Guam

Guam mixes tropical beach life with some of the most sobering WWII history in the Pacific. War memorials and hillside gun emplacements recall the brutal 1944 battle to retake the island from Japanese occupation, while Chamorro culture that predates all of it still shows up in village fiestas, latte stone ruins, and slow-roasted barbecue. Tumon Bay's calm, reef-protected water draws snorkelers and sunbathers, and the island has long been a favored quick getaway for visitors from Japan and Korea.