing I love more than finding cheap -- or free! -- things to do on vacation. If you're headed to the Big Apple, check out these no-cost things CheapOair has uncovered for you to do in all five boroughs.

We just came across this amazing interactive foliage map from Yankee magazine. Wouldn't this weekend be perfect for a fall road trip to see the changing colors?

Check it out, become a Foliage Ambassador to report your sightings and then let us know where you find the best fall foliage - you can even post pictures from your road trip on our Facebook page, too!