The Willis Tower (a.k.a. The Sears Tower) is also not too far away. It's one of the tallest buildings in the entire world and has a spectacular view of the entire city... on a clear day. It's also not too far from the John Hancock Building, which now featuresTILT, an attraction that actually "tilts" you more than 1000 feet over Chicago. 

         And for the music lover's...the blues scene is still vibrant! Chicago B.L.U.E.S is one of the best blues clubs in Chicago. It has that 'old school' blues club feeling that literally makes you want to say, "Sweet Home Chicago!" 

           This city is still one of the most enchanted cities the U.S. has to offer. Not only are there music festivals, such as my favorite, The Essence Music festival, there is also "amazing" food! If you go to New Orleans, you have to visit The Court of Two Sisters. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! The way they cook their sweet potatoes... is indescribable. There are also some great places to try gator tails, either blackened or crispy. I know you are probably saying, "GATOR TAILS?? WHAT?" Trust me, it's better to not knock it before you try it. 

         It's historical and it's our country's capital but it's incredible the amount of things there are to see here. Not only is there a visit to the Lincoln Memorial, a nice walk by the White House or the Washington Monument, D.C. has so many cool museums. Of course, my favorite is the most recent: The National Museum of African American History and Culture. It may take forever to get tickets to this museum but the history behind its walls will literally take months of visits to fully absorb. The museum shows how far African Americans have come in this country and shows the contributions they've made to humanity way before slavery years. 

        D.C.'s Chinatown is a great place to get a bite to eat. The capital also has its own street car system, which is a nice cheap way to sightsee, and an Old Town Trolley tour that's a little bit on the pricey side but has a "Hop On, Hop Off" option that will take you around D.C. for the entire day.  

Miami

        Miami can be a party city with great beaches and nightclubs, but it is also a cultural oasis. Take a trip to Calle Ocho. There's a Cuban Museum, great salsa clubs, cigar shops that show you how to make a cubano and, if you are into dominos, you can visit Domino Park and challenge some of "los viejos" at a game or two. There's also Little Haiti, which has an amazing museum and Chef Creole, a restaurant with the best fried conch in Florida. 

         As for adventurers, Miami is not too far from Islamorada and the Keys. There's great snorkeling and the scuba diving is breathtaking. Get certified and go on a night dive. The lobsters and turtles are waiting! LOL.

           For those who are already familiar with the sights and sounds of New York, there are still some cool and amazing things for tourists and residents to enjoy. The summertime means that jet ski is open and available for anyone who wants their own unique tour of sites such as The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Grab a few friends or just yourself and go take a party boat (spp... Groupon has some good deals) along the East River. Jam to Jay Z and Alicia Key's "Empire State of Mind" (most of the boats play it every time) as it passes Ms. Liberty at night. Even till this day, the combination of city lights and music from the boat leaves me in euphoria.