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Montreal – the metropolis of the province of Quebec. Quebec City is the political capital but Montreal is the cultural and economic capital of Quebec and the main entry point to the province. The second largest city in Canada, it is a city rich in culture and history, has an inordinate number of attractive, fashionably dressed people, and a well-deserved reputation as one of the liveliest cities in North America. Montreal is the 3rd largest French-speaking city in the world, behind Paris and Kinshasa.

Situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada.

It has been said that Montréal is the only city in the world where the sun “rises in the south.” Don’t try to navigate by looking at the sun!

Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists and it is arguably one of the most gay-friendly cities in North America.

Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard Saint-Laurent. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as “rue Saint-XXX Ouest” (west) or “rue Saint-XXX Est” (east).

Attractions :

* Old Montréal contains the vast majority of historical buildings, most dating from the 17th – 19th century, and many museums. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up. A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.

* Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.

* Downtown Skyscrapers, McGill campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by 30 Km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.

* Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World’s Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also located on or around the park.

* A few kilometres Metro ride to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four.

* Casino de Montréal, 1, avenue du Casino (metro Jean-Drapeau).

* La Ronde, (member of the Six Flags family) 22, chemin Macdonald (metro Jean-Drapeau).

* Amazing Race Montreal. 24 hours. Ever wanted to be on “The Amazing Race”?
* Detail of Basilique Notre-Dame

* St. Joseph’s Oratory Atop of Mount-Royal, it is one of the world’s most visited shrines. The basilica’s huge dome reaches 97 meters and is second only in height to Saint-Peter’s basilica in Rome.

* St Lawrence river gateway
* The dome of the Marché Bonsecours in Old Montréal
* The Biosphere, a geodesic sphere on the grounds of the 1967 World’s Fair

* Mount Royal Park – The scenic lookout offers a striking view of the downtown area and the river.

* Bonsecours Market in autumn.
* Tour de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Tower) in the Quartier international de Montréal
* Place des Arts

* Olympic Stadium, home of the former Montreal Expos. Olympia Park Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics Games. Impressive in size and shape and topped b the tallest inclined tower in the world.

* Montreal City Hall.
* McGill University, Arts Building.
* Université de Montréal, Roger-Gaudry building and its hilltop campus.
* Jacques Cartier Bridge at dusk
* Montreal Harbor The ocean port that’s 1000 miles inland from the sea.

* Place Ville Marie The gleaming cruciform tower and the fabulous underground city.
* Botanical Gardens and Insectarium A future visit is a must (tour C2)
* St. Helen’s Island and the Casino A superb panoramic view.
* Bell Centre Montreal Canadiens’ new home.

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9 Franconia Notch, Franconia, NH 03580.

Franconia Notch State Park has endless adventures for your family, from Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway to miles of hiking trails to the Flume Gorge and everything in between!

* Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway – 80 person tram cars that climb to the summit of Cannon Mountain!

An 80-passenger cable car brings visitors to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain in under ten minutes. On a clear day, you can see the mountains of four states and Canada! At the summit, you’ll find spectacular scenic walking paths, a 360 degree observation deck, a cafeteria, bar and restrooms.

– Soar through the air to remarkable heights
– New Hampshire’s highest lift-accessed point
– An exciting ride for all ages
– Stunning views including New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and Canada
– A must-see attraction!

* The Flume Gorge – One of Nature’s wonders! Boardwalk, waterfalls, nature walk and covered bridges.

* The Basin – A short walk to a granite pothole formed by a glacier! Connects to Cascades trail with more waterfalls!

* Camping – Franconia Notch State Park offers two different campground options: Lafayette Place Campground & Cannon RV Park.

* Echo Lake & Echo Lake Beach – Spectacular spring-fed lake and beach at the north end of the park.

* Artists Bluff – A great, short hike to outstanding views of Franconia Notch. One of the most popular hikes in the White Mountains.

* Hiking – There are miles and miles of hiking trails in and around Franconia Notch State Park, including a portion of the Appalacian Trail.

* Recreation Path – An 8 mile recreation path for bicycles and pedestrians that runs the length of the park from the Flume Gorge to just north of Echo Lake.

* Boise Rock – This great glacial erratic has been a part of the history and folklore of Franconia Notch for generations.

* Profile Lake – The spring-fed headwaters of the Pemigewasset River, below the former profile of the Old Man. Fly-fishing only.

* Old Man Museum – Free museum dedicated to the Old Man of the Mountain at the base of the Tram.

* New England Ski Museum – Free museum at the base of the Tram, rich with the history of skiing in America.

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Ottawa is the capital of Canada. The city is situated along the Ontario side of the Ottawa River, opposite Gatineau, Quebec. It is currently the 5th largest city in Canada, and the second largest in Ontario after Toronto.

Unique as a North American capital, the city is bilingual. English is the first language of a majority of the population, but French is the first language of a significant number.

Ottawa is home to many of the world’s cultures as thousands of immigrants from around the world now call Ottawa home. The city is probably best known as the nation’s capital but has become one of the fastest growing cities in North America owing to the booming high-tech business sector.

Few of the Attractions :

* The Peace Tower, Parliament Hill
* The National War Memorial near Parliament Hill
* Sailing up the Rideau Canal
* Parliament Hill, Canada’s house of democracy – the primary attraction for most visitors is Parliament Hill. Tours of the building are available daily with multiple tours (in both official languages) available at staggered times throughout the day.Same-day tickets are free and available on a first-come-first-served basis from 9:00 AM. Pick up your ticket as early as possible to have the best chance of securing a start time that works for you. Tours last from 20 to 60 minutes depending on building activity.
* Parliament Hill Sound & Light Show – the Sound & Light Show is a 30 minute film about Canada.
* Museum of Civilization, across the river in Gatineau.
* National Gallery of Canada.
* Jacques Plante’s Goalie Mask on display in the Science and Technology Museum.
* Museum of Civilization – Atrium.
* ByWard Market.
* Ottawa’s claim to culinary fame: a classic beavertail with sugar and cinnamon.
* Chateau Laurier (left) and Parliament Hill overlooking the Ottawa River.
* Supreme Court of Canada
* Royal Canadian Mint.
* Canada Aviation Museum.
* Bank of Canada Currency Museum.
* Canada Agriculture Museum.
* Bytown Museum is a small museum at the foot of Parliament Hill
* Rideau Hall is the official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her representative the Governor General of Canada.
* The Ottawa River Parkway a scenic highway towards downtown along the Ottawa River
* The O-Train, Ottawa’s light rail train servicing a portion of Ottawa’s public transit system
* Ottawa River Cruise

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On Feb 1, 2010, Lake Champlain Transportation started a new free ferry service at the site of the demolished bridge. The new service is now operating with two boats, departing each side of the crossing every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Albany is the capital of New York. A vibrant scene downtown is currently underway. Revitalization keeps more workers around after hours and crowded bars/restaurants are not uncommon. Albany can offer some unique historical perspectives, if a traveler is willing to look.

Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. Located at a commanding position on cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway, Quebec City’s Old Town is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only city in North America outside Mexico with its original city walls.

Quebec was first settled by Europeans in 1608 in a “abitation” led by Samuel de Champlain and celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2008.

Founded by the French to make a claim in the New World, the name Quebec originally referred to just the city. It is an aboriginal word for “where the river narrows” as the St. Lawrence River dramatically closes in just east of the city

The French lost the city and its colony of New France to the British in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.

French is the official language of the province of Quebec though in the tourist areas of Quebec City English is widely spoken as a second language by the staff. Outside of the tourist areas, some knowledge of French is advisable, if not necessary.

Walking is a great way to get around the Old Town The compact layout makes distances short.You will see beautiful old buildings and little vistas around every corner. You will get exercise. Do be careful of uneven cobblestones and narrow streets, though.

Côte de la Montagne is a steep, winding street that connects Upper Town and Lower Town. If you get tired, use the Funiculaire to go between the upper and lower parts of the Old Town. $2 will get you from near the base of the Breakneck Stairs (l’Escalier Casse-Cou) back up to the front of the Chateau Frontenac. It is well worth it if you have small children or large packages.

Quebec City’s main sight is the Old Town, the upper part of which is surrounded by a stone wall built by both French and British armies.

Haute-Ville

* Chateau Frontenac. Quebec City icon. Claimed to be the most photographed hotel in North America.
* Dufferin Terrace. Boardwalk situated alongside (east of) the Chateau Frontenac, and offers a grand view of the St. Lawrence river.
* Musee national des Beaux-arts du Quebec. Located on the Battlefields park.
* Musee de l’Amerique francaise.
* The Citadel
* Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park(Outside the Old City walls).
* Observatoire de la Capitale(Outside the Old City walls) One of the tallest buildings in Quebec, offering a panoramic view of the whole city.

Basse-Ville

* Place-Royale.
* Musee de la Civilization.

Other

* Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge.

* AML Cruises. Offers short three-hour cruises on the St-Lawrence river leaving from the docks nearby the ferry.
* Horse-drawn carriages. A one-hour tour of the Old City.
* Ferry to Lévis – Beautiful views of the Chateau Frontenac and the Lower Old Town, and the other side of the river.
* Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on Plains of Abraham
* Villages Vacances Valcartier
* Mont-Sainte-Anne
* Governeur’s Walk
* Station touristique Stoneham
* All restaurants in the Old City will post menus out front in French and in English. Look for the table d’hote specials for a full course fixed price meal.

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Burlington is the largest city in the state of Vermont. Situated on Lake Champlain, it is the heart of a small urban area that acts as Vermont’s vibrant and cosmoplitan center. Known for its ultra-liberal environment and free-thinking spirit, Burlington is both a college town and an important commercial city, while maintaining an intimate atmosphere.

* ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College St. Lake aquarium and science center.
* Downtown Burlington is home to an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, and is well-known for its pedestrian Church Street Marketplace.
* Regular cruise tours of Lake Champlain aboard The Spirit of Ethan Allen III leave from Burlington’s harbor.
* Shelburne Museum, Route 7.
* People – Burlington is ideal for observing all sorts of individuals.
* Street performances Ranging from violists to hip-Hop dancers, Church Street.
* Waterfront – At the bottom of College street.
* North Beach, 52 Institute Road (behind Burlington High School on North Ave).
* Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Shelburne, VT.

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The Champlain Bridge (also known as the Crown Point Bridge) was a 2,184 feet (666 m) long vehicular bridge in the US that traversed Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. It was opened to traffic in 1929 as a toll bridge; the tolls were removed in 1987. The bridge was closed due to safety concerns in October 2009 and was taken down by explosive demolition on December 28, 2009. A new span will be built in its place.

It was the only bridge that connected New York to Vermont by crossing Lake Champlain; all other transport across the lake between the two states is by ferry. The bridge connected NY 185 in New York to VT 17 in Vermont. The half-mile, two-lane, continuous truss bridge was jointly owned and maintained by the NY State Department of Transportation and the VT Agency of Transportation.

On Feb 1, 2010, Lake Champlain Transportation started a new ferry service at the site of the demolished bridge. The new service is now operating with two boats, departing each side of the crossing every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. This is a free service subsidized by the NY DOT.

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Albany is the capital of New York. A vibrant scene downtown is currently underway. Revitalization keeps more workers around after hours and crowded bars/restaurants are not uncommon. Albany can offer some unique historical perspectives, if a traveler is willing to look.

As the start of the Erie canal, and as the location of the historically famous Fort Orange, Albany was important in early American history.

Pulitzer Prize winner William Kennedy wrote a series of novels about Albany that brings it to life, and will make the visit of any casual traveler far more.

Albany is an architectural haven, from historic buildings to newly built high rise skyscrapers to churches and temples, Albany has got it all for architectural buffs out there.

Attractions :

* Albany City Hall
* Cathedral of All Saints
* The Empire State Plaza – It lies between the New York State Capitol building and the New York State Museum.
* Masonic Temple
* New York State Capitol – Free guided tours.
* State Street is the main street that runs to the Albany Waterfront.
* The view from the 42nd floor Corning Tower Observation Deck.
* Watervliet Arsenal Museum in Watervliet, about a 20 minute drive north of Albany.
* New York State Museum
* The reflecting pool of the Empire State Plaza becomes a skating rink in the winter.
* USS Slater – Snow Dock, south of Dunn Memorial Bridge (off I-787) Albany, NY.

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Arlington National Cemetery(ANC), Virginia is a military cemetery in the USA, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee””s wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee, a descendant of Martha Washington. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and near The Pentagon. It is served by the Arlington Cemetery station on the Blue Line of the Washington Metro system.