Occoquan is a small village adjacent to Woodbridge in suburban Virginia. The affluent population of this artist community is about 900 people. The town has charming streets laid out in a grid on the Occoquan River (see photo above of marina). People like it for its walkable streets, charming shops, and restaurants. It is convenient to I-95 and the Potomac…...

The Old South lives on in the quaint seaside charm of Beaufort (pronounced b'yoofurt), South Carolina. Known as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands”, this popular retirement community of 11,000 was discovered by the Spanish in 1514 and chartered by the British in 1711. It lies in the Sea Islands or “Low Country” area of South Carolina, just north…...

Cookeville, population 29,000, is in Putnam County and the home of Tennessee Technological University (12,000 students).   Known as the "Hub of the Upper Cumberlands," approximately 25,000 people travel  to work, shop, or attend school in Cookeville each day. The city is located in north central Tennessee. Photos courtesy of Wikipedia and in the public domain....

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…...