December 28, 2011

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Mummers Parade; things to do


Philadelphia Mummers Parade 

part of the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
part of the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


The festive Philadelphia Mummers Parade has marched down Broad Street every New Year’s Day for more than 100 years. One of the longest running traditions in the country, it began in the 1800's as a way to celebrate the New Year and became an official city event n 1900. Participants wear elaborate costumes made with feathers and sequins galore, and you’ll see plenty of cross-dressing.



Mummers Parade in North Wildwood, New Jersey.

More Mummers.

Even more Mummers.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

December 21, 2011

Paris, France: Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore; things to do

Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore 

This attraction just might be enough for you to finally go buy a ticket to Paris.






December 19, 2011

What luggage should you buy?


What luggage should you buy?

Are you in the market for new luggage? Check out the comments about what luggage you should buy and why, and also about airlines and theft.


More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

December 16, 2011

Troutdale, Oregon: Edgefield, The Poor Farm; restaurant review

Edgefield: The Poor Farm  

2126 SW Halsey St., (800) 669-8610, (503) 669-8610. No pets.

outdoor picnic tables at the Power Station Pub at Rhe Poor Farm in Troutdale, Oregon
outdoor picnic tables at the Power Station Pub at Rhe Poor Farm
in Troutdale, Oregon


Located next door to now-trendy Gresham—it was once just a simple farm town where my own Grandpa lived his life farming strawberries and raising cattle—this fun-filled complex once actually was a real poor farm that rescued folks who had fallen on hard times. Now The Poor Farm is like a little village, with a Georgian Revival-style manor house B&B as well as many out buildings, and visitors can have a great time just wandering the property—stopping for a beer and some exceptionally tasty oversize peanuts in the Little Red Shed, followed perhaps by pizza and more beer at an outdoor picnic table at the Power Station Pub. The farm also has a fancier restaurant, a movie theater, a winery and distillery, two golf courses (1 12-hole, 1 20-hole), a spa with a saltwater soaking pool, and expansive gardens.




image courtesy of venue 

December 14, 2011

Exuma Key, Bahamas: Swim with the pigs on Exuma Key in the Bahamas


Swim with the pigs on Exuma Key in the Bahamas


You've heard about swimming with the dolphins? Get ready for swimming with the pigs! (Did you know that a group of hogs is called a "drift"?)




catch another view:






December 8, 2011

Jackson Hole, Wyoming: National Elk Refuge; things to do

National Elk Refuge 

800-772-5386, 307-733- 0277.  Sleigh rides mid-Dec through first weekend in April; adults $18, 5-12 $12.

draft horse-drawn sleigh tour at National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
draft horse-drawn sleigh tour at National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming


Take a draft horse-drawn sleigh tour of North America’s largest established elk preserve. Featuring the spectacular Grand Teton Mountain Range on one side and the Gros Venture Mountain range on the other, the National Elk Refuge is not a zoo.  Some of the thousands of elk migrate here from as far as 100 miles away. Sleighs are a cheery photogenic red with black trim and have padded seats. From them you’ll see wildlife up close and in motion. I heard the 4-year-old daughter of a park ranger exclaim with glee, “Wow, look at all that poop!” After, you can pet the horses and take pictures with them.


National Museum of Wildlife  

Warm up across the street within the impressive stone walls of the National Museum of Wildlife, where galleries let you get even closer to a wide array of wild animals.


More animal attractions.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

December 7, 2011

NYC: Radio City Christmas Spectacular; things to do

Radio City Christmas Spectacular  

Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, 212-247-4777.  December. 

At least once in a lifetime everyone should see this extraordinary Radio City Christmas Spectacular show. Excitement grows as high as the Rockettes kick as Santa flies and fireworks light up the stage. The storyline features the famed synchronized chorus line dancing on the block-wide stage as snow falls and music rings out from the largest Wurlitzer organ ever built (it has more than 4,000 pipes).



 


December 5, 2011

Portland, Oregon: International Rose Test Garden; things to do

400 SW Kingston Ave., in Washington Park, (503) 823-3636. Daily 7:30-9. Free.

The International Rose Test Garden began in another location in 1915, when a rose hobbyist got city officials to approve a garden dedicated to saving European roses from World War I bombings. Roses arrived from around the world. The garden moved to its current site in 1917, and now covers 4.5 acres. You can see more than 8,555 rose bushes representing some 722 varieties--including the almost black "Black Magic" rose, which is actually a deep blood red and the sweet smelling magenta "Firefighter Rose” named in honor of firefighters lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. In 1940, the garden became a testing site for the All-America Rose Selection.





More gardens around the world.

More things to do in Portland. 

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

December 2, 2011

The best time to purchase an air ticket


The best time to purchase an air ticket

Ever wonder when the best time is to buy an air ticket? Well, here you go.


More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.


November 30, 2011

Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii: Big Island Candies; things to do

585 Hinano St., a few blocks from the airport, Hilo, (800) 935-5510, (808) 935-8890. Daily 8:30–5.

You can watch workers through big windows here as they make yummy chocolates and cookies. The macadamia nut shortbread cookies dipped in milk or white chocolate are simply THE BEST. And don’t miss your chance to taste chocolate-covered cuttlefish, called “ika.” Though it is tempting to pronounce that “ick-ah,” this delicacy actually tastes quite good.





More things to do on the Big Island.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

 

November 28, 2011

Cuzco, Peru: Hotel Monasterio; hotel review

Hotel Monasterio  

Calle Palacio 136, 1 blk. from Plaza de Armas, 800-223-6800, +51 84 60 4000.

Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco, Peru
Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco, Peru


Converted from a Spanish monastery built in 1592, the magnificent Hotel Monasterio features weathered stone arches sheltering the halls and original religious paintings decorating the walls. At hotel check-in we were offered coca tea, which eased our discomfort from the altitude. In the morning we feasted at the buffet in the cheery golden breakfast room of the El Tupay Restaurant, drinking electric-colored fruit juices and sampling tasty local Kiwicha biscuits and Andean cheese; Inca dinners are held here on Saturday.

November 25, 2011

Favorite snack foods in the U.S.



Favorite snack foods in the U.S.

Zagat lists some favorite snack foods in the U.S. Let's open that list up to the world. What is one of your favorites?


More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

November 23, 2011

Unusual hotels around the world


Unusual hotels around the world

Bored? Book a few nights in Canada's Ice Hotel.


More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world

November 21, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Hasenecke + Currywurst; restaurant review

Currywurst 

is one of Berlin’s most famous and beloved dishes. It is said to have been “invented” in the late 1940s and became popular with construction workers rebuilding the city.

currywurst served at Hasenecke cart in Berlin, Germany
currywurst served at Hasenecke cart in Berlin, Germany


Hasenecke  

Savignyplatz, 0173/233 9997.

This cheery little currywurst cart is near this S-Bahn station. At Hasenecke the wurst is cut in pieces, sprinkled with curry powder, and topped with a sauce. Fries are available either with ketchup or mayo. It is the favored fast food of Berliners and makes a great meal to take back to your hotel.



image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 19, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Jewish Museum Berlin/JĂ¼disches Museum Berlin; things to do

Jewish Museum Berlin/JĂ¼disches Museum Berlin 


Europe's largest Jewish museum is housed in a stunning zinc-plated building nicknamed "the silver lightning bolt." Interior spaces are intended to disorient visitors, and the empty Holocaust Void in the center represents the world’s great loss from that event. Still, the Jewish Museum Berlin/JĂ¼disches Museum Berlin  can at times feel cozy. Exhibits center on Judaism and Jewish life, the Holocaust, and the post-World War II rebuilding of Jewish life in Germany.

exterior of Jewish Museum Berlin/JĂ¼disches Museum Berlin in Germany
exterior of Jewish Museum Berlin/JĂ¼disches Museum Berlin in Germany




image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 17, 2011

Take a look at the Mount Everest Panorama

Take a look at the Mount Everest Panorama


This Mount Everest Panorama saves a lot of money and a very long, difficult trek to the top of the world's highest mountain!




More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.



November 16, 2011

Berlin, Germany: MUSEUM ISLAND/Museumsinsel; things to do

MUSEUM ISLAND/Museumsinsel 


A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, the MUSEUM ISLAND/Museumsinsel museum enclave is bordered by the River Spree and Kupfergraben. It consists of five state museums with world-class collections ranging from classical antiquities to 20th-century paintings and sculpture.


Bode-Museum Monbijoubrucke  

030-266 3666. 

Long closed for restoration, the grand Bode-Museum Monbijoubrucke is now open with enlarged exhibits, better lighting, and more viewer-friendly exhibitions. The interior itself is as interesting as the collections, with two spectacular dome rooms, marble floors, high ceilings, colorful walls, and large windows providing lovely views to outside. Sub-collections include the Museum of Byzantine Art (displays of early Christian sarcophagi, Coptic and Byzantine sculpture, icons, and even gravestones dating from the 3rd through the 18th century), the Sculpture Collection (exhibits magnificent pieces from ancient churches and monasteries, including a 1490 sandstone pulpit support by Anton Pilgram carved in the shape of a medieval craftsman. The Numismatic Collection/Coin Collection is exceptional.

exterior of Bode-Museum Monbijoubrucke in Berlin, Germany
exterior of Bode-Museum Monbijoubrucke in Berlin, Germany




image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

November 14, 2011

NYC: Strand Book Store; things to do

Strand Book Store  

828 Broadway/12th St., near Union Square, 212-473-1452.

interior of the Strand Book Store in NYC
interior of the Strand Book Store in NYC


Founded in 1927 by the Bass family, which still owns it, the beloved old-timer Strand Book Store is now run by the third generation. This New York legend offers "18 miles of books," including used books for a buck, new best sellers, rare books and collectibles in every price range, and an entire floor of art books. The rare books collection is the largest in town and includes signed editions. You never know what you might find on the shelves. It's as much a scene as it is a bookstore; last time I visited I witnessed a woman of a certain age pushing a baby stroller holding three yappy dogs. The Logo t-shirts and bags make great souvenirs.

November 11, 2011

Brentwood, California: Le Pain Quotidien (CLOSED); restaurant review

Le Pain Quotidien  

CLOSED  11702 Barrington Court/off Sunset, (310) 476-0969.  $$.

Le Pain Quotidien in Brentwood, California
Le Pain Quotidien in Brentwood, California


Breakfast choices at this cog in the global chain of bakery cafes include scrumptious fresh French pastries, an assortment of omelettes, and more.

coffee at Le Pain Quotidien in Brentwood, California
coffee at Le Pain Quotidien in Brentwood, California


My favorite is the Petit Dejeuner that includes a basket of breads and a croissant, plus coffee French-style in a bowl and orange juice; I always also add on a boiled egg.  Lunch brings on imaginative Belgian open-faced sandwiches, soups, and salads.  Le Pain is known for their delicious desserts and housemade breads as well as their line of condiments (spicy harissa sauce) and jams (I love the dark Montmorency cherry and the apricot), and all can be packed up to carry home.  A central communal table is popular with solo diners.  This branch might provide good star-spotting opportunities.  I say “might” because I am pretty sure, but am not positive, that I spotted Johnny Depp and Samuel L. Jackson here.



More things to do in Brentwood.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


images c2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated November 6, 2018

November 9, 2011

Santa Monica, California: Blue Plate; restaurant review

1415 Montana Ave., (310) 260-8877. B-L-D daily; $.

At this bright and cheery spot you’ll find big windows, table-and-chair seating, and a simple menu. Breakfast at Blue Plate is frittatas, scrambles, pancakes, and smoothies, and at lunch you can choose from healthy sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, and soups. And after, there’s great shopping along Montana.



More things to do in Santa Monica.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 7, 2011

Ravenglass, England: World Owl Centre; things to do

World Owl Centre


The World Owl Centre at Muncaster Castle has one of the world’s finest collections of these creatures. More than 40 species are on view.

owl at World Owl Centre at Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass, England
owl at World Owl Centre at Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass, England



More things to do in England.

Watch owls via webcam.

More owl items.

More castles.

More ideas for exploring Europe.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 1-14-18

November 4, 2011

Pacific Palisades, California: Mick's Cafe (CLOSED); restaurant review


Mick’s Cafe  

CLOSED  859 Swarthmore Ave., (310) 454-0090. B-L-D + afternoon tea daily; $-$$.

This cute, narrow, cottagey space is a series of small outdoor patio areas. Breakfast includes pastries, panini, and omelettes. Lunch is sandwiches (both the fried egg and the BLT are very good), soups, and salads--including a delicious house salad made with nuts and Feta. In the evening, candles light the tables, small lights twinkle, and blankets and heat lamps are available, and the menu includes “around the world pizzas” and a variety of entrees.







November 2, 2011

NYC: Pongsri Thai Restaurant; restaurant review

106 Bayard St./Baxter St., 212-349-3132.

Opened 25 years ago in 1972, Pongsri Thai Restaurant is the oldest family-run and -operated Thai restaurant in NYC. Easy intro dishes include Pad See Ew (a noodle-vegetable dish) and Pra Ram (chicken and broccoli mixed with a curry-coconut-peanut sauce), but plenty more exotic options are available.

Columbus Park 

is across the street on former swamp land (you can see it out the window).  It is in the Five Points neighborhood depicted in the movie “Gangs of New York.”  Once ridden with disease, this 5-year-old square of green is the venue now for tai chi, Chinese opera, chess, fortune-telling, and quick repairs of watches and shoes.  On nice days, men bring out their caged birds and hang them in trees—just like they do in China.  


More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

October 31, 2011

Taveuni Island, Fiji: Visit Vuna Village; things to do

Visit Vuna Village


Reached via a scenic route that passes vast forests of palm trees with “sunburned” red trunks, Vuna Village is known for its tapa bark cloth and woven mats. The women work hard to prepare the pandanus leaves by boiling them, stripping them with shells to remove thorny edges, then drying the leaves on racks for days until they are dry enough to weave into beautifully handcrafted mats. (Bark from the paper nulberry tree is used to make tapa. The tree is uncommon throughout Fiji except for a few select regions.) Two natural swimming pools are found here—one for men, one for women.







October 27, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Checkpoint Charlie; things to do

Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin


Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous crossing point, where people moved from East to West when the Wall was up. Now, two “soldiers” stand guard but mostly get their pictures taken with elated tourists for an informal two-Euros tip. What is that all about?

Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany
Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany
 


Cafe Adler 

206 FriedrichstraĂŸe, 030/2518965

Stop for a drink and some lentil soup across the street at the historic Cafe Adler, once frequented by Westerners trying to catch a peek of East Berlin.




image c2010 Arline Inge

October 24, 2011

NYC: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory; restaurant review

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory  

65 Bayard St., 212-608-4170. 

ice cream counter at Ice Cream Factory in NYC
ice cream counter at Ice Cream Factory in NYC


Who knew?--America’s most popular dessert was invented in 1300 by the Chinese! In the tiny little Ice Cream Factory shop, it is married mostly to exotic Chinese flavors—almond cookie, avocado, black sesame, durian, lychee, red bean. More common flavors are also options.

October 7, 2011

Hailey, Idaho: Trailing of the Sheep Festival; things to do

October 7–9, 2011, (208) 720-0585.

crowd of sheep at Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Hailey, Idaho
crowd of sheep at Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Hailey, Idaho


This unique annual event celebrates the history and cultures of Idaho sheep ranchers. The Trailing of the Sheep Festival includes an authentic Folklife Fair; culinary events featuring lamb, cheese, and local foods; storytelling at the Sheep Tales gathering; a Fiber Festival; historical exhibits; Scottish, Basque, Polish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians; demonstrations; fiber and photography workshops; cowboy poetry; championship sheepdog trials; and the Trailing of the Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep stepping lively down Main Street in Ketchum.


More animal attractions.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image cMichael Edminster 

October 5, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Topography of Terror; things to do

Topography of Terror  

Along Niederkirchner Strasse (formerly Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse).

Topography of Terror exhibit in Berlin, Germany
Topography of Terror exhibit in Berlin, Germany


Built on the site of former buildings that during the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945 were the headquarters of the Gestapo and the SS, the Topography of Terror outdoor exhibition documents those times. It is complemented by a newly opened documentation and learning center.




image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

October 3, 2011

NYC: Fried Dumpling; restaurant review

Fried Dumpling 

106 Mosco St.

pork dumplings at Fried Dumpling in NYC
pork dumplings at Fried Dumpling in NYC


In a quieter, less visited area of Chinatown, this tiny dumpling factory churns out scrumptious, chewy pork-filled dumplings at five for a dollar! Big windows at Fried Dumpling permit watching them being made.

September 30, 2011

Guanajuato, Mexico: Jardin de la Union/Union Garden; things to do

Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico


The spectacular Jardin de la Union/Union Garden square and garden dates back to colonial times, when it was the center for street markets and traditional festivities. It is lined with a neatly trimmed canopy of Indian laurel that is so dense it looks as if it is just one gigantic tree. Cafes, restaurants, and shops surround the garden, and mariachi bands entertain.

Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico
Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico


More things to do in Guanajuato.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

September 28, 2011

Guadalajara, Mexico: Tlaquepaque; things to do

Tlaquepaque  

7 miles/20-minute cab ride SE of downtown Guadalajara.

couple relax on a bench in Tlaquepaque, Mexico
couple relax on a bench in Tlaquepaque, Mexico


Pronounced “tla-key-pah-key,” this town’s name is an Indian word meaning “over the hills of clay.” Tlaquepaque is famous for its pottery and blown glass--handcrafts that have been passed down through generations of residents—but a wide range of handcrafts is displayed in the many galleries. Beautiful old mansions on the main shopping street (closed to traffic) have been transformed into attractive shops, galleries, and restaurants. The main square, Jardin Hidalgo, is filled with flowers and mature trees and surrounded by churches, bars, and a market. Designers and decorators come here from all over the world in search of blown glass, ceramics, furniture, paintings, fabrics, and antiques.



More things to do in Guadalajara.

More things to do in Mexico City.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.


image c2011 Greg Vaughn

September 26, 2011

NYC: Everything Frosted; restaurant review

Everything Frosted  

105½ Mosco St., Chinatown, 212-227-9828. Tu-Sat 11-7, Sun 11-3.

cupcake selection at Everything Frosted in NYC
cupcake selection at Everything Frosted in NYC


Climb the unpromising steps up to Everything Frosted to find a counter filled with cupcakes. Flavors include the usual as well as the more exotic—green tea, black sesame, pink champagne. Special occasion cakes are also available.



More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

September 23, 2011

Guadalajara, Mexico: Take a ride in a calandria cab; things to do

Take a ride in a calandria cab in Guadalajara, Mexico


The charming calandria horse-drawn carriages have been touring people around Guadalajara’s historic City Center since 1912. They were named for their original bright yellow color, which brings to mind a lark or a "calandria" bird. Now most of the carriages are white. Passengers board at stage stations downtown, then ride by colonial buildings, parks, squares, and mansions. Drivers relay the rich history of the city (most do not speak English). At one time there were 200 carriages, but now only 50 remain--they’ve been replaced by buses.

horse-drawn calandria cab in Guadalajara, Mexico
horse-drawn calandria cab in Guadalajara, Mexico



More things to do in Guadalajara.

More things to do in Mexico City.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

September 21, 2011

Portland, Oregon: Powell's City of Books; things to do

Powell's City of Books 

1005 W. Burnside St., (800) 878-7323, (503) 228-4651. Daily 9-11. 

interior of Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon
interior of Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon


This mega-bookstore is the world’s largest new and used bookstore, and it seems to thrive even during these times when, sadly, bookstores are closing in great numbers. Powell's City of Books has four stores holding tons of used books and is always looking for more; bring yours used books to sell. In addition, the store has the world’s only three-door elevator. Be sure to pick up a store map when you arrive . . . just in case.


Powell’s Books for Home & Garden 

3747 SE Hawthorne Blvd. M-Sat 9-9, Sun 9-8.  This branch also has really great gift items.



More things to do in Portland. 

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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