Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon

Information:
Population: 603,106
Area: 145 sq miles
Airport: Portland International Airport
Weather: Coldest month Dec at 45 F, warmest months Jul/Aug at 80 F
Currency: US dollar
Telecommunications: Modern
Known for: Roses, hipsters, being "The Greenest City in America"

Popular Things To Do:


Forest Park, 4.7 Stars
With more than 80 miles of forest, this is the largest urban forest in America. It's on the eastern slope of the Tualtin Mountains for over seven miles, and still in the Portland city limits. This is a must see for hikers and nature lovers.


Powell's City Of Books, 4.8 Stars
With 68,000 sq feet of books, this is the largest used and new bookstore in the world. It occupies an entire city block, and houses over a million books. This book store is so large, it provides customers with a map! It has 3,000 shoppers a day, and another 3,000 browsing visitors a day. Another 80,000 customers browse the store online. This is a must see for book lovers.


International Rose Test Garden, 4.3 Stars
Portland is famous for it's roses, and this garden definitely shows why! This is the oldest public garden in the US, founded in 1917. It includes over 10,000 plants of over 500 types. It also includes Ladd's Addition and Peninsula Park, one of Portland's best kept secrets. Both of these areas include even more plants. This is a must see for nature lovers.

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Hotels
Portland hotel prices range from $72 a night to $523+ a night. The pictured hotel is named Sentinel, which starts at $370 a night. It has four stars and is the #5 hotel in Portland. The inside is beautiful with many historic features.


Restaurants
 Some  popular restaurants in Portland are Paley's Place Bistro & Bar, and Screen Door. Another popular restaurant is Andina, which is pictured above. It has 4.5 stars and is a Peruvian restaurant. It is located in the Pearl District of Portland.

My Review (6)
I give Portland a 6 out of 10. I think the rose gardens are beautiful, and there are lots of great restaurants. I love the historic hotels and buildings. It seems like most of the things to do are more outdoors, than average city things. I also don't really like the rainy weather. But, I haven't been there yet, so I'm not really sure.

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Kansas City, KS/MO

Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri

Information:
Population: 464,310
Area: 319 sq miles
Airport: Kansas City International
Weather: Coldest month Jan at 39F, warmest month July at 89.
Currency: US dollar
Telecommunications: Modern
Known for: Barbecue, jazz

Popular Things To Do:

 
Country Club Plaza, 4 Stars
The Kansas City Country Club area is 15 blocks of an upscale residential area with stores. It's located in the Missouri side of Kansas City. It was the first outdoor shopping area in the US. Visitors can take an outdoor carriage ride, enjoy jazz music, or enjoy the beautiful lights during the holidays (see picture). This is a must see for shopping lovers.


Kansas City Zoo, 4 Stars
The Kansas City zoo occupies 202 acres of land and was founded in 1909. It is located on the Missouri side of Kansas City. It houses over 900 animals and an IMAX theater. It has trams, shuttles, and a train, but visitors will still do a lot of walking! This is a must see for animal lovers.


Science City, 4.3 Stars
Science City is a science museum located on the Missouri side of Kansas City. It is home to the Arvin Gottleib Planetarium, one of the largest planetariums in the Midwest. It's attractions include the Mr. E Hotel, where visitors can be confused, and the nature center, where you can see many animals. It has a dig site in the Dino Land area. There is a sky bike, test kitchen, and many more things to see. This is a must see for science and animal lovers.


Hotels
Hotels in Kansas City range from $49 a night to $280+ a night. Most hotels are in the Missouri area of Kansas City. The pictured hotel is The Raphael Hotel, starting at $262 a night. It is a four star hotel and was rated the #1 hotel in Kansas City. The hotel views include the Country Club Plaza area.



Restaurants
Kansas City has a variety of restaurants, by ethnicity and price. Many of them have very good reviews, a few even have all 5 star reviews. But, Kansas City is most famous for it's barbecue. The pictured restaurant is Danny Edward's Boulevard Barbecue. Located in the Missouri area of Kansas City, it has 4.4 stars and has averages prices.

My Review (6)
I give Kansas City a 6 out of 10. I like the Missouri area of Kansas City. I didn't really know much about it before. I always knew the Kansas area wasn't well-liked, and I still am not a big fan of it. I don't like the suburbs or country, but I know a lot of people do, and that's fine. I like that Kansas City has so many barbecue restaurants. It also has a lot of great reviews, most restaurants seem to have at least 3 1/2 stars. The science museum looks fun, there is a similar one near me in Jersey City. I haven't visited yet, so I'm not sure on my opinion yet!

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Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Information:
Population: 3.858 million
Area: 503 sq miles
Airport: Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
Weather: Coldest months Dec/Jan at 68 F, warmest month Aug at 84 F
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar
Telecommunications: Modern
Known for: Hollywood, celebrities, weather.

Popular Things To Do:


Hollywood
Hollywood is one of the most famous places in the world. There's the famous Hollywood sign, where many people take pictures. Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum is located here.. Visitors can also go to Hollywood Boulevard, which is home to TCL Chinese theater. People also love to visit the trendy stores. There are lots of characters and even some celebrities walking around, too. This is also where the Hollywood Walk Of Fame is located. This is a must see for people who love shopping, museums, or celebrities.


Universal Studios, 4.5 Stars
This famous amusement park is located in Hollywood. There are tons of attractions here. There are theme park rides, like the Simpsons Ride and The Revenge Of The Mummy ride. The park has have many more rides based on TV shows and movies. There are attractions where visitors can learn how special effects are created. Waterworld is featured in this park, which is a show that features tidal waves, jet skiers, explosions. & more. The House Of Horrors is located here, a haunted house that features several famous characters from horror movies. But, this ride closes Sept 1st 2014, so hurry and visit! This is a must see for TV and movie lovers, amusement park lovers, and families.


Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA Phil) 4.3 Stars
This concert hall, which opened in 2003, was built by architect Frank Gehry. It is the new home the of Los Angeles Philharmonic. It is one of the most sophisticated concert halls in the world. This is a must see for music lovers.




Hotels
Hotel prices in Los Angeles can range from $70 a night to $370 a night. The pictured hotel is The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles, which is located right next to Staples Center. Staples Center is famous for concerts and many other events. The Ritz Carlton in LA has 5 stars and starts at $370 a night.



Restaurants
Los Angeles has tons of great restaurants. Some famous ones are Mozzaplex & Spago. The pictured restaurant is Providence, which was voted the best place to eat in LA by many people. They are famous for their shellfish and seafood. The prices are very high, but worth it.

My Review (9)
I think Los Angeles is a great city. I would love to visit Universal Studios, the museums and restaurants, and Hollywood Boulevard. I also love the palm trees and weather. The only bad thing I have heard is there's tons of traffic. But, I'm used to that! I would rate it a 10, but I haven't visited yet.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on improving my blog, please comment below!

Seattle, WA

Seattle, Washington

Information:
Population: 634,535
Area: 142.5 sq miles
Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International
Weather: Coldest months Dec/Jan at 47 F, warmest months July/Aug at 75 F.
Language: English
Currency: US dollar
Telecommunications: Modern
Known for: Coffee, rain, nature.

Popular Things To Do:


Space Needle, 4.2 Stars
The observation deck is on the top, at 520 ft with 360 degree views. There is also the SkyCity Restaurant, which is at 500 feet and also has amazing views. It offers many famous foods of Northwest USA for good prices. This is a must see for people who love good food and the view of Seattle.


Seattle Great Wheel, 3.8 Stars
One of the biggest Ferris wheels in the USA is in Seattle, at 175 ft tall. It opened to the public on June 29, 2012, but it was planned for over 30 years. There are 42 cars, each hold up to 8 people. It offers great views of Seattle & the water. This is a must see for people who love city views, or rides.



Fremont 
Fremont, Seattle is also known as "the center of the universe". The picture is of Fremont Troll, under a bridge. The History House of Seattle is in Fremont, it displays the history of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods. There's also statues of communist leaders. There's even Fremont's yearly fair, from June 20-22. There's Beer Gardens, a craft market, and concerts. There's also the Fremont Solistice Parade, that even has a day where you can bring your dogs in the parade. This is a must see for people who love unique sights.


Hotels
Seattle has several hotels. They range from motels at $80 a night to luxury hotels at $470+ a night. The pictured hotel is Pan Pacific Seattle, which is $470+ a night and has four stars. It's a contemporary hotel in the center of the city, and the rooms have amazing views.


Restaurants 
Seattle has many good restaurants. There are many varieties by price and by type (Korean, Italian, Greek, Chinese, American, etc). The pictured restaurant is the Original Starbucks, opened in 1971 in Seattle's Historic Pike Place Market. It has 3.8 stars, and is especially famous for it's coffee.

My Review (6)
I live next to New York City, which might be why other cities seem less exciting to me. I think the Space Needle & restaurant look nice. Original Starbucks seems cool, and so does the Fremont section. Some of the hotels are beautiful. It seems like there aren't that many things to do, though, just a few tourist attractions. I also don't really like rainy weather. But I haven't visited, so I'm not sure on my opinion yet!

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on improving my blog, please comment below!

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Information: 
Population: 825,863
Area: 231.9 sq miles
Airport: San Francisco International
Weather: Coldest months are Dec/Jan at 57 F, warmest month is Sep at 70 F.
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar
Telecommunications: Modern
Known for: Buildings, things to do, cable cars.

Popular Things To Do:


Golden Gate Park, 4.5 Stars
Golden Gate Park is sort of like the SF version of Central Park, the way it's in the center of the city. There's lots of flowers & trails, paddleboats, windmills, & the Academy of Sciences & Aquarium. This is a must see for any nature lover.


San Francisco Cable Cars
Another popular attraction in San Francisco are the cable cars. You can take a tour of the city in one. It shows Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, & the other districts. There is also a Cable Car Museum. This is a must see for anyone who likes city tours.



Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is famous for it's shopping, events, and of course, chocolate! There's so many stores and restaurants, and obviously the Ghirardelli ice cream and chocolate shop. They have lots of events, like the chocolate festival and holiday events. This is a must see for any chocolate or shopping lover!

Hotels

Hotels in San Francisco can range from $73 a night to a much as $878+ a night. The pictured hotel is Fairmont Hertiage place, which is one of the more expensive hotels. It's located in Ghirardelli Square. The inside is very beautiful, it's worth the price!

Restaurants

 Some popular restaurants in San Francisco are Quince and Gary Danko. The pictured restaurant is Old Skool Cafe. It's a traditional American restaurant, they serve soul food. With a rating of 4.2, customers enjoy live jazz music. The employees are dressed like there from the 40's, 50's, or 60's.

My Review (9)
I give San Francisco a 9 out of 10. I would give it a 10, but I haven't been there yet. It seems like it's the West Coast version of NYC, but without the traffic. The park reminds me of Central Park, and there's so many cool things to do. One of my best friends lives there, and I would love to visit!

New York City

New York City (New York, New York)

Information
Population: 8.337 Million
Area: 469 sq miles
Airports: JFK, LaGuardia
Weather: Coldest Month: Jan, average temp of 36 F. Warmest Month: July, average of 83 F.
Language: English (and every other language).
Currency: US dollar.
Telecommunications: Modern
Known For: Times Square, buildings, food, people, and so much more.

Popular Things To Do
New York City has five boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island). It seems like a lot of tourists only go to Manhattan, and only go to the "touristy" areas. I'll still post some activities for each borough.

Manhattan



Honestly, I couldn't pick one favorite thing for Manhattan. There's so many things to do here, I could write another blog just about that. There's Central Park, with the zoo, trails, playgrounds, lake, and ice skating. I love how it's in the middle of the city, it looks so cool from a birds-eye view. There's the Empire State Building, going to the top and seeing all of the buildings is so cool. There's so many types of museums like the Met, National History Museum, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and even a sex museum. These are just the "tourist" things, there's so many cool things that aren't as popular. Just walking around Manhattan is amazing. I don't want to go on and on, so here's 2 lists of Manhattan attractions and restaurants.
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/manhattan
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/100-best-new-york-restaurants

Brooklyn



I think Brooklyn is the 2nd most popular borough, it's the "New Manhattan". Williamsburg is the new "hipster" area, but still really cool. There's a lot of cool restaurants there. There's Coney Island, an amusement park. The Brooklyn Bridge Promenade is really pretty. Here's a list of more things to do:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/brooklyn

The Bronx

The Bronx still has some dangerous areas. If you visit the tourist areas, you'll be fine, as long as you're street smart. The New York Botanical Garden is really pretty. The Bronx Zoo is really big, with over 5,000 animals. The Bronx also has some really good Spanish restaurants. Here's a list of more things to do: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/bronx

Queens

Queens is one of the less visited boroughs, but still has some fun things to do. There's Citi Field, where visitors go see games. There's 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, a warhouse that's completely decorated in graffiti, but is also a tourist attraction. There's also Gantry Plaza State Park, which has been restored and is 12 acres long. Here's a list of more things to do: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/attractions-days-out/top-attractions-in-queens-all-the-best-sights-to-visit-in-nyc

Staten Island

Staten Island is probably the least visited borough, it's not really connected to the other boroughs, except by bridges. Here are some things to do there: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/search?_source=global&_dd=&keyword=&on=&location=233

My Review (10)
I love New York City. I give it a 10 out of 10. I only live about 15 minutes away in the NYC metro area. I've been there countless times, but I'm still amazed by it. I want to live and go to college there, and hopefully I can in 2 years. I love all of the things to do and different cultures. It's also home to Hip-Hop/Rap, my favorite type of music.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on improving my blog, please comment below!

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun, Mexico

Information:
Population: 628,306 (2010)
Area: 764 sq miles
Airport: Cancun Airport.
Weather: 68 F-86 F October-March, 75 F-91 F April-September. Hot & humid.
Language: Spanish.
Currency: Mexican Peso (1 Mexican Peso=0.077 US)
Telecommunications: Modern.
Known For: Beaches, resorts, city area.

Popular Things To Do:


Chicen Itza, 4.7 Stars
Mayan ancient ruins, two and a half hours away from Cancun, in the Yucatun jungles. This is a must see for people who are interested in history and Mexican culture.


Dolphin Discovery, 4.5 Stars
Swimming with dolphins. Dolphins will even kiss and dance with you! Customers also get to feed manatees and swim with sharks. This also comes with a Mexican buffet meal (great reviews). Reviews say negatives are the expensive pictures, but they are worth the price. This is a must see for anyone who loves marine life!


Xel-ha Park, 4.7 stars
Xel-ha Park is a marine park in Cancun. It has tons of activities, like zip-lining into a river, a lazy river, cliff jumping, and tubing. The park is also famous for snorkeling  (see picture), and people have seen several types of animals. This is a must see for anyone who loves marine life and fun!


Hotels
Cancun has some of the most beautiful resorts in the world. Prices range from $41 a night to $919+ a night.  Most of the hotels are right on the beach. The pictured hotel is Le Blanc Spa Resort, a five star hotel that starts at $620 a night.


Restaurants
Many resorts in Cancun have restaurants on their premises, but their are many in the city. Some popular ones are La Dolce Vita and Lorenzillo's. The pictured restaurant is a five star Basque restaurant called Tempo by Martin Berasategui. It's located in Hotel Paradius.

My Review (9)
In my opinion, I would give Cancun a 9 out of 10. I would love to put a 10, but I haven't visited yet, so I'm not sure. I might visit in January/February, though! I love that there's so many things to do, but the resorts are still relaxed and have a Caribbean feel.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on improving my blog, please comment below!