These two picturesque waterfront cities attract millions of visitors annually with their history, restaurants and streetscapes.

Megan Singleton laces up and takes a look at the world's premier marathons worth making the trip for.

As San Francisco still buzzes with America's Cup excitement, now is a good time to chart a course for Sonoma.

Sullivan's Island - a place of expensive beach homes and weathered bungalows - is also home to a thriving restaurant district.

Connecticut is a small state that can be crossed in a matter of hours, depending on traffic, offering relatively easy access for travellers.

Kiwi technology firm Booktrack is seeking to "ride the self-publishing wave" and has worked with Google to launch a web-based studio where users can add their own soundtrack to novels, short stories or even blog posts.

Take a look at these pictures from the 2013 MTV Awards.

Rob McFarland finds a city of music, food and friendliness in Texas.

If the annual cheese roll in England or wife carrying competition in Finland is too boring for you, here are five very strange ones that might be worth visiting, even if it's just to tweet a pic from.

Disney fans are flocking to the amusement park in droves following its five-year, US$1.4 billion upgrade.

Hamish McRae is surprised to find a genuine Highland clan gathering in the southeastern USA.

Mary Jane Boland glimpses the American dream at an elite Californian resort.

Famed for its incredibly long pier, which surfers love surfing alongside, Huntington Beach has plenty to keep visitors entertained ...

Kelly Lynch takes to the slopes in Colorado's Winter Park and finds herself on the look-out for moose of the loose.

A weaker New Zealand dollar and signs of life in the US housing market have combined to drive the share price of timber products group Tenon higher.

Nici Wickes is delighted by the amazing choice of quality eats on offer in San Francisco and by the ethical commitment to the food produced there.

Florida's hotel and restaurant costs climb during the peak summer months, but even the most expensive Panhandle resorts are cheaper than Miami Beach.

Flee the fog in San Francisco, writes Christine Sheehy.

Cirque du Soleil is bringing a version of its Michael Jackson show to NZ; at another there's a Kiwi at the helm, finds Leena Tailor.

Actor James Gandolfini's sudden death signifies the end of an era for a popular tour.

New York's famous statue reopens, writes Beth J Harpaz.

Oregon's wine country has plenty to offer, finds Patrice Gaffaney.

The seaboard city has lots of open spaces too, writes Manuel Valdes.

John Lee explores the only visitor attraction in Canada built to withstand a five-megatonne nuclear blast.

Check out these great places to in Nashville, Tennessee.

Suzanne Morphet enjoys more than the bear necessities on a wildlife-filled wilderness cruise in British Columbia.

Nikhil Kumar braves the city's manic streets to put the new bicycle-hire scheme to the test.

The Pacific Coast sand stretches 5.6km between Venice Beach and Malibu and the well-heeled town of Santa Monica sits in the middle facing the best sunsets in California, writes Megan Singleton.