Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico. The Albuquerque metropolitan area includes the city of Rio Rancho, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost. In 1880, the Santa Fe Railroad attempted to reach Albuquerque but was unable and passed by just two miles away. A new town grew at its location and was named New Albuquerque. The original settlement became known as Old Town, which is now an important historical district. The city has strived to maintain its multi-cultural background. The Albuquerque Museum Association was formed in 1961 and opened the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History in 1967. The museum features art of the Southwest and Albuquerque history spanning 400 years. The Albuquerque Biological Park is a natural park featuring the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Rio Grande Zoo, and Tingley Beach. Albuquerque also holds the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 with 13 balloons and has set record attendance in the thousands. The maximum number of balloons allowed to register is now set at 750.

Austin was first inhabited by multiple Native American tribes, with the first permanent settlement in 1835. The city is now the capital of Texas and a prominent cultural and economic center. Austin's skyline is unique in that the city requires that the Texas State Capitol Building must be seen from various viewpoints throughout the city. This restricts the construction of numerous or tall buildings. The most unique structure is the Congress Avenue Bridge, which is home to the largest urban population of Mexican free-tailed bats. Austin residents enjoy the eclectic atmosphere and hope to preserve it by adopting the unofficial slogan 'Keep Austin Weird'. New museums, like the Austin Museum of Digital Art, and new music venues open frequently. The city's official nickname is 'The Live Music Capital of the World'. It boasts to have more music venues per capita than any other city in the U.S., with Sixth Street, formally Pecan Street, at its center. The street is famous for its many nightclubs, live music venues and festivals. They host well-known festivals like the Austin Film Festival, Austin City Limits and South by Southwest.

Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and is independent, meaning it is not part of the local government entity. The city was the second leading port for immigrants in the 1800's and got its name from founding proprietor, Lord Baltimore, who got his name from his originating town in Ireland. Baltimore's port made the city an early thriving center, being more accessible than Boston and New York. During the War of 1812, Fort McHenry played an important role in protecting the port from the British navy. Today, the port is an attraction as well as a seaport. Harborplace is a festival marketplace that helped with the attraction of tourists and revived the downtown harbor area. Baltimore's historical architecture and design can be seen in the city's important buildings. The Baltimore Basilica features classical designs from the 1800's. The basilica is America's oldest Catholic Cathedral and was constructed under the guidance of America's first Bishop, John Carroll. The Baltimore Museum of Art opened in 1914 and holds one the most important art collections in the world, with pieces from Picasso and Matisse.

Boston is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is the largest city in New England with almost 600,000 residents. The city was founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists from England and was the site for numerous historical events during the American Revolution. The Boston National Historical Park is a collection of parks that showcase Boston’s role in the American Revolution. Most sites are connected by the Freedom Trail, which tours through downtown Boston. The most prominent site on the tour is the Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill. Boston is also home to the Boston Athenaeum, the oldest and largest membership library in the U.S. The library functions as both a library and art gallery museum. It contains more than 700,000 books, including original works from George Washington. Boston is well-known for its participation in sports. The city is home to many sports teams as well as sporting events, like the Boston Marathon and Head of the Charles Regatta. The biggest sport attraction is Fenway Park, one of only three remaining classic parks in major baseball. It was the home stadium of Babe Ruth and is said to hold more tradition than any other stadium.

Chicago goes by many names including the 'Windy City' and Chi-Town'. It has grown rapidly since it's founding in 1833 and has become the third most populated city in the U.S. with nearly 3 million residents. It is also the cultural capital of the Midwest, holding strong influences in transportation, politics, finance and medicine. Chicago is a flourishing center for cultural activities. Along Lake Michigan, attractions like Millennium Park and the Navy Pier can be found. These historical landmarks offer great education and entertainment. Topping the cultural activities list is Field Museum, which houses the largest dinosaur skeleton in the world. The museum's other main feature is the outdoor architecture, which is styled in World Columbian Exposition. Chicago attracts nearly 33 million visitors each year. Many come for conventions, as it is the third largest city to hold them. Others come for luxury shopping along Magnificent Mile and to view its global architecture. The city's skyline is among the best in the world. The Sears Tower dominates the view, at 442 meters tall. The skyscraper remains the tallest skyscraper in the world, contrary to speculation.

The Field Museum is part of the scenic complex better known as Museum Campus Chicago. The structure exemplifies the architecture from the World's Columbian Exposition of the 1890's. The museum houses many objects from the departments of anthropology, zoology, botany and geology. The Field Museum is most famous for Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil skeleton in the world.

Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio and is considered the first major American boomtown. The city rapidly expanded in the 19th century, which made it the first major inland city. Cincinnati’s cityscape is designed with a focus around Fountain Square, Cincinnati and surrounded by many tall buildings. Downtown Cincinnati is home to many big corporations and is considered the sixth safest region for business in the country. Cincinnati hosts many festivals and events, including the Cincinnati Flower Show, the Festival of Lights, the Tall Stacks Festival and the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, to celebrate the city’s German heritage. The German immigrants in the 19th century also developed the largest National Historic District in the U.S. The Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Cincinnati contains the largest collection of Italianate and European style architecture in the country. Cincinnati’s Eden Park is home to the city’s cultural attractions. The park covers 186 acres and features the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Playhouse in the Park and the Irwin M. Kron Conservatory. The Kron Conservatory is a top attraction and holds plants from all over the world and hosts six flower shows annually.