New York is more than a state, it’s a collection of vivid contrasts where small-town traditions meet global icons. Beyond the skyscrapers of Manhattan, visitors discover everything from glacier-carved lakes in the Finger Lakes region to quiet mountain villages in the Adirondacks. In upstate towns like Saratoga Springs and Hudson, restored main streets are lined with galleries, cafés, and antique shops, offering a slower pace steeped in local pride.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, tucked into the rugged badlands of western North Dakota is where a young Theodore Roosevelt came to recover after the loss of his wife and mother in the same day. He bought a ranch, rode the open plains, and found the resolve that would later define his presidency. Today, the park named in his honor preserves that same wild spirit. Visitors can still see Roosevelt’s original Maltese Cross Cabin near the park's entrance and walk trails he once rode on horseback.
Located on Ecuador's central coast, Manta is a port city frequented by many South American cruises. Manta is known for its delectable seafood and variety of pleasant beaches.
Durango, Colorado offers a delightful blend of history, adventure, and natural beauty. Founded in 1880 as a railroad town, Durango's Historic Downtown reflects its rich past with well-preserved Victorian architecture and a lively atmosphere.
Mystic, Connecticut, is a small town with a big story, one shaped by shipbuilders, sea captains, and centuries of maritime tradition. Once a bustling shipbuilding center during the 18th and 19th centuries, Mystic still carries the soul of a working seaport. Today, visitors can explore its nautical past at the Mystic Seaport Museum, home to America’s last wooden whaleship, the *Charles W. Morgan*.
Colima is the capital of the Mexican state of Colima, about 50 miles east of Manzanillo. It is a popular side trip for vacationers who choose to visit this part of Mexico. The landscape of Colima is dominated by the Nevado de Colima, a snow-capped volcano that is still active and last erupted in 1941. Sugar refining, cigar and shoe production, and agriculture trade are the mainstays of Colima's economy.
Visitors to the state of Colima will experience mountains, volcanoes, rivers and alluring beaches. Jalisco sits to the north, and to the south lies Michoacán. It boasts an enviable average temperature of 77 °F.