Avalon, Catalina Island’s main town, hugs the coast. (Bob Chamberlin / LAT)
The ornate buildings of Venice, Italy, provide an almost surreal backdrop for a gondola ride on the canals. (Andrea Merola / AFP)
The Queen Mary 2 sets sail amid smaller craft plying the waters off San Francisco. (Eric Risberg / AP)
Paris is a city of love, and its signature is the Eiffel Tower. (AFP / Getty Images)
Sunset on the Cancun waterfront. (Chris Erskine / LAT)
