United States

Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff has been around longer than I have, which is saying something, and still, like me, hasn't made up its mind what it wants to do when/if it grows up. It likes to be the sleepy college town, frantic on weekends and calm and collected the rest of the time. It wants to be a modern city filled with 21st century activities and facilities while maintaining the look of 1880. It seems to think Route 66 is still the top TV show and wants to be associated with it while ignoring the Interstate that bypasses the town. It's kitsch and krazy but the people are warm even when it's 10 below zero...and that's in the Spring! Pine trees scent the air and the views are truly awesome if you like mountains and clear skies; the downtown looks for all the world like Disney came through and did a plastic replica of an 1880's railhead. But it's real. And so are the folks who live there.

Tom Inglesby was the Editor/Associate Publisher of National Motorist Magazine.

Los Angeles, California
My favorite city is truly Los Angeles, driving along the coast from LA to Malibu and to San Francisco. The mesmerizing scenery along the highways of mountains, cliffs and the ocean took my breath away during my travels. I was the driver for five women and the youngest in the group. We decided early when we saw picturesque views, we would stop to enjoy the view and take photographs. Since we were not on a schedule, or a deadline, this trip was the most memorable trip I've experienced because we took the time to enjoy the beauty, and scenery while photographing those precious moments with cameras and our recollections.

This journey with a bunch of chattering women wasn't just a trip, but a time for all of us to reflect on what was important in life. Most of the women were either widows or divorcees. I was the only married woman and while listening to them discuss marriage, grief, divorce, and single life, this adventure taught me how precious life is. Although it wasn't a Thelma and Louise adventure, it was certainly one of the most compelling, eye-catching trips I've experienced, since we were taking our time to enjoy the little pleasures in life. Watching birds, gasping at the sounds of the ocean, strolling along the beach, dancing along the shore, and appreciating the beauty of freedom and the California coast while time flies by. The California coast holds a special place in my heart because of the voyage of six women who became close friends while traveling together.

Lubbock, Texas
Visitors to Lubbock, Texas find a host of unique attractions. See everything from report cards to the Fender guitar of favorite son, Buddy Holly, at the Buddy Holly Center. View 36 authentically restored ranch structures dating between the late 1700s and early 1900s at the National Ranching Heritage Center. Learn the history of 140 windmills, the world's largest collection, at American Wind Power Center. See the N.C. Wyeth collection; African and pre Colombian art; jade; and dinosaurs at the Museum of Texas Tech University. At Lubbock Lake Landmark, ask questions of archeologists between June and August. On this site, they've documented a continuous human presence on the South Plains for 12,000 years. The Silent Wings Museum tells the story of World War II glider pilots, many who trained in Lubbock. The Science Spectrum Museum provides 200 interactive exhibits and an Omni Theater. Highlights are the hologram hall, displays on economics and science of sports, and many live animals from the Los Brazos River habitats. For more info, call (800) 692-4035 or browse www.visitlubbock.org.

Moab, Utah
With a population of 8,000 Moab is a manageable town. It's geared toward tourists so there are plenty of hotels and restaurants, stores that sell southwestern items such as kokopellis (whose flute playing supposedly brings rain), and friendly people. The town has a wide main street and the buildings are on a pedestrian scale so you don't feel crowded walking around town. Although Utah is a very conservative state, we learned that you may have a waiter re-cork your unfinished bottle of wine and take it with you. Nearby are two national parks--Arches and Canyonlands. Both are worth exploring over a days, just to give you a feel for the geology, the changing light, the forms and shapes--none on a pedestrian scale. Nature's own golden arches: With its domes, spires, monoliths and other rock formations, Arches national park will have a visitor looking in all directions along challenging hiking paths.

R. Thomas Berner, originally published in The (Montreal) Gazette, April 2 and republished by four other CanWest newspapers.

New York City
As a travel writer, I have often been asked if I have a favorite city. I answered this question for years by saying, "I have many favorite cities ... each for different reasons." However, after September 11, 2001, I realized that New York City really is my favorite city because it has almost anything that can be found anywhere else in the world. I use any excuse for a trip to my favorite city where I enjoy the stimulating energy of the atmosphere, the wonderful theater, restaurants, shops, museums, parks, libraries, hotels -- and most of all, the most diverse and interesting people I know.

Maureen Hennessy is a freelance jounalist for numerous magazines and newspapers, syndicated through Senior Wire and author of How to Go Almost Anywhere for Almost Nothing. You can reach er at gomh@comcast.net

Reno, Nevada
I love the wonderful river walk with the sculptures and benches to sit on to watch the water and people along the Truckee River that flows through downtown. Where in the olden days of quickie divorces, women would throw their wedding rings from the bridge to announce their freedom but is now a place for reflection. The small town feel of the city where you can walk to almost everywhere easily. Of course, the casinos that seem to pay off better than other places in the United States. The strange Pyamid Lake set in the stark desert north of the city with the Native American fish hatchery that keeps the prehistoric Cui-Wui (Quee-Wee) fish stocked in the lake. The proximity of glorious Lake Tahoe where one can spend a day or a month and let's not forget Old Virginia City within a few miles, where one can see wild Mustangs racing across the hills along the way. To cite an old cliche there's something for everyone in Reno

Irene A. Harner says Wanderlust struck at the age of eight--at 72 it is even more of a passion, impelling me ever onward to new places and new adventures. Irene is a member: NATJA, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and Cassell's Writer's Group

Outside of the US

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Walking some of the streets in Amsterdam is like being on a movie set for Saving Private Ryan. Those of us with an interest in recent history can see the melding of ancient ways and recent conflicts, all coming together with an overlay of modernity that says We know our past and respect it but today will someday be our past, too, and we want it to be better than ever. One of the truly great cosmopolitan cities, Amsterdam combines the best -- and for some, the worst -- of civilization. It is a city where people and buildings and history come in equal shades of gray and bright colors depending on one's point of view. Nothing is what you expect and everything is what you would wish for in excitement and gravity as a visitor.

Tom Inglesby was the Editor/Associate Publisher of National Motorist Magazine.

Istanbul, Turkey
I am partial to this ancient city that straddles Asia and Europe, because I was born here (I'm half Turkish). But beyond that, Istanbul (formerly called Constantinople) is a fascinating collision of secular and non-secular, especially Islam and Christianity. Where else could you find the Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque facing each other, each glorious beyond compare? And the Spice Bazaar is one of the best places on earth to get lost in a maze of colorful, aromatic powders, seeds, pods and nuts bursting from barrels, baskets and woven bags.

Suzanne Wright is a fulltime, freelance writer based in Atlanta. Her articles have appeared in Elite Traveler, Wine & Spirits, Veranda, Atlanta Magazine, The Tennessean, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Piedmont Review, Charlotte Place, Where, On Magazine and others. Her suitcase is always packed and her passport always up to date.

And another vote for Istanbul --

Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul became my favorite city the moment I stepped foot on the banks of the Bosphorus. How can you not fall in the love with the only city in the world to span two continents? There is nothing like standing on the European shore and gazing over at Asia, the cloudy Bosphorus flowing by you. Add the unique Christian and Muslim history, famous monuments like Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace, and you have one fascinating city.

Dawnelle Salant is a Canadian travel journalist and member of NATJA currently exploring Australia.

Morocco
Morocco is my favorite place on earth (thus far). The topography is incredibly varied in this small country (from cosmopolitan cities to small towns, deserts to gorges, beach and mountain destinations) and the colors, sounds, smells and people are wonderful. I especially fell in love with the bewitching town of Fez and its ancient, winding medina, wandering the narrow streets. The cries of merchants fill the air and the call to prayer is a haunting reminder that you are deep in a muslim culture. Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara, with its giant red sand dunes, is so quiet you can actually hear the sound of silence: shifting grains of sand.

Suzanne Wright is a fulltime, freelance writer based in Atlanta. Her articles have appeared in Elite Traveler, Wine & Spirits, Veranda, Atlanta Magazine, The Tennessean, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Piedmont Review, Charlotte Place, Where, On Magazine and others. Her suitcase is always packed and her passport always up to date.

Oaxaca, Mexico
The city of Oaxaca, located in southern Mexico is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites and quite deservedly so. It is definitely my choice for favorite city. Oaxaca has it all - from its world famous black pottery, delicious, mouth-watering moles to its breathtaking churches and enchanting cobbled streets just waiting to be explored.

Oaxaca, whose name comes from the Aztec word, "summit" was truly the pinnacle of Zapotec society and remnants of these ancient civilizations can be found in the nearby ruins of Monte Alban. Despite its location, Oaxaca surrounded as it is by the Sierra Madre mountains, benefits from cool, refreshing breezes meandering across its valley floor. To really discover Oaxaca, it must be explored on foot and this temperate clime makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

If you have a chance to visit Oaxaca in December, especially during the Fiesta de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, all your senses will be awakened as if from a northern fog. It is truly a magical place! Every day, during this season, and especially at night, the central Zocalo comes alive with pulsating rhythms, a cacophony of animated voices and an endless throng of humanity, just celebrating and enjoying life. You must savor the delicious "pollo con mole negro" (chicken with black mole) for which Oaxaca is famous, and if you're really adventurous, do try the "chapulines" (fried crickets) with a large glass of "cerveza"- you'll be forgiven for closing your eyes. The aroma of tantalizing spices will accompany you as you visit the many vendors around the square, selling fabulous tapestries, exquisite hand made leather goods, intricate lace clothing and an endless array of local crafts. Oaxaca is one of those captivating places that can be visited time and again, with the promise of always discovering some new delight. These are just some of the reasons why I truly love this city!

Rhona Richardson is a freelance travel writer located in Houston and member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and can be reached at rhonastravsite@ev1.net.

Quebec City, Quebec
I fell in love with Quebec City almost 20 years ago when I first visited, and that feeling hasn't changed. When I revisited recently I found the city had become even more special. The sense of history is palpable, seeping out of the old buildings, rising up from the streets climbing Basse Ville. You feel it walking among the fortifications along the St. Lawrence river. And the food. And the museums. And the shops lining the tiny twisty stone roads. And the opportunity to practice my very rusty French. With year-round festivals, the city knows how to party, and how to preserve its unique heritage. Simultaneously.

Neala Schwartzberg is the owner/publisher of OffbeatTravel and a dedicated traveler.

Sydney, Australia
Dynamic Sydney, Australia has it all— colorful history, spectacular shoreline, world-class arts, museums, fine dining and accommodations, nearby beaches, mountains, and vineyards, and wildlife found only in Australia. Although one of the largest cities in the world, nearly all the major attractions are within walking distance or a quick ride by land or sea. You’ll feel at home right away amongst the friendly Aussies, and it’s more affordable than most other major cities.

Ride the public ferry between Darling Harbour, a pedestrian-friendly dining, shopping, and entertainment area, and Circular Quay and the Rocks, infamous home to the original convict population and now the site of historic tours, restaurants, shops, and a lively weekend arts and crafts market. You’ll pass Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, built in the shape of billowing sails. Climb the Harbour Bridge for a spectacular view. Wildlife sighting are assured at the outstanding Aquarium, one of the best in the world, and Taronga Zoo-- Kangaroos and wallabies, fairy penguins, platypuses, Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingos, and bongos…and more…

This seaside city has beaches in either direction. Cliffwalk from Bondi to Bronte Beach along dramatic rock formations. Daytrip to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains for some of the best bushwalking around or to the Hunter Valley wineries to sip Shiraz.

Then there’s the rest of this vast and varied continent-- tropical rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef, sheep farms, the Outback and indigenous Aboriginal people… extensions of an adventure in the land down-under that can begin in… SYDNEY.

An avid traveler with an interest in international relations, Linda Fasteson views travel as the best way to better understand the people and places around us. Linda is a member of NATJA and a contributor to Travelworld International Magazine, Offbeat Travel, So Go Now, Real Travel Adventures International, to CNHI newspapers, and is the Contributing Feature Writer on travel for the wire served Explore Magazine, a monthly magazine for active adults.

Venice, Italy
Venice is not a city, it is a state of mind, a revery. I had read books, seen films, so I felt I was prepared, but there is no way to prepare for the reality of Venice.

I stepped out of the train station right on to the Grand Canal. My room was just a two minute walk away but it took me two hours to get there. "Oh, my God, look what they did. It's impossible. You can't do this." I tossed my itinerary off the first vaporetto (water bus) I rode. The city is shaped like a great fish with the railroad station in its mouth. That's how I felt. Like Jonah, I had become engulfed. Imagine a major European city with no traffic but the muted putt-putt of boats. Couples, so old they had to brace their shoulders side by side to hold each up, were holding hands and sneaking kisses. Music was leaking out of every building, piazza and gondola. If Venice was a dream I didn't want to wake up. Someone once said, See Venice and die. I say, see Venice and live.

Andrea Granahan is Editor - Meanderings Magazine and a freelance magazine writer, former editor, writer, photographer - The Navigator newspaper, as well as for Navigating the Sonoma Coast quarterly.

And finally
A favorite city? That is like asking for the best day of one's life, particularly when you have lived a long time. For example, shall it be Las Vegas which, for first time visitors and beyond, is akin to landing on Mars or Jupiter in the midst of an intergalactic party? Paris with its romance, ambience, cuisine and history? Rome for the atmosphere, visions of an empire long since gone, populace who are cordial beyond need and more calories in restaurants than all of Europe combined? London for sheer charm. pageantry, shopping (albeit more expensive than ever before) and adventures of yesteryear? San Francisco for sheer elegance, style, beauty and grace? New York, incomparable in every regard, the true capital of the universe to the chagrin of all others that finish second...possessed of the magnificent, good, bad, ugly, interesting, innovative, picturesque, educational, artistic, sports focused and picture laden opportunities. A favorite city? Embracing one is not possible. A plurality is a necessity as it is with food, drink, theater, movies, friends, family, children, clothing.

Mickey Charles is President and CEO of The Sports Network, the premiere real-time sports wire service in the country, where he has incorporated travel and lifestyle as a featured component of his organization's offerings to its millions of users monthly.

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