Fun Weekend in Chicago

This past weekend, I attended my first Strictly Sail in Chicago show and had an absolute ball.  Strictly Sail is an annual four-day boat show featuring gorgeous, high-end sailboats and a whole boatload (yes, I said boatload) of fun sailing stuff.

We paid $15 per person for a Saturday ticket.  What a bargain!  Our $15 investment allowed us to climb aboard several luxury yachts, shop for boat accessories and attend four informative seminars. Seminars took place all day long but we only had time to hit four.  I am fairly new to sailing and I feel as though I learned quite a bit.  The whole day was fun, educational and inspiring.  The show has both a Facebook page and a website,  http://www.strictlysail.com.

 

We found a nice affordable Doubletree Hilton on Ohio Street.  It is a warm and welcoming facility, plus when you check in, everyone in your party gets a big, warm cookie.  How can you not love that?  The location of this Doubletree cannot be beat – it sits halfway between Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue, making it perfect for Mag Mile dining and shopping.  The hotel has on-site parking for $45 a night but you can park in the area around the hotel for $35-$39.  We parked at the garage just across the street and paid $39. 

We enjoyed a casual, cozy dinner at Giordano’s on Rush Street.  As we arrived at prime dinner time on Saturday night, we had to wait 45 minutes.  I generally don’t wait more than 20 minutes for a table but we were already there, it was very cold outside and they had a nice warm bar, so we opted to wait.  I was so glad that we did.  The food and the service were excellent.  I didn’t keep track of bar bill, but our huge pizza and salad for two came to roughly $40.00.  It was a great, genuine Chicago deep-dish pizza experience.  I enjoyed it so much that I now plan on taking my girls there when we make our trip back to the city in August.  Check out their menu at http://giordanos.com.

Little overnight trips are a great way to shake off the winter blues.  My trip to Chicago certainly did that for me.

 

 

How to Get the Best Hotel Rates

$883 or $580 - which price would you rather pay?
 
These are the two different rates that I was quoted for the same Chicago hotel, on the same nights, for the same type of room.  So what made the big difference?  On the first reservation request, I did not use a promotional code and the price I was quoted was $883.  When I made the same request using the promotion code “NAVY”, the quote fell to $580.

I am planning a short stay near Navy Pier in August, so I checked to see if Navy Pier offers any special deals, such as hotel & dinner or hotel & theater packages.  While there were no specific packages offered, the promotional code for the nearby hotel was posted on the pier website.  Using it will save me about $330.  I believe that nice little savings more than justifies the five extra minutes I spent looking for a bargain.

There are several ways to find codes.  You can simple Google it.  Let’s say you want to stay at the Chicago Hilton.  In the Google search field, just type in “Chicago Hilton + promotional code”.  If that fails, look at websites for attractions located near your destination to see if they sponsor package deals or promo codes.

Oftentimes, hotels offer special rates to corporate or government employees.  Check with your employer’s H.R. department to see if any such travel benefits are available to you.  AARP and AAA offer travel discounts, as well.   Travel websites such as Orbitz or Expedia can also help you find great deals on great rooms at the last minute. 

Just be sure to check out all of your options before you book.  Taking a few minutes to do a little research can, and often will, result in big savings.  Why pay $883 when you can pay $580? 

What to do in Indianapolis During the Winter

At the beginning of this year, I wrote that one of my goals was to take my grandchildren to explore some sites close to home.  This past weekend, the kids came to visit and we had all of Saturday to spend together.  We’ve done the popular Indy sites (Zoo, Children’s Museum, etc.) over and over again, so we were looking for something different to do. The weather was incredibly warm for this time of year, so we headed to downtown Indy to see what we could see. 

We started our day at the Indianapolis Central Library, just off of Meridian Street.  Now you might not think of a library as an entertaining destination but the one in Indy is a wonderful place to visit.  Parking could not be more convenient as it is right in the basement of the library.  At $2.00, it was a bargain, as well. 

Once in inside, we took a scenic (yes, scenic) ride on the escalators up to the top floor of the library.  The best view of Indianapolis awaits you just as soon as you step off of the escalator.  After posing for a picture in front of that window, we walked the entire floor just to take in the views all around and to explore the massive collection of books.

Next, we took the elevator back down to the family area and with its fabulous reading and play areas.  The kids were fascinated by the pod reading chairs and the giant green screen room where kids can romp and see how they look on television.  After exploring every nook and cranny of that floor, we ventured outdoors.

In front of the library you will find a long grassy area, somewhat reminiscent of the Mall in Washington, D.C.  We walked approximately two blocks to the Indiana War Memorial, a museum and tribute to veterans of every war in American history.  I was surprised to see how much U.S. history is housed there.  Located in a beautiful old building, the path through this little gem takes you from the Revolution up through 9/11 and our current involvement overseas.  It was a pleasant, educational diversion and, best of all, it’s totally free. 

You can look up the names of your ancestors who have fought for Indiana and, if they’re not in the database, fill out a form to have them added to it.  You can linger as long as you want but I let the kids set the pace and we were out in about an hour. 

Rain was in the forecast later in the afternoon and we didn’t have umbrellas, so when we finished our tour of the museum we went back to the library and moved our car to the Circle Center Mall.  The parking garage at the mall is one of the cheapest places to park in Indianapolis.  Again, I paid only $2.00 for the time I was parked there.

Next we headed to Monument Circle, just a couple of blocks south on Meridian.  Oops.  It was closed for the day because volunteers were taking down the Christmas lights.  Ah well, we can go there another day.  I should have checked the website before we went.  We were able to walk around the outside of the Monument and take a nice picture of the kids with the State Capitol in the background. 

The afternoon was drawing to a close and we were all getting hungry, so we walked down Meridian Street to The Old Spaghetti Factory.  By getting there just before 5:00, we avoided having to wait for a table.  If you go there, be sure to ask for a table in the trolley car.  Kids love The Spaghetti Factory because, well, what kid doesn’t love spaghetti?  They also love the fact that every meal comes with spumoni.  The décor is fun and the price is right.  We all came away well fed for about $40.00, plus tip. 

As we left the restaurant and headed back toward our car, we spotted horse-drawn carriages coming off of the Circle.  We hailed one to ask if it was available.  The driver was on her way to another appointment but she gave us the company phone number along with instructions to walk to the Circle and call the office as we went.  We did so and were able to step right onto a Yellow Rose Carriage without waiting.  The cost was $50 for roughly a 30-minute ride.  Our driver, Josh, was as nice as can be and even used my camera to take pictures of our little group.  We finished up our ride and our evening just before the rains came. 

 

The Miracle of Baby Wipes

I was going over my packing list for an upcoming trip and it occurred to me that when I wrote about travel essentials, I forgot to tell you about baby wipes.  Baby wipes are probably the most helpful thing that you can take with you any trip.  In fact, once you see how many uses they have when you travel, you might start carrying them with you all of the time.  I do.

Baby wipes are lightweight and inexpensive and they have so many uses.  They pose no problems whatsoever when going through airport security.  Unlike many other products you might carry with you, they won’t melt in a hot car or spill open and ruin the luggage you’ve tucked them into.

I use baby wipes to:

1. Remove make-up.  They are an economical alternative to the wipes put out by the cosmetic companies.  If you worry that they won’t be gentle enough, consider that they are designed to safely clean newborn baby bottoms.  If you worry that they won’t be strong enough to do the job, consider what they are designed to clean off of those newborn baby bottoms.  Nuff said.
2. Shine shoes. 
3. Wipe down the outside of my purse. 
4. Remove stains from clothing.  They work just as well as stain removing pens. 
5. Clean ATM buttons before I use the machine.  I once saw a man with grimy hands walking away from a machine just as I walked up to it.  I haven’t touched an ATM since then without wiping it down first. 
6. Clean my hands.  Baby wipes are less drying than hand sanitizer. 
7. Freshen up all over.  If you get hot and sweaty while you’re out sightseeing, running a wipe over your neck, legs and arms will cool you down and eliminate that awful sticky feeling.  
8. Wipe down airplane armrests and trays.  Those things never get washed.  After you see what comes up the first time you use a baby wipe to clean the area around you and get a good look at the true ick factor made obvious on the wipe, you will never again sit in an airplane seat without giving it a good cleaning. 
9. Sanitize that infamously contaminated hotel room TV remote control.

These are just a few things that you can use baby wipes for when you are out and about.  Once you start traveling with them, I’m sure you will come up with even more creative ways to put them to work.

Travel Essentials

Good travel gear can make a big difference between a difficult journey and a pleasant one.  I have four tried-and-true favorites that go on every trip with me:

1. American Tourister Atmosphera luggage;
2. Lands’ End driving moccasins;
3. A Michael Kors trench coat; and
4. A black pashmina.

I bought my Atmosphera at Walmart; proof that smart doesn’t have to be expensive.  Atmosphera is, by far, the best luggage I’ve ever owned.  The smallest bag, pictured here, is a tiny wonder. 

 

 

 

 

It measures just 14.0 x 8.5 x 15.0, which is smaller than a standard carry-on, but it's roomy enough for everything I need for a casual five day trip.  Because of the size and shape, this tote slides perfectly under an airplane seat, a real bonus when the overhead bins are full. The bag itself weighs practically nothing. 

 

You can buy this luggage by the piece, which allows you to pick and choose the pieces that suit your needs.  I started with the tote and the largest bag but bought the standard size carry-on bag after using the rolling tote a couple of times.  The tote and the carry-on are all I need even for a long trip.   Prices, range from $39 to $69, depending on the size of the bag. 

 

These bags are available in rose and black. I bought mine in black and then realized that most people carry black bags.   To set mine apart on the luggage carousel, I put bright pink duct tape across the bottom of each bag.   Since it is on the bottom, the tape doesn’t ruin the appearance of my bags as they roll along but it makes it easier to pick mine out in a sea of similar bags at the airport.  I also put bright pink luggage tags for the handles.   

 

Lands’ End driving moccasins are another essential item for me.  My black suede mocs have carried me over countless miles through the streets of New York, London and Rome.  I find them more comfortable and a bit more stylish than sneakers.   They are also lighter than sneakers and take up less space in my suitcase.  I use them as slippers, too, because they are so soft and comfortable.  The style that I bought a couple of years ago is no longer available but they still offer a similar version at Landsend.com.

 

The latest addition to my travel essentials is a Michael Kors trench coat that I ordered from Macys, on $99.   It is wonderfully comfortable and durable.  

 

 

The liner does not zip out but the coat is so lightweight that you wouldn’t want to remove it anyway. The hood provides good coverage when the rains come.  The pockets don’t zip as the store website says they do but they are big and deep.  You can stash your gloves in the pockets without worrying that they will fall out and be lost. 

 

Alone, this trench is good for slightly cool temps. Top it with a wool pashmina and you will stay warm even if the temperature drops several degrees.

 

My fourth travel essential is a nice wool pashmina. They roll up small enough to stash in a purse, so my pashminas always go with me. I’ve bought some while traveling but mostly order them from Amazon.  They come in a wide range of colors and prices.   I have at least a dozen, but my favorite is a plain black one.   Pashminas keep me warm during cold flights, add an elegant to touch to casual outfits and have even covered up an unfortunate coffee stain on white blouse.   A pashmina can also be used a head scarf or lap robe. There are as many uses for pashminas as there are pashminas.

 

None of these essentials was expensive but each one has proved to be truly priceless no matter where I have traveled.
 

Stuck at the San Francisco Airport

My brother dropped me off at the San Francisco airport around 8:00 a.m. on a lovely Monday morning. The security line was the longest I have ever seen but it moved quickly. I passed through security in a reasonable amount of time and was even able grab a cup of coffee before I boarded my flight. Once on board, I settled into my seat and thought about how well things were going. Jinx!

We waited. And waited. Everyone began shifting impatiently in their seats and looking to the flight attendants for some explanation as to why we weren’t backing away from the gate.

Finally, the pilot announced that we were waiting for the FAA to make a determination as to whether the flight should take off because there were mechanical difficulties. I will spare you the rest of the details of eventually deplaning and then enduring a grouchy gate attendant (who refused to help anyone because, as he so charmingly announced, his shift was ending). He directed everyone with a connecting flight to the United Airlines customer service desk.

After a nice long walk to customer service and an hour-long wait in line there, I was given the good news that they could put me on a different flight that day. I was given this news at approximately 3:00 p.m. The first available flight they could get me a seat on was due to depart just before midnight. I was given two vouchers for food and sent on my way.

Nine hours. How the heck do you kill nine hours in an airport? I thought about going into the city but decided that it wouldn’t be worth the effort. Surely I could fill the time without having to leave the building.

So there I stood, with a rolling suitcase at my feet and food vouchers in my hand. What to do, what to do?

I turned and it beckoned to me like a ray of light from heaven – the Xpres Spa. I think I actually heard the angels sing. Suddenly, being stuck in Terminal F at SFO didn’t seem so awful.

Xpres Spa offers a full range of services at very affordable prices. The technicians are as well-trained and professional as in any spa that I have visited and the products are excellent. I indulged in a full spa manicure and a shoulder massage. That certainly took the edge off of having too much time on my hands. I explained to the staff that I had several hours to spare, so they invited me to relax in one of their lounge chairs while my nails dried. I was a happy camper.

Once I was completely pampered and relaxed, I wandered off in search of some decent airport food. I didn’t have to search for long. Just across the hall from Xpres was the Firewood Café. As I recall, I had a yummy slice of pizza and a very nice little glass of wine, using the vouchers I’d been given. Once again, being stuck in the airport wasn’t all that bad.

After dinner, I took a stroll through an interesting exhibit of antique sewing machines, before going off in search of my gate. Once there, in addition to standard airport seating, I found desks with electrical outlets where I could recharge my phone, laptop and Kindle. I was able to set up my computer and write comfortably. SFO also offers free Wi-Fi and I took full advantage of that amenity, reading my email and researching my family history on Ancestry.com.

I made a few phone calls and then took another walk to stretch my legs. There are some nice, reasonably priced stores in the terminal and they offer just about anything you might want, so I shopped for a while. I played with and nearly bought a new tablet but thought that perhaps the manicure and massage were self-indulgence enough for one day. I took another spin through the sewing machine exhibit just to see if I’d missed anything interesting on the first trip through.

Around 9:00 that evening, I went into the nearest restroom to wash my face, redo my make-up and comb my hair. After that, I went back to the desks and checked my email one last time. Before long, it was time to board my flight home.

All-in-all, if you have to be stuck in an airport, SFO is not a bad place to be.

Discovery Cove

I recently fulfilled a long-desired goal and took my grandchildren to Discovery Cove. For years, I’ve heard others rave about swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling and swimming there, and I longed to share that experience with my grandkids.The minimum age for the dolphin experience is six years old. Also, at nearly $300 per person, I wanted to make sure that our littlest guy was old enough to actually remember the experience. He’s eight now, so this was our year to go.

At roughly $300 per person, the cost might be off-putting for one day of activities but it covers much more than just one day of admission to the park.

Our admission included:

• Free parking
• Generous meals – breakfast, lunch, snacks all day, even beer and wine
• Sun block formulated to be safe for the dolphins
• Towels
• Free lockers
• Snorkeling equipment – you keep the souvenir breathing tube
• Dolphin interaction
• Free 5X7 arrival picture
• Crabtree & Evelyn products in the showers
• A two-week unlimited pass to one of the sister parks. We chose Busch Gardens.

This experience was worth every penny and then some. We swam with the dolphins, snorkeled with rays and sharks (there’s a glass wall between swimmers and sharks), fed birds in the aviary and swam in the lazy river. The day melted away far too quickly. The next day we enjoyed a fun, relaxing day at Busch Gardens.

The food was tasty, as well as plentiful. The service was wonderful. This is one of those situations where you definitely get what you pay for. If the cost is off-putting, go off season when it is a little cheaper. Visit their website, Discoverycove.com for details. Be sure to watch the videos on the site. They are not the least bit misleading. The facilities are just that beautiful and the experience really is that wonderful.

I paid $233 for full picture package. Again, it sounds pricey but it included several pictures, a DVD of our dolphin swim, a CD of all of our pictures from the day, an album, a couple of photo key chains and a large poster-size picture of us with our dolphin. You can pick and choose your picture package or opt for none at all. However, since you most likely will do this only once in your life, I highly suggest that you get the full package. The pictures really are very good.

The Cove is a lovely, lovely place. The facilities are clean and beautiful. The staff is friendly and helpful. Our day was perfect and I am sure that we will treasure the memories of this unique experience for years to come.

Travel Swag Bags for Kids

When I take my grandchildren on a trip, I prepare bags of fun things they might want/need during the trip. For spring break, I’ll pack disposable cameras, flip-flops, sunglasses, travel cups and Easter candy. This year I’ve also thrown in some bubbles and binoculars. Oh, and I include a little envelope with some spending money for the trip – always a guaranteed hit!

I hide the bags in the back of the car and late in the day, when the ride gets tedious, I tell the kids that the Easter Bunny must have come early and then present them with their goodies. It not only provides them with some basics for the trip, but digging through their presents breaks up the boredom of the drive.

In the past, I’ve used plain paper gift bags but this year I was inspired to get these little drawstring back sacks. My grandkids never seem to have the right backpacks for our little daytrips to amusement parks or the beach and these little bags from Amazon will solve that problem.



For other travel tips, see my book, Simply Wonderful Travels, which is available only on Amazon.com.

Doing Disney

I was going to blog about touring another big city this week, but since we’re in the midst of spring break season, it seems appropriate to write about doing Disney. So many people head to the Magic Kingdom at this time of year. I have been to Disney more times than I can count and have learned a lot of tricks over the years that make the most of the experience.

Making your day at Disney truly wonderful starts before you even leave home. First, order your tickets on-line. You can have them mailed to your home or held for you at the will-call window. I prefer picking them up there. There usually is no line at that window, plus I don’t have to worry about  misplacing my tickets before I get there. Having them in-hand also means that you won’t have to stand in a long ticket line or listen to a sales spiel. While you’re on the website ordering your tickets, take a few minutes to learn what you can about the park and the amenities. If you want to eat at one of the special restaurants, make your meal reservations while you’re on-line.

Be sure to dress comfortably for your day in the park. You will be walking all day long, so wear comfortable shoes. Even though Disney is incredibly clean, you will get dirty. You will most likely get hot. You will be stepping up into some rides and down into others. Disney is not the place for high heels and sundresses. Shorts, sneakers and durable t-shirts are your best bet.

Wear plenty of sunscreen and bring some along so that you can apply more during the day. Bring sunglasses and/or a hat. If you plan on staying late at night, you might want to bring along a lightweight jacket. I recommend that you put your things into a lightweight back sack. Purses can be a pain in the park, especially on some of the rides.

The number one important thing to do to make the most of your day is to get there before the park actually opens. The parking lot opens before the park and you want to make sure that you are among the earliest to arrive. It can take a while to pay for parking, park your car and take the shuttle from the lot to the main gate.  Ride lines get longer and longer as the day goes on.  You'll be able to see so much more if you get there early.

After you pick up your tickets, grab a map from just behind the ticket booths before you get on the monorail. We prefer to ride the monorail to the Magic Kingdom in the morning and then take the paddleboat option at the end of the day. The monorail gets very crowded at the end of the day.

If you’re carrying any kind of purse or backpack, you will have to go through security just after you get off of the monorail. You want to get in that line before it gets too long. Every minute you waste standing in that security line is a minute that you could spend enjoying a ride instead.

Once you get through security and actually get into “The Magic Kingdom,” you need a strategy. At most amusement parks, people tend to turn right and work their way counterclockwise around the park. Do just the opposite and you will avoid the crowds. A lot of people linger on Disney’s Main Street first thing in the morning. I suggest you save that for the end of your day.

Go straight through Main Street and turn left to get to the Jungle Cruise. It is one of the most popular rides and there will be very long lines later in the day. If you go there first thing in the morning, you most likely will be able to walk right onto the ride. Keep working around the park on a straight path. Crisscrossing back and forth will waste your time and energy. You might be able to walk right onto the first two or three  rides if you arrived early.

When lines start to form, take advantage of the Fast Pass program. Many people don’t use it because they assume there is a cost involved. Fast Pass is free and available on the most popular attractions. Simply find the Fast Pass machine located outside the major attractions and insert your park ticket into the machine. The machine will spit out a ticket with a time for you to return to the ride and go into the special Fast Pass entrances, a trick guaranteed to save you hours of time in line. You must get a Fast Pass for everyone in your party.

The most popular rides are the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan’s Flight. We usually ride the first two, go grab a Fast Pass for the Peter Pan ride, and then double-back to the Haunted Mansion. We ride other rides while waiting for the Fast Pass ride time. Follow this strategy as you go around the park and your ride wait times will be minimal.

If you don’t want to see the afternoon parade, that can be an excellent time to get on the most popular rides. After the fireworks, a lot of people go home, so if you have any energy left, that’s a good time to ride, too.

Some of the rides exit through gift shops and you’ll be tempted to shop at many other locations through-out the day. If you do shop, don’t take your packages with you. Ask your cashier to send your purchases to the guest services center at the front of the park. You can pick them up as you leave and not have the hassle of carrying them around on the rides all day.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the fireworks show. It will end your day beautifully. Just make sure that you watch from near the entrance on Main Street if you intend to leave as soon as the show is over. Thousands of people leave at that same time and you don’t want to be in the middle of, or worse at the back of, that crowd.

I hope you and your family have a simply wonderful time!

For other travel tips, see my book, Simply Wonderful Travels, which is available only on Amazon.com.

Beautiful Boston

Boston is one of my favorite places to visit. Everything you could ever want in a destination city is there. Are you looking for historical sites? You can tread the same streets that Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin walked in Boston. Do you seek art and antiquities? Boston has some absolutely awe-inspiring museums. Do you want to attend a great sporting event? You can do that in Boston, as well. Do you want to sample great food? You definitely won’t go hungry in this city.

While you can see Boston’s highlights in a single day, a longer stay will provide you with a much richer experience. Below are suggestions for what I considered to be three great days in Boston.

If you only have one day:
Hit the Freedom Trail. The trail winds through the streets of Boston and is marked by either a red brick or red paint line on the city sidewalks. You can download a free map from Cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail. It’s a circular route, so you can start wherever you like. We started our journey at the USS Constitution and then followed the path through some of the most beautiful streets that I have ever seen. Some of the other highlights of Boston’s Freedom Trail include:

o The Boston Common
o The State House
o Historic cemeteries
o The Old Corner Book Store
o Faneuil Hall
o The Paul Revere House
o The Old North Church
o Bunker Hill

You will see so many other wonderful sites as you walk. You truly will experience the best of Boston in one day.

If you have a second day:
Plan on spending your entire day at the Museum of Fine Arts, MFA.org. You will not regret it. It is, without a doubt, the finest museum I have ever visited. I saw Paul Revere silver, jewelry, musical instruments, ancient artifacts and paintings from the Grand Masters. You could actually spend several days at this museum and not see it all.

If you have a third day:
Plan your day around a Red Sox game at Fenway. I don’t even like baseball but I loved going to a Sox game. Get there early and wander the surrounding area, visiting the shops and indulging in a wide variety of good, cheap food from the snack shops and street vendors. There really is nothing as Americana as the energy and excitement surrounding Fenway on game day. For ticket information, go to Redsox.com.

For other travel tips, see my book, Simply Wonderful Travels, which is available only on Amazon.com

New York City

New York, New York. It is a fantastic city, but one that is expensive to visit. Many vacationers find the cost of NYC hotel rooms to be prohibitively expensive. However, staying across the river in Jersey can provide a cost-saving alternative to the higher priced hotels in Manhattan. Taking a short, inexpensive subway or ferry ride into the city is well worth the trade-off when you consider the hundreds of dollars that you might be able to save on your vacation.

When you’re ready to start your New York sightseeing adventure, tackle it in much the same way as described in my previous post about London. If you do it right, taking in one section of the city on each day, you can see the highlights of the city on a three-day visit.

Day One
Take a subway to the north side and hop off right in the basement of the American Natural History Museum, (http://www.amnh.org/). Spend your morning there, taking in all of the famous attractions seen in the movie, “Night at the Museum,” then grab a quick lunch in the neighborhood or right in the museum. After lunch, head across Central Park, checking out Belvedere Castle on your way through and then walk over to The Museum of Modern Art (http://moma.org/) to spend the rest of your day there.

Day Two
Head into the center of the city and start your day at the TKTS ticket booth in Times Square. Grab a cup of coffee at one of the shops on the square and then step into the long line to buy half-price tickets to an afternoon performance of one of the latest Broadway shows.

After you’ve snagged your tickets for the matinee, walk to Rockefeller Center, passing Radio City Music Hall along the way. Go to the top of the Rock and take in the view. When you come back down to earth, grab a quick lunch in a genuine New York City deli (there are several in this area) before you go to the matinee. After the show, you’ll be ready for another walk, so take a stroll to the Empire State Building. Watch the sunset go down from the top of the tower and then head back downstairs a hearty dinner in the Heartland Brewery, located right next to the Empire State Building lobby.

Day Three
On day three, you’ll explore the southern tip of the city. You can take a ferry from either the NYC side or the Jersey side of the river. The ferry will take you to Ellis Island and once you’ve finished visiting that site, you can hop back onto the ferry to go to see Lady Liberty. There is a restaurant just yards from the base of the statue, which is an excellent spot to grab a quick lunch. Just remember that if you want to go up into the lovely lady’s crown, you must order tickets well in advance. Go to http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htmfor details.

In the afternoon, take the ferry back to the mainland and go to Ground Zero. After paying your respects at that site, be sure to take a walk through the historic St. Paul’s Chapel which stands just across the street from the World Trade Center. Both sites are, of course, quite somber, so be prepared to shed a few tears. However, you will not regret making the visit. Combining a visit to Ground Zero with a trip to the Statue of Liberty will leave you with a renewed sense of patriotism that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. I promise you that you will come away with the knowledge that freedom is not just an outdated concept from our nation’s history.

If you haven’t lingered too awfully long at either of those sites, you might have enough time to go back to Times Square and pick up tickets for an evening show. A quick pre-show dinner can be had at any one of dozens of restaurants on Times Square.

Miscellaneous Tips
On the subway: No matter what you read on the website, subway maps are not readily available in the stations. They have plenty map holders, just no maps. Also, unlike other cities such as D.C. and London, you cannot jump on just anywhere and get where you want to go. Pay attention to whether you want the A, B, C, etc. train and look for entrances marked accordingly. Entrances to the subway are plentiful but you may have to look around for the specific entrance you need.

Shopping: The most important thing you need to know about the glamorous, high-price stores in New York is that they offer discount shopping passes to visitors who live outside the State of New York. Just visit the customer service counter in each store, present your out-of-state driver’s license or passport and staff there will present you with a one-day discount shopping pass good for 10% to 20% off of nearly anything you buy, including sale items.

What to wear: People in New York City are fashionable, yet sensible. Wear your walking shoes. You will be walking . . . and walking and walking and walking. While some people dress for the theatre in the evening, casual wear is acceptable nearly everywhere. You’ll see plenty of tourists sporting casual clothes and carrying their shopping bags from the day into the theatre.

For other helpful travel tips, download a copy of my book, Simply Wonderful Travels from Amazon.com.

Next week, I'll post an interesting itinerary for Boston.

London Travel Tips

When I travel, I don’t want to waste one precious minute of my vacation time. The problem is, how do you make the most of those precious vacation hours when you’re touring a town that you’ve never before set foot in? As always, organization is the key. A little preplanning can make the difference between a so-so vacation and a great vacation.

First, do some research on a travel site such as http://www.tripadvisor.com/to see exactly what unique treasures your destination has to offer. Next, make a list of all of those places that seem to be calling your name, including museums, amusement parks, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas. Group those sites by location within the city, then pick a different area to visit each day.

When planning an upcoming trip to London, I structured our itinerary around Tube (subway) stops, picking one station per day and planning our activities accordingly. For example, Holburn Station is within walking distance of Covent Garden, the Charles Dickens Museum and the British Museum. We will take one short Tube ride on that day and then enjoy all three of those sites. Planning our trip in this way saves us transportation time and money. One Tube ride everyday is obviously less expensive and time-consuming than multiple rides.

The Tube is the most economical and easiest mode of travel. Get an Oyster card on-line before you leave home and you’ll be all set for the ride from the airport to your hotel when you arrive. The Oyster card site is: https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do. In order to master the Tube in advance, visit http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en, and use the Journey Planner to determine your routes. Print out your routes and take them with you so you won’t have to wander around lost in the London underground.

The itinerary below concentrates solely on London. Many Americans who travel to London try to spend just a couple of days there and then spend time running all about the U.K. and other nearby European countries. However, if you want to really get the feel of London, I suggest staying there for several days and soaking up the culture.

SEVEN DAYS IN LONDON

Day 1
You’re going to have jetlag when you arrive. Rest and take it easy on your arrival day. Concentrate on staying awake until bedtime in London in order to get acclimated to the time zone. Get your bearings. Talk to the staff at your hotel and ask about nearby restaurants, Tube stations and shopping.

Day 2
On this day, you are going to learn the lay of the land. Start your day with a tour of The London Eye and get a bird’s eye view of the city. You can order tickets on-line at http://www.londoneye.com/. Ordering your tickets on-line is not only cheaper than paying at the door but it also allows you to skip the long lines at the ticket counter. When you disembark from The Eye, take a walking tour of the city. You can hire a touring company to give you a guided tour or you can download several free self-guided walking tours from http://www.londontoolkit.com/. This site details several self-guided walks that will lead you to all of the major sites, including some of the royal palaces.

Day 3
Today, go check out the Tower of London. Order your tickets on-line for this attraction by visiting http://www.blogger.com/www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/planyourvisit/default.aspx. While you’re on that website, read up on the Ceremony of the Keys and learn how to order free tickets for that nightly event. Plan on spending your afternoon touring the Tower and seeing the Crown Jewels. Once the Tower closes, head out to a nearby pub for a leisurely dinner and then return later in the evening for the Key Ceremony.

Day 4
You should have fully adjusted to the time zone by now. Hire a coach from http://www.londontoolkit.com/tours/premium_windsor_stonehenge_bath.htmand take a day trip to Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge. They will pick you up from a local hotel, drive you to the sites and feed you lunch at a local pub. You will be deposited back at your hotel later in the evening.

Day 5
Start your day at Leicester Square where you can visit the TKTS booth and pick up deeply discounted theatre tickets for a show that evening. Once you’ve secured your tickets, wander over to Harrods and spend the afternoon bumping about that iconic department. Late in the afternoon, enjoy a late tea in the elegant Georgian Restaurant on Harrods fourth floor. The sandwiches and desserts they serve are generous enough to constitute dinner for the evening. Afternoon tea at Harrods is quite popular, so make your reservations on-line well in advance of your visit by applying at http://www.blogger.com/www.harrods.com/content/visiting-the-store/restaurants/georgian-restaurant. It is my understanding that Harrods has several restaurants but that The Georgian on the Fourth Floor is the best. After enjoying your tea, then take a stroll to the theatre for your evening entertainment.

Day 6
This is a museum day. The charming Charles Dickens Museum and the impressive British Museum are both within a short walk of the Holburn Tube station. As of this writing, the admission for the Dickens Museum is £8 per person, but the British Museum is free. For a lovely website offering all of the information you need to know regarding London’s Museum Mille, visit http://www.museum-mile.org.uk/. Covent Garden, with its abundance of shops and restaurants, is the perfect place to wrap up your day with shopping and dining.

Day 7
Today’s destination in the Notting Hill Tube station. From there you can visit the area made famous by the movie of the same name. Wander the Portobello Road Market and then explore the Natural History Museum. In the evening, indulge in the fun and surprisingly informative Jack the Ripper tour led by http://www.thejacktherippertour.com, the top rated tour of its kind by http://www.tripadvisor.com/.

If you are fortunate enough to have more than seven days in London, you should be able to fill the rest of your days with visits to the London Zoo, the many palaces and more free museums. You will never run out of fun and interest things to do during your visit to London. As Samuel Johnson said, "When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." As a matter of fact, there is a fun little website by the same name that provides information on daily activities on London. You can reach that site at http://www.tiredoflondontiredoflife.com/.
For other helpful travel tips, download a copy my book, Simply Wonderful Travels, at http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Wonderful-Travels-ebook/dp/B003T9UXDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318847972&sr=8-1.

Nest week on this blog, I’ll post an organized itinerary for short trip to New York City.