Travel, food, and drink website Thrillist included the CNMI in their \u201c14 Tiny Countries that are Big-Time Destinations\u201d article posted on their website www.thrillist.com. <\/p>\n
The article was published last Aug. 12, 2016. The rest of the countries that made the list are Slovakia, Singapore, Costa Rica, Scotland, Nepal, Dominican Republic, Monaco, Vanuatu, Rwanda, South Korea, Mongolia, Belgium, and El Salvador. The CNMI made it to the list despite not being a country. It\u2019s a commonwealth in poltical union with the U.S.<\/p>\n
The website described the CNMI as, \u201cAn island paradise with vodka-clear ocean waters and white sandy beaches.\u201d <\/p>\n
Marianas Visitors Authority\u2019s board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce expressed how proud she was to see that the CNMI was gaining some publicity from the Internet. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always wonderful when the Northern Marianas is included on a list of great destinations, especially when it is unsolicited by us. We are the underdogs because we are tiny but obviously we are making an impression on people out there in the world because we were picked to make the list,\u201d said Aldan-Pierce in an email to Saipan Tribune. \u201cTo be included in a list that includes Monaco, Nepal, Scotland, Mongolia\u2014very cultured, internationally renowned places\u2026what\u2019s not to love about that!\u201d<\/p>\n
The list also described many of the CNMI\u2019s tourist destinations. Saipan\u2019s Grotto was described as, \u201cA collapsed limestone cavern turned world-famous freediving and scuba diving destination.\u201d Managaha is, \u201cA pipsqueak islet perfect for snorkeling, swimming, parasailing, and simply relaxing on the beach.\u201d Also beautifully mentioned was Saipan\u2019s Forbidden Island. Tourists are invited to, \u201cTake the steep hike down to a local favorite on Saipan, a sapphire tidal lagoon by an outcropping called the Forbidden Island\u2014which is, point of fact, neither.\u201d <\/p>\n
Being board chair of the MVA, Aldan-Pierce can\u2019t help but think about the publicity the CNMI is receving. \u201cI wonder how many times we\u2019ve been Googled these past 24 hours because of this,\u201d said Aldan-Pierce. <\/p>\n
What was also impressive for Aldan-Pierce was how the CNMI was represented in the article. \u201cThe contributor, Ms. Agnes Constante, apparently used to live here but now lives and writes from California. I love her casual, fun style of writing. In less than a thousand words, she just about covered everything that there is about us,\u201d writes Aldan-Pierce. \u201cWho we are, what we are, fun tidbits about our destinations, our quirky foods\u2026she makes you want to pack your bags and come to experience us!\u201d<\/p>\n
Aldan-Pierce also commended Constante on her comparison of Saipan to other states in the U.S. \u201cWe are 2.5 Washington, DCs. FUN comparisons!\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Aldan-Pierce added, \u201cWe are lucky and should be very thankful for who we are and what we have\u202614 beautiful, exotic islands\u2026.and just as beautiful, exotic people\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Thrillist Media Group is part of Digital Media Company and is based in New York. Founded in 2004, it consists of a website hosting various food, drink, and travel insights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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