Maine tourism officials optimistic about summer

ROCKLAND, Maine — The sky was blue, the sun was out — and tourists on Saturday were thronging midcoast hot spots like the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland and the Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast.

Judy Hart of Rowley, Mass., wore a sparkly cowboy hat as she danced to the raucous music of Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials at Harbor Park in Rockland. It’s the fifth year she’s traveled north for the festival weekend.

Cayo Coco, Cuba

Now that the United States is opening up to Cuba, maybe you can experience for yourself the beautiful waters of Cayo Coco.

Best Places to Swim in the World

When you think of taking a beautiful tropical vacation, you’re often thinking of sitting on the beach and sipping on a fruity drink. But, doing that can only get you so far. It gets hot in those tropical climates, and you’re going to need to cool off! You could, of course, head back to the air conditioning of your room or suite, but there’s a better option, and it’s only a few feet in front of you. We’re talking about the open waters!

Swimming in the ocean is one of the greatest joys in life, and one that not enough people get to fully enjoy. However, if you travel to one of the places that offers the best swimming in the world, you can have an unforgettable experience.

On the following list, we’re going to identify the best places to swim in the entire world. All of them feature pristine beaches, with beautiful warm waters and a tremendous surrounding environment. However much you might love your local beach (or the one you travel to often), these swimming spots are a cut above the rest. So, put on your swim trunks, limber up, and let’s take a look!

Sydney

Sydney is the largest city of the smallest continent Australia. The city is more popular for its harbourfront Opera House. The coastal city Sydney is one of the most visited places of the entire southern hemisphere.

sydney
Major attractions of Sydney are Opera House, Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour, The Rocks, Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Sydney Tower, Wild Life Sydney, Sea Life, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, Sydney Harbour National Park, Powerhouse Museum, Queen Victoria Building, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney Cove, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kamay Botany bay National Park, Shark Island, Sydney International Aquatic Centre, Quay, etc.

Barcelona

Barcelona is more popular as cosmopolitan capital of Spain and known for its quirky art and architecture, vibrant street life, and inventive foods. The city has historical link and there are many attractions around the city that tourists love to visit.

Barcelona
The popular tourists’ attractions are Park Guell, Casa Mila, Gothic Quarter, Montjuic, Magic Fountain of Montjuic, Palau de la Musica Catalana, Camp Nau, Montserrat, Museu Picasso, Parc de la Ciutadella, Poble Espanyol, Barcelona Zoo, Columbus Monument, Placa d’Espanya, Aquarium Barcelona, Sagrat Cor, Torre Agbar, Centre de Cultura Contemporania, Parc del Laberint d’Horta, Fundacio Antoni Tapies, Museu de la Xocolata, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to name a few.

Rome

Rome, the capital of Italy, Rome is popular for its art, architecture, and culture. Many tourists of the world as well as students (especially studying history and architecture) visit this place.

rome
Major tourist’s destination in Rome are Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, Spanish Steps, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Castel Sant’ Angelo, Aventine Hill, Altare della Patria, Piazza Venezia, Hadrian’s Villa, Doria Pamphili Gallery, Circus Maximus, and many more.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a global financial center and is very popular for its skyline (high rising towers). Formerly, it was the British Colony, but now it is an independent region of China popularly known as SAR (Special Administrative Region).

Hong Kong
Among the tourists’ places Hong Kong’s Disneyland, Lantau Island, Victoria Peak, Man Mo Temple Ngong Ping 360, Wetland Park, Lamma Island, International Finance Center, Cheung Chau, Bank of China Tower, Zoological Garden, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, State Square, Highcliff, Sharp Peak, etc. are popular.

Besides, Hong Kong is also known for its lively food scene where you can get the cheap Cantonese dim as well as the extravagant high tea. The shopping especially at spanning chaotic Temple Street Night Market is very thrilling.