The accuracy of Newport's nickname, "America's First Resort," is debatable. What's certain is that Newport and the surrounding Rhode Island coastline have been a popular second-home destination for more than 150 years.

Newport was the choice for summer mansions of 19th-century robber barons, including the Vanderbilts and Astors. Vacation homes here served as the "summer White House" for John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower. The historic mansions remain and are among the most popular visitor attractions, but contemporary second-home owners have many affordable options, too.

"One attraction is that even in our most exclusive towns, you are not priced out of the second-home market like you are in a lot of resort areas," says Paul Leys, co-owner of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty.

ARCHIVE: Find more second-home destinations

"Newport," he says, "is the best known outside the region because of its mansions and the America's Cup (sailing race), but the entire coastline is appealing to vacation-home owners. Watch Hill is quieter and less well-known nationally, but even more exclusive. Narragansett is more modest but has a lot of cottages where you can walk out your door onto the sand. "

The area is primarily a summer destination, although Newport is big enough to sustain visitor traffic year round. Besides its mansions, many of which have extensive art collections, other big attractions include: the city's Cliff Walk, beaches, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and all things sailing. There are several renowned sailing schools, plus charters and sightseeing trips.

The state's coastline, from the borders of Connecticut to Massachusetts, is only about 50 miles long. "The whole stretch has a lot of small beach communities," Leys says.

Newport and Watch Hill are known for their elaborate "shingle-style" architecture. Narragansett and smaller towns feature beach cottages or larger Victorian-style homes. Historically, buyers from Boston have favored Newport (an hour and 45 minutes away), while those from the New York area opt for Watch Hill (under 3 hours). The coast also attracts a large number of Floridians.

A look at three coastal Rhode Island neighborhoods

If you have even a passing interest in music, then London is certainly a place you should visit at least once.
The British capital has hosted just about every major artist at some point over the years, so it is closely linked with many of music's most defining moments.

If you are a keen fan of artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, why don't you come to London and see for yourself where they lived, loved and played?

It's a great way to enjoy an affordable break in London, as you don't need to pay any admission fees to see these historic locations.

The names of these streets, houses and venues may have passed into music folklore, but they are easily accessible to every single person in London.

All you need is an all-day pass on London transport and you're away.

Perhaps the most iconic rock 'n' roll location in London is Abbey Road, in St John's Wood, north London.

Plenty of major artists have recorded at Abbey Road Studios, including Pink Floyd, Cliff Richard, Radiohead and U2.

But it will always be most closely associated with The Beatles, who recorded nearly all of their songs here.

They even called the final album they recorded together Abbey Road - and released it with a now iconic image of the Fab Four walking across the nearby zebra crossing.

Tourists still regularly descend on Abbey Road to have their own picture taken on this world famous piece of street furniture.

For any music fan in London, a trip to Abbey Road is simply a must.

Following your trip here, why not visit some of the homes of rock music's biggest stars?

Paul McCartney used to live within walking distance of Abbey Road at Cavendish Avenue, so that should be easy to find.

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico wants to join the ecotourism trend, promoting not only the state's natural beauty but also outdoor adventure, cultural heritage preservation and access to wild places.

New Mexico's ecotourism venture was launched early last year but the actual pilot programs begin this summer around the Gila Wilderness near Silver City and Taos in northern New Mexico.

Tourism is New Mexico's No. 2 industry, behind oil and gas production, and brings in an estimated $5.7 billion annually. And if ecotourism can be fairly described as nature-based specialty travel or wilderness experiences that enrich and educate, the state thinks it has something to offer.

Visitors are attracted by "that sense of place we have here in New Mexico," said Deputy Tourism Secretary Jennifer Hobson, who oversees the initiative. "They want to go someplace where they can learn something, have a story to tell, meet the local people."

In describing ecotourism, Hobson has adopted the definition of the 25-year-old International Ecotourism Society: responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

She said New Mexico is ahead of other states in developing a statewide program.

Ecotourism can be hiking and camping with a local guide far into the wilderness, spending a day working on a cattle ranch with a rancher or taking a photography trip on that ranch, or watching a pueblo artist create a pot during a tour with a Native American guide.

Outfitters, guides and others around New Mexico already have been doing ecotourism but "didn't know there was a name for it," said Sandy Cunningham of EcoNewMexico, which has a $250,000 contract with the Department of Tourism to develop the program.

Smaller communities will benefit most from the state's effort, said Arturo Sandoval, president of the 19-year-old Center of Southwest Culture Inc., dedicated to preserving northern New Mexico's traditional land-based communities.

Sandoval's organization is in the third year of what he calls "heritage and cultural tourism," recruiting people to spend a weekend cleaning out irrigation canals — known as acequias — alongside the people who use them to irrigate small farms.

This June's effort will include a traditional matanza, or feast, a talk by an acequia expert and an evening of New Mexico music.

"Heritage and cultural tourism is tied to the real purpose of trying to help small farmers make a 21st century income in a global economy," Sandoval said. It brings in tourists in an unobtrusive way "that doesn't end up with people building resort hotels."

Cunningham said the state initiative wants to attract tourists to places that need economic development who will hire locals who "love guiding, who love hosting people."

Currently, the average tourist spends 2.2 days in New Mexico. Cunningham said ecotourism brings in fewer people who stay longer and spend more.

Everyone from organic growers to artists and conservation groups stands to benefit "from a new and different type of traveler" who becomes passionate about something and wants to return, she said.

The program also will promote New Mexico to its residents.

Cunningham is working on a summer trip aimed at New Mexicans — two days rafting in Chama, two days llama trekking near Taos and two days camping in northern New Mexico, with such extras as fishing, mountain biking and catered meals.