Independence Day is just around the corner, with fireworks and parades and celebrations in every town and city across the United States.

Amid all the hot dogs and hamburgers and apple pie, it’s important to remember why we can celebrate the Fourth of July.

Here are some sights from America’s fight for independence to remind us that Independence Day is about more than food and family and fireworks–it’s about freedom.

Boston, Massachusetts

Much of the early actions of the American Revolution began in Boston, including the riot of the Boston Tea Party and other uprisings that stirred the hearts of freedom lovers across the colonies.

Faneuil Hall was an indoor market in Boston that was also used as a location for meetings in the lead up to the Revolution. It was here that the plan for the Boston Tea Party was hatched, and where several revolutionary leaders gave rousing speeches to unite the city against the British.

The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought in 1775, was one of the early battles of the war, and while it’s outcome was largely considered a British victory, it was important for the Americans to see they were capable of standing up to the British in battle.

There’s even a museum for visitors walking the Freedom Trail through the city.

Every kid learns in history about Paul Revere’s night ride and the code “one if by land and two if by sea” to alert the towns around Boston of the British troop movements. It was at the Old North Church that the signal was sent starting Revere on his midnight ride.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia was the nation’s first capital, and home of the Continental Congresses that directed much of the politics of the war as well as maintained support among the citizens of the colonies for the war.

Independence Hall is where the Continental Congresses met, and where both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted. It is one of the most important buildings in America’s history, and is an awesome place to visit to learn more of how our country was established.

The Liberty Bell has a great sentimental meaning to Americans as a symbol of freedom and announcing the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is still on display and draws a great deal of attention from visitors to the city.

Betsy Ross has become an icon in American history for designing and making the first American flags. While she did indeed convince George Washington to modify the design and sewed many flags for Pennsylvania, it cannot be proved that she made the very first flag. Nonetheless, her story is important to highlight the role of women and show how the entire community was involved in the Revolution.

Just outside Philadelphia lies Valley Forge, one of the most important and memorable encampments, where the soldiers suffered as they regrouped and trained during the winter and while waiting for decisions on where to move to next. The memory of the suffering and struggle of the soldiers at Valley Forge help us better appreciate our freedoms as Americans today.

Washington, D.C.

While Washington, D.C. is now the nation’s capital, it wasn’t founded until after the Revolution. But those interested in Revolutionary War history will not be disappointed if they make a stop here. The Declaration of Independence and Constitution, as well as other important founding documents, are on display in the National Archives in downtown Washington, D.C.

Just a few hours south of Washington, D.C. is the most important battle site of the war: Yorktown. It was here in southern Virginia where General George Washington accepted the surrender of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and his troops, effectively ending the war and leading to the founding of the United States.

There are battlefields, encampments and other important sites from the Revolutionary War up and down the East Coast. Visiting them can be an educational and interesting experience even if history is not your thing, so make sure you take a look if you find yourself nearby!

Whether you’re young and looking for an adventure, or traveling with a family, Las Vegas is a great Spring Break destination.

Let’s take a look at some of the places everyone should have on their list to see when they make a trip to Sin City.

Welcome to Last Vegas Sign

Perhaps the most recognized feature of Las Vegas, the flashing sign welcoming visitors to Las Vegas was funded in 1959, at perhaps the heyday of Vegas glamor and glitz. These days, it’s a familiar, retro greeting for everyone who tour the Strip, the area jam packed with casinos, restaurants, party venues, and entertainment for all ages. Day or night, the party’s going on, and it’s the perfect photo op to announce your arrival!

The Venetian Casino and Resort

If you want to see a great music concert, check out the Venetian! Christina Aguilera will be there for two weeks in April, followed by Kylie Minogue, who regularly performs at the resort.

The hotel and casino is just as amazing, often making lists of best resorts and casinos in the US. Its theme hearkens back to the height of the Venetian empire, with a recreation of the Rialto Bridge, the Doge’s Palace, and other famous landmarks from the powerful empire of the Middle Ages.

The Bellagio

The Bellagio is one of Vegas’s most famous luxury resorts, created in the style of an Italian village, complete with classical-styled sculpture and design, high-end art galleries, breathtaking botanical gardens, and more.

Perhaps the most famous attraction at the Bellagio are the impressive fountains, which perform free water shows choreographed with music and lighting to entertain the crowds. Designed as the focal point in an 8.5 acre man-made lake in the center of the Las Vegas desert, they are certainly impressive. In fact, they are considered one of the most talked-about attractions in the city by people around the world!

Eiffel Tower and Paris Hotel

The Paris Hotel is an awesome spectacle, and a lot more affordable! It was designed with the average, not high-end, visitor, in mind. But they did not skimp on awesome Parisian features. The biggest draw is the replica Eiffel Tower, which rises about 550 feet in the air. Only 1/3 as big as the original, it’s still impressive against the Las Vegas skyline.

Other replicas on the site include the Arc de Triomphe, Louvre museum, and Paris Opera House. It’s “almost” like going to France, without crossing an ocean or needing a passport.

Luxor Las Vegas

The Luxor Hotel goes all the way to another famous desert for its theme: the deserts of ancient Egypt, and the pyramids of Giza. Some years, the hotel hosts more visitors than the city on which it’s modeled! Its centerpiece is a massive pyramid, which is the actual hotel. At the top of the pyramid is a giant light called the Luxor Sky Beam, the most powerful man-made light in the world.

Like other hotels, it also has lots of entertainment, beyond cool hotel rooms and casinos. It is also known for the expansive and educational Titanic exhibit, that still impresses visitors with artifacts and historical details in a museum dedicated to the ocean, that seems a little out of place in the desert.

The Mob Museum

Branching out a bit from the Strip and resorts, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, better known as the Mob Museum, is a really cool museum dedicated to telling the story of organized crime, and the law enforcement agents who fight that crime.

Some people don’t know this, but Las Vegas has deep ties to organized crime and mob bosses, which makes sense with all the gambling and other activities you can do there. While the connections have eased up considerably over the years, the history is colorful, and the museum is a great place to learn about law enforcement over the years in the US, and see some really cool exhibits about the most famous, and notorious, characters, in organized crime.

Hoover Dam

If you’re looking to spend some time enjoying the region’s climate and scenery, you should check out Hoover Dam. The dam, blocking the Colorado River on the border between Las Vegas and Arizona, generates power for California, Nevada, and Arizona, for more than 1.25 million people.

It also generates water for crops and cities and towns in the area, coming off of Lake Mead, the man-made lake created as a result of the dam. Tourists can tour different parts of the dam, can check out the structure from the bridge at the top of the dam, or participate in water activities on Lake Mead. It’s less than an hour away from Sin City, but it feels like a completely different world.

If you have the chance to tour Las Vegas, springtime is a great time to go; it’s not too hot, and there’s so much going on to keep you entertained. And if you can’t make it, this list will keep you almost as entertained.

San Francisco is a great American city, with unique history, architecture and culture, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Chinatown, from the Fisherman’s Wharf to the great redwood trees.

Here are just a few of the sites everyone needs to see.

Alcatraz

One of the most famous landmarks in the city, Alcatraz Island has a history that goes back long before the city was founded. The island has a long history with the native people who lived around the Bay area.

A little more than a mile offshore, the island was once used as a military prison but is most famous for being the federal prison that handled the worst of the worst criminals, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and other gangsters, before it was shut down in 1963. Tourists can visit the National Park and learn about the history, even beyond the stories of prison fights, attempted escapes and the like.

Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world, and probably the most famous site in San Francisco. The one mile suspension bridge connects the city with Marin County, and has both pedestrian and vehicle access.

When construction of the bridge began, the city set aside 1,000 acres for a public space for the fast-growing community, and named it Golden Gate Park, even though the bridge is not visible from the park. Visitors can spend a peaceful afternoon in the park, enjoying lakes, botanical gardens, a conservatory of flowers, exhibits and museums, all in the midst of a great urban center.

One of the most unique aspects of the park is the bison paddock, which has been a part of the park since the 1890s. It is currently home to about a dozen bison, or buffalo, and the public are able to view the animals.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is a neighborhood on the north end of San Francisco that is a popular tourist destination, with Ghiradelli Square, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the Wax Museum, and plenty of seafood restaurants. It was established by Italian immigrants after the gold rush, some of whom became fish mongers and restaurant owners.

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is an educational museum that focuses on human behavior, physics and science, living systems and focuses on weather, environment and landscape.

It is incredibly hands-on and dynamic, providing new and interactive exhibits and activities all the time.

Wave Organ

Exhibits from the Exploratorium are spread throughout the city, including the Wage Organ. The Wage Organ is a permanent exhibit built on the bay made of granite and marble, PVC and concrete. The musical instrument is played by the water, as the tide comes in it “plays” the organ, pushing air through the pipes and making unique sounds for the audience.

Muir Woods

Muir Woods is a national monument, part of the National Park Service about ten miles north of the city. The park is full of old growth redwood trees, some of the oldest and largest living organisms on earth. The trees can be up to 1,800 years old, and grow to nearly 400 feet high. The area was set aside by President Theodore Roosevelt and named after John Muir, who helped to create the National Park system.

Ferry Building

For decades in the early years, the only way to reach the city was by ferry, so the Ferry Building became the main transportation point for nearly all those entering the city. After increased bridge traffic reduced the need for ferries, the building has been adapted to other uses, including a large and popular marketplace on the first floor. The marketplace has produce, bread and pastries, restaurants and coffee shops, as well as arts and crafts stores. It’s a wonderful place for locals and tourists to spend a Saturday morning.

Presidio Park

Presidio Park was originally a Spanish fort, and then Army base, until 1994, when it was turned into a National Park. It is a great natural space in the city, with dirt trails, wooded areas, educational centers and places for performing arts and historical preservation.

Coit Tower

Lilian Hitchcock Coit was a benefactor of the city, donating a portion of her estate to beautify the city. Lilian Coit was a big personality in the early days of the city, including fighting fires before the city had a fire department, smoking cigars and wearing pants long before it was socially acceptable for women. The tower was constructed on the top of Telegraph Hill in Pioneer Park in her honor, in the Art Deco style, and includes a famous mural by the artist Diego Rivera. It has since become a local favorite landmark, providing a great view of Lombard Street, Nob Hill and other city sites.

Lombard Street

Lombard Street is famous for its eight hairpin turns within one extremely steep block. The entire city is built on hills, and this hill was too steep for vehicle traffic, so it was designed with switchbacks to make it easier to traverse. Tourists love to see the hill, and drive down the one way street at the recommended 5 miles per hour.

These are just a few of the many fun, interesting and unique things to do and see in San Francisco. Anyone visiting the city won’t have time to see everything from Alcatraz to Ghiradelli Square, from Muir Woods to the Presidio, but that’s just an excuse to come back for a second visit, or a third…

 

Hawaii has been in the news this week, for tragic reasons. An out of control wildfire on Maui tore through the historic and wonderful town of Lahaina, causing as-yet untold damage, and leaving a wake of death and destruction.

As we mourn the loss of life and grieve for those survivors, let’s take a look at the beautiful islands that make up Hawaii, the chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean. And after reading this, hopefully some will take a moment and donate to the Red Cross or another reputable organization.

The terrible fires started on August 8, caused by drought conditions and strong winds from an offshore hurricane. By that afternoon, raging fires tore through Lahaina, as well as other areas on Maui. That night, the city was burned, and lives changed forever.

Waiola Church, Maui

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Waiola Church in Lahaina is known as a final resting place for some of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii. At one point Lahaina was the capital of the kingdom. The church was built by European missionaries in 1823, and burned down in 1894, and quickly rebuilt. Hopefully, it can be rebuilt once again.

Haleakala Crater, Maui

The Halekala volcano makes up a large majority of the island Maui. The volcano is also a national park, and provides visitors with a desert environment completely different than the tropical beaches and rain forests many dream of when planning vacations to the archipelago. Nonetheless, visitors love to hike the caldera to view the magnificent sunrise. Scientists are drawn to the area because its unique location and climate provides superior clarity for telescopes peering into the universe.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Hawaii

Established in 1978, the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park was created to protect both the beautiful but fragile ecosystems of the Hawaiian sea, beach and mountain areas, as well as preserve and document the native Hawaiian culture. Visitors can SCUBA, snorkel, and do other water activities, as well as hike throughout the many trails.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on earth, and is constantly (in geological time), but slowly, erupting. Although it hasn’t had an eruption in more than 30 years, scientists are always observing it for potential eruptions, as there is significant volcanic activity inside the mountain. Tourists can hike or even take helicopter rides to view the volcano up close!

Waikiki Beach, Oahu

Oahu is the third largest island, but is home to the most Hawaiians and the state’s capital, Honolulu. The big city is built right on the ocean, providing an amazing blend of relaxing beach life and fun nightlife.

Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, known for beautiful vistas as well as elite surfing, and it is actually part of the city Honolulu. World surfing competitions are regularly held on the beach, which is suffering from massive and rapid erosion.

Matsumoto Shave Ice, Oahu

Anyone who has been to Hawaii has had shave ice, and everyone knows that Matsumoto’s ice is possibly the best. Located on the North Shore of Oahu, it has grown from a tiny store to a major tourist destination. The ice is great, and worth the inevitable wait that comes with becoming an international sensation.

Diamond Head, Oahu

Volcanoes are an everyday sight in Hawaii, and Diamond Head in the suburbs of Honolulu is a really cool place to visit. It is a beach, a volcano, a tourist destination and a state monument.

Diamond Head Lighthouse, Oahu

Diamond Head beach juts out at the bottom of the South Shore of the island, and a lighthouse on the beach helps direct ocean traffic and serves as a Coast Guard site, as well as serves as a cool sight to see for tourists.

Pearl Harbor, Oahu

Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu is a military base that was attacked on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States into World War II. The site of the attack has been turned into a memorial for those killed or wounded on that day. Visitors to Oahu should make a day trip to see the memorials and learn more about the attack and the aftermath.

USS Arizona, Oahu

The USS Arizona was a battleship that sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and is one of the ships turned into a living memorial of the tragic day.

Waimea Canyon National Park, Kauai

Kauai is nicknamed the “Garden Island” and it is breathtaking. Mountains jut out of the ocean, and tropical vegetation thrives. Some areas of the island get more than 450 inches of rainfall a year, more than anywhere else! The rainfall contributes to the unique landscape, which includes Waimea Canyon, which is more than 3,000 feet deep, and visitors love to hike through the park’s trails and enjoy the matchless beauties of the island.

Visitors to Hawaii should be prepared to be blown away over and over, as they view sites unlike anything else in the other 49 states. Volcanoes, beaches, sunrises and sunsets, tropical forests, mountains, valleys and more make this last state perhaps the best.

Hawaii is such a beautiful paradise, but this month, it seems like anything but. If you can, please take a minute to text “REDCROSS” to 90999, which will donate $10 to the Red Cross. Or, go to the Red Cross website and donate there, or donate to a reputable charity of your choice, if you can. Any amount makes a difference.

Los Angeles is hands down one of the best places in the world to visit, with the beautiful sunshine, celebrities, famous sites and amazing houses.

If you’re planning a vacation to southern California, or just California dreaming, here is a list of amazing sites to see in and around Los Angeles.

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood sign has been a cultural icon for decades, and is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States. The sign was erected in 1923 in Griffith Park to promote a local housing development, originally reading “Hollywoodland”. It has since been shortened to “Hollywood” to represent the entire region. Tourists can take buses or hike to the sign, or view it from many places around the city.

Disneyland

The happiest place on earth is in Anaheim, just outside Los Angeles, especially if you’re a kid or love rides, Disney characters and family fun. Disneyland opened in 1955, and has since become the most popular theme park in the world and one of the must-visit sites in LA.

The iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle can be visited by princes and princesses at Disneyland, and will look familiar to anyone who has seen a Disney movie, as it is also used as the logo for Disney films and other items.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater

The Chinese Theater has been an icon for Hollywood and the movies since it opened in 1927. After a movie star accidentally left her footprint in wet cement, it became a tradition for stars to imprint their hands or feet.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is close by, along Hollywood Boulevard, and is a fun place for tourists to visit and get close to celebrities they love and admire.

Venice Beach

For those who aren’t necessarily film buffs, Venice Beach is a vibrant, eclectic place for tourists and locals alike.  Millions of people visit the beach annually, to play handball, streetball, surf, work out at Muscle Beach, shop among the varied retail stalls, or just people watch.

Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive is a three block exclusive shopping district in the Beverly Hills district of Los Angeles. The  area has some of the most luxurious and exclusive name brands in the world, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Armani, to name a few. Even if you don’t have money to spend in the stores, the district is a fabulous destination for window shopping and observing the upper crust in their native environment.

Santa Monica Pier

After a long day of site seeing and people watching in Los Angeles, head over to the Santa Monica Pier. There is an amusement park, a Ferris wheel, an arcade, as well as a beach along the pier where you can blow off steam, relax and have a good time.

Los Angeles is the land of dreams and fantasy for locals, Hollywood hopefuls and tourists alike. There are countless activities, sites and destinations, for every individual. No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it in Los Angeles.