Edmonton , General info:
8/10

Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, located on the North Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is an area with some of the most fertile farmland on the prairies. It is the second largest city in Alberta after Calgary, and is the hub of Canada's sixth largest census metropolitan area, with a metropolitan population of 1,034,945, making it the northernmost North American city with a metropolitan population over one million. At 684 square kilometres (264 sq mi), the City of Edmonton covers an area larger than Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto or Montreal. Edmonton has one of the lowest population densities in North America, about 9.4% that of New York City. A resident of Edmonton is known as an Edmontonian.

Edmonton , Cheap stuff:
8/10

Edmonton serves as the northern anchor of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor (one of four regions that together comprise 50% of Canada's population) and is a staging point for large-scale oil sands projects occurring in northern Alberta and large-scale diamond mining operations in the Northwest Territories.

Edmonton , Different stuff:
10/10

Edmonton is the most northerly major city in North America. At the summer solstice, Edmonton receives seventeen hours and six minutes of daylight, with twilight extending well beyond that. Edmonton receives 2,289 hours of sunshine per year, and is one of Canada's sunniest cities.

Edmonton , Don't miss:
9/10

The Edmonton International Fringe Festival, which takes place in mid-August, is the largest Fringe Theatre Festival in North America, and second only to the Edinburgh Fringe festival in the world. More than 1500 performers take part in the festival each year. In 2006, over 77,000 tickets were sold to indoor shows, and over 500,000 people visited the festival site.

Syracuse , General info:
9/10

Syracuse is a city in Central New York, USA. It is the county seat of Onondaga County and the economic and educational hub of Central New York, a region with over a million inhabitants.

Syracuse is served by the Syracuse Hancock International Airport in nearby Salina, near Mattydale. The airport is served by 17 airlines (9 major), which provide non-stop flights.

Syracuse , Different stuff:
9/10

Syracuse is known for its snowfall. Boasting 115.6 inches (293.6 cm) on average, the Syracuse metro area receives more snow on average than any other large city in the United States.

The Everson Museum of Art, which opened in 1968 features one of the most extensive pottery collections in the United States along with works of American art, dating from the 18th century to the present.

Syracuse has gained the nickname "the City of Festivals" for good reason. There are numerous festivals year round.

Syracuse , Don't miss:
6/10

The Great New York State Fair is a spectacular twelve-day summer extravaganza of New York State. Lasting from the end of August to Labor Day, it features 375 acres of family fun, mouthwatering foods, incredible animals, fascinating exhibits, top-flight entertainment, exciting competitions and much more.

Syracuse , Food:
8/10

Virtually every cuisine in every price range can be found in Syracuse, with something to satisfy every appetite.

Syracuse , Hotels:
9/10

Whether you're coming with a family of four or fifty friends, you'll always have a place to call home in Syracuse. From full-service national hotels to quaint B&Bs, you'll find just what you're looking for.

Syracuse , Safety:
9/10

Crime rate is a bit higher than average but it is a pretty safe city.