3 sun destinations to visit this winter

The only time you'll need heavy clothing for these top sun destinations is when you head for your local airport. Otherwise, a T-shirt, pair of shorts and sandals are all you need as you take advantage of the fabulous, year-round weather.

It's cliché to say, "fun for the whole family," but that's what you'll get in the second-largest city in the United States. Enjoy trips to popular amusement parks like Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Disneyland. Shopping at the world-famous Melrose Avenue boutiques as well as in the downtown Fashion District is always a fun outing. The art-lovers in the family will enjoy trips to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Getty Center, while others might enjoy the Petersen Automotive Museum before joining the rest of the family on Venice Beach. Just don't forget to rent a car because L.A.'s best sites are scattered all over this vast city.

In exchange for the long trans-Pacific flight, culinary connoisseurs can delight in the food paradise of Southeast Asia. The tropical island of Penang reaps the bounty of its three main cultures: Chinese, Indian and Malay. Enjoy culinary specialties like the flat rice noodles and seafood of char kway teow, thin-skinned pancakes called apom, and meat on a stick dubbed satay. The fact that this top sun destination is also known for beach resorts, exotic temples and beautiful handicrafts is an added bonus – a major one.

Look for hawker stalls, which are roadside food stands around a courtyard of tables and chairs that are cooled by electric fans. English is generally on the menu in this former British colony. If not, ask for help from a local who will most likely speak your native tongue.

Powdery white beaches, transparent turquoise waters and sparse crowds will make you feel like you're living in a dream in Turks and Caicos, a cluster of 40 islands and cays in the Caribbean. Frommer's dubs Grace Bay Beach (Providenciales) the best in a string of pearls. Over 19 kilometres of sand, this beach receives travel awards every year and is within easy reach of resorts and hotels. The coral reef bordering the shoreline makes for excellent snorkeling and diving. Visibility often exceeds 30 metres in the clear waters, allowing the colours of sea life to pop.

Air Canada offers direct flights to the islands from Toronto and Montreal. If flying directly from Canada, Canadians don't even need a passport to enter this British Overseas Territory, says the Tourist Board. Just bring your government-issued photo ID and birth certificate.