Travel insights and tips on some of the top attractions and best cities in the world

While I’ve made many trips to New York City, and relish it each and every time, I admit that my comfort level still soars when I have a friend show me about. Not only do they steer me to the most interesting restaurants, taverns and galleries in ethnic neighborhoods, they know the subway system. It makes for a much richer and less-stressful experience.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit Long Island, New York? Take it from someone who knows, it’s a pretty great place. Radio host, author, blogger and television host Jennifer Koppelman Hutt is a Long Island native and longtime resident. She LOVES Long Island, New York. And why not?

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s delightful to find a way to get out of the house without spending much time out of doors. Enclosed shopping malls are one option, but can be limiting. Luckily, residents of — and visitors to — Toronto have a BIG additional option: Toronto PATH.

Nothing can really take your breath away. But New York City comes pretty darn close. At the tippy-tippy top of Manhattan’s tallest buildings, you’ll find spectacular views of this brightly lit city and beyond. Here are some well-known vantage points to take in all the Big Apple has to offer, as well as some nice boite spots that not only offer a spectacular view but also a comfy seat as well.

Philadelphia most definitely has some food traditions that deserve plenty of respect. But gourmet is growing in Philly, and while no visit is complete without a cheesesteak, there are now plenty of other options to whet your appetite. Here's a guide to the best of the best, from Food Network chefs to late-night munchies.

One of the world's most notorious and best known prisons, over the years, Alcatraz housed some 1,545 of America's most ruthless criminals including Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bumpy Johnson, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Mickey Cohen, Arthur R. "Doc" Barker, James "Whitey" Bulger, and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate).