Most people consider Beijing a decidedly urban city.  That is partially true. The concrete of Tiananmen Square, the narrow alleyways and modern skyscrapers are what most people think of when Beijing comes to mind.  While it has parks and green spaces, like every big city, few people mention the rugged and scenic mountains located just outside the city.  Usually, the only natural areas mentioned in a conversation about travel in Beijing are the areas that can be seen from the Great Wall. 

Nearly 800 years ago, the mountains around the Eternal City served to protect Beijing from outside invaders.  Now, they offer a chance for day-trippers enjoying a visit to Beijing to get out and see the natural side of Northern China,  

Miyun County, north of Beijing, is home to some of the more scenic mountain vistas.  The quaint villages located in the valleys between the mountains are themselves attractions. They are also the perfect place to base yourself if you plan to take a trek into the mountains.  

Of course, the Great Wall will continue to draw most of the tourists who decide to head outside of Beijing.  There are plenty of hiking opportunities along the Wall as well. Badaling and Juyongg are two popular Wall sites.  However, those who head further out will be rewarded by the hiking opportunities at sites like Gubeikou,Jinshanling and Simatai.  Some tourist outfits provide guided trekking tours of some of the older, original sections of wall and the surrounding hills and mountains.  

If venturing out for some amazing and panoramic photo ops of Beijing’s mountains seems like too much, there are places like Beihai Park within the city itself.  Beihai can get extremely crowded on weekends.  But in the morning, it is a pleasant park with pavilions and gardens and plenty of elderly Beijingers practicing Tai Chi.

Quebec City is the capital of the French-speaking province of Quebec.  Quebec is one of the most unique places in North America.  And not just because of its language.  Its history and vaguely European vibe make it a destination perfect for travelers who want something a bit exotic, but don’t want to travel too far from home to find it.

Despite its relatively small size, Quebec City is filled with sights.  It’s Euro-inspired architecture and cafés will remind Parisian travelers of their last trip across the Atlantic.  It might be easy to generalize Quebec as some sort of Petite Paris if you only look at it on the surface.  But the city is a unique place on its own.  Tourists from France would find little familiar here beyond the language and the baguettes.

Bars like Le Dagobert, with its rib shaking techno music, and Casablanca, with its laid back Caribbean vibe, prove that this city of history is not without a cool edge.  That said, every tourist will find something to like in the city’s Old Quarter.

The grand Chateau Frontenac, on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, is as impressive as any hotel in the world.  Its massive size and picturesque old world styling make it seem like something that came from a painting rather than an actual structure.  Much of the Old Town is filled with shops catering to tourists.  A few hours of window shopping can be attractive, if only because of the ambiance of the place.  However, cruises on the St. Lawrence and a bite in one of the city’s many restaurants is also a good time.

Montmorency Falls is nearby the city.  At 83 meters, it is taller than Niagara Falls, though not as wide.  This is a worthwhile day trip and is a pleasant and scenic drive.

Despite the fact that several Persian Gulf countries are making bold moves to attract tourists, there is still a cultural disconnect.  Strict laws based on stricter moral and religious codes are often at odds with fun-loving vacationers from the West.  There are even alcohol bans in countries like Saudi Arabia.

But Bahrain, specifically its capital city of Manama, is known as a bit of an oasis for Persian Gulf residents and expats.  Its alcohol laws are not as strict as in other countries.  And, though glitzy cities like Dubai have better nightclubs, Bahrain’s nightlife lacks that shiny, upscale, plastic vibe.  But the unkempt, raucous, sometimes raunchy nightlife in the city is unique to the region.

There are several popular nightlife neighborhoods in the city.  They bear names like Adliya, Hoora and Juffair.  These are mostly bars with a decidedly European pub vibe.  You might expect to see English Premiere League football or Rugby Union on the TV.  There are expat oriented nightclubs and some aimed at Persian Gulf residents (complete with belly dancers and shisha).

The “underbelly” of Manama is located in the business district.  Nightclubs and bars in the area are notorious and hotels often have hourly rates.

But, lest you think Manama is all abut nightlife, it also is one of the more pleasant countries in the Middle East to visit.  Bahrain is famous for its pearl diving industry.  There is a museum called the  Pearl Diving Museum and a large monument known as the Pearl Monument in the center of town.

Also, shopping in Bahrain is a much cheaper and easier experience than shopping in other Gulf states.

There are several local shopping malls around the city, but the best is the Manama Souk.  This old-style market has shops selling all sorts of local and imported goods.  Unlike malls, bargaining is expected in the souk.

Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, is a small, compact city on the Mediterranean Sea in North Africa.  Though it sits next to the sea, it lacks the beaches one might expect.  This keeps the tourist throngs from descending on the city and gives Tunis a charmingly authentic vibe.

The lack of tourism means that tourists are sometimes targeted by unofficial “guides” who prowl the streets around popular sites offering services for a fee to be named later.  However, simply avoiding these unofficial, unlicensed guides is easy.

The souk in the Medina district (old town) of the city is the best place to wander.  It is one of the most extensive markets in Northern Africa.  There are thousands upon thousands of small shops and vendor stalls selling spices, textiles and countless other wares.  The main street of the Medina souk is quite touristy, but the side streets and lanes are decidedly authentic.  Small cafes and eateries, sometimes little more than storefronts, serve delicious local dishes for no more than a few cents.

Hotels range from upscale inns along the seafront to hostels with shared rooms and cheap prices located deep within the winding streets and lanes of the Medina.

Carthage, the ancient city that was once the capital of the large and powerful Carthaginian empire (think Hannibal), is only 15 kilometers outside of Tunis.  The ruins of the city now overlook the sea.  They are a main tourist site for the country.  Excavation of the site has unearthed treasures dating back to before the Roman Empire.  These artifacts are now housed at the Carthage Museum.  The ruins of the ancient city itself can be visited.  They are designated as a World Heritage Site by the UN.

Tunis is a great place for an authentic trip that won’t consist merely of trekking between tourist traps.

London’s SoHo does not have the notoriety of the New York neighborhood bearing the same name.  But you wouldn’t know that if you paid a visit to this exciting part of London’s West End.  SoHo has the highest number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the entire London area.  It also abuts London’s Chinatown and boasts the largest gay scene in England.  All these factors make London’s SoHo as exciting as the popular New York neighborhood.  If not more so.

Old Compton Street is literally lined with bars, cafes and clubs.  That said, the entire district is filled with hidden-away streets with cool shops, popular bars and nightclubs with a decidedly local flavor.

Another nightlife favorite in SoHo: The ultra-hip Sanderson Hotel, which features cool boutique styling and the famous Long Bar that stretches for more than 80 feet.  Despite seeming like a place for too-cool upwardly mobile young professionals, the drink list is rather standard, in a classic/classy way.  You won’t find any funky, neon colored variations on the martini here.

And what about sleeping? In such a happening neighborhood, how can there be anywhere to find a reasonably priced place to bed-down for the night?  Piccadilly Backpackers is a hostel-style guesthouse with beds for as little as £12 per night.  The rooms have “Pod” style beds, similar to those found in Japanese capsule hotels.  This affords visitors a bit of privacy, even in a shared room.  Private rooms with shared bathroom are also available.

SoHo is also a center for London’s media.  Virgin Radio and Sony London are both based in Golden Square in the center of SoHo.  Numerous advertising firms are scattered throughout the district.

There are numerous good Indian eateries in London.  SoHo is no exception.  These corner shops are good places to find good, cheap food and time of day or night.

For a long time, Colombia has been in the news because of its conflicts with rebel groups and drug traffickers.  Though much of the tension has eased, most tourists cringe at the thought of spending time in a country that has had so much trouble and violence in its past.

But Colombia is becoming a happening and hip place to visit, especially for the gastronomically inclined tourist (i.e. the traveler who is guided by their stomach).  Take Cartagena as an example.  The city on Colombia’s northeast coast is Caribbean in flavor and atmosphere.  It has a diverse population and a growing food scene that rivals the best that New York and Paris have to offer.

The buzz Cartagena has been getting was enough to attract both the New York Times and potty-mouthed foodie Anthony Bourdain (TV crew in tow).  Yes, restaurants like La Vitrola (Calle de Baloco No. 2) and Palma (Calle del Curato No. 38) are two Cartagena establishments that have earned the respect of the gourmet world for good reason, but there is more to this exciting and previously unknown city than a few snooty hotspots.

Cartagena has been, and continues to be, an city full of intellectuals and artists.  There are plenty of art galleries, both of the historical variety and the contemporary ilk.

History is part of the mix.  Ancient fortresses like Castillo de San Felipe guard the coastline.  That particular structure dates back to the 17th century.  Though old buildings and forts are scattered throughout the area, the oldest part of town is Plaza Trinidad, which is part of the Getsemaní district.

And then there are the white, sandy beaches and clear blue waters of the Caribbean.  Some visitors come simply to snorkel, ride the waves or sun on the beach with a tropical drink in hand. Playa Blanca is Cartagena’s best beach.  Some of the islands offshore also have idyllic shorelines.  They can be reached by boat or as part of a tour.

Antigua has plenty of scenes that are typical of Caribbean islands.  The sandy beaches and palm trees are plentiful.  The atmosphere is even a little bit more peaceful than on more popular islands like Aruba and the Caymans.  Water sports like SCUBA diving and sailing are also on the agenda.  Yes, Antigua is your typical snowbird getaway destination.  That is the case until you look under the surface and find some of the lively and fun aspects of local Antiguan culture.

The great thing about Antigua is that you can combine a beach vacation with some local culture.  It is much safer and easier to go “behind the scenes” in Antigua than in countries like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad.

What are some of these little-known attractions?

Cricket is the name of the game in Antigua.  A former British colony, the sport was introduced to the island by British soldiers and has taken hold in a big way.  So what if you don’t understand the sport.  Antiguans are anything but quiet and reserved when it comes to cheering on their favorite team.  Cricket matches are usually accompanied by drumbeats, dancing, food and good times.  The cricket grounds are a perfect place to get a taste of local foods and local culture and to make some local contacts.

Cruise ships usually make the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, St. John’s, a port of call.  There is plenty of shopping and eating opportunities in the city.  However, the countryside is also quite pleasant.  Unlike many surrounding islands, Antigua has a reliable and convenient bus system (though the roads in the interior can get a bit bumpy).  Small fishing and farming villages with colorfully painted houses offer perfect photo ops as well as fresh food (fruit or fish or both depending on the location of village).

An ambitious projecct might stop Venice from being lost under water.  As the old buildings continue to fall into a state of decay and water levels rise, many residents are choosing to leave Venice in search of more stable place to call home.

A new project – well, it’s more of an experiment than a project – called the Moses Project (Moses is an acronym for Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) is seeking to regulate the tides in and around Venice’s lagoon.  This will, in theory, prevent the city from flooding and the buildings from becoming even more decayed than they already are.  Though no one is overly optimistic about the prospects of the Moses project, other seaside cities are taking note and will surely be watching to see if they can use some of the elements of the project to protect their own streets from flooding.

The project has taken nearly three decades.  It will be finished in 2011.  Currently, there are large metal breakers, huge air-filled buoys and gigantic slabs of rock being dropped into the sea around the inlets to the lagoon that surrounds Venice.  The project is said to have a $7 billion price tag.

Some places in Venice are flooded three months out of the year.   The Piazza San Marco spends nearly 100 days under a foot of water.  This has not seemed to dampen the tourist industry in Venice much.  But people in the not-often-visited back alleys and industrial areas of the city are actually not in favor of the Moses Project for the most part.  Many would rather see nature take its course and feel that, without the tourist industry, Italy would see no need to try and turn back the sea.  Nonetheless, the project continues.  A big question is how the large cruise ships that supply Venice with her tourists will be able to get through once the project is completed.

Most would-be travelers imagine Miami as a place where people in expensive clothes party the night away at exclusive, beachside nightclubs.  True, anyone (who meets the dress code and has the cash) can party on South Beach, but Miami is not known as a budget destination.

But there are actually plenty of cheaper offerings in this city of sun and sand.  Travelers just have to know where to look.

There are a number of hostels with shared rooms located near central locations.  These rooms might have to be shared with as few as two or as many as ten other travelers.  But a bed can be had for only $10 or $20 dollars per night.  South Beach Hostel and Jazz on South Beach are two such venues that will put you within shouting distance of the party scene without relieving you of all your cash.

Choosing to stay away from the beach, even a few blocks, can lead to cheaper rates.  The Continental Downtown Bayside, for example, has plenty of rooms under $100 per night.

The good thing about Miami is that one of the biggest attractions is people watching.  Whether that means heading to the beach to check out the fit bodies or wandering through the city’s vibrant Cuban neighborhoods, it costs nothing to stroll and check out local life up close.

Heading away from the tourist spots will lead to plenty of good, cheap local eating and drinking spots.  Little Havana is a great place to find meals with good value.  The Cuban neighborhood is also a good spot to find a party on the weekend.  Sometimes the dancing and music spill out onto the street in the form of local concerts and block parties.

There are also natural attractions.  Hiking and biking around the Everglades can be enjoyable, though for only $15, you can find an hour-long boat tour that will undoubtedly include some alligator viewing.

Holidays are usually busy times at airports.  Though travelers may have to wait longer to check-in on or around Thanksgiving, that wait might not necessarily mean that their flight will be delayed.  In fact, a recent study by the Department of Transportation found that the time of day has as much to do with the on-time percentage of airplanes as the time of year.  So when is the best time of day to fly?

The answer is somewhat logical.  Sorry, night owls, but morning is still the best time to fly.  Why?  It has a lot to do with the daily build-up of air traffic.  Because few planes fly during the dead of night, the day’s first flights will not be subject to any back-ups on the runway.  Similarly, ground crews will not be dealing with anything unexpected.  That will keep them on time when it comes to preparing the planes that will be departing first.  So, despite the pain of waking up early, taking flights between five and eight a.m. is the best bet for those who want to avoid delays.

Airports and air travel routes get more congested as the day advances.  By noon, most airlines have numerous flights in the air, meaning that it only takes one delay or cancellation to affect a whole string of flights.  In addition, airports are more crowded during the middle of the day.  Such things as waiting in queue for use of a runway or waiting for a gate because the previous aircraft is late in departing can cause delays.

Aside from the early morning flight, your best choice for on time service is the red-eye.  By late evening, the number of flights has decreased considerably.  Though some earlier delays may be affecting late departures, most problems have been cleared up.

So, even during the holidays, you can increase your chances of on-time travel by flying very early or very late.