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While Washington DC is the capital of the United States, Olympia WA is the Washington state capital and it is well worth a few days spent exploring this historic and yet quirky part of the world. The yearly Procession of the Species is part Mardi Gras, part family-fun carnival and part homage to Darwin, while the stately and sedate historic buildings and museums provide the cultural counterbalance.

Richmond is the former capital of the Confederacy. Although the nation is now united, there is still plenty of ways to experience a little of pre-civil war life with memorials and monuments detailing Richmond's history, and plenty of southern hospitality oozing out of jazz clubs. In contrast, the event for 2010 is RavenCon, a fantasy and sci-fi convention guaranteed to bring out the inner geek in any visitor.

If a thrill-a-minute is your idea of a good vacation, then you're in the wrong town. Bismarck, North Dakota is a great place to enjoy the more sedate and wholesome pursuits that the US has to offer. Hiking, swimming, historical snippets of the cowboy era, and dinner on the Riverboat – these are the kinds of leisurely pursuits to be found in North Dakota's State Capital.

Helena, Montana, is not on the usual tourist itineraries. Like most Montana towns, it is small, and lacks the obvious attractions of the Glacier National Park. Nonetheless, it's off-the-beaten-path appeal can be a pleasant diversion and pit-stop for those passing through to other parts of the state.

While most tourists generally opt to visit the bigger cities within the United States, Fayetteville, Arkansas boasts a unique southern charm. Fayetteville is a relatively small town but still manages to please its visitors with just enough attractions, off-the-beaten path spots and the occasional sporting extravaganza to fill a three-day weekend.

Manchester is a broad mix of styles, some of them pretty contradictory. From the working-class, brawling city of soccer to the dance music revolution that created the modern version of the Summer of Love in 1989's warehouses to today's eclectic mix of arts, culture, dirty alleyways and soccer, Manchester is a place you simply have to visit once in a lifetime.

Jakarta is the crowded capital of Indonesia. The city is home to over ten million people, and space is almost non-existent here. Jakarta is an incredibly welcoming place, and it is a testament to the hospitality of its people that even a large city like this, usually characterized by anonymity, can provide a personal and friendly experience to a visitor.

Long before it was a petrochemical stronghold, Baton Rouge was the dividing strip between the hunting lands of the Bayougoula and Houma native tribes. The ghoulish marker was a tree stained red with blood and it was this that inspired the name given to the area by the 17th century French conquerors (Baton Rouge translates as Red Stick).

Minnesota is called the land of ten thousand lakes. And although Minneapolis and its twin city St Paul have plenty of urban entertainment, the main attraction of Minneapolis is as a gateway to the natural beauty of the state.

Providence is the capital city of the US state of Rhode Island. Despite the name, Rhode Island is not an island at all, however the pleasures of Providence are often focused around the river networks and sea.

Augusta, Maine, is the epitome of gentle meandering through the heartland of America. Although Augusta is the capital city of Maine, it is really little more than a lulling and tranquil by-way on the road to elsewhere. Popular with RV-owners and families looking for a gentler vacation destination, even the Augusta events err on the side of genteel fun.

Essen has – like so many German cities – seen an almost revolutionary turnaround from a grey, industrial blandness to a thriving commercial and cultural center. There are an abundance of attractions here, including casually mentioned works by Van Gogh at the Folkwang Museum, but one of the simplest, and most fun stops on the itinerary is to take a whirl around the yearly Essen On Ice public rink.