Vacations Blog

With the proliferation of the internet, just about anyone and everyone with a keyboard can write something and be touted as an “expert” on topics ranging from politics to molecular fusion. It may be accurate to say – the keyboard is mightier than the sword.  In the travel industry, there are countless numbers of travel guides and reviews available on the web written by just about anyone who has traveled outside of their home zip code.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer reading printed travel guides than reading it on a computer screen just as I still prefer taking a bite into Dave Thomas’ Classic Hamburger with its square beef patties over the ones served in other fast food restaurants. Yes, times have changed especially when we’re talking about how technology has improved our lives, but there’s just something about the virtue of a book, where you can scribble in your notes, highlight passages, or even bend a few pages to mark your spots.  But times have changed, and many companies have found it necessary to change to an online marketing model in order to keep pace.

One company has managed to do both:  Fodor’s.  Just as how Coca-Cola has become an international icon that resonates something original or classic, Fodor’s has been a trusted name to travelers for generations. Since 1936, Fodor’s yellow and orange colored travel guides have remained a reliable source of information for travelers to get the scoop about their destination of choice.   And in recent years, Fodor’s has rolled out its online presence and beyond, including a mobile application.

Since my college years, I have collected literally boxes of Fodor’s travel guides that I used throughout my travels, including the ones given to me by friends who returned from their trips. The travel guides themselves tell their own stories of the journey as it served me and my friends well as an improvised pillow, photo and business card holder of the many interesting people we met and the hotels where we stayed, but ultimately it served us greatest as the trusted source of everything I ever needed to know for my trip to Bali.  But there are other travelers who have never purchased a single travel guide, and prefer to do their research online.  And there are still others, like many folks in our office, who started their traveling careers using printed guidebooks, but because of the ascendancy of the Internet (and getting hired by UpTake!) have transitioned to exclusively online research.

With sites like Fodor’s, one can have the best of both worlds – printed and online. Regardless of how you research your next trip, sometimes nothing beats revisiting a classic.

 From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Mendocino’s Glass Beach

1. Give five adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of Mendocino and its residents?

Creative, rustic, cultural, political, unpretentious.

2.     What is your favorite neighborhood/area of Mendocino?

Main Street, where all the shops are located, is a neighborhood favorite.  Across the street you can walk the bluffs at Headlands State Park.

3. Which cuisine do you think Mendocino does best?  What is the runner-up?  (feel free to share your favorite restaurant)

Mendocino is known for its locally grown, organic produce and California cuisine.  Ravens’ Restaurant at the Stanford Inn is a vegan restaurant that pleases even non-vegetarians.  Café Beaujolais features flavorful French cuisine and the Little River Inn serves a wonderful brunch.
   
4. What is the best free thing to do?Whale watching from January to March on the bluffs is free.  For an indoor activity, the Gallery Bookshop offers free book events featuring authors, discussions, writing workshops and such.  Art lovers will enjoy Second Saturday, where galleries and businesses stay open late with public receptions, featuring food and music for exhibiting artists from 5-8 p.m.

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?Mendocino offers wine and food events year-round.  The world’s only Abalone Festival & Cook-off takes place in October.
   6.     List the best family friendly activity?
 Big River Beach is a family-friendly beach.  Look for the sometimes appearing natural lagoon.  
7. What spot would you send a couple looking for a romantic weekend?
Start your day with breakfast on the porch at MacCallum House Inn.  Take a hike at Big River and circle back to Mendocino for lunch at the Bay View Café, which does offer a great view.  Cruise the galleries, stopping by the Papa Bear’s Chocolate Haus on Main Street for the fresh raspberry and chocolate bark and finish with a sunset dinner at the Albion River Inn. 
8. Describe the perfect day…one that captures what your area is all about? In three sentences or less.

To jumpstart your perfect day, begin with the best latte and a fresh pastry from Mendocino Bakery, home to Thanksgiving Coffee Company.  Walk the redwoods and Big River and immerse yourself in art at the local galleries.
     
9. Tell us about a place that you love to go whether it is in the guidebooks or not.The Mendocino Art Center is a wonderful place to spend some time.
  
10. What question did we not ask that we should have?

Where do the locals go for breakfast?  Check out what’s happening at the Caspar Community Center.  The small town of Caspar is located between Mendocino and Fort Bragg.  Every fourth Sunday from 9 to11:30 a.m. the center hosts a community breakfast.  The cost varies from $8-$11 and is very upscale, yet low key.

Want to be our next “local expert”?  Send us an e-mail or comment on this post!

 
 
 

 

It’s no big secret that there’s a love-hate relationship between New York City and its tourists. NYC loves the dollars flowing in every year from 39 million American visitors and 9 million foreign tourists, but hates having to put up with insensitive and clueless tourists. So here’s some tips for NYC visitors which will help you blend in. Oh, and if you’re looking for the opposite, here’s a list of things to do in New York.

1. Walking -  You walk fast, and you expect the person in front to keep walking. In a straight line. You can’t just simply stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk and start taking pictures. You want to stop walking, then you move to the right and get your bags out of the way. Secondly, if you’re in a group, don’t walk in a row holding hands and block the people behind. Jaywalking is considered normal.

2.  Talking – Again, time is money. People will respond normally enough if you have a question. But you have to make it quick to avoid a brush-off. This applies especially when you’re ordering food. Think about what you want beforehand. If you start asking questions at the counter, you’re dead meat.

3. Eye Contact – No one makes eye contact, or smiles at strangers (exception for attracting the oppposite sex). If you want to blend in, never make eye contact, smile without reason, or start a conversation unless necessary.

4. Subway etiquette – I could write 13 rules just for the subway. But in a nutshell, observe rule No.3 without exception, and if there’s a crowd, keep the doors clear – stand left or right, wait for the people getting off to do so, and don’t push your way in using elbows. Once inside, don’t block the doors for people trying to get out. And don’t stand in the middle of the subway exits – People go in and out real fast with their heads down, and someone is likely to knock you down.

5. Tipping – 15 to 20% is the norm when you’re tipping. Especially for the taxis. Believe me, you don’t want to tick off an NYC cabbie by short-charging him on tips. And if you leave coins at a restaurant, then don’t go back. Ever.

6. Culture Shock – Some of you might be shocked by the colorful nature of some people you encounter - as in drag outfits and/or tasteless, bizzare dressing styles. Don’t be. Nobody cares, except you. On a related note, this isn’t California, so please leave your shorts and sun-glasses at home. See, the way this works is that dressing bizzare is acceptable, but walking around in shorts with sun-glasses with NYC t-shirts marks you as a tourist.

7. Food - Remember the thing about ordering fast in rule No.2 and tipping in rule No.5, and get a regular coffee (with cream and sugar), or a beer. No tea. You get fries on the side with most everything, so you don’t need to order it seperately.

8. Tourism – There’s no need to go visit the Statue of Liberty or take a Circle Line cruise. You can get a pretty good view from the Staten Island ferry, and its free to boot. Other than the crowd and the neon signs, Times Square is pretty much a tourist trap. Stay away if possible. And Museums have pay-what-you-wish days. Only tourists land up on the other days to pay the full admission price.

9. Local transport – Avoid cabs and driving your own car as much as possible. The subway works just fine, and you can get MTA NYC Transit Metrocards which are valid for both the subway and the buses. Depending on the duration of your stay, you can get anything from a 7-day unlimited card to a 1-day fun pass.

10. Shopping – Fifth Ave is a strict no-no for shopaholics, unless you have Macy’s coupons. You want the exact same designer wear and branded accessories and stuff at 40 to 80% discounts over retail prices, you go to Century21 or Gabay’s or Syms.

11. Homeless/Oddballs – You’ll see a lot of them, if you walk around a bit. They might even try to talk to you or make gestures, and if you make eye contact, or act like you’re interested, they’ll try to follow you. Just ignore them and move on. Same thing applies for flyer distributors. Its not rude to ignore kids or old people handing out flyers.

12. Ground Zero – Touchy subject. If you don’t know how to get there, better not ask a stranger on the street. If you must ask, then walk into a store or a restaurant, buy something, and then ask the staff.

13. Umbrella etiquette – First, never walk around without an umbrella. If you’re using it, you need to bob it up and down so you don’t knock out someone’s eye, or crash into another umbrella. Its a fine art as to who raises the umbrella and who weaves left or right a bit, but you’ll get the hang of it after one of two attempts.

Photo credit lynza.

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Here is my Thursday Thirteen list, a suggestion of things to do with tweens in L.A. I thought up most of it at the mall last week, as I was waiting outside a store for my two tween girls to emerge with their purchases. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished in seven hours.

1. Hot Topic - This could really cover items 1 – 13 on this list, since as far as my two girls are concerned there isn’t any need to venture anywhere else. Give them a backpack full of snacks and a fully-charged cell phone and they could probably stay in there for weeks spending my hard earned cash on Juno t-shirts and black glitter nail polish.

2. Art Museums – We’ve been taking our kids to art museums since they were babies, but it’s gotten particularly entertaining lately to hear their expert commentary. It’s always amusing to hear things like, “OMG – naked!” when standing before a majestic sculpture by Rodin, or “I TOTALLY want that for my new bunk bed comforter” while contemplating a canvas by Jackson Pollack.

3. Soup Kitchen –I’ve never actually visited a soup kitchen with my tweens, but it’s something all the PC parenting guides say you should do in order to teach your kids to be grateful for what they have. In all honesty, I’m not sure how my two girls would fare – I’d really be embarrassed if they sat down at a table, waited for a menu and then asked the homeless guy sitting next to them if he recommends the buffalo wings or the grilled cheese.

4. The movies – Any movie will do. Just sitting in a nice cool theater chowing down on hot buttered popcorn and Junior Mints is enough to keep them happy. The 9 – 12 year old set aren’t very discerning moviegoers; In fact, it may be the only time you’ll hear “Garfield: The Movie” and “awesome” in the same sentence.

5. Target – Maybe this is only applicable to tween girls, but mine love the aisles filled with cheap loot, cds and video games. Also, lots of eco t-shirts that say things like ‘Tree Hugger’ which is apparently all the rage now. You might just get them to listen to your Hendrix albums after all.

6. Yogurt shop – Yogurt is the new black. Menchies is our favorite, but Pinkberry or any other one will do. But try and take them to Baskin-Robbins and be prepared for much eye-rolling as they’re forced to mingle with the four-year-olds enjoying a scoop of Shrek Swirl with their grandpas.

7. Starbucks – This is the new version of sneaking a sip of your mom’s wine when you were seven. Tweens like the idea of sipping a grown-up coffee drink (I order decaf for mine) and it’s great for coffee addicts like me who can get their daily fix guilt-free. You know, it’s for the children.

8. Bowling Alley – They may last for one game of bowling, but what they really want to do is head to the arcade for some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for you total squares.) Bring a bat or rolled-up newspaper if you have girls, though – the last time I was there a small crowd of teen boys gathered to watch my daughters and their friends bouncing around to the music until I shooed them away.

9. California Pizza Kitchen –According to the highly scientific poll I conducted with my girls and their friends while driving back from the mall in my van last week, this is the sanctioned eatery to dine with your parents. Added bonus – it’s the only place they don’t feel embarrassed about ordering from the kids menu since “the macaroni and cheese, like, rules.”

10. The Library – Believe it or not, tweens are rediscovering the library, mainly for the treasure trove of manga books they have there. At $9.99 each, it gets expensive to keep buying them at Barnes & Noble. However, do not even suggest they try out any of the library-sponsored teen events such as cupcake making or scrapbooking – you may as well tell them to invite their crowd over for a rousing game of rummy.

11. The beach – The beach is ideal for tweens and their unpredictable moods. They can indulge both their sloth-ly instincts by laying on their towels all day, or burn off energy by hitting the waves for some boogie-boarding. Also, the close proximity of a snack bar serving pizza and every variety of greasy, deep fried food will make them think they’ve died and gone to heaven

12. The park – My girls are just starting to notice boys, and members of the opposite sex are in abundance here, especially during soccer season. Bring along that bat that you took to the bowling alley

13. At home, with their parents – They’re not going to want to be seen with their dad and me for long, so we’re savoring all these days just hanging out together. So what if they roll their eyes when I suggest the fifth game of CandyLand?

This “Local’s Perspective” on New Orleans comes from Chris Marz. Chris is a long-time resident of New Orleans that now lives in the Dallas area. I loved reading about all there is to do in this decadent and colorful city. It was heartening to hear of the hard work being done to rebuild from Katrina. I also enjoyed Chris’s list of tasty restaurants to visit. New Orleans does food well and I am drooling over the thought of dinner at Galatoire’s or a muffaletta from Central Grocery! Enjoy!

1. Give five adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of New Orleans and its residents?

Warm, fun-loving, laid-back, welcoming, and food-loving

2. What is your favorite neighborhood/area of New Orleans?

French Quarter, Garden District, Lakeview, Uptown – each neighborhood is unique.  Be sure to go past the French Quarter in touring New Orleans

3. Which cuisine do you think New Orleans does best? What is the runner-up?(feel free to share your favorite restaurant)

Creole (not Cajun); Runner up: seafood; Favorite restaurant:  Liuzza’s on the Track

4. What is the best free thing to do?

People watch in the French Quarter (Best “almost” free: ride the streetcar uptown and then back to downtown)

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?

Street festivals with food and music (these occur almost every weekend)

6. List the best family friendly activity.

Audubon Park (zoo), the Aquarium, Insectarium,  or riverboat cruise to Chalmette

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?

The Column Hotel

8. Describe the perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about–  In three sentences or less.

An early morning walk/run through the French Quarter followed by breakfast at Café du Monde; lunch at Liuzza’s on the Track (even better, if the Fairgrounds racetrack is open) If not, a trip to New Orleans Museum of Art (wonderful Faberge exhibit).  Late in the afternoon, a drink on the front porch of the Column Hotel.  Dinner at Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Broussard’s or Galatoire’s.  Nightcap at Lafitte’s Hideaway (one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter) or the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go whether it is in the guidebooks or not.

Get a muffaletta from Central Grocery and eat on the levee, overlooking the river. Take the streetcar to the ferry landing and ride the ferry to Old Algiers.  Walk through Old Algiers and see old homes and Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World.  I would also recommend a drive through Lakeview to see how hard New Orleanians are working to recover from Katrina and how far they still have to go  There are good seafood restaurants in the area as well.

10. What question did we not ask that we should have (and answer it, of course!)?

“Should I take one of the buggy tours of the French Quarter?”

Yes, but don’t believe a word they tell you.  Look for the National Park tour offerered for free, if you are interested in learning the history of the city.

“Do you have to pay a lot of money to eat good food?”

NO NO NO.  If there is a line or the place is crowded, chances are the food is good.

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to New Orleans.

Would you like to share your hometown with UpTake visitors? Send us an e-mail or comment on this post and then maybe you can be our next “local expert”!

This local perspective on Kansas City comes from Linda Szewczyk. Linda has lived in many cities and feels that Kansas City has something for everyone to enjoy. After reading through her terrific answers, I can see that she is right. Kansas City is a place full of surprises. For example, did you know that it is only 30 miles from the birthplace of Basketball and has more BBQ restaurants than anywhere else in the U.S.?! This last part could come as a surprise for all you Texans out there….myself included! I think that you will enjoy this glimpse into Missouri’s ‘finest city’.

1. Give five adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of Kansas City and its residents?

Beautiful, Surprising, Complex, Picturesque, and Sophisticated.

(It seems that those on the coasts are generally unfamiliar with the Mid-West. Having lived in many cities, I found Kansas City has something for everyone to enjoy.)

2. What is your favorite neighborhood/area of Kansas City?

The Country Club Plaza district, it is an area of majestic homes, towering trees, retail shops and restaurants. The architecture is styled after cities of the Iberian Peninsulaand is credited with being the country’s first shopping center.

3. Which cuisine do you think Kansas Citydoes best? What is the runner-up? (Feel free to share your favorite restaurants).

Kansas City was home to some of the country’s original stockyards and therefore is known for luscious beef. The city boasts many fine steak houses, including the Hereford House, The Savoy Grill, and The Majestic Steakhouse. They serve up terrific jazz along with their scrumptious steaks. Equal to Kansas City steaks is the barbecue! Of my favorites, Fiorella’s Jack Stack tops the list.

4. What is the best free thing to do?

Kansas Cityis home to Hallmark Cards. The Crown Center surrounds the Hallmark headquarters. Stroll three levels of shopping and dining at the Crown Center.You can visit Kaleidoscope a hands on art experience for children 5 to
12 sponsored by Hallmark. Enjoy free Friday Night Concerts and Flicks on the lawn outside Crown Center.

During the summers the Crown Center Square Fountain’s 48 water shooters perform a dancing water show synchronized by the Kansas City Symphony. During the winter, you can ice skate at the Ice Terrace in the square for a small fee.

The Coterie Theater, American Heartland Theater and Off Center Theater are located within the CrownCenterand offer shows for all ages. Tickets must be purchased for shows.

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?

Kansas Cityhas the BLUES and all that JAZZ. Some of the greatest jazz players of all time started in the clubs of Kansas City. In the 18th and Vine and the Power and Light District fans can find many clubs,
bars, and music festivals.

6. List the best family friendly activity.

Family activities are abound in Kansas City. From the professional teams, the Royals baseball and Chiefs football and NASCAR, to the amusement parks of Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, provide year-round entertainment for all!

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?

The Country Club Plaza is a great choice! The Raphael, an elegant boutique hotel, is a wonderful retreat for a romantic weekend. Stroll the boulevards of the Plaza, dine at the Plaza IIIor just have margaritas on the patio at Baja 600. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride and admire the awesome array of the beautiful fountains which are abundant in Kansas City.

8. Describe the perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about– In three sentences or less.

Almost any day is perfect in Kansas City, despite or because of the true four season climate; there is always something to do, on the coldest winter day or the steamiest day in July. Visit the shops, restaurants, and other attractions and you are always greeted with friendly hospitality. I guess it’s the people I most enjoy.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go whether it is in the guidebooks or not.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has an outstanding collection of artifacts from ancient times to modern day, and admission is free! Have lunch at the museum’s RozelleCourtRestaurantor picnic on the
scenic grounds.

10. What question did we not ask that we should have (and answer it, of course!)?

Little Known Facts:
-Kansas Cityhas the most extensive public display of European statuary and fountains in the country, with at last count over 200 fountains.
-Independence, part of the Kansas City metro area, was home to Harry S. Truman our 33rd President. His home and library are open to the public.
-The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas located 40 miles west of Kansas Cityis home to the NCAA Champion KU Jayhawks and is the birthplace of game of basketball.
-The Kansas City Barbecue Society reports that KC has more barbecue restaurants per  capita than any other city in the country.

Do you have a city you would love to tell us about? Send us an e-mail or comment on this post and maybe you can become our next local expert!

This local’s perspective on Atlanta is written by Kat Harris. Kat lives right outside of Atlanta and loves to drive into the city for a family outing or a romantic getaway. That is-when she can find the time. She is a busy mom and an active blogger. Check out her blog, Sunshine and Lemonade. I enjoyed reading about the large southern city of Atlanta. I would love to take a stroll down some of its stately neighborhoods as well as spend some time doing “retail therapy” at the city’s many shopping avenues. Enjoy!

1. Give five adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of Atlanta and its residents?

Diverse, congested, vibrant, political, eclectic

2. What is your favorite neighborhood/area in Atlanta?

There are a lot of neat neighborhoods around Atlanta. Decatur has a vibrant “hippy” feel to it – with farmer’s markets, great restaurants (One is Watershed – which is partly owned by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls), bars (Brick Store Pub is well known for their high gravity Belgian brews), and great people watching opportunities. Another one is Grant Park/East Atlanta near the Atlanta Zoo. This neighborhood has some beautiful craftsman style homes built in the 1920’s – and some amazing Victorian houses – complete with the gingerbread fixins. And one other to look at is either Druid Hills or Buckhead – to see some mansions and “old” money in the city.

3. Which cuisine do you think Atlanta does best? What is the runner-up?(feel free to share your favorite restaurant)

I don’t know that there is one thing that Atlanta does best. It’s one of the great things about Atlanta is that there are so many very good examples of all different kinds of cuisine. Favorite restaurant: Five Seasons Brewing company. It’s a brew pub (they make their own beer) – and even they have an eclectic menu. Second favorite: Watershed in Decatur – Excellent southern cuisine.

4. What is the best free thing to do?

There are free things to do in Atlanta? Besides paying for parking – you can walk around Centennial Olympic park. They have a fountain to splash in…and a great playground for the kids. During the summer they have movies on the lawn; at Christmas time there is a great light display.

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?

Retail Therapy. Atlanta has some of the best shopping!

6. List the best family friendly activity?

There are lots of things to do: Six Flags and White Water…Braves games…Georgia Aquarium…Stone Mountain Park…and the Botanical Gardens by Piedmont Park has a fabulous children’s garden.

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?

Not exactly in Atlanta – but on the north side of town – Chateau Elan (which has spas and a winery)…on the south side…Callaway Gardens.

8. Describe the perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about? In three sentences or less.

The perfect day would begin when the Aquarium opens (get there early to avoid most of the crowds) followed by lunch at the Varsity (the world’s largest drive-in restaurant – and home of the yummiest, greasiest, artery clogging onion rings). Next, drive out to Stone Mountain Park and either walk up the mountain to work off that lunch – or if you can’t do that, take the cable car up to the top to see the views. And finish off your evening by parking yourself on a blanket on the lawn in front of the carving on the mountain to watch the laser show after dark.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go whether it is in the guidebooks or not.

I love to go to the Aquarium. I could sit and watch the Beluga whales all day! And they are about to expand the aquarium to include a whole wing for dolphins.

Another activity – for the grown-ups – that is so fun is to see the play “Peachtree Battle.” It is now the longest running play in Atlanta (beating out “Driving Miss Daisy”). The play is about an old moneyed family whose favorite son is getting married to a black Hooters waitress.

10. What question did we not ask that we should have (and answer it, of course!)?

“How do you get around to do all these things?”

In Atlanta…you need a car. The public transportation does not get you everywhere you need to go…and Atlanta is a commuter town…so even grabbing a cab is not an easy option. There is so much to do…but it is all spread out – sprawl is the name of this town…and you are going to need a car to see and do all the wonderful things Atlanta and vicinity have to offer.

Tara Cosgrove is our most recent “local” contributor. Tara works for Sticky Fingers Travel Ltd an Irish company dedicated to providing information to parents who wish to travel with their children. Sticky Fingers is run by parents and all of their travel is researched by parents for parents. They provide independent and unbiased advice on family friendly holidays and accommodation, activities with children and things to do and see so that you can plan the perfect family holiday. It is a great site and Tara gives us great insight into her hometown of Dublin.

1. Give 5 adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of your town and its residents.
Vibrant, young, friendly, changing and fun

2. What is your favorite neighborhood in your town?
Dublin has so many great areas but my favourite has to be the heritage town of Dalkey which is about 10 miles from the centre of town. It is on the sea and has castles, artsy shops, great beaches, hill walks, an island with a Martello tower on it and seals in the harbour. It also has great restaurants and bars. Despite the fact that it is now home to lots of rock stars and formula one drivers it has retained a great village atmosphere (my granny still gets stopped on the street at least six times a day for a chat!).

3. Which cuisine do you think your town does best? What is the runner-up?
I am not sure if Guinness qualifies as a cuisine but it is definitely Dublin’s signature dish. It is still made right in the city centre and the smell of the hops can waft all the way down the river life on occasions. As a runner up we do great seafood here and several Irish restaurants have been awarded new Michelin star this year. A word of warning though for a Friday or a Saturday night book weeks in advance as the best restaurants get booked up really early.

4. What is the best free thing to do?
The beaches are great and as Dublin is on a bay there are plenty of them. Killiney beach is my favourite and you can get the Dart (our train system) right to the entrance. Walking the pier in Dun Laoghaire is also a great day out and you can reward yourself with a legendary Teddy’s ice-cream if you keep up the pace. Our Festivals are also great and we have just had the World Street Performance Championships here and there is always of course the St. Patricks Day Festival.

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?
A night out with friends or family to relax and absorb the great banter and atmosphere of Dublin nightlife. There are often four or five conversations going at the one time so it is hard to keep up sometimes. The Irish still love to talk.

6. List the best family friendly activity.
A day at the beach or at the park with a picnic would be my top pick followed closely by Dublin Zoo which is always a great day . We all come home exhausted.

If you are interested in parks, my favourites would be St. Stephen’s Green which is right at the top of Grafton Street, the best shopping street in Dublin and Herbert Park in Ballsbridge which has ducks to feed (but you need to get there early as they get pretty choosy as the day goes on) playgrounds, tennis courts and great planting. Further out I love Powerscourt Waterfall which has a 121 ft. waterfall and is a favourite area for family picnics, with woodland walks, a playground and masses of space and Knocksink Woods in Enniskerry which is quieter and great for a crispy winter walk in your wellington boots.”

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?
The Merrion Hotel in Dublin 2 is a splendid hotel in a Georgian terrace just opposite our government buildings. The rooms in the older part of the building are best if the budget can stretch to it. There are great common rooms with log fires for lounging about in and two in house restaurants so you do not have to set foot outside.

8. Describe a perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about. In 3 sentences or less.
Breakfast at home with the kids with a sneaky look at the Irish Times Saturday edition. A walk in the local park followed by some lunch or a BBQ with friends or family to catch up on all the craic (that means fun here in Ireland) during the week and then a few drinks to finish off the day at home or out for dinner

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go, whether it is in the guidebooks or not.
Dalkey Hill has the most amazing views of Dublin and takes my breath away every time.

10. What should we have asked, but didn’t?
Where not to go–like every big city Dublin has an edgy side so do get local knowledge about areas to avoid if you are not sure.