The city of Victoria, British Columbia takes advantage of its geographic location and its historical architecture and now supplies a great deal of tourists each year with a wonderful stay in what can be described as a beautifully quaint community. The placement within view of so many gorgeous mountains and right on the water is enough to satisfy the most discriminating visitor. Here though are seven things you don’t know about the city of Victoria, British Columbia.

1. Victoria was the capitol of the old Vancouver Island Colony which wasn’t included politically with the mainland until they were joined in 1866, the city remained the capital of the new united colony at that point.

2. The Victoria Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association won hockey’s Stanley Cup in 1925.

3. The Jordan River Diversion Dam, built in 1911, is Victoria’s main source of hydroelectric power.

4. Victoria sits on the western end of Canada’s Trans-Canada Highway which is the longest national highway any where in the world.

5. Nearby Sydney, BC is home to the only Canadian port of call for the Washington State Ferry system. Thousands of tourists every year use this connection as a way to visit beautiful Victoria, British Columbia.

6. Before becoming a city, the area that would become Victoria was long known as Fort Victoria. It had first been established and known for a short time as Fort Albert.

7. The oldest synagogue in continuous use in Canada is Temple Emanuel which was built in Victoria in 1863.

A visit to the city of Victoria, British Columbia is a great way to spend a vacation. From the natural beauty of the surrounding waters and mountains to the historical beauty of the city itself, the city of Victoria is a must stop for anyone traveling through the Pacific Northwest area.

The name Hollywood is famous around the world as being the home of movies and television. Though today most of the major motion picture studios have relocated elsewhere, Hollywood still has strong ties to the entertainment community. Much is known about this famous area, but here are 7 things you don’t know about Hollywood, California.

1. For seven years Hollywood was actually its own city. It was incorporated as a city in 1903 and annexed into the city of Los Angeles in 1910.

2. After the success and fame generated by Rudolph Valentino’s movie ‘The Sheik’, the mascot of Hollywood High School became ‘The Sheik’.

3. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were part owners of Grauman’s Chinese Theater at the time they were honored as being the first two people to get their footprints put on display in cement in front of this famous building.

4. In the early history of Hollywood, only pharmacists were trusted to sell liquor.

5. The famous Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood first opened in 1927 and was named after President Theodore Roosevelt.

6. The first star awarded on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame went to actress Joanne Woodward in 1960.

7. Hollywood High School has had a number of students graduate and go on to fame in the entertainment industry including Alan Ladd, Sharon Tate, Carole Lombard, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lana Turner, Rita Wilson, Carol Burnett, Mickey Rooney, and John Huston.

Though it is technically not a city itself, the Hollywood area of Los Angeles will remain famous forever based on its history with the television and motion picture industry. A visit to Hollywood is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the history of movies and TV as there are more than enough places devoted to entertainment to keep people occupied for days on end.

St. Louis has been one of the more fun and traveled to cities in the United States for a very long time. The city possesses a great deal of historical significance in American history as well. From being the launching point of many settlers heading west to being an important port city on the Mississippi River, St. Louis’ history has touched a great many people that don’t even realize it. But, here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: St. Louis

1. Forest Park, located within the city limits of St. Louis, is actually larger than the more famous Central Park in New York City.

2. The first bridges, both rail and roadway, built to cross the Mississippi River were built in St. Louis.

3. The tallest man made monument in the United States is the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

4. The second largest Mardi Gras Festival in the United States is celebrated in St. Louis.

5. St. Louis hosted the 1904 Olympics, the games were originally awarded to the city of Chicago but moved to St. Louis to coincide with the 1904 World’s Fair that was being celebrated there.

As one of the larger cities in the midwest, St. Louis will remain an important part of the country for a very long time. The city offers many things for both the tourists that visit and the residents who have chosen it as home. St. Louis is one of many great cities in America and that doesn’t appear to be close to changing anytime soon.

Venice is famous as one of the most one-of-a-kind cities in Europe to visit. With its extensive history and unusual transportation methods through its vast network of canals, Venice never fails to satisfy any traveler to that part of the world. But, here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Venice.

1. Venice has been featured, or at least referenced, in a number of films, including: Othello (1952), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), La Femme Nikita (1990), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), The Italian Job (2003), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), Chasing Liberty (2004), Casanova (2005), and Casino Royale (2006) along with two other James Bond films (Moonraker and From Russia With Love).

2. The city of Venice sits on what is known as the Venetian Lagoon and stretches across more than 115 separate and individual islands.

3. Venice became part of Italy in 1866. Before that it had been part of, among others, its own Republic, the Austrian Empire, France’s Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire, and the Roman Empire.

4. The classic and much-recognized Venetian Gondola is now mainly only used for tourists.

5. The city of Venice is Europe’s largest urban car-free area.

6. Most of the wood pilings that the foundations of the city of Venice’s buildings sit on came from Russia.

7. Venice is home to more than 400 bridges.

Venice will continue to be a top destination in both Europe and Italy. With the opportunity to see so many things you will never see any where else in the world, why would you want to visit Venice too?

Dubai has burst onto the scene in recent years as a hot spot for both vacation and business travelers. With a massive amount of promotion and development lately, it has been in the news constantly. But, here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Dubai.

1. The sandy desert that exists in much of Dubai is made up of finely crushed coral and sea shells.
2. Electricity and telephone service were not brought to Dubai until the 1950s.
3. Though located in the Middle East, oil and other fuel industries make up less than 10% of Dubai’s yearly economy.
4. The Burj Al Arab, located in Dubai, is the world’s tallest free standing hotel.
5. The largest nationality represented in the permanent residents of Dubai is Indian. Over 1/3 of the people living in Dubai trace their nationality to India.
6. The Palm Islands project in Dubai is the largest land reclamation project in the world. Massive islands are being made in the shape of a palm tree that will one day be filled with businesses, resorts, condominiums, and other structures.
7. Between 1968 and 1975, the population of Dubai went from roughly 58,000 people to over 183,000 people.

A visit to Dubai is unforgettable, with the way the area is growing and expanding, it will be near the top of the list of desired destinations for years to come.