USA Box Office Returns for the weekend starting 24 December 2010

Rank	Weekend Total	Weeks	Screens	Weekend screen avg.	Cumulative box office
1.	Little Fockers (2010)
	$30,833,665 (%)	1	3,536	$8,719	$45,083,800
2.	True Grit (2010)
	$24,850,000 (%)	1	3,047	$8,155	$36,068,000
3.	TRON: Legacy (2010)
	$19,151,498 (-56%)	2	3,451	$5,549	$87,373,703
4.	The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
	$9,478,043 (-23%)	3	3,350	$2,829	$62,597,030
5.	Yogi Bear (2010)
	$7,835,000 (-52%)	2	3,515	$2,229	$35,820,000
6.	The Fighter (2010)
	$7,605,000 (-37%)	3	2,511	$3,028	$26,680,000
7.	Tangled (2010)
	$6,427,816 (-27%)	5	2,582	$2,489	$143,695,323
8.	Gulliver's Travels (2010)
	$6,307,691 (%)	1	2,546	$2,477	$6,307,691
9.	Black Swan (2010)
	$6,254,986 (-25%)	4	1,466	$4,266	$28,689,060
10.	The Tourist (2010)
	$5,375,000 (-37%)	3	2,756	$1,950	$40,850,000

Top American business leaders Academy of Achievement.

Ref By: American Academy of Achievement.


 

Jeff Bezos Founder and CEO, Amazon.com

 

Steve Case Co-Founder, America Online

Michael Dell Founder & Chairman, Dell Inc.

 

Michael Eisner Entertainment Executive

 

Larry Ellison Founder & CEO, Oracle Corporation

Jeong Kim President of Bell Labs

 

James V. Kimsey Founding Chairman, America Online

 

Henry Kravis Financier and Investor

George Lucas Creator of "Star Wars"

Craig McCaw Pioneer of Telecommunications

 

Pierre Omidyar Founder and Chairman, eBay

Larry Page Founding CEO, Google Inc.

 

Stephen Schwarzman Chairman and CEO, The Blackstone Group

Carlos Slim Financier and Philanthropist

Frederick W. Smith Founder, Federal Express

 

Martha Stewart Multi-Media Lifestyle Entrepreneur

 

Ted Turner Founder, Cable News Network

Sanford Weill Financier and Philanthropist

	Oprah Winfrey Entertainment Executive

Top 25 in business

1. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
2. Sam Walton, former CEO of Wal-Mart
3. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric
4. Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
5. Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler
6. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple
7. Herb Kelleher, chairman of Southwest Airlines
8. Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computer
9. Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve
10. Carl Icahn, 1980s corporate raider
11. Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel
12. Michael Milken, former junk-bond wizard
13. John Reed, former CEO of Citigroup
14. Ted Turner, founder of CNN
15. Jim Clark, former CEO of Netscape
16. Meg Whitman, CEO of eBay
17. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com
18. Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney
19. Peter Lynch, manager of Fidelity's Magellan Fund
20. Phil Knight, CEO of Nike
21. Katharine Graham, late CEO of Washington Post Co.
22. W. Edwards Deming, influential business consultant
23. Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron
24. Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster
25. Lou Gerstner, former CEO of IBM

Top American software companies

Fastest growing software companies in USA
Rank	Company	Growth
1	Google	455%
2	Omniture	102%
3	Activision Blizzard	73%
4	Attachmate	57%
5	Rosetta Stone	50%
Source: US Software Top 100

Largest software companies in USA
Rank	Company	Revenues
1	Microsoft	49,453
2	IBM	22,089
3	Oracle	17,560
4	HP	11,604
5	Symantec	5,692
Source: US Software Top 100

Popular Baby Names

Top 10 Names for 2008

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob	Emma
2	Michael	Isabella
3	Ethan	Emily
4	Joshua	Madison
5	Daniel	Ava
6	Alexander	Olivia
7	Anthony	Sophia
8	William	Abigail
9	Christopher	Elizabeth
10	Matthew	Chloe
Note: Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth.

New! Top American Baby Names

Top Names for Girls

Emma, Isabella, Emily, Madison and Ava are the top 5 names nationwide, but when you break it down state-by-state you can see that there are even more names that made it into the top spots! For example, in Hawaii, we see Chloe, Mia and Sophia in the top 5, and in Kentucky, we see Olivia, Abigail and Addison added. New Mexico has Nevaeh in its top 5 and Wyoming has Taylor as its third most popular girl name.

Other popular girls' names that made it into the nationwide top 100 are Audrey, Ella, Trinity, Riley, Payton, Savannah, Zoe, Kimberly, Bailey, Morgan, Sydney, Lily, Brianna, Katelyn, Ariana, Madeline and Layla.

Top Names for Boys

The most popular names in the United States for boys are Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua and Daniel. But if you visit the state-by-state data, as we did with the girls' names, you can sense more trends on the state level. Like in Alabama, William is the most popular name, along with James, John and Christopher. In Connecticut, Alexander takes the top spot, and shares the spotlight with the name Noah. Jayden is popular in Louisiana, and in Minnesota, Logan is the third most popular boys' name. New Hampshire parents like the name Owen enough to get it into their #2 spot, and New Jersey parents put the name Matthew in theirs!

From the top 100 list for boys, we find: Jack, Carter, Blake, Ayden, Julian, Wyatt, Charles, Luis, Carson, Sean, Cole, Cooper, Dominic, Brody, Colton and Jordan.

Lights, Camera ... Names!

Actors and actresses light up the screen and become part of our lives as we watch them work on the big and small screen. Many of them have names that you might hear in your own hometown (or child's classroom) and many more have unique and interesting names, often being part of a large show-business family that chooses unusual names for their babies. If you want your baby to stand out in a crowd, check out these celebrity names.

Here are the names of some the hottest film and television actresses for inspiration for your baby girl's name:
Angelina (Jolie)

Brea (Grant)

Charlize (Theron)

Dakota (Fanning)

Halle (Berry)

Helena (Bonham Carter)

Keira (Knightley)

Miley (Cyrus)

Reese (Witherspoon)

Thora (Birch)

Uma (Thurman)



And, for your little boy, some of the more popular actors:

Ashton (Kutcher)

Christian (Bale)

Clive (Owen)

Colin (Farrell)

Hugh (Jackmen)

Johnny (Depp)

Jude (Law)

Leonardo (DiCaprio)

Liam (Neeson)

Orlando (Bloom)

Taylor (Lautner)

Zac (Efron)

Check out more Celebrity Baby Name ideas here.
American Sports Stars

In the world of sports, many talented athletes gain recognition from their spectacular feats on the playing field. Here is a list of some of the more popular ones today:

Boys sports names

Alex (Rodriguez)

Andre (Agassi)

Brett (Favre)

Derek (Jeter)

LeBron (James)

Tiger (Woods)



Girls sports names

Anna (Kournikova)

Danica (Patrick)

Maria (Sharapova)

Nastia (Liukin)

Natalie (Gulbis)

Baby Names

American Boy Names
Madison
The name Madison is a baby boy and girl name. The name Madison comes from the English origin. In English ...
Alex
The name Alex is a baby boy and baby girl name. The name Alex comes from the English origin. In Englis ...
Ashley
The name Ashley is a baby boy and baby girl name. The name Ashley comes from the English origin. In Engli ...
Tyler
The name Tyler is a baby boy name. The name Tyler comes from the English origin. In English The meaning o ...
Landon
The name Landon is a baby boy name. The name Landon comes from the English origin. In English The meaning ...
Hayden
The name Hayden is a baby boy name. The name Hayden comes from the English origin. In English the meaning ...
Christopher
The name Christopher is a baby boy name. The name Christopher comes from the English origin. In English T ...
James
The name James is a baby boy name. The name James comes from the English origin. In English The meaning o ...
Brayden
The name Brayden is a baby boy name. The name Brayden comes from the English origin. In English The meani ...

   
American Girl Names

Kayla
The name Kayla is a baby girl name. The name Kayla comes from the English origin. In English The meaning ...
Alyssa
The name Alyssa is a baby girl name. The name Alyssa comes from the English origin. In English The meanin ...
Emma
The name Emma is a baby girl name. The name Emma comes from the English origin. In English The meaning of ...
Madison
The name Madison is a baby boy and girl name. The name Madison comes from the English origin. In English ...
Alex

The name Alex is a baby boy and baby girl name. The name Alex comes from the English origin. In Englis ...
Ella
The name Ella is a baby girl name. The name Ella comes from the English origin. In English The meaning of ...
Ashley
The name Ashley is a baby boy and baby girl name. The name Ashley comes from the English origin. In Engli ...
Savannah
The name Savannah is a baby girl name. The name Savannah comes from the English origin. In English the me ...

American best global brands

2009 Rank	2008 Rank	Brand	Country of Origin	Sector
1	1		United States	Beverages
		Coca-Cola is 123 years old and shows no sign of relenting. It is the number one producer of sparkling beverages by volume and dollars. It has launched more than 700 products in 2008 around the world, and its edgy campaigns continue to push boundaries, showing the rest of the marketing community what it really means to manage a brand. Worldwide relevance is what defines Coke and it has successfully maintained its diversified portfolio in more than 200 countries. This year, the company expanded its Coke Zero brand to 107 countries and launched a new message for its marketing campaign. The campaign, “Open Happiness,” was targeted to consumers longing for comfort and optimism in a tough time.
2	2		United States	Computer Services
		In this tough market, Big Blue’s revenue is at an all-time high. IBM received the most U.S. patents (more than 4,000) for the 16th year in a row, investing heavily in innovation as it continues its progression from a hardware provider to a software and services solutions brand. It is the market leader, with expanded presence in more than 170 countries and approximately 65 percent of revenue generated outside of the U.S. With an advertising channel on YouTube and announced plans for cloud computing, IBM effectively communicates its message to the masses.
3	3		United States	Computer Software
		2009 marks the first year-on-year decline in Microsoft’s public history, despite a game console division that continues to be profitable. As the market matures, the giant faces stiff competition from faster, quicker rivals. In terms of browsing, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has dropped 10 percentage points in market share every two years, while Mozilla Firefox gains 10 percentage points in the same time period. Additionally, a US $300 million ad campaign featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates could have fared better with audiences. However, Microsoft’s Bing, a new search engine that launched in June to great reviews, is poised to give Google a real run for its money.
4	4		United States	Diversified
		Despite GE slipping in its position of technology leadership, it is still better equipped to support future innovations and brand evolution than other traditional competitors, due to its ability to touch consumers on an emotional level. This year, its financial services offering has slipped, particularly the B2C business. Its media business is also threatening the brand. Additionally, GE faces competition from Siemens. The good news is that ecomagination is still the most concise initiative towards sustainability out there, and the brand has set itself up for growth in the long-term with green technology. After losing its leadership position in medical technology this year, GE plans to mimic ecomagination’s success with its major innovation initiative “healthymagination,” which entails an investment of US $6 billion until 2015.
		Nokia seems to be trailing behind more dynamic smartphone innovations like Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry. The N97, a flagship Nseries mobile computer that was first unveiled in December 2008, is designed to address competitive technologies but debuted in 2009 at a much higher price point than Apple’s or RIM’s new offerings. In fast developing markets, where Nokia leads in market share, the brand continues its strategy of targeting younger audiences with trendier design at a relatively lower cost. In the next year, Nokia plans to be more mindful of the U.S. market by increasing its investments and developing relationships with wireless carriers like AT&T.
5	8		United States	Restaurants
		McDonald’s has performed well this year. It now serves six million more customers each day than it did before the “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign. Due to its low prices and numerous locations McDonald’s has been able to continue to grow its sales–and even captured new market share–with its McCafé and healthier off erings. The brand does face one struggle: keeping food costs under control. Like other restaurants, McDonald’s has been hit with higher beef and cheese costs. To protect its profits, the company was forced to raise the price of its popular Double Cheeseburger in November and replaced the sandwich on the Dollar Menu with a new double burger that has one slice of cheese instead of two. With value being its biggest drawing factor, McDonald’s will need to proceed cautiously with additional price changes.
6	10		United States	Internet Services
		Continued diversification of Google’s business, from new advertising models to online publishing, drives growth. The common theme is low price and high functionality with added transparency. Google Chrome is two times faster than competitors and stole browser market share equal to third- and fourth-placed competitors within 24 hours. This year, Google has continued to innovate. It released the Android phone software on September 2008, which involved disclosing the source code for the Google phone to engineers around the world. As the brand grows it has to deal with the inevitable mistrust and ugliness ascribed to being a very large, diversified, and very profitable company.
		In 2008, Toyota saw its first loss in 70 years due to the diffcult economic situation. Net revenues decreased about 21 percent and vehicle sales dropped about 15 percent. Even sales of its bestselling hybrid Prius model slowed down when fuel prices moderated after the record highs of the summer. There is even talk that the company may create a separate brand for its Prius, adding larger and smaller models to the line up. The brand would be similar to Toyota’s low-priced Scion and would only be offered in the U.S., where the company did not create a brand around its “Hybrid Synergy Drive“ system. Toyota continues to develop its long-term value, however, building on its existing green credentials, announcing plans to create eco-friendly showrooms. By 2011 it expects to have 100 “green“ dealerships, where most parts of the buildings are made of renewable primary products.
7	7		United States	Computer Hardware
		In the fast-growing mobile computing market, Intel stands to find success. Determined to break into this category, the world’s number one chipmaker announced a partnership with the world’s number one handset maker in 2009. If it works, the Intel agreement with Nokia will put its latest chips into the hands of millions of customers. The line of chips, Atom, is meant to carry Intel into this higher growth market but has so far faced criticism for its cost and power consumption. However, Atom is finding success in the low-power, clutch size netbooks market. With an appeal toward more value conscious consumers in the midst of recession, netbooks have allowed Intel to stay both relevant and top of mind while it tries to crack the code on smaller mobile devices.
8	9		United States	Media
		Not even the magic of Disney is immune from recessionary pressures-but Disney’s clouds do have silver linings. Although tighter ad budgets have put pressure on Disney owned networks, magazines, and Disney.com, the company continues to successfully leverage its brand in innovative new formats online and offline. This includes video games, new resorts, and interactive websites such as its user-generated-content initiative “U Rock.” Disney’s ability to create appealing promotions has kept the flow of visitors steady from last year, despite tighter wallets threatening traffic at theme parks. Meanwhile, the Disney and Pixar brands continue to command audiences, (with some exceptions) as evidenced by the success of Up, and a strong content pipeline, including Toy Story 3, which speaks to a promising future.
9	12		United States	Computer Hardware
		HP has surpassed Dell as the leading seller of PCs in the U.S., even with falling sales for the category. Overall globally, HP’s market share is also on the rise. A 20.5 percent increase follows last year’s acquisition of service-provider EDS. This year, HP also began a global review of its media holdings in Asia Pacific, with the focus on consolidating down to one, key, effective agency. In an increasingly price driven sector, HP is finding more way to successfully use its brand to stand apart.
		Mercedes-Benz saw sales drop about five percent in 2009 as a result of the recession. But the brand has made strides in other areas. Using the slogan “Blue is the new green,” Mercedes sought to raise acceptance for its high-mileage BlueTEC diesel technology in the U.S., where diesel is still seen as loud, slow, and smelly. Like many other carmakers it pushed the development of eco-friendly hybrid technology. Its luxurious S-class is one of the most fuel-efficient cars of this segment. Following the general trend, Mercedes drove brand development away from print and TV marketing. It launched Mixed Tape Music Magazine, a monthly online music show featuring video clips by artists like Jennifer Lopez and Mark Ronson and also strengthened its engagement in New York’s Fashion Week as title sponsor to increase the brand’s attractiveness among young buyers.
10	14		United States	Personal Care
		Gillette experienced an increase of net sales this year, with Fusion and Venus as the largest contributors. Gillette holds strong as the “best for men” for personal care, owning 70 percent market share of manual blades and razors. The brand maintains high visibility by promoting classic and consistent innovation for the category, renewing celebrity contracts with Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Thierry Henry, and sponsoring the MLB in the U.S. In the digital space, Gillette expanded its customer dialogue with online shaving “how tos” and has also seen high growth in developing regions, driven primarily by the expansion of Fusion and the Prestobarba 3 launch in Brazil.
		Cisco is the leader in networking services but is still perceived as catching up in other parts of the computer services industry. It has a strong reputation for quality and reliability, boasting more than a quarter century in this relatively young industry. Its heavy investments in R&D, and its stated mission to innovate to customers’ needs, signal Cisco’s shift to become a broader provider of hardware and services, which should increase the role of its brand.
		BMW remains relatively healthy even though revenues decreased about five percent this year. Its dip in profit was mainly attributed to the high costs to cover risks on used car resale prices and the softening demand in the economically troubled U.S. market. The Bavarian carmaker still carried on with its strategy to build highly efficient cars that promise joyful driving, and to fill niches with innovative vehicles like the large X6 Sport Activity vehicle and the 5-series GT. Its EfficientDynamics initiative, which includes gadgets like Brake Energy Regeneration or High Precision Injection, turned out to be a sales boost with more than one million vehicles sold worldwide. With its ConnectedDrive concept, BMW pushed another forward-looking innovation, converting a car into a mobile communication platform to enhance safety, convenience, and service quality. The huge numbers of visitors to its recently opened brand temple, the BMW Welt in Munich, is evidence that BMW continues to fascinate consumers.
		Louis Vuitton actively continues to expand its retail network, which now totals 425 stores. Its direct channel through retail has been instrumental in maintaining a connection with consumers during the recession. The Louis Vuitton brand is also gathering strong momentum in China, which now accounts for 20 percent of its revenue. The “Core Values” campaign, which explores the idea of self-discovery through traveling and features a series of Annie Leibovitz portraits of celebrities such as Sean Connery, Catherine Deneuve, and Mikhail Gorbachev, has received much positive acclaim within the advertising industry. This has reinvigorated the brand’s status as a classic. This year, Louis Vuitton also developed the Damier Graphite range, which includes luggage, shoes, and other accessories that specifically target men.

American Top 10 Brands

10. Coca-Cola®

Unless you grew up on Mars, you know what Coca-Cola is. This carbonated, caramel-colored beverage has consistently been an American favorite, despite the intense competition that arrives annually on supermarket shelves. How does it seem to hold onto its crown in the face of so much liquid brand competition? This is not just an American brand. It’s a global phenomenon. It even spawned the song, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing.” Coca-Cola, the world continues to sing your praises.

9. Disney

This is one company that does not rest on its laurels. Disney has their fingers in practically every proverbial pie from theme parks and movie making to hotels, cruise ships and more. Just the merchandising aspects alone are mind-boggling. Disney is one of those classic American brands we all grew up with and hold near and dear to our collective heart. It would take something fairly cataclysmic to knock Disney off its rarified perch.

8. Whole Foods Market ®

Walk into any Whole Foods Market and your eyes are dazzled by the perfection of fruits and vegetables tumbling from bins and barrels, aisles of interesting foods with brand names you’ve never heard of and a bakery and deli that makes you think you just walked into Mom’s kitchen. This unique shopping experience takes going to the market from chore status to fun adventure. Fueled by the growing natural and organic food industry movement, Whole Foods’ business methodology of “Conscious Capitalism” is most definitely resonating with a population yearning for something more in tune with our planet… and ourselves.

7. Nintendo®

“Wii™ would like to play.” This tiny little statement has caused a large-scale revolution in the competitive world of video gaming. Nintendo, having performed sluggishly over the last decade, found the right formula for success. By providing a social gaming experience, family and friends are now playing games together (yes, even Mom and Dad). As a result, Wii has outperformed both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, giving consumers considerable angst because Wii flies off shelves faster than you can say “Nunchuk.” Nintendo’s vision has the gaming industry turning another corner, yet again.

6. BMW

It goes without saying that the “ultimate driving machine” is a BMW. Performance coupled with aggressive styling has been BMW’s unique selling proposition for decades, and the brand has consistently and relentlessly delivered on this platform. The A-type attitude exhibited in product design and in advertising campaigns resonates with buyers who see themselves not just as BMW owners, but BMW enthusiasts. Talk about brand advocates. This is one mean branding machine.

5. Starbucks®

Ah… the aroma of a brand that started a coffeehouse revolution. Of course, we’re talking about that Seattle powerhouse, Starbucks. Whimsical and quirky with a corporate culture that practices environmental sustainability, this brand upgraded coffee from beverage status to fashion statement – Blackberry® in one hand, Grande Latte in the other. When you actually find yourself saying things like “barista,” “frappuccino,” and “double shot with soy hold the whip,” you know you’re not just buying coffee – you’ve bought into a cultural movemen

4. Target®

Every brand needs a dog with a bulls-eye. This company decided it no longer wanted to be lumped with the KMarts and Wal-Marts® of the world. There was a whole audience out there clamoring for cheap chic and Target delivered with red and white panache. Right on target.

3. Nike

Can anyone forget the 1984 Orwellian runner or the Lemmings campaign? It wasn’t just jaw-dropping genius. It literally broke the advertising mold. Ever since, Nike has attempted to one-up themselves with bold products and campaigns that offer enough attitude to spare, and they’ve done a pretty smart job of it. You know your brand’s doing just fine when you can remove the name from the logo and consumers can still identify the company. Swoosh!

2. Apple

Apple subscribes to the “less is more” theory and uses it to powerful effect, both in product design and advertising. Anything not absolutely necessary is stripped away to reveal purity and a sense of magic. From their iconic logo to iPod’s campaign of gyrating silhouettes against a kaleidoscope of color, Apple is more than a brand—it’s a culture.

1. Google™

When an actual brand name becomes part of our daily vernacular, it has achieved the epitome of brand recognition. Google, once dubbed the search engine for business, has leapt past Yahoo® into the communal pool where everyone swims for information. Tools like Google ADWords, Ad Sense and Analytics have become so widely proliferated and used, that the term “Just Google It” no longer sounds silly. In fact, it’s quite sensible.

The most popular attractions in the USA

Las Vegas, Nevada is the largest center for adult entertainment in the entire world. It offers gambling, glitzy entertainment and unbelievably extravagant architecture. Giant pyramids of glass, multicolored fantasy castles, replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the New York skyline rise out of the Nevada desert. Even if you don't gamble or party, it is worth seeing this flamboyant display of opulence. In addition, Las Vegas is conveniently located near some of the greatest natural scenery in the southwest including the Grand Canyon Zion and Death Valley. It is only a half-day drive from Los Angeles.

Orlando, Florida is the largest center for family entertainment in the entire world. It offers Disney World, the largest family amusement complex on this planet, plus Universal Studios, Sea World, Wet and Wild and several other major attractions. Hundreds of smaller amusement and entertainments are located nearby. You can spend weeks in Orlando without seeing it all. In addition, Florida offers wonderful tropical beaches and year-round golf and tennis.

New York City is the largest metropolitan center in the USA. It is famous for the Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, United Nations, museums, Broadway theaters, restaurants, Times Square, nightlife and shopping. It is a huge vibrant city that never seems to sleep. There are many opportunities for entertainment in its myriad of nightclubs, bars, theaters, and sports arenas. There are lots of cultural attractions in its museums, art galleries and concert halls.

Hawaii is a string of volcanic islands set in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is a tropical paradise with near perfect year-round weather, fantastic beaches with amazing surf and spectacular scenery. This is a favorite honeymoon retreat for many couples. It is an ideal destination for swimming, tanning, surfing, boating, fishing, golf and tropical exploration.

Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in the USA and the largest metropolitan center on the west coast. It includes many different communities including Hollywood, home of the moviemakers, and Beverly Hills, home of the movie stars. L.A. has a pleasant subtropical climate with many miles of white-sand beaches and the famous "California Surf". It is conveniently located near many scenic attractions like the spectacular coastline of Big Sur, the alpine wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the austere beauty of the Mojave desert. It is only a half-day drive to Las Vegas, Nevada.

San Francisco, California is the other great city in California. It is smaller than Los Angeles and does not have the warm tropical beaches, but it is much more scenic. Hillside streets lined with Victorian houses overlook a large blue bay surrounded by pastoral mountains. Historic cable cars still ascend the steep streets, and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge frames its Pacific inlet. The nearby Marin headlands and Muir woods provide scenic diversions. It is less than an hour drive to the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley wine country, and a half-day to beautiful Yosemite National Park.

The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. It is a mile deep (1,500 meters) and over 15 miles (20 km) wide by 100 miles (150 km) long. The interior of the Canyon is adorned with a vast maze of multicolored mesas, cliffs and promontories punctuated by a labyrinth of smaller canyons and gorges. The ever-changing play of sun and shadow on the multihued rock layers produces a breathtaking display best seen from the visitor's center on the south rim. The only access to the interior of the canyon is by hiking or by riding mules down the precipitous trails.

Yosemite National Park, California contains one of the most beautiful alpine valleys ever seen. 2,000-feet high vertical granite cliffs with nearly a dozen cascading waterfalls surround the glacially eroded Yosemite Valley. Outside of the immensely popular valley, this immense park contains groves of giant Sequoia trees, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks. It is a paradise for rock climbers, backpackers, campers, photographers and tourists.

Alaska is the great northern wilderness frontier of the USA. It covers a vast area extending from the rainforests of the Pacific coast to the tundra well beyond the artic circle and along a broad archipelago of volcanic isles. The forests and streams abound with fish and wildlife including the fascinating but dangerous Kodiak bears. Glaciers and snow-capped peaks provide lots of spectacular scenery. Most of Alaska is inaccessible except via small "bush pilot" air taxis or by canoe and hiking. This is a popular destination for hunters, fishermen, photographers and wilderness explorers.

Washington DC, the capital of the USA, is a beautiful and interesting city. It is filled with numerous monuments, museums and public parks including the White House, the US Capitol and many other government buildings, There are plenty of interesting things to see in Washington, and most of them are completely free. Washington has a diverse population and a great variety of ethnic restaurants. It is only an hour drive to the port city of Baltimore and a half-day drive to New York City.

New Orleans, Louisiana is the most European flavored city in the USA. Spanish and French cultures blend with Afro-American and Caribbean influences to form this exotic city at the mouth of the Mississippi River. New Orleans is famous for Jazz music, wild nightlife and its fine Cajun cuisine. Every February, the entire city goes mad for a weeklong carnival celebration known as Mardi Gras. Tourists flock to New Orleans all year round to sample the great food and to enjoy the nightlife.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming has the largest collection of geysers, hot springs and thermal phenomena in the world. This huge National Park is populated with bison, elk, bears and wildlife in great abundance. It has vast expanses of wilderness, but many of the major attractions are easily accessible from the roads, and close encounters with the wildlife are almost guaranteed. Yellowstone is near Grand Teton National Park, the Rocky Mountains and the wide-open spaces of Montana.

Written by: Mike Leco