The latest travel information plus insider event and sightseeing tips for New York City, Boston, Hawaii, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Bermuda.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
San Diego Zoo
The Zoo is another one of our favorite San Diego attractions. For first timers, we recommend the double decker bus tour (riding on the top level, of course) as a great way to orient yourself to all there is to see.
It is rare these days to see animals as up close and personal as you can at the San Diego Zoo. Don't miss Elephant Mesa, where you can see Asian and African elephants side by side and learn what makes them different from each other. Nearby, you can view the armored skin of the rhinoseros firsthand.
Other zoo highlights include the Giant Panda reserve (but be prepared for a long wait here on the zoo's busiest days!), the Polar Bear Plunge, and the Reptile House. We're also partial to all things Australian, so we always stop by to see the kangaroos, koalas, and wallabys.
If you'd rather see the animals enjoying themselves in conditions more similar to their natural habitats, don't miss San Diego's Wild Animal Park. While the exhibits don't have the same intimacy as the Zoo, you'll get a sense (albeit from quite a distance) of how the animals behave in the wild.
A trip to San Diego is never complete without a day at Legoland. We've been with kids and adults of all ages so we can confidently say that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
On a recent visit during the Thanksgiving break, the water park, called Pirate Shores, was a particular favorite with the 5 and 9 year old boys who accompanied us. They loved the Splash Battle -- both riding in the ship and soaking the audience and standing on the shore and firing back at the ships as they passed by. Soak-n-Sail was another big hit. Even adults got a kick out of watching the mega bucket of water flip over, completely drenching everyone below. Forget to bring bathing suits for the little ones? Your kids won't let you use that as an excuse to miss the fun: Legoland stocks an impressive selection of bathing suits, towels, and even suntan lotion at a kiosk in the midst of the water park.
Younger children will love the Driving School in Fun Town -- where else can a 3 year old drive a car by him or herself? Also in Fun Town is our family's perennial favorite, the Fire Academy, where groups compete to see who can drive their fire engine to the fire and put it out the fastest. Miniland USA is the at the heart of the park. Adults will be impressed with the detailed depiction of New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco and other American landmarks constructed from millions of lego blocks in 1:20 scale. Kids might appreciate the dedication of Legoland's master builders, too, but they are more likely to concentrate their enthusiasm for the various buses, trains, boats and other vehicles that wend their way through the displays. And if you want some extra time to really explore the meticulous recreations of Manhattan or New Orleans, give your child a few quarters for the remote controlled boats in the Marina, and everyone will be happy.
An amusement park would hardly be complete without a roller coaster. Legoland has three. While they aren't the huge thrill rides that older kids crave, they do the job. The Dragon (in the Knight's Kingdom) is the most mild, followed by Coastersaurus (in Dino Island) and Lego Technic Test Track (in Imagination Zone), which although short, features a dramatic drop.
After all this activity, you'll probably want to have a bite to eat. There are tons of snack bars and stands scattered throughout the park, but our favorite lunch spot is the Garden Restaurant, conveniently located between Pirate Shores and Miniland.
If you have a long drive home, we recommend that you visit the Hideaways in Knight's Kingdom just before you leave the park. After the kids race around this wonderful multi-level play space for a while, they'll be ready to settle down in the car.
(Note: This posting includes contributions by Bobby Franzese)
In preparation for celebrating Thanksgiving this week, go back to where it all started by taking a trip to the town of Plymouth, an historic New England town, and of course, the site of the famous rock. Plan your day to include some of the other major visitor attractions in the area: Plimoth Plantation is a re-creation of the original historic Pilgrim settlement, with costumed interpreters acting the parts of actual New World colonists; the Mayflower II, which is docked very close to Plymouth Rock, is a re-creation of the famous vessel, offering tours with sailors in period costume.
Some Americans associate Thanksgiving with turkey and its trimmings. But for many New Yorkers, Thanksgiving means huge floating balloons shaped in cartoon characters marching down Broadway. Yes, it's time once again for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! The best way to get up-close and personal with the balloons is to visit the West Side the night before Thanksgiving. The streets surrounding 77th Street and Central Park West, the official kick-off point for the parade, are closed so that parade volunteers can lay out the huge balloons and begin to fill them with helium. Watching favorite characters take shape is exciting for adults and kids alike.
Let's start right up front with the disclosure: through our affiliation with ReviewMe.com, we are being paid to write this review of the Hawaii Guide at IndigoGuide.com. We admit that at first, it felt strange to write the pros and cons of a competitive site, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that our position as editors of another online Hawaii guide makes us well-qualified to evaluate IndigoGuide.com's strengths and weaknesses. After all, the editors of most publications with book reviews seek out writers who have authored books on similar topics to express their views, so why shouldn't we feel comfortable writing about a topic near and dear to our hearts?
In truth, there is much to like about Indigo's site. The layout is clean and attractive. The notion of island-by-island information makes sense (and we use it ourselves!) since most travelers only visit one or two of the Hawaiian islands on each trip. The inclusion of cruises and vacation packages as separate categories is also wise, since many people are specifically looking for this information.
The real strength of the Hawaiian content is in the blog (a section which IndigoGuide calls "Notes"). The writer's voice is strong and authoritative. Real experiences provide useful information for readers who are actively planning a vacation and entertaining reading for those who are not. In comparison, the content in the rest of the Hawaiian guide seems flat and uninspiring.
Pop's Bridge by Eve Bunting, illustrated by C. F. Payne The story of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge from the viewpoint of an "skywalker's" son.
This is San Francisco: A Classic Portrait of the City by Miroslav Sasek Although much about the city has changed since this book was first published in 1962, Sasek's illustrations will still impress both kids and adults.
Planning a trip to Philadelphia with children in tow? Don't forget to pack some books about this historic city for your kids to read on the way. Reading will help familiarize your children with the sites they will see -- and keep them busy while you are traveling, too. We compiled the following list of favorites in honor of Children's Book Week, but they are worth a stop at the bookstore or library any time!
Betsy Ross, Patriot of Philadelphia by Judith St. George, illustrated by Sasha Meret Nicely written biography that describes what Betsy Ross's life was like and the importance of her role as a Patriot, whether or not she really was responsible for the first American flag.
Good Night Philadelphia by Adam Gamble, illustrated by Cooper Kelly Colorful boardbook saluting the Liberty Bll and other Philadelphia icons.
Saving the Liberty Bell by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington A fanciful romp around Revolutionary-War era Philadelphia by the author of the Judy Moody series.
Spirited Philadelphia Adventureby Leag Jr A beautiful picture book featuring Ben Franklin. Endorsed by the Philadelphia Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Children's Book Week Continues with Boston's Best Books
Our week-long commitment to listing great children's books that focus on the locations TheInsider.com features continues today with a list of Boston books: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, illustrated by Lynd Ward Winner of the 1943 Newbery Medal, this wonderful book of historical fiction depicts the pivotal events in Boston that led to the American Revolution through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy.
Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds A trip to Boston's historical sites, including the famous Freedom Trail, has the indomitable 3rd grader in a revolutionary mood.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey This classic children's book makes an excellent Boston-oriented present. Make the gift complete by taking the recipient to the annual duckling walk from Beacon Hill to the Public Garden next spring.
Once again we are celebrating Children's Book Week with a great list of books! Just as we adults have fun poring over travel guides (like TheInsider.com!) in advance of a trip, children enjoy reading about their vacation locations, too. The list of recommended books below include everything from ABCs to popular chapter book series. A is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet written by U'ilani Goldsberry, illustrated by Tammy Yee One in a series of alphabet books that not only teach letters, but facts, culture and history about each of the 50 states. Cleverly written; beautifully illustrated.
Aloha, Scooby-Doo! written by Jesse Leon McCann; illustrated by Duendes del Sur Scooby Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang are in Hawaii for a surfing contest when the appearance of the scary tiki monsters threatens to cancel the whole thing.
The Black Pearl Mystery (The Boxcar Children Series), Vol. 64 written by Gertrude Chandler Warner; illustrated by Charles Tang Fans of the Aldens will enjoy reading about their trip to Hawaii and their investigations surrounding the legend of mysterious legend of the black pearl.
High Tide in Hawaii (Magic Tree House Series #28) written by Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca Jack and Annie travel in their Magic Tree House back to a Hawaiian island of long ago where they make friends, learn how to surf, and encounter a tsunami.
Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-Ha-Ha! written by Barbara Park; illustrated by Denise Brunkus Enjoy the antics of Junie B. as she attempts to photograph her Hawaiian vacation for a school project.
Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i written by Fay Stanley; illustrated by Diane Stanley Readers are transported into the world of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawaii, who was born to great rejoicing by the Hawaiian people, and who expected to one day become queen, only to have the haoles (foreigners) threaten her family's right to rule while she was studying at a school in Britain. The full-page paintings are stunning, reflecting the beauty of the islands and its people. Includes notes on the Hawaiian language and an extensive bibliography.
Lilo & Stitch: Junior Novelization by Kiki Thorpe, Walt Disney Enterprises, Random House Disney The book form of the movie about a Hawaiian girl and her other-worldly friend.
Pele and the Rivers of Fire Written and illustrated by Michael Nordenstrom A picture book explaining the legend of how the volcano goddess Pele created the Hawaiian islands.
Sand to Sea: Marine Life of Hawaii written by Stephanie Feeney and Ann Fielding Full color photographs and well-written (but basic) text introduce the animal and plant life found on beaches, in tide pools, on reefs, and in shallow and deep ocean waters of Hawaii. Includes many of the Hawaiian names (including the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, the state fish).
The Volcano Goddess Will See You Now (Zack Files Series #9) Written by Dan Greenburg; illustrated by Jack E. Davis Wild adventures follow 10-year old Zack everywhere, so it is hardly surprising that even a trip to the paradise of Hawaii includes an encounter with an angry volcano goddess.
NYC Books for Children's Book Week - November 13th-19th
Since 1919, educators, librarians, booksellers, and families have celebrated Children's Book Week during the week before Thanksgiving as a way to encourage kids to read during the holidays (and throughout the year). We at TheInsider.com want to do our part to instill a love of learning in young hearts, so this week we will feature lists of recommended children's books that feature each of the locations we cover. So if you live in or are planning to visit NYC with a child, today's list is for you:
The Elf of Union Square by Jan Carr An ancient, crotchety elf named Hiram and his sidekick, a Norwegian rat named Knut, conspire to drive people away from Union Square Park. Will Manly, a New York Times reporter, decides to conduct an investigation into the mysterious events at Union Square with help from Jack, a fifth-grade boy on summer vacation. Together, Jack and Manly seek out clues to uncover the mischievous spirit disrupting Union Square. The result is clean fiction with a little bit of silliness and lots of humor. Buy the book.
Eloise by Kay Thompson, illustrated by Hilary Knight Eloise is a little girl who lives at The Plaza Hotel in New York City and spends her days riding the elevators, receiving room service and otherwise terrorizing the staff. We have yet to meet anyone who isn't charmed by her. Buy the book.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg Every child thinks at one point or another about running away from home. Claudia and Jamie run TO someplace -- the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This book chronicles their amazing adventure as they sleep in Marie Antoinette's bed, collect change from the fountains, and solve a mystery.
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh Harriet M. Welsch is eleven years old and lives in Manhatten. She want to be a writer when she grows up so she practices by writing about her friends and what she sees on her daily spy routes through the Upper East Side. What Harriet writes in her notebook is true, but proves hurtful when her friends find and read her notebook. Will they ever forgive her for what she wrote about them? Buy the book.
The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber You and your children are sure to be capitivated by Lyle the Crocodile, a bright green crocodile living in a bathtub in an Upper East Side brownstone.
How to Take Your Grandmother to the Museum by Lois Wyse and Molly Rose Goldman, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay 10-year old Molly shows off the wonders of the American Museum of Natural History, from the dinosaurs to the mineral collection to the gift shop. Buy the book.
Stuart Little by E.B. White Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure. Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life and finds adventure aplenty. Buy the book.
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold This wonderfully colorful book tells the story of 8-year-old Cassie who dreams of flying over New York City, including the "tar beach" on the roof of her Harlem apartment building. Buy the book.
You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzmann, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser A grandma and granddaughter admire the masterpieces in the Museum while their yellow balloon floats around Manhattan. Buy the book.
The Young Unicorns by Madeleine L'Engle NYC in the 1960s for the 'tween set. Fans of L'Engle (especially her Austin family series) will delight in this mystery/sci-fi thriller. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine setting is particularly well done.
Blogging can be a tricky business, sometimes. We've been following the industry that has developed to support web logs (as they were originally called) for more than five years and in that time, the changes have been tremendous. One thing that has remained relatively constant within that time, though, is the difficulty of getting paid to blog. The very thing that makes blogs so fascinating to readers -- the opinionated voice, the occasionally unpredictable topics, the often personal details, and the interactive element -- tend to make big-time advertisers shy away. And for good reason -- plenty of advertisers were burned early on in the dotcom era when they (or worse, the media) discovered that their ads were accompanying, well, let's call it "inappropriate" user-generated content on sites like Theglobe.com.
But like the personal web pages of the 1990s, blogs are now being generated in large numbers. Whenever there is a crowd, there will be money-makers trying to profit from it, so it is hardly surprising that there are networks trying once again to aggregate eyeballs and sell them to advertisers. The latest entry in this field is ReviewMe.com. Will they make a go of it? At this early stage, it is hard to say. Their business model involves matching advertisers with bloggers who have signed up to participate. The advertisers can read the profiles of each blogger and invite only the ones that interest them to write a column featuring the advertiser's product or service. ReviewMe.com's guidelines stipulate that bloggers can write whatever they want (advertisers can't refuse to pay for negative reviews, for example) as long as it is at least 200 words and clearly discloses that the post is a sponsored piece. Important disclosure: with this piece we are testing ReviewMe.com's service.
As a small, advertiser-supporter site, we are always looking for new ways to generate income. So, as a reader, would you mind if we occasionally posted content that contained an ad? We would chose to review only products and services that we believe would be of interest to our travel-conscious audience, and as required by ReviewMe.com (and by our own conscience), we would make it clear when we were being paid to discuss a specific topic. Let us know what you think by sending us an email or posting your comments below.
With Thanksgiving mere weeks away, many of us are starting to think about all of the things we are thankful for. After a preview of Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower, which will air on The History Channel on November 19th at 8 pm ET/PT, we here at TheInsider.com are especially thankful that we weren't one of the Pilgrims, whose harvest feast we will be commemorating on November 23rd!
While the story of the Pilgrims is familiar to most Americans from our school-days, this 3-hour epic shows the history of Pilgrims with more detail and complexity than many of us have experienced before. If you live near Boston, or are planning a trip to the area soon, a visit to the Mayflower II, the replica of the original ship, and to Plimoth Plantation will also provide a more complete and accurate picture of the Pilgrims than you got in history class. But if you can't make it to southern Massachusetts in the next few weeks, Desperate Crossing is a good substitute.
Holiday Celebrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now that Halloween is over, Christmas decorations are sprouting all over the place. New York City is a great place to be as the holidays draw near, and there are few places that approach the holidays with the same elegance and panache as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beginning November 21, the Museum's annual Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque creche display will once again be on view in the Medieval Sculpture Hall. The brightly lit, 20-foot blue spruce --decorated with a collection of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs, and a baroque creche at its base -- will be set in front of the 18th-century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid. Dramatic lighting ceremonies will take place this year on a new and more frequent schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays (plus Thursday, December 28) at 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m.
While you're at the Museum, be sure to check out the special exhibit called "Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall -- An Artist's Country Estate," which runs fromNovember 21 to May 20, 2007. The exhibition will shed new light on this remarkable artist, who lavished as much care and creativity on the design and furnishing of his home and gardens as he did on the wide-ranging media in which he worked. And you can consider the time you spend admiring Tiffany's treasures your holiday gift to yourself!
We had no idea what to expect when we signed up to attend a writers' conference at Nebo Lodge in the remote island town of North Haven, Maine. The event was organized by beloved writing coach Ruth Herman and hosted by Becky Bartovics, one of the four owners of the Nebo B&B, and included an un-advertised reading by Susan Minot. Writing-wise, it was an inspiring and motivating weekend and we look forward to similar events in the future.
But even without the camaraderie of a group of wonderful writers, we suspect that we would have had a marvelous time in North Haven. The island has a rugged beauty typical of the Maine coast. In warm weather, there are a variety of water sports to enjoy; in autumn, hiking and biking (and for some, hunting) are the preferred outdoor activates. At any time of year, Nebo Lodge provides a relaxing atmosphere -- it's the kind of place where sitting in a rocking chair on the porch all afternoon or spending the evening gazing into a blazing fire in the spacious sitting room are almost required activities. And the local food is fabulous -- look for just-caught lobsters and oysters that go straight from the water to the grill.
Getting to North Haven is half the fun. The island is located off Rockland in Penobscot Bay, with a series of other picaresque islands (from which the rooms at the Lodge take their names). There is no bridge connecting the island to the mainland, so you will need to pick up a ride at the Rockland Ferry Terminal. Plan ahead if you need to take your car, but whether you are driving or walking onto the ferryboat, be sure to allow enough time to admire Janet Redfield's stained glass windows in the terminal building. The large (6 feet in diameter) circular window over the main entrance is especially breathtaking.
If you have some extra time to kill, stop in for an ice cream cone (or in cooler weather, a steaming mug of hot cider topped with cinnamon ice cream) at the Thorndike Creamery, or a great cup of coffee and a snack (well worth the wait) at Second Read Books. The latter has the bonus of offering a nice selection of books on topics of local interest.
If you plan to drive up to Rockland, don't miss the lobster rolls at Lobster Cooker in Freeport. This charming little seafood place is a mere hop away from L.L. Bean, so if you've forgotten to pack any outdoor essentials, you'll find them nearby.
New York's annual marathon has grown from a minor race in Central Park with 127 runners to a city-wide event with 37,000 participants. These runners -- and the more than 2.5 million spectators who show up to cheer them on -- come from across the globe to be a part of one of the world's largest and most famous running competitions. Good views of the marathon can be had on First Avenue between 60th Street and 96th Street (the latter is near the 18 mile mark). From this vantage point, the race is far enough along to get a sense of who is leading, without encountering the bedlam that occurs at the finish. After you have seen the lead runners go by here, catch them again on East Drive in Cental Park between East 96th and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (about one mile from the finish line). See our map for the precise locations we recommend. Don't miss the leaders in the three main groups: the disabled participants in the Achilles Track Club, the first man, and the first women. Part of the fun of the marathon is watching the media jockey for close up shots of the lead runners. From helicopters overhead to bicycle-cams, it is likely that they will be everywhere. Enjoy the spectacle!
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