1. New York City – Hotels in NYC

Whether it’s your first visit or your 50th, New York City is a great destination for a weekend trip. See the landmark sights, catch a Broadway show or explore small, off-the-beaten-path museums like the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

Just as it has activities to suit every interest, New York City has hotel options to suit every pocketbook. Whether you’re looking for a hip new hotel, an old standard or a budget inn, you’ll have plenty of options.

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2. San Francisco – Hotels San Francisco

A few years ago San Francisco was riding high on the wealth of the dot com explosion. And it showed in outrageously high priced hotels, restaurants and real estate. When the bubble burst, the city was forced to adjust. In fact, now is a great time to visit the somewhat humbler, but just as fabulous, cultural mecca of the Left Coast. Hotels and restaurants have lowered their prices, making it easier to enjoy a weekend here. One of the best things about San Francisco is that you can be in a museum in the morning and on a mountain in the afternoon. Mind-expanding cultural attractions exist alongside invigorating outdoor activities.

Gaze at the work of Jackson Pollock at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in the morning and then head to Muir Woods to peer up at gigantic redwoods in the afternoon. From the hippie haunts of Haight-Ashbury to the colorful Victorian architecture of the predominantly gay Castro District, and from Japantown to Chinatown, San Francisco is all about neighborhoods. Each has a distinct look and vibe. You could easily spend a day in each or hop on a streetcar to sample a few.

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3. Orlando – Hotels in Orlando

America’s family fun capital, Orlando is home to Walt Disney World, Sea World and other famous mega-theme parks, including Discovery Cove and Universal Studios. There’s more going on in the city than just Mickey and Goofy and the gang though.

Once you’ve had your fill of the theme parks, adults will also be able to choose from several outstanding golf courses in the area, a family-friendly science center, plenty of entertainment options and a fine art museum.

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4. Chicago – Hotels in Chicago

With attractions and activities galore, Chicago is everyone’s kind of town. See all the famous sights, then catch a show in the theater district or a Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field, followed by a late night visit to a blues club or jazz bar. Culture hounds will delight in the multitude of museums, including the prestigious Art Institute and the Chicago Historical Society.

Families will find plenty to do at Navy Pier and to explore at the Field Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo. You could spend all day strolling through Hyde Park or shopping along the Magnificent Mile. Discover vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, architectural landmarks, delicious restaurants and world-class hotels. From the top of the Sears Tower to the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago offers so much to do, visitors keep coming back for more.

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5. San Diego – Hotels in San Diego

Elegant and sunny San Diego is truly a city with something for everyone. In town, a whole day or more could be spent in Balboa Park playing golf, touring the world-famous San Diego Zoo or visiting a museum. Just outside of town, Torrey Pines State Reserve offers a somewhat wilder terrain where visitors can view rare birds and the stately trees the park is named for. Children, and in turn parents, will be delighted with the city’s wide range of family-oriented activities.

From SeaWorld to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, there are events and exhibits to keep even the most hard-to-please happy. San Diego boasts an array of fine and trendy restaurants covering a melting pot of cuisines, world-class shopping and hotels from lavish to budget.

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6. Las Vegas – Hotels in Las Vegas

Casinos, naturally, continue to draw tourists to Las Vegas. From penny slots to high stakes table games in private salons, you’ll find it here. But there’s much more to Las Vegas than gambling. Our weekend itinerary highlights attractions of a different sort, from the choreographed fountains at the Bellagio to the Liberace Museum.

Las Vegas is also surprisingly family-friendly. In an attempt to appeal to kids, the hotels have spent millions developing technically sophisticated indoor amusement rides like the Race for Atlantis.

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7. Los Angeles – Hotels in Los Angeles

Modern myth has it that these days everyone in Los Angeles has written a screenplay, is writing a screenplay or is just visiting. For those in the latter category we offer a road map of ideas to help make a getaway to this ultra-hip, ultra-happening haven easy, fun and exciting. While L.A. will always be associated with movies and movie stars, it is also a culturally vibrant city that boasts a range of interesting attractions from prestigious art museums and galleries to fabulous theater, both well-known productions and smaller fringe shows.

Art enthusiasts will be wowed by the extensive collections at the J. Paul Getty Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Visit the La Brea Tar Pits on Museum Row and then check out the trendy shops on Melrose Avenue. Families will not want to miss the Zoo or the action at Universal Studios Hollywood. Of course, no trip to L.A. would be complete without a stop at the Venice Beach Boardwalk or a visit to Mann’s Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame.

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8. Houston – Hotels in Houston

This sprawling city hums with the energy and independent spirit that turned it from swampland into the fourth-largest city in the U.S. Everything is big, from the towering skyscrapers, to the huge sports Astrodome that links with two Six Flags theme parks to create one gargantuan entertainment complex, to the city’s prominence in aerospace, oil, shipping and finance.

Even the architecture makes big, bold statements, like the medical center towers that resemble two giant syringes. A thriving business center, the city has become increasingly cosmopolitan, with an influx of diverse ethnic groups and a strong emphasis on the arts. Opera, ballet, symphony and theater are all top-notch, and museums abound. The midday heat is easily escaped inside the numerous attractions and shopping areas, particularly in the pedestrian-friendly 6.5-mile underground city.

Since you’re in the place that broadcast man’s first step on the moon, you may want to pay a visit to Space Center Houston, where you’ll be whisked into outer space through simulations and films. Once back on earth, you can hop on the tram to the complex’s NASA/Johnson Space Center to watch astronauts and engineers at work and in training.

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9. Atlanta – Hotels in Atlanta

Atlanta has been dubbed everything from the “capital of the new South” and “the next international city” to “the best place to do business.” It’s also a great place to visit. Fueled by the prosperity of local mega companies like Coca Cola and Holiday Inn, the prestige of hosting the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and the energy of young upwardly mobile types who have migrated to the city in droves – Atlanta is on fire. And this time it’s a good thing. From world-class restaurants and a myriad of cultural attractions to a hip nightlife and sporting events galore, the city is cosmopolitan in every sense of the word.

Atlanta has also managed to maintain its historic character. Stop by the Atlanta History Center or visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, a moving tribute to an American icon. Browse through the former home of famous author Margaret Mitchell or pop into the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum for details on the life and times of the former president and his family. Whether you choose modern urban endeavors or old southern pleasures, Atlanta will not disappoint.

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