NASHVILLE

 Music and musicians are everywhere in Tennessee's Heartland, and nowhere more plentiful than in Nashville, "Music City USA". In the heart of Nashville's recording district, "Music Row", you can tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The exciting Opryland USA complex on the edge of the city, is home to Opryland music-filled theme park. If you visit Nashville and miss the Opry, you may as well have stayed home.

 Tennessee State Capitol. Charlotte Ave., Tennessee's first permanent structure to serve as capitol continues today in that function. Architect William Strickland is burried within its walls. On the grounds is the tomb of James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States. The building, is one of 12 state capitols that does not have a dome.

 

Travel Tennessee

CARDIFF

 Cardiff – in Welsh ‘Caerdydd’ – is located on the Southern coast of Wales, at the mouth of the River Taff, about 150 miles west of London. Outsiders most readily associate the capital of Wales with Cardiff Arms Park, where stirring international rugby matches are played. Another famous association is the highly acclaimed Welsh National Opera. Cardiff was fairly insignificant until the 1830s, when the second Marquis of Bute began building docks to transport coal from the nearby valleys. 

Roath Park, Cardiff: The clock tower and promenade

    Nowadays the docks at Cardiff Bay are undergoing massive regeneration. The Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum provides a full-scale introduction into the coal- and iron-ore industries through an exhibition on power and displays of old locomotives and boats, and Techniquest is an excellent and interesting hands-on science center.

PERTH

 Western Australia’s pretty capital is the most isolated city in the world. The city of Perth lies on the Swan River, just 20 km from where it flows into the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain on which it stands is bordered to the north and west by the Darling Range, beyond which lie the region’s wheat fields. To the south is a diverse landscape: forests with some of the tallest trees on earth, mountains that dramatically change colour during the course of each day and a spectacular coastline. The history of Perth has been one of building and rebuilding. Perth is a relatively small and quiet city compared with those on the east coast. Its main commercial and shopping areas can be easily explored on foot. The city’s atmosphere is brisk but not hurried. The city centre is bordered to the south and east by a wide stretch of the Swan River known as Perth Water, and to the north lies Northbridge, Perth’s restaurant and entertainment centre.

PERTH SKYLINE FROM KING'S PARK W. A.

In this view, the rapid development and progress of this flourishing city is symbolised by dramatic modern skyscrapers which dominate the city line.

Established at the end of the 19th century, King's Park is 400 ha of both wild and cultivated parkland. Situated on Mount Eliza, it offers views of the city and the Swan River. Most of the park is bush land, which can be seen from the DNA Tower. A landscaped parkland area on the eastern side includes the 17 ha Western Australian Botanic Garden. Treetops Walkway, a 629-m-long elevated walkway, gives another perspective of the garden. The State War Memorial on Anzac Bluff is dedicated to the Western Australians who died in the two world wars. 

Visit Perth

AUSTIN

 In 1839 five mounted scouts ranged over a broad area of wilderness seeking a site for a new capital city for the Republic of Texas. Location on north bank of Colorado River was chosen, where rich blacklands meet scenic hills. Name honors Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas". The city bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Austin has it all - blues, country/Western, reggae, jazz, conjunto, Tejano, swing and rock. Performed in various clubs around city and  at night spots along Sixth Street. Austin is home to  many computer chip makers and other computer industries. The city is home to nation's largest urban bat colony found under the Congress Ave. bridge during the summer.

CONGRESS AVENUE and the STATE CAPITOL

State Capitol Building, a massive, classic statehouse of famous Texas pink granite, dominates the 46 acre, park-like area. It was completed in 1888. The handsome building underwent major renovation during 1993-1994 when it was restored to original splendor. Striking state office buildings surround the Capitol. 

 

 

Visit Austin: Live Music Capital of the World 

Travel Texas

DARWIN

Darwin is the Northern Territory’s capital city with an immigrant population of more than 50 nationalities, including Asian-born Australians, Aboriginals, Europeans, particularly Greeks, and Chinese. Darwin itself is a city that has fought hard to survive. In its short history, it has experienced the gold rush of the 1890s, life as an Allied frontline during World War II and almost total destruction in 1974. Despite having been twice rebuilt, it has grown into a multicultural modern city, with a relaxed atmosphere, great beauty and a distinctly Asian feel. It is small and colourful. The climate is hot, but the dry season has low humidity, making it the best time to visit.

Attractive Smith Street, one of the city's main business area

The heart of Darwin’s shopping area is Smith Street Mall, with its glass air-conditioned plazas shaded by tall tropical trees. Always full of buskers, tour operators offering trips, locals and visitors, the mall is a favourite meeting place. Noteworthy buildings include the 1890 Victoria Hotel, one of the few old structures in town to survive Cyclone Tracy. During the dry season, many outdoor events are held at Raintree Park, at the northern end of the mall.

 

City of Darwin

 

CHARLOTTETOWN

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island's capital city, is a charming blend of lovingly preserved 19th century buildings and the latest in shopping malls, nightclubs, cinemas and live theatre. The city was named for Charlotte, consort of King George III. Set on a sheltered harbour in the centre of the Island, the city is a perfect base for touring the rest of the province.

Grafton Street looking East, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

With a population of less than 20,000 Charlottetown is compact, safe and just right for sightseeing. A stroll around the provincial capital will delight the eye as you see Canada's history in the many old homes that have been preserved; and in Province House, a National Historic Site, several rooms have been outfitted in the style of 1864. It’s time to discover Charlottetown - you could be here!

Charlottetown Visitor Information

FREDERICTON

New Friends. New Values. New Adventures 

Nestled in a tree-lined valley on the banks of the Saint John River, New Brunswick's capital city traces its beginning back over 300 years. Fredericton owes its stature as a city to the presence of Christ Church Cathedral, one of Canada's most beautiful Gothic styled buildings which was completed and consecrated in 1853. Downtown bustles with summer concerts, theatre, walking tours and a colorful farmers' market. The city takes pride in having the title "Poets' Corner of Canada". It is also called the "City of Stately Elms" for the majestic elm trees that gracefully line Fredericton's streets. A walker's paradise, it is filled with historic sites and attractions that beckon visitors to recapture the past. The Fredericton area is a mecca for recreation, fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, and skiing.

 The St. John River with views of Christ Church Cathedral and the UNB-STU campuses reflected in the calm waters.

 

Visitor Information: Fredericton Tourism 

COLUMBIA

Nestled in the heart of South Carolina and located at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers, Columbia is the ideal mix of small-town charm, big-city sophistication and thrilling outdoor adventures. Columbia is in the centre of everything. It's the seat of state government; a hub of the arts, education and history; the home of fascinating museums, archives and libraries; the gateway to a wealth of recreation lands and waters, and from its birth a center of hospitality. Outdoor pleasure abound on nearby Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre impoundment of the Saluda River with 525 miles of shoreline and legendary populations of stripers, bass, bream and crappie. If ever a land offered "something for everyone," here it is - right in the middle of the action.

Smiling faces, beautiful places

 

For additional information: Experience Columbia SC

HALIFAX

Halifax is Nova Scotia's capital city and the business, educational and cultural centre of maritime Canada. Located on a rounded peninsula bordered on the east by ten-mile-long Halifax harbour (second largest in the world), and a slender arm of the sea, the city of 120,000 offers a perfect blend of old and new - 19-th century buildings mix with concrete and glass office towers; town criers introduce jazz festivals; there's both a formal Victorian garden and an astro-turfed football field. The heart and soul of the city is its magnificent spoon-shaped harbour. Halifax today is the location of Canada's east coast navy, a busy shipping port, a cruise ship port of call and popular vacation destination for tourists, honeymooners and conventioneers.

DISCOVER HALIFAX
NOVA SCOTIA TOURISM

PIETERMARITZBURG

Natal's capital city, Pietermaritzburg is a thriving modern city of charm and dignity, at her loveliest in spring when masses of azaleas burst into bloom. The slogan of 'Heritage City' for the capital of Natal is most appreciate. The heart of the city retains a distinct character and charm, due largely to its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian red-brick buildings, dignified schools and civic buildings and 31 national monuments. It has a small but busy airport, and residential townships have swept over the surroundings hills. Today, the city enjoys modern lifestyle, boasting top quality shops, hotels and restaurants. 

City Hall. The ornate red brick building which has aptly been called a tribute to Victorian design, features a 47-m high clock tower, a 12-bell carillon, domed rooftops, stone carvings and beautiful stained glass windows. Declared a national monument in 1969. Recognised as the largest all-brick buildings in the southern hemisphere, the hall was built in 1900.

Old Supreme Court. A fine example of colonial architecture which formed the centre of the capital's defensive system during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. A major attraction today is the Tatham Art Gallery which houses a collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century paintings as well as exhibits of china, glassware and clocks. It housed the SA Supreme Court until 1983.

BLOEMFONTEIN

THE CITY OF ROSES

This judicial capital of RSA and capital of the Orange Free State, sixth largest city in South Africa, lies on the main road, rail and air links between north, south, east and west. Bloemfontein is indeed a city of many moods - the glamorous and glitzy ambience of high tech shopping centres, restaurants and theatres as well as Victorian serenity that dates back to those elegant years when the city's ladies accompanied the Prince of Wales on a stroll through the rose garden. Renowned for its excellence of educational facilities, Bloemfontein boasts academic and sporting achievements ranking among the best in the country. The city is noted for its beautiful parks and gardens. The panorama which can be seen from Naval Hill is that of a typically prosperous modern city.

 

View of Bloemfontein showing Naval Hill

BOISE

Idaho’s capital city is situated in the high desert of southwestern Idaho, right on the Boise River. Boise used to be one of the West's best kept secrets - a mix of beautiful scenery, easily accessible outdoor recreation, abundant culture, and friendly residents. History comes alive in Boise. Here you’ll find it in the streets, in the hills and in the State Capitol — all of which define what makes Boise unique. Get up-close, embrace it, learn, and most importantly, enjoy it! Boise’s vibrant downtown offers arts, culture, entertainment, outdoor recreation, bars and restaurants.

Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau

YELLOWKNIFE

 Canada's capital of cool

Welcome to Yellowknife, the city that gold built, capital of the Northwest Territories. No other Canadian city is a capital to such a vast and magnificent region. Yellowknife is a mining town that blossomed into a modern city in the wilderness. Located on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, the community is sitting right on top of a gold-bearing ore body. It's a city of contrast. You can dine in a restaurant or sit at a roughly hewn log table. For many residents, the highlight of the year is Caribou Carnival. Whichever way you look at it - Yellowknife is no ordinary city, no ordinary capital. And that suits the 15,000 people who call it home just fine.

Where Yesterday Rubs Shoulders With Tomorrow

 

 

For more information on the City of Yellowknife go to: 

ExtraordinaryYellowknife

 

CHARLESTON

Charleston is a city with a style. A style all its own ... upbeat, cosmopolitan, contemporary, yet friendly and full of down-home hospitality. West Virginia's largest city is a vibrant and progressive state capital that is also a hub of regional coal and chemical commerce. The city's riverfront skyline is distinguished by gleaming towers of commerce forming a backdrop for its collection of classic Art Nouveau and Deco buildings. First-class hotels, fine restaurants, a large civic center and the two downtown shopping areas are all within easy walking distance.

In Charleston you can dine and dance on a riverboat, get caught up in the excitement of greyhound dog racing, walk along the tree-lined riverbank or while away the hours in museums and art galleries. Charleston is a great place to visit and a great place to live. 

 

 

Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau

ATLANTA

Both dynamic and down-home, Georgia's Atlanta Metro region epitomizes progressive Southern hospitality. Also known as the jewel of the South and birthplace of the civil rights movement. Here you'll find an eclectic mix of of world-class restaurants, museums and professional sports teams, along with charming historic neighborhood and an abundance of leafy trees. It's a can't miss destination for lovers of city life and simply living alike. 

At Atlanta Metro's lovely gardens, farms and cemeteries, discover spots that are rooted in the earth and showcase local culture, both past and present. Move over, Hollywood: Atlanta is now one of the hottest filming locations in the country.

Explore Georgia

ST. JOHN'S

St. John's, the capital city, takes its name from St. John's Day, June 24. For over 500 years, the City of Legends has been visited by explorers, adventures, soldiers and pirates. The nightlife in St. John's is legendary, and rightly so. Once a rough port populated by tars from around the world, the downtown core now features restaurants with everything on the menus, music of all kinds, art galleries, theatre. From Signal Hill you can see the busy harbour and much of the city. The people stemming largely from southwest England and southeast Ireland, they speak with unique accent. A dialect that not's quite Devon, not quite Cork, but definitely familiar. It is a thoroughly modern city, despite its relaxed pace and unique view of itself and the world.

 

 

 

For further information:

Destination St. John's

 

WHITEHORSE

Whitehorse became the Yukon's capital in 1953 after the territorial seat of government was moved from Dawson City. With a population of more than 20,000, Whitehorse is a contemporary city, characterised by a mix of pioneer spirit and urban sophistication. Log cabins share the street with modern office buildings. Whitehorse is a great stop for shopping, entertainment and sightseeing. For a taste of the past, tour the restored sternwheeler S.S Klondike.

The real reason for coming to Whitehorse. You'll never be the same. Maybe you won't want to leave. Maybe you'll just keep coming back year after year, discovering the magic and the mystery of this city. There's voyage of discovery waiting for you - be sure to pack your dreams!

 

 

City of Whitehorse

 

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL

MINNEAPOLIS, ST.PAUL and their neighboring communities make up an exciting metropolitan area that's teeming with things to see and do. The Twin Cities region is cosmopolitan at its heart, surrounded by busy suburbs and peaceful countryside along its perimeter. The urban landscape is punctuated by greenways and lakes and the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers offer recreational opportunities galore. The southwest corner of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is well known for its many scenic lakes and attractions.

 

Visit Saint Paul

Meet Minneapolis

PRETORIA

Basking amidst fertile valleys and ridges, Pretoria, named after the enterprising Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, is the administrative capital of the Republic. The original farming centre has gradually evolved into a serene  and spacious city. A green city of parks and gardens, Pretoria hosts an astonishing display of both exotic and indigenous flora, flowering trees and shrubs. It has substance, charm and atmosphere; the city has a dignity and character all of its own.

Scenes of Melrose House, gardens of the Union Buildings, Jacarandas by the City Hall, and Kruger Statue in South Africa's capital

Melrose House The site of the signing of the Peace Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902, ending the Anglo-Boer War. A beautiful example of Victorian architecture, built in 1886 by George Heys. An impressive collection of period furniture is displayed.
Union Buildings The magnificent sandstone buildings designed by  Sir Herbert Baker house the administrative seat of government and the national archives. Beautifully landscaped gardens and terraces in front of the buildings feature various memorials and statues. The indigenous bush area behind the Union Buildings, offers pleasant walks and prolific bird life.
City Hall A tympanum, in front of the building, symbolises the growth of the city. A colonnade of fountains and murals may also be seen. The huge clock tower houses a carillon of 32 bells.

SPRINGFIELD

Abraham Lincoln's HOMETOWN

Springfield, the iconic heart of America, the capital of Illinois, and the hometown of Abraham Lincoln, is filled with treasures, authentic experiences and nostalgia for days gone by. It's also a nostalgic cruise in a classic car along historic Route 66, with roadside diners and drive-in movies. Springfield of today - filled of charming historic neighborhoods, lots to see and do, and friendly, welcoming people - the perfect hometown experience.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Step back in time as you enter the only home the Lincolns ever owned. Set in a neighborhood restored to its 1860s appearance.

The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of  Illinois' fifth statehouse. The building served as the seat of state government from 1839-1876.

Lincoln Tomb - within the walls of this stunning granite monument is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln. Designed by famed sculptor, Larkin Mead, this beautiful landmark is nestled in Oak Ridge Cemetery. 

 

 

Visitor Information:

Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau