For accommodation, stay at the Harbour Rocks Hotel. This 4-star hotel is in close proximity to other attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbour. Wotif.com showed rates as low as A$149/night.

Let’s start the day by perusing the stalls at an open air market for art and souvenirs.  The Rocks Market which occupies a closed-off portion of George St from Dawes Point Park down to Hickson Rd. Over 150 stalls can be found under the distinctive yellow sails every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Next we’ll head to Australia’s oldest Observatory. Built in 1858, Sydney Observatory was essential to ship navigation, meteorology, timekeeping and for studying the southern hemisphere. The Observatory became a museum in 1982. The historic lens telescope in the south dome dates from 1874 and is the oldest regularly used telescope in Australia. In contrast, the mirror telescope in the north dome is fully computer controlled and incorporates the latest technology. The observatory is open daily from 10a to 5p and admission costs A$7.

You may have seen the breathtaking view of the Harbour Bridge from the Observatory. Now let’s head there for a closer inspection. The Harbour Bridge is fondly known as the “Coat Hanger” and is visible from many parts of the Rocks. It is possible to walk over the bridge through a pedestrian walkway. We’ll enter on the western side on Fort St near Observatory Hill. Once on the bridge, let’s climb up the the Bridge Pylon to the Pylon Lookout. For A$9.50 admission fee, the Pylon Lookout offers fantastic views of the city, harbour, and the Opera house.

It’s time to rest our feet and have an oyster & champagne lunch. Let’s head to the Sydney Oyster Cove located on the east side of Circular Quay. This casual spot offers everything from oysters to salmon to lobster. It is also possible to create your own seafood platter for a customized meal. Opt for alfresco dining where you can take in views of both the harbour and the city.

After lunch let’s head to The Sydney Opera House. One of Sydney’s most beautiful and unusual buildings, the Opera House is world famous. It is possible to walk around the building, and some of the foyer areas free of change. For A$35 (or A$29 online), a guided 1-hr tour is available for those interested in seeing the inner workings of the Opera House.

Located a short walk around the water’s edge from the Sydney Opera House, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful settings you will see anywhere. The Royal Botanics Gardens have more than one million specimens and there is even a hop-on hop-off “train” for speedy access to different parts of the gardens. Entry to the gardens is free and closes at sunset.

Tonight let’s have dinner and enjoy a jazz concert at The Basement Club. Recognized as Australia’s number one jazz venue, The Basement delivers a wide range of styles with bands play almost every night. The dining room offers modern Australian cuisine with a flare of Asian influence. Booking ahead is a must.

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The home base of this itinerary is situated in two of the oldest and grandest buildings in Brisbane. Formerly the Treasury Building and the Lands Administration Building, these historical structures have been restored and converted into the 5-star Treasury Hotel & Casino. In addition to packaged deals on the hotel’s website, I found A$185/night on wotif.com.

The first stop on this itinerary is the Brisbane City Hall located by the King George Square. City Hall’s 92-meter (~300-ft) clock tower was once Brisbane’s highest point, complete with an observation platform offering a panoramic view of the city. Access to the observation platform is open to public daily from 10:00a to 3:00p. Before leaving the City Hall, take a tour through the Art Gallery & Museum (now Museum of Brisbane) and brush up on Brisbane’s history. Admissions to the Clock Tower & the Museum are free.

Next we’ll head to the Queen Street Mall. Considered the center fashion and retail in Queensland, this pedestrian mall houses over 700 retailers and sees over 26 million visitors each year. On Wednesdays a Farmer’s Market is open on Reddacliff Place, where Queen Street meets the river. As you stroll down Queen Street, stop at one of the many open air cafes for lunch. From your perch, make sure to take note of the victorian-era building facades along Queen Street. Many of these buildings were preserved and restored during the development and construction of the mall.

After lunch we’ll cross the Brisbane River and make our way to The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). GoMA is Australia’s largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, and focuses on the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Here you’ll also find the Australian Cinematheque, where film screenings are held. Admission to the GoMA is free though certain exhibitions may require an entry fee.

A great way to take in Brisbane’s South Bank water front is a stroll the Clem Jones Promenade. Along the promenade one finds the Wheel of Brisbane, the South Bank Arbour, and a swimming lagoon with  a man-made sandy beach. The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from Moreton Bay and topped up each year in order to maintain its pristine condition.

Cross the river toward the Botanic Gardens. The gardens is open daily (closes at 5p during winter months from April – August), with free guided tours daily at 11a & 1p. Follow the main path that leads through the center of the gardens to Albert Street at the northern end of the gardens. Here you’ll find many tall palm trees, a lily pond, shaded pagodas and benches, tropical plants and flowers.

Restaurant II awaits as you exit the gardens. Cozy up in one of the lounge seats and select a wine to unwind with. One of the top 10 dining establishments in Brisbane, Restaurant II’s wine list offers selections from all over Australia and New Zealand as well as wines from abroad. While they don’t offer tasting flights, feel free to ask for a sample pour if you are unsure what to order.

A visit to Brisbane would not be complete without visiting a live music venue. Take a taxi to Fortitude Valley, a neighborhood known for its night life. Tonight we’ll end the evening at The Troubadour. Opened in 2003, this boutique music venue presents local, interstate and international acts regularly. The venue is open Tuesday – Sunday. Be sure to check its events calendar and purchase tickets in advance as  featured acts can sell out.

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The hotel choice for this itinerary is the Galleria Park Hotel located in downtown San Francisco. This 3.5-star hotel is a few blocks from Union Square, Chinatown, and offers easy access to the rest of the city. I found rates as low as $90/night on hotels.com. I should also mention that, just like the rest of San Francisco, the hotel is pet-friendly.

Get an early start today and take a 20-minute stroll down 3rd street to Butler and the Chef. The restaurant is tucked away in South Park, a small, oval-shaped park situated in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood. South Park was originally constructed in 1855, modeling after a square in London, as the center of an exclusive residential community. The area flourished during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, sometimes described as “ground zero” of the dot com, with many start-up Internet companies based in the area. Today the area is still home to many Web-related companies.

After a breakfast of cappuccino and the Niman Ranch Ham Benedict, head up 3rd Street toward the Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). It is the only museum in the western United States devoted to collecting and exhibiting the full scope of modern and contemporary art according to the museum’s website. Annually, the museum hosts more than twenty exhibitions and over three hundred educational programs. Make sure to head to the 5th floor open-air space. The Rooftop Garden offers dramatic views of both the San Francisco skyline and sculptural works in the museum’s collection.

For lunch, head to Yank Sing on Stevenson Street to enjoy Chinese-style tapas better known as dim sum. Dim sum consists small plates that include meat, seafood, vegetable, desserts and fruits. While not the cheapest dim sum joint in town, I’ve found Yank Sing to be consistently good. Be sure to order the Peking Duck & Shanghai dumplings. The dumplings rival those from Shanghai Dumpling King’s, which some consider to be the best in San Francisco.

Our next stop is the Ferry Building at Market and Embarcadero. The Ferry Building is both a ferry terminal and a marketplace. From outside the buidling, take in the magnificent view of the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island, and the Berkeley hills across the bay. Inside the building, you’ll find 40 or so fixed merchants offering local artisan products. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, the Ferry Building also houses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Started as a one-time event in 1992, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market’s popularity led to the opening of a year-round market in May 1993. Today as many as 15,000 shoppers visit the market every Saturday.

As the day winds down, let’s make our way to Union Square. This one-block plaza and nearby area is one of the largest collection of department stores, upscale boutiques, tourist trinket shops, art galleries, and salons in the Western United States. Take refuge at one of Rulli’s Caffe’s patio tables. The location offers the perfect vantage point to people watch and enjoy the liveliness that San Francisco offers.

Tonight we’ll expand our palate with French Vietnamese dishes at Le Colonial located on Cosmo at Taylor. This sexy restaurant is decorated with spinning ceiling fans, tropical plants, rattan furniture, and French Colonial decor. The menu is an imaginative mix of traditional Vietnamese flavors and Western ingredients. Make sure to try my 2 favorite dishes: tender wok-seared beef tenderloin with watercress onion salad and coconut curry with black tiger prawns.

Before heading back to the hotel, take a detour through The Hidden Vine. This unique wine bar is tucked away in the same alley as Le Colonial. Voted the Best Wine Bar by CitySearch since 2005, this hidden gem offers oenophiles a lovely, casual atmosphere. The space is decorated in comfortable furniture, candles and fixtures reminiscent of an old English study. With 30 wines by the glasses featuring reds and whites from mostly small producers, this just the place to end the night.

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The home base of this trip is the Hotel Delavigne, a charming 3-star Parisian hotel located on a quiet street at the edge of the Latin Quarter. Conveniently located in between 6th and 5th arrondisements, the hotel offers easy access to the metro and everything Paris has to offer. Booking.com shows rates starting at €145/night.

Begin the day by taking a stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg, the 25 hectares of green oasis in the middle of Paris. Here visitors will nearly 200 statues, including a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty. The French Senate is housed in Palais du Luxembourg, found in the northern part of the park. At the center of the park one will find the Grand Bassin, an octagonal pond surrounded by lawns and alleys. I once sat on one of the many chairs by the pound, watching a group of finches playing in a pool of water formed after an afternoon thunderstorm. Grab a seat. It’s a great place to people watch.

Next stop on today’s journey is the Panthéon. Originally commissioned as a church, the building was converted into a mausoleum honoring historical figures after the French Revolution. Take the guided tour and climb to the dome for an excellent view of Paris. The admission is 7.5 euros for adults.

For lunch, pop into Jardin des Pâtes‎ on Rue Lacépède. A cozy eatery with menu made up of homemade pasta dishes. Even a simple pasta with bolognese sauce is to die for. A meal here won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The first stop after lunch is Arènes de Lutèce‎, the only surviving above-ground ruins of the Gallo-Roman era in Paris. This ancient Roman theatre was built around the 2nd century AD and rediscovered in 1869 during the building of Rue Monge.

Continue west toward Rue Mouffetard. One of Paris’s oldest and liveliest neighborhoods starting at Place de la Contrescarpe. Rue Mouffetard is a remnant of an old Roman road with buildings date from the 12th century. In addition to housing a market every morning, the street offers a wide variety of shops. Make sure to stop in La Fontaine for wine tasting. Here one can find quality wines at attractive prices.

If there’s still time left in the day, catch the metro to see the Catacombs, Paris’ famous underground ossuary. From the Censier – Daubenton‎ metro station, catch the M7 line to Place d’Italie‎ and change to the M6 line. Exit at Denfert-Rochereau‎ metro stop and find the Catacombs at 1, Place Denfert-Rochereau.

The entrance fee to the Catacombs is 7 euros for adults. The mile-long walk through the underground underground tunnels and chambers is not for the faint of heart. There are thought to be around six million skeletons in the catacombs. Skulls and stacks of bones are arranged along the walls, with piles reaching as high as 5 feet.

After a long walk, the metro serves as the perfect transport to take you back to the hotel. Take the M4 to Odeon then the 2 blocks to the hotel. Rest up before heading to Le Petit Prince de Paris for a pleasant restaurant experience. The service is superb and the atmosphere is relaxed. The 3-course menu offers authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices.

Book a room at The Curtis Hotel, a trendy, 3.5 star boutique hotel in downtown Denver. Hotel.com shows rates as low as $84/night.

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From the hotel, head up 15th street toward the Millennium Bridge. The bridge connects the Riverfront Park and the 16th Street Mall. Take the glass elevator to the top for a great view of downtown. Next head to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Founded in 1996, MCA DENVER was formed to provide the city with its first contemporary art museum. General admission is $10 per person.

For lunch, head to Wynkoop Brewery for burgers and beer. Wynkoop is one of Denver’s most popular brewpubs and offers free brewery tours on Saturdays between 1 – 5 p.m.

After lunch, head to Union Station. At its height, 70 trains a day at one time passed through Denver. Not quite as many trains pass through Union Station these days, but the beautiful building (originally constructed in 1881) still attracts visitors with its Breaux Arts-style design, expansive interior and stone clock tower.

Continue down on 16th street. The 16th Street Mall is a 16-block long pedestrian and transit mall that serves as the retail core of Downtown Denver. There’s a free shuttle service aptly named the 16th Street MallRide that runs up and down 16th street. Make sure that you stop and check out the following landmark shops and sites along 16th street: Oxford Hotel, Rockmount Ranch Wear, Tattered Cover Book Store.

Before heading back to the hotel, stop by Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret’s box office to check for tonight’s show times and buy tickets to a show. This classy speakeasy features Burlesque acts, drag shows, circus acts, films, big bands and jazz combos several nights a week. Located in the D&F Tower (Daniels & Fisher), modeled after The Campanile (St. Mark’s Bell Tower) at the Piazza San Marco in Venice and its four clocks (one for each side) are a whopping 16 feet high.

Tonight we’ll dine at Red Square Euro Bistro near Larimer Square. Voted Best of Citysearch for Conversation Bar 2005, you’ll find contemporary European cooking and traditional Russian fare here. With a full belly and a vodka buzz, we’re off to Lannie’s for tonight’s show…

Looking for more to do? Check out the Itinerary Maker online at denver.org.

The Back Bay neighborhood runs along the Charles River on the opposite side of Cambridge. This trendy neighborhood contains upscale shopping, boutiques, art galleries, and fabulous restaurants. The area is home to Copley Place, Prudential Center and The John Hancock Tower, Trinity Church, and shopping along Newbury Street.

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The home base of the trip is the Charlesmark Hotel a block from Copley Square. This 3-star boutique offers complimentary breakfast and wireless internet starting at $130/night.

Following a continental breakfast at the hotel, head to Prudential Center on Huntington Ave. In front of Shaw’s we’ll board the Duck tour. For $29.95, the World War II amphibious vehicle takes us through Boston landmarks including the State House, Bunker Hill, Fleet Center, The Common, Copley Square, Government Center, Newbury Street, Quincy Market and Prudential Tower. Though the highlight of the 1hr 20min tour is when the Duck splashes into the Charles River for views of Boston and Cambridge.

Returning to the Prudential Center, head north toward Newbury Street for a bit of (window) shopping. Known as the “Rodeo Drive of the East,” Newbury Street serves as Boston’s representative of fashion and style. The street is home to an eclectic mix of independent shops and high-end

For lunch stop in Stephanie’s on Newbury for a bowl of Boston Clam Chowder. The sidewalk cafe offers a nice resting spot for people watching and al fresco dining. Following lunch, continue east on Newbury Street toward the Public Garden.

Shopping isn’t the thing one can do on Newbury Street. There are nearly 40 art galleries for one to wander through. Some notable ones include Vose, International Poster Gallery, Galerie d’Orsay, and Newbury Fine Arts.

Nebury Street end at the Public Garden. Established in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in the United States, the twenty-four acre features a irregularly shaped pond where gardengoers can take leisurely cruise with the foot-pedal-powered Swan Boats for $2.75 during summer months.

Tonight’s dinner destination is Excelsior on Boylston Street. Its epic selection of international wine varietals are strikingly housed in a climate-controlled, three-story glass tower. Dine in the lounge and try the restaurant’s signature lobster pizza. The pizza is a favorite of Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, who eats frequently at Excelsior with his wife, Juliana.

End the evening at the Oak Bar at the Fairmont Copley Hotel. Boston Magazine has named the Oak Bar ‘Best Hotel Bar’. Offering one of Boston’s largest martini menus, the Oak Bar is just the right place for that night cap to end the day.