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Singapore is a place that’s rich with history and culture. It’s served as a major trading port for centuries, and has a very cosmopolitan outlook as a result of continuous contact with the world at large. There are many different cultures that make up the vibrant urban center that is contemporary Singapore, with populations of Indian, Malay, and Chinese descent, as well as a number of other cultures. Every culture has its own traditions, and when they combine, there are some fascinating new traditions that result, as well as some mixtures that are rather spectacular.

On Sentosa Island, the great getaway for so many people in Singapore, as well as the rest of the world, there is a large and looming white figure that seems to offer blessings to those who come and go. Whether it’s the guests staying at the hotels on Sentosa Island , or the locals who are making their daily rounds, it seems to keep an eye on everything and everyone, as if serving as some kind of great protector. In fact, it is.

This is the merlion , a legendary creature that is believed to come from old legends and myths about Singapore, at a time when it was called Temasek. However, there are some who refute this theory and claim it is purely an invention on the part of the Singapore cultural councils to attract attention.

It does attract intention, indeed, and it may have no counterpart in myth or history specifically, but like the poet Edwin Thumboo claims, it probably doesn’t matter. The merlion is half-fish and half-lion, taking its name from stories about the founding of Singapore. The lion figures in the name, and the fish part refers to the sea, so it’s an obvious connection that does refer to very real mythic sources, if such a thing is possible. Mermaids have been part of Singapore’s history, with dozens of mentions in ancient and contemporary stories, so there’s no real reason to disbelieve the merlion more than any other story, and a lot to be gained by paying attention to it.

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The port city of Saint Malo in Brittany France is gaining increasing attention and popularity as a tourist destination. France has always been a popular vacation destination for people from across the world and more and more frequently they are drawn to this walled city in Brittany. The fact that it is fortified by the protective wall is one of the reasons many people are interested in visiting, though there are numerous others. Some have to do with the beautiful geography and cityscape as well as the many interesting cultural attractions in the city. Some of the great hotels in Saint Malo are also excellent sources of information for places to see and can also offer recommendations for great food and assist with transportation resources.

One of the things the city is known for is having some of the best seafood in all of France. It also has one of the highest concentrations of seafood restaurants in the country and one of the recognized specialties is oysters . Most of these come from the near by fishing village of Cancale. In addition to simply enjoying the great seafood that is offered in the city, one of the great atmospheric aspects of it is frequently the establishment itself. Many of the restaurants and cafes are located in historic buildings and beautiful architecture.

In addition to the great oyster dishes that are found in restaurants all over the city, some of the other main specialties are dishes based on mussels, scallops and shell fish. Many of these are small, cozy little places that have a sense of family operation combined with an element of sophistication and local charm. This is a unique combination of features though these small venues are found throughout the city and are a major part of its appeal to tourists. In addition, some of the sidewalk cafes are located near some of the city’s major shopping areas and they offer great opportunities for people watching and delicious afternoon pastry breaks or of course full meals. In addition to everything you will want to do and see while you are in Saint Malo, you will also want to enjoy some of the great seafood you can’t help but to find there.

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Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is where the Atlantic ocean meets the crystalline waters of the Caribbean creating water spirals of colorful hues along the palm tree studded pearly beaches. If drifting off to sleep in a hammock and wispy clouds floating by doesn’t suit your fancy, if golfing at one of the most challenging course in the world isn’t your thing, or if learning more about the history of Christopher Columbus’ first settlement in North America leave you dry, perhaps you’ll enjoy the best fishing in the Caribbean, when from July to September, you can catch Blue Marlin and from April to June, you can catch White Marlin, or perhaps you’ll enjoy taking a drive through the largest sugar cane fields in the country.

Maybe a trip to the Bavaro Runners Ranch, located along the Anamuya Mountains, where you can eat a buffet lunch consisting of rice with black beans, salad, chicken on creole sauce and white rice, beef bistec, fresh fruit and vegetables all the while enjoying a panoramic bird’s eye view of Punta Cana. After lunch, take a refreshing dip in a pristine river nearby. If that doesn’t appeal to you, and yet you still like the Anamuya Mountains, then try horseback riding and mingling with the locals, enjoying their fresh roasted coffee and cacao while learning how they live from the land and how they take organic farming seriously. While still on the mountain, take an exhilarating adventure with the Zip-Line tour that will take you zipping across the Costa Rica Canopy and over the Anamuya Lake. No one will blame you for not wanting to stay at your local hotel , even though the accommodations are probably just as tempting as scuba diving or shopping for local handicrafts, artwork and precious stones like larimar, which is only found in the Dominican Republic.

Punta Cana’s nightlife is where the stars come out to dance across the sky and where you’ll find plenty of places to dance the night away. Either beach-side or inside, the night-time fare is numerous and no matter where you end up, you’ll have fun, great food, endlessly flowing drinks and a night to remember.

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Orlando is not just the title of a literary novel by Virginia Woolf, but a city with a greater metropolitan population of two million plus, and the latest home of a theme park designed around one of the best selling series of novels in the 21st Century, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Orlando already has an abundance of amusement parks, beginning with Disney World itself which opened in 1965, forty-five years ago. Even if neither of these locations are your destination, if you’re traveling this summer to the sunshine state, it’s best to book your rooms early by checking out this site . Once you’ve secured a place to stay, you may consider sites you want to see that won’t be overrun by cheerful mice or pint-sized wizards waving their wands.

For a change of pace in Orlando, take a closer look at science and space at the John F. Kennedy Space Center .

If you’re an avid fan of space travel and its history, then you won’t want to miss the JFK Center, where you may take a close look at a Saturn V rocket and see a space shuttle. A portion of the center acts as a museum to honor the men and women of NASA’s space program from the early Mercury and Apollo missions to the space shuttle itself. In the center’s rocket garden, you can take a look at a number of NASA rockets. You and your family will be able to talk with astronauts in the astronaut encounter in an enjoyable presentation. There’s an IMAX 3-D movie as well that explores the manned lunar program.

Make sure, too, to take one of the tour buses that will travel to three locations: the Saturn V rocket building, the observation gantry, and the international space station building. You might also want to try out the space shuttle simulator to get even closer to space travel.

The center is located on the Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge , so in addition to space, you can take in nature, too, including such possible sights as alligators and a bald eagle nest. It’s a perfect real life antidote to movies-turned-theme park attractions.