David Friel

Long before French painter Paul Gauguin ventured to Tahiti for inspiration in the late 19th century, the mystical charm of this Polynesian paradise beckoned explorers with its palm shaded beaches, turquoise lagoons, emerald mountains, and understated simplicity.

Also known as French Polynesia, Tahiti and its sister islands continue to entice people the world over with unparalleled beauty and blissful tranquility.

Cancun conjures up images of beautiful beaches and endless nightlife, which it has in abundance, but the savvy traveler will discover there is more to it than just fun in the sun and late nights painting the town. Make no mistake about it,

Cancun vacations spoil you with some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, crystal clear turquoise blue water, water sports galore, and a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Cancun offers such a wide range of great things to do, your biggest challenge might be fitting them all in without feeling like you have missed something. Instead of spending hours researching everything Cancun has to offer, we have done the dirty work for you. Without further ado, here are 10 things you do not want to miss while vacationing in Cancun:

Number one is definitely hit the beach.

Steeped in Mayan history, Mexico has always taken pride in being the homeland of one of the Western Hemispheres earliest highly evolved civilizations. The great Mayan city states of the Yucatan reached their zenith from 600 to 900 A.D., excelling in areas such as astrology and architecture while Europe was slumbering through the Dark Ages.

While some Mayan temples and relics can be found in Cancun, major sites are outside out town, including Chichen Itza, Coba, and Tulum, but make for excellent day trips.

New Mexicos biggest city hosts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October, a premiere event for hot air balloon aficionados from around the world. While this is just one of the citys many draws for visitors, it is one of the biggest.

The event started in a parking lot in 1972. Today, more than 700 hot air balloons take flight at the yearly festival, providing airborne entertainment to several hundred thousand attendees.

The ooohhs and ahhhs begin as your Alaska cruise ship glides effortlessly northward through the 1,000mile Inside Passage that parallels the coasts of British Columbia and the southern Alaskan panhandle.

Alaska is located in the North West corner of the North American continent. Nearly one third lies within the Arctic Circle separated by Canada from lower 48 states.

Agadir has the unusual distinction of being both an important fishing port and major beach resort, taking in one of every three tourists visiting Morocco, which, given the number of Europeans alone who come to this northern African nation every year, make it a very popular destination.

From a tourists perspective, Agadir is first and foremost a beach town, but the areas vibrant cultural attractions seal the deal and make it worth the trek.

Despite Cancuns popular image as a Mecca of beautiful beaches and late night partying, this Mexican resort paradise offers a surprising amount of cultural activities for the more sophisticated traveler.

From museums and fine arts to history and top notch ethnic dining, Cancun might surprise you with its wide range of activities appealing to those looking for a little more than sunburn and tequila induced hangovers.

With a rich history that extends back at least 3000 years, Tahiti has been a prized possession of conquerors, particularly Europeans, over the centuries. Despite the advances of uninvited visitors, however, Tahitians cultural heritage remains strong and helps define this tropical gem.

Although historians surmise that Tahiti was first discovered and inhabited as far back as 1000 B.