Perched sovereignly at 11,000 feet above sea level in the Peruvian mountains, Cuzco evokes the architecture of Europe and the tough ambiance of South America. There's haphazard street art that references Pacha Mama, the Inca shout-out to Mother Earth. There are gilded churches that make their homes on top of ancient stone foundations. There's also a lot of shopping. And if you're the kind of person who likes shiny jewelry, mosaic mirrors and knit scarves, you'll be attracted by the markets, too. Before plunking down a sole or two, however, it helps to fill your head with the overwhelming knowledge of bargains, bartering and the cultural basics. So we've put together this intrepid guide for any making the trip.

Everyone wants to emerge from Peru draped in the softness of alpaca fur, and for good reason. The fuzzy stuff that grows on these guys is among the rarest textiles in the entire world. When you reach the stalls, though, don't fall for any old luxurious fur. While the merchant might swear to the authenticity of a scarf, sweater, or pair of socks, very few items you'll find in a market actually are 100% alpaca. With tighter and more densely woven textiles, there's a good chance you're dealing with an alpaca mix. And those items that claim to be "100% bebe?" Not actually woven from (or by) baby alpacas. "Bebe" refers to the first sheer of the animal, or the seasonally virgin hairs from the area around the neck of the animal, thought to be one of the softest spots. Products made from these materials are still stellar, but it helps to know what you're getting when you approach the bargaining table.

Nothing dazzles in a Peruvian market quite like the shimmering displays of gold, silver and copper, and all three are fantastic gifts to bring back from Cuzco. With the God of Exchange Rates smiling down on you, you can get amazing deals on rings, necklaces and other pieces of jewelry, particularly of the silver persuasion, to bring home and dazzle your buddies. When looking through silver jewelry, keep an eye out for a #925 stamp. That little number stands for the percentage of silver, 92.5%, and is actually the calling card of sterling silver, which is pure silver mixed a few alloying metals. This stamp could be the difference between 100 soles or 50, but if you're still not convinced your score is worth the price, the old flame-under-the-ring trick can solve your dilemma.

Sure, we've been occasionally lured-in to visit a new destination due to a cheeky tourism campaign, or two -- guilty as charged. There's nothing as reassuring, though, as seeing the citizens of a city band together to proclaim to the world, 'hey world, my city is great!' And we can't help but notice the chutzpah overflowing in the state of Michigan.

Over the last year Michigan's citizens, students and seniors have pulled out their video cameras and uploaded tourism video after tourism video to YouTube in an effort to show their pride. There are four in total so far, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Grand Valley State University and the Clark Retirement Community, and it doesn't exactly matter whether the videos follow the antics of a classroom full of a students, a building full of the witty elderly or an entire city, they all bring a special brand of magic you can only find in the hearts of people that truly love the place where they live and love to dance about it.

Call us gullible, but we've added a tour of Michigan to the bucket list, if not only to share a beer with the enthusiastic townsfolk that fill that state with so much love.

Nobody loves summer more than your friendly neighborhood Gadling bloggers. It's the perfect time to plan an escape from the mundane trials of daily life, or maximize your adventures in the outdoors. And if you're planning on flying the coop this summer, you're going to need some fun swag. So every week this summer, in celebration of our own road trip, Traveling the American Road, Gadling will be giving away one item to help you run away on your dream summer excursion. But, be warned: we are not responsible for the hilarity that ensues.

This week we're giving away an iPad. Read on below to enter to win or click here for the official contest rules.

To enter, leave a comment below telling us who you'll keep in touch with while you're running away from home this summer.

Or tweet using the button below, including the hashtag #GadlingSummerGiveaways.
This contest closed at 11:59PM on Sunday, July 10th. Stay tuned for more giveaways!

Good luck!

While the last few years haven't exactly been easy on the wallets of holiday travelers, AAA expects that the July 4th weekend of 2011 will be hit the hardest with a decline of 40 million Americans traveling from last year. With a shopping 84% of Independence Day trippers driving, the $1+ gas rates over 2010's prices are expected to hit the industry hard.

But on a day notorious with getting away from it all, will people really stay home?

We took to the ole' Internet to find out if your July 4 plans involve fireworks, or a kiddie pool staycation.

Gallery: Where are you going this July 4?

Over on Facebook, fan Darlene is beach bound closer to home, Phyllis will be sunning in Cabo, while Gadlinger Tom prepares for a sojourn to Amsterdam, Bruges and Luxembourg. And congratulations to Bonnie Smith, who is headed to Boston to get married this weekend! Mazel tov, Bonnie.



[Photo: Flickr/Moto@Club4AG]

We've done Detroit, Cleveland and Boston. Now Paul Brady is headed to the City of Brotherly Love.

Join us at Independence Al Fresco, the outdoor garden at Philadelphia's Independence Visitor Center, this Thursday, June 23rd, as Mr. Brady recounts tales of epic country breakfasts, Stanley Cup confetti and many, many lobster rolls. As an added bonus to the snacks and beer we'll inevitably chomp down out of summer road trip jealousy, Finger Lakes Wine will be serving some of their spectacular vino.

Oh, yeah. We're also giving away some swag to attendees.

RSVP here before coming by, and tip Paul off to any and all of your favorite Philly spot, but be forewarned, we're not responsible for any cheesesteak mishaps that occur post-happy hour.

[Photo: Flickr/Uberzombie]