San Francisco’s travel association and city, county and state efforts dedicated $9 billion in 2017 alone to the coastal California city’s tourism spending -- a prominent recognition of the growing global destination this seaside spot has become. Every day that year, approximately 69,000 visitors were welcomed into the area with an approximate spending of almost $25 million each day to accommodate those guests. According to avid traveler and budding travel blogger Kathy Petrino, these vast expenditures dedicated to tourism demonstrate San Francisco’s place among international travel.

With one of the most photographed and famous landmarks in the world at its center -- the Golden Gate Bridge -- San Francisco also boasts other notable landmarks across the city. Petrino noted the famed Alcatraz prison, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Castro District and the city’s historic cable cars. Also notable, said Kathy Petrino, are the rolling hills that create the city -- cities dotted with unique architecture, intriguing neighborhoods and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. Add the cool climate and frequent fog to the mix, San Fran becomes a city of mystery and romance, aiding its colorful and rich past. Petrino notes that this coastal destination is able to annually increase its visitor count due to this inherent beauty as well as fabulous food fare and a historic diversity unlike most other locations in the country.

With a temperate climate showcasing every beautiful season across statewide mountains and valleys, and a variety of historical sites littering nearly every corner, the state of Pennsylvania provides ample reasons for visiting year-round. From spring to summer, fall to winter, avid traveler Kathy Petrino has explored parts of this northeastern U.S. state and shares a few reasons why checking it out is worth the time and effort.

Kathy Petrino, a travel writer as well as adventurer, recommends the Gettysburg battlefield first and foremost. A turning point site in the Civil War, Gettysburg, Pa. is where approximately 50,000 Americans lost their lives and it remains hallowed ground today. The cemetery provides a sense of history in addition to spaces where the battle was fought, which tour guides even reenact for guests. Also vital toward Pennsylvania’s history, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton. Take a glimpse at a former working coal mine and descend 300-feet into the earth via mine car to explore how old-time mining occurred within the state.

For more fun, the Laurel Caverns near Pittsburgh also travel 46 stories deep into the earth for exploration of the largest cave system in the state. And Pennsylvania is big on amusement parks -- Hershey Park, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Kennywood, Knoebels and Waldameer are across the state, all ranging in size and scope for families to enjoy.

This who read Kathy Petrino’s blog know her as an enthusiastic traveler who not only wants to see the whole world, but who also wants to share everything she learns about her travels with her readers. Kathy loves to write about everything she sees and posts everything on her travel blog. Kathy Petrino’s greatest wish is for everyone to have the same great experiences she has had, because that keeps her favorite destinations thriving.

One of Kathy Petrino’s favorite destinations is among the world’s best-kept secrets; the small Arizona town of Sedona. For years, Sedona has grown in popularity, even though many stay away because they assume it’s too trendy and thus too expensive. Kathy wants her readers know it’s possible to see Sedona without shelling out big bucks. There are many great free things to see and do, but she likes to help them know how to do as much of that as possible because Sedona is worth seeing. Even walking the streets of Downtown Sedona can be fun, since that is where most of the nicest shops and restaurants are. It’s also fun to visit some of Sedona’s famous “vortexes,” remnants of the New Age movement that7 hit the town a couple decades back. These “vortexes” for spiritual reasons. It is believed they can facilitate prayer, meditation, and healing.

Because she is such a prolific blogger, it is now well-documented that Kathy Petrino is a very happy and prolific traveler who wishes to see as much as she can while she’s still on this planet. And we all benefit greatly from her experience because Kathy loves to write about all of her travels. She apparently has a strong desire to share everything she experiences, so that others can experience what she has. See, it’s good to enjoy your travels, but it’s better to tell others about them, so that the destination thrives to the point that you can visit again.

Kathy Petrino considers herself as an explorer, so she treats every destination as a new discovery. She has a lot of favorite destinations, but among her favorites is the Coachella Valley, located smack dab in the middle of Southern California’s Low Desert. And while the area isn’t as popular as it once during its heyday back in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Rat Pack ruled the roost, there is still a lot to recommend in the area. That includes the nostalgic vibe, which transforms visitors to a simpler time, when Frank and Dean and Sammy ruled Palm Springs, which is the center of the region and the main town in the Coachella Valley.

The Low Desert area features many fully-restored hotels and rental homes that will transport visitors back to the post-War 20th Century, when things were simpler. There are also numerous festivals to celebrate the old days, and many vintage stores to help you fit in. Of course, there is also the Coachella Music Festival, one of the best festivals in the country, where none other than Beyoncé stole the show just a short time ago. The area is also a Mecca of sorts for hikers and rock climbers, who get up into the hills via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. That also love to explore Joshua Tree National Park, ad Salvation Mountain.

For those who enjoy the winter season, look no farther than Breckenridge, Colorado, says avid traveler Kathy Petrino. Writing about her journeys for others, Petrino says this city of less than 5,000 residents is an ideal location for visitors both due to its small size and its sporting adventures on snow-filled slopes. Breckenridge is a hot spot for cold sports, according to Kathy Petrino. Snowboarding, skiing, sledding and more regularly occur on the city’s mountains as well as nearby peaks in Denver -- only 80 miles away -- and other Colorado towns. But travelers can also enjoy boutique shopping, restaurants and small-town sights along Main Street, making for a full vacation in the scenic area. This likewise helps make it a great destination when the snow melts and summer months arrive.

Of course, it is obvious Kathy Petrino is a voracious world traveler who wants to see as much as she can during her life. The best news is, she has a penchant for writing about her travels, not just because she loves to share everything, but also because she wants others to experience what she has. She enthusiastically writes about every destination as if she was the first to see it because that is how she likes to feel when she travels. She thinks of herself as an explorer and each destination feels like a new discovery. One of Kathy Petrino’s favorite destinations just happens to be everyone’s favorite tropical paradise of Hawaii.

Besides being a state, Hawaii is a group of islands, each with its own special environment to offer almost anyone. There is the great surfing on Oahu and the cosmopolitan flair of Honolulu, the natural beauty of Maui to the hidden natural treasures on Lanai. In short, Hawaii has something for everyone, including beautiful beaches, amazing jungles, breathtaking waterfalls, excellent swimming and diving, and world-class waves that make the surfers swoon. That’s why Kathy Petrino sees Hawaii as a great destination for families, surfers and honeymooners, among many others.There are just so many things to do.

The “Big Island” of Hawaii is home to two of the largest volcanoes on Earth, including Kiluea, which is the most active. If that doesn’t float our boat, you can also swim with manta rays, check out the black sand beaches of Waipi’o Valley or even climb Mauna Kea, or “White Mountain,” which is the highest peak in Hawaii, at 13,796 feet. For those not adventurous enough to swim with mantas or climb mountains, they can explore Honolulu, which is a unique big city, or Waikiki, which has beautiful beaches and a unique blend of Asian and Hawaiian cultures, combined with enough American culture mixed in to make you feel at home.

There are so many reasons why Kathy Petrino loves to write about her travels, which are extensive. First of all, she is generous. Not only does she want to see as many great places as possible in her lifetime, but she wants to share her experiences in a way that makes others want to see the same things. Kathy also would like for those who read her blog to make fewer of the missteps she has made on the same trips. She wants others to have as good a time as she had, if not better. That is the primary reason Kathy Petrino writes about every aspect of her trips; she wants others to have as much fun as she.

One of Kathy Petrino’s favorite destinations is Florida’s Emerald Coast, which is the state’s northern Gulf Coast. For many years, the region was called the “Redneck Riviera,” but in recent years the fine sane and funky beach towns have taken on a new luster, as celebrities and “beautiful people” have adopted the region and spurred a needed revitalization. Now referred to as the “Emerald Coast” of Florida, the rich and famous are hoping that not everyone has gotten the word that the affordable slice of Florida is also gaining much when it comes to class.

In recent years, a number of savvy investors have been making a great show of revitalizing the area with new hotels and condo buildings, including the first-ever five-star resort, called Henderson Beach Resort. So many investments are being made that the town of Seaside (or ‘Seahaven’, for fans of the movie, The Truman Show) has been transformed into one of the most beautiful and eco-friendly towns in Florida; their 80 acres are now being studied in architecture schools.

There are so many reasons why Kathy Petrino loves to write about her travels, which are extensive. First of all, she is generous. Not only does she want to see as many great places as possible in her lifetime, but she wants to share her experiences in a way that makes others want to see the same things. Kathy also would like for those who read her blog to make fewer of the missteps she has made on the same trips. She wants others to have as good a time as she had, if not better. That is the primary reason Kathy Petrino writes about every aspect of her trips; she wants others to have as much fun as she.

One of Kathy Petrino’s favorite destinations is Florida’s Emerald Coast, which is the state’s northern Gulf Coast. For many years, the region was called the “Redneck Riviera,” but in recent years the fine sane and funky beach towns have taken on a new luster, as celebrities and “beautiful people” have adopted the region and spurred a needed revitalization. Now referred to as the “Emerald Coast” of Florida, the rich and famous are hoping that not everyone has gotten the word that the affordable slice of Florida is also gaining much when it comes to class.

In recent years, a number of savvy investors have been making a great show of revitalizing the area with new hotels and condo buildings, including the first-ever five-star resort, called Henderson Beach Resort. So many investments are being made that the town of Seaside (or ‘Seahaven’, for fans of the movie, The Truman Show) has been transformed into one of the most beautiful and eco-friendly towns in Florida; their 80 acres are now being studied in architecture schools.