The article below was posted today...seriously...does no one fact check at yahoo. #1 the Azores is not an unknown secret. You guys might want to look into how many Americans identify as Azorean (I'm going to say a quarter of the Boston area). #2 The part of Europe that is closest to the USA is not the Azores...it's an island chain off the East Coast of Canada called St. Pierre and Miquelon...It is part of France.

"The Azores, Portugal

Isolated in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores, a Portuguese island chain unknown to most Americans, feels remote but is actually closer to the U.S. than any other point in Europe. Each of the nine volcanic islands—from main island Sao Miguel to the tiny isle of Corvo (population: about 400)—exudes a distinct character. But all of the islands are rooted in Old World charm and offer plenty of ways to experience local culture and the outdoors. Feel the spray from the world's biggest mammals on a whale watch, hike up calderas to pristine crater lakes, or go spelunking though extinct lava tubes. Just be sure to make time to savor the local cuisine, which prides itself on wine, artisan-made cheeses, and seafood from the islands' rich ocean waters."