The Best Places For Vacation in the world

Hawaii, U.S.A.
Not only the newest of the United States and the only state that does not lie on the mainland of North America, Hawaii is also the southernmost state in the Union.
Hawaii is world famous for its beauty and pleasant climate. It has deep-blue seas, brilliantly colored flowers, graceful palm trees, and magnificent waterfalls. These attractions provide some of the most thrilling scenery in the United States. Cool Pacific trade winds keep Hawaii's weather pleasantly mild all year round.
Hawaii has many colorful ways of life. Some of these customs come from Pacific Islanders called Polynesians, who were the original settlers of Hawaii. Many of the people of Hawaii are of Polynesian descent. The people's great friendliness toward tourists gives Hawaii its nickname of the Aloha State - Aloha means love in the Hawaiian Language.

When vacationers arrive in Hawaii, they often receive leis (wreaths of flowers strung together). The visitors enjoy feasts, folk dancing, parades, and many special events. The hula has become a symbol of Hawaii. Hula dancers sway their hips and move their arms and hands to the music of Hawaiian guitars and other instruments.
Hawaii is made up of seven main islands, stretching from the majestic Big Island of Hawaii to the garden isle of Kauai. Waterfalls abound on each of the islands, as well as other beautiful sites.
The entire chain of islands was formed by a single hot spot in the earth's crust, which is currently busy building a new island off the coast of the Big Island.

France
The capital and largest city of France, Paris is one of the world's great cities. For hundreds of years, Paris has been a world capital of art and learning. Many great artists have produced their finest masterpieces here. Every year, millions of tourists visit such famous Paris landmarks as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre - one of the largest museums in the world.
There is much more to France than just Paris, however. The snow-capped Alps form the border between France and Italy. Sunny beaches and steep cliffs stretch along the French coast on the Mediterranean Sea. Fishing villages dot the Atlantic northwestern coast. The peaceful, wooded Loire Valley has many historic chateaux (castles). Colorful apple orchards, dairy farms, and vineyards lie throughout much of the countryside.

Many regions of France are blanketed with fields of golden wheat.
The French are famous for their enjoyment of life, and this is passed on to the many visitors each year. Good food and great wines are an important part of everyday life for all.
The wines of France are considered the best in the world, and almost every restaurant and area has at least one special recipe of its own. The delicious breads, appetizers, sauces, soups and desserts of France are copied by cooks in most parts of the world.

Italy
Known for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, Italy's cities have spectacular churches and large central plazas. Their museums contain some of the world's best-known art. The countryside has warm, sandy beaches; high, glacier-topped mountain peaks; and rolling hills covered with green fields and vineyards.
The country also includes two large islands, Sicily and Sardinia. Two independent countries actually lie within Italy's borders: the tiny Republic of San Marino, in north-central Italy, and Vatican City, which is located completely within the city of Rome.
Italy's landscape is dominated by two mountain ranges - the Alps and the Apennines. The Alps tower across the northernmost part of Italy, while the Apennines form a backbone that runs nearly the length of the peninsula.

The country boasts several world-famous cities. Rome, the capital and largest city of Italy, was the center of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. Florence was the home of many artists of the Renaissance, a period of great achievements in the arts. Venice, with its intricate canal system, attracts tourists from all over the world.
Italians are strongly attached to their towns, neighborhoods, and families. Many who leave their home in search of greater opportunities hope to return eventually to their old communities.

Brazil
The largest country in South America in both area and population, it occupies almost half of the continent and has more peoples than all the other South American nations combined. Brazil ranks fifth in both area and population among countries in the world.
Brazil has a varied landscape. The world's largest tropical rain forest sprawls across much of the north. The mighty Amazon and other enormous rivers wind though this vast green area of towering trees and steamy jungles. Cloud-capped mountains rise north of the forests and border the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast. Dry plains extend across parts of northeastern Brazil. The low plateaus of central and southern Brazil have fertile farmlands and lush grazing areas. Broad white beaches line glistening seashores on the nation's long Atlantic coast.

With over 6,000 miles of coastline, it's not surprising that thousands flock to Brazil's broad, white beaches every weekend.
Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium is the largest in the world and is home to internationally-televised soccer tournaments.
A number of colorful festivals also brighten life in Brazil. The best known is Carnival, celebrated each year around early April. Thousands of richly costumed Brazilians ride magnificent floats that compete for prizes in dazzling parades. Energetic dancers, their bodies swaying to the rhythms of the samba, crowd the streets. Joyful singers and lively musicians add to the fun.

Kenya
Located directly on the equator, Kenya offers some of the nicest scenery of many countries in Africa.
Kenya's coastal area is a hot and humid tropical region. Bordering the Indian Ocean, the coastline enjoys warm weather year around. Beautiful sandy beaches, lagoons and swamps, as well as large patches of rain forest line the coast.
Inland, vast plains stretch over about three-fourths of Kenya. The plains form a series of plateaus, gently stair stepping from near sea level at the coast to about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) inland. While the plains are the driest of Kenya's climates, a good portion of wildlife can be found in this region.

The highlands in the southwest are a region of mountains, valleys, and plateaus, blanketed by forests and grasslands. The area receives enough rainfall and has enough fertile soil to support the majority of Kenya's inhabitants.
A spectacular variety of wild animals live in Kenya. This wildlife--which includes elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinoceroses, and zebras--attracts thousands of tourists to Kenya each year.

Australia
The only country that is also a continent. In area, Australia ranks as the sixth largest country and the smallest continent. Australia is often referred to as the "land down under" because it lies entirely within the Southern Hemisphere.
Famous for its vast open spaces, bright sunshine and unusual wildlife, the "land down under" features an endless variety of natural wonders.
Australia's huge interior, known as the "outback," is mostly dry grassland areas with few settlements. As a whole Australia averages only six persons per square mile, but adventure fills every inch.
This land is known for its vast open spaces, bright sunshine, enormous numbers of sheep and cattle, and unusual wildlife. Kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, and wombats are only a few of the many unusual animals that can be found in Australia.

Originally a British colony, Australians have retained a good number of British pastimes - Tea is still the favorite drink, cricket is still one of the favorite sports, and the English spoken still uses many British terms. However, Australians have developed a way of life all their own. The warm, sunny climate contributes to the inhabitants spending much of their free time out of doors. Australians love outdoor sports and outdoor living in general.
The most famous sporting event is likely the annual Melbourne Cup, a horse race eagerly followed by Australians and attended by fans from throughout the world.

Switzerland
This country is known for its beautiful, snow-capped mountains and freedom-loving people. The Alps and the Jura Mountains cover more than half of the country, but most of the inhabitants live on the plateau that extends across the middle of the country between the two mountain ranges.
The Swiss have a long tradition of freedom. About 700 years ago, people in what is now central Switzerland agreed to help each other stay free from foreign rule. Gradually, people in nearby areas joined them in what came to be known as the Swiss Confederation.
The Swiss show great pride in their long independence. In the early 1500's, Switzerland established a policy of not taking sides in the many wars that raged in Europe. During the two World Wars of the 20th century, Switzerland remained an island of peace.

Switzerland's attraction has drawn many from other countries, and today only about a fifth of the population are native-born.
The climate of Switzerland varies greatly from area to area because of the wide variety in altitude. Atlantic air held up by the mountains sometimes produces a fog bank that can cover the entire Swiss Plateau like a sea of clouds.
Some of Switzerland's higher elevations receive over 100 inches (250 centimeters) of precipitation per year. Above 6,000 feet (1,800 meters), snow covers the ground at least six months a year, making Switzerland a popular location for world-class skiing.

Mexico
Rich both in culture and in history, the roots of this area are centuries old, dating back to the wondrous ancient Aztec civilization.
Few other countries have so wide a variety of landscapes and climates within such short distances of one another. Towering mountains and high, rolling plateaus cover more than two-thirds of Mexico. The climate, land formation, and plant life in these rugged highlands may vary greatly within a short distance. Mexico also has tropical forests, dry deserts, and fertile valleys.
While Mexico has kept up with advancing technology, family life and common courtesies have not been left by the wayside. Most towns and even major cities feature a plaza, or public square, that is the center of city life.

In the evenings and on Sunday afternoons, people gather in their local plazas to talk with friends or listen to music.
Mexican food has also become popular throughout much of the world. Burritos, tacos, salsa, and tortillas are now commonplace in many major cities worldwide.
Mexicans celebrate their Independence days, Sept. 15 and 16, and other holidays with colorful fiestas, or festivals. Every city, town and village also holds a yearly fiesta to honor its local patron saint. Most fiestas begin before daylight with a shower of rockets and fireworks, and a ringing of bells.

Canada
Stretching from Newfoundland on the Atlantic coast to British Columbia on the Pacific coast, Canada is slightly larger than the United States, its southern neighbor, but has only about a tenth as many people.
Canada's northernmost districts contain some of its most rugged terrain and severe climate, but its more southern regions are blanketed with endless forest ranges.
Canada is a land of great variety. Towering mountains, clear lakes, and lush forests make the far west a region of great natural beauty. Farther inland, fields cover vast rolling prairies. These fertile farmlands contrast vividly with the Arctic tundra to the north.

Canada has an extensive national park system that includes areas ideal for many recreational activities. The park system began in 1885 with the establishment of Hot Springs Reservation (now Banff National Park) in Alberta. Today, there are parks in every province and territory throughout the country.
Canada's coastline, stretching over 151,000 miles (243,000 kilometers), is one of the longest of any country. Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and James Bay form a great inland sea in Canada.

China
Covering a fifth of the continent of Asia, and home to a fifth of the world's population, China's vast land area includes some of the world's driest deserts and highest mountains, as well as some of the richest farmland.
China has the world's oldest living civilization. Its written history goes back about 3,500 years. The Chinese people take great pride in their nation, its long history, and its influence on other countries. The Chinese were the first people to develop the compass, paper, porcelain, and silk cloth. Over the centuries, Japan, Korea and other Asian lands have borrowed from Chinese art, language, literature, religion and technology.
The rugged mountain forests at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Highland area shelters pandas, golden monkeys, takins, and other rare animals.

The world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, rises 29,028 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level in the Himalayas in southern Tibet. Two of the world's longest rivers, the Huang He and Yangtze, begin in the highlands and flow eastward across China to the sea.
Spoken Chinese has many dialects, which differ enough in pronunciation to be considered separate languages, even though they use the same written characters.
China's uplands bordering Mongolia are rugged, and the Huange He river and tributaries have carved hills and steep-sided valleys into the region, giving it a unique look unlike anyplace else on earth.