Ios is famously a rambunctious party island, with a spring break flair that would impress even the hardest partier. The locals, or Niotes, actually call the island Nio. They have been known to be somewhat annoyed by the shameless decadence and depravity of the very young, hard-drinking crowd the island now attracts. Regardless, the main source of the local economy is the tourism, which has become increasingly commercialized the last few years.

The island plush with olive trees, vineyards, beautiful coastlines, and a gritty, imposing landscape. The beaches are beautiful, and are quiet during the mornings because so many of the visitors stay up extremely late. It has a long cultural history that includes a period of Venetian rule, Turkish rule until the 19th century and a subsequent invasion by hippies in the 1960s. There is an apparent tomb of Homer, which is a pile of rocks that, if anything, inspires one’s imagination.

The most popular beaches are Mylopotus and Koubaras. Careful, for you prudes, these beachgoers aren’t shy and have been know to turn these areas into nude beaches. The hotels are commonly styled like hostels, where multinational groups of young people bunk together.

Some fun party establishments include the Blue Note Café, the Flame, the Slammer Bar, Aftershock, Pegasus Club, Homer’s Cave, Amadeus, Ios Blue, Disco 69, Ios Club, and Scorpion Bar.

The beaches are sandy and soft under your feet, even thought the island is mountainous, and the jagged landscape’s foreboding look is rounded off by the perfectly crystal clear water surrounding the island. Sites around the island include the picturesque harbor of Ormos, the capital of the Ios, Hora, a Hellenistic tower, and an old aqueduct at Agia Theodoti.

There is no airport on the island, but you can ferry there from Piraeus. It is only 42 square miles in size, but boasts over 150 bars. That is why tourists at times may have to show reservations before ferrying to the island, which can get “booked up.” So, if you are looking for a quiet, cultural experience, Ios may not be the place for you. But if you are looking for a big party squeezed into a very small space, maybe you can fit yourself in for a fun time.

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Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America on the Caribbean Sea. The country is known for its beautiful coral reefs, outdoor activities and Mayan ruins.

The country is very hot and humid, so one of the best times of year to visit Belize is in November. It actually cools down to 70 degrees and caps off at about 90 degrees. This is cool for Belize because many times during the year the temperature hovers around 100 degrees. Also the wind and rain are very moderate at that time of year.

Every year around 230,000 visitors come to this small, laid back country, which is 60 percent covered by forest. The people of the country are very diverse, with half the population being of European Descent, around a quarter is of African/Creole descent, 10 percent are Mayan, and six percent is Afro-Amerindian. The remaining population is of European, Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and North American descent.

Tourist attractions include the Belize Zoo; beautiful coastlines; the capital, Belmopan; the national parks; and the bustling community of Corozal. At the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors can see an amazing assortment of birds such as the snail kites, tiger herons, snowy egrets, ospreys, black collared hawks, and jabiru storks. This heavily forested country provides a perfect environment for this amazing wildlife.

For those of you more adventurous tourists that want to do less-touristy activities, Belize offers numerous outdoor activities including scuba diving, hiking, windsurfing, and fishing. The country has amazing cave formations, for those who can handle spelunking. Also, there are around 600 Mayan ruins that can be seen throughout the country. Click here to learn more about the Mayan culture and history.

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Goa is enchanted with decadence as well as religion, with the cornerstone destinations of this beautiful Indian tourist hotspot being both its beach-front parties and numerous temples.

The people of this region of India are famously laid back, adding to the luster of the location and making it even more appealing to the growing group of vacationers that want to indulge themselves by getting away from their respective rat races.

The people of the area enjoy afternoon naps, with all shops and businesses closing down. While in Goa, tourists can enjoy excellent fresh seafood in the area that includes fish, prawns, mussels, oysters and crabs, which are all staples of the local cuisine.

The natural beauty of the area is the attraction for tourists, with numerous rivers, a stunningly beautiful coastline and charming local populous. One can spend the day watching fishermen spread their nets along the rivers, visiting old Catholic churches remnant of the Portuguese colonizers who controlled the region until 1961, and traveling throughout the romantic villages on a motorcycle taxi.

Some interesting info: Goa Trance is a worldwide musical phenomenon that originated in Goa sometime in the early nineties. This form of trance is much faster and features heavy bass lines and ambient sounds that are appealing to the famously intoxicated beach partiers of goa. This element of goa is for not for all, only those that are interested in electronic music and are comfortable being around a pretty extreme party environment.

For those who prefer a quieter vacation, there are numerous famous, picturesque Hindu temples such as the Brahma Temple in Brahma Carambolim, Shri Bhagavati Temple in Pernem, Shri Datta Mandir and Shri Damodar Temple on the banks of the Kushavati, Shri Chandreshware Temple on the Chandranath Hill, the Devaki-Krishna Temple at Marchel and the Shri Gomanteshwar Temple in brahmapuri. There are also numerous churches there, reflective of the beautiful blend of European and Eastern cultures: Reis Magos Church, the chuch of Mae de Dens, the Church of St. Alex.

There is an international airport in this Indian state, a fairly convenient transportation infrastructure that tourists can use to get around the major towns of Vasco, Margao, Mapusa, Ponda and the capital Panaji.

Goa is a culturally intoxicating experience that can sooth the senses as well as blow them away with its natural beauty, laid back culture and party atmosphere.

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This fiery city is nestled in between the volcanoes Vesuvius and Campi Flegri. It has a reputation for being a bit crowded and loud, has been known to be a bourgeoning-place for organized crime, and is also famous for its “Pizza War” with Rome. Both cities claim to be the birthplace of pizza.

Pizza in Naples is different than what we have in the United States, as traditional pizza here is made in a wood burning oven. The city is also famous for other local entrees, melanzane alla parmigiana, baba, and Sfogliatella.

Its busy streets are built over an ancient subterranean catacomb of Greco-Roman reservoirs that tourists can explore on guided tours. Aside from the local cuisine, attractions include the ancient ruins of Pompei, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, numerous shopping options and the posh getaway island of Capri.

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A cool breeze off the pacific keeps San Diego at a near perfect temperature all year round, between 55 and 70 degrees. Between this weather, the beautiful beaches, numerous universities, museums, and other cultural attractions, you have a beautifully bonifide state-side tourist destination.

For the younger crowd, Pacific Beach is a great place to party with college-age kids at bars like Lahaina Beach House, The Open Bar, Beachcomber, The Tavern, Rocky’s, Cass Street Bar and Grill, Thrusters, Hennessey’s, Gringo’s, Pacific Beach Bar & Grill, Moondoggies, and Blind Melons. To shake off the previous night you can hit the beach for a swim or surfing session.

The city is relatively conservative, known for its large naval base. It’s the sixth largest city in the U.S., but has a hometown feel. In California it is only second in size to L.A., is much less congested, and less polluted. Despite these benefits, San Diego lacks the entertaining and culturally diverse flash of Los Angeles. Regardless, tourists can enjoy the exciting cultural exchange that occurs at the nearby Mexican border.

The beautiful climate and scenic façade of the city are magnified by the entertaining sites throughout the city. The San Diego Zoo is world famous, and rightfully so because it houses almost 4,000 animals including its very popular Giant Pandas, Shi Shi, Hua Mei, Bai Yun, Mei Sheng, and Gao Gao. This is a great outing for all ages.

The gas-lamp district is the beautiful cultural center of the city with Victorian style office buildings and is named for the old fashioned gas lamps lining its streets. Numerous eateries, music venues and clubs make the area a must see for visitors.

A little history: The gas lamp district actually has a seedy past! According to entersandiego.com the original “tourists” were sailors, gamblers and prostitutes who enjoyed doing business in the area, which was actually the red light district of the city!
Don’t worry, after a government crackdown in 1912, the red lights were put out for good.

Other areas of interest are Balboa Park, a beautiful area full of historical sightseeing opportunities that are great for families, and the city’s two Tony-award winning theaters, The Old Globe, and the La Jolla Playhouse. Other great cultural areas are the San Diego Opera and the San Diego Symphony.

San Diego is a great getaway for Californians, who can easily get to the city via the San Diego Freeway. It’s a great location for those who are inland and want to see one of America’s most beautiful coastal gems. During holidays the commute can be a little tedious for those driving, but it’s worth it, considering all of the cultural, entertainment and outdoor attractions of the city. And if for some reason you come here, and San Diego isn’t holding your attention, don’t forget that notoriously exciting Tijuana is just south of the border!

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Tennessee is a beautiful state, with a southern flair that may be a little intimidating for first timers. The spirit of the place can be a little brazen, but the people are extremely friendly and approachable.

A little backround:
The previous mayor of the city from 1991-1999, Phil Bredesen, is currently now the popular Democratic governor of this largely conservative state. His dynamic leadership helped Nashville grow to the cutting edge, growth-oriented city it is today. That is one of the many factors that gives Nashville its modern vibe and progressiveness.

Moving on… Nashville is a cool, clean, mid-sized conservative southern city (population over 540,000), with a surprisingly cosmopolitan nightlife and formidable music scene. And don’t think it’s all country. Despite being considered by many to be the “country music capital,” there are many musicians from all genres that enjoy recording in Nashville’s abundant studios.

The Nashville “country crossover sound,” which is accessible to many because of its pop sensibility, was developed in the city’s famous Music Row. During the 1950’s, LA and New York-based record labels opened up offices and studios in this area. This brisk hotbed of southern music-biz activity ultimately resulted in the hosting of Elvis’s first RCA recordings. Nashville isn’t dubbed “music city” for nothing, and the area’s current recording artists enjoy the benefits of being in a city that has a extremely rich and diverse musical heritage.

The town is full of “sporty” dive bars, gritty little bars, with clientele that can put down more than a few brews and enjoy watching sporting events on the TVs. The crowds are more diverse than you would imagine, but are more reserved than the crowds in other metros like New York or Miami. They are more interested sitting with those they know, rather than “networking” or being seen.

Some great places to go in Nashville are:

The Country Music Hall of Fame is a beautiful, multi-million dollar testament to country twang. If you go to Nashville, you have to see it; after all, you are in “music city,” the self-proclaimed home of country music!

The Riverfront Park area is really cool because it’s a fun place to go out, and there are ages of people around, with their families watching music…That’s a beautiful thing!

The Parthenon is modeled exactly after one of the most prolific architectural works in Athens and doubles as an art museum.

The Hermitage is the home of Andrew Jackson, renovated in 1836 to its current façade, and is a great cultural/historical place to check out.

Exit/in is a great mid-size club to see a show, with a great high stage that hosts local and regional talent. The drinks are pretty cheap here and flow freely.

The Flying Saucer has a cool young professional vibe, the kind of young professionals that haven’t steered too far from college fun and know how to cut loose!

Titans Stadium is a beautiful stadium to watch pro, or college football and is the host of the Music City bowl. The fans around Tennessee are very knowledgeable about the game, which sets a great atmosphere.

So, I hope at some point you’ll get to check out Nashville. I think it could be a fun exposure to a blend of southern culture that is a mix between metropolitan and country sensibilities.

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This blog is designed to give you information about nice places around the world where you may prefer to be, rather than where you are… Whether you are sitting at your desk right now at your boring temp job; or feeling stuck in a small town where there are only three traffic lights, or at home during a boring family function, there could always be a place that you could go to just to get away! Here you’ll find some information about these nice places. And remember, this is an open forum so feel free to vent about how you want to get away, or give us tips on nice places that you have been to.

So in the coming articles I will describe places that I feel you may prefer to be at some point or another. All of these destinations have their own unique charm, and will provide a change for you from the norm. The restaurants, the climate, the landscape and the local populous are what give these destinations their specific feel, and may paint of picture of somewhere you would like to be. Even though this is my informational resource for you, I’d love to hear about places that you have been to.

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