As the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Seattle is an important cultural and commercial hub. Its official nickname is “Emerald City”, although it is sometimes referred to as “The Gateway to Alaska”, “Rain City”, “Coffee Town”, and other local titles.

The Seattle area has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years, but at the time of the European discovery of the area, it was inhabited by members of the Duwamish Tribe. Settlement of the area was first attempted by the Collins Party, who obtained legal rights to settle at the mouth of the Duwamish River. On the way there, they passed the Denny Party, who would become the eventual founders of the city itself. Eventually, the settlement would split into two competing entities, but finally, the eastern shore of Elliot Bay became the site for the city.

Seattle is situated between the Puget Sound and the Washington Lake on an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Classification of Seattle’s climate varies because it experiences the characteristics of both a Marine west coast climate and a Mediterranean climate. Winters are rainy and summers are dry, much like the rain patterns of several Mediterranean regions.

Visitors to the northwestern part of the United States are frequently headed to Seattle for various reasons. Some go to attend the Seattle International Film Festival, while others enjoy the myriad cultural events that take place in the Emerald City.

When visiting Seattle, be sure to include plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature. The mild climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities like walking, hiking,cycling, jogging, skiing, and snowboarding, while the presence of water makes it a great place to practice water sports from fishing to surfing. Because of the heavy rainfall, the region is very green and a terrific destination for outdoor photography as well.

As a well-known destination for a vacation in paradise, the Bahamas is a tropical island chain with beautiful temperatures all year long and plenty for tourists to do. Thriving on tourism, the Bahamas continues to be on the top of the list of dream vacation sites for many people who crave the laidback beach atmosphere and a hint of island life.

The Bahamas was first home to the seafaring Taino people who migrated from Hispaniola and Cuba to the Bahamas in the 7th century. There, they came to be known as the Lucayans, numbering in the thirty thousands by the time Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. He landed at San Salvador Island and peacefully exchanged goods with the native people. Following visits by Spaniards reduced the population of the islands to nothingness, until Eleutherian Adventurers arrived in the mid 1600s. This marked the beginning of British occupancy of the islands, which would last until 1973, when the islands would become fully independent.

The islands that make up the Bahamas are low and flat, with elevations mostly at sea level. Some ridges rise up about sixty feet, and the highest point on the islands is Mount Alvernia, which rises 210 feet. About seven hundred islands form the archipelago of the Bahamas, all of which feature a climate that is either subtropical or tropical. This means that the summers are warm and the winters are mild, and the temperatures are moderated by the Gulf Stream current. It is also dangerous come hurricane season, which can hit the islands in force.

Since the 1950s, offshore financing and tourism have been the two major pillars of the country’s economy. The latter comprises over two thirds of the Bahamas’ gross domestic product. Tourists come to experience the beautiful, sculpted resorts and the stunning beaches, evoking images of other laidback island communities, like Hawaii. Because of the wealth that comes into the nation from all of the tourism, there are plenty of high society lifestyle activities that visitors can enjoy.

As the de facto capital of Japan, due to its being the seat of the government and containing the Imperial Palace, Tokyo is one of the most important cities in the country. Along with the outlying areas of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama, Tokyo is the largest populous metropolitan area in the world, with over 35 million people.

The mainland portion of the city is located just northwest of Tokyo Bay, while the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands lie within the administrative boundaries of the city as well. Because of the amount of land that is contained within Tokyo, the population density figures are skewed, belying the actual super-crowded nature of the area. The city is comprised of twenty-three special wards, each with its own mayor and assemblies, meaning that they are not all under the control of one large city, but some of their affairs are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

As far as the cityscape goes, numerous parks and gardens are interspersed with modern, contemporary buildings. This is because of the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, followed by the extensive firebombing that occurred during World War II. Also because of this, there are very few older buildings in the city. Weather in Tokyo is hot and humid during the summer and mild during the winter, as is the case in the humid subtropical zone. The vast population of the city has plenty to do with the island’s climate because of the amount of energy that is given off in an urban setting as large as Tokyo.

Tourism is a part of Tokyo’s economy, fueled by visitors who come to visit downtown areas and entertainment districts. Fans of Japanese pop culture, anime, and Japanese art visit Tokyo in order to indulge in the areas dedicated to these things, such as the Tokyo National Museum. The Tsukiji Fish Market is a popular tourist destination with foreigners who come to enjoy the wholesale fish and seafood early in the morning.

Tokyo continues to grow, finding new ways to expand. Energy efficiency is an important goal for Tokyo’s government, which means that it will be taking steps to ensure that the city’s greenhouse gas emissions are minimized.

As one of the largest cities in the Dominican Republic, Santiago is very important to the country. It also has plenty of things to keep a tourist occupied, and should be your destination should you choose to visit beautiful Hispaniola.

Although it is officially called “Santiago de los Caballeros”, the native Dominicans just refer to it as “Santiago”. It was founded in 1495 with the first wave of Spanish settlement in the New World. Originally located elsewhere, the settlement was moved to its current location in 1506.

Located on hilly terrain, the city enjoys a tropical climate, with cool winters and warm summers with rarely any extreme temperature situations. The country does suffer from hurricanes from time to time, though, because of the location, and Santiago is vulnerable to this.

As a rapidly growing city, the economy of Santiago is important to the country as a whole. It is quickly becoming the major service provider for the rest of the Dominican Republic. Although there have been many major power outages slowing the city’s development, it keeps moving forward as time goes by.

In the present time, massive scale hotels and infrastructural systems are being put in place, like new roads and new rail lines. This make tourism in Santiago much easier, as getting around is becoming less of a hassle and the quality of lodging is increasing.

As far as things to do in Santiago, the nightlife and fine dining industries are booming because of increased tourism in the recent years. There are also plenty of museums detailing important parts of Dominican history and culture. Sports like baseball are very popular in Santiago, as in the rest of the country, and other outdoor sports are also pursued.

To learn more about traveling to Santiago, Domincan Republic, visit www.godominicanrepublic.com.

Rio de Janeiro holds the title of best of Brazil when it comes to tourism. Why not? The beaches and unending samba beats get all the press. Rio has become the darling, not only of Brazil’s tourist industry, but also of all South America’s. Despite being bigger in size and population than New York, Sao Paulo is often relegated to its country’s second string when it comes to tourism. As Brazil grows economically, perhaps Sao Paulo will be “discovered” for what it is: a vibrant city with more going on than anywhere else in South America.

The biggest surprise that greets visitors to Sao Paulo is its diversity. This truly is a world city. Tourists might actually be frustrated by the fact that they are not immediately recognized as “gringos.” It is not uncommon for locals to speak to tourists in Portuguese because they mistake them for locals. Sao Paulo has significant populations of Japanese (the largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan), Arabic peoples, Koreans, and Europeans. Parts of the city have an Italian flare, while others have an afro-Brazilian atmosphere. All this combines for a jumble of culture, food, and life that is like nowhere else.

Like any big city, Sao Paulo can cause plenty of headaches. Getting around takes a bit of planning. Traffic is nothing short of hellish, but Sao Paulo is a city of neighborhoods, and once you get to where you are going, walking is easy. There is also an extensive subway and rail system. These can also get crowded during peak hours, but, in general, they are the most convenient way to get from A to B. Buses, usually staffed with speed loving drivers, reach every area of the city that does not have a rail station.

Sao Paulo is a great city full of diverse neighborhoods and uncommon experiences. No, it’s not Rio, but it is worth checking out.

Boulder has moved from being one of the largest University towns west of the Mississippi to being a hub of high tech industry and cutting edge Midwestern culture. Boulder is consistently ranked as one of the nicest places in the U.S. to live. Surprisingly, the vibe is not as quiet and “suburban” as those accolades might suggest. Boulder is a happening place, though its personality is decidedly laid-back. Denver is near enough to offer all the trappings of a conventional big city, but, in terms of culture, Boulder might as well be a thousand miles away from the Mile High City.

Aside from the cultural activities (see below) Boulder is an outdoor sports enthusiast’s fantasy come true. Hiking, climbing, rafting, skiing, and anything else that would fit into the category of “outdoor adventure” can be found without much effort.

Boulder’s rapid growth and penchant for alternative culture brings to mind the similarly rising metropolis of Austin, Texas. Though Boulder is smaller in size than its up-and-coming brethren, it is no shorter on culture. Pearl Street Mall is a pedestrian friendly area with plenty of boutiques and eateries as well as offbeat details, like street performers and trinket shops.

Boulder is the stopping point for music acts on their way to the big time. The collegiate atmosphere at some of the venues around University of Colorado’s campus can be fun, as can the fact that, like most places frequented by college students, prices are quite reasonable.

Boulder is also home to a disproportionate amount of meditation centers, alternative medicine practitioners, and new age culture. Even at these places, the aura is more modern than the “aged hippie mecca” that might come to mind.

Boulder is a pleasant place to visit. People are friendly, there’s always something going on, but nothing proves overwhelming.

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