Explore new places with your family in the year ahead. Here are five cities with something to share in 2012:

1. Cuenca, Ecuador. The old section of this charming, family-friendly city in the Andes has been designated a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Enjoy early morning bike tours through narrow streets, passing by flower and craft markets, colonial buildings, and more than 50 history-rich churches. Stroll along or float the Tomebamba River. Visit Inca ruins and expansive parks ( pictured above ) burgeoning with local families. Stop by the art gallery and workshop of famed ceramist Eduardo Vega and hike in the nearby Caja National Park. Free and low-cost cultural and outdoor opportunities for families are plentiful. Visit during the holidays when Cuencano children take the lead in Pase del Niño Viajero, Ecuador’s most significant Christmas pageant. Contact: www.ThomsonFamilyAdventures.com; www.cuenca.com.ec/; www.visitecuador.com.ec; www.mansionalcazar.com.
2. Washington DC. Visit our nation’s capital during an election year to help put things in perspective. Tour the White House, the Capitol building and the Supreme Court to see our democratic government in action. Consider touching base with your Congressional representative for ticket and tour information. Take several days to learn about space, history, art, dinosaurs and much more in our free-to-see Smithsonian museums. Consider a hike or bike along the scenic and historic C & O canal. Don’t miss the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, home to more than 200 animals. Contact: www.washington.org.
3. Victoria, British Columbia. The temperate climate you’ll find in this seaside enclave provides year round opportunity for outdoor activities that include whale watching, kayaking, boat tours and even surfing. Explore the culturally-rich city, infused with a blend of European, Asian and British influences, on foot, aboard a horse drawn carriage or via bike tour. Enjoy local cuisine, picnic-style , while relaxing at the beach. Don’t miss a visit to nearby Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre, year-round feast for the senses. Reminder: Passports are required for American citizens entering Canada. Contact: www.tourismvictoria.com; www.butchartgardens.com.
4. Boston, MA. Splash into town aboard a history-filled, narrated Boston Duck Tour. Take the sports fans in your crew to Fenway Park for old-timey baseball stories. Visit the Franklin Park Zoo and stroll through Boston Common, a 40-acre green space that once served as a cow pasture for local residents. Spend time on the historic Freedom Trail where you can tour Paul Revere’s home as well as other important land marks. Consider a visit to one or the nation’s newest national parks, Boston’s Harbor Islands National Park for eco-minded, sea-faring fun. Contact: www.bostonusa.com.
5. 5.     Kansas City, MO. Fueled by a recent $9 billion renaissance, this Midwestern hub is a destination on the rise. Nicknamed the City of Fountains, you’ll pass more than 200 water displays as you explore the spot where Earnest Hemingway once served as a cub reporter and Walt Disney opened his first animation studio. Visit the Children’s Peace Museum so children ages five to eleven can learn the concepts related to peaceful interaction through 25 interactive, hands-on exhibits. Check out the 150-year-old city market where fresh produce is a staple and festivals and concerts are common. You can’t leave without sampling the city’s slow-smoked world famous BBQ, an experience designed to insure repeat visits. Contact: 800-767-7700; www.VisitKC.com.