Favorite Places

Dillon Bradshaw

London

• The UK's capital city is a world unto itself. With eclectic neighborhoods and numerous landmarks, London requires several days (if not years) to get to know. That said, your inaugural visit (as you will certainly be coming back for more) should include trips to the Tower of London and the British Museum. But if you have more time, hit up Portobello Road and Borough Market to appreciate the local culture.

Iceland

• Iceland is an island of 103.000 km2 (39,756 sq.miles), about one-third larger than Scotland or Ireland. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, rises to 2.119 m and over 11 per cent of the country is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe.

Asia

• the world's largest continent, 17,139,000 sq mi (44,390,000 sq km), with about 3.3 billion people, nearly three fifths of the world's total population.

Japan

• Japan is located in the North Pacific off the coast of Russia and the Korean peninsula. The area of Japan is 377,873km², which makes it slightly smaller in land mass than California. Japan consists of four main larger islands and more than 4000 smaller islands. The main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest with an area of 231,000km². A modern railroad system connects the major islands with Japan's high-speed Shinkansen connecting major urban areas.

Cuba

• The Caribbean harbors a jewel in the Island of Cuba. The tropical Island extends 750 miles (roughly the size of Pennsylvania) and is a beautiful mix of mountain ranges and plains. There are over 200 bays and 289 sun drenched beaches to explore. The main ports are located in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas and Santiago de Cuba.

Alaska

• is a state in the United States, situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with the international boundary with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait.

California

• California is the 3rd largest state in area and the largest state in population.

• California has the largest population of Native Americans, more than any other state.

• Prior to the Gold Rush, California had more Native Americans than all the other states combined. Once the Gold Rush years occurred, many different kinds of people migrated to the West Coast.

• California has one of the largest Chinese communities outside Asia in the entire world (San Francisco).

• The Los Angeles area has more people of Mexican ancestry than any other urban area in the world, outside of Mexico.

Mexico

• Mexico is bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. Mexico is about one-fifth the size of the United States. Baja California in the west is an 800-mile (1,287-km) peninsula that forms the Gulf of California. In the east are the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of Campeche, which is formed by Mexico's other peninsula, the Yucatán.

Madagascar

• Madagascar is one of Africa's most fascinating countries with a unique flora and fauna that has long attracted scientists and wildlife enthusiasts. But more tourists are discovering Madagascar's beaches, and Malagasy music and food as well. Recent political turmoil from 2009 onwards has affected tourism - stay tuned with the latest from the BBC.

Paris

• Year after year, the magnetic City of Lights draws new travelers to its Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame—but Paris also keeps experienced travelers coming back for more. See, there's always a new Michelin-rated restaurant to try, a new exhibit to see at the Centre Pompidou or a new shop in which to swipe your credit card. And we can't discount Paris' je ne sais quoi charm that's unexplainable but also unmistakeable.

New York City

• Author Ayn Rand once wrote, "I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York's skyline." Many disagree with her politics, but her sentiment for the Big Apple is widely shared. America's most populous city hosts infinite urban adventures. Enjoy an afternoon in Central Park or visit the exhibits at the MoMa or the Met. New sites, like the National September 11 Memorial, are always popping up, yet the classics, like the Empire State Building, never get old.

Puerto Rico

• Pick a vacation experience you're looking for, and Puerto Rico can oblige. An old town with historic architecture and cobblestone streets? Look no further than Old San Juan and it's El Morro fortress. A beachside getaway with miles of soft, white sand? Consider the bioluminescent bays of Culebra and Vieques. A cosmopolitan destination with exciting nightlife? Head to the Isla Verde or Santurce neighborhoods of San Juan.

Sydney

• Sydney has more than just an opera house. At the sight of this famous white structure, outsiders quickly forget all the attractions of this world-class metropolis. You'll find the bustling Sydney Fish Market and the striking Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plus, there are numerous beaches (Coogee and Bondi for starters) that draw locals and tourists alike. Also, in its rivalry with Melbourne, Sydney wins the weather battle with its warm, sunny climate.

Rio de Janeiro

• With its sun-drenched beaches and soothing samba rhythms, Rio jockeys with Buenos Aires and São Paulo as South America's hottest destination—and not just with its temperatures. The famous Christ the Redeemer statue presides over Copacabana Beach and Lapa, a vibrant neighborhood. And you'll be hard-pressed to find a more riotously fun event than Rio's Carnival.

Beijing

• With the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing officially debuted on the global stage and is quickly outshining its more modern brethren—Hong Kong and Shanghai—as a tourist destination. The city boasts world-class attractions, like the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, that showcase country's past and present. Plus, the jaw-dropping Great Wall of China stands just north of the city, making Beijing a world-traveler must.