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Located in Southern France, Nice is a city situated on the Mediterranean between Marseille and Genoa. This city covers a land area of over twenty-seven square miles and has a population of about three hundred and fifty thousand people. Not only is Nice a major worldwide tourist attraction, but is also the prime resort of the French Riviera, which is itself a very popular attraction for travelers from all over the globe.

The area of Nice hosted one of the earliest human settlements in history. Excavations here has shown evidence of house construction that goes back almost four hundred thousand years. The official boundaries of the city were probably established around 350 B.C. by the Marseille who originally hailed from Greece. At that time it was named Nikaia, which is a word that gives honour to the Greek goddess Nike. The city would go on to become a busy trading port, one that had few equals in the ancient world.

Around the seventh century, this city had joined the Genoese League of Liguria. A century later the city would be attacked by the Saracens, but the city would repulse the invaders.

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However, the Saracens would make two more attacks upon the city during the ninth century. Both of these attacks would result in the city being pillaged and burned. Nice would quickly recover from both of these attacks and move on to become a major military force up until the tenth century.

The Middle Ages once again brought war to the forefront in the city and they participated in many conflicts, which included wars in Italy. Because of Nice’s alliance with Pisa, it was the bitter enemy of Genoa, a situation that the King of France fruitlessly tried to remedy. Between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Nice fell into the hands of the Counts of Provence and turned to Savoy for protection. In 1561 the Duke of Savoy, Emmanuel Philibert, abolished Latin as the language of the city and established Italian in its place. In 1860, Nice was ceded to France as a reward for the French assistance in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria.

The city of Nice has a typical Mediterranean climate. Most of the year is characterized by moderate rainfall and mild temperatures. Summers are generally dry and hot and rainfall can become quite scarce.

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During the months of June through September, temperatures never drop below 20 degrees Celsius, and more often than not, the temperatures are usually above 30 degrees Celsius. The autumn months tend to become cloudy, with ever increasing rain around October. The Winters in Nice tend to be mild with temperatures between eleven degrees and seventeen degrees Celsius during the day, and around nine degrees Celsius in the evenings. Springs tend to start mild with ever increasing amounts of sun as June approaches.

Nice is a very popular tourist attraction for France, and is second only to Paris. This city has many hotels, restaurants and monuments that keep visitors coming back again and again. One of the more prominent of Nice’s attractions is the Promenade des Anglais (known in English as the Walk of the English) which was constructed during the eighteenth century. This beautiful promenade is the center of this cities coastline. Its always line with bustling cafes and is a popular place for runners, bicyclists, walkers and roller bladers. Tourist here can sit here in the cabanas located on the beach and enjoy the sun and surf. Located on the Promenade des Anglais is the beautiful Hotel Negresco.

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This palace like hotel was built in 1912 and named after Henri Negresco. This hotel has lush furnishings and features over twenty two suites and one hundred and nineteen guest rooms.

Another popular location in Nice is the Cours Saleya Flower Market. This market is located adjecent to the Quai des Etats-Unis. Its the most traditional square in Nice and has a flower market that is open on a daily basis. Here the stalls open up at sunrise and offer beautiful flowers and tasty produce for sale. Also in the area are a number of restaurants, pubs and markets.

Also in Nice is the Matisse Museum. This museum was established by the painter Henri Matisse and was opened in 1952. This museum was originally in the Le Cateau City Hall, but was moved to the Palais Fénelon in 1982. It now covers an area of over fifty thousand square feet. The Matisse Museum has the third largest collection Matisse paintings in all of France. There are over one hundred and seventy Matisse works and sixty five paintings by Auguste Herbin. There are also Genevičve Claisse paintings and thirty pictures from the Henri Cartier-Bresson collection.

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Paintings of Matisse include the Femme ŕ la gandoura bleue, Femme au chapeau, Le Violoniste, Nu accroupi and Marguerite au chapeau de cuir.

A site not to be missed is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral. This cathedral was built in 1912, in part thanks to grants given by Tsar Nicholas II. From the nineteenth century, Russian nobility vacationed in Nice and on the French Riveria. Around 1864, Tsar Alexander II visited the city by rail and immediately fell in love with the mild Mediterranean climate. He then funded the construction of the cathedral to service the religious needs of the Russian community located in the city. Today, its one of the most impressive and beautiful cathedrals in the city.

Other noteworthy attractions in the city of Nice include the Nice Port, Nice Archaeology Museum and Roman Ruins, Theatre de la Photographie et de l’Image, Rue de France Pedestrian Zone, Le Chateau and Old Nice. Old Nice is a beautiful and historic district in the city that includes its own set of attractions. These include the L’Opera, Eglise Saint Francois de Paul, Palais Saint Sauveur, Palais de la Prefecture, Chapelle de la Misericorde, Palais Annibal Grimaldi, Maison Cais de Pierlas, La Colline du Chateau and Chapelle de la Visitation.

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Detroit is a city that is located in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It is the biggest city in Michigan and covers an are of one hundred and forty-three square miles with a population in excess of nine hundred and twelve thousand residents. The city can trace its roots back to the eighteenth century, when a French officer named Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a settlement named Fort Ponchartrain du Detroit. France bolstered the population of the settlement by offering free land to French families willing to relocate to the area. By 1765, the population of the settlement had increased to over eight hundred families.

In 1760, during the French and Indian War, the British seized the settlement and shortened the name to Detroit. Under the terms of theTreaty of London of 1794, Detroit became a possession of the United States. Eleven years later a huge fire swept through the settlement and destroyed most of it. A warehouse located on the river was the only structure to survive.

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Between 1805 and 1847, Detroit was the capital of Michigan, but was captured briefly by the British during the War of 1812. The British only held it for a year and the United States recaptured it in 1813. In 1815, Detroit was incorporated as a city. During the rest of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, Detroit was known as the ‘Paris of the West’ and many of the city’s mansions were built during this time. Because of the city’s proximity to the Great Lakes waterway, it became a prominent hub of transportation. In 1896, Henry Ford built his first automobile in a rented workshop on Mack Avenue. Eight years later, he found the Ford Motor Company. His manufacturing endeavors, as well as the endeavors of fellow automobile pioneers Durant, Packard, Chrysler and the Dodge brothers cemented the city’s status as the world’s automotive capital.

Today, tourism is the life blood of Detroit’s economy. Ten percent of the city’s economy is derived from tourism and it employs over one hundred and eighty thousand people in the city.

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Each year sixteen million people visit the city and spend an estimated five billion dollars. Since the city has strong historical ties to the automotive industry, the city capitalized on this by hosting automotive related events such as the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, The Old Car Festival, Motor Muster and the annual North American International Auto Show (which occurs every year in January). Other festivals and special events in the city include Plymouth Ice Festival, Motown Winter Blast, Detroit Music Awards, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Civil War Remembrance, Detroit Festival of the Arts, Detroit River Days, Salute to America, Ann Arbor Art Fairs, APBA Gold Cup, Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance, Fash Bash, Detroit Fashion Week, Meadowbrook Music Festival, Detroit Indy Grand Prix, Detroit International Jazz Festival, Rochester Art & Apples Festival, America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Urban Organic Festival. Detroit also has many museums and other attractions dedicated to the automotive industry and attracts millions of visitors each year.

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A prominent attraction in Detroit is the Henry Ford Museum. The Henry Ford Museum is a National Historic Landmark and is the largest indoor & outdoor history museum. Its named after Henry Ford and is centered around his desire to preserve the historical heritage of the Industrial Revolution. This museum is situated on twelve acres and contains many items from Ford’s personal collection, with some items going all the way back to 1906. Some of the items in its collection include John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limo, Thomas Edison’s alleged last breath in a sealed beaker, George Washington’s camp bed, an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, a rocking chair from Ford’s Theatre in which President Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot, model of the Ford Nucleon automobile, Igor Sikorsky’s prototype helicopter and a seat from the Montgomery Bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. There is also an IMAX theater that shows documents and feature films.

Another portion of the Henry Ford Museum is Greenfield Village.

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Greenfield Village has almost one hundred historic buildings from the seventeenth century to the present. The purpose of the village is to show how Americans lived sinced the founding of the United States. Greenfield Village is situated on two hundred and forty acres, but only about ninety acres is used for the exhibit. The rest is made up of sheep pasture and forest. Prominent buildings located here include Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory (moved from New Jersey), Henry Ford’s prototype quadricycle garage, Luther Burbank’s office, Noah Webster’s Connecticut home and the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop (moved from Dayton, Ohio). The Detroit Zoo is another popular attraction in the city. This zoo was founded in 1883 and has more than five thousand invertebrates and eighteen hundred vertebrates from over two hundred and seventy species. Habitats and attractions in Detroit Zoo include the Arctic Ring of Life, Amphibiville, Australian Outback, African Grasslands, Wild Adventure Ride and the Tauber Family Railroad.

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Other Detroit attractions include Detroit Institute of Arts, Motown Historical Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Eastern Market, Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions), New Detroit Science Center, Belle Isle, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Detroit Opera House, GM Renaissance Center, the Chrysler Museum, Comerica Park, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, The Heidelberg Project, World’s Largest Stove, Old St. Mary’s Church, GM World, Detroit Symphony, Fox Theater, Fisher Theater, The Majestic Theater, Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. The city is also home to a number of casinos which include the Greektown Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, Caesars Windsor and the MotorCity Casino. The city of Detroit is also home to nice restaurants, bars and hotels, as well. Hotels in the city include the Atheneum Suite Hotel, The Westin Book Cadillac, Motorcity Casino Hotel, Doubletree Hotel and the Leland Hotel. Restaurants in the city include the Whitney Restaurant, Pegasus Taverna and the Hard Rock Cafe.

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Denver is the most populated city and the capital of the state of Colorado. It covers an area of one hundred and fifty-four square miles and has a population of almost six hundred thousand residents. Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley, east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Since the elevation of the city is exactly five thousand two hundred and eighty feet above sea level, its often referred to as the ‘Mile High City’. Due to it being the largest city in a six hundred mile radius, and because it is halfway between the Midwest and the West Coast, the city is a natural distribution point for goods traveling through the mountain states.

Denver was founded as a mining settlement in 1858 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Prospetors from Kansas arrived in the area and started Montana City on the South Platte River. This settlement had a short lifespan however, and today is known as Grant-Frontier Park in the southeast portion of the city. In November of 1858, Geneal William Larimer staked a claim at the confluence of Cherry Creek and South Platte River and this would evolve to become Denver City.

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In February of 1861, the Colorado Territory was created and Denver was incorporated almost nine months later. In 1865, it became the Territorial Capital and when the state of Colorado was created in 1876, Denver became the capital of the state.

Today, the city of Denver is a popular tourist destination in the United States. Not only does it have a bustling urban center but it also has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. A popular attraction in the city is the Denver Zoo. This zoo is situated in City Park and sits on eighty acres. It was founded in 1896 by Alexander J. Graham. The first animal to be featured in this zoo was an American black bear. Later on, prairie dogs, antelope and red squirrels were added to its collection. Exhibits at the Denver Zoo include Duck Lake, Bear Mountain, Primate Panorama, Jewels of the Emarald Forest, Monkey Island, Predator Ridge, Mountain Sheep Habitat, Feline House, Bird World, Lorikeet Adventures, Northern Shores, Wolf Pack Woods, Asian Tropics and Tropical Discovery. Other features of the zoo include the Endangered Species Carousel, Pioneer Train, Gates Wildlife Conservation Education Center and Wild Encounters.

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The Denver Zoo attracts over one and a half million visitors each year and contains a full complement of animals which include Malayan tapirs, Warthogs, hippos, jaguars, cheetahs, zebras, wolves, camels, monkeys, tigers, leopards. African wild dogs and California Sea Lions.

Another popular attraction in the city is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This museum provides a scientific resource for visitors to learn about the state, the planet and the universe. The museum has six areas which include exhibitions, IMAX films and lectures in the fields of anthropology, geology, health sciences, paleontology, space science and zoology. Other features of the museum include wildlife exhibits, Egyptian mummies, Gems & Minerals, Prehistoric Journey, Expedition Health, Discovery Zone and the Space Odyssey Exhibition. It was founded in 1900 by Edwin Carter. Lakeside Amusement Park is another popular attraction in Denver. It was opened in 1908 by Adolph Zang. Its the oldest amusement park in Colorado and one of the oldest in the United States.

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Rides at this park include Auto Skooters, Crystal Palace, Cyclone Coaster, Flying Dutchman, Ferris wheel, Merry-Go-Round, Matterhorn, Sports Cars, Wild Chipmunk, Tilt-A-Whirl, Loop-O-Plane, Scrambler, Spider, Satellite, Whip and a train. Children rides include Kiddie Whip, Sky Fighters, Flying Tigers, Kiddie Coaster, Kiddie Canoes, Horse & Buggy Ride, Dry Boats and the Frog Hopper.

Downtown Aquarium is an aquarium and restaurant that is located on 23rd Avenue. It has a one hundred thousand square foot building that sits on seventeen acres by the South Platte River. It has a freshwater tanks that hold over one and a quarter million gallons of water and has a large variety of fish and oceanic animals. This aquarium chronicles the relationship between freshwater ecosystems and oceanic ecosystems. The restaurant located here is aptly called Aquarium Restaurant.

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Other popular attractions in the city of Denver include The Spa at The Brown Palace, Mount Evans, Denver Microbrew Tour, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Coors Field, Denver Art Museum, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Denver Botanic Gardens, El Chapultepec, Larimer Square, Black American West Museum and Heritage Center, Mount Evans Scenic Byway, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Four Mile House Historic Park, 16th Street Mall, Museo de las Americas, Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver Union Station, Forney Transportation Museum, Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, Denver Firefighters Museum, Rock Bottom Brewery, Washington Park, Breckenridge Brewery, Denver Mint, Molly Brown House Museum, Cheesman Park, Colorado History Museum, Ruby Hill Park, Flying Dog Brewery, Wynkoop Brewing Company, Landmark’s Mayan Theatre and Denver Pavilions.

Denver is also home to first class restaurants and hotels. Restaurants in the city include Strings Restaurant, Lime Restaurant, Panzano Restaurant, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Vesta Dipping Grill, Zengo Restaurant and 1515 Restaurant. Hotels in Denver include the Warwick Denver Hotel, Hotel Teatro, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Curtis Hotel, Hotel Monaco Denver and the Oxford Hotel. Another thing that Denver is known the world over for is its fantastic skiing and its many skiing resorts. Resorts in and around the city include Loveland Ski Areas, Rocky Mountain Div-Us Ski, Colorado Mountain Transportation, Winter Park Resort, PowderFone and Ski & Snow.

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Dubai is located on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and is one of the most populated states of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s location in relation to India makes it an advantageous location in regards to commerce and trade.

Little is known about the history of Dubai prior to the nineteenth century. In fact, documented accounts of Dubai exist only after 1800. In 1966, oil was discovered in Dubai, and as a result a large influx of foreign money from international oil companies, as well as a large surge in population from foreign workers cause the city to grow at an exponential rate. It is estimated that the area produces over a quarter of a million barrels of oil a day.

The region of Dubai covers an area of almost five hundred square miles and has a population of just over 1.4 million people. This gives it a population density of 408 people a square kilometer. This is over 8 times the population density of the entire country.

Dubai has a hot and dry climate. The median temperature in this region is between twenty four degrees Celsius in the winter to forty-one degrees Celsius during the summer. Annual precipitation is below four millimeters a year.

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Dubai has a large collection of historical landmarks and cultural museums that attract a large number of visitors each year. One of the most prominent museums is the Dubai Museum, which is located in the Al Fahidi Fort. This building was originally erected in 1787 as a military installation but was renovated in 1971 to serve as a museum. Its beautiful dioramas document life in the area prior to the discovery of oil in the region. Visitors can see scenes of the date farms, desert life and pearl diving activities that were so prevalent in the region. Visitors can also see artifacts recovered from local archeological digs that date back to the third century BC.

The Sheikh Obaid Bin Thani House is another prominent museum made of mud and stone. It was built in 1870 and features traditional style facades, windows and doors.

Another important stop on any travelers docket should be Sheikh Saeed’s House. This was the official home of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum between the years of 1912-1958. It was built in 1896.

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This building houses an interesting collection of art, photographs, documents and coinage that offers visitors a peek into the fascinating history of Dubai.

A unique perspective of the history of the township can be ascertained by a visit to the Bastakiya. This is an ancient district of the city noted for its winding roads, towers and traditional courthouses.

For those interested in traditional Dubai architecture one only has to make a stop at the Hatta Heritage Village. This village is located in the Hajjar Mountains and has building that date back four hundred years. The main components of the village include a mosque, several watchtowers and a fort.The Burj Nahar is another interesting example of historic architecture. Its a formidable watchtower that was built in 1870 and admission to the complex is completely free.

For a compleat immersion into the cultural heritage of Dubai, visitors should make a stop at the Heritage And Diving Village. This village is located at the entrance of Dubai Creek and features traditional weavers and potters. Visitors can also check out the exhibits and displays chronicling the history and practice of pearl diving.

If shopping is your thing then you have a whole plethora of choices.

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You can choose traditional shops called Souks, where you can purchase exotic and traditional craft items or you can take a trip to the mega complex known as Dubai Mall.

Dubai Mall is a modern shopping center that features over a thousand retail stores, a multiplex movie theatre, ice rink, the world’s largest indoor aquarium and one of the largest gold stores in the world. At the top of the mall is the Sega Republic. This is an indoor theme park that offers a ton of activities for visitors. These include hundreds of games, bobsled and driving simulators, and a roller coaster.

The next stop on anyone’s agenda should be Dubai Children’s City. This is an educational center that contains exhibits related to science, space exploration, anatomy and culture. It designed for children between the ages of two and sixteen and is completely interactive. Other amenities include a planetarium and various educational workshops.

Dubai also offers locations that you wouldn’t think could be found in the middle of the desert. The most prominent of these is the Wild Wadi Water Park. This is an Arabian themed water park that covers over twelve acres and has over thirty different aquatic rides.

There is also Ski Dubai.

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This establishment was opened in 2005 and is considered to be one of the first and foremost ski resorts in the region. It has a freestyle snowboarding area and offers several different ski runs to visitors, each with a distinct level of difficulty. For ski novices there are also professional skiers available for instruction.

Dubai also has the distinction of having the tallest hotel in the world. Its called Burj Al Arab and stands almost a thousand feet tall. This hotel features over two hundred suites, each complete with large ceiling to floor window and complete with laptop computers and plasma screen televisions. This hotel also features internet access, hot tubs, a full spa, a gym and massage quarters. An interesting feature of the Burj Al Arab is its location. Its situated on an artificial island that is located over eight hundred feet from the shoreline and is connected to the mainland by a causeway. This hotel is luxury at its finest.

For those wishing to get a unique view of the city, there are numerous organizations which offer aerial views of Dubai which are nothing less then spectacular. They give bird eye views of such landmarks as the Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Burj Dubai.

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London is the biggest city in Europe and the ninth largest city in the world, occupying over 620 square miles. It was founded shortly after the Roman invasion in 43 AD and has been a bustling center of commerce and industry since its inception. London is located on the Thames river in the southern part of England.

London has many historic landmarks that are of prime interest to the world traveler. The most prominent on the list and the one that garners visitors from all over the globe is the Tower of London. This fortress has stood almost a thousand years and has been used as the royal palace, a prison and a site for execution of enemies of the crown.

Second to the Tower of London is Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is where the two houses of parliament reside and where English laws are discussed and passed. In the middle of November, the Queen rides her coach to begin the new session of Parliament.

Housed inside Westminster Abbey is the most recognizable tourist attraction of London, Big Ben. The tower’s actual name is St.

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Stephen’s Tower and the moniker Big Ben refers to the huge thirteen ton bell that is rung every hour on the hour.

An essential landmark to visit while in London has to be Buckinham Palace. This six hundred plus room palace is home to the Royal family and is one of the UK’s top travel destinations. Here you can see the changing of the guard.

The Royal Guards not only serve to uphold and honor the traditions of their office but they also serve various military functions throughout the UK and even abroad.

A favorite among many visitors to London is St. Mary’s Cathedral. This impressive church was originally built in 604 AD. It only stood for seventy-one years before it burned down in 675. It was then promptly rebuilt but was once again burned down in the infamous Great Fire Of London in 1666 AD. The most magnificent feature of this Cathedral is it’s huge dome. It is the second biggest dome in the entire world. Underneath the dome is a room that is aptly called the Whispering Gallery. Any conversation, no matter how slight, can be heard through the wall the separates the gallery.

Another prominent domed structure in the city of London is the O2 or Millenium Dome.

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The Millenium Dome is a massive structure that covers over one hundred and eighty acres and is over nine hundred and sixty feet in diameter. It also stands over one hundred and fifty feet high with towers that extend to over three hundred feet. The Millenium Dome is so large that the entire Eiffel Tower could be placed in the structure, if it was turned on it’s side!

If beautiful modern architecture is what your looking for, then London also has that covered. On April 27, 2004, 30 St. Mary’s Axe was opened to the public. This ornate and unusual structure is unofficial known as “The Gerkin” because of it’s pickle like shape. The outside of the building has glass panes arranged in diamond shapes. The amount of glass incorporated into this building consist of over seventy-two thousand feet of glass.

A site that is not to be missed during your visit to London is Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square is a Victorian age building that was erected to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Trafalgar by Admiral Lord Nelson. Trafalgar Square is bounded on the north side by the National Gallery and the east side by St. Martin’s In The Field Church. Dominating Trafalgar Square is Nelson’s Column.

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This huge column stands over one hundred and seventy feet and features a huge stone statue of Admiral Nelson at the top.

While in London, visitors might want to take a break from the city landscape and take a walk through Hyde Park. This breathtakingly beautiful park spans over three hundred and sixty acres and is one of London’s most famous parks.

Besides the historic landmarks, London is also home to several thriving shopping districts. These include the busy shopping districts of Oxford Street and Regents Street which are host to a variety of department stores, music stores, clothes retailers and bookstores. Another popular shopping district is Covenant Gardens. This district is home to a ton of pubs, cafes and street performers.

No trip to London would be complete without a visit to their world class museums. These include the British Museum and the Tate Museum. A notable mention also has to be made of Madame Tussauds. This is the famous wax museum containing extremely lifelike images of celebrities, royalty and even criminals.

Of course, London also has some of the most magnificent architecture in the world.

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This can be witnessed by checking out some of the bridges located in this city. These include the world famous London Bridge which links London with Southwark, The Tower Bridge and Westminster Bridge which handles vehicle and foot traffic between Westminster and Lambeth.

To get a great birds eye view of the entire city of London, try taking a ride on the London Eye. This is the world’s largest Ferris wheel and stands at almost five hundred feet at its top. It gives a very unique perspective on the city. In fact, many of London’s historic landmarks can be viewed from the very top. It’s an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime.

For a truly luxurious experience opt to stay at one of London’s beautiful hotels. There are many to choose from for every type of budget. A truly top notch hotel is the Blakes Hotel. This beautiful hotel is more like a townhouse but is perfect for the weary traveler. While it might be a little too ornate for some taste, it does manage to blend several styles together in a brilliant fashion. With large marble bathrooms and rooms adorned with swagged curtains, this is one hotel that must be seen to be truly appreciated.