Harrisburg is the capital and almost geographical center of the state of Pennsylvania. Once depressed and down, Harrisburg had a resurgence thanks to the money being spent by the state in development. Unfortunately in 2010 the effect of that spending caused severe financial problems (see What is Not Special About Harrisburg below). Its geographical setting is spectacular, located as it…...

Santa Clarita Valley (not similar sounding Santa Clara) contains one of the larger cities in LA County, as well as many other developments. The valley was part of the Rancho San Francisco Mexican land grant. Some of the communities within it include the city of Santa Clarita, which is made up of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. Adjacent unincorporated communities…...

Frankfort, Kentucky, with a population of 27,590, (2012), is one of the smallest state capitals in the nation.  The town is located in the Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky, and has an interesting if not turbulent history dating back to the Civil War when the Union Army built forts overlooking Frankfort, and the Confederate Army also occupied the area for…...

Nimes is an ancient city in southern France near the Mediterranean.  It was conquered by the Romans and has many well-preserved buildings and ruins from the early AD years. Those include an Amphitheater, Maison Carre'e, and the Temple of Diane. eterans of the Roman legions who had served Julius Caesar in his Nile campaigns, at the end of fifteen years of…...