Suffield is a charming New England town on the northern border of Connecticut, just below Springfield, MA.  The population is about 15,000. It is home to the prestigious Suffield Academy prep school, the Connecticut Culinary Institute, and the International College of Hospitality Management.  It has a classic New England downtown.  Photo of Burbank-Hatheway House, Main Street, Suffield, c. 1735 courtesy…...

Jacksonville was one of the first gold mining towns in the state of Oregon. Although the gold has long played out, its legacy is a town of great beauty and history.  TheJacksonville Historic District is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark.  This town of 2,800, a few miles west of Medford in the Rogue Valley, attracts affluent people who tend…...

Solvang is a small town of about 14,000 people in the Santa Ynez mountains of Southern California. Solvang, which is Danish for "Sunny fields", is about 35 minutes inland from coastal Santa Barbara. Nearby towns include Lompoc, Buellton, Ballard, and Los Olivos.  The area  was made famous when “Sideways”, a dark movie about 2 wine-loving bad boys, was filmed here. …...

Newport News is a busy port, shipbuilding center, and military center in Virginia's Hampton Roads. The population is about 180,000.  Photo of Oyster Point City Center, a redevelopment project, courtesy of Wikipedia and Durrock. The North End is an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city has its rough edges as well as its charms.…...