Tag Archives: tourist

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11AM-4PM

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11AM-4PM Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of New York City’s greatest traditions. On this day, everyone is Irish! The annual procession marches up past Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street all the way up past the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd Street.

The first parade in NYC took place in 1766 when Irishmen from the evolutionary War brought the tradition to our New World. The military units continued to march each year until after the War of 1812 when local Irish fraternal and beneficial societies began sponsoring it.

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The Margaret Mitchell House is Home to Everything Gone with the Wind

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Best known for housing the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote the classic Gone With the Wind, this turn of the century building is a haven for literary buffs. Where else can you feast your eyes on the very apartment where, ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!’ was conceived, during a guided tour, and check out a full GWTW movie exhibition, too?

Located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, The Margaret Mitchell House offers a unique glimpse into the author’s Southern roots and everything GWTW. You can take a piece home with you, because it features a unique gift shop, including Gone With the Wind-inspired figurines from the San Francisco Music Box Company. Polonaise holiday ornaments of Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, and other legendary characters are also available for purchase. The Literary Center offers, among others things, writing workshops for kids and adults. Special events are also held at the home, including weddings and corporate events.

Insider’s Tip: As an added bonus, purchase a Dual Ticket to the Margaret Mitchell House and the Atlanta History Center and save 25% when visiting these two must-see attractions for one low price. Go ahead, get your history on because as Scarlett so aptly said, ‘After all…tomorrow is another day.” Click here for more information.

Queen Mary: Board a Ship like Royalty

You may know her from your history textbooks or your grandfather telling you about WWII, but today the Queen Mary is referred to as a hotel and attraction rather than a ship for soldiers.

Most Southern Californians will tell you to experience one of the Queen’s many tours on the history of the boat and submarine excursions. When visiting this Queen MaryLong Beach destination, it’s crucial to visit restaurants such as Observation Bar and Chelsea Restaurant for perfect seafood and even more perfect ocean views. If you are looking to remain at sea as long as possible, the boat offers some surprising amenities, such as a fitness room and a spa.

Though the boat itself is quite spectacular, the Queen Mary also doubles as a great hotel. People will argue that staying on the boat and just visiting are completely different experiences. With such great amenities and a concierge experience that makes you feel as though you are sailing your own yacht, you may never want board on land again.

The next time you want to hit the high seas, you might as well do it like royalty.

The Best Drive is to Universal City Walk

When venturing out to Hollywood to witness the bright lights and eccentricity on the boulevard seems daunting, there is an alternative that takes out the chaos and adds some fun. Universal City Walk is truly one of a kind in that it’s a city within a city, offering everything from movie theaters to restaurants, candy shops to water ballet. Locals and tourists alike are always gathering in the one pPicture 9lace where acting like a kid is commendable.

Though rummaging through magnet stores and a shop completely dedicated to Pez seems over the top, the adults have their fair share of fun, too. Universal has some American dining favorites, from Hard Rock Café to Wasabi. If you are looking for a quick bite to soak up all the fun, Universal has adapted the mall-like food court and offers quick eats from Dodger Dogs to Panda Express.
Once the shopping and eating comes to a rest, Universal City Walk has a nightlife scene offering great alternatives for those who don’t want to venture to the other side of the hill. Places like Saddle Ranch and Howl at the Moon bring in large crowds and keep the excitement alive all night.

Whether it’s daytime fun or nighttime entertainment, the crowds never seem to stop arriving at City Walk. The next time you feel like driving to Hollywood, skip the traffic and expensive drinks and drive to the Walk.

Luxury and Elegance at The Rittenhouse Hotel

There’s a reason that celebs like Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Willis call this their home away from home when staying in Philadelphia. The Rittenhouse Hotel is the #1 Hotel in Pennsylvania, as voted by Travel & Leisure Magazine, and boasts more amenities and perks than one could imagine.

For guests staying on the weekend, the hotel offers a complimePHIrittenhousehotelntary champagne reception on Friday and Saturday afternoons, with butler service and scrumptious treats that would make even the most skeptical person feel warm and welcome.

The Adolf Bieker Spa and Salon is located within the hotel and has a fantastic reputation. Employees of the spa recommend the “Aroma Glow” treatment and have absolutely perfected the basic Swedish massage.

The Mary Cassatt Tea Lounge is located on the first floor and looks out onto a beautiful outdoor garden; it’s a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. The Rittenhouse even has a hopping bar, Bar 210 at Lacroix, that overlooks Rittenhouse Park and serves handcrafted cocktails and hors d’oeurves.

There’s no question – the Rittenhouse Hotel will make every stay in Philadelphia as fabulous as you would hope, with elegance and style!

The New Comcast Center is Worth the Visit

The Comcast Center is one of the newest additions to the Philadelphia sPicture 9kyline- and by far the tallest. You’ll need to allot at least ten minutes for ogling in the lobby at the gigantic video wall, 2,000 square feet of hi-def LED screen to be exact, that shows different images throughout the day of flying through space to Phillies playoff games.

The Market at Comcast Center is a great stop for lunch, and often gets busy with the suits on break during the week. Voted best food court by Philadelphia Magazine in 2009, any gourmet palate will be satiated with all of the choices. The most popular spot is Philadelphia’s famous cheese aficionados The Di Bruno Brothers. This Italian market sensation set up another shop here with scrumptious sandwiches filled with classic flavors.

LOVE Park, a plaza made famous for Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture, is located right outside the Comcast Center. If the weather is nice, dining al fresco is a must!

EcoManor

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One of the most environmentally progressive homes in the country is nestled in the heart of Atlanta’s historic Buckhead neighborhood. EcoManor, set to be the first U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified residence in the Southeast, was built to inspire a change in urban design by showcasing how the latest green technologies can be incorporated into a traditionally beautiful Tudor house. Constructed by national eco-activists, Laura and Rutherford Seydel, EcoManor will serve as an educational tool for builders, architects, designers, landscapers and homeowners to promote green living, conservation and advanced residential building practices.

Dance in the Vineyards of Chouinard Winery

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Picture 2Located up in the hills near San Francisco Bay is the family run Chouinard Vineyard & Winery. Sure, Chouinard offers tours and wine tastings, things you would typically expect from a winery, but don’t be fooled, this is no ordinary vineyard. Reggae in the Vineyards, Jazz in the Vineyards, 70’s and 80’s Dancing in the Vineyards as well as Ghouls in the Vineyards are some of the ever changing events happening at the winery. It’s needless to say, these are certainly not activities you would expect from a vineyard.

Yet, you’ll still find a staff that loves making wine and can’t wait to share it with their clients. Escape the city for a day to this nearby vineyard and winery and take pleasure in the award-winning wine- and entertianment- Chouinard has to offer.

Skyscraper Museum

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The Big Apple is known for rich culture, plays and its high-rise buildings. The Skyscraper Museum explores the ever changing skyline’s history, investment in real estate and design. The museum has many different exhibits including a commemoration of the original World Trade Center. The museum has also created the panels that are shown at Ground Zero. Showing the past, present, and future of New York is the museum’s goal, and they have succeeded.

NY Waterway

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New York Waterway tours offer a variety of entertaining and informative cruises year-round. There are 90-minutes harbor cruises that travel up both the Hudson and East Rivers, from midtown on the west side to the United Nations on the east side. There are also an assortment of 50-minute downtown cruises that depart from historic Pier A in Battery Park. All stop near the Statue of Liberty…great for photo-ops. If you think cruises are just a daytime activity, think again! The twilight evening cruises, happy hour cruises and late-night party cruises are the best part! Plus, if you’re a Yankee fan you might opt to skip the traffic and head up to the stadium ship-style on the Yankee Clipper cruise.

Soak in the Charm of Chinatown

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Picture 7Chinatown has a unique character and charm all its own. There are a number of bargain furniture stores, banks, grocery stores here. Holistic healers often come here to shop the wide selection of Chinese herbs and medicines in some of the natural healing stores. But the big seller here, of course, is the food! More than 50 restaurants are scattered around the area, from Vietnamese, to dim sum to sushi.

The unique architecture of buildings such as Sing Chong Building and the Bank of Canton is what really gives this community its name. Being the city where the first Chinese immigrants arrived in America, it makes sense that SF is home to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. You can’t help but think you’re not in Cali anymore.

Eat Your Way Through San Francisco on the Local Tastes of the City Tour

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Picture 43Cappuccinos are to North Beach as tea is to Chinatown. San Francisco is a city known for fresh ingredients and its cultural melting pot translating into the kitchen. Local Tastes of the City offers an experience to taste it all in the diverse foodie neighborhoods of North Beach/Little Italy and Chinatown.

The North Beach/Little Italy Tour is so much more than a food tour, it’s a cultural experience. Not only will you find freshly baked bread that will send your senses soaring, but also discover quaint shops with handmade ceramic trinkets, intricately woven baskets, quilts, and more; uncover hidden authentic Italian cathedrals; and experience first-hand the coffee roasting process in these small shops. Locals come here for the fresh food, but they stay for the culture.

You’ll think you stepped into Beijing, but don’t be fooled, it’s just Chinatown. The cuisine will enliven your senses with new flavors and aromas. See artisans practice their crafts in back alleyways that can’t be viewed from a double-decker bus, watch as chefs fold fortune cookies by hand, and view the unique architecture of building such as the Sing Chong Building and the Bank of Canton.

Travel deep into the essence of these neighborhoods by trying different foods and drinks from the best and most authentic bakeries, restaurants and cafes in town. These stops are not typical tourist spots, yet places that the locals go to shop and eat. Taste pastries and breads in Little Italy, dim sum and tea in Chinatown, and much more.

Circle Line

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Circle Line is the best way to get a bird’s eye view of Manhattan. To see the giant island, take a Circle Line boat tour from West Midtown all the way around back to West Midtown. See the 27 bridges, be awed by the downtown skyline, smell the East River, watch the endless ribbon of cars whip down FDR Drive and listen to the acerbic, to-die-for quips of the dyed-in-the-wool New York tour guides.

Tour Boston with Free Audissey Guide

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One of the easiest ways to get to see the city of Boston is on Picture 22your own schedule but just how do you know where to go and what sights to see? Audissey Guides offers a free one-hour downloadable tour that will show you a unique side of Boston most tourists never get to see. Some of the narrators include Michael Patrick MacDonald, author of All Souls: a Family Story from Southie, Luigi ‘Big Lou’ DeMarco whose family owns Caffe Graffiti, a local hangout in the North End and Dicky Barrett, lead singer of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. On the one-mile tour, you will be led down secret alleys and hidden paths to uncover the pulse of the real Beantown. On the award-winning audio tour, you will visit the former headquarters of the Boston Mafia, meet a Boston Mayor elected from a jail cell, and sip a cappuccino with locals in the North End. There is a walking map to guide you along the tour route – simply visit the website and download the Zip file of tour and a PDF map.


Alcatraz

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Take a boat ride to and a tour through the small island full of rich history. Alcatraz was one of the first US forts on the west coast, an infamous federal penitentiary, and occupied by Native Americans for eighteen months. Alcatraz also has gardens, tide pools, and a view of the city like none other. For a highly entertaining and educational excursion, visit Alcatraz Island.

Fairfield Inn New York

Fairfield Inn by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square hotel features 244 rooms and suites in the heart of New York City Times Square. This Midtown Manhattan hotel, located at the crossroads of the world, features affordable prices and is perfect for family vacations, business travelers, and small group meetings. Work in our brand new spacious guest rooms with free internet. Work out in our state-of-the-art fitness room and enjoy free breakfast before exploring some of the nearby Midtown attractions such as the Broadway theaters, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue and Central Park. Our newly built New York City hotel is proud to be the first Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Manhattan and invites you to experience first-class NYC accommodations, amenities and Marriott service. And getting to the Fairfield Inn New York Times Square is easy. We are centrally located in Times Square, across from Port Authority Bus Terminal, minutes from Penn Station and within walking distance of the Jacob Javits Convention Center.