Explore The United States of America

Puerto Rico is one of the largest Caribbean islands in the Antilles, sharing with Cuba much of the history of conquest by invaders from South America and Europe, to induction of slaves from Africa, and to date under the protection of the USA, as a Territorial State. This modern day Caribbean Island is a popular tourist venue, offering natural beauty, historically confusing sites and overlaying a strong Spanish influence, a multicultural vibe all of its own.

The Island is of a number of different features from; rocky shorelines to sandy beaches, many coastal towns and innumerable villages, Spanish watch towers that are now lighthouses, El Morro Castle at St Juan is a 500 year old monolith that broods of centuries of guardianship over the city and contradicting the centuries – a most modern Observatory at Arecibo – presently the worlds largest radio telescope to probe the depths of outer space. The small island of Visques to the west has beautiful beaches and caves to explore and Cajado Muertos Island has Coriba Lake, Cartessa Lagoon – a bird paradise. Gallegan Island has many caves of which Canue limestone formations are some of the largest in the western hemisphere – with only 7 miles explored so far. Phosphorescent Bay gets excited when marine life is disturbed and ‘sparks fly’ alongside vessels. Numerous small islands offshore have coves, caves and beaches – no wonder it was a pirates and smugglers paradise!

Understandably because of its long history of occupation, there is a plethora of towns and places to visit.

To mention only a few of the favorites:
Arroyo – an old smugglers port.
El Yunque’s – National Rain Forest.
Boquerón – a fishing village with great night life.
Jayuya – fascinating town, surrounded by jungle covered peaks.
Las Cabezas De – San Juan’s Nature Reserve.
‘Old’ San Juan has half-a-millennium of history within its buildings. Lagos dos Bocas has a beautiful lake for boating.
Playa Flamenco, an amazing beach. Rinein – for big, big surfing.
Vasquez – with its secluded island beach, and
Desechio Island.

Wild life Reserves offer 15 choices, one such is:
Acquirre Forest Reserve – mangrove tidal flats, for fabulous bird watching – with a large Manatee population and, Kyaking, fishing, camping and barbecue facilities. Barranquitas; San Chrystobal Canyon, has three rivers, 750 foot deep ravines and highest waterfall on the Rio Usabon.

The Regions of North, Central, South and West, all offer a dazzling array of towns and sites to visit.

Briefly, the Northern area has amongst others:
Arecibo – Lighthouses, Historical Park museum,Recreational and Sports Areas, and Observatory. Aselioch de Beneficia – Exhibition Galleries of P.R. culture. Arteno Puertorriquens – Art Museum. Bacardi Rum Plant – the largest rum plant in the world. Barrachina – hosts the largest and oldest ‘mall’ – of fine goods, libraries, pubs & café’s on the Campus.

The Eastern Area : Near San Juan – the Arroyo Train takes visitors through the sugar plantations.  Avionnes Beach, Babylon Hotel Casino, Bahia Beach Golf Course, Berwin Country Club, and Coco Beach with its 36 hole International Golf course. Other attractions are; The Beaches, ‘Castle Usutu’, Carrizo Lake, Culebra Island with coral reefs and sandy, white beaches.

Central Area : The Coquina Indian Ceremonial Park – an 800 year old archaeological site of the Taino Indians, Lakes, Waterfall, Museum and Recreational Ranch, Plantations and caves.
Southern Area: The Acquirre Forest Reserve. Cathedral – with beautiful fountains, Ancient (Taino) Indian site and a Resort Village. Plazoda Calibri has an elegant mall worth visiting and Salinas a Fine Art Gallery displaying ‘Batista’.
Western Area : The Taro Negro National Forest.
Numerous Casinos operate: Mayaguiz (2), San Juan (7), Fajardo, Ponze (2), Dorado (2), Humacao, and Rio Grande.
Transport : The Capital of San Juan has a large bay serving 10 of the major Cruise Lines and an International Airport connecting from New York, on the Miami Route as well as Major Airlines from London, Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to mention only  a few. Bi-monthly Ferries visit the Virgin Islands, from Fujardo. There is good public transport and taxis within the Capital and ‘Publico System’ of mini-busses to surrounding areas – but you need to do your homework!

Puerto Rico is not only a ‘cross roads’ to other Caribbean destinations but a major destination itself. The fascinating Island state has a modern booming tourist economy because of its situation in the Caribbean, its half a millennium history and its vast array of man-made and natural attractions. Wouldn’t you like to see for yourself?

MARIANAS ISLAND has awesome natural and entertainment attractions. The Western Pacific islands are situated on the Marianas Trench, the deepest undersea canyon in the world, where deep sea ‘mud’ volcanoes spew liquid sulphur from acidic hydrothermal vents in the sea bed, creating rare species of deep sea creatures, fish and animal life – unique species of Beaked Wales, 19 marine animals and on land the Micronesian Megopoda Bird – that incubates its eggs in the hot lava flows and the giant coconut crabs. Two of the Hotels have Casinos and six major Golf Courses have from the most challenging to the mild greens for beginners, to complement the beautiful natural surrounds.
The three main Northern Islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota are known for their Eco-tourism to – nature adventures in nearby unoccupied northern islands, reached only by plane, boat or helicopter – active and smoking volcanoes, black sand beaches, ancient rock formations and wildlife. Special tours are arranged for hikers, fishermen (and women), hunting, snorkeling, bird watching, volcano watching and camping. Favorite pastimes are diving to – coral reefs, caves, caverns, ledges and visiting sunken ships.

Saipan has great natural beauty, hotels, golf courses and many historical landmarks. The whole area is part of the 95,000 square miles, newly declared Mariana Trench National Monument – just 3 hours from Japan.

Tinian is known for its fantastic marine life, and sunken WW11 relics (and ammunition!)

Rota has three major deep dive sites to see the unique indigenous reef fish species and sunken wrecks, and snorkeling offs the many beaches.

Events and Festivals occupy the calendar whole year round. The Islands love out door sporting and competitions on land or on sea and Festivals to celebrate ‘anything and everything’, especially the February – Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival with various tastings and competitions “to make your mouth and eyes water”, and meeting local artists and entertainers. More Festivals continue month to month, across the calendar, to the end of the year.

If you miss any, the next one will be waiting for you!

TEXAS has arguably the largest land area of the lower 48 States and according to reports the Texans also the largest ego! The ‘Lone Star’ and ‘Longhorn’ State has long since deserved it reputation as a true reflection of the Old West frontier, having wrested the land from the previous Mexican Empire by 1848. Since the early 1900’s when oil was discovered, Texas has remained the center of the US petroleum industry. However livestock and agriculture is still big business. The vast open spaces and mythical Cowboy Culture are still a major tourist attraction. In stark contrast are many cultural cities and towns with sophisticated facilities and entertainment, and most of all the Space Center at Houston, the mission control center for all manned exploration of space.

National Parks, Preserves and Wildlife refuges, Islands, The Rio Grande Canyon, Historic Towns and Forts, rugged Desert Mountains offer a vast array of outdoor activities from golf, fishing, hiking, river rafting to cycling, scenic routes to coastal angling, sailing. Organized Sports of baseball at all levels, American Football on National, University and College level and Basketball at all amateur and professional levels, as well. Nightclubs and performance venues cover this music loving state.

Dallas , has been synonymous with oil, ranching, cotton fields and latterly a huge diversified business center. An energetic and enjoyable city, with many museums, restaurants and cultural venues. Sadly the city tourism also thrives on ‘Black Tourism’ a euphemism to the sustained interest on the murder of President John Kennedy in 1963. Happier things to do and see are the fabulous view from the 50 storey reunion Tower, The West End Historic District, Museum of Art filled with Americana, Natural Museum, Peaceful Parks and vibrant Musical neighborhoods.

Fort Worth combines the epitome of ‘Cowboy Culture, High Culture and Modern Entertainment Venues’. Historic Cattle Yards rub shoulders with some of the US’s finest Performing Arts Space, Museums and Organizations and transformed ‘Old Red Light’ districts into delightful ’Water Gardens’.

Austin , the Capital, stakes its claim to being the most popular Music Scene in the country, High Tech Industry and ‘Best State University’! and Biggest State Capital in the country!

Fredericksburg , in the Hill Country is one of the loveliest small towns in the state, with very strong Germanic heritage with its ‘Biergarten’ and Bavarian style buildings, Church on the old marketplace (Markplatz). It also has WW11 Museum of the Pacific War – house in the steamboat shaped Nimitz Hotel with Japanese ‘Peace Garden’ at the back and the Lyndon Johnson National Historical Park.

Kerrville , is one of the largest towns in the Hill Country. It is famous for its eighteen day long folk music festival held annually on a ranch near the town. Starting the Thursday before Memorial Day, it attracts singers and fans from all over the world.

New Braunfels , has a charming German culture enshrined in its distinctive architecture, cuisine, language and festivals for example the Beer & sausage and the Polka Dance Festival.

San Antonio , is really the most historic city in the State and popular for its natural beauty.

Houston is an enormous port and city with a population passing 2 million souls and synonymous with all Space Exploration and Mission Control, and the Petrochemical Industry. It has much more for the tourist to appreciate, with some of the Worlds finest Art Museums – paintings by the European masters, 20th Century American masters, Ancient and Mediaeval art of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Pacific Northwest, Byzantine Frescos, Greek, Roman and American sculptures, Artifacts, Furniture collections, Decorative Arts, Ceramics and textiles. Unbelievable collections ‘to perve over’! Montrose district has a varietal cultural collection of galleries, shops, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants and a popular ‘strolling area’. 34km SE is the ‘Tallest Monument in the World’, with museum and theater at its base.

Galveston has many tourist attractions depicting her exotic past of Pirates and Victorian splendor, but mostly its past and present day attraction remains as one of the most popular Resort Cities on the Gulf of Mexico. The Island city has miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches and incredible modern entertainment facilities of water park pools, ten stories Rainforest pyramid and massive aquariums.
Corpus Christi is the deepest commercial port in the State and therefore a strong maritime, military and waterfront presence with the State Aquarium of rare sea animals. The Island State Park has many miles of sandy beaches and modern condominium resorts.

Laredo on the north bank of the Rio Grande River is known as ‘the gateway to Mexico’. The Mexican and Border cultural influence is very apparent in well preserved buildings and museum which traces the cities history with ‘six different national flags’. The undoubted tourist attraction starts with the 200 mile Rio Grande Valley to the Gulf, with a strong agricultural, rural and commercial mix and nature sanctuary park.

Fort Davis deserves a visit to cool off in summer in the highlands, visit the National Historic Fort site or see the stars from the Observatory’s, world’s largest (430inch) spectroscope.

El Paso was known for its safest crossing of the Rio Grande River to Mexico, still has its original and oldest Catholic Missions in the state, an international community and a small national park with a 2,9km perimeter walking trail.

Lubbock a mix of Cattle Ranching country, Technical University and Cotton growing is also famed for its great ‘production’ of musical prodigies, like Buddy Holly and many others enshrined in the museum.

Canyon ’s name is self explanatory. The nearby State Park is also known as the ‘Grand canyon of Texas’. It also houses the largest Historical Museum of geology, paleontology and petroleum in the State, West Texas A&M University and nearby preserved, Pioneer Town.

Amarillo, although a town of great commercial diversity, has some unique attractions. Situated on the legendary and major Route 66 that crosses the country from Chicago to Los Angeles it has the Cattleman’s tradition encompassed in the Livestock Auction, strange sights at ‘The Cadillac Ranch’.

Abilene once a notorious Wild West town is now more settled as “Buckle of the Bible Belt”, with a number of Christian Colleges, The Historical Village with Indian artifacts and Frontier weapons collection.

The major Annual Events are:

• the Kerrville Folk Festival at the end of May
• the Texas State Fair in October
• Confederate Heroes day
• Emancipation Day
• Lyndon Johnson’s Birthday on August 27th.

Others include; Family camp-0ut, Playing with Time, Rodeo and Old Settlers reunion, Annual Taste of Dallas, Balloon race, water Carnival, Harvest weekends, Yesteryear festival, Roundup Rodeo, Water Carnival, Chili Pepper & Salsa Festival, Beachcombers Fine Arts show, Overland & Stagecoach Festival, Grape Stomp, Liberty Opry, Fly-in & Lions Club Breakfast, Pioneer Days fest., Open weekend – Davis Mount Preserve, Texas Ranch Roundup, Center City Block party, Bat Fest, Greek Fest, LBJ’s Birthday and Margarita & Salsa Festival.

Texans pride themselves on being, doing and thinking big, the Big ‘Lone Star State’ with Cowboy Culture, their own big ‘Grand Canyon’, vast Landscape, Ranches and NASA – ‘Reaching for Space’, all with good justification. A visit will fill you with wonder at the reality of diversity and enormity of it all.

TENNESSEE State can be called the ‘Music State’ for it’s the great contribution to American roots music, Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, Blues, Rock n’ Roll and Soul. Tennessee consists of three distinct regions:

• The Mississippi lowlands with Memphis the focal city,
• The central Blue Ridge plateau with the capital, Nashville,
• The Appalachian mountains in the east with Knoxville as its base.

The Great Smokey Mountains have some of the highest peaks in the east and draws over ten million visitors per year. Half of the National Park is in neighboring North Carolina. Famed for its incredible flowering plant diversity and hardwood forests, spruce fir, Rhododendron and mountain laurel. The forest produces honeysuckle vines for basketry, hardwoods for carving and musical instruments, wild berries and fruits, medicinal plants and harbors much wild game.  Adventure tourists delight in the hiking, biking, horse riding, fishing and white water rafting. Hiking trails lead past scenic waterfalls, panoramic views, log cabin sites, rushing rivers and towering peaks.

Chattanooga city riding on the banks of the Tennessee River nestles between several high plateau, ridges and mountains retains its famed ‘Ross’s Landing’, now an area of entertainments, natural museum, aquarium and Imax theatre. Nearby are reenactments of battles by miniature soldiers on large boards. The mountain incline railway climbs the lookout mountain to the crest for a panoramic view. Battlefield sites on the slopes of the steep plateau, Ruby Falls and Caves and Rock City gardens inspire awe and inspiration.

Nashville – Tennessee is renown for its music, state capital, and university and as a financial center. Downtown is the famous auditorium – setting for live shows, convention and entertainment centers, reconstructed river fort, and ‘The District’ of – restaurants, cafés and nightclubs. Other sites of interest are; The State Museum – covering history, decorative arts, and biographical exhibits to past heroes’. East of downtown is ‘Music valley’s’ radio show, where all the famous musicians perform from time to time, Oprey Museum, Oprey Mall and fabulous Oprey Hotel.

A few miles away the Belle Mead Plantation and mansion takes one back into the splendor of the 1800’s antebellum estates, with guides in period costume and live summer concerts in the spacious grounds. The Hermitage estate, home of Andrew Jackson is open to visitors who admire the distinguished military leader, politician and seventh President of the USA. Southwest lie the forested Indian trails of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Memphis is synonymous with music of blues and rock ‘n roll, and the ‘evergreen’ Elvis Presley – celebrated in annual festivals of music. Music studios, monuments, unique museums, parks, statues, and evocative sites to civil rights leader – Martin Luther King, and of course the famous estate, Graceland – with the great entertainers fine home, artifacts, personal effects and grave. Do not miss Rev. Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle Church for an electric service!

Western Tennessee has over fourteen State Parks, Historical and Natural sites and Places of Interest to visit.

Middle Tennessee has over thirty two State Parks, historical and natural sites, places of interest and even an Elephant Park.

Eastern Tennessee has over thirty five great attractions where to choose outdoor activities, educational or restful relaxation.

RHODE ISLAND is the smallest state, known as the Ocean State yet it has woodlands, craggy coastline beaches and islets, excellent for walking and camping. Historically the New England area is the ‘birthplace of America’. Fine mansions of bygone era still exist to add charm to the state and monuments to the tumultuous, cultural and literary past abound.

Providence is the capital and its magnificent State House with white marble dome, is capped with a bronze statue called ‘independent man’. The city has an interesting blend of modern and historic buildings, marinas, museums and mansions, parks with great outdoor and indoor entertainment and modern zoo and one of the most prestigious University Colleges with a beautiful campus to explore.

Newport is also known for its fine mansions, military maritime culture for over 300 years and huge sailing interest. ‘The Breakers’, summer home to railway magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt is one of the finest neo- classical Italian mansions anywhere to be seen. The Synagogue, Historical Museum, Tavern, and outdoors, Fort Adams State Park has sporting facilities for swimming, Jazz festivals, collections of luxury yachts and marina, and a five and a half kilometer national recreation trail.

Southwest are a hundred miles of pristine beaches, tidal pools, coves, surfers and boaters and an amusement park.

Off the coast is Block Island , a great destination for outdoor activity. Hiking, swimming, surfing, Kyaking fishing, sailing or on land bird watching, angling, horse riding or a driving tour to view all the attractions.

Special Events calendar is full all year round, with about one hundred events in any given month. There are Music, Visual arts, Theater, Dance, Film & television, Spectator Sports and Special Interest (Historical, National, State and local).

All that you could ask for is available to make your visit memorable and enjoyable.

OKLAHOMA state is a vast interstate crossroads of, prairie land where mesas merge with forested mountains and flatland wheat fields. With the largest Native American population and still active oilfields, it nevertheless offers an exciting tourist destination. Birthplace of such actors as John Wayne, who made the State famous for its ‘Western Culture’ it, provides a fascinating exploration into the past and the present. As a region of extremes with hot summers and cold winters and part of ‘Tornado Alley’, yet it has some of the most vivid prairie scenery with colorful wildflowers in May and September while autumn colors in October make scenic drives in the Ozark Mountains a visual delight.

From the pine forests of southeastern Oklahoma to the spectacular mesas of the Panhandle, and from the northeastern lakes and forests to the rugged mountains of the southwest, you are surrounded by Oklahoma’s natural wonders. Oklahoma’s proliferation of State Parks (50), offers a great variety of experience to Campers, Lodgers and even Golfers. Most are situated on lakes and offer water sports, hiking, biking, fishing and some even caving and dune bashing. The cities and towns offer historical, cultural and modern entertainment from the exotic to the most sophisticated venues.

Bartlesville is still a major ‘Oil Town’ but oil barons have left behind enduring attractions like picturesque ranches, with art, wildlife preserve and American Heritage center and a vast Prairie preserve stocked with bison and blazing wildflowers.

Tulsa , once a railroad town is still a major oil center, it has many nearby attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists, with art museum and beautiful parks and University grounds.
Tahlequah is the capital of the Cherokee nation, lies at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Its heritage center with historical village and museum chronicle the tribes troubled past.

Oklahoma City the State Capital ‘was built in a day’ during the original oil and land rush. Today it is a sophisticated city of museums to those eras to ‘Buffalo Bill, John Wayne and Indian Folk lore’ and Western Art and memorial to tragic 1995 bombing of Federal Building.

Events – Children’s, Theater, Festival, Golf, Historical Reenactments, Musical, Holiday, Nature and Recreational dominate the calendar, daily, weekly, monthly and annually. June has most fishing competitions; July has recreational, kids and nature celebrations. August has nature, dog days, music and more kid’s festivals. September has many recreational, kids, nature, music and historical festivals. October has national days, kids’ entertainment, and nature and party entertainments. November has western music, Historical reenactments, and festival, nature and holiday lights. December has many Christmas celebrations and recreational programs. January starts the New Year with Blue Grass festival of music and ‘Deer Antler Shed’ – nature program. February – with more nature, music and recreational celebrations. March with – many nature, spring and children’s events. April with – many children’s’ Easter, volunteer, nature and recreational events. May brings the cycle round with a large number of events such as car shows, fishing, memorial, nature and recreational days.

See the Official State Song of Oklahoma for inspiration, it’s a gas!

SOUTH CAROLINA is famous for its many, many miles of Atlantic beaches, coastal islands and resorts, Cyprus swamps and early colonial and civil war histories. Famous coast from Myrtle Beach in the north, followed by Georgetown, Charleston, and Coastal islands give the tourist a dazzling array of visitors choices.  Inland lakes offer some of the best fishing for trout, catfish and bass, scenic waterways for canoeing and kyaking. In the north-west are the white water and waterfall areas offering exciting wild water sports.

Charlestown is one of the south’s most beautiful cities, with its old colonial atmosphere, early European architecture, grand piazzas, opulent old mansions, towering church steeples and tree lined streets. Parks, cobbled alleyways, fountains and waterfront restaurants complete the romantic ambiance. Historical Fort Sumter where the Confederate ‘rebellion’ started is preserved as a ‘complete museum’. Other interesting sites are African-American and Native American museums and galleries, River Plantations and ‘swamp gardens’.

Colombia, the State Capital is at the limit of the inland navigation. Places of interest are the surviving State House, State Museum, Confederate Museum a genuine, preserved cypress swamp ecosystem.

NEBRASKA is still known for its vast prairies. Once the crossroads for many a trail to the goldfields and settlements California and Oregon, it now draws tourists to experience the feel of the vast plains, the Panhandle in the northwest with it s rocky outcrops and jagged canyons, historic trails and majestic scenery.
Famous historical figures of the west like Crazy Horse, the great Sioux chief, Chief Red Cloud and William ’Buffalo  Bill’ Cody have left their legacies imprinted on the culture of the state. The famed Oregon Trail also passed through the southern state area. Several state parks and national recreation areas offer tourists, trails for hikers and bikers, forts, historical sites, lakes for fishing, camping, boating and hunting.
State Capital Lincoln is the custodian if the state University, museums of fossils and Native American Artifacts, landmark legislature buildings, WW2 camps and huge Memorial Sports Stadium.

Omaha the largest city with over ¾ million, one a rough Missouri town evolved into a major railroad terminus and commercial and cultural center with art treasures of America and Europe and museums.

Nebraska’s Events boast of “so much to see and do” is borne out by its amazing variety and number of events throughout the year, literally hundreds, too numerous to specify but they cover the following:

• National &International Days,
• town, city and county events
• Theaters,
• Festivals,
• Shows,
• Celebrations,
• Exhibitions,
• Classical, Performing arts(Ballet, Orchestral &Plays),
• Arts & Crafts,
• Farmers and  Flea Markets,
• Carnivals,
• circus,
• Performances,
• Tournaments(Rodeo , Bull Riding, Wrestling),
• Concerts,
• Expo’s,
• Music and Dancing,
• Christmas,
• Churches,
• Sports (PGA Golf, Motor, Motorcycle, Cycle, Soccer, Baseball and more),
• Festivals of Spring & Autumn(fall),
• Fruit & Wine, Flowers (Orchids & Roses),
• Vegetables (Pumpkins & Mushrooms),
• Meat,
• Farmers Days and
• Charity events,
• Children’s,
• Family,
• Writers,
• Antique,
• Quilting,
• Cultural Food & Dance (Swedish, Czech, Irish & Welsh),
• Ranch Expo’s,
• Country Food Days (Turkey and Wurst),
• Memorial Days celebrations,
• Gold Rush and other Storytelling,
• Historical and legendary  Reenactments,
• Mine Tours,
• BBQ,
• Air & Military Shows,
• Flying Club Competitions,
• Marathons and Fun Runs,
• Railroad days and
• National Schooling competitions and
• Sports,
• Astronomical Shows and
• Beauty Pageants…..and more Storytelling.

MINNESOTA is known as the ‘Land of 10 000 lakes’, an understatement. This beautiful area on Lake Superior (no pun intended) has the beginnings of the great Mississippi River and 7 major waterfalls. The Capital, St. Paul is ‘twinned’ with its sister city Minneapolis across the waters of the great river. Pre-history rock art, ‘petro-glyphs’, burial mounds and artifacts place inhabitants as early as 5 millennium before Indians and later European trappers, Americans, Germans and Scandinavian’s settled the area.

Modern adventurers will find excitement in the Wildlife Reserves, on the large and many smaller lakes, rivers and streams. Camping, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking and backpacking, golf, water and snow sports and ‘lure of the wild’.

Travel Tourists will find delight in, spectacular lake, river and forest scenery, bird watching, countless scenic lakes and farmland drives, sports events, museums, entertainment and the legendary ‘Fall Colors’ as Autumn sets the trees ‘alight’.

Annual and monthly Events enliven residents and tourists alike – Outdoor Concerts, County and Town Fairs with Arts and Crafts, Music, Historical Reenactments, State Fair, Mashed Potato Wrestling, Bowling, Heritage, Themed Getaways, Sports, Exhibitions and Performances, Ethnic (Dakota) Festival, almost always accompanied by music and food.

Arrive with a sense of expectation and leave with a feeling of ‘Peace of Heaven’!

MICHIGAN’s northern borders surrounded by the 3 Great Lakes is the natural destination for eco-tourism. However, the state is undeniably known for it great Automobile Industries situated at Detroit -   has the largest population concentration, approximately one million and apart from being an industrial giant also is home to most of the cultural, art, museums and entertainment venues.

With thousands of inland lakes, rivers and streams and the longest fresh water coastline the state still boast of it cleanest maritime lifestyle. Summer sunbathing, swimming, fishing, boating and sailing are a way of life for visitors and resident alike. Over one hundred functional and decommissioned lighthouses dot the shores, still ensuring safe navigation or inviting visitors. The Upper Peninsula wilderness was once a commercial logging, mining and fishing area and is home to some of the best natural attractions on Lakes Superior and Michigan. Miles and miles of pristine beaches, rugged shoreline cliffs and resorts and Wilderness Parks with forests, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and famous ‘Sleeping Dunes’, the worlds highest fresh water sand dunes.

Detroit hosts the annual Jazz festival at the Hart Plaza as well as all year round waterfront festivals. It has the fabulous Motor Museums of Oldsmobile’s and Fords most exotic cars. Summer Festivals bring a dozen or more Art fairs with loads of fun and more festivals of Food, Film, Flowers and Fruits.

• Taste of Charlevoix (June),
• Commercial City Fest (July),
• Taste of Saugatuck (August),
• Arts, Beats and eats (August) and Lilac fest,
• Waterfront film fest,
• Bavaria-German foods,
• Art & Wine fest,
• Leland wine and Food,
• Strawberry,
• Cherry,
• Blueberry,
• Sugar,
• Pas(tr)y fest at Calumet,
• Pork,
• Cheeseburger,
• ‘King & Queen of Bologna’  – all with numerous entertainments.

Come hungry – and leave satiated!