Nov 06, 2009 8:51 - By: Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
A painting featured during ArtCrawl Harlem
Soho and Chelsea may grab all the attention when it comes to New York’s art scene but Harlem boasts a vibrant array of galleries and museums, minus the crowds. Artcrawl Harlem rounds up some of these art discoveries with a three and half- hour trolley tour that supplies historical background and a reception with food and live music at the end of the tour. For its second year, the Artcrawl focuses on East Harlem galleries and Spanish Harlem history. If you’ve ever tried to explore Manhattan landmarks in an afternoon, you know that New York’s long stretches of streets and sprawling layout don’t make it easy. Artcrawl Harlem’s trolley tour gives you easy with 30-minute trolley stops at 5-7 galleries and art spaces, giving you time to actually peruse the art without worrying about parking or schedules. Read More »
Nov 04, 2009 8:26 - By: Laura Charon
A dragster at Firebird International Raceway.
My husband is a huge fan of the drags. I’d never attended a drag race myself, before I met him. As a matter of fact, on one of our first dates we attended a “Jets vs. Funny Cars” event at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, AZ.
Jet dragsters, which are drag cars propelled by a jet engine, undergo a kind of warm-up phase where the driver lines up on the track, then kind of rev’s the engine. The jet “booms” in a succession of five or six hits, and it’s like your breastbone is a bass drum. You can FEEL the percussion in your body. It’s really cool.
(I don’t pretend to have a working knowledge of all of the technical details, here, so bear with me as I muddle through the definitions.)
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Nov 03, 2009 12:04 - By: Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
Swirling Hurricane at Margaritaville
You don’t have to be a Jimmy Buffett fan to be captured by the zaniness of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach, SC. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of Jimmy’s pseudo-tropical, off kilter tunes but I forgot all that as I nibbled jerk salmon and conch fritters. The sprawling, two-story restaurant anchors the popular Broadway on the Beach shopping district and tops the list for Myrtle Beach family friendly activities. Jimmy Buffett fans are called Parrot Heads and the first thing you’ll see are tons of people roaming around in balloon parrot hats. You’d think this was a draw for the kids but you’ll spot more adults wearing them. The other spectacle that greets you is a swirling hurricane, complete with sound effects and weather forecasts. Read More »
Nov 02, 2009 13:19 - By: Laura Charon
Stylin' girls at the mall.
There are twenty-five days until Black Friday, my friends! Time to get your gameplan together!
Black Friday, that traditional chaotic Christmas shopping day that qualifies as a quasi-holiday all on its own, is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. every year. This year, plan your Arizona shopping to visit these fine establishments:
The Scottsdale Fashion Square- 7014-7590 East Camelback Road – Phoenix, Arizona. Swank shops and boutiques mingle with great dining and people watching near the heart of Scottsdale.
The Chandler Fashion Center – 3111 West Chandler Boulevard – Chandler, Arizona. Indoor and outdoor shopping, dining, movies, and much more.
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Oct 31, 2009 11:03 - By: Laura Charon
Me and my husband at Lewis Falls - Yellowstone National Park, August 2009.
My husband and I visited Yellowstone National Park earlier this year. We tend to over-prepare for any vacation we partake of, and the road trip that took us on a round-trip total of 3,026 miles was a fine example of obsessive preparedness.
Since I had never been to Wyoming, and my husband’s visit was during his childhood, I purchased a guide book that came highly recommended to me – Yellowstone Treasures – The Traveler’s Companion to the National Park.
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Oct 30, 2009 10:03 - By: Whit Honea
All aboard!
Seriously, if you haven’t picked your pumpkin yet you’re about as big a slacker as the guy that waits until October 30th to write about a pumpkin patch. Let’s not judge.
Besides, calling Remlinger Farms a pumpkin patch is like calling Neil Diamond a singer. He’s an entertainer, people. Remlinger Farms is pretty entertaining, too.
The farm is located in Carnation, WA and is a self-contained family destination, minus the lodging. Luckily, Seattle is about 30 minutes away and they have a couple of motels along the freeway. Read More »
Oct 26, 2009 8:00 - By: Laura Charon
The Renaissance Festival Grounds
Arizona’s annual Renaissance Festival kicks off on February 6th, 2010, and runs through the end of March. I’m giving you plenty of head’s up so you can plan your vacation to Arizona accordingly! Need to get out of the snow and cold of your home state (or country)? A visit to Arizona in February will treat you to sunshine and temperatures in the high-sixties.
I may complain about the summers on a regular basis, but I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the winters.
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Oct 26, 2009 4:58 - By: Ed Lamaze
The Mississippi River Bridge Looking Into Louisiana from Vicksburg, MS
Today’s travel tip is brought to you by that oft overlooked arm of the travel industry, The Office of Tourism. What office, you may be asking? Pick your state I answer, for every state has one. The purpose of the tourism office in a particular state is to encourage vacationing, visiting by both residents and non-residents. They help to promote the economy by promoting the tourism industry within their respective states. Some offices even manage the state’s park systems.
They have information. Lots and lots of information. And that’s what we really need when planning a trip. Where to go, what to do, what to eat, schedules of events and festivals.
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