My Memorial Day weekend trip to Portland, to enjoy cooler weather. I stayed at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Portland. Like any Kimpton hotel, the Monaco is best known for its decor, service, and wine hour. The Monaco also offers free Popsicles and a tea/lemonade mix in the afternoon.
1) Aerial Tram Ride, which goes from OHSU Center for Health & Healing to the Kohler Pavilion on OHSU's main campus. It is used by students and staff, but also by tourists. The tram offers excellent views of Portland. There is also a deck on the Pavilion for people to enjoy the views. On a clear day, you can see Mount Hood and Mount St Helens.
2)Took a nice walk in Tom McCrall Waterfront park, along the Willamette River.
3) Explored the Pearl district, a neighborhood for good dining and shopping.
4) Visited Pioneer Square, which consists of a visitor's center and courthouse.
5) Walked through the Saturday Market, where vendors set up booths on weekends, selling food, clothing, paintings, sculptures, and body products.
6) Visited the Chinese Gardens, which provide an insight into the Chinese architecture and culture. Very nicely done with beautiful landscape. There is also a small teahouse with numerous teas as well as snacks.
7) Ate at the Old Town Pizza, a historical pizza parlor. Entering the restaurant is like stepping back in time. The pizza is good, and after 9pm they have their happy hour where they sell pizzas by the slice.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Washington DC over Columbus Day Weekend
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.
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, 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.
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