North America
Consisting of Canada, United States, and Mexico, North America has a number of sights with a variety of terrains. Many throughout the world visit to see the natural wonders that North America has to offer.
Canada
Canada has a laid back atmosphere and is fun to visit. They have Niagara Falls and Toronto in the East with Victoria and Vancouver in the west. Obviously, Canada is colder than most U.S. cities and therefore much milder summers. Their higher latitudes allows for long days in summer and shorter ones in winter.
Toronto
If you are heading to Toronto, you are in for a multicultural treat. The first thing you will notice is the diversity. Toronto is rated by the UN as the most multicultural city in the world. As a result, you have access to a wealth of great foods and varying locations influenced by varying cultures. The Streets of Downtown Vancouver are friendly and offer a wonderful setting for daytime walks.
While in Toronto, one should take advantage of Niagara Falls being so close, just 30 minutes away. If you decide to stay the night there, stay on the Canadian side. It offers the best views and the best hotels. You could walk over to the US side, but you will really only see water begin to fall and not the waterfall.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful city. They have Stanley Park, which is one of the greatest city parks you will find. I strongly recommend that you take a day to wonder the park and enjoy the Vancouver Aquarium which is located in the park. Their downtown area is bustling with clubs, but be sure not to wonder too far south. It can get a bit dangerous. You’ll know you have gone too far when you start seeing the XXX clubs. If you are vacationing with family, stay in the northwest side of the area, near Stanley Park.
A great 2-day trip would be nice to Victoria, on the boat ride over, you may encounter Orcas. All the small islands you will pass are covered in green and make for an adventure in itself. In Victoria, you will find a very well manicured city that is quite safe. You will enjoy the Art and food and all-around beauty of the area.
United States
There will be a considerable expansion of this section in the near future. For now, here is a few tidbits:
New York
Great city, just be ready for the speed deamons on the sidewalks. New York is fast paced and non-stop. They have plenty of delis that cater to this lifestyle. While there, take in a broadway show or a TV show. Definitely visit the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Try to take in the Metropolitan museum and the Central Park Zoo. For the fans of the animated movie "Madagascar", you will enjoy the similarities between the cartoon and the actual zoo.
Helpful Link: www.tourlakeplacidny.com
Los Angeles
Many think that there is nothing to see in Los Angeles, but they are mistaken. First you have Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. You should make an effort to take in a TV show taping, it is quite fun to see the filming process. You can also visit Universal Studios, where many TV shows and movies are filmed. Currently, "Desperate Housewives" is filmed there, ironically using the same sets as was previously used in "Leave it to Beaver". Venice Beach is also a great place just to people watch. You will see several interesting characters there.
Just about 20 miles away you have Orange County which has Anaheim and Laguna Beach. In Anaheim you will find Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, not to mention Knott's Bery Farm. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Disneyland is geared to kids only. You will be impressed with everything it has to offer. Laguna Beach, made famous with the recent televesion shows, used to be a location fort many artisans. Over the past decade, multimillionaires have come in and changed the whole setting. While it still offers much for the art buffs, it has become a high end beach destination.
Helpful Link: www.tourlosangelesca.com
National Parks
The national parks in the U.S.A. are unbelievable. You can see the oldest and most massive trees in the world in th Sequoia National Park. Yosemite offers granite mountains and picturesque waterfalls that are set among pine and oak trees. The Grand Canyon is definately something unique with the Colorado River carving it out over the last few thousand years. Don't make the mistake of hiking down to the bottom in the summer though. Even though it may be 75 degrees on top, the bottom is well above 100 degrees and it doesn't get much cooler at night. Yellowstone is like going on safari in the Americas, with an array of unique animals.
Mexico
Mexico is a large country wit a variety of terrains. There is Baja California, the Sonoran Desert, and the Yucatan Peninsula, there is a variety to choose from. On the Pacific side, you have the large waves and whales mating off of Baja. On the Caribbean side, you have the Yucatan and the warm waters and great diving.
Cancun/Cozumel
Cancun is a tourist built destination. In other words, there wasn't much here before the tourists showed up. Therefore, this location was made to cater to the tourists. It is a safe and confortable destination. In Cancun, there are the world famous white sandy beaches and waters that are great for diving and snorkeling.
If archeology interests you, you should take the hour bus ride to Chichenitza, which is a significant site with Mayan pyramids set within an ancient city.
Cozumel is a relatively short boat ride away from Cancun. If you have a chance, visit their Marine Park, which not only has all the typical shows and animals, but has interactive opportunities with many of the animals. You can get a snapshot hugging and getting a kiss froma sea lion or you can go swimming and perform tricks with dolphins.
Puerto Vallarta
Made famous by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in "The Night of the Iguana", Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city with its tile roofs and white stucco walls. This is another town that is dedicated to the tourist, offering many ativities to fill your time here. Every hotel will have information and prices on what to do and when to go. Beware of the timeshare people!!! They are here and in full force. These are long presentations and will take up your day.
Acapulco
Has a long history as a major port and has quite a familiar name. Although they have the sandy beaches and the well manicured travel zones, this is not the place to get away from it all. This is still a city with its congestion and pollution. It is still a nice setting for a short trip, but you will see that this is a city with half a million residents.