Mazatlan is the second largest city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa with a population of more than 350,000.  No youngster, Mazatlan was founded in 1531. It developed as a commercial seaport, importing equipment for the nearby gold and silver mines. It served as the capital of Sinaloa from 1859 to 1873. The German settlers also influenced the local music,…...

Bradenton is a city of just under 50,000 on the west coast of Florida. It calls itself the friendly city. It is located between Tampa and Sarasota on Tampa Bay and the Manatee River. One of the most interesting things about Bradenton is its Village Arts Center, a reclaimed and specially zoned area where artists live and work. The Pittsburgh…...

Parker is a very fast growing (+90%) town and suburb, located southeast of Denver. This city of 45,000 is quite affluent with a median household income of $86,000. The town offers a variety of community events and boasts an award-winning Recreation Center, and an arts center that hosts many programs and free outdoor concerts in the the park. A beautiful new…...

Toledo is a city of over 300,000 people in northwestern Ohio. The city is located on Lake Erie and the Maumee River.  The city has a proud past and many fine institutions. Many of the suburbs are quite nice. Photo of Aerial view of Maumee Bay State Park on Lake Erie courtesy of Wikipedia and Ken Winters, U.S. Army Corps…...