Juneau, Alaska
Every visitor should spend time at the Mendenhall Glacier (above),
hike in the surrounding rainforest, or take a helicopter ride. If
you prefer water activities, check out one of the many
wildlife/whale watching tours, fishing excursions, or day trips to
Tracy Arm Fjord or Glacier Bay. The Shrine of St. Therese,
overlooking Lynn Canal, is an extraordinary place to picnic and
watch the sea lions. Mount Roberts Tramway is a 2,000-foot ride
that takes you to an observatory. Up top, visitors can dine at the
restaurant and enjoy the beautiful hiking trails. Hangar on the
Wharf is a waterfront restaurant that features one of southeast
Alaska's largest selections of microbrews. For lodging, the
Fireweed House B&B offers spectacular views of the Thomas
Glacier, Mendenhall Wetlands, and Chilkat Mountains. The rooms have
private baths with Jacuzzi tubs, and guests are treated to
personalized gourmet breakfasts.
- Patricia Marko, Corinth, Texas
Birmingham, Alabama
Five Points is a rather eclectic area, and home to Cosmo's, one of
my favorite pizza places ever. It's a great place to get a slice
and a drink and people-watch. The Birmingham Museum of Art's Asian
art collection has been one of the country's finest for years, and
it has an excellent cafe for lunch. If you find yourself there on a
Sunday, your meal may be accompanied by a jazz band. And while a
lot's been written about the barbecue spot Dreamland on the south
side, for the true Dreamland experience, one must visit the
original "shack" in Jerusalem Heights, right near Tuscaloosa.
- Brian Goldberg, St. Louis, Missouri
Sanibel/Captiva Islands, Florida
With no traffic lights or chain restaurants, Sanibel is the most
serene island I've ever been to. It also has one of the top
shelling beaches in the world. Upon arrival, stop at Pinnochio's
for some homemade ice cream. After that, check in at either the
Sundial Beach Resort on Sanibel Island or the South Seas Resort in
Captiva. Both are full-service resorts that cater to your every
need. For dinner, try The Bubble Room. Must-haves are their sticky
buns, bubble bread, and brown bag grouper. And don't leave without
sampling their award-winning desserts. A trip to Sanibel isn't
complete without renting bikes and pedaling around the island. The
internationally renowned J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge is
great for seeing alligators, crocodiles, and lots of other exotic
wildlife (below).
- Claudia Golsch, Dallas, Texas
San Francisco
The family that owns the Garden Restaurant hasn't raised prices in
20 years and serves some of the best Chinese food anywhere. Get
clam chowder in a freshly baked loaf of bread at any kiosk or cafe
on Fisherman's Wharf (left). Go to Coit Tower on a clear day for
pictures of the City by the Bay. Get dinner at the Top of the Mark,
for both the food and vista of the bay at night. Leave your heart,
like Tony did, which you won't be able to avoid, even if you're not
a romantic.
- Dave Crosby,
Bay Point, California
Oranjestad, Aruba
Iguana Joe's, which is great for viewing the harbor and cruise
ships coming in, has a good menu at reasonable prices. Moomba Beach
is an ideal location for sunset, dinner, and live bands on Sunday
evenings. El Gaucho has excellent steaks and a nice wine list. The
best spot for a romantic evening has to be the Flying Fishbone
southeast of town. The food is exquisite, and sitting at a table on
the beach with your feet in the sand is incredible. Take a trip to
the California Lighthouse - you can see a good ways off. The
deep-sea fishing is phenomenal. And I just can't say enough about
the great people who live and work there. - Kenneth Hoxie, Round
Lake, Illinois
Dublin
The Clarence is the hottest hotel in town. Bono and The Edge of U2
own it. It's somewhat difficult to get a reservation, but well
worth the advance planning. I've never had a bad meal in Dublin.
Try the traditional full Irish breakfast, complete with blood
pudding! Rent a car and drive the Ring of Kerry one day and Ring of
Beara the next. Make sure to stop for a picnic lunch at the Healey
Pass. It's one of the most beautiful spots on earth. The best thing
about Dublin is the people. Get out among them!
- Phillip Bagnall,
San Antonio, Texas
Santiago
Hotel Orly is a charming little hotel that used to be an old
mansion. It has a glass-roofed conservatory where you eat
breakfast, which is included in the very reasonable price of the
room. Zanzibar has delicious food with a Moroccan flavor. The
rooftop terrace is amazing in summer, particularly to watch the sun
set. It's in an area known as BordeRío, which has multiple bars and
restaurants, all of which are lovely. Flannery's is your typical
Irish pub, and is always packed with ex-pats and Chileans alike.
It's great on a day there's a fútbol or rugby match going on. For
shopping, there's a street called Alonso de Cordova that has
several boutiques, art galleries, and shops. Los Dominicos market
has tons of Chilean crafts, textiles, art, and jewelry, including
the famed lapis lazuli.
- Rebecca Brown,
New York City
St. Louis, Missouri
Historic neighborhoods abound in St. Louis. Soulard has
restaurants, a farmer's market, typical European architecture, and
the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. The Hill
offers authentic Italian restaurants, bakeries, and groceries. The
Central West End near Forest Park has wonderful architecture. More
funk can be found in The Loop on Delmar, including the club
Blueberry Hill for early rock-and-roll. You'll marvel at the
restoration of Union Station, which was a bustling hub for
travelers at the turn of the century. Forest Park is home to
several
attractions that offer free admission: the world-famous St. Louis
Zoo, Art Museum (left), Missouri Historical
Society, and Science Center. General Grant's cabin is also on the
estate. St. Louis also has the International Bowling Museum, and
three of the country's seven historic water towers. - Joi
Weffelmeyer, St. Louis, Missouri
Sydney
First stop is Darling Harbour, for dinner at any of the great
places on the harbor (above). Then hit the pubs and go over to the
Star City Hotel & Casino to gamble a bit. Follow that with the
Three Monkeys Pub, where you can dance to great rock-and-roll until
they kick you out. The next day, take a ferry to Watson's Bay for
lunch, then grab a cab to Bondi Beach and watch the
surfers. Hit the Fish Market in
Pyrmont, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Grab a bottle of
beer and some "bugs" and lunch outside with the birds.
- Scott Simmons,
Morrison, Colorado
Dayton, Ohio
The Marriott on the River has spacious rooms and a great location.
There's a good bar, and it's close to a running/walking trail along
the Miami River. For steaks in an old, clublike atmosphere, go to
The Pine Club. Rumor has it that every U.S. president who has
visited Dayton has eaten there. Be sure to take in a Dayton Dragons
Single-A baseball game and visit The Dayton Art Institute. For the
airplane or space enthusiast, the best museum in the world is the
one at nearby Wright-Patterson AFB.
- Bruce DeWitt,
Benson, Arizona
El Paso, Texas
El Paso has tons of great hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Kiki's is a
quiet neighborhood place with the best chile rellenos. For
something more upscale yet
still fun, there's Andale (try the delicious steak tampiqueña).
Walking across the bridge to Juarez, Mexico, is easy, but to see
more, book a trip with The Border Jumper trolley downtown. It runs
all day and patrons can get on or off at as many stops as they
like. Other nearby attractions include the White Sands National
Monument and the New Mexico mountain town of Cloudcroft, which is a
great break from the summer heat. If you're visiting in winter,
skiing is available at Ski Apache in Ruidoso. Where you can then
play golf on the same day!
- Roger Maier, El Paso, Texas
San Diego, California
No trip to San Diego would be complete without a visit to the
Gaslamp Quarter. The Field on 5th Avenue, owned and staffed by
Irish natives, has authentic dishes and some of the best corned
beef around. Jimmy Love's has live jazz and blues. Croce's, owned
by the late Jim Croce's family, features upscale American fare and
live music most nights. My old neighborhood, Hillcrest, is a
little-known section of town that boasts numerous small boutiques
and an eclectic collection of ethnic restaurants. Bronx Pizza makes
the best New York-style pizza and calzones this side of the Hudson
River. Hodad's serves the best burger in the 50 states.
- Brian Cohoon,
St. Paul, Minnesota
New York City
Check out De La Guarda (above), an Argentine troupe of acrobats,
trapeze artists, and dancers that creates a show that's part
carnival, dance, rock concert, and theater. Start the day at the
Chocolate Bar with a pain au chocolat and a steaming cup of
Chocolate Bar Chai. Check out
the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, which has some of
the most adventurous, mind-bending comedy in NYC. Have Italian
brunch at I Coppi. If your idea of romance is more rustic than
refined, this charmer will warm your heart. Spend a tranquil
afternoon at the Conservatory Garden. After 69 years, The Village
Vanguard basement club still hosts the crème de la crème of
mainstream jazz talent.
- Crystal Ottaviano,
Fairfield, Connecticut
London
For dining, you can't beat The Ivy, which has wonderful comfort
food matched with the opportunity to spot celebrities on the
banquette beside you. London is a mecca for all sorts of ethnic
food, including my favorite, Indian. Khan's in Westbourne Grove
matches serene decor with frenetic waiters and the best butter
chicken you've ever tasted. Life in London is also centered around
pubs. The Lamb features the products of a great London brewery,
Youngs. At the George Inn, near London Bridge, you feel like you're
back in an Elizabethan coaching inn (which the building was
centuries ago). Finally, no trip to London would be complete
without afternoon tea. You can't go wrong at The Waldorf Hilton,
although as a student, I favored Harrod's Dress Circle, which has
scones, cakes, and tea. - Kim Barrett, San Diego, California
Splurge on tea and scones at the cafe on the seventh floor of the
Tate Modern. It has the best view and the best clotted cream in
London. For the romantic traveler, have a picnic on Parliament Hill
with a bottle of champagne and a copy of Harry Potter to read
aloud.
- Abigail Robin, New York City
Miami, Florida
If you go to Miami, you must feast the Cuban way. And restaurants
like Versailles, Bongos, and the Latin American Cafeteria are
great for that. Bongos also has Latin dancing (left) on Friday and
Saturday nights.
- Frank Sariol, Laguna Niguel, California
The Sonesta Resort is the way to go. For breakfast, visit the Donut
Gallery. There's a great park in an area called Pinecrest Gardens.
They also have a petting zoo and playground. Stop at the
neighborhood market/fruit stand called Wayside Market. For dinner,
it's El Rancho Grande, a casual Mexican restaurant. For dessert,
there's no better place than Gelateria Parmalat. They have real
Italian gelato with the best flavors. Go for a bike ride in Key
Biscayne or Coral Gables. Other options are the Children's Museum,
Seaquarium, and Monkey Jungle.
- Alida Lechter, Miami, Florida