MLK Parade in Seattle

Cities all across America are celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this weekend. Here is a list of cities with popular events and parades (click name of city for event list):

Houston

Seattle

Atlanta

New Orleans

San Francisco

Philadelphia

Boston

San Diego

Miami

Indianapolis

Chicago

Washington, D.C.

New York City

Los Angeles

Denver

St. Louis

Dallas

Obviously there are more cities celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King –  if your town isn’t listed please check your local paper or community website for more information.

Photo by Seattle Municipal Archives via Flickr

Senegalese grilled tillapia and couscous

When I first embarked on the Taste of Harlem food and cultural tour last year, I was overwhelmed with the array of distinct cultures, art, history and food that this storied Manhattan neighborhood boasts.  The tour guided me through meals and places that I never would have tasted or glimpsed on my own. It was like peeking into a secret world of  food and culture that only some are privileged to witness.  So  this year, I  decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary by taking my husband along for the ride.

Staten Island Ferry

Any list of “things to do in New York City” will include a mention of the Statue of Liberty.  And how could it not?  Lady Liberty is the very definition of iconic and it’s difficult to imagine leaving NYC without at least a glimpse.  But how much time and money should you devote to our gift from the French?

Most New York City locals will advise you to skip the official tours to Liberty Island while more sentimental tourists will insist that a trip to the statue’s base is a must.  Personally, I come down on the side of seeing the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry – and here’s why.

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Grand Central Station - New York, NY

I recently wrote about how I managed to vacation in New York City for just $60 a day, including all meals and entertainment.  A big part of my cost saving strategy was to use public transportation and walking as much as possible.  I spent a week touring Manhattan and paid for a cab only once for the ride out to Newark to catch my flight home.  I went everywhere else by train or foot at all hours of the day and night.

Taking advantage of mass transit when you visit cities that are smart enough to have it available is a great way to save money, but it can also be intimidating.  How will you know what bus to get on?  Are there signs telling you which trains go where?  Who will tell you when it’s time to get off at your stop?  These tips will help take some of the mystery (and terror) out of navigating public transportation in a new city.

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