Boston is the largest city and the capital of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and as thus, is very important to economic, cultural, and political matters in the state. It is also the largest city in New England and is considered as the cultural and economic center of the entire region. The city features its own distinct atmosphere, dialect, and way of life.

Founded on September 17, 1630, Boston was originally a Puritan settlement established by English colonists to the New World. Popular theological thought at the time insisted that the city of Boston fit under the “City on the Hill” concept and that it had a special covenant with God. Over one hundred years later, the American Revolution was incited by Bostonians who were fed up with British taxation without representation. Notable events like the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred during this turbulent time. Throughout the 19th century, Boston experienced economic growth because of its harbor, as well as significant land growth because of land reclamation efforts that lasted over two hundred years. Today, Boston is an intellectual and political center whose influence extends across the region.

Boston is a very compact city due to the principles upon which it was built. The elevation stays rather constant throughout the city, but there are notable hills and such spread throughout the city. The Charles River reigns in the city limits of Boston, while Boston Harbor lies in the east. A continental climate pervades New England, moderated by the current, with hot and humid summers and cold, windy, snowy winters.

Boston’s culture is a very distinct subset of New England’s culture, with its own dialect called Boston English. Many people believe that Boston’s culture is intellectual in nature because of the many universities within the city. Renowned, ornate theaters, along with other performing arts venues, are spread throughout the city. Much of the city is historically preserved because of its importance to the American Revolution.

As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage holds two-fifths of the entire state’s population. Anchorage’s population is just over 350,000. Named an All-America City several times in its history, Anchorage is known for its ability to adapt to a climate which is extremely unusual to the rest of the United States.

Established in 1914 as a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad, Anchorage had humble beginnings as a tent city with a working population. Originally the city’s economy was based on the railroad, but by the 1950s, the city experienced a massive boom due to an increased amount of air transportation and military presence. Anchorage’s development was dramatically halted in 1964 when the Good Friday Earthquake, a stunning magnitude 9.2 quake, struck Alaska, killing 115 Alaskans and causing $1.8 billion dollars worth of damage. The rest of the decade was devoted to reconstruction of the city. An oil boom in 1968 caused massive growth once again in the city, and from then until today, Anchorage has experienced much expansion and beautification.

Anchorage sits in south central Alaska on a strip of coastal lowlands. To the south is a fjord with record-breaking tides called the Turnagain Arm, while Knik Arm lies to the north and west. The Chugach Mountains reign the city limits in to the east. A subarctic climate means that Anchorage experiences lows in the mid 50s and highs in the mid 70s during the summer, and lows in the single digits and highs in the 30s during the winter. Summer days are very long and winter days are very short.

Alaskan culture is distinguishable from the rest of the United States because of its geographical situation. Along with performing arts, most of which taking place in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, and chamber music societies, cultural events in Anchorage include ice carving competitions and summer festivals. Several museums in Alaska, including the Alaska Museum of Natural History and the Oscar Anderson House Museum, are housed in Anchorage. Hockey is the most popular sport in Anchorage and the Alaska Aces is one of the city’s two professional sports teams.

As Florida’s third-largest metropolitan area, the principal city of Greater Orlando, and the seat of Orange County, Florida, Orlando is an extremely important city to the state. To the average person, though, the city is most well-known for its huge amount of tourist attractions, drawing over 52 million visitors every year.

Also known as “The City Beautiful”, Orlando’s history dates back to 1837, when a soldier named Orlando Reeves died in the area during the war with the Seminole Indians. Settlers found his name etched into a tree and began to refer to the area as “Orlando’s Grave”, later just Orlando. The Reconstruction Era after the Civil War brought the city its first population boom, and this sort of boom continued during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s. The most important event for Orlando’s economy in the modern times was the creation of Walt Disney World, which brings millions of tourists to the area each year.

The climate in Orlando is a warm and humid subtropical climate with two distinct seasons during the year. From May until October, the hot and rainy season takes place, when temperatures hover between the mid 70s and the high 90s throughout the day. The winter season takes place the rest of the year, and temperatures drop to the 60s, with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s. About 50 inches of rainfall is common annually in Orlando.

Orlando’s culture is characterized by a large Latino population, especially those of Puerto Rican descent. Spanish music is commonly featured on Orlando radio stations, and there are plenty of Puerto Rican restaurants. Orlando has an even larger African-American population, as well as a thriving pocket of Vietnamese people. The mix of these cultures makes Orlando a quite the melting pot.

As far as entertainment and tourism go Orlando boasts a bustling music scene, plenty of performance art with a substantial theater population, several of important museums, and, of course, Walt Disney World.

Located in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Acapulco is a major port city. It is a port of call for shipping and cruise lines running from San Francisco and Panama City. The population of the urban part of Acapulco is over 600,000, while the surrounding municipality’s population numbers over 700,000 people.

Acapulco as it is known today has its roots in the Spanish exploration of the New World. In 1521, the bay upon which Acapulco depends was discovered by the Spanish, and by 1532 the area was a direct dependency to the Spanish Crown, and it soon became a major port for Spanish operations in the area. The Mexican War of Independence between 1810 and 1821 marked the beginning of Mexican control of Acapulco, and with it, the end of the trade with the Philippines that had gone on for centuries.

With a subtropical climate, Acapulco has a hot and rainy season and a dry and cooler season. From October to June, it is quite unlikely to see any rainfall or clouds in the sky. Throughout the year, the high temperature hovers around 90 degrees and the low around 70 degrees. During the rainy season, the rain falls during the nighttime, so it rarely interferes with tourism activities. Acapulco wraps around the bay and exists on a small strip of shore land between the beach and the lofty mountains. A tunnel allows access to Acapulco from the mainland.

Because of the agreeable weather and the beach atmosphere that Acapulco provides, along with the stylishness of Mexican beach resorts to American tourists, Acapulco has long been an extremely popular tourist destination. As far as Mexican tourism goes, it competes directly with Cancun on the east coast of Mexico. Generally a summer resort paradise, Acapulco has become a spring break getaway for the younger crowd. This may be because of the larger amount of international tourism in the area compared with other areas of Mexico.

Palm Springs, California is a desert city in Riverside County with a population of about 45,000. This city is one of the nine cities that make up the Coachella Valley. Tourists come to Palm Springs, California to enjoy the desert scenery of the city and participate in the outdoor activities popular throughout the area.

The modern day area of Palm Springs was once home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for 500 years. The Cahuilla Indians still inhabit the city and are important in the local economy of the city. The native Americans operate plenty of business enterprises, which include land leasing, hotel and casino operations, and banking. “Se-Khi”, which means “boiling water”, was the Cahuilla name for the area surrounding the city, which probably refers to the desert life. A Spanish explorer named the area “Agua Caliente”, which means “hot water”. US Government surveyors contributed the name of Palm Springs for the area during the 1860s, and from then on, the official name became Palm Springs.

Palm Springs is surrounded by mountains. It has the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west. The Palm Springs climate can be contributed to the geography, which gives its warm and dry climate, and less than 6 inches of rain annually. Palm Springs has average desert climate, with cold winters and hot dry summers. Snow is common on the mountains around the city but rarely falls directly in the city.

During the winter months, tourism is flourishing. With many five star hotels, restaurants and attractions, a wonderful water park, and high-end boutiques in uptown and downtown, Palm Springs caters to the many tourists. The Palm Springs Art Museum, Annenberg Theater, and the highly popular Palm Springs International Film Festival will provide much entertainment to any tourists that visit Palm Springs.

Palm Springs is a hot spot for golf. It’s actually considered one of the top golf destinations in the world.  While visiting Palm Springs, you will have more than 110 golf courses to choose from. If you don’t golf yourself, you still may like to attend one of the major golfing events that take place in Palm Springs every year.

In addition to golf, Palm Springs also features tennis, horseback riding, hiking and many other outdoor activities. The shopping and art galleries in the area are also top notch. From college students on spring break to retirees, it seems everyone enjoys vacationing in Palm  Springs.

As the third most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the Midwest, Chicago has long been an important economic and cultural metropolis. Three million people call the city home, and its contribution to the global economy is such that it is classified as an alpha world city.

Until the beginning of the 1800s, Chicago was inhabited by Potawatomi Native Americans. It was then that American settlement of the area began, with the first trading post being constructed in the area in 1803. It was later destroyed in the 1812 Fort Dearborn massacre, marking the hostility between the native people and the colonists, but the land was ceded four years later.

Because of its prime position as a transportation hub between the eastern part of the United States and the western, the population of Chicago exploded, reaching 1 million people by 1890. In the 1920s, the city acquired a reputation for being the base of operations for several gangsters, but the era also brought about great industrial development and economic advancement. Today, the city continues to expand based on a progressive agenda that promotes poor and minority neighborhoods.

Located on the tip of Lake Michigan, Chicago sits on the continental divide. The land on which the city exists is relatively flat, with few minor changes in elevation throughout the city. Lake Michigan has historically been an important part of Chicago’s economy, allowing it to specialize in water transportation. Located in the humid continental zone, Chicago has four distinct seasons, with temperatures reaching 85 degrees Fahrenheit in July and dropping to 17 degrees in January. Annually, Chicago receives about 34 inches of precipitation.

As far as tourism goes, Chicago is a large hub of activity for vacationers who come to experience world-class shopping, fine dining, and a large entertainment district. Chicago’s distinctive architectural beauty also draws many tourists, who come to experience the sights that downtown has to offer. Popular destinations include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Millennium Park, and the historic Chicago Cultural Center.

As the southernmost part of an island that separates the Atlantic Ocean with Biscayne Bay, South Beach, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida, features all of the qualities that make Miami such an appealing city. It has plenty of characteristics that make it its own place as well.

South Beach was originally farmland until it was purchased in 1870 by Henry and Charles Lum for coconut farming. When the brothers left the area in 1886, they ceded the land to John Collins, who would continue their efforts, expanding the amount of land on their parcel. In 1912, Miami businessmen purchased 400 acres of the land with hopes to build single family residences.

Investments by a wealthy businessman allowed Collins to create a bridge between Miami and Miami Beach. This marked the beginning of the area’s development, which continued during the land boom in the 1920s and the architectural revolution of the 1930s. The area became a popular destination for retired people in the 1970s, and then base of operations for the “cocaine cowboys”, drug dealers dabbling in illicit activities. While the area had long been considered a poor area with a lot of crime, attention from the media dispelled the image, and it is now considered one of the most wealthy and commercial areas on the beach.

Today, the area is a major entertainment district, containing many famous nightclubs, restaurants, and boutique hotels, all of which are geared toward the more wealthy tourists. The nightlife can be especially difficult to break into for non-locals and those who do not plan ahead, because it tends to be expensive and exclusive.

One can usually find something to do, though, given the large number of clubs and restaurants spread throughout the city. A large amount of European tourism accounts for a unique multiculturalism; German is the third most spoken language, behind English and Spanish. The area is also uniquely popular for fashion shoots, with more than 1500 models living in the area.

Located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos or just Cabo as it is known by starry-eyed vacationers, is a popular tourist destination among the wealthy who can afford the increasingly high-end resorts and timeshare clubs. Whether one comes to visit The Corridor, complete with parties and golf courses, or the laidback colonial style of neighboring San Jose, there is much to do in the area.

The first humans came to the southern tip of the peninsula around 14,000 years ago, but the first documented experiences in the area by the Europeans included observations of the native peoples living a subsistence lifestyle. These peoples did not use metals and they gathered roots, fruits, seeds, and shellfish to survive. Many American authors have claimed that the city was founded by Thomas Ritchie who was said to have been in the area from 1828 to 1874, when he supposedly passed away. By the turn of the 20th century, a fishing village had developed, and 1917 marked the arrival of an American country that built a floating tuna platform. Their efforts marked the beginning of development in the city.

Tourism is an important part of the local economy, with visitors coming from all over the world to enjoy the sights as well as the high-end resorts, timeshares, and social scenes. As far as the sights go, many tourists visit Lands End, a stunning rock formation located off the coast of Cabo, which many have argued looks like a Triceratops drinking water from the ocean. The waters off of Cabo are also home to whales in the wintertime, where mothers bear their calves in the warmer water.

Cabo San Lucas is also notorious for its nightlife and vibrant party scene. Places like Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina remain popular spots for the bustling nightlife that often features out-of-control celebrations and revelry. The Corridor is the most popular of these types of tourist destinations, a twenty mile strip resorts, clubs, and residences of Hollywood’s most famous stars. Because of all the wealth in the area, tourist destinations are aimed toward those who have plenty of money to spend.

Situated on the coast of Southern California, San Diego enjoys an ideal climate, its location right on the beach, an advanced economy, and rich multiculturalism. With an economy that is dependant on a vast variety of many different sectors, San Diego is a burgeoning metropolis and a popular tourist destination.

As with many cities throughout the country, San Diego began as a European claim staked because of an advantageous natural location—in this case, it was the defensible natural harbor. It later was the sight of a Christian mission, evolving into a city in the 1850s after the Mexican-American war and the gold rush of 1848. Today, San Diego is in touch with its historical roots and actively maintains many of the buildings that the city was composed of many years ago.

Several deep canyons created a low-density, segmented area that necessitates the use of cars. Downtown San Diego sits on the bay and Balboa Park on a mesa to the northeast, surrounded by dense urban communities. The Point Loma and Coronado Peninsulas separate San Diego from the ocean. To the east of the city are mountains, and beyond the mountains, desert areas. The Mediterranean climate is mild and dry throughout the year. Rainfall is rare, mostly concentrated on the cooler part of the year.

San Diego is about half white, with large minority groups, such as Hispanics and African Americans. The largest age group is those from 25 to 44 years old, composing 34% of San Diego’s population.

Defense, manufacturing, and tourism are the largest components of San Diego’s economy. Tourism is especially popular because of the many historical sites, national parks, museums, world-class dining spots, resorts, and beaches. The climate has much to do with this, allowing people to escape from their undesirable climates.

Santa Fe is located in scenic northern New Mexico, a state known for its rich Native American culture, love of the outdoors, and beautiful environment, all of which Santa Fe has in spades.

New Mexico is part of the country’s culturally-rich Southwest region, and Santa Fe epitomizes this richness. With authentic adobe buildings comprising much of the city’s architecture and an increased amount of attention given to visitors from other parts of the world, Santa Fe is a premium tourist destination as well as an artistic and cultural capital of the region.

Santa Fe is the highest state capital in the United States in terms of altitude. The weather is generally cool in the winters and warm in the summer, only reaching extreme temperature levels rarely.

Historic downtown Santa Fe attracts much tourism because of the history, art, and culture that is displayed regularly by many events downtown. The Plaza, adjacent to the Palace of the Governors, is especially popular during the summer months because the fair weather allows a comfortable environment to browse the many shops, art galleries, and museums.

Outdoor sports are popular for visitors for this area and include skiing, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, canoeing, and other popular outdoor activities. Santa Fe has many sports outfitters that can tell you a great location for your excursion.

Multiculturalism is a very important part of Santa Fe, as it has become a common ground for whites, Latin Americans, and Native Americans. Much of the art reflects this multiculturalism and it is an important part of the city’s heritage.

When visiting Santa Fe, you have your choice of luxury resorts, family-friendly hotels or quaint bed and breakfast inns. From golf to skiing, from museums to spas, you will find it all in amazing Santa Fe, New Mexico.