Tag Archives: attractions

Terror Behind the Walls Sept 17-Nov 6

Terror Behind the Walls

September 17-November 6

“Terror Behind the Walls” is a Halloween event held annually at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Known as “A Massive Haunted House in a Real Prison,” is actually made up of five separate haunted attractions inside the 11-acre
complex.

Terror Behind the Walls has grown to become one of the nation’s largest and most well known haunted attractions. It had been consistently ranked as one of the top haunted attractions in the nation and is a must-see if you truly want to get into the spirit of Halloween. Bring an extra pair of underwear, and check out Terror Behind the Walls.

http://halloween.easternstate.org/halloween

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Practice What You Beach at Venice

Filled with beach bodies, body builders and people doing sidewalk tricks, a trip to Venice Beach is as unique as the people who walk the boardwalk. With souvenir shops and waterfront views, anyone from any age visits the boardwalk to either embark on a rollerblading excursion or simply engage in a henna tattoo.

Though there is always something going on at Venice, the best time to Picture 21visit is during a warm day. The boardwalk fills up with pedestrians once the sun is out, which gives Venice Beach its unique charm.

If you are looking for beautiful blue water and soft sand, you might want to rethink packing that bikini. You may find stragglers dipping their feet in the water, but you will rarely find people lounging by the shore; people come here more for the unique culture and always-surprising sidewalk sidekicks.

If snow cones and psychics sound like a fun Sunday afternoon, Venice Boardwalk is your new home away from home.

Insider Tip: Though the crowds are great and cheap boardwalk food is even better, parking is definitely problematic, so find a cheap lot a few blocks away. And if you have heard of the saying “fun in the sun,” take that saying to heart. Once the sun goes down, so does a lot of the fun, so leave when you can still feel yourself building your tan.

Walk Amongst Greatness with the Frank Lloyd Wright Tour

Oak Park, just a quick jaunt on Chicago’s green line train, is like walking into a Hallmark movie. It’s so charming and beautiful here that the hustle and bustle of Chi-town seems light years away. In addition to the picturesque main brick streets, mansions and bistros, this is also the hometown of architectural genius Frank Lloyd Wright.

Year round, Chicagoans Picture 11and tourists alike gather for a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and several other of his architectural designs. Wright’s home, where he lived from 1889 to 1909, will inspire even the most apathetic of design lovers. Its facade and interior design make most gawk in awe, and suddenly everyone can’t help but snap away a hundred photos.

Custom private tours are also an option at the house, educational programs and year round special events take place so be sure to check the calendar before your visit. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust also has a museum and gift shop so don’t worry, you don’t have to leave empty handed.

Insider’s Tip: Advance tickets are highly recommended. Purchase tickets here or call 1.800.514.ETIX (3849).

MCA Director Madeleine Grynsztejn Loves Lincoln Park

When she’s not running the show at one of the nation’s largest contemporary art museums, Museum of Contemporary Art Director Madeleine Grynsztejn can be seen at Lincoln Park. This area, which is also one of the coolest Chicago neighborhoods of which she is also a resident, is Madeleine’s go-to place for some R & R. “I really like to go there and unwind and walk around the lake and take a look at the city from there,” Madeleine told citybuzz.

Apart from spectacular skyline views, the park boasts an impressive resume of Picture 13renowned artists and architects that have made the it one of Chicago’s most treasured places, like sculptor Augustus-Saint Gaudens, landscape designers Ossian Cole Simonds and Alfred Caldwell, and architects Joseph Lyman Silsbee and Dwight H. Perkins. You don’t need to be a director of an art museum to appreciate the beauty of their work.

A trip to this peaceful, shoreline park would not be complete without visiting the zoo. “I love the Lincoln Park Zoo,” Madeleine said, and millions of visitors each year agree. The free, family oriented experience is absolutely breathtaking in both the beautiful animals (lions to swans) and incredible layout.

A getaway to Chicago would not be complete without a trip to the breathtaking Lincoln Park and uber-hip neighborhood.

*** Madeleine Grynsztejn is the Pritzker Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art and is also a resident of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago.

Walk Along History with The Freedom Trail

You read about it in history class, but now is your chance to experience firsthand the places where the American Revolution began with a walk along the Freedom Trail. Each year, more than three million tourists visit the 2.5-mile historical landmark that points out 16 original sites related to the establishment of the country.

Picture 12Every American visiting Boston should take a walk along the famous red line with stops along Paul Revere’s house, the Old South Meeting House and Old North Church. You can print out a map and take the tour individually at your leisure, but there are also guided tours available (including an 18th century costumed guide) where you will learn how these Colonialists dared to challenge Britain and establish our democratic nation.

The best time of year for the individual tour would be April to November as the snow will cover up most of the trail during the winter months. One of the most popular tours is the self-guided audio for $15. Just pick up the audio player at the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common and get started!

The Pentagon’s Secret Five Star Experience

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The Pentagon. Those two words are enough to conjure up images of “Top Secret” signs hanging on closed doors, like the kind shown in movies. Well, those doors are actually not as closed as you might think. By making a reservation in advance, the symbolic building known as the headquarters of the Department of Defense opens up via a guided tour.Picture 7

The tour takes about 90 minutes and covers nearly two miles, visiting numerous displays and memorials that have had a significant place in our nation’s history. All the tours are free, and there’s an option to go it alone on a private tour or in groups of five or more. You can also visit the Pentagon Memorial, which honors the victims of 9/11, any day of the week without a reservation.

Just seeing the unique architectural design is an amazing experience as well. As the largest office building in the world, it’s virtually a city in itself with 23,000 employees, 4,200 clocks, 691 water fountains, 284 restrooms, two cafeterias and six snack bars located throughout the 6,5000,000 square foot floor area. The most amazing thing is that, despite having 17.5 miles of corridors, it takes seven minutes- at most- to walk between any two points in the building.

Hearst’s Miami Castle: The Spanish Monastery

Tucked along a winding, tree-lined street in North Miami Beach is a beMIAmonasteryautiful sanctuary called the Spanish Monastery, a building from the 1100s that’s the perfect spot for escaping the rat race by entering into a bygone era. The structure was dismantled in Spain where it was created, and transported to North Miami Beach in a whopping 11,000 crates after newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst purchased the property.

The Spanish influence still rings through with the luscious and impeccably manicured gardens, European-inspired statues, and open-air courtyards and hallways among the stone structure. Grand gated entrances lead to various brick pathways that feature stone benches that are ideal for reading, painting, or just enjoying the fresh air amongst the breathtaking landscape.

It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the Miami sun with some European flair.

Escape to Rome at the Franciscan Monastery

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When you think of D.C. architecture, the first thing that comes to mind is usually not a Roman style building. Yet, that’s exactly what you’ll find at the Mount St. Sepulchre Franciscan Monastery .Picture 6

This DC National Historical Monument is absolutely stunning. Stroll through the gardens and take a moment to enjoy the beautiful landscape. Undergroudn, there’s a replica of Roman catacombs, which is quite an experience in itself. There is also an archive, a library, and bones of Saint Benignus of Armagh, brought from the Italian Roman Catacombs.

The Byzantine style church was designed by the Roman architect Aristide Leonori and built in 1898. Around the church is the Rosary Portico, with 15 chapels commemorating Jesus and Mary. The monastery grounds contain replicas of shrines in the Holy Land, as well as a greenhouse. The Franciscan Monastery is definitely a unique landmark in the middle of the nation’s capital.