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>

Winter is finally upon us, and while many travelers seek warmer climates, many others get into the spirit of the season and start planning snowy getaways. Skiing and snowboarding are two popular (and obvious) choices, but there are other options: snowshoeing, snow kayaking, snow cycling, and an expedition to the spectacular Arctic, just for starters. Check out some of these stories and get inspired to plan your own winter getaway!

The 12 Best Ski Resorts in North America
Every year as the leaves fall off the trees and Thanksgiving approaches, skiers and snowboarders dig into their closets, dust off their goggles, search for the other mitten and get ready to start thinking about the upcoming ski season... Read more>

Getting High on Skis in Piemonte, Italy
Panic, anxiety and extreme fear hit me like a runaway Vespa. After not having skied for over a decade, I had impulsively decided to go skiing in the Italian Alps… the very slopes that hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics in the Piemonte region of Italy... Read more: Read more>

Snowshoeing Flattop Peak
The great thing about Anchorage, Alaska is its proximity to everything outdoors - especially snow sports and activities. After a snowfall, there's no better way to take in the gorgeous scenery than snowshoeing, and Flattop Peak is a great place to get started... Read more>

Bicycling in the Snow
With the right gear, bicycling in the snow isn’t the worst of ideas. But without the right gear, and with a bit too much pride, those who try will probably end up like these guys... Read more>

Landscapes of the Arctic: Glaciers, Ice Fields and Pointed Peaks
There’s something haunting about the Arctic landscapes: aqua blue icebergs floating on crystal water, massive glaciers crackling in the background towered by snow mountains... Read more>

Holiday preparations are upon us: the gift-buying frenzy, family get-togethers, and perfect meals to plan and prepare. All the expectations are enough to get even the calmest person's nerves a bit frayed.

Take a few days to treat yourself right, and enjoy a soothing spa getaway. We've got your options covered: a selection of Las Vegas' finest day spas, an exotic (yet affordable) getaway in Bali, a quick jaunt to Iceland's spectacular scenic Blue Lagoon, and more. Take a deep breath, relax, and plan your much-deserved escape now!

Las Vegas Spa Vacation
The day after a long night at the tables in Las Vegas calls for the rejuvenation and relaxation of a fine spa. Whatever your spa needs, you’re sure to find what you desire... Read more>

Sylvia's Spa Village Resort in Bali
Enjoy this peek at the stunning Sylvia's Spa Village Resort in Tembok Bali. It is pure Balinese paradise in a spa setting... Read more: See more>

Escaping the Snow in Scenic Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
This chic retreat that nestles into the lush flora of the Tesuque Valley is only ten minutes from Santa Fe’s bustling throngs, yet feels light-years from civilization... Read more>

Tuscan Spa Relieves "Tourist Tension"
This stunning spa was designed to have low impact on the environment and preserves the Tuscan vista with its villa design and gardens. Thermal springs flow down the hill behind the spa, filling a pond in the sauna complex and the swimming pool... Read more>

Blue Lagoon Spa Transfer from Keflavik Airport
Talk about chilled! Fly into Iceland and head directly for the most relaxing spa experience you'll ever have at the Blue Lagoon, surrounded by magical lava fields and snow capped mountains. Enjoy a water massage or just lie back and relax, then catch your transport back to your hotel in Reykjavik. Read more>

Everyone loves a great beach getaway vacation, but we sometimes fall into the trap of returning to the same spots again and again out of habit and comfort. The next time you're planning a sunny escape, why not consider one of these exotic or secluded spots - whether it's a far-flung destination like Tanzania or India, or closer to home like North Carolina or California. Regardless of location, these beaches all have something in common: they take a little more effort to get to, which makes them that much more pristine and unique.

Days and (K)nights of Malta
Malta, set at the crossroads of the Mediterranean between the island of Sicily and Libya’s African coast, boasts a history and culture enriched by thousands of years as a vital strategic link of trade routes, gorgeous Mediterranean weather, spectacular, unspoiled beaches and much more... Read more>

America's Most Secluded Beaches
There are some less-visited but still spectacular beaches that await travelers willing to work up a little sweat (hiking, climbing, even chartering a boat) before hitting the shore. Here are some of the most secluded beaches in America that are worth the journey to get there. Read more>

Zanzibar, Tanzania
A cliché it might be, but Zanzibar is one of those words, like Casablanca or Timbuktu, that conjures up adventure, remoteness and excitement in the minds of most Westerners. The kind of name that figured in your dreams when you first decided that traveling was in your blood... Read more>

6 of the Most Unusual Honeymoon Destinations
The world is huge and there are tons of these secret corners around, if you know where to look. Forget Cancun, Maui and Venice, I’ve come up with these 6 uncommon honeymoon destinations that are loaded with cozy resorts, private bays and incredible natural beauty. Read more>

Offbeat Travel Destinations in India
This article features some of the offbeat highlights of India, including Gopalpur, one of the most untouched and cleanest beaches in the country. It used to be a bustling port, but now the town is rather sleepy, which is not necessarily an inconvenience.. Read more>

Six Hawaiian Adventures Off the Beaten Path
Check out this intrepid mountain bike ride on the little-traveled Hawaiian island of Lana'i, ending at Polihua Beach, a completely isolated mile-long stretch of sand that rarely has anyone else on it. It's just one of a number of incredible offbeat adventures in Hawaii from BootsnAll.com... Read more>