Summer Vacation 2012 Best Picks—As Always It Is Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit & Galveston

(Blogger’s Note—This is a post I run each year. It merits another go-round for 2012 because the places I list here are good places to visit.)

Where should you and your family take a summer vacation this year? Where should you go by yourself or with that someone special for an excellent summer trip?

The answer is clear enough.

Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Galveston, Texas are the places to go.

I have visited all these cities in the summer and I can say they are good places to visit and see.

These cities have long-established museums and interesting neighborhoods to explore. They have good restaurants. They have grand old buildings. Each of these cities has a river, a lake, or an ocean to enjoy.

The wife and I—though she was not the wife yet at the time—spent a summer week in Buffalo and Niagara Falls in 1998. It was fun.

(Below–Buffalo)

Here is information about visiting Buffalo and the Niagara region.

I took a family vacation to Cleveland in the early 1980’s. Nothing is nicer than the Great Lakes in the summer.

(Below—Cleveland)

Here is information about visiting Cleveland.

I lived in Cincinnati for 18 years. It is a pretty city in the Summer. There is more than enough for you and your family—unless maybe you would like to enjoy some time by yourself— to do for a few days.

(Below–Cincinnati)

Here is information about visiting Cincinnati.

The (future) wife and I  once spent a weekend in Pittsburgh. The weekend was not enough to see and do all that Pittsburgh offers.

(Below–Pittsburgh.)

Here is information about visiting Pittsburgh.

There is plenty to do in Detroit. There is an excellent  lake, a Greek quarter, the Tigers baseball team and many museums. It has been many years since I have been in Detroit, but I was there for a couple of weekends in the summer and there was more than enough to do.

(Below–Detroit.)

Here is information about visiting Detroit.

Galveston, Texas is my home away from home. I’ve lived in Houston for 14 years and I go to Galveston every six weeks or so to take a walk on the sunny shores of the Gulf of Mexico. At the least it is worth a day trip if life takes you to the Houston area.

(Below–Galveston)

Here is information about visiting Galveston.

Maybe you live near one of these cities. Maybe you’d like go somewhere where there is some history and some character.

Give one of these cities a try. Disney does not need your money. Some big dumb theme park where they abuse killer whales by keeping them in tanks is no fun at all.

Go to places where your visit will be appreciated.

You’ll be glad you did!