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New Orleans

Time Out has just issued its annual list of the world’s 40 coolest neighborhoods. Of course, it’s entirely a judgment call; what I call cool might be considerably different from what you like. Still I enjoy these lists. So here are some highlights that include some of my fave countries and U.S. states to visit. UNITED STATES California impressed with two spots in the top 30. The vibrant and funky Arts District in Los Angeles was 13th overall and second in the U.S. only to the Mid-City district of New Orleans. Here’s a Vancouver Sun story I wrote that talks Read more

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When it comes to fun, California takes the cake. Mississsippi? Not so much. A new study by Wallet Hub compared the 50 states across 26 key indicators of a jolly good time that won’t break the bank. They range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita. Here’s the top 10: California (beaches, nature, cities, food, theme parks and wine) Florida (beaches, nature, cities, food, theme parks and not so great wine) Nevada (can’t argue with Vegas for fun) New York (I’d rank it higher, but there you go) Illinois (Chicago is one of the Read more

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So, this is kinda wild. Cruisehive.com reports that Miray Cruises will open for bookings for a three-year world cruise on March 1, 2023. The cruise will sail onboard the 1992-built MV Gemini and visit 135 countries on seven continents from November 2023 through the end of 2026.  The ship will travel 130,000 miles, visit 375 ports of call in 135 different countries, and sail to all seven continents, Cruisehive stated. The cost could be as little as $2,500 USD per stateroom per month, which means $30,000 for the year. That’s damn cheap for room and board while you cruise the world. Read more

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California and Hawaii are far and away the most popular states for U.S. domestic travelers, a new study says.   The folks at Bravodeal found that California is the state of choice for 46% of Americans, with Hawaii right behind at 42%. If you look at Google searches, however, Hawaii clearly leads the way, with California second.   CALIFORNIA   “The Golden State really does have something for everyone. For those who love the great outdoors, California serves up great surf, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and for those who prefer a more relaxed approach, hot springs are available Read more

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A new Trip Advisor report names Las Vegas as the number one destination in the U.S., but Hawaii has two places in the top three and Florida has two in the top eight (and three in the top 12). Here’s the top 25 from the latest Trip Advisor U.S. Destination List from the 2022 “Best of the Best” Travelers’ Choice Awards. Las Vegas Oahu, Hawaii Maui, Hawaii Key West, Florida New York City New Orleans, Louisiana Savannah, Georgia Miami Beach, Florida Nashville, Tennessee Sedona, Arizona Kauai, Hawaii St. Augustine, Florida Gatlinburg, Tennessee Chicago, Illinois Pigeon Forge, Tennessee San Francisco, California Read more

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