#861 San Francisco, CA, USA

San Francisco is a really interesting and unique city -- it's mysterious fogs that hide the famous Golden Gate Bridge frequently, the California Gold Rush that helped build it, the incredible 1906 earthquake that destroyed it, its infamous prison island Alcatraz, the strength of the liberal toleration for gay-rights, Chinatown, cable cars, steep streets, a West Coast entrance for many immigrants, the historic center and Market Street, nearby Silicone Valley and many other things. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:San_francisco_fire_1906.jpg

http://prsb.co/3/files/2007/07/worlds-crookedest-street-_1.jpg

The downtown, like most American cities is a grid of numbered avenues and streets, but historical relics remain such as the tram system that the conductors still turn manually, and the majestic buildings of old. The suburbs, with their steep hills and brightly colored rows of houses, are also full of character -- Lombard Street and Filbert Street are famous for being the steepest in the world as they ascend Russian Hill. What a great place -- I want to visit again so I can see all the places I missed.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco

#887 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Whether it's dancing on tables and bars, throwing or receiving beads, climbing out a window to sit on the roof because there is no space in a house, or finding somewhere to eat for 20 people, finding space on the floor to sleep of the friend of a friend's apartment, these are my memories of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. However, New Orleans is so much more than this! It is a heart for jazz, cajun food, French creole architecture, the memories of all that went before Hurricane Katrina, the old streets including the famous/infamous Bourbon Street.

Originally French, but bought by the USA as part of the Louisiana Purchase (which was much more than just current Louisiana state), it was sacked by several, including the British in 1812 and again blockaded by the Union in the Civil War.

I remember being shocked by how segregated it still is, but how delighted I was by the old houses... I wish I had better pictures than those just from a party weekend!

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans

#901 Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Elusive Denali only comes out completed from behind her skirt of clouds once or twice a season and is so large she easily contrives her own weather system. In order to get to where you can see the mountain it is several hours bus ride into the park -- an enormous area of natural beauty and national importance. When I read about McCandless disappearing into the park to live in an old bus, I really didn't understand the scope of the place -- it would be very easy to get lost never to be seen again. 

Like any animal sightseeing in the wild, we were marvelling over moose miles below us on the river, and a bear in the distance, and the marmots were very cute! It is such a vast space and so breathtaking!

#924 Homer, Alaska, USA

At the very southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula is spectacular Homer. I think it is one of the only places that I know of where the main street of the town goes along a narrow strip that juts miles into the sea (except perhaps in the Florida Keys?), although this was significantly altered in the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. Surrounded by the beautiful Kachemak Bay which in turn is surrounded by spectacular mountains of the Kenai Fjords National Park, it's a beautiful spot. Originally a coal and gold mining center, it is now famous for halibut fishing.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer,_Alaska