Indianapolis is an American city that is the capital of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. It covers an area of three hundred and seventy-two miles and has a population of almost eight hundred thousand residents. It is the largest city in the state and the fourteenth largest in the United States. Indianapolis has seen moderate growth in recent years and has a diverse economy that is based on the education, health care and finance industries. Tourism is also another big chunk of its economy and the city hosts numerous sporting events and conventions.

Up until the early nineteenth century, the area on which Indianapolis is located was occupied by the Miami and Delaware Native American tribes. In 1820, the city was founded as the site for the new state capital. Indianapolis was built on the White River, so the river could be used as a transportation vehicle. This proved to be a false assumption because the river was too sandy to be used for trade. During the 1830s, the Indiana Central Canal was started and it was intended to travel three hundred miles from Logansport, through Indianapolis, and on to Evansville. It was meant to connect the Erie Canal to the Ohio River, thus forging a trade link between Ohio and Indiana. But, the state went bankrupt in 1839 and construction on the project was halted. Today, portion of the completed Indiana Central Canal and part of the White River have become White River State Park.

In 1847, the Madison and Indianapolis railroad line began service in the city and the population of the city went from eight thousand residents in 1850, to over one hundred and sixty thousand residents by the turn of the century. This was followed by the growth of the automobile industry in the city and a growth of the city’s suburbs. Indianapolis would then earn its nickname, “The Crossroads of America”, by becoming a regional transportation hub connecting to parts of the Midwest such as St.Louis, Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati and Columbus. Four interstate highways connect at the city, these include I-65, I-69, I-70 and I-74. During the twentieth century, the city enjoyed a period of great prosperity and made dramatic cultural, social and economic gains. This was due in part to the discovery of a large natural gas deposit in Trenton Field. A couple of years later, oil was discovered in the area. The Indiana state government started a ground breaking program that offered free gas to factories that were established there. As a result, there was a large increase in the automobile and glass manufacturing industries that existed in the city. The golden age of Indianapolis was short lived, however. By 1912, the natural gas deposits were depleted and by the 1930′s the oil deposits were also depleted.

Today, Indianapolis has a huge park system that contains two hundred parks spread over ten thousand acres. The largest park in the city is Eagle Creek Park. Eagle Creek Park covers fourteen hundred acres of a reservoir and almost four thousand acres of land. This park serves as a nature reserve, but also contains many amenities for visitors. These include a golf course, amphitheater, bait shop, boat ramp, fishing areas, bird sanctuary, pistol ranges, archery ranges, beach, ornithology center, bark park, canoe rentals, The Indianapolis Rowing Center and Earth Discovery Center. Other parks in the city include White River State Park, Southwestway Park, Southeastway Park, Riverside Park, Garfield Park and Sahm Park.

A popular attraction in Indianapolis is the Indianapolis Zoo. This zoo was originally opened in 1964 and was relocated to White River State Park in 1988. It covers an area of sixty-four acres and has over one and a half million visitors each and every year. The zoo plays a major role in worldwide conservation and research and contains an aquarium and a botanical garden. Indianapolis Zoo has five sections that represent different climates. These areas are Temperate and Tropical Forests, Oceans, Deserts, Plains and Encounters. The Encounters area allows visitors to get up and close to the animals and learn more about them by working with them instead of just observing them. This zoo has over three hundred and sixty species of animals and it has the following amenities; Underwater Dolphin Dome, Marsh Dolphin Theater, Cheetahs Exhibit, Gorilla Exhibit and Dolphin In-Water Adventure. Animals featured in this zoo include white rhinoceros, harbor seals, giraffes, grey seals, African elephants, Bonnethead Sharks, rockhopper penguins, rabbits, horses and Red Pandas.

Another popular attraction in the city is the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This art museum was founded in October of 1883. The museum has a collection of over fifty thousand works of art that serves a wide cross section of art history, Exhibits here include Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art, Japanese Painting, R. Norris Shreve Collection of Chinese Jade, Chinese Painting of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Asian Textiles, The Clowes Collection, Eiteljorg Collection of African Art, African Textiles, Neo-Impressionism, Caroline Marmon Fesler Painting Collection, American Impressionism, The Josefowitz Collection of Gauguin and the School of Pont-Aven, Indiana Paintings, Pantzer Collection of Works by J.M.W. Turner, English and European Porcelain of the 18th and 19th Centuries, Gifts of the Gamboliers, Fashion Arts and the Marilyn and Eugene Glick Collection of Studio Glass. Located close to this art museum is the Oldfields Lilly House & Gardens and Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Other popular attractions in Indianapolis include The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Medal of Honor Memorial, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum, Indiana Medical History Museum, Post Road Recreation Center, President Benjamin Harrison Home, Indiana War Memorial, NCAA Hall of Champions Sports Museum, Crown Hill Cemetery, Indiana State Museum, The Murat Center, Fort Harrison State Park, Scottish Rite Cathedral, Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park, Hook’s American Drugstore Museum, Indiana Historical Society, Morris-Butler House, Space Quest Planetarium, American Super Heroes Museum, Indy Racing Experience and Climb Time Indy.

Cape Coral is an American city that is located in Lee County, Florida. This city covers an area of one hundred and fifteen square miles and has a population of almost one hundred and seventy thousand residents. Cape Coral has more miles of canals than any other city in the world with an estimated four hundred miles of waterways. This city has two bridges which connect it with the city of Fort Myers. The Cape Coral Bridge joins Cape Coral Parkway to Fort Myer’s College Parkway and Midpoint Memorial Bridge joins Veterans Parkway to Fort Myer’s Colonial Boulevard. The educational needs of Cape Coral is serviced by three public high schools. Cape Coral High School was built in the 1970s, Mariner High School was built in 1987 and Ida S. Baker High School was built in 2004. Another high school is being opened in the city, Island Coast High School.

Cape Coral was founded in 1958. Over the next several years, homes and businesses sprouted up and the city’s canals were dug. Development in the city moved at an astonishing rate through the 1960s. By the time the city was only five years old, the population had exceeded three thousand residents. There were also thirteen hundred buildings erected, eighty miles of road laid down and one hundred and sixty miles of canals completed. Though this community has a larger than normal population of retired individuals, it also enjoys a brisk tourist trade. Over the last few years several restaurants and hotels have begun to sprout up around the city to accommodate visitors to the city. Cape Coral holds several annual festivals. During the Fourth of July they host the Red-White & Boom festival, in October they hold Oktoberfest and in January the city holds the Cape Coral Festival of the Arts. Several notable people have lived or were born in Cape Coral over the years. These include Echo Chernik, Hilary Hemingway, Bill Cunningham, Lela Star, Stacy Carter, Greg Spires, Angela Watson, Earnest Graham, Seth Petruzelli and the members of the alternative band Godsmack.

A popular attraction in Cape Coral is the Cape Coral History Museum. This museum was built in 1977 and features several key exhibits. These include Antiques, Artifacts, Relics, The Lois Herbert Memorial Rose Garden, Shells & Fossils, Aerial Maps, ducational Materials and Photographs. Other attractions in the city include Coral Oaks Golf Course, Cape Coral Yacht Club and Sun Splash Family Waterpark. The city also contains quite a few restaurants and hotels. Prominent restaurants in the city include Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Maria’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, Iguana Mia Mexican Restaurant, Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon, Rumrunners Waterfront Restaurant, Moorings Restaurant and Siam Hut Thai Restaurant. Prominent hotels in the city of Cape Coral include Bridge Water Inn, Cape Paradise Resort, Dockside Inn, Holiday Inn Express Cape Coral, Casa Loma Motel on the Waterfront and the Hideaway Waterfront Resort & Hotel. The city also has some beautiful scenery and its proximity to the Fort Myers area opens up a whole lot of attractions for visitors to check out.

Chengdu is a sub-provincial city that is the capital of the Sichuan Province and is situated in the southwest of the People’s Republic of China. It is a major economic and communication hub for China and is listed as one of the leading economic hubs of the country. Chengdu is also a major industrial center producing food, machinery, medicine and information technology. Major corporation located here include Chengdu Sugar and Wine Co, Sichuan Medicine Co., Chengdu Automobile Co. and Chengdu Food Group. Chengdu is also building itself up to become a major financial center, thanks in part to the huge amount of foreign investment in the city.

The educational needs of Chengdu are serviced by a large number of universities, colleges, international schools and middle schools. Major universites and colleges in the city include Sichuan University, Sichuan Normal University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu University of Technology, Xihua University, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Kinesiology University, Southwest University for Nationalities, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Sichuan International Studies University, Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu Kinesiology University, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, University of TCM, College of UESTC and Chengdu University. International schools in the city include Leman International School, Quality Schools International, Chengdu International School and Eton House. Middle schools in Chengdu include No.7 High School, Shude High School, Chengdu Foreign Language School, Shude Union School, Yulin Middle School and Shishi Union School.

Chengdu can trace its long history all the way back to the fourth century BC. This was when the Kaiming King of the time moved the capital from Pixian to the current location of Chengdu. He then named the newly formed city Cheng Du, which in English is loosely translated as “capital”. After the invasion of the city by the Qin in the third century BC, the city was then renamed Yizhou. It would retain this name until the Tang Dynasty when it was renamed to its current name. In the ninth century AD, Chengdu became the first city in China to use a monetary system that was based upon paper currency. During World War II, the Chinese National Party relocated to the city to escape the imminent threat posed by the invading Japanese army. When they relocated to Chengdu they brought with them a large force of workers, scholars and businessmen. This influx of talent is what has helped the city to become an import center of education and trade in the country. A major disaster struck this city in 2008. It was a large earthquake that dealt major damage to the city and ended up killing over eighty thousand people in the suburbs surrounding the city.

One of the most popular attractions to visitors of Chengdu is located just a short drive outside of its city limits. Its called the Wolong National Natural Reserve. This natural reserve was started in 1963 and is considered to be one of the first panda reserves in China. It covers an area of almost five hundred thousand acres and contains over one hundred and fifty pandas. This state of the art facility is the leading breeder of captive pandas in the world and has received accolades from organizations such as the UNESCO Man and Biospere Network and the World Wildlife Fund. But, pandas are not the only animals located on this reserve. Other animals located here include deer, golden monkeys, wildebeast and many specious of plants and trees. Key areas of note located on this reserve include the animal and plant specimen museum, Insect Number Seven Hundred, Animals Number Fifty-six and Local Plant Specimens Number Twenty-one hundred and seventy. The park itself is a conservationist dream and contains over one hundred mountains with heights reaching over sixteen thousand feet and also contains a lot of woodland. This park attracts over one hundred thousand visitors each and every year.

Another prominent attraction in Chengdu is Qingyang Temple. Qingyang Temple is considered to be one of the most famous Taoist temples in the entire country of China. It was erected during the height of the Taoist movement during the Tang Dynasty. However, most of the key features of this temple aren’t from that period but are restorations that were done during the Qing Dynasty. The major parts of this temple include Hunyuan Palace, Wuji Palace, Doulao Hall, Sanqing Hall and Eight Trigrams Pavilion. Eight Trigrams Pavilion is probably the most spectacular of these buildings. It is erected on stone foundations and is octagonal in shape. It features a beautiful glazed dome and has eight pillars decorated in dragon reliefs. Qingyang Temple features many fabulous relics which include engravings, stone scultpures and ancient parchments. Also located at the temple is a tea house where many local residents meet to socialize and pass their afternoons.

An attraction not to be missed during your visit to Chengdu is Wenshu Monastery. Wenshu Monastery is the best preserved Buddhist temple in the city and is home to the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province. This temple was built during the Tang Dynasty and at one time was called Xinxiang Temple. This temple has some of the city’s most impressive cultural relics. These include over five hundred paintings and religious artifacts. Located here is a jade statue of Buddha that was brought from Burma to the temple during the 1920′s, a skull of Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk Xuan Zhang and over three hundred Buddhist statues that are composed of materials such as stone, wood, jade and bronze. Many of these statues are beautifully painted. Also located at the temple is a garden and a tea house where visitors can have a drink and enjoy the music of local folk musicians.

Other attractions in the city include Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, Baoguang Temple, Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, The Salt Museum, Wangjiang Tower Park, Wuhou Memorial Temple, Yong Ling Mausoleum, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and Sanxingdui Museum. This city is also home to many restaurants, cafes, tea houses and hotels.

Marbella is a city located in the Malaga Province of Andalusia, Spain. It covers an area of forty-four square miles and has a population of one hundred and twenty-five thousand residents. Notable residents that have lived in Marbella, or were born there include Antonio Banderas, Sean Connery, Monzer al-Kassar, Mark Langford, Linsey Dawn McKenzie, Dolph Lundgren and Richard Daniel Roman. The city can trace its history back to before the fourteenth century. For a long period of time, the city was under Islamic rule and Muslims built a wall surrounded castle here. It was during this time, that the city was named Marbil-la, which eventually evolved to become Marbella. In 1485, the city was retaken by the Spanish and in the centuries that followed it grew at a brisk pace. By 1941, Marbella was a tiny village that only had a population of eight hundred resident. But, this changed when the automobile of Prince Max Egon zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg broke down in the village. The Prince was so taken by the village that he decided to buy land there to build resorts. Over the next several years, he marketed the village as a tourist destination. In 1954, he erected the Marbella Club Hotel and the village began to grow at a brisk pace.

A popular attraction in the city of Marbella is the church called Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnacion. Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnacion was originally built in the early sixteenth century and was done in a brilliant architectural design. It is situated on Plaza de la Encarnacion and is the most important religious site in the entire city. However, what can be seen today was erected in the eighteenth century, because the original building was razed to the ground. The facade that can be seen today was built in 1756 and was done by two prominent artists, Salvador Galvez and Pedro del Castillo. There are three naves which lead to a main altar. It is at this altar that the organ of Sol Major was erected and it is one of the most magnificent in all of Andalusia. The inside of the church also houses some of the many statues that are taken out on parade during Holy Week. One of the more significant of these statues if the Virgen de la Soledad, otherwise known as ”Our Lady of Solitude”.

Another well known attraction in Marbella is the Paseo Maritimo. This is an esplanade that consists of six lanes of road that stretches along the ocean. When walking the path, people can find all kinds of elegant hotels and nightclubs. Along the stretch of the esplanade are almost a thousand palm trees. Some of these are planted along the walkway and some are arranged in garden areas. This route can be walked, or one can rent a horse and buggy to get an unique tour. As you travel the route, you can see windmills that have been converted into nightclubs. You can also stop in on Club Nautico, one of the most popular nightclubs in the Mediterranean. This nightclub is also the starting point for the Copa del Rey de Vela Regatta. As you travel further down the Paseo Maritimo Esplanade, there are various shops and cafes that are willing to accommodate you at any point during your journey. If you continue down the road you will come to a city called Palma, Majorca. Here you will find the harbor of Porto Pi. This harbor is extensively used for commercial traffic, as well as the military. In fact, it is one of the locations where the king anchors his yacht.

For those looking to experience art and culture in the city, then a trip to the Museo del Grabado Espanol Contemporaneo is a must. This museum (known as the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engraving) was founded in 1992 and is situated in old Hospital Bazan. Inside are housed works of art and engravings by Spanish artists. But, the museum also offers various courses and seminars on art and engraving. The Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engraving is also known to sponsor drawing competitions and every year it organizes the National Engraving Awards. The permanent collection of the museum contains art and engravings from the fifteenth century on. This collection of art is representative of both modern and traditional techniques. Each room in the museum is arranged in chronological order, giving the observer a glimpse at the evolution of contemporary Spanish art. Artists represented in the collection of the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engraving include Eduardo Naranjo, Rafael Canogar, Enrique Brinkmann, Antonio Saura, Gustavo Torner, Luis Caruncho, Eduardo Úrculo, Salvador Victoria, Manuel Rivera, Eduardo Chillida, Jose Caballero, Miguel Rodríguez Acosta, Francisco Peinado, Gregorio Prieto, Jose Hernandez, Guillermo Perez Villalta, Miguel Villarino, Mariano Fortuny, Javier Vilato and Francisco Aguilar.

Other attractions in the city of Marbella include Marbella Club Golf Resort, SphereMania Marbella, Golf & Country Club, Aloha Golf Club, Los Naranjos Golf Course, Puerto Banus Marina, Casco Antiguo, Museo del Grabado Espanol Contemporaneo, Fly Blue Gran Catamaran, Funny Beach, Galeria Municipal de Exposiciones, Artola Golf, Murallas del Castillo, Avenida Ricardo Soriano, Playa de Calahonda, Real Club de Golf las Brisas, Estepona Golf, Cinesa La Canada, La Canada Shopping Center, Fuerte Miramar Spa, Finca Besaya, Boutique El Caballo, Atenas, Centro Deportivo El Fuerte, Museo del Bonsai, Fenix and Mercadillo de Marbella. Marbella is also home to several restaurants and hotels. Popular restaurants and nightclubs in the city include the The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa Restaurant, Restaurante Buenaventura, Atlantic Club Reserva De Marbella, Restaurante Beach Miramar, Pueblo Andaluz Restaurante, Pinomar Playa Restaurante, Fontanilla, Zozoi Restaurante, Italian Kitchen Bar & Restaurant, Gaspar Restaurante, Jacks American Brasserie and Restaurant Crusoe Beach Cafe. Prominent hotels in the city include Puente Romano Hotel Marbella. Hotel, Atlantic Club Reserva De Marbella, Don Carlos Leisure Resort and Spa, Aparthotel Puerto Azul Marbella, Gran Hotel Guadalpin Marbella Spa, Hotel Meliá Marbella Dinamar, Hotel Villa Padierna, Albergo Hotel Marbella, Hotel Gran Melia Don Pepe and Hotel Linda Marbella.

Chester is a city that lies on the Dee River in Cheshire, England. Its close to the border of Wales and has a population of almost eighty thousand residents. Chester has an oceanic climate and temperatures in the summer are around seventy degrees Fahrenheit and the winter temperatures are around forty degrees. Chester can trace its roots back to the Roman Empire when it was named Deva Victrix in the first century. It was founded as a military installation to hold the back lines of the Roman Army as they advanced northward. It was one of the largest fortresses in Britain and eventually a community began to sprout around its border. It served as a Roman garrison until the fifth century, when it was eventually abandoned. Three hundred years later, the Roman Empire collapsed and a number of kingdoms sprouted up in its place. The Saxons fortified the city and extended its walls to protect it from the advancing Danish armies.

After the Norman Conquest of the eleventh century, the Normans seized Chester and destroyed over two hundred buildings in the city. The Norman Earl, Hugo d’Avranches built a motte and bailey fortification near the river as a defence against Celtic attacks. Under Norman rule, the city flourished and the city developed a thriving trade port. During the eighteenth century the port declined seriously, however and it could no longer compete with other English cities. Chester would gain back its affluence in the Georgian Period, however. It also experienced a period of growth which continued well into the Industrial Revolution. Today, the chief industries of the city include financial services, retail and tourism. Financial firms in the city include Bank of America and M&S Money. The city is also blanketed with many shops and chain stores. The city of Chester also contains a university, The University of Chester, and a hospital, the Countess of Chester Hospital.

A prominent attraction in the city is Chester Cathedral. Chester Cathedral was erected in the eleventh century and is the mother church of the Diocese of Chester. Over the course of its history it has been modified many times with the most recent addition being a bell tower in the twentieth century. Chester Cathedral is built out of Red Sandstone and is designed in the Gothic style of architecture. Another prominent attraction in the city of Chester is Grosvenor Museum. Grosvenor Museum was opened in 1886 and is a Grade II listed building. It was founded by the Chester Society for Natural Science, Literature and Art with an initial grant from the First Duke of Westminster of eleven thousand sterling pounds. Renovations have been ongoing since it started, with the bulk of them occurring between 1989 and 1999. This museum contains a collection of paintings and musical instruments from the Roman Empire to the present day and the museum receives over one hundred thousand visitors each and every year.

Another attraction to visit in the city of Chester is Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower. Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower is located on the northwest portion of Chester’s city walls. It is believed to have built during the thirteen century, and it was rebuilt in the fourteenth century when it was made the gate house to the water tower. Between 1838 through 1876, the building served as a museum, until it was closed. For a brief period of time it was reopened as a museum during the early twentieth century, but was once again closed in 1916. The towers were then bought by Grosvenor Museum and reopened to the public in 1962. Today, it is a Grade I listed building. Chester Castle is a favorite attraction to visitors of Chester. This castle is located in the southwest area of the city walls and overlooks Dee River. Chester Castle was erected in the eleventh century by the First Earl of Chester, Hugh Lupus. In the seventeenth century, the castle was attacked by Parliamentary forces. After the Civil War, Chester Castle was used as a prison, a court and a tax agency.

The Chester Roman Amphitheater is a historical attraction that shouldn’t be missed during your visit to Chester. These ruins that are exposed are those of a stone amphitheatre, much like the ones that can be found throughout Europe. This amphitheater is the largest one uncovered in Britain so far, and dates from the first or second century. The purpose of the theater was probably for military training, but it may have also been used for combat sports, wrestling and animal fights. This amphitheater was in use until the fourth century and was neglected after that. The Chester Roman Amphitheater was discovered in 1929, while the site was being prepared for construction work. Major excavation of the site resumed in the beginning of the twenty-first century. During this time several archaeological finds were discovered on the site including the remains of an even earlier amphitheater, cooked animal bones and low quality Roman pots. This has led to speculation that not only was food served at the games, but also that souvenirs were made available for the spectators to purchase.

Other prominent attractions in the city of Chester include Church of St John the Baptist, Roman shrine to Minerva, Eastgate Clock, St Mary’s Center, Grosvenor Bridge, Barnaby’s Tower, Kaleyard Gate, Spur Wall, Old Dee Bridge, Cowper House, Bridgegate, Booth Mansion, Blue Bell, Church of St Peter, Three Old Arches, Leche House, 39 Bridge Street, Pemberton’s Parlour, Phoenix Tower, the Rows, Grosvenor Park, Gateway Theater, Chester Zoo, Shropshire Union Canal, St Mary on the Hill and St Werburgh’s Abbey. The city is also home to a number of popular restaurants and hotels. Restaurants in the city of Chester include Upstairs At The Grill, Ego Restaurant, Chez Jules, Siam Thai and Teppanyaki Restaurant, Francs and the Watergates Wine Bar. Chester hotels include the Eaton Hotel, Crown Plaza, Best Western Westminster Hotel, the Mill Hotel, Dene Hotel, Best Western Queen Hotel and the Chester Grosvenor Hotel. The city also has a large number of cafes, theaters, shops and pubs to keep visitors occuppied.