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NBA: the most beautiful basketball championship in the world has just begun. Let's take a tour around the cities of the various teams. In this issue we will visit the teams (and their cities) which play in the Western Conference, Northwest Division

Western Conference, Northwest Division

Capital of the state of Oklahoma, it has a population of around 650,000, reaching 1.5 million considering the metropolitan area of Oklahoma-City Shawnee.
Located south of the Great Plains, between the 70s and 80s it represented an important industrial hub, specialized above all in the petrochemical and aeronautical sector.
In recent decades it has undergone a radical urban profile recovery program, aimed at increasing prestige and, therefore, attracting more visitors.
The city and even better the homonymous state, best represent the famous "American spirit": immense and deep prairies, extensive forests and countless lakes. Here it is possible to rediscover the authentic roots of the American people.
Looking for accommodation in one of the many plains ranching brings us back to the Far West epic. Or going along Route 66, the "main street of America" and staying in one of the many motels, it will give you the thrill of adventure on the road.
In the city worth a visit:
- the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (1700 Northeast 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73111): America's premier institution of Western history, art and culture.
- the Oklahoma Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
- the Oklahoma City National Memorial, 620 N Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. It is a memorial park, erected in honor of the victims of the 1995 terrorist attack against the Alfred P .Murrah Federal Building.
In addition to museums, Oklahoma National Stockyards is worth a visit,107 Livestock Exchange Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73108, the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market; the "Metro Conncourse", a series of tunnels and skywalks that connect to large parts of the downtown buildings and parking garages.
And on the subject of the NBA, visit the Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102, where the local "City Thunder" team plays.
Wherever you stay, be it a downtown hotel, a private home in one of the areas around the center or a holiday home, Oklahoma City will not disappoint you.

Denver, the capital of the state of Colorado, is also known as "Mile-High City" and represents the gateway to the region known as "Real America", that is, the most authentic America of the Old West and which includes Montana , North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Denver offers tourists unique experiences both in terms of cultural and artistic entertainment, and in terms of nightlife and, perhaps above all, the landscapes that surround it.
Also famous for being the Capital of Beer, Denver has over 200 brands of beers and already touring the countless distilleries in the city is a valid reason to visit the city.
Go visit the Wynkoop Brewing Co., 1634 18th Street Denver, CO 80202, the oldest brewery in the city or the Blue Moon Brewing, 3750 Chestnut Place, Denver CO 80216, certainly the most famous producer of Pale Ale in America.
Towards the end of the 50s Denver was hit by the culture of the "Beat Generation", as Jack Kerouac himself speaks of it in the famous "On the Road".
Taking a tour of Larimer Street and Larimer Square, to finish at Five Points, will make you breathe the unique atmosphere of the Beat Generation.
Certainly Denver is also a city of art: the Denver Art Museum,100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy Denver, CO 80204 and the Denver Performing Arts Complex testify it.
To relax, nothing better than a hike to the Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street Denver, CO 80206, where, between a walk between tropical and exotic plants and a sculpture exhibition, you can try Yoga and Thai Chi lessons. And finally a visit to the Red Rock Amphitheater of Golden, a few kilometers from the center. This theater dug into the red rock of Red Rocks Park by architect Burnham Hoyt, a leading exponent of American Art Deco, offers, among others, music concerts in a setting that is unique in the world.

The city is also known by the names "City of lakes" because of the numerous lakes and "Mill City", since in the past the main economic activity was the milling of wheat.
It stretches along the banks of the Mississippi, in the southeastern part of the state of Minnesota, of which it represents the principal city. Together with the nearby capital Saint Paul, it forms the metropolitan area called the Twin Cities, with a total population of around 3.5 million inhabitants.
Originally it was a settlement of the Dakota Sioux and over time, at the hands of the first French explorers who came to the site, it developed rapidly. Today Minneapolis, despite the harsh climate in winter, is a city with a strong tourist spirit, thanks also to the construction of the Skyway System, a covered and raised pedestrian connection system and the closure to traffic of a part of Nicollet Avenue.
The Downtown, divided into West and East, offers a mix of residential and commercial buildings, the historic mill district and the imposing Nicollet Mall. Definitely worth the walk. Also worth visiting are the City Hall (350 S. 5th St) and the Basilica of Saint Mary (88 17th St. N) in which, during the Sunday Mass at 9:30 am, a choir of 90 elements is exhibited. Moving west of downtown towards the Mississippi, you will find, among other attractions, the Mill Ditrict, with many points of interest such as churches, museums, restaurants and more. Don't miss the Guthrie Theater (818 S. 2nd St.) which will surprise you with its unique architecture and panoramic terrace, the Endless Bridge, which juts over 50 meters, giving a superb view of the city and the Mississippi River.

Located in the northern part of the state of Oregon, it is crossed by the Willamette River which also separates it from the state of Washington.
With hot and dry summer, but not very hot and rainy and cold winter, Portland with its 600,000 inhabitants is the largest city in Oregon.
Also called "City of Rose" because the cultivation of roses is widely practiced, thanks to the ideal climate for their growth. Proof of this is the international test garden, inside the Washington Park: over 500 types of roses.
Also in Washington Park, the Japanese Garden with its magnificent cherry trees and countless gardens with the unmistakable Japanese style is worth a visit.
Portland is considered one of the most liveable cities in the US, where the metropolitan soul of the city coexists with that of the small provincial town. The city offers a sustainable and varied lifestyle, with a massive presence of bicycles and free use of public transport in Downtwon.
Definitely to visit the Oregon Maritime Museum located inside the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204) and the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave).
Also on SW Park Ave (at number 1200) there is the most important historical museum of the entire Oregon: Oregon Historical Society which will certainly impress you with its vast material on the pre-colonial era and on the native Americans who populated Oregon.
Walk or cycle to the Pearl District, an old, redeveloped industrial neighborhood full of beautiful lofts, art galleries, cafes and pubs.

Capital of Utah, Salt Lake City is also the capital of Mormonism. Located on the shores of the Great Salt lake, the city was founded by the Mormons in 1847, although before them, the Salt Lake Valley was inhabited by the tribes of the Native Americans of the Shoshone, Ute and Paiute.
Being in a fairly large space, the city has very large neighborhoods and streets, making it difficult to get around on foot. It is one of the gateway to Real America whose main attraction, the Yellostone Park, is located just north of the city.
Surely the most interesting place to visit is Temple Square, the cradle of the Mormon movement: go to Beehive House, (67 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84150), to Salt Lake Temple and to the Assembly Hall.
Walking a little further on, there is the Family History Library, a free entry museum which is certainly one of the worldwide reference points for genealogy studies. If you still have energy, you can walk about a mile north of Temple Square and reach the hill where the State Capitol stands. Free entry and insured panorama.
Going south instead of Temple Square, you will arrive at City Creek, an elegant and lively shopping area. But it is not only the city center that must be the destination of your excursions: the Foothill district, for example, is a beautiful area full of parks, paths and museums. Also go to the Red Butte Gardens, beautiful botanical gardens.
A 5 minute drive, on the other hand, you can get to The Living Room Trailhead: a beautiful path of about 3.5 Km (round trip) at the end of which you will enjoy a magnificent view of the valley below.