“Rio is a place that everyone has heard of, but few Americans have visited. Despite some social problems, the vibrant festivals, magnificent views and diverse culture of this city of 6 million make a trip to Rio a worthwhile adventure.”

Rio is a place that everyone has heard of, but few Americans have visited. Despite some social problems, the vibrant festivals, magnificent views and diverse culture of this city of 6 million make a trip to Rio a worthwhile adventure. Festivals and events like the Olympics take place regularly in Rio. In addition to serving as the host venue for the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament, New Year’s Eve celebrations attract millions of residents and visitors to Copacabana Beach for shows and fireworks. During Carnival each winter, thousands of performers dance throughout the street in elaborate costumes or in parades on floats. Competition among the city’s dozens of Samba schools is fierce, and the parade ends with a nationally televised procession through a half-mile-long grandstand known as the Sambodromo in central Rio.

Unlike most of South America, Brazil was a colony of Portugal by papal decree from the 16th century to the 19th century. When Napoleon conquered most of Europe, the entire royal court of Portugal moved to Rio and ruled the remaining Portuguese empire from there between 1807 and 1821. Finally, Prince Pedro declared Brazil an independent nation and crowned himself Emperor Dom Pedro I. After two centuries of growth and development, Brazil is now the world’s fifth largest country in size and sixth largest in population. As one of the BRIC countries whose economies grew rapidly after the year 2000, Brazil finds itself at a crossroads. Brazilians hope that the nation’s engaging culture and growing presence on the international stage will help the country emerge as a world leader in the near future.

We enjoyed visiting Rio on a trip to Brazil just prior to the Olympics and discovered many worthwhile places to see and things to do there. They include:

Christ the Redeemer statue: A 120-foot limestone statue of Christ was built on top of the Corcovado Mountain to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Brazil’s independence in 1931. Towering above the entire city, the statue landing provides a stunning view of the wide beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, the lagoon, and the metropolis below. The pavilion at the site can be reached by car, but most people enjoy taking a cog train to the summit through the rainforest and the Tijuca National Park. While many cities have towers or buildings that reach the clouds, the splendor of the monument and the natural setting for the views make it a moving experience.

Sugar Loaf Mountain: Another mountain attraction in Rio is Sugar Loaf Mountain. Sugar Loaf can be climbed by fearless adventurers, but it is usually accessed by cable car as James Bond did in a famous fight scene in the movie “Moonraker.” At the top, you can relax at a few bars and cafés or walk around the summit to several different lookouts with views of the city.

Samba shows: If you are a person who would enjoy going to Times Square on New Year’s Eve or visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, then seeing a festival in Rio would be a worthwhile, memorable experience. If you prefer a little less intense experience, there are night club shows like Plataforma 1 in the Leblon section of the city where costumed samba performers sing and dance traditional Brazilian numbers. Seeing one of these tourist-oriented shows or visiting a samba school will give you the flavor of Rio-style entertainment.

Rio’s beaches: Rio’s famous beaches are located at the southern part of the city. Ipanema Beach and the adjoining Leblon Beach are considered to be the most desirable by discerning locals and tourists because they are close to popular residential neighborhoods, restaurants and stylish shopping areas. Although the waves can be rough on occasion, the ambience of Ipanema makes it a safe place to relax and keep an eye out for the fabled “Girl from Ipanema.” Copacabana Beach also draws large crowds and the beachfront promenade gives the area energy and local flavor. Juice bars abound along all of Rio’s beaches. It is great to cool off with a huge cup of healthy açai juice or another of the many fruit and liquid concoctions that are so popular in Brazil.

Historical sites: When most people think of Rio, they don’t picture themselves spending time inside a museum. But if it rains or you want to learn more about Brazil’s fascinating history and culture, the Museum of National History and the National Museum of Fine Arts are both interesting stops for an hour or two.