The United States of America is a land of great wonders. No where else in the world do you find such an eclectic and wide array of destinations all encompassed within one country. Often, when one considers exotic locations around the world, images of Machu Picchu, Agra, Santorini and Alexandria come to mind. However, the United States is perhaps the one and only country in the world that offers everything for everyone. Disagree? Here are the top ten places to visit in the US. Let me know if you still disagree after you finish reading:

Grand Canyon – lets start with one of the true wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is one of the most significant geological sites of our time. It holds in its vast gorges, history dating back thousands of years. The Colorado River, that carved out most of this canyon still runs fiercely at the bottom and offers thrill seekers the opportunity to navigate some serious level 5 rapids. Hiking, donkey riding, climbing, swimming, rafting, and sightseeing are just some of the many activities you can engage in while visiting Grand Canyon. I can truly say, as someone who has been to Grand Canyon many times, that it is a one of a kind place in the world.

Grand Canyon, AZ

Rocky Mountains – Colorado (and even Utah) have some of the best ski slopes a ski enthusiast can hope to find anywhere. In fact, these slopes rival those of Switzerland. Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Aspen, Deer Valley, UT – offer skiing for all skill-levels. Colorado and the Rockies have everything for the outdoor adventure seekers. Miles of white water, hundreds of ski slopes and world famous mountain bike trails in Telluride.

Northern California – California is a country unto itself. In fact, it is impossible to experience all of California in one trip. So I would consider it two separate destinations. Northern California is flanked by the ocean to the west and by the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range (with great winter skiing at Lake Mammoth) to the east. It offers some of the best wineries in the world in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Northern California is heavily influenced by Silicon Valley, home of world tecnology giants like Apple, Google, Yahoo, Cisco and Oracle. San Francisco, with the Golden Gate bridge and the infamous Alcatraz Island is known for its liberal vitality and seafood. If nature is your medicine, the Yosemite National Park is one of the best national parks in the country, and along with Lake Tahoe and Lake Mammoth, round out some of the most scenic landscapes in the western US. Moving south, there is the beautiful coastline of Monterey and Carmel, with Pebble Beach, one of the best golf courses in the world, nestled between them.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Southern California – If you were to take a drive from Northern California to Southern California, a very scenic highway known as the Pacific Coast Highway takes you down the coast in style. As you enter Southern California, the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara greet you along the curves, with miles of white sand and curved coastline. Another two hours south, you will run into the entertainment capital of the world – Los Angeles with Hollywood, Kodak Theatre (home of the Oscars), and Avenue of the Stars. Los Angeles is also home to some of the most diverse beaches in the west, like Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu, all of which have played host to the famous TV series – Baywatch. And for family vacationers, there is always Disneyland, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Zoo, Six Flags theme park and Sea World. California truly has everything for everyone.

Las Vegas – Sin City, also known as the real resting place of the King, Elvis Presley, is the only city that can truly lay claim to the title “the city that never sleeps”. Casinos are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so whatever your poison, whether it be Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, or plain old slots, you can put lady luck to the test. Aside from gambling, Las Vegas has some of the best nightlife anywhere in the world, with exclusive clubs, fine dining and the best live entertainment in the world. When you travel to Las Vegas, I highly recommend flying in at night. The view of the lights from the sky is nothing short of breath-taking. In fact, even driving there at night, you can see the lights from miles away. This entire city is like one big night club with themed hotels depicted from Pyramids, New York City, Paris, Venice and Rome among others.

– While Niagara Falls is, by no means, the largest waterfalls in the world, it is certainly the most famous. There are many ways to enjoy these falls up close, the most popular being Maid of the Mist, a boat tour that takes you within a few hundred yards of the falls. There is also a bridge that takes you straight into the belly of the falls. Niagara Falls is better on the Canadian side, so when visiting, you may want to venture into Canada.

Niagara Falls

Hawaiian Islands – Hawaii is one of the most highly frequented honeymoon destinations in the world and continues to attract not only romancing couples, but cruise enthusiasts, surfers, golfers and vacationers. It is home to some of the best spa resorts in the world, and the birth place of pipe surfing. Waikiki Beach is perhaps the most famous beach in the world, renowned for its surfing. For world travelers, Hawaii offers a unique taste of Polynesian culture that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world. While in Hawaii, you should definitely find the best local Luau, catch the pipe competitiion and visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, the scene of the most devastating attacks on the US.

Waikiki Beach, Island of Oahu in Hawaii

New York – No visit to the US is complete without a trip to the Big Apple. The financial capital of the world is the heart of America, with the best man-made skyline in the world with tall skyscrapers stretching for miles across the city. Night life is top notch in NYC, and restaurants and bars attract busy professionals every night of the week. Statue of Liberty is the icon of the American culture and it is one of many landmark buildings to dawn the famous New York skyline.

Alaska – Alaska, the final frontier, is the largest state of the United States of America by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of North America, with Canada to the east, the Arctic ocean to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait. While, Alaska is best seen via a cruise, many people prefer to fly to Anchorage directly. Glacier National Park is one of the most spectacular sights in the world, and Alaska is the place to be if you are an avid sea kayaker. Some of the more famous activities in Alaska include salmon fishing, whale watching (Alaska is known for its Hump-back Whales), hiking and observing Polar Bears, Brown Bears and the endangered Bald Eagle.

 

Alaskan Wild

 

 

 

Miami – It is hard to find a city so vibrant with culture and famous for its parties as Miami. This is a city where if you are out of shape, you might as well stay indoors. Hot bodies of all colors adorn the beaches of Miami, Daytona and Palm beach, specially in spring and summer. The club scene is extremely active and the music is hypnotic. If you are single and ready to mingle, Miami should be your first destination.

I am at the end of my post, and yet I find myself thinking there is so much more to mention here. For example, you can see the castle of Montezuma (King of the Aztecs) in Arizona dating back to the 12th century, Museum of Astrogeology (now also known as the Meteor Crater center) also in Arizona, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Chicago with its museums, arts and the grand Sears Tower and the list goes on. So you see, the United States of America, while not considered “exotic” is a place where every traveler will find something of interest. Its landmarks, beaches, mountains, buildings, monuments, wild life and natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls make it one of the most diversified destinations in the world.

 

When deciding on an Alaskan Cruise, you must consider two main options.

1. The Inside Passage
2. Glacier Bay Cruise

First off, an Alaskan cruise is not for everyone. Younger people looking for a party should skip this one for when they really want to enjoy nature and romance, and look instead to a Mexican Riviera or Caribbean cruise instead. Secondly, lets dispel a couple of myths or pre-conceived notions about Alaska.

1. Alaska is cold. But April through September, which is considered prime season and in-fact the only time during which cruise lines operate to Alaska, has much milder climate. Depending on which cruise you take, temperature varies from the 40′s to the 70′s during the day.
2. There are no Penguins in Alaska. Penguins are only in Antartica.

The Inside Passage is the more popular type of cruise, with departures mainly from Seattle or Vancouver, and with ports of call in Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Of course, some of these ports can change depending on the cruise line and the time of season.

Alaska is best seen on a cruise

The Glacier Bay Cruise is a one-way cruise (unlike the Inside Passage which is round-trip). If you want more action, wild-life and adventure, this is the one for you.

While I have yet to do the Glacier Bay Cruise, the Inside Passage is definitely a cruise I can recommend from experience. If you are in the US, it is easier to depart from Seattle, but don’t shy from the Vancouver departure. You can always fly to Seattle and take a round-trip shuttle from Seattle airport to the port in Vancouver.

So what can you expect to see on the cruise? How about the Bald Eagle while sea kayaking in Juneau, Hump-back Whales while jogging on the track at the ship, Brown Bears while zip-lining between trees in Ketchikan, Seals relaxing atop floating ice in the sea and wild Salmon swimming upstream to lay their eggs?

Bald Eagle

Based on age, fitness and interest, you have a variety of excursion options. One thing I recommend highly in Skagway (if that is your port of call) is to take the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Tour. This tour is offered in conjuction with multiple options. I took the bicycle tour which includes taking the White Pass and Yukon Rail to White Pass and taking a bicycle down. Along the way, you can pause to take photos of the waterfalls, the White Pass Railroad, glaciers from above, and the mountains surrounding you.

One of the things I liked very much about the Alaskan cruise is the fact that every second day (on my 7-day cruise) was spent at sea. This gives you a chance to enjoy the amenities of the ship and the views offered by the glaciers and icebergs. For this reason it is worth getting a cabin with a balcony when you cruise Alaska.

Get great deals on Alaska Cruises here!

Happy Cruisin!

As we enter May, summer travel season is upon us and while the economy will shape how much we spend on travel, bargains will be actively seeked. So how should you decide where to go?

Well, it all depends on your budget really. Assuming you want to stay local to the US, following are some of the top travel spots for summer (not necessarily in that order):

Miami
For those who want to burn the midnight oil in a night club, Miami is the place to be. There is a hot spot at every corner, and young well-toned bodies adorn the beaches and the streets.

Key West
Sticking to the Florida theme, Key West is a secluded area and is home to the southern most tip of the US. It is more for people looking for a second honeymoon, or those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Los Angeles
Beach, babes and burritos. Los Angeles has an active nightlife, as well as sexy beaches, and summer sports like beach volleyball and roller-blading. Of course, Disneyland, Six Flags and Universal Studios are just a couple of additional incentives for those looking to travel with family. Finally, there is Hollywood, Avenue of the Stars, Chinese Mann Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, home to the Oscars. And who knows, you might run into one of your favorite movie stars.

Hawaii
It is hard to single out one island in Hawaii. Waikiki and the Pipe in Oahu, romance and whale watching in Maui, Black sand on the Big Island, isolation and nature hikes in Kauai and Molokai – it sure would be nice to see it all. While I have only traveled to Maui myself, I have spoken to friends who swear by a cruise to Hawaii to take in all the islands. Either way, you can’t lose.

Grand Canyon
For the outdoor trail-blazer, Grand Canyon is the ultimate destination to test your fitness and to take in one of the 7 wonders of the world. This naturally carved out canyon takes my breath away every time I see it, and I have been there four times. Among the few things you could do at the Grand Canyon – ride a mule down the canyon, take a helicopter ride, hike the Bright Angel trail, kayak the Colorado River or simply take in the beauty of this land.

Alaska
Summer is the busiest season for travel to Alaska and the most popular mode of transportation to Alaska is a cruise. The home to last year’s Republican hopeful Sarah Palin and apparently a stone’s throw from Russia (yeah right), Alaska is the largest US State and refreshingly natural. Clean air, wild life, melting glaciers and icebergs make a visit to Alaska specially memorable.

Do you think I left out your favorite summer destination in the US? Feel free to add your own destination to the comments section.

Meanwhile, here is wishing you sunny travels!