If you could take just one photo: The complex completing the mesa

I.M. Pei carefully considered your approach. At the base of the hill you can't see anything, but as the road traces its rising arc, NCAR emerges into your line of sight as naturally as the red rocks of the Flatirons or the surrounding pinyon trees. From the west, the horizontal lines parallel the straight edge of the Great Plains beyond. From the east the pinkish stone and vertical shafts of NCAR's towers mirror the erupted bedrock of the Front Range. This visionary architecture extrapolates from the stone, the curves and lines creating a space for man perfectly compatible with the surroundings.

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If you could take just one photo: The massive collection

In the age of Amazon, Time Tested Books has lived up to its name. Housed in a brick building on Midtown's 21st Street, with ample natural light streaming in, Time Tested is not your average flea market bookseller. Organized by detailed sections, you can find fiction old and new, history, politics, how-to manuals, and just about anything a big bookstore would offer. In addition to the price savings, they have a buy-back policy that lets you exchange a purchased book for a percentage of a new one. The store also supports local events and businesses. Check out the Sunday "Living Library," a weekly series that invites authors, artists, and musicians to speak and perform for free.

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If you could take just one photo: The historic buildings

Forget what you've heard. Sacramento is no longer that place to pull over and go to the bathroom on the way to Tahoe. Drive into Midtown, the oldest section of the city and discover,the grid: a mix of urban style independent stores, restaurants and drinking establishments housed in beautifully preserved turn of the century buildings. Walk down J st.and stop in at the popular, Tapas the World Spanish cuisine restaurant, or enjoy a cocktail and hooka with friends next door at the Kasbah Lounge. You can shop for used and vintage clothes a few blocks away on 21st. at Freestyle Clothing Exchange, then pop down the block to Time Tested Books. If drinking is on your agenda, Midtown hosts a diverse range of bars from neighborhood joint, The Golden Bear, to the late night speakeasy style of The Shady Lady. With it's rich history, architecture, and eclectic style,If you think you know Sacramento, think again, Midtown has truly become the next, yet to be discovered pocket for living and entertainment.

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If you could take just one photo: The fountain glittering in the sun

A terraced oasis of green, this park bridges neighborhoods and cultural divides as people from across the city descend on the grass to take in the DC sun. While the tourists stay down at the mall, only locals visit this park, alternately named Malcolm X Park, in honor of the civil rights leader. Groups congregate with picnic baskets and blankets to eat and toss a Frisbee on the flat upper part of the park, while shirtless guys and bikini-clad girls take in the rays on the gentle slope by the fountain. The biggest draw, however, is the rumbling drum circle every Sunday afternoon that has drawn talented percussionists from across the world for more than three decades. Hundreds turn out to take part in this uniquely DC tradition, dancing and playing until late in the evening.

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If you could take just one photo: The simple, elegantly plated dishes

Opened by Washington, DC celebrity chef José Andrés in 2003, Zaytinya was a force in bringing the small-plate revolution to the fore. Called mezze, these eminently shareable small plates draw inspiration from Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine. The interior’s whitewashed walls and blue banquettes recall the sun-dappled Mediterranean shores, all the better to accompany the thoughtful, artistically plated dishes. Meals begin with wire baskets of freshly baked pita that emit a tantalizing puff of steam when opened. use this pitas as doughy vehicles for the host of savory spreads, from the creamy tzatziki to the richly orange taramosalata, or fish roe. Choose several options to pass among your fellow diners, like the flaky spanakopita or the lamb and beef kissed by traditional herbs and spices. Pour a glass of wine from the lengthy list of bottles from the region that pairs well with the bold flavors of this innovative restaurant.

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If you could take just one photo: The central bar

Anchoring a corner in a rapidly developing neighborhood, this B&P is a younger sibling of the original U street corridor cultural hangout. Find a seat on the patio in the summer and enjoy looking out at the soaring piece of public art dominating the corner. A high ceiling and the winding central staircase makes the space feel open and bright, drawing in natural light from the tall glass windows. Peruse the bookstore or attend thought-provoking events that complement the cafe-style fare and plenty of beers on tap. Even if you don’t come to listen to a speaker or hear some music, a night a Busboys has become a DC tradition.

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It has been said that people of earlier centuries did not live as long as now. This statement can pique the interest when perusing old cemeteries. For revealed in them are many people who lived well into their eighties or nineties. Cast-iron genes or luck? Perhaps both, and an immune system that made it to maturity. Before vaccines and antibiotics the usual childhood diseases brought low the young - not to mention epidemics of typhoid, yellow fever or cholera, especially common in port towns. But once beyond the teen years, most people made it through adulthood. It is the tombstones of children that touch the heartstrings for they tell of having been cherished members of a family. “To Our Darling Rose” etched below this urn shares the love for a daughter that reaches even into today.

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Like slipping into the quiet hum of the Dutch Antilles after visiting the more garish resorts of St. Thomas, Benelux is an oasis of comfortable, well-worn culture and home of cozy delicacies and welcoming community. Sip locally roasted "koffee," and brush the powdered sugar off your nose after enjoying a Belgian Waffle served with warm Nutella. If you prefer your comfort food more savory, their quiche is humbly exquisite. A perfect blend of hospitality with an unimposing European flavor, this cafe is the perfect setting for stress-free first dates or post-hangover caffeine infusions. Benelux Cafe is the hub of a growing community of cycling enthusiasts who meet every Tuesday evening, spandex and all, to go for a short ride before dismounting to mingle with others from the weekly peloton. A pack may split off and spill outside on to the cobblestone streets of Raleigh's City Market, their lingering perhaps engendered by the Tuesday night beer specials and interesting conversation.

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