Although this is a commercial website that I wouldn't normally review without a fee (money or otherwise), I decided to do it because Thomas asked nicely for objective opinions.

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Back in the 1970s, I spent nearly four years living on the island of Kauai. I can honestly tell you from personal experience that Kauai has some of the most breathtakingly beautiful spots in the world and it's one of the best places to vacation.

Vacation villas are replacing large, commercialized hotels as the new vacation trend. The privacy and comfort of a villa is much more relaxing than the impersonal environment of a traditional hotel. There's a wide selection of Kauai vacation rentals to choose from. Beach front villas are the way to go.

When I lived on Kauai, I spent a lot of time on the beaches and at places like the Fern Grotto and Wailua Falls. One of my older brothers worked at "Paradise Pacifica", so I was able to watch the Hawaiian shows for free. Check out the Kauai Travel Blog for more up-to-date information.

If you can't figure out What to Do in Kauai, you can always take a cheap ride to the neighboring island of Oahu. If I remember correctly, there was a high-speed ferry called Seaflight (which folded in 1978) that could get you there in about an hour, or you could take a 30-minute flight on Hawaiian Airlines. I understand that a new "Hawaii Superferry" is soon to be in service. The islands are all very close to each other. In fact, you can see the island of Niihau from the southwest coast of Kauai.

I like writing about places that I've already been to and Raleigh, North Carolina is one of those places. It was a long time ago while I was stationed at Camp Lejeune from 1988 through 1992 and serving in the US Marine Corps. I and my family made several trips along the eastern seaboard and passed through Raleigh numerous times. Like all big cities, I'm sure Raleigh has grown considerably since then.

There are so many things to do in Raleigh now; I'd be a fool to pass them up if I'm anywhere near there. Dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South" for the quality of its 20 free attractions, Raleigh's museums and greenway trails are among the finest in the region. With more than 30 historic and cultural sites, along with year-round events and celebrations such as the Diwali Festival, Raleigh is a heritage city with landmarks in education, business, medicine, religion and more. I'm only scratching the surface of what this great city has to offer.

To promote the Fall Getaway events for 2007, Raleigh's official tourism site is giving you a chance to win a Free Raleigh Getaway. The getaway includes:

• One night accommodations for two at the Courtyard by Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley
• $25 gift certificate to Bloomsbury Bistro
• Free VIP admission for two to Rum Runners
• 2 tickets to the North Carolina Theatre
• 2 tickets to the N.C. Museum of Art's Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism
• 2 tickets to Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences

If you live in that part of the US, or just want a fantastic weekend getaway, register to win and see what Raleigh, North Carolina is all about.