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This mega-resort on the Kohala Coast of The Big Island is spread out on more than 60 acres of ocean-front property and has over 1,200 rooms. Transportation to your room from the open-air hotel lobby is provided by monorails or canal boats. You can browse a small art gallery featuring Hawaiian artists. There are several dining options, all of which are fairly expensive. The three swimming pools have the usual mega-resort artificial waterfalls and water slides. In addition, there is a man-made salt water lagoon, complete with a sandy beach, for swimming and snorkeling. For an additional fee, you can participate in a dolphin encounter right on the property. This resort provides an interesting and fun fantasy resort experience, as opposed to an authentic Hawaiian experience.

The Marriott City Center is located in the business district of Salt Lake City, and seems to have an atmosphere that caters to businessmen. The lobby has a slightly business-like/stuffy feel to it. The employees were friendly and extremely accommodating. Our room was a reasonable size, and the bathroom was surprisingly large with very nice amenities. Valet and self-parking facitilies are available.

On September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay, the Japanese signed their unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces, thus finally ending World War II. The surrender ceremony was conducted by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on board the USS Missouri. The battleship continued in service for another 40 years, after which it sailed into its retirement home in Pearl Harbor. The starting point for the tours of the USS Missouri is next to the USS Arizona Memorial. Shuttle service is provided to Ford Island to begin the tour. I recommend that you choose the guided tour, since it is conducted by retired military personnel who are able point out the exact location of the surrender ceremony and provide other interesting insights.

Haleakala is a dormant volcano, as opposed to extinct or active (such as Kilauea on the Big Island). It hasn't erupted for hundreds of years, but volcanologists predict that it will erupt again... some day. The day I visited was unusually cloud-free, which made my trip even more spectacular than I expected. Some visitors choose to time their visits to enjoy the sunrise or the sunset. I drove up Haleakala Highway in late morning, and the drive itself was memorable, as I drove through the various climatic zones from the valley floor up to the 10,000 foot summit. The park headquarters and main visitor's center are located around the 7,000 foot elevation. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle. Remember that temperatures at these elevations are much lower than they are at the beach, so bring a jacket. Note how the vegetation changes as you continue your drive to the summit. Stop at some of the overlooks on the way up if you have time. There is a smaller visitor's center at the upper elevation. This is where you will get some breathtaking views of the crater, with rocks in hues of pastels to oranges to purples. And if you're lucky like I was, you'll have a clear day so you can see all the way to the valley floor and the ocean below. This was a great trip!

During the summer, the large sandy beach is packed with tourists, and the bay is calm and safe for swimming. The fairly large parking lot is filled with rental cars carrying visitors to this beautiful north shore beach. If you go in the winter, the surf is a powerhouse and the bay is often not recommended for swimming. But that's when you'll see the parking lot packed with locals, and pickup trucks overflowing onto the highway. It's exciting to watch the best surfers riding the huge waves here. If you're going to only one North Shore Oahu beach, this should be your pick.

Kilauea Volcano has been called a friendly volcano because of the manner of its eruptions, which are mild rather than explosive. Your biggest risk in a visit is probably air quality, which can be checked in advance on the park website. Kilauea is a shield volcano, which means that it has gentle-sloping sides, so it may not look the way you expect. This is in contrast to the more familiar cone volcano such as Mount St. Helens. I recommend that you begin your visit at the Kilauea Visitor Center to see the informative displays and a movie about volcanoes. Then you can continue your drive and actually see the caldera, which has a black asphalt look to it. You can do a quick drive through the park in a couple of hours, or follow some of the interesting hiking trails if you have the time. The park is open 24 hours a day, and you are more likely to see the glowing lava if you can stay after sunset. Volcano House, a hotel on the park grounds, has a restaurant with interesting views. The park entrance fee is $10 per vehicle.

Sea Life Park is like a very small version of Sea World. The admission price is $29. When I was there, the place was filled with kids who seemed to be loving the experience. I thought the dolphin show and sea lion show were OK. For an extra charge, you can participate in a dolphin encounter. My favorite exhibit was the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, who can live as long as 80 years.

Punchbowl Cemetery is located in the crater of an extinct volcano rising above downtown Honolulu. The dramatic setting itself is worth the trip. There is also a vista point that offers breathtaking views of the greater Honolulu area. But more that this, Punchbowl is a history lesson. Since the cemetery was opened in 1949, about 34,000 veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War have been interred here. Walk through the memorial section that contains tributes and descriptions of various battles that were fought in the Pacific Theater. Or just stand on the marble steps that lead to the memorial and look around--it's a beautiful serene setting.

This beach is difficult to find, and it is not the most popular north shore Oahu beach for tourists. But it IS the home of the most famous surf in Hawaii--the Banzai Pipeline. This beach is a favorite of the local surfers and it's often packed with them. During the winter months, the big surf here is amazing. I've seen spectacular tubes in excess of 30 feet. This is for the experts only. One winter I saw a surfing competition here. Another winter I saw lifeguards train on this beach. (Would it be appropriate to say how hot that experience was? Dozens of muscular young guys in their orange Speedos! I was trying to think of a reason to have my life saved!) During the summer months, the surf is suitable for novices, and the beach is a nice place to soak up the sun.

Dedicated to Polynesian culture and artifacts, the Bishop Museum is the largest museum in Hawaii. There are displays of Hawaiian quilts, as well as displays of Hawaiian artifacts, carvings and costumes. The Hawaiian Hall focuses on old Hawaiian gods and legends. Another section of the museum has exhibits relating to Hawaii's environment. If you're interested in Hawaiian artifacts and a glimpse into Polynesian cultural, this museum is worth a visit.

Hanauma Bay has been established as a nature preserve to ensure the survival of its marine ecosystem. Snorkeling in the beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay is a memorable experience, with hundreds of species of colorful tropical fish right before your eyes. Just put your face down in the water and there they are! The park has limited amounts of parking, and I found that it was preferable to schedule my visit for 9 AM, or else in the afternoon. Note that the preserve is closed to visitors on Tuesdays. On my last visit, there was a $1.00 parking charge and a $7.50 admission fee. This is one of Oahu's most beautiful natural offerings, and well worth a visit.

The USS Bowfin Submarine is moored adjacent to USS Arizona Memorial visitor's center. For a modest admission fee, you can take a self-guided tour of the submarine and get a first-hand look at the crew's living conditions, including their tightly packed bunks. There is also an outdoor waterfront memorial that pays tribute to the 52 submarines and 3,500 young submariners who were lost in World War II.

This cool little zoo is located at the eastern end of Waikiki in Kapiolani Park. It's a five minute walk from Queen's Surf Beach and Hula's. I thought the most interesting section of the zoo was the African Savanna with its giraffes, zebras, rhinos and chimps. And of course my personal favorites, the elephants, were great too. In addition there is a kid's area with domestic animals such as cows, goats and sheep. This is the smallest zoo I've ever visited, and one that I very easily covered in less than two hours.

This memorial is the modern looking white structure that sits on top of the hull of the battleship USS Arizona that was sunk in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That action, of course, led our nation into World War II. The visitor center has a museum section that contains interesting information and photographs. The most moving portion of a visit is viewing the memorial itself, which is accessible by a short ride on a U. S. Navy boat. You can get free tickets for the boat ride at a designated departure time in the visitor's center. Before you board the boat, you will see a short film depicting the attack and describing the events of that day. When you get to the memorial itself, you will see a shrine dedicated to the 1,177 innocent young sailors who lost their lives on the USS Arizona that day. A note on getting to the memorial: if you drive, be sure to take the exit from the H-1 Freeway designated as USS Arizona, and not the Pearl Harbor exit (which will take you to the Naval Station).

This distinctive Upper East Side building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and that fact in itself is a reason to visit. The look of the building is familiar to many of us... a stacked cylinder that is wider at the top than at the bottom. When I first visited The Guggenheim, my interest was in seeing this Frank Lloyd Wright design masterpiece, rather than the artwork inside. Since I am not a huge fan of contemporary art, I assumed that the paintings would be of secondary interest to me. I was wrong. There is an interesting variety of art displayed in The Guggenheim, and in an ingenious way. A large skylight provides natural light for the interior atrium of the building. Visitors wind their way up or down the the easy-to-walk spiral to enjoy Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modern paintings and sculptures. This is a very interesting manageable-sized museum.

Just steps from all the fun of Provincetown, Gabriel's at the Ashbrooke Inn is like stepping into Armistead Maupin's 28 Barbary Lane, complete with well-manicured gardens and decks throughout the property. The owner's have created a cozy retreat with all the comforts of home. Our suite, the Susan, features a gas fireplace, flat screen TVs in both the main room and bathroom, DVD player, iPod dock, a well-stocked kitchenette, dining area, washer & dryer(!), comfy king-size bed, bath with jetted tub-for-two and a shower stall, waffle-weave bathrobes, and much more. A full, hot breakfast is included and made-to-order. Hundreds of DVDs available to be played in room when you get tired of all the great area restaurants, bars, clubs, art galleries, and shopping. Not a stuffy old inn where you feel like you are staying in Grandma's house; Gabriel's has won over this W Hotel-staying guy!

This little gem of a restaurant sits conveniently at the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and Arenas Road, right near many of Palm Springs' popular gay bars. You may have walked right by its unassuming exterior. If you go during the month of October 2009, the restaurant is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with some outstanding lunch and dinner specials. Johannes consists of two intimate-sized dining rooms. In addition, there is a bar area with a couple of high-top tables, and six seats providing a fascinating view into their busy galley kitchen. Our group of four chose the bar, where we were served from a menu of numerous delicious bargain-priced tapas. Then we chose from another small menu of chef Johannes Bacher's signature Austrian Wiener Schnitzel. The Schnitzels were offered with either veal or chicken, along with your choice of 6 or 8 sauces. The two small dining rooms offer fuller menus of interesting sounding European/Asian inspired entrees. Johannes is a very nice upscale dining experience. The dining room tends to the pricey side, whereas the bar is an unbelievable bargain.

It was a warm October evening--my favorite time in Palm Springs--so I was predisposed to love this al fresco dining experience. And I did love it! My partner and I ate here with two great friends and together we sampled four entree selections: filet of sole with mango chutney, personal pizza with onions and mushrooms, chicken saltimbocca with prosciutto and cheeses, and meatloaf with beef and Andouille sausage. All four of us rated our entrees at least very good, but the chicken and meatloaf were excellent. I'm awarding the grand prize to the meatloaf. Our server was smiling and attentive. The owner stopped at our table twice to be sure we were enjoying our meals. This is a wonderful little restaurant that is open daily for lunch and dinner, and on Sunday for brunch.

The west face of the U. S. Capitol is one of the most recognizable sights in Washington, and perhaps around the world. Construction on a smaller version of the building was completed in the early 1800s, but British troops set fire to it during the War of 1812. Reconstruction was completed in 1819, but the building continued to expand for another 50 years. Senate and House galleries are open to the public when Congress is in session, and this is a very interesting thing to do. Gallery tickets can be requested from your Senators or your Representative. To me, the most beautiful features of the Capitol Building are the rotunda and statuary hall. Entrance tickets are free and available on a first-come, first served basis. Be aware that there is a security screening similar to airport security, and large bags and backpacks are prohibited. This is one of the most interesting sites in Washington, and I highly recommend it.

The National Mall doesn't really qualify as an institution in the structural sense, in that it is not a building. But it IS an institution, figuratively, since it is the heart of the nation's capital. As we prepare for our National Equality March in Washington, D.C., in October 2009, we need to recognize the beauty and importance of The Mall to all of us. It is the mostly grassy area bordered approximately by Constitution Avenue on the North, 1st Street on the East, Independence Avenue on the South, and 14th Street on the West. Stand in The Mall and look East and see the impressive U. S. Capitol, and look West and see the Washington Monument. I've seen 4th of July fireworks sitting on the grass here; I've had picnics with friends here, and I've heard free summer concerts here. The Mall is for ALL of us, and how appropriate that we will be here marching for what we believe!

If you happen to be strolling over Sainte Catherine Street on your way to Campus or Stock Bar, you can't miss this charming little Italian restaurant. The location is in the Gay Village where all the action is. La Piazzetta has an excellent selection of interesting salads, pizzas and focaccias. And if you happen to be there on a chilly Montreal day, try one of their delicious soups. The servers are pleasant and charming, and the prices are reasonable. I've eaten here several times and I'll definitely return.

Sacre-Coeur Basilica is perched on top of the hill in Montmartre, the famous Parisian nightclub district. You can take a funicular to the top of the hill and walk around to enjoy the panorama. The church is fairly new by Parisian standards--it was completed in 1914. The structure has distinct Roman and Byzantine influences, unusual for Parisian buildings. If you go inside, note the elaborate mosaic behind the altar. But if you go for no other reason, go for the view! Take a few minutes and just sit on the steps and enjoy the beautiful sights of Paris.