Since the BetterTrades program is presented in more than 100 cities in North America, it's a good chance that founder Freddie Rick has been to many. Freddie now spends most of his time in the office, trying to help BetterTrades continue its record growth. But it wasn't long ago that Freddie was the program's premium presenter. (Freddie is even the featured speaker on the DVD series that new registrants receive when they join BetterTrades.)

Traveling has always been a fun and educational experience for Freddie, who grew up in rural Louisiana and once considered a trip to Alexandria, La., to be an excursion. Here are some of Freddie's favorite travel destinations.

• New York: The Big Apple has something for everyone and truly is the "city that never sleeps." The theaters are terrific, the shopping is unmatched anywhere else in the world, the restaurants are fabulous for their quality and diversity, and it's the home of Wall Street, the financial capital of the world. The only drawback is the expense of visiting New York. The hotels are overpriced, as are most of the restaurants. It's easy to get around the city, once you arrive. But don't bring a car into Manhattan; it'll cost you a ton of money to park. Take a taxi in from the airport, then walk around town or take the subway.
• Boston: There's always something to do in Boston. Downtown has great hotels and fine restaurants. If you enjoy visiting historical places, Boston will have plenty of appeal. A trip to Faneuil Hall or the Boston Commons conjures up visions of Minutemen racing through the street. And no visit is complete without a trip to Boston Naval Shipyard and the USS Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides," a ship that has been owned and operated by the U.S. Navy since 1797.
• San Diego: This southern California city has a lot of things going for it: the scenery, the fabulous weather, the prime location. The beaches are great, there are plenty of golf courses and a visitor could spend weeks seeing all the sights. There are some mighty fine restaurants here too, including Red Tracton's in Del Mar, across the street from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Be sure to see the photo of 7-foot Wilt Chamberlain dressed in jockey silks; it's very funny.