This Thursday is the 7th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11.  I still remember where I was and the slow unrolling of sad stories during the next few days.  My sister called and said, “We are under attack. Turn on the TV.”  The first statement I did not believe, the second made me think it was a joke.  Moments later, I was dismayed to see the truth of her words displayed before me on CNN and every other news station.

I went to New York a few weeks later for a business trip and saw the gaping hole and the sad work of the firefighters.  I followed the story  fairly closely for a while—the strength of the New Yorkers, the funeral processions, the ensuing discussion about what to do next.

Memorial march in honor of 9/11, Washington, D.C

The questions of how to rebuild and how to create something better than before were tough to answer.

But as time passed, like many Americans, I just watched the story unfold in the remote corners of my life until last week when I visited New York again and I saw the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and National Tribute to the victims. Surprisingly, during my visit, the attack on the city came up repeatedly in conversation. It still permeates New Yorkers’ lives. Everyone I met remembered the exact moment they heard the news and their reactions of horror, fear and an overwhelming desire to help.  I realized the rebuilding is needed in New York.  It is right and it helps heal and it is what we do as part of  living. Rebuild what has been attacked, rebuild what is falling apart and the healing begins.  Trite phrases that shouted a powerful truth to me as I saw it in action. The new design is a rising of hope and a testament to our country and our people.  We will not be beaten down. We rise up.

 My friend has just taken an apartment directly across the street from Ground Zero.  She will be living next to the construction for the next five years and doesn’t mind.

National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, NY, NY

To her, the rebuilding of Ground Zero, now called the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center is a monument  to those who lost their lives and to the future of our country.  It represents the best part of America. The discourse of public opinion, public consideration by public and private officials, a long process to make sure all options are  considered and finally a decision to  build something that will live for centuries. The design was selected from 5,200 submissions from 63 nations. It will be built by people working together from all over the world, visited by people from every country, every religion and every culture.

Osama may send another plane or unleash another evil attack, but he can’t destroy that part of my country that accepts all people and all religions.  The pilgrims did a good thing, they came for freedom of religion and gave the next wave of immigrants the same freedom from the moment their feet hit American soil.  I wish Mr. Bin Laden did the same.

Statue of Liberty photo  by acnatta. 

America. Nothing says it more than a visit to a historical landmark. And what better way to ease the kids back into school than with a late-summer trip somewhere that is fun as well as educational!

In the midwest, there are several great options from which to choose. The first landmark that most people probably think of in the US’s midwest region is Mount Rushmore. From the Mt. Rushmore government site:

“This epic sculpture features the faces of four exalted American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. South Dakota’s Black Hills provide the backdrop for Mount Rushmore, the world’s greatest mountain carving. These 60-foot high faces, 500 feet up, look out over a setting of pine, spruce, birch, and aspen in the clear western air.”

Mt. Rushmore offers plenty of family fun, including sculpture workshops, guided tours, and opportunities for volunteering, youth programs, and internships. They also have great things for kids to do, so be sure to get them involved!

People probably also think of St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. My family and I were there several months ago and it is truly something to behold. From the Gateway Arch’s web site, linked above:

“The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis’ role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.”

Once there, one thing that everyone….except me….wants to do it take the tram to the top of the arch. While the more adventurous were doing that, I watched Monument to the Dream, the movie that uses live footage of the building of the arch to tell the story of how the idea became a reality. The monument also houses the Museum of Westward Expansion, and nearby you can take a ride down the Mississippi on a riverboat and visit the Historic Courthouse.

Whether you visit one of these landmarks or opt for another, be sure to enjoy what is left of summer here in the Midwest. It won’t be long before we’ll be picking apples and pumpkins and planning our Halloween parties, so take the family and get away for one last weekend. Be safe, have fun, and be sure to tell George Washington I said hello.

Millions of people visit San Francisco for the Victorian houses, cable car rides and fantastic food.  Millions of others come to see the engineering marvel that is the Golden Gate Bridge.  Here are a few tips from someone who has lived in the Bay Area for twenty years:

1. Best run to the bridge: Start at Crissey Field and run to the end of the path. It is flat, runs right along the bay and you end up directly underneath the bridge, right where the bay meets the ocean. Usually a few surfers and windsurfers are doing their thin, too–very California, I think.  It is only a few miles.  You can do it.  If not, walk it and stop at  for a cup of hot chocolate.

2.  Best walk:  Park near the bridge and walk to the middle of the bridge, look out, look up and look down for views. Dress warmly, there is always a brisk breeze.

3. Best bike:  Rent a bike anywhere in the city, ride across the bridge and then down a long hill into Sausalito, have lunch, see the shops and take the ferry back to the city  to the bike rental shop.  Be forewarned in the summer the ferry is swamped with bikes.  Be the last one on the ferry and be the first one off it or just go into traveler zen mode and zone out until everyone else has unloaded.

4.  Best drive:  Skip the vantage point just after the bridge ends.  It is crowded and hard to park. Instead, take the Alexander Avenue exit (that is the second left after the bridge) turn left at the stop, go under the freeway and take a right into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (aka the headlands.) Drive to the top and look back at the bridge. There will be parking, fewer people and spectacular views. You can continue on to see more of the area if you wish.  A great drive.

Don’t just take pictures, go out on the bridge to enjoy the beauty of its design and a great view of the bay are.

Rob Roberts works at UpTake and has lived in Boston all of his adult life. He helped start two companies focused on travel recommendations. I think these are the kind of credentials that make him the ideal local to give us a few insights into this renowned city. I like his suggestion of the perfect day starting at 11:00 a.m. with a big budget…

Give 5 adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of Boston and its residents.
Historical, frigid, scholarly, tough, geeky…

What is your favorite neighborhood in Boston?
That would have to be Harvard Square…shoot, that’s Cambridge. You can walk around through Harvard Yard, go window shopping at lots of little shops, hang out at a café…

Which cuisine do you think Boston does best? What is the runner-up?
Italian. The North End is filled with tiny little places with amazing food. Ooooo…runner-up, not sure. Probably some kind of new food that I don’t eat. I’m sure about the Italian though.
What is the best free thing to do?
To make up for botching the last question, I’ll answer this one twice. Walking around Boston Common is really fun and free. There are gardens, ducks, statues, etc. Also it’s really great to tool around Harvard Square and Faneuil Hall during the summer…there are great sidewalk entertainers everywhere. (You should tip them, so that’s not technically free. But just between us, I’m really cheap and often just listen for free.)

What is your favorite type of entertainment?
That’s tough. Is eating entertainment? OK I’ll have to say the theater. The Theater District in Boston is great.

Describe the best family friendly activity.
Really depends on the time of year. The Museum of Science is a safe bet year-round…they have lots of cool interactive exhibits. But then there’s Fenway and the Red Sox during baseball season.

What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?
I think a nice hotel on either the harbor or the Charles River. Maybe a romantic walk along the Charles when the flowers are out in the spring (we really flip out here when we see green in the spring…it’s easy to forget how nice it can be outside when you’re buried under a foot of snow). Oh, and a harbor cruise. Or ditch Boston and go to the Cape.

Describe a perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about. In 3 sentences or less.
Alright…the perfect day. Does a budget come with this? My perfect day would have a big budget. How about a nice walk around Harvard Square in the late morning (no perfect day starts before 11am), then lunch in a café in Harvard. A quick T ride over to Faneuil Hall for window-shopping (or buying depending on the aforementioned budget), then walk over to the Theater District to catch some great performance. And what would make it really perfect is if the parking was free instead of $40.

Tell us about a place that you love to go, whether it is in the guidebooks or not.
OK here’s a secret place. It’s about an hour outside the city. It’s a small, family run water/picnic park on a lake. They have a huge lawn, a lake beach, and 3 awesome water slides. You can bring your own grill, your own food, and your own booze. It costs about $15 to get in. That’s it. No I’m not telling you the name of it…then everyone would go and it would be jam-packed!

What should we have asked, but didn’t?
Tips for going to Fenway Park and Museum of Science: leave extra time, they’re hard to find.
I have lived in Boston over 20 years, and still get lost around Boston. There’s one point on the highway where you swear you’re going the right direction and the Museum of Science is right in front of you and then…swoosh…it’s gone and you have no idea which direction you’re going. Secret parking is REAL hard to find in Boston. There’s a short strip of West Newton street in the Back Bay where you can park for free on weeknights…but you have to get there between 5:50 and 6:00 to get a spot. Before 5:50 you can get a ticket because there’s no parking before 6…after 6 it’s all full.