The latest travel information plus insider event and sightseeing tips for New York City, Boston, Hawaii, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Bermuda.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Barnes Foundation Moves From Suburb to City
After a protracted legal battle, it is all but assured that the Barnes Foundation will be moving from Merion, PA to Philadelphia's "museum mile" on the Ben Franklin Parkway. But there is still a lot of posturing on both sides, and for now at least, the move seems still to be in the talking stages. The Philadelphia Inquirer has published pieces on both sides of the argument, and even the oft-opinionated NY Times seems circumspect in its recent interview of Foundation director Derek Gillman.
While it is clear that flying on commercial airlines is no longer the glamours way to travel that it was years ago (humiliating security checks, cramped seating, and other indignities have taken care of that), there are some things you can do to make a long flight more bearable. Here is a list of "must dos" compiled from our Insider experts:
Stay Warm. Planes get very cold when they fly at high altitudes (where the air is significantly colder than at ground level) so be sure to bring a sweater, sweatshirt or fleece to throw on as the temperature in the cabin plummets. It is also a good idea to throw a soft throw or pashmina into your carry-on so that you don't have to use the airline's blanket (if you can even find one these days!). And don't forget to bring a pair of warm socks to keep those tootsies toasty!
Be entertained. Don't count on in-flight entertainment to keep your mind off your cramped quarters. Instead, arm yourself with books, games, an ipod or whatever will help you pass the time. Even if you plan to sleep for the bulk of the flight, you'll want something to occupy yourself with during (inevitable) delays.
Listen to the sound of silence. Pack noise-canceling headphones (far better than the cheapo ones the airlines hand out) so that your seatmates don't have to hear your movie or music and you don't have to listen to the crying babies or chatty travelers on your flight.
Stretch your legs from time to time. An occasional walk around the plane will keep your legs limber, preventing cramps and blood clots.
Moisturize inside and out. Drink plenty of liquids and use hand lotion and lipbalm to counteract the dryness of the plane. (Of course you'll have to be mindful of FAA regulations about liquids and gels, so check the FAA website before you pack.)
Bring snacks. Eat what you want to eat when you want to eat it, instead of waiting for the flight attendants to get around to bringing you over-priced and over-processed airline food (if it is even available). We recommend small bags of dried fruit and almonds.
We all know about the great deal and great views of NYC involved in riding the Staten Island ferry, but for something different, consider the Roosevelt Island Tram. The trip is short (only 4-minutes) but the views are spectacular and the trip costs the same as the subway: $1.50. Roosevelt Island is a serene space compared to the madness of midtown Manhattan. There is a bus that meets the tram and circles the residential area, but you can also walk around to check out the island's 5 parks and 6 landmarked buildings, including the Blackwell House (1796), the Octagon Tower(1839), and a gothic-style lighthouse on the northern end. The Tram Plaza is at 59th St. and 2nd Avenue.
The circus is coming to town! Of course it is a big deal anywhere, but we get especially excited when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus comes to NYC. The circus will be here for three weeks (from March 31-April 15); plenty of time for you to gather the little ones you know and arrange to see the show! Of course for many of us, the real bonus is watching the circus parade from the Queens Midtown Tunnel to Madison Square Garden. (Ringling Bros. operates a mile-long train, which is just too long to park in NYC train stations, so the circus makes the approximately 3 mile trek through town. Note: it's not a problem for the elephants who generally walk that far each day as part of their fitness routine anyway, and like many of the rest of us, they like to make noises in the tunnel to hear the echo.) Catch the parade tonight as it emerges from the tunnel just before midnight and heads along 34th Street to 7th Avenue and Madison Square Garden.
Find a Favorite Run - No Matter Where Your Travels Take You
In hopes of running the 2007 NYC Marathon (we've entered the lottery and will know for sure sometime this summer), we've really worked at increasing our running mileage and intensity in recent weeks. But for us, as for many people who travel a lot, finding a place to run when we're not at home can sometimes be troubling. We remember in particular, a course through the hills near San Diego which seemed like a good idea when we set out, but soon proved to be more challenging than expected -- not because of the hills, but because of the lack of a decent shoulder along the road we followed, which meant that the large trucks that barrelled along what we thought was a country road, came perilously close to pinning us against the rocky cliffs on more than one occasion.
Thankfully, we've found a solution to the problem of finding a great running trail, no matter where we go. By clicking over to Favoriterun.com we can check out the routes used by folks who know the territory better than we do by just entering a zip code. USA Track & Field also has a helpful database of running routes entered by energetic users. StepWhere also plans to serve as a directory of favorite runs, but so far, not enough people have entered routes to make it very useful.
We have long suspected that the commercial airlines' long-standing assertion that passengers' cellphone use during flights interferes with planes' navigation equipment is bogus, and a story in today's New York Times appears to confirm that we were right. The article states "The issue for aviation safety is that planes navigate by way of faint radio signals from the ground and from satellites. These are on frequencies different from the ones authorized for cellphone use." The Times goes on to describe how airlines continue to resist cellphone use on planes anyway, now citing the "social implications" of allowing passengers to make calls on their cellphones. Interestingly, this concern has never prohibited airlines from making on board phone service available via those horridly expensive seat back-mounted phones. So what is the real deal here -- are airlines really just protecting a revenue source? Let us know what you think, via email or by posting a comment below.
We can't imagine we're the only ones who find it confusing that the New York City performing arts center called Jazz at Lincoln Center is actually not part of Lincoln Center at all, but is located at the shopping/restaurant/hotel/luxury apartment/office complex known as the Time Warner Center. Still, once you find it, we're sure you'll agree that it was worth the effort to get to the right place.
The jazz center, located on floors 5-7 and accessible by an elevator near the William-Sonoma store, consists of three performance spaces varying in size from the Rose Theater's 1,233 seats to Dizzy's Club Coca Cola's considerably more intimate140 seats, with the Allen Room's 600 seats falling somewhere in-between. We were especially impressed with the Allen Room's enormous glass wall, which provides an extraordinary backdrop of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline views. The center also includes a recording studio, education center, and multi-media exhibits in the Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame.
Find the Perfect Beach House (This Post Sponsored by CoastRentals.com)
We were delighted with the invitation to review the CoastRentals.com website, since we have long been a proponent of renting a vacation home or condo whenever your holiday lasts more than a few days. Not only do you save money on the room cost, since these rentals tend to be cheaper on a per night basis than resort hotels, but you can save a significant chunk of change on your meal costs, as well. New York Times columnist Michelle Slatalla addresses the latter issue in her recent piece I'll Never Pay $34 for a Caesar Salad Again. Even if you are not, as she is, travelling with children with a propensity to order (but hardly eat) the most expensive items on the room service menu, eating a breakfast of toast and tea made in your own kitchen from ingredients you bought at the local market, is a great way to ensure you can afford to splurge on a really fabulous restaurant dinner. You are likely to have healthier meals, as well. Another benefit of renting a house or apartment rather than staying in a hotel is that if you live where the locals live, it is easier to avoid the tourist traps and to find the great spots that only the locals know about. As the name implies, CoastRentals.com specializes in beach vacation rentals. They offer access to properties both in the U.S. and abroad, so if you are planning a trip to Hawaii or Bermuda, by all means explore TheInsider.com pages to learn what to see -- and then click over to CoastRentals.com to find a home-away-from-home that is just right for you.
Well it's official -- today is the first day of Spring. If you're on the East Coast, in NYC, Boston or Philadelphia, the new season will arrive around 8 pm (just as you're tuning into American Idol). West Coasters, like our colleagues in San Francisco, will experience the new season even earlier.
So what does this all mean? The New York Times had a nice write-up today about the vernal equinox, explaining why there are variations in the "official" arrival of spring each year. Wikipedia also does a good job describing astronomic basis and the cultural importance of of the day.
More practically, the arrival of spring means that summer -- and your vacation -- is just around the corner. So now is a good time to do some trip research and to start to make hotel, plane and car rental reservations.
There may be snow swirling as the country's oldest St. Patrick's Day parade kicks off in NYC tomorrow, but as always, the show will go on. The festivities kick-off 11 am, with bagpipers, high school bands, and the ever-present politicians making their way up Fifth Avenue, and continue long into the night as the marchers and spectators continue their celebrations (especially since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year!). Check out both our insider parade viewing tips and the parade's official web site for ideas on where to catch all the action.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Philadelphia is the nation's second oldest (after New York City's). Tradition dictates that it be held on the Sunday before St. Pat's, unless the holiday is on a Sunday. So this year, the real parade was on March 3rd. But don't worry -- you can still experience all the festivities -- the parade will be broadcast on local TV on March 17th.
There is a whole host of festivities surrounding San Francisco's St. Paddy's day parade. Look for an impressive array of live performances and entertainment at the parade's endpoint at Civic Center Plaza. And if you are still hungry for more Irish Culture, check out what's happening as the Crossroads Irish-American Festival wraps up their 10-day celebration.
In Boston, they've chosen to wait until Sunday for their parade. But that is no reason to hold off with the celebration: whether you decide to stop into one of Boston's many Irish pubs or spend the evening listening to authentic Irish music you have lots of choices. That doesn't mean, of course, that we recommend them all, so be sure to read both articles to learn more about our favorites.
Save Money on Your Trip to Europe (This Post Sponsored by Eurobookings.com)
Travel experts expect prices for European vacations to be considerably more expensive for Americans this summer than they were last year. The Wall Street Journalfeatured an article on the topic this week. Even CondeNast Traveler, which usually focuses on glitzy getaways, highlights their "Great-Value Vacations," which includes tips on saving money when you stay in Brussels.
Part of the increase is related to the dollar/euro exchange rate, which translates to relatively high prices for food, lodging, and sightseeing in Europe, as well as full (and therefore expensive) flights to the States as Europeans flock here for the bargains.
Some travelers are responding by changing their plans -- going to, say Mexico, rather than on the longed for trip to Tuscany. Others are signing up for package deals (European cruises are particularly popular) that help cut costs. Still others are scaling back on their expectations and settling for either less pricey cities or more modest accommodations.
We don't think you need to do any of this. If you've always dreamed of visiting the City of Lights, do it! But first, click over to Eurobookings.com to make your European hotel reservations. The site provides hundreds of hotels to chose from in places like Paris, Amsterdam, and London. Visitors can easily sort by closest airport, city, the hotel's star rating (e.g. 5 stars, 4 stars, etc.) and more. Can't stay in a place without an Internet connection or in a room where someone has been smoking? The site's search feature let's you specify these details, too. Best of all their rates are often lower than other online hotel booking services.
Hawaii offers lots more than just sand and surf (although we love that, too)! Here is a list of our favorite events this month. Want to learn more? See our complete calendar of events.
Return to Romance Music Festival (March 1-11) - A musical celebration featuring the greatest love songs in one of the most romantic places on earth.
Kona Brewers Festival (March 10) - Promotes the craft brewing revolution in Hawaii and includes local beer sampling, live music, fire dancing and food.
St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 17) - Bagpipes, bands and clowns march down palm-lined Kalahaua Avenue on Oahu.
Big Island International Marathon (March 18) - This scenic race course follows "the coast of old Hawaii" along the Pacific Ocean, past exotic waterfalls, over narrow bridges and lava beaches, in Hilo, one of the cooler, more lush parts of the "Big Island" of Hawaii.
Kona Stampede Rodeo - See Hawaiian ranchers (also called paniolos) in rodeo events seen only in Hawaii (the Po'o Wai U and Double Mugging, for example) as well as more traditional rodeo events such as bull riding, calf roping, team roping and calf mugging.
Kona Chocolate Festival(March 22-24) - What could be better than tasting wonderful chocolate ice cream and candy while supporting the Hawaiian cacao farming and manufacturers, and raising money for a local school at the same time?
Insider Tips for Spring Cruises (This Post Sponsored by Direct Line Cruises)
Need help planning your spring get-away? Consider a cruise! We love the way that taking a cruise makes things easy. You'll find great food, entertainment, and resort-worthy amenities combined with plenty of interesting sight-seeing -- often there is a new port-of-call each day.
For example, a cruise among the beautiful islands of Hawaii is the perfect way to experience all they have to offer in as little as 7 days, without the hassle of schlepping your stuff through numerous airports and hotels. Norwegian Cruise Line offers week-long Hawaii cruises departing from either Honolulu or Maui. Longer cruises to Hawaii are offered by Holland America Line and Princess Cruises from departing from San Diego or LosAngeles through April. Additional Hawaiian cruises are available in the late spring on Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean before ships reposition to Alaska.
Bermuda cruises are also a good option, especially for East Coasters who have limited time for their trip. Though a small island, Bermuda has two cruise ship ports - one at Hamilton, the island's capital, and the other at Kings Wharf. The style is decidedly British in this Atlantic Ocean island gem, which is only a day a half by ship from the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia ports.
Once you decide where you want to go, booking the trip is easy and discounted rates abound online (if you know where to look). We recommend that you check out Direct Line Cruises, a web site offering information on cruise destinations, ship reviews, and cruise industry news, that also has the capability to book online at discounted rates.
Plan a visit to the legendary Philadelphia Flower Show (which starts this Sunday and runs for a week). This year's theme is "Legends of Ireland." So expect to see recreations of the lush and green landscapes you'd find in Ireland, as well as breathtaking floral arrangements, towering trees and maybe even a visit from the wee people. Since it is a celebration of Celtic life, look for Irish singers, dancers and storytellers as well.
Celebrate National Women's History Month with a Walk Through Time
For an interesting variation on Boston's famed Freedom Trail, walk the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. Not only will you be celebrating the notion that March is National Women's History month, but you will learn about the women whose lives and achievements have enriched the history of Boston for almost four centuries. Patriots, intellectuals, abolitionists, suffragists, artists, and writers - Boston women have always played an integral role in shaping history - and this walking tour tells you why.
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