Labor Day weekend trip to Chicago to retreat from the 100+ days of Texas.
I stayed at the Marriott on North Michigan Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Highlights of my trip are:
* Walking around the Magnificent Mile
* Biking along Lake Michigan north of Chicago River
* Visiting the lobby of the Palmer House Hilton hotel - very beautiful
* Segway tour along Lake Michigan south of the river
* Seeing rain - Austin has been dry for so long that I considered the Chicago rain a "tourist" attraction :)
Pictures
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
San Francisco and Monterey
I traveled to San Francisco over Independence Day weekend to enjoy the beautiful city and take in much cooler weather. Temperatures were in the 60s and 70s which is a nice break from the 100+ temperatures in Texas.
I stayed at Le Meridien hotel for the first part of my trip, and then the Omni hotel for the second part. Both are very nice hotels in the financial district, though the Omni goes a step further in the room decor, and more personal service.
Monterey
I joined a tour group for a day trip to Monterey. Took the scenic route to Monterey, with many ocean views. Upon arrival in Monterey, I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Very nice, I now understand why it's one of the most popular attractions in Monterey. I got to see the feeding of an albatross and penguins. I also loved the octopus though the room was too dark to take pictures. Other highlights of Monterey include the Pacific Grove, 17 mile drive, Carmel, and seeing one of the oldest Spanish Mission in the country.
San Francisco
I did my favorite San Francisco activities: walk the Golden Gate bridge, took several rides on the cable cars and street cars, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. I also visited the Wells Fargo Museum which has a history about the Wells Fargo bank and includes gold nuggets and a stagecoach.
Fireworks
I love spending Independence Day in San Francisco - it's one of few places I can watch the fireworks without breaking a sweat. I joined a fireworks cruise. The boat sailed around the San Francisco Bay, with views of the city skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island. The boat docked near the fireworks site for a close-up view of the show. It was a clear night (which is rare on July 4 in San Francisco) which made for a spectacular fireworks show.
Fireworks videos:
Part 1
Part 2 - Smiley Faces
Previous San Francisco fireworks:
2009
2010
I stayed at Le Meridien hotel for the first part of my trip, and then the Omni hotel for the second part. Both are very nice hotels in the financial district, though the Omni goes a step further in the room decor, and more personal service.
Monterey
I joined a tour group for a day trip to Monterey. Took the scenic route to Monterey, with many ocean views. Upon arrival in Monterey, I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Very nice, I now understand why it's one of the most popular attractions in Monterey. I got to see the feeding of an albatross and penguins. I also loved the octopus though the room was too dark to take pictures. Other highlights of Monterey include the Pacific Grove, 17 mile drive, Carmel, and seeing one of the oldest Spanish Mission in the country.
San Francisco
I did my favorite San Francisco activities: walk the Golden Gate bridge, took several rides on the cable cars and street cars, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. I also visited the Wells Fargo Museum which has a history about the Wells Fargo bank and includes gold nuggets and a stagecoach.
Fireworks
I love spending Independence Day in San Francisco - it's one of few places I can watch the fireworks without breaking a sweat. I joined a fireworks cruise. The boat sailed around the San Francisco Bay, with views of the city skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island. The boat docked near the fireworks site for a close-up view of the show. It was a clear night (which is rare on July 4 in San Francisco) which made for a spectacular fireworks show.
Fireworks videos:
Part 1
Part 2 - Smiley Faces
Previous San Francisco fireworks:
2009
2010
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Portland (Memorial Day weekend)
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.
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.
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.
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