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Domestic travel numbers continue to tick up to levels not seen since before the pandemic, according to the U.S. Travel Association. And a recent AARP report found 63 percent of travelers

50-plus are planning to travel somewhere in the U.S. in 2024. That means vacation planners should book now to get transportation, hotels and advance tickets for popular attractions in 

historic cities. Birthplace of the national anthem? Check. Native American culture? Check. Liberty Bell? Yes. Early settlers? Yes. Former Spanish colony? Yes. Country music? Check. These

seven cities offer a bit for everyone, including the country’s early history, nostalgia, natural wonders and a welcoming vibe. The last sail-only warship, USS Constellation, is anchored at

the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Alamy BALTIMORE Don’t be surprised to hear locals greet you with a familiar “Hon” (said_ hun_), one of many delights visitors find in Maryland’s largest city.

About 40 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, too, is rich in national history (the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner_”_); has deep African American origins (a stop on

the Underground Railroad), a love of America’s favorite pastime (Babe Ruth was born here in 1895); and pride of place in our entertainment culture (think _Hairspray_, _Diner_, _The Wire_).

The last sail-only warship, the _USS Constellation_, built in 1854 for the U.S. Navy, remains in Baltimore’s harbor (adults $21.95; people 60-plus, military, students 15-20 $19.95; youth

6-14 $9.95), and now the Inner Harbor is a magnet for families. There’s also the National Aquarium (adults $49.95; people 70-plus and youths 5-20 $39.95), the kid-friendly Maryland Science

Center (adults $26.95; people 62-plus $25.95; children 3-12 $20.95); and shopping and eateries aplenty. There’s much beyond the expected in _Bawlmer_ or _Baldamore_, as the locals drawl it,

including more than a dozen different neighborhoods. Oh, and about that “Hon”: Go with it. It’s part of the charm. Catch a spectacular view of Seattle from the Great Wheel. Getty Images

SEATTLE A vibrant urban oasis plunked down amid breathtaking natural beauty, Seattle is more than worth a bird’s-eye view from the top of its iconic Space Needle or the Seattle Great Wheel.

Yet, oh, the places you can go on the ground! Pike Place Market is a kaleidoscope of fresh flowers, specialty foods and the original Starbucks, which opened in 1971. Cruise ships and

ferries come and go on the Salish Sea (take a ride to Bainbridge Island just for fun). Discover vibrant neighborhoods with unique personalities, each offering dining, shopping and farm

markets. You will find art and specialty museums; try the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPop (general admission $27-$29.75 depending on the day of the week and more for special exhibits), next

to the Space Needle; or the National Nordic Museum (adults $20; 65-plus $16; college students $15; youth 5-18 $10) in the Ballard neighborhood. It may be a tech hub, but Seattle’s cultural

history is what makes it interesting. The city sits on land that belonged to Indigenous Suquamish and Duwamish tribes, but embraces African American, Nordic, Asian American and Latino

heritage as well.