Surely we all know the feeling that inspired Dorothy to first sing this song and American Idol's Katherine McPhee to revamp it. Sometimes we all just want to get away. We want more of this, less of that - more relaxation, less rat race; more time with family, less time with coworkers; more warmth, less winter. We want to be inspired, rejuvenated. Hopefully the most important goal in any of our lives is to make it great, right where it is. For that goal, I would suggest articles on parenting, family, marriages, career goals, and home decor. But after that, or perhaps included in it, is our goal to experience more of our world and lead as full of a life as possible. These are five places I'm rating high on the over-the-rainbow scale. They are high on the list of things we hope to see before we die. They're the places people write songs about, the places we close our eyes and wish we could be - even if we've never seen them before.

Hawaii

First up: The islands. There are so many tropical options out there, I chose Hawaii because of the "I've been there" factor. From the versatile "aloha" to the vibrant colors (you won't find their match anywhere) to the famous leis and luaus, Hawaii begs to be seen. When we close our eyes in the middle of a busy workday and imagine our toes in sand and the warmth of the sun, Hawaii is probably the island we picture. With six unique islands to choose from, Hawaii offers something for almost any kind of vacationer - the hiker, the surfer, even the destination bride. A person could fill their vacation with helicopter rides, snorkel cruises, swimming with dolphins. Or one could spend the entire trip slowly taking in beach after beach with nothing more to do than compare them and attempt to choose a favorite. Guaranteed - Hawaii is appropriately experienced just from being there.

Paris

"I love Paris in the springtime, I love Paris in the fall." I told you; people write songs about these places. Paris is home to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the fashion capital of the world. It's where Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes and where apparently the women "don't get fat" despite all the cheese. If you're looking for fanciful, it doesn't get much dreamier than this. Although perhaps only the first line of the song is a universal truth. Many Parisian businesses close for the hottest part of the summer - although not as many as in the past. In the winter, expect an itinerary packed full of cultural events. And if I visit there without discovering a quaint sidewalk cafe, then I'm taking it off the list immediately for failing to live up to its most noted charm.

Italy

While we're in Europe anyway . . . and I know, Italy, kind of vague. But although an entire country, Italy is only slightly larger than Arizona, and frankly, I couldn't narrow it down to just one city. It's the gondolas, the cities built into a hill, the vineyards - does villa in Tuscany mean anything to you? - and the fact that George Clooney has a home there, which I picture something like the mansion in Ocean's Twelve and that I have every intention of winning an invitation to one day - perhaps from a long distance on a tour bus titled "Where the Stars Live,: but still. If you think romance, surely Italy makes the list.

New York

Back to America, and as long as I'm talking about the stars, New York, if not the best place to go and relax, nor to look for the perfect beach or Italian villa, is the most popular place to reach for a pot of gold. What young American does not at one time or another feel that perhaps his or her dreams cannot be truly realized unless in one or another of America's great centers for culture and innovation, like New York City? The movies like this city, why wouldn't we? It's where art, history, culture, fashion, and technology collide into a frenzy of creativity and vibrancy of life. We can't all live there of course, but we can all reach for a piece of it. They say there are only six degrees of separation from any influential person to any one of us. Perhaps the degree of separation from you and and your pot of gold is less than three - one plane ride, one Broadway or art museum ticket, and a lifetime of inspiration.

Orlando

The Happiest Place on Earth. That's what they say about it. I've heard people suggest the opposite. They are the people who stood in line for three hours for every single ride and felt that they were being force-fed a Disney commercial from the time they pulled in the parking lot. These people are dead to me. I cannot go to this place without half way wondering if I should get a job there. I was once brought a beautiful golden spoon (my husband says it was silver) because I couldn't find the plastic one to go with my Fruit Loops in the mini bar. They cover their construction, so you cannot see it happening, and they change the landscaping while you sleep at night. They now have a suite for guests in the castle itself, and the employees seem determined, to their own hurt if necessary, to keep the magic alive. The fireworks show at the end of each night puts every small town 4th of July display to complete and utter shame, and they do it EVERY night. There may be a debate about whether to stay on the grounds or off, but I maintain that the magic remains more deeply intact if you stay on one of the Disney resorts. They are vacations in and of themselves, not the rose but near it, in that you can lie on your very own balcony or patio for the fireworks and perfect view of Sleeping Beauty's tower. Plus, you get special privileges like entering the park half an hour before the poor outsiders who have to enter like common cattle while you glide over on a ferry or the Disney monorail. Somewhere Over the Rainbow practically sings itself on this vacation. It's away, it's beautiful and full of things to do, and just as the slogan suggests, it's just plain happy.

I fully expect to change this list as I see more of the world. And obviously you won't book a ticket to any of these five if you're looking to discover something wonderful that has not yet been found. Someone put their flag down here long before you touched the threshhold, but does that make them any less worth the flight? The next time you hum along with Katherine McPhee at work, close your eyes and picture an escape, perhaps you'll picture one of these. Once you've discovered this version of the song, though, I gaurantee you'll be thinking Hawaii.