Cairns, Australia

First things first - if you are anything like me, you look at this city's name and want to say it like it reads. And you'd be wrong. Try taking out the R to get Carins, and call it "Cans." That's the ticket. Now you are ready for a visit. 

This city is way up the east coast of Australia. The comparison that came to mind during our visit was that it was like Fort Lauderdale - some hot weather, some palm trees, very tropical. It had a slow start in growth, but it became a good-sized spot for tourism in the second half of the 20th century. The cruise ships in the area usually stop there. 

Nature comes into play with all of this. The Great Barrier Reef isn't far away, so Cairns has become a jumping-off point for visits. The same can be said about the rain forest in the area, which touches the protected area around the reef. The people of Cairns are proud that two UNESCO Heritage Areas essentially touch - the only such combination in the world.

The waterfront is the place to go, of course, and there are several nice buildings in that area. People walk on the Esplanade, and some of them head for the lagoon for a swim. It's free, and they keep the crocodiles and stingrays away so that it's safe too.