I cashed in some frequent flier miles for my trip to Washington DC over Columbus Day weekend. I flew into DC's National airport - when your plane lands from the north, you get an awesome view of downtown DC. I stayed in 2 hotels for this trip - the Omni Shoreham for the first part, and the George Hotel for the second part.
October 9
Went to the National Zoo. It's like most other zoos I've been to, but the National Zoo is unique in that it includes pandas - considered the feature attraction in this zoo. I spent about 4 hours in the zoo. Later in the afternoon, I visited National Community Church in Ebenezers Coffeehouse. I also got some metro station pictures along the way - some metro stations have really looooong escalators.
October 10
Stopped by the US Navy Memorial, then headed over to the Natural History Museum. The museum has the Hope Diamond exhibit, as well as lots of glowing rocks. There is a small garden next to the museum with a metal tree and big fountain - worth a visit. In the evening, I joined a bicycle tour group to bike to the monuments. This is a great way to spend an evening in Washington DC - the monuments are lit up at night and look great. Biking is the way to see all the monuments as they are placed far apart. Check out the mistake in the Lincoln memorial.
October 11
Visited the National Building Museum, including the Lego exhibit. The Lego exhibit consists of models of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, built entirely of Legos. Very nice and well done. It also includes models of proposed but not built skyscrapers. I'm surprised there are no models of the Taipei 101, Seattle's Space Needle, or Toronto's CN Tower. The Museum also had an exhibit about Palladio and how his drawings of Roman temples inspired the design of many government buildings and monuments in the US, such as the Archives Museum, US Capitol, US Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. I then visited the observation deck of the Post Office Pavilion. It is a way to get a panoramic view of DC and is an alternative to the Washington Monument. The Post Office Pavilion does not require advanced tickets and has no lines; however the Washington Monument has better views, especially of the White House. I spent the evening including dinner in DuPont, a lively neighborhood in DC.
October 12
Visited the Air and Space Museum. This museum has lots to see, and includes life size models of rockets and airplanes. I also saw Legends of Flight in 3D, a film documenting technologies and lessons learned in aircraft design, and how they apply to the newest aircraft - Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. This movie also makes you feel like you're flying in the pilot's seat. Afterwords, I had lunch at the American Indian Museum - food here is highly rated because it represents Native foods found throughout North and South America. I had the pulled buffalo sandwich.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hinckley, Minnesota
I was in Minnesota for Angela's wedding in Sandstone, MN. I stayed in Hinckley, at the Eagle Bed and Breakfast Inn. Several of Angela's wedding guests stayed here as well. This place is actually a house with old world charm that is modernized and converted into a bed and breakfast lodge. I highly recommend the place - great interior designs, awesome breakfast, and all the comforts of home.
Took 2 hikes in Minnesota, one along a paved trail in Hinckley, and another in Banning State Park. Best hiking trail in Banning State Park is along the Kettle River, from the picnic areas to Wolf Creek Falls. It is very beautiful especially with the fall colors.
Took 2 hikes in Minnesota, one along a paved trail in Hinckley, and another in Banning State Park. Best hiking trail in Banning State Park is along the Kettle River, from the picnic areas to Wolf Creek Falls. It is very beautiful especially with the fall colors.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Seattle (Labor Day Weekend)
Labor Day weekend trip to Seattle to enjoy a nice break from the Austin summer heat. I stayed at the Hotel Monaco, a boutique luxury hotel located in the heart of downtown Seattle. I booked the Monaco by taking advantage of a summer weekend sale offered on the hotel's website, which was actually cheaper than rates on Hotwire.
Activities:
Downtown Seattle, including a visit to Chinatown, Waterfall Garden Park, and the Gold Rush Museum. The Gold Rush Museum has this scale where you could see how much you're worth if your entire body is made of gold. I would be worth over $2 million :)
Tour of Underground Seattle. After much of downtown Seattle was destroyed in a massive fire in the 1889, city leaders decided to rebuild the streets to be 1 to 2 stories higher than the original, to protect against floods and to ensure proper sewage flow. That is why the hills exist in downtown Seattle. The new elevated streets resulted a network of underground passageways (below the new street level) that is now known as Underground Seattle. This area is mostly unusable, but parts have been restored for the tours. Although Underground Seattle is now below street level, it was what Seattle was like before the fire.
Day trip to Mount Ranier National Park. Great day of hiking, enjoying the outdoors, and seeing waterfalls. It was cloudy, so the mountain was invisible. But on the east side, which is drier, the clouds broke and we could see Mt Ranier.
Activities:
Downtown Seattle, including a visit to Chinatown, Waterfall Garden Park, and the Gold Rush Museum. The Gold Rush Museum has this scale where you could see how much you're worth if your entire body is made of gold. I would be worth over $2 million :)
Tour of Underground Seattle. After much of downtown Seattle was destroyed in a massive fire in the 1889, city leaders decided to rebuild the streets to be 1 to 2 stories higher than the original, to protect against floods and to ensure proper sewage flow. That is why the hills exist in downtown Seattle. The new elevated streets resulted a network of underground passageways (below the new street level) that is now known as Underground Seattle. This area is mostly unusable, but parts have been restored for the tours. Although Underground Seattle is now below street level, it was what Seattle was like before the fire.
Day trip to Mount Ranier National Park. Great day of hiking, enjoying the outdoors, and seeing waterfalls. It was cloudy, so the mountain was invisible. But on the east side, which is drier, the clouds broke and we could see Mt Ranier.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Hike in Talcott Mountain Park
I was in Hartford for Dan's and Melody's wedding. I stayed in the Farmington Inn and Suites, a country inn that combines New England elegance with luxury hotel amenities. This hotel is 15 minutes from West Hartford Center, a community hub with restaurants, shops, offices, and condos. I recommend Elbow Room for brunch, and The Counter for build-your-own burgers. The Counter also serves onion strings, sweet potato fries, and crispy regular fries.
I also went on a hike in Talcott Mountain park with 2 friends from Austin. The views are definitely worth the hike. Most of the hike is under trees, so there is lots of shade. Fall would be the best time with the fall colors in full swing.
I also went on a hike in Talcott Mountain park with 2 friends from Austin. The views are definitely worth the hike. Most of the hike is under trees, so there is lots of shade. Fall would be the best time with the fall colors in full swing.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
St Louis
Short weekend trip to the Gateway city. St Louis was where the Louisiana Purchases was signed and the city often is a starting point for expeditions west, including the Louis and Clark expedition.
Missouri History Museum. Includes an exhibit about Charles Lindbergh, who became the first solo pilot to fly non-stop across the Atlantic.
Old Courthouse, site of the Dred Scott case.
Riverboat tour on the Missouri river
Museum of Westward Expansion
Gateway Arch - commemorates the westward expansion of the US
Missouri History Museum. Includes an exhibit about Charles Lindbergh, who became the first solo pilot to fly non-stop across the Atlantic.
Old Courthouse, site of the Dred Scott case.
Riverboat tour on the Missouri river
Museum of Westward Expansion
Gateway Arch - commemorates the westward expansion of the US
Thursday, August 5, 2010
New York (July 30 - August 2, 2010)
I was in New York for Solar's and Karen's wedding reception. Since I was already going to be in the Big Apple, I made a trip out of it. Weather for my trip was very good - mostly sunny and pleasant temperatures in the 70s and 80s. I walked a lot and hardly broke a sweat.
July 30
Arrived at New York's JFK airport on American Airline's non-stop flight from Austin. Took the JFK Airtrain to Jamaica station to connect to the E subway line to mid-town in Manhattan. An Austin friend of mine traveled with me and we shared a room at the Hilton hotel on 53rd St/6th Ave. This Hilton is in an awesome location - walking distance to subway stations, Times Square, Central Park, Whole Foods, Rockefeller Center, etc. Right in the middle of the action in New York. We had a comfortable room with lots of space and a view of 6th Ave.
After settling in walked around Times Square, then 5th Avenue and made my way to Rockefeller Center. I went to the Top of the Rock, an observation deck with great views of the city, including Central Park and the Empire State Building. There is also a room with colored lights that feels like Times Square.
July 31
In the morning, I went for a walk in southern Central Park then went to Whole Foods (inside the Time Warner building) to buy fruit and water - by the way, water fountains are scarce in New York. Early afternoon, I walked to Grand Central Station to meet my friends Dan and Melody who were coming in from Hartford, CT. We then went to Chinatown to have a dim-sum lunch. Then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoyed views of downtown Manhattan. We closed our afternoon together with bubble tea drinks.
I then went to the evening showing of the Lion King broadway show at Minskoff Theater. It incorporates the same themes and characters of the animated movie. I liked the acting, costumes, and music. The Lion King is one of the best shows out there - it is so popular that tickets rarely make it to the discount booth. If you want to see the Lion King, get your tickets in advance. The only drawback is during the parts where the lion roars, the actors simply shout "Roar", as if you are reading from a book - using simulated lion roars would give a much better feel for the action. But other than that, Lion King is a great show.
August 1
In the morning, I went on a tour of the Radio Music City Hall. It is one of the largest, if not the largest, theater in the world. The auditorium is designed with no pillars in order to maximize views, and the acoustics actually allow people sitting in the top row of the mezzanine section to hear conversations on the stage. The tour consisted of going back stage, to get a feel for what goes on behind the scenes. We visited lounges, a private studio, and even met one of the Rockettes. As an added bonus, we got to go on stage, a treat normally not available for tours because it is usually packed with props and stuff for shows. We were definitely one of the lucky tour groups.
We were at the reception at Swing 46 during the afternoon. Good food, live band, and a swing dance lesson where I learned a new dance sequence. I met some new people there and of course talked to Solar and Karen. A great way to send them off into marriage. Afterwords, I walked around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reservoir in Central Park before grabbing a late dinner in Times Square.
August 2
I visited the Chrysler building in the morning. It consists of 77 stories, mainly offices and residences with a few stores on the bottom floors. There is no observation deck but the main draw is the indoor murals in the lobby. Then I went for a walk around the pond in the south east corner of Central Park.
July 30
Arrived at New York's JFK airport on American Airline's non-stop flight from Austin. Took the JFK Airtrain to Jamaica station to connect to the E subway line to mid-town in Manhattan. An Austin friend of mine traveled with me and we shared a room at the Hilton hotel on 53rd St/6th Ave. This Hilton is in an awesome location - walking distance to subway stations, Times Square, Central Park, Whole Foods, Rockefeller Center, etc. Right in the middle of the action in New York. We had a comfortable room with lots of space and a view of 6th Ave.
After settling in walked around Times Square, then 5th Avenue and made my way to Rockefeller Center. I went to the Top of the Rock, an observation deck with great views of the city, including Central Park and the Empire State Building. There is also a room with colored lights that feels like Times Square.
July 31
In the morning, I went for a walk in southern Central Park then went to Whole Foods (inside the Time Warner building) to buy fruit and water - by the way, water fountains are scarce in New York. Early afternoon, I walked to Grand Central Station to meet my friends Dan and Melody who were coming in from Hartford, CT. We then went to Chinatown to have a dim-sum lunch. Then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoyed views of downtown Manhattan. We closed our afternoon together with bubble tea drinks.
I then went to the evening showing of the Lion King broadway show at Minskoff Theater. It incorporates the same themes and characters of the animated movie. I liked the acting, costumes, and music. The Lion King is one of the best shows out there - it is so popular that tickets rarely make it to the discount booth. If you want to see the Lion King, get your tickets in advance. The only drawback is during the parts where the lion roars, the actors simply shout "Roar", as if you are reading from a book - using simulated lion roars would give a much better feel for the action. But other than that, Lion King is a great show.
August 1
In the morning, I went on a tour of the Radio Music City Hall. It is one of the largest, if not the largest, theater in the world. The auditorium is designed with no pillars in order to maximize views, and the acoustics actually allow people sitting in the top row of the mezzanine section to hear conversations on the stage. The tour consisted of going back stage, to get a feel for what goes on behind the scenes. We visited lounges, a private studio, and even met one of the Rockettes. As an added bonus, we got to go on stage, a treat normally not available for tours because it is usually packed with props and stuff for shows. We were definitely one of the lucky tour groups.
We were at the reception at Swing 46 during the afternoon. Good food, live band, and a swing dance lesson where I learned a new dance sequence. I met some new people there and of course talked to Solar and Karen. A great way to send them off into marriage. Afterwords, I walked around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reservoir in Central Park before grabbing a late dinner in Times Square.
August 2
I visited the Chrysler building in the morning. It consists of 77 stories, mainly offices and residences with a few stores on the bottom floors. There is no observation deck but the main draw is the indoor murals in the lobby. Then I went for a walk around the pond in the south east corner of Central Park.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Colorado (July 2010)
A weekend trip to Colorado to enjoy the mountains. I spent the day in the mountains and evenings in 16th street mall in downtown Denver. This was my first summer trip to Colorado (my previous Colorado trips have been in the winter for skiing and Campus Crusade for Christ's Denver Winter Conference).
July 16
Arrived in Denver in the late afternoon and checked into the Sheraton Denver hotel in downtown Denver. This hotel is along the 16th street mall, a great place to find restaurants. It has a great gym with lots of weight machines.
July 17
I joined a tour group for a day trip to Colorado Springs. The tour started with a visit to the Air Force Academy. Admission is highly competitive and prospective students are strongly encouraged to commit to applying when they are freshmen in high school. The Air Force Academy emphasizes building leadership as well as training to serve. Next was a visit to the Garden of Gods. My favorite sites were the Kissing Camels and the balanced rock. Afterwords, I had lunch at the Trading Post, where there was a reserved table for my tour group with our own wait staff - very nice touch. Next was the highlight of my tour - climbing Pike's Peak via the cog railway. The train ride was very scenic and we had a knowledgeable, friendly tour guide who gave many details on what we're seeing. At the summit, the weather was sunny so I got to enjoy very nice views. There was a small house on the summit, which consists of a gift shop and food court. I got the donuts (recommended by the train tour guide) fresh out of the oven and they were delicious. Important note: in 1893, Katharine Lee Bates, a college professor, took a trip to the top of Pike's Peak. There, she wrote a poem which became America the Beautiful. Two warnings about going to the top of Pike's Peak: dress in layers (the summit is 30 degrees cooler than the bottom) and drink water to minimize altitude sickness.
July 18
I joined another tour group for a trip through the Rocky Mountains. I sat in the first seat on the tour bus, to get the best views. The young lady sitting next to me is from Russia and we helped each other out with taking pictures of ourselves in front of the beautiful mountains and scenery. First stop was at a river in Idaho Springs. At a Conoco gas station near Dumont, I bought a Blueberry Xing Tea. This drink is very rare but my friend Chad loves this drink - he is always drinking one when I see him. The Xing tea is good, and uses no high fructose corn syrup. Now I can understand why Chad loves blueberry Xing Tea. Next, we climbed the mountain to Berthoud Pass. We then visited Lake Granby and had lunch at Grand Lake. The remainder of the tour was a scenic drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. For all pictures in Rocky Mountain National Park, start with this picture (number 33) - pictures 33 to 71 in this album are of Rocky Mountain National Park.
July 19
I spent the day in downtown Denver before taking an evening flight home. I took a tour of the Colorado capital and climbed 99 steps to the observation level of the golden dome. Yes, the dome is made of real gold. I then concluded my Colorado weekend trip with visits to Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and the Firefighter museum. The firefighter museum has some information about fire stations and what firefighters do, as well as historical fire fighting vehicles including a historic fire truck, from the 1950s, that still works - a museum staff person drove the truck into the garage.
July 16
Arrived in Denver in the late afternoon and checked into the Sheraton Denver hotel in downtown Denver. This hotel is along the 16th street mall, a great place to find restaurants. It has a great gym with lots of weight machines.
July 17
I joined a tour group for a day trip to Colorado Springs. The tour started with a visit to the Air Force Academy. Admission is highly competitive and prospective students are strongly encouraged to commit to applying when they are freshmen in high school. The Air Force Academy emphasizes building leadership as well as training to serve. Next was a visit to the Garden of Gods. My favorite sites were the Kissing Camels and the balanced rock. Afterwords, I had lunch at the Trading Post, where there was a reserved table for my tour group with our own wait staff - very nice touch. Next was the highlight of my tour - climbing Pike's Peak via the cog railway. The train ride was very scenic and we had a knowledgeable, friendly tour guide who gave many details on what we're seeing. At the summit, the weather was sunny so I got to enjoy very nice views. There was a small house on the summit, which consists of a gift shop and food court. I got the donuts (recommended by the train tour guide) fresh out of the oven and they were delicious. Important note: in 1893, Katharine Lee Bates, a college professor, took a trip to the top of Pike's Peak. There, she wrote a poem which became America the Beautiful. Two warnings about going to the top of Pike's Peak: dress in layers (the summit is 30 degrees cooler than the bottom) and drink water to minimize altitude sickness.
July 18
I joined another tour group for a trip through the Rocky Mountains. I sat in the first seat on the tour bus, to get the best views. The young lady sitting next to me is from Russia and we helped each other out with taking pictures of ourselves in front of the beautiful mountains and scenery. First stop was at a river in Idaho Springs. At a Conoco gas station near Dumont, I bought a Blueberry Xing Tea. This drink is very rare but my friend Chad loves this drink - he is always drinking one when I see him. The Xing tea is good, and uses no high fructose corn syrup. Now I can understand why Chad loves blueberry Xing Tea. Next, we climbed the mountain to Berthoud Pass. We then visited Lake Granby and had lunch at Grand Lake. The remainder of the tour was a scenic drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. For all pictures in Rocky Mountain National Park, start with this picture (number 33) - pictures 33 to 71 in this album are of Rocky Mountain National Park.
July 19
I spent the day in downtown Denver before taking an evening flight home. I took a tour of the Colorado capital and climbed 99 steps to the observation level of the golden dome. Yes, the dome is made of real gold. I then concluded my Colorado weekend trip with visits to Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and the Firefighter museum. The firefighter museum has some information about fire stations and what firefighters do, as well as historical fire fighting vehicles including a historic fire truck, from the 1950s, that still works - a museum staff person drove the truck into the garage.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
San Francisco (Independence Day weekend 2010)
A trip to San Francisco during Independence Day holiday weekend, to enjoy the beautiful cool weather of San Francisco, take in the holiday celebrations, and retreat from the Austin summer heat. I flew to and from San Francisco on JetBlue, a small but fun airline with free TV at your seat and lots of free snacks to choose from. There is more legroom than your average coach seat. And the first checked bag is free. Even though JetBlue is all coach class, I consider it a hybrid between coach and business class. American is my primary airline but for this trip, JetBlue had a non-stop Austin-San Francisco flight and it was significantly cheaper than American.
July 2
Arrived in San Francisco, took BART to the city. Checked into the Hyatt hotel in the Embarcadero. I got a room with a view of the bay. After having lunch in Chinatown, I walked around Union Square area to get an overview of the many shops and malls there. I noticed lots of multistory malls, and they are much larger than the malls in Austin. Now I know why shopping is a big thing in San Francisco. I'm not a fan of shopping so I limited my time there. I then took the cable car to Fisherman's wharf to have a crab sandwich and watch the sea lions on Pier 39.
July 3
Went to the farmer's market outside the Ferry Building to buy some fruit. Then headed to the California Academy of Science museum and spent most of the day there. This museum has a natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium, and an indoor rain forest under one roof. My favorites were the rain forest (which has butterflies flying around), the planetarium (where I watched a giant 3D movie that made me feel like I'm in outer space), and the climate change exhibit. Tip for visitors: if you take public transportation to the museum, show your ticket stub, receipt, or pass and you get a $3 discount off the admission price.
July 4
Rented a bike, then rode the bike from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate bridge, then across the bridge and into Sausalito. The bike path from Fisherman's Wharf to Golden Gate Bridge lies close to the water so I could easily take in the beauty of the San Francisco coast line. Sausalito is a small town filled with homes, shops, and restaurants. There were some hills along the path, but I had a mountain bike so that made climbing hills more manageable. Although it was still a challenge. Later in the day, I had dinner at In and Out Burger, then grabbed ice cream at Normans - it's not Ghirardelli but they do sell Mitchell's ice cream which is locally made in San Francisco. Afterwords, I boarded a cruise ship to see the fireworks. I actually saw 2 fireworks displays - 1 at Fisherman's Wharf and another near bay bridge. Cruise ship is the way to go for seeing fireworks - closer to the action and less crowded.
July 5
I went to the Japanese Tea Garden. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays before 10am, admission is free. The garden features Japanese plants, ponds, a shrine, and a tea house. I had green tea at the tea house while taking in the beauty of the garden. There is also a small well where people can throw pennies. The story is make a wish, then throw a penny, and if you hit the well your wish will come true. I threw a penny and hit the well and I can say my wish definitely came true :)
July 2
Arrived in San Francisco, took BART to the city. Checked into the Hyatt hotel in the Embarcadero. I got a room with a view of the bay. After having lunch in Chinatown, I walked around Union Square area to get an overview of the many shops and malls there. I noticed lots of multistory malls, and they are much larger than the malls in Austin. Now I know why shopping is a big thing in San Francisco. I'm not a fan of shopping so I limited my time there. I then took the cable car to Fisherman's wharf to have a crab sandwich and watch the sea lions on Pier 39.
July 3
Went to the farmer's market outside the Ferry Building to buy some fruit. Then headed to the California Academy of Science museum and spent most of the day there. This museum has a natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium, and an indoor rain forest under one roof. My favorites were the rain forest (which has butterflies flying around), the planetarium (where I watched a giant 3D movie that made me feel like I'm in outer space), and the climate change exhibit. Tip for visitors: if you take public transportation to the museum, show your ticket stub, receipt, or pass and you get a $3 discount off the admission price.
July 4
Rented a bike, then rode the bike from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate bridge, then across the bridge and into Sausalito. The bike path from Fisherman's Wharf to Golden Gate Bridge lies close to the water so I could easily take in the beauty of the San Francisco coast line. Sausalito is a small town filled with homes, shops, and restaurants. There were some hills along the path, but I had a mountain bike so that made climbing hills more manageable. Although it was still a challenge. Later in the day, I had dinner at In and Out Burger, then grabbed ice cream at Normans - it's not Ghirardelli but they do sell Mitchell's ice cream which is locally made in San Francisco. Afterwords, I boarded a cruise ship to see the fireworks. I actually saw 2 fireworks displays - 1 at Fisherman's Wharf and another near bay bridge. Cruise ship is the way to go for seeing fireworks - closer to the action and less crowded.
July 5
I went to the Japanese Tea Garden. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays before 10am, admission is free. The garden features Japanese plants, ponds, a shrine, and a tea house. I had green tea at the tea house while taking in the beauty of the garden. There is also a small well where people can throw pennies. The story is make a wish, then throw a penny, and if you hit the well your wish will come true. I threw a penny and hit the well and I can say my wish definitely came true :)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Chicago (May 2010)
A Memorial Day weekend trip to the Windy City. I enjoyed some cooler weather - at least compared to Texas.
I stayed near the John Hancock Center at the Millenium Knickerbocker hotel which is one block from Michigan Avenue. Like the Intercontinental, the Knickerbocker is an old hotel in Chicago that combines historical charm with modern hotel luxuries. My room was small but had been recently renovated. There is free wi-fi in the lobby area and the piano performer is a very nice touch.
Activities:
Walked through the Water Tower - it is a large upscale mall but I was mainly there to eat at Wow Bao - a restaurant serving Asian buns and is a Chicago local. I like how the water fountains along the escalators periodically shoot out balls of water and people would try to catch them. I caught a few of those water balls.
Architecture boat cruise at night. I had taken the daytime version of this boat tour in a previous trip to Chicago but this was an opportunity to cruise along the Chicago River at night and see how the city buildings light up at night. As a bonus, we got a close view of the Navy Pier fireworks before docking.
Lincoln Park Zoo - exhibits are laid out very well and the zoo is free.
Bike tour of Chicago neighborhoods and along the Lakefront. A great way to get off the beaten path and understand the layout of Chicago. Biking along the lakefront was my favorite part of this tour.
Sears Tower - I had been up to the observation deck before, but I returned so I could check out the ledge. It can be scary at first but after walking on it you will get over it. I felt like I was walking in the air.
Chicago History Museum - a display of Chicago's past as well as its many industries. Check out the differences between a cell phone today and 25 years ago. I love the diorama section on the first floor. Visit this museum on Mondays when admission is free.
Bridgehouse Museum - located in one of the towers along the Michigan Avenue bridge, this museum is about the history of the Chicago River and its role in shaping Chicago's growth. There is also a view of the gears that operate the bridge.
I stayed near the John Hancock Center at the Millenium Knickerbocker hotel which is one block from Michigan Avenue. Like the Intercontinental, the Knickerbocker is an old hotel in Chicago that combines historical charm with modern hotel luxuries. My room was small but had been recently renovated. There is free wi-fi in the lobby area and the piano performer is a very nice touch.
Activities:
Walked through the Water Tower - it is a large upscale mall but I was mainly there to eat at Wow Bao - a restaurant serving Asian buns and is a Chicago local. I like how the water fountains along the escalators periodically shoot out balls of water and people would try to catch them. I caught a few of those water balls.
Architecture boat cruise at night. I had taken the daytime version of this boat tour in a previous trip to Chicago but this was an opportunity to cruise along the Chicago River at night and see how the city buildings light up at night. As a bonus, we got a close view of the Navy Pier fireworks before docking.
Lincoln Park Zoo - exhibits are laid out very well and the zoo is free.
Bike tour of Chicago neighborhoods and along the Lakefront. A great way to get off the beaten path and understand the layout of Chicago. Biking along the lakefront was my favorite part of this tour.
Sears Tower - I had been up to the observation deck before, but I returned so I could check out the ledge. It can be scary at first but after walking on it you will get over it. I felt like I was walking in the air.
Chicago History Museum - a display of Chicago's past as well as its many industries. Check out the differences between a cell phone today and 25 years ago. I love the diorama section on the first floor. Visit this museum on Mondays when admission is free.
Bridgehouse Museum - located in one of the towers along the Michigan Avenue bridge, this museum is about the history of the Chicago River and its role in shaping Chicago's growth. There is also a view of the gears that operate the bridge.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Atlanta (April 2010)
I visited Atlanta from April 16-19. I stayed in midtown at the Hotel Palomar. The Palomar has free wine in the late afternoon and is a 5 minute walk from the MARTA station. The Palomar staff are very nice and helpful - they will go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. Midtown has easy access to lots of casual restaurants and is a great location to base an Atlanta trip. The MARTA is an excellent way to get around Atlanta, as well as to/from the airport.
Activities:
Piedmont Park - a popular park in midtown. I walked around the lake. It is similar to Austin's hike and bike trail.
Dinner at The Varsity, which is the world's largest drive-in fast food chain. They have a parking garage for their customers. It is an Atlanta icon. Hamburgers are mediocre, but the onion rings and varsity orange drink are good. Servers greet you with "What'll ya have?" and is the restaurant's slogan.
Martin Luther King site - great information in the museums about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement. There is a tour of MLK's birth home where you learn about MLK's childhood. Space in the MLK birth home tour are limited, so try to get to the site early in order to get tickets.
Segway Tour - a tour of downtown Atlanta where you get around using segways. The tour starts with a training session to get comfortable with the segways. I got the hang of the segway after 5 minutes of practice. The segway is intuitive and has amazing turn radius. The segways allow us to cover more ground than walking, and is a lot of fun. We felt like celebrities with people watching us and one photo scavenger hunt group even took pictures with the tour guide riding her segway.
Olympic Park - great place to hang out. The park has a large memorial dedicated to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. I love the Fountain of Rings water show, where the sprinklers operate in sync with songs (just like the water shows in Chicago's Buckingham fountain and Las Vegas's Bellagio)
Georgia Aquarium - my first visit to an aquarium and it was spectacular. My favorite exhibits were the beluga whales, Ocean Voyager where you feel like you're underneath the ocean, and Tropical Diver which feels like scuba diving in the tropical coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Purchase your tickets online before arriving so you can skip the ticket line. Try to arrive when the aquarium opens, as it gets more crowded later in the day.
World of Coke - a museum about the history and development of Coca-cola. My favorite parts are the Bottle Works display showing a bottling line where machines fill bottles with Coke (and these bottles are available for visitors to take) tasting room where you can sample Coca-Cola drinks sold all over the world. Many drinks are not sold in the United States. The tasting room is the best part of the World of Coke, in my opinion.
Westin Peachtree Plaza Sundial - near the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel with panoramic views of the city and its suberbs. The weather was clear so I was able to see Stone Mountain. I went up there right before sunset so I can see both the daytime and nighttime views of the city.
Federal Reserve Bank - nice presentations about the history of money, the role of the Federal Reserve banks in the nation's monetary system, spotting counterfeit bills, and how money is currently used. I loved the cash processing center where you can see employees sorting, counting, and bundling money. You also get to see robotic forklifts haul carts of money between the vault and cash processing center. As an added bonus, you get to take home a bag of cash - as dollar bills become worn they are shredded and placed in bags for visitors to take. And the entire museum is free.
CNN Studio tour - a way to get a feel for what goes on behind the scenes during news gathering and broadcasting as well as an insight into the various CNN networks. As an added bonus, I got to see 2 live broadcasts - one in the main CNN studio and another in the HLN (Headline News) studio. Try to go during the weekdays, as you will see more workers and have a better chance at seeing a live broadcast.
Activities:
Piedmont Park - a popular park in midtown. I walked around the lake. It is similar to Austin's hike and bike trail.
Dinner at The Varsity, which is the world's largest drive-in fast food chain. They have a parking garage for their customers. It is an Atlanta icon. Hamburgers are mediocre, but the onion rings and varsity orange drink are good. Servers greet you with "What'll ya have?" and is the restaurant's slogan.
Martin Luther King site - great information in the museums about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement. There is a tour of MLK's birth home where you learn about MLK's childhood. Space in the MLK birth home tour are limited, so try to get to the site early in order to get tickets.
Segway Tour - a tour of downtown Atlanta where you get around using segways. The tour starts with a training session to get comfortable with the segways. I got the hang of the segway after 5 minutes of practice. The segway is intuitive and has amazing turn radius. The segways allow us to cover more ground than walking, and is a lot of fun. We felt like celebrities with people watching us and one photo scavenger hunt group even took pictures with the tour guide riding her segway.
Olympic Park - great place to hang out. The park has a large memorial dedicated to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. I love the Fountain of Rings water show, where the sprinklers operate in sync with songs (just like the water shows in Chicago's Buckingham fountain and Las Vegas's Bellagio)
Georgia Aquarium - my first visit to an aquarium and it was spectacular. My favorite exhibits were the beluga whales, Ocean Voyager where you feel like you're underneath the ocean, and Tropical Diver which feels like scuba diving in the tropical coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Purchase your tickets online before arriving so you can skip the ticket line. Try to arrive when the aquarium opens, as it gets more crowded later in the day.
World of Coke - a museum about the history and development of Coca-cola. My favorite parts are the Bottle Works display showing a bottling line where machines fill bottles with Coke (and these bottles are available for visitors to take) tasting room where you can sample Coca-Cola drinks sold all over the world. Many drinks are not sold in the United States. The tasting room is the best part of the World of Coke, in my opinion.
Westin Peachtree Plaza Sundial - near the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel with panoramic views of the city and its suberbs. The weather was clear so I was able to see Stone Mountain. I went up there right before sunset so I can see both the daytime and nighttime views of the city.
Federal Reserve Bank - nice presentations about the history of money, the role of the Federal Reserve banks in the nation's monetary system, spotting counterfeit bills, and how money is currently used. I loved the cash processing center where you can see employees sorting, counting, and bundling money. You also get to see robotic forklifts haul carts of money between the vault and cash processing center. As an added bonus, you get to take home a bag of cash - as dollar bills become worn they are shredded and placed in bags for visitors to take. And the entire museum is free.
CNN Studio tour - a way to get a feel for what goes on behind the scenes during news gathering and broadcasting as well as an insight into the various CNN networks. As an added bonus, I got to see 2 live broadcasts - one in the main CNN studio and another in the HLN (Headline News) studio. Try to go during the weekdays, as you will see more workers and have a better chance at seeing a live broadcast.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Miami (January 22-24, 2010)
Miami is a popular destination during the winter months mainly because of its warmer weather. Miami has hosted many Super Bowls, and one sports analyst said Miami is the place to be during winter.
This was my first trip to Miami, and I focused on understanding the layout of the city and visiting the Everglades. What stood out to me is Miami Beach is actually a separate city from Miami. Miami Beach is located on an island off the mainland, and is connected to Miami by several bridges. Of course, Miami Beach is included in the Miami metropolitan area. Miami Beach is frequented by tourists and has the beaches. I will definitely visit Miami Beach in my next trip to South Florida.
I stayed in the Hilton in downtown Miami. As usual I booked the hotel via priceline and saved more than 50% of the published rate. My room had a partial view of Biscayne Bay.
My activities:
1) Rode the free MetroMover train around the city, and enjoying views of downtown and Biscayne Bay from the train.
2) Visited Bayside Marketplace, where the harbor cruise departed
3) Took a tour of the Miami harbor area on a cruise ship. This cruise tour allowed me to see the Miami skyline, a private island where only the extremely rich could live, and the Star Island where several celebrities live including Shaquille Oneal, Vanilla Ice, and Will Smith.
4) Visited Everglades Safari. The first part of the safari was traveling through the Everglades on an airboat, where we spotted numerous alligators. These alligators are in their natural habitat and not a zoo setting. Next was an alligator demonstration where a ranger communicated with 6 alligators. He knows the alligators and they know him. That ranger had done demonstrations for years. He even allowed me, and other visitors, to hold a baby alligator. It felt like leather. Finally, there was the jungle trail where I spotted an alligator out in the open. By the way, if you ever see an alligator, keep your distance as alligators are strong and will attack if provoked.
This was my first trip to Miami, and I focused on understanding the layout of the city and visiting the Everglades. What stood out to me is Miami Beach is actually a separate city from Miami. Miami Beach is located on an island off the mainland, and is connected to Miami by several bridges. Of course, Miami Beach is included in the Miami metropolitan area. Miami Beach is frequented by tourists and has the beaches. I will definitely visit Miami Beach in my next trip to South Florida.
I stayed in the Hilton in downtown Miami. As usual I booked the hotel via priceline and saved more than 50% of the published rate. My room had a partial view of Biscayne Bay.
My activities:
1) Rode the free MetroMover train around the city, and enjoying views of downtown and Biscayne Bay from the train.
2) Visited Bayside Marketplace, where the harbor cruise departed
3) Took a tour of the Miami harbor area on a cruise ship. This cruise tour allowed me to see the Miami skyline, a private island where only the extremely rich could live, and the Star Island where several celebrities live including Shaquille Oneal, Vanilla Ice, and Will Smith.
4) Visited Everglades Safari. The first part of the safari was traveling through the Everglades on an airboat, where we spotted numerous alligators. These alligators are in their natural habitat and not a zoo setting. Next was an alligator demonstration where a ranger communicated with 6 alligators. He knows the alligators and they know him. That ranger had done demonstrations for years. He even allowed me, and other visitors, to hold a baby alligator. It felt like leather. Finally, there was the jungle trail where I spotted an alligator out in the open. By the way, if you ever see an alligator, keep your distance as alligators are strong and will attack if provoked.
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