BOSTON
One of the country's oldest cities, Boston remains also one of the most charming and inviting for visitors with its characteristic European feel. Boston is the largest city and the capitol of the state of Massachusetts. The jewel of New England, Boston proper has over 600,000 residents, while the greater Boston metropolitan area is home to nearly 5 million people, and hosts over 12 million visitors each year. The city is considered a cultural epicenter with its significant history, leading educational institutions, and popular sport teams and events.
Situated on the Massachusetts Bay, the city is quite compact in its design with many of the main attractions easily within reach by foot or by the easy-to-use public transportation system, known as the T. A great way to trace the city's history is by following the pedestrian path and self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail, which carves through historic neighborhoods and offers many cultural landmarks such as Faneuil Hall and Bunker Hill Monument. Notable Boston neighborhoods include Newbury Street with its upscale shopping and dining that runs through the Back Bay and the Public Garden, the North End with its characteristic cobble-stone streets and famous Italian eateries, Beacon Hill with its elite residences, the South End's art galleries, and of course the picturesque Waterfront home to Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Marketplace that is always buzzing with tourists and is a great spot for photo ops and grabbing a bite of Boston's famous fare such as clam chowder, lobster rolls and even a decadent cannoli. This family-friendly city is known for its vast history dating back to the founding of the country and offers many important landmarks, interesting attractions and a rich culture making for an inviting city to discover.
DAYTONA BEACH
Commonly known for NASCAR and spring break, Daytona Beach is now much more than that. Though it is the home of the NASCAR headquarters and is a very popular spring break destination for college students, during the rest of the year, Daytona Beach is the perfect location for a relaxing getaway for young families, retirees and everyone in between.
The beach itself is 23 miles of white sand and is open to visitors 24/7, free of charge. The hard-packed sand on the beach makes it easy for vehicles to drive on it, something Daytona Beach is famous for. The beach is noted as being highly accessible for travelers with disabilities, and there are businesses in Daytona Beach that specialize in renting wheelchairs and push chairs made for sand. There are more than 10 beachfront parks with picnic areas, pavilions, splash parks and fishing boardwalks. Lighthouse Point Park and Smyrna Dunes Park are especially popular with families. From November to March, visitors to Blue Spring State Park can see hundreds of manatees congregating in the warm water. It’s an amazing sight and one that should not be missed.
Daytona Beach hosts many festivals through the year with fall being the busiest season for festivals. A blues festival, motorcycle festival, art festival and the Turkey Run, a classic car show, are just some of the fun events the city has each year.
HOUSTON
Houston, Texas is the fourth most-populated city in the U.S. and its large size offers travelers many exciting things to do. Performing arts, shopping and live music and just some of the things visitors can enjoy in this southern Texas city.
Houston’s Museum District is considered by many to be the city’s cultural center. It’s comprised of 19 museums, 11 of which are free to visit all the time. There’s the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Children’s Museum of Houston, the Health Museum and the Houston Museum of African American Culture, among many others. For even more cultural experiences, travelers are often encouraged to visit the downtown theatre districts which spans 17 blocks and is home to the Houston Grand Opera, Bayou City Performing Arts, Broadway at the Hobby Center and many other performing arts companies.
Another big draw for travelers to Houston is the music scene. Houston is a music city and has top-notch live music performances year-round. The Toyota Center is a large arena that hosts many big concerts and is also where the Houston Rockets basketball team plays. Visitors interested in smaller acts have many options too, like the House of Blues and many other performance halls, parks and bars.
HAWAII ISLAND
Hawaii Island, the largest island in the United States, is known for its diverse landscape, rich history and abundance of attractions. Travelers can enjoy water activities like surfing and snorkeling or land activities such as hiking Volcanoes National Park and biking. Whether tourists want to explore the desert-like Kona coast or the lush emerald rainforests of Hilo, the laid-back Upcountry around Waimea or the glitzy resorts of the Gold Coast, the Big Island's many facets offer something for everyone.