In the first of two parts, we look at Brooklyn's beginnings and how it came to be one of New York City's boroughs.

The borough of the Bronx has gotten a bad name because of issues with poverty and crime. It's also had its share of neglect and mishandling on the part of local and state administrations. However, the Bronx also has some claims to fame, such as the Bronx zoo and botanical garden.

The Bronx was the first area to become part of New York City. Lying to the north and northeast of Manhattan, it was a logical addition. The quirky name of this borough has its own history.

Sigrid seeks to answer the question "What's a borough?" In doing so, she talks about how New York City got its start, and also about the surrounding counties that played an important role in its development. In this video, you'll see 18th- and 19th-century maps of the area.

Sigrid describes the first part of her trip from Long Island to New Jersey, taking a moment to tell us about the famous Verrazzano Narrows Bridge.

Sigrid traveled back to the U.S. recently to visit her family. She talks about her trip and takes some "detours" to share what she learned about some of the places she visited. She also happened to go to Mexico, where she shot this introductory segment.

Booking a room by phone in a new language can be a challenge. This video will show you some typical questions you'll be asked, and how you can answer them.

The High Line is an elevated park in the heart of Manhattan, which is enjoyed by New Yorkers and tourists alike. Learn about its fascinating history in this video.

The travel kids visit a town almost completely covered by volcanic rock some twenty years before. There’s not a great deal left of it for them to see! They walk out onto the glassy and slippery surface of the lava flow, where volcano expert Ken takes a sample of some liquid rock to measure the temperature. It’s super hot, and Julian makes the excellent decision to keep his hands well clear!

Rosie and Julian are in Hawaii discovering land formed from red-hot molten lava that erupted from the center of the earth. With the help of friendly volcano expert Ken and his friend Terri, they learn about a volcano that is taller than Mount Everest, and about Pele, the goddess of fire.

Lauren shows us around Brick Lane in East London. Sights include a mosque, street art, and hopping nightclubs.

Sigrid packs her carry-on bag for the flight to Paris. She talks about what she needs to pack, and why.

There's one more important question word to learn: "how." Sigrid provides plenty of examples of questions with "how," both by itself and together with an adjective or adverb.

Sigrid, here as Rita and Kathy, has fun practicing the 5 question words ("who," "what," "where," "when," and "why") on a train. She makes quite a nuisance of herself, too. More about the 5 W's in: Parts of Speech: Question Words - Part 1 of 3.

A young woman goes on a road trip through Alabama with her boyfriend and recounts it in a phone call home. This video is a great way to see the many spots well worth visiting in the state of Alabama.

Rosie and Julian, siblings from Canada, travel to London where they put on their deerstalker hats and unravel a mystery. They're provided with clues about Big Ben's shape and then have to find the building. Both kids are also really impressed by the double-decker buses.

This is a short video showing some of London's best-known sights, such as Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, and the Tate Modern.

London's West End is the focal point for this video, and the narrator has some good tips on buying discounted movie and theater tickets.

The narrator explains how the breathtaking rock formations of Antelope Canyon came to be, and why mountains around the world can provide a metaphor for human existence.

Londoners interviewed at Borough Market describe the great variety of thriving cultures – with an emphasis on cuisine – in their city.

In this segment, the narrator explains where the name Bryce Canyon came from, and why the sand dunes in the US and the large deserts of the world might be related.

Why are some rock formations and animals found on more than one continent? The explanation dates back to the Ice Age.

Why do some of the national parks in the United States resemble the European Alps? Geologist Dr. Robert Darga answers this question.

This video showcases the California beach town Santa Cruz, famous for surfing, sun and family fun at the oldest amusement park on the U.S. west coast. The town's name is Spanish and means Holy Cross, but in its travel publicity, the town uses Cruz to mean cruising or ambling around its beaches, boardwalks, and other sights.