Metafilter Travel

Iowa is for Tourists

whatzit — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:32:39 -0800

A 3-day bonanza in Iowa City and the Quad Cities. Iowa City is easy to love. Day 0
Arrive late night at Cedar Rapids airport. Get lost leaving airport and enjoy dirt roads to the interstate. Find lodgings: couchsurfing! Find beer: old landmark, John's Grocery. Apparently, also known as Dirty John's for being the first place in the area to sell Playboy. According to rumor, you can be kicked out of the store for calling it that while inside the store. Late: go stomping in the flooded parts during the freak rainstorm. Run inside when freak rainstorm turns into freak hailstorm.

Day 1
Friday of the week before school ends. Campus is busy! It's one of those days where you can take pleasure from being places you really shouldn't be, and places you have no reason to be (but also, have nowhere else to be). It's still cold and drizzly today, but that's not going to stop me! As recommended, the campus is fantastic for walking and poking around in. I loved the Boathouse (sideways monolith), and hated the Technology Center (a project Ghery decided not to have his name attached to). The stores selling university-logo stuff are lots of fun. Because life will never be complete without the UI cutting board!

After exploring the campus itself, it's time to go through downtown. Very pedestrian friendly! Lots of independent shops! I was not as thrilled with Prairie Lights the store as I expected to be, but some of the people working were fantastic, making recommendations from the vague notions of interest that people expressed after coming in and saying "I want a book." (No shit, Sherlock). The Strand it is not. Nonetheless, I did drop over $100 on books, as is my wont. Soap Opera does in fact have awesome smelling stuff. It smells awesome. Did you know you can have Margarita soap?? I do now. Also lots of fun in the modern and designy type shops: Akar, Design Ranch, etc. And there's a new knitting store/cafe (near Motley Cow's old location on Market) with a super-friendly owner, nice coffee, and soft, soft cookies. Also, they offer cool craft classes.

Day 2
Saturday is the FIRST farmer's market of the year at the parking lot near the fire station. So every Wednesday (afternoon/evening) and Saturday (~7:30-11:30) in the summer you can buy fresh baked goods, jams, plants, etc. This week featured a cooking demonstration by the chef from the Motley Cow. As far as the baked goods, I heartily recommend Carol from Coralville's strawberry rhubarb pies, and managed to transport two of them for 5 days across 6,000 miles to share them with my colleagues.

This is the day for the Quad Cities. It's hard to believe that even with four of them, there's just not that much to do, and it still looks like countryside or creepy suburbia (if you remember the intro to Eerie, Indiana?). Here, however, I did enjoy the Happy Joe's Taco Pizza on Locust Street. Two pulgares arriba! Also, I got lost in the Target parking lot (huge!!) where a friend spent his high school years pushing shopping carts around with his car at 40+mph. And ran into a Jon-Benet-Ramsey-esque dance competition near the high school *shudder*.

Also, stopped in Wilton for the Wilton Candy Kitchen and the WORLD'S BIGGEST TRUCK STOP.

Also, this was a Saturday. There are great house parties in Iowa City, and if you are youngish and friendly, you can go to any of them. Before or after that, though, return to the Ped Mall and enjoy the weekend zoo that is a mob of frat boys and sorority girls trying to impress each other. Try to keep count of the underwear-exposés and nascent beer bellies. Really, it's entertaining. But I was told - repeatedly, and always with a sense of pride - that the city has one of the highest number of bars per capita in the entire nation, and later that the number of bars was 88.

Day 3
More campus. Finally, sunshine and warmth. Fall asleep on the grass by the river. Walk around some more. Fall asleep on the grass between the Pentacrest and Iowa Book. Shop at the co-op. Eat lunch at Masala. Learn your lesson, that Indian food in Iowa, even cooked by Indians, is just not going to cut it. Would've gone to the Hamburg Inn but it was packed. Apparently this is a typical state of affairs for Sunday afternoon. Get a malt at Whitey's before taking another nap. Late: nighttime bike ride through campus and downtown with a friend and a tape player with speakers, the Police playing loud enough for a good soundtrack. Parks are all flooded. See the Official University of Iowa Marching Band Practice Grounds. No joking. Theorize about how much damage they do to property values around that otherwise lovely green spot of land.

Day 4
Leave for O'Hare at ass-o-clock in the morning, with a juicy cranberry orange walnut muffin from the Java House.

If I didn't do your kinda thing in this weekend, check out the other recommendations given in this thread.

Photography in Hawaii

Razzle Bathbone — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:45:35 -0800

Suggestions for places to take interesting photos in Honolulu/Oahu over Christmas I will be in Honolulu over Christmas for a (large) family vacation. This trip is a bit last minute for me and I have not had much time to read up. I was last in Hawaii about 25yrs ago now.

I am an amateur photographer and I am looking for suggestions of places to take some interesting (not the usual tourist) pictures anywhere on Oahu. I prefer exteriors/landscapes/nature photography but neat or interesting architecture is fine as well. I will have a car for the entire time I am there and definitely want to get out of Honolulu and around the island. I will a have a lot of my gear (tripod etc). Any thoughts or suggestions? (if you can link to Google Maps, even better) Thanks.

a canadian and venezuelan in NYC for the first time

specialk420 — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:58:44 -0800

ok... so two of my favorite people will be with me in New York next weekend? - a fantastic Venezuelan scenester/party animal and an equally magnificent vivacious Canadian woman (both 30 something and 1st time in New York) ... any recommendations for Friday and Saturday fun for 1st time visitors who really like to push the limits?

New York one day

stuart_s — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:51:45 -0800

Went to New York for one day. Took the train because I'm not too smart. I stayed at a Hostelling International hostel. I ate at The Spotted Pig and had ramen at Setagaya. I recommend both restaurants. Count on a wait at The Spotted Pig and also count on being crammed in like a sardine. I guess that's par for the course in New York. The food is good, though. The ramen at Setagaya is very good.

The hostel was everything that I needed - cheap and in a good location. It was clean and comfortable with nice ammenities - wifi, laundry, etc...

The train was less pleasant. I was on the train for longer than I was actually in New York. It's comfortable, most seats have power outlets and you can get spotty reception. All in all, the experience would be great if it weren't so long. Next time the airfares seem too high I think I'll consider swimming.

Knoxville/Smokies travel advice

fieldtrip — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:28:19 -0800

I will be traveling to the Knoxville area next week for work. I am going out there a day early to hike in the Smokies. I am looking for a cheap hotel in the airport area and other logistical suggestions. I will fly into Tyson-McGhee airport late Saturday night so I am just looking for a hotel nearby that I can sleep at. I will get up in the morning and head for the Smokies...hike most of the day then head up to Knoxville for my conference. I am wondering where I should stay near the airport and if anyone has specific hotel and breakfast recommendations. I am looking for a cheap hotel (I'd prefer to spend around $50 if possible) but would like for the place not to be a complete dump. I will probably rent a car at the airport or in whatever town that I am staying the next day and just use it on Sunday since I don't need one for the conference. I would drop off the car in downtown Knoxville Sunday night or Monday morning. Does anyone have any input on whether this is possible or if there is a cheaper way to do this (ie a bus to the Smokies that I don't know about). Also, any advice on a must do hike or part of the park to see would be stellar. I'd prefer to avoid crowds, tourists and T-shirt shops if possible. Thanks.

All ages jazz clubs in SF?

rossination — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:47:47 -0800

We're looking for some all-ages jazz venues in SF that we could hit up this Sunday or Monday (or possibly Saturday night). My girlfriend and I going down to San Francisco this weekend (we'll be getting in Saturday night after a long drive from Manzanita, OR, then we'll be there Sunday through Tuesday morning) and we'd love to find some good jazz or Latin music.

I realize that Sunday-Tuesday isn't exactly primo jazz time, but we're trying to get a feel for what's available. Also, we're both 20 (21 in January!), so bars and clubs are out. It seems that most restaurants that will have live music are on the pricey end, and (obviously) we're on a budget. Is this possible to do for $25-$30/person (not including cover, if there is any).

We will have a car, but we plan on trying to park it and do the public transportation thing. But we can definitely drive if that would be useful. We'll be staying in the Mission, but again, we're pretty flexible.

What to do in Reno?

univac — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:31:49 -0800

I'll be living/working in Reno for several weeks to a few months. Would appreciate suggestions for art, culture & nature. Unique & bizarre attractions would be a plus. Also, best vegetarian restaurants, or unique restaurants where a vegetarian won't starve? Obviously, I wouldn't be asking this if I were into gambling or searching for vanished gazillionaires.

Art Season in Chicago?

R. Mutt — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:29:41 -0800

I will be in Chicago for the opening weekend of the art gallery season (sept. 6-9). What galleries should I visit?

A short time in Yosemite

Burhanistan — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:27:59 -0800

36 Hours in Yosemite: I'll be attending a conference in San Francisco and will have most of the weekend to kill. We've already booked a hotel room just outside Yosemite National Park. I plan on seeing the Giant Sequoias, and generally just driving around. There's so much to see there that only 36 hours seems like a travesty. Alas. What are some must see things there that I can enjoy at a relatively relaxed pace in my short time there?

New York food centered detour

stuart_s — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:08:43 -0800

Two days, one night, a couple meals in New York. Sushi, bagels and the Unisphere. I went to Yasuda for dinner and had a nice meal. The sushi conformed to my expectations of what high end sushi should be: smaller pieces not straight out of the refrigerator case. I wish there were some place like that locally but I think in the end I learned that my local favorite is consistently, if not perfectly, competitive in terms of freshness and quality.

Lunch was supposed to be Momofuku but they were closed. I suppose I should have checked. But closed on Wednesday? In the end, I ate way too much at several different places. Doughnut Plant is vastly over rated. Two Boots Pizza is also pretty disappointing. I was suckered in by some award they have posted. I had a couple tacos at San Loco. They were good but I can't put them in context with other New York tacos.

Kossar's Bialys saved the day. The bialys are great and they've been making bagels now for several years and those are also great. A little Taam Tov cream cheese was also fantastic. I have since read an article about Taam Tov's horrific labor practices so...

My hotel was in Queens very close to the Unisphere and the rest of the fairgrounds. There was also some sort of children's science museum nearby in a very interesting building. The park/fairgrounds were serene and calm and the remnants of the World's Fair were fascinating. I only wish that I'd had more time to spend there.

New York food centered trip

stuart_s — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:13:04 -0800

I tried to fit in some cultural activities between meals. I stayed in a youth hostel, took the subway from Queens to Manhattan daily ate a lot, mostly Japanese, and visited a couple museums. I stayed in a hostel in Jackson Heigts, Queens. I'm glad I made that choice. I enjoyed meeting the other guests. The hostel itself was nice, if a little hot. There were several rooms accommodating between three and six people each. It was a house on a residential street. I drove to New York. I parked my car on the street and had to move it twice to deal with street sweeping which didn't really put me out much at all.

The neighborhood was also a pleasant experience. Walking to the subway each morning and returning each evening, I was bombarded by the wonderful smell of Indian food. The manage of the hostel is an acquaintance of Jim Leff, the top dog at Chowhound. Apparently, Leff lives in Jackson Heights because it's the chowiest neighborhood in all of New York.

Aside from moving for street cleaning, I didn't use my car at all. I relied entirely on public transportation. $24 bought one one week pass. Transportation time between boroughs seemed to take slightly less than 45 minutes included walking and waiting. I managed to navigate the system pretty well. I used HopStop and on rare occasions queried a helpful station attendant.

I ate at Momofuku Ssam Bar, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Masa, a sub shop in Corona Heights, Chiyono, Yakitori Totto, Rai Rai Ken, Una Pizza Napoletana, Magnolia Bakery, Chikalicious, Super Taste - a Chinese noodle soup restaurant in Chinatown and Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine in Elmhurst, Queens. Generally none were so disappointing that I would recommend against them. On my way out of town, I picked up some knishes from Yonah Schimmel, assored goodies from Russ and Daughters and a bento from Yagura. I wasn't impressed by Super Taste but Robert Sietsama thinks they're the best noodles in the universe. I've only been to two Malaysian restaurants and Taste Good isn't quite as good as the other (not New York) restaurant. Masa was notable as much for the amazing atmosphere as for the food. If you're not willing to pay exorbitantly for atmosphere I'm not sure that Masa is the right place. I wasn't planning on going to either Magnolia Bakery or Beard Papa but went after just happening to walk by. Both were a little disappointing, especially Magnolia. I've definitely had better cupcakes (again not in New York). Chikalicious was okay. Momofuku Noodle bar's ramen had a very rich broth, lots of delicious stewed pork (in addition to the roast pork) and the poached egg is a great idea. The roast pork in the ramen at Rai Rai Ken was really outstanding. Many items at Yakitori Totto were very good, in particular the chicken meatball with raw egg "sauce". The bento from Yagura was very good - a fried hamburger patty, a tiny speck of salmon, rice and an assortment of very small sides. These last few were the best and really the only ones I'd consider returning to. Still, nothing was really a revelation and in a city like New York I think that's a reasonable standard. Even in the short time since I returned, I've read that one new ramen shop has opened and another has announced an imminent opening. Similarly, I've got great leads on more pizza, smoked fish and countless other things.

Between eating, I went to the Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, Tryon Park in Washington Heights and the Staten Island Botanical Gardens. The Staten Island Botanical Gardens has an art gallery and the exhibits that I saw were worthwhile. The Cooper Hewitt was showing the design triennial and an exhibit about clever design in unindustrialized areas. I recommend it if it's still available. Mostly, I think of New York itself as one big museum. Walking from the subway stops to my "destinations" was invariably just as interesting as the museums themselves. Washington Heights, Corona Heights, Midtown, Jackson Heights, even the subway itself. Each was fascinating.

Chicago Travelogue

Miko — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:45:47 -0800

Museum Geek in Chicago. In early May, 2007, I went to Chicago and Oak Park, IL, for a work trip, and got in quite a lot of introductory sightseeing and city highlights. So I had a workshop to attend for my job, and used it as an excuse to take an extra couple days and tour the city. For a four-day trip, it was quite efficient! I was travelling solo, so everything I recommend here is fun to see by yourself, and I also walked almost everywhere, barring travel from my accommodations in Oak Park to the Loop area. (I do like walking insanely, so take that into account - you might not want to walk the couple of miles from the Loop to the History Museum, but there is a train.)

It was a startlingly beautiful city. All I know of Chicago had come from American Studies stuff -- Sandburg, the Jungle, the '68 convention - I always pictured it as gritty, industrial, full of strife. Instead I found a really vibrant, sophisticated, diverse city full of graces: the architecture has to be America's finest in one city center. The public parks and gardens and plantings are gems set everywhere, and people really use them.

I stayed at this B & B in Oak Park. The Josephine Room was just $75 a night, and the place was gracious but comfortable, with big relaxing verandas, nice hosts, and gorgeous Arts & Crafts detail and furnishings. The neighborhood was amazingly walkable, and was like a museum itself of American vernacular architecture including Prairie, Mission, Foursquare, and many more house styles. There's a small but very nice downtown including an old movie theatre, lots of restaurants, a good bookstore, and a nifty paper-arts store. I had dinner the first night at Khyber Pass, which seemed to get good reviews in local papers - the buffet was abundant, but I can't say it was the most amazing Indian I ever had. It was just fine, though, and there was a nice live sitar player providing accompaniment.

Right there in Oak Park there's a lot to do. It was the home of Frank Lloyd Wright for many years, and you can tour his home and studio: highly recommended. There are many other Wright houses nearby, and walking tours are offered, though I didn't take one. One of his most famous public buildings, Unity Temple, is right on the main drag. You can take an architecture tour there for $9, but I opted instead to just attend the Sunday UU service for free (or $1 in the collection plate, anyway). I figured that would give the best sense of the design in action, and indeed it did; also it was a nice way to get a feel for some of the local residents and character of the neighborhood.

Oak Park is connected by the L trains to Chicago. Trains are frequent and the comfortable ride takes only about 15 minutes - providing enough time to make plans using travel guides and local papers.

The History Museum was my first destination - I always like to get a sense of how places tell their own story. I find it really grounds the rest of my visit in an understanding of a city's background. I didn't go through the entire thing - I focused on the general highlights exhibit, including an original L car and some info about Ida Tarbell and the Colmbian Exposition, an exhibit called City in Crisis, and an excellent one all about the music history of Chicago, from blues to folk to polka. That was simple but very effective.

From there, I set out walking across town to the Lake Shore. It was absolutely beautiful, and the combination of beach and paved path is well worth strolling, swimming, biking, or blading. I carried on down the lake to the Navy Pier, your basic honky-tonk tourist area of rides and attractions. I rode the Ferris Wheel to get a nice view of the city and lake. There's a lot you can do there - waterborne tours and boat rides, including the vaunted architecture tour, leave from there. There is also a free stained glass museum on the pier; it was astoundingly good, especially for a free installation that feels like an afterthought in some ways. Examples of stained glass from medieval to contemporary, all beautifully lit.

From the pier I cut over to the Magnificent Mile - basically, upscale shopping, but some nice buildings. I especially loved the lobby of the Tribune Building, which is inscribed with quotations about freedom of speech. Look on the outside for hundreds of rocks from historic sites around the world. The bridges were amazingly beautiful and somewhat reminiscent of (don't laugh) Paris.

I stopped for a Chicago style loaded hot dog at some dog joint whose name I can't remember. It was surprisingly delicious! Thus fortified, I continued my explorations with a visit to the historic Marshall Field's Department Store building (now a Macy's, but mostly preserved). It is truly a consumer palace, with yawning airy atriums (atria?), cafes, marble and painted plaster detailing, and luxury shopping. They give history tours on Saturdays at 1 PM. The Chicago Cultural Center was not far away; this free center (formerly the public library) provides a home for exhibits and events. There seems to be something going on there just about all the time.

From there it was an easy hop into Milennium Park, which has to be the most innovative and yet user-friendly park built in the US since Frederick Law Olmstead's day. Just go -- it's enchanting, pretty, fun, funny - a happy place to be. I spent hours there over the course of the weekend; it became a downtown oasis. The Crown Fountain is a great place to cool your feet and people-watch.

One evening I had dinner at Petterino's in the theater district. Nice atmosphere with a 1900-ish tile floor, marble and brass bar - unfussy Italian food of decent quality - pastas, salads, panini, and some great onion rings.

One full day was spent divided between the Art Institute, where I concentrated on the American 20th century collection (really good, and American Gothic is there and worth seeing) and the Field Museum, which made me want to pack my bags and run away to work there. Their exhibit Evolving Planet is world-class, interesting, thorough, and fascinating - currently it's considered the best exhibit anywhere on the topic of evolution and global change over time. The displays of artifacts left from the Columbian Exposition were awesome - in the Native culture exhibits, towering totem poles were very impressive. I was most blown away by The Ancient Americas, which was far more than artifacts - the exhibit was very philsophical, spending a lot of time on how humans organized into societies, mastered agriculture, and developed hierarchies, economies, and militaries. Very interesting stuff.

Culturally, I found that people were almost a combination of Midwestern (nice, polite, helpful) and Southern (I haven't been 'Ma'am'-ed so much in years, and people were laid back and had a relaxed pace).

I'd go back at the flimsiest excuse, this time exploring more of the outlying neighborhoods. There is far more to do than I could get to in four days, and both the art museum and the Field are the kinds of places you can't even see all in one day. There's a lot of live music, which I didn't see, and apparently interesting ethnic neighborhoods, a particle accelerator, and all sorts of other pastimes which I hope one day to explore. Those of you who live there are fortunate folk!

Grand Canyon Adventure

netbros — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:35:18 -0800

Featuring the Grand Canyon Skywalk and Colorado River Rafting in Arizona. This is a journey to the land of the Hualapai Nation and Grand Canyon West. The Hualapai are a native people of the southwest. At the Hualapai Ranch, we enjoyed a variety of activities including wagon rides, a cowboy cookout and games. The next stop was Eagle Point and the Skywalk. The Grand Canyon Skywalk allowed us to walk beyond the canyon walls, becoming surrounded by the Grand Canyon while standing at the edge of the glass bridge. Suspended more than 4000 feet above the Colorado River, the glass bridge is a horseshoe shaped walk on soft booties. The last stop of the day is Guano Point, yes named for the bat droppings. Guano Point offers breathtaking views of the canyon and river.

The next day, we hop on a converted school bus and head for the only Colorado River access within the Grand Canyon. We experienced whitewater waves and the majestic walls of the Grand Canyon reaching to the sky in all directions. This was a day of unparalleled wilderness beauty and memorable major rapids. Each raft guide has a background in natural history and is a native of the Hualapai tribe. The rafts are motorized and extremely sturdy, holding up to eight passengers. Lunch is included on the banks of the river and snacks and beverages are provided throughout the day. At the end of the rafting adventure, we were lifted out of the canyon by helicopter, another spectacular adventure, allowing great views of the awesome vastness of the Grand Canyon.

Next day we travel through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona and a jeep tour through the Boynton Canyon. We are led by guides in their trademark old western attire ready to inform us about the history, geology and folklore of Sedona. Later that night, along the banks of the Verde River in Cottonwood, we enjoyed western activities including a shooting gallery, train ride, horsehoe pits, a mechanical roping horse, and friendly farm animals. When the dinner bell rang we were treated to an all-you-can-eat chuckwagon supper followed by the harmonic sounds of the Blazin M Cowboys. Their story included music and comedy.

Last stop Phoenix and a trip to Chase Field for a major league baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. That is one large domed stadium. Boy is it hot in Phoenix in late June.

Public swimming in Palms, Los Angeles

klangklangston — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:56:02 -0800

What's the deal with public swimming pools in LA, and are there any in the Palms/Culver City neighborhood? If so, what are their damn hours?

Enjoying Maui with a toddler

mathowie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:21:34 -0800

I spent a week this past winter enjoying the sun and the sand, and for the first time with a toddler in tow. This past winter I finally figured out that I suffer from a bit of the winter blues. After a couple months of staying indoors during barely-above-freezing days, I decided we should take a family trip somewhere warm and nice. I picked out Maui in mid-December because I've always wanted to go there and Hawaiian Airlines recently started doing direct flights from Portland to Maui (in about five hours).

Armed with advice from previous MeFi posts about Maui (including mine) and a copy of the highly recommended Maui Revealed, we booked a trip through Expedia including the flight and a hotel. After going through all the choices, I decided to stay at the Westin Maui mostly because I had a lot of previous stays at Westin hotels and the reviews on Expedia said it was right on the beach.

We left Oregon in the morning with temperatures well below freezing and landed in the afternoon to a balmy Maui day. We grabbed a rental car (a Ford Escape 4x4 that we never took off pavement) and made it out to the western part of the island about 45 minutes later. The hotel was a bit too much of a "resort" (where everything is taken care of for you, people compete for spots around the pool, and you can get mixed drinks delivered to you on the beach sand, which seemed nuts to me) but the room was big and nice.

Traveling with a child wasn't too hard, but I learned a few things. We flew with her carseat so we could use that in the rental car. We requested and got seats in the bulkhead of economy on the flights there and back, which mean tons of legroom for adults and our baby didn't kick the back of someone's seat the whole time. We ended up putting a small hotel crib in the opening hallway of the room while we hung out in the main part of the room or out on the balcony. Eating wasn't too much of a problem since our daughter loves fruit and fruit was plentiful at every meal.

We did the road to Hana, which was a beautiful trip but a brutally long, curvy drive. It was probably 2.5 hours of driving to Hana but felt more like double that, and the trip home seemed to take forever. We spent a day in South Maui where the beaches were fantastic (thanks to the Maui Revealed book). We also explored the western side of the island both north and south of where we stayed and had lovely times at the beaches.

Here are a list of things I learned on the trip:

I'm not really a resort type person that pays for everything on a tab that gets paid at the end. Next time we'll rent a house or condo or something

Having a pool was key for our 16 month old that loves to swim. It gave us a way to tire her out at the end of each day, as we took a swim after dinner

The Maui Revealed book was indispensable. We found great hidden beaches, awesome local food, and scoped out places we'll stay next time, all from the book. It's a popular book but it's better than any travel book I've used on a trip. It never let us down.

I wish we took the trip with friends so we could have gotten a free babysitting break once or twice during the week. While we had a good time, we were in parent/baby mode everyday and didn't get to enjoy an amazing meal out without the baby. Next time we'll drag a mother-in-law along or coordinate with other parents so we can switch off a couple nights watching kids and have a parents night out.

If I do the road to Hana again, next time I'll stay in Hana for a night. The trip was too much squirrelly driving for one day (esp. with a baby in the back)

Maui really is a beautiful laid back place. I went to Oahu about ten years ago and it was like an overcrowded Southern California. Maui really is mellow and relaxed is exactly the kind of vacation I was looking for.

Overall, we had a great time, and next trip I know we'll do even better.

Tips for living in Portsmouth, NH?

lunasol — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:59:29 -0800

What are the best supermarkets in Portmouth, NH? Good gym? Also, could someone answer my Portsmouth-traffic questions? Later this week I'm moving to Portsmouth, NH for a job that will last about 6 months. I have a few questions about living in Portsmouth. Usually the kind of stuff you'd pick up from living in a place, but since I'll be there for such a short time, I don't want to spend lots of time trying to figure stuff out.

- Supermarkets: I'll be on a tight budget, so I'm looking for the least expensive place in town to buy groceries. Extra points if it's near Newington, where I'll be living. I notice that there are several Market Baskets. Here in the Boston area, the Somerville MB is hands-down the cheapest and often best supermarket - is that the case in Portsmouth, as well?

- At first I'll be working in Portsmouth, but after a month or so, I'll be working out of Dover. I've heard the traffic on 4 between Portsmouth and Dover can be crazy, but in which direction? I'll be going towards Dover at around 8-9 every morning. If it is crazy traffic, is there an alternate route from Newington?

- Related: this Friday I need to travel to Manchester. Google maps says it will take an hour via 101, but should I leave more time for traffic?

- Last question: I'm looking for a good gym to join. Preferably one with late hours, a pool and yoga. Any recs?

I realize this is a lot of questions, about stuff that is pretty boring. I definitely appreciate any advice!

Long Island Islip Macarthur Airport to Brooklyn, NY?

brokekid — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 07:51:51 -0800

What is the best way to get from Long Island Islip Macarthur Airport to Brooklyn, NY?

Dallas, girlfriend, 18 year olds, car, late July/early August.

senterstyle — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:54:26 -0800

Dallas, girlfriend, 18 year olds, car, late July/early August... what to do? I'm coming to visit my girlfriend in Dallas (July 25-August 15ish) and I have no idea what we're going to do. I've looked through some other posts, but there isn't much... what are some interesting places to see, places to eat, events to attend and generally cool things to do?

I'd pretty much like to impress her.

How to entertain unfun folks in nyc?

Bookhouse — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:49:08 -0800

What are some free or inexpensive ways to entertain anti-New Yorkers in New York City? Some relatives are coming into town tomorrow, and we're at a loss of how to entertain them -- they aren't into exotic food, art films, art museums, a lot of walking, spending money, shopping or the outdoors. Yeah, New York City isn't really for them, but they are coming so we've got to find some cheap ways of filling the days. Bus and boats tours seem pretty pricey, and we're hep to the big tourist thangs like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, but any other ideas for time fillers and non-threatening eating would be welcome.

Where to stay for one night in Honolulu?

retrorider — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:46:34 -0800

We need a decent but not expensive place to stay for one night in Honolulu. There are 4 of us; 3 adults and an 11 year old. Suggestions?

Where to stay in Lake Tahoe?

Inkoate — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:17:42 -0800

Looking for the best places to stay in Tahoe the first week in August. Our previous plans have had to be scrapped because of familial obligations, so this summer's vacation has unfortunately been forced domestic. Me and my better half are looking at a week doing Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

We think we have the Yosemite portion fairly well planned, but now we're looking for details on Tahoe. We're looking for the relaxing, read a book, maybe rent a boat for a day, quiet sitting on a beach approach. We're not looking for the spring break, keggers, frat boy aspect.

In general, which side of the Lake would we be best served in looking for a place to stay? Any suggestions of specific hotels, resorts, cabins or Bed & Breakfasts that you've enjoyed? What other things to see/do in Tahoe that we're missing out on?

Also, if you think Tahoe is just the wrong idea for this type of vacationing in this area, what other nearby locations can provide what we're looking for?

Cheap Vegas, again?

lizjohn — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:46:44 -0800

Cheap Vegas Filter: John and I plus a couple of random friends are heading to Vegas this month. We've been many times and we always have a lot of fun doing it on the cheap. However, we'd like to find new and exciting and/or hidden bargains. There's a bit I've read the previous askMefi thread on the topic, and I've also been to the websites such as Cheapovegas and the 10 ten list at The Las Vegas Advisor. We know about free slot play, gambling on the cheap, coupon books, $5 dollar steak at Ellis Island and most of the well known "secrets". I would love to hear any personal stories (good or bad) about experiences with other bargains in Vegas, including but not limited to: cheap food, cheap drinks and cheap/free entertainment. We're lucky to already have our room, but I still get a thrill reading about other people's success stories in finding great deals. (I'm kind of a thrify geek)

Along the same lines, I'd love to hear personal experiences with buffets. I don't mind spending money on buffets that have a good selection of interesting/high quality food (I mean, as far as Vegas buffets go). So far we've been to the Spice Market at the Old Aladdin, Carnival World Buffet at the Rio, Le Village Buffet at Paris and the Sunday Brunch at the Mirage. Any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your stories!

Give me ideas for things to do in NYC or NJ... I'm leaving tomorrow!

mhuckaba — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:43:04 -0800

Help me plan a trip to NJ/NYC... I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm visiting my cousins/aunt/uncle and staying in NJ near Princeton at their house. We're visiting NYC on Friday and Monday. For someone who is completely uninterested in art, museums, and has been to the statue/Ellis Island/Empire State Building, what is there that is really cool to see?

Branson, Branson, Branson

Vault13 — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:49:51 -0800

So. I'm going to be in Branson MO for a week. While I think I can find most anything interesting, how bad will it be? Lawrence Welk 24/7? Are there cool things I should be sure to see? Things to avoid?

hotel in san antonio for under $100

CrazyLemonade — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:18:35 -0800

I need a hotel (or motel) for under $100 for June 23-25 in San Antonio, Texas. I have browsed through lots of hotels on expedia, orbitz and the like, but I could really use some firsthand experience or reviews. I'm looking for something cheap, but preferably newish and clean, in a good area.

I *have* been to San Antonio before, but they're usually trips centered around shopping, and with my whole family. I only really know the area near the airport, and are not really sure about other areas. This time I'm going with my boyfriend and another couple, to a concert at the AT&T center, so closeness to the place could be good, but not a must.

If you'd like to throw in some suggestions of what we could do, apart from the concert and some shopping, I'd appreciate that.

Help us have a good time in Atlanta for a few days?

UnclePlayground — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:24:23 -0800

What can my wife do in Atlanta while I'm at the conference this weekend? We'll be downtown Atlanta, staying at the Hyatt from the 9th to the 13th. I'll be at a conference most of the day. What are some things my wife can do while I am away?
We won't have our own transportation, so things that are within walking distance of the hotel are essential. We're aware of MARTA and would possibly use that (how safe and efficient is it?). Any and all information pertaining to enriching a good time in that area for a few days is greatly welcomed.

3 Days of Peace and Quiet

kimdog — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:52:33 -0800

What to do in Woodstock, NY this weekend? Me and my sweetheart are making a last minute trip to Woodstock this weekend. Rental car from NYC, staying just off Tinker Rd this Friday through Sunday.

I've had a few recommendations from the friend who is loaning us his apartment, but I want a few more ideas.

Places to laze about on a blanket and enjoy nature: while we enjoy Central Park, we would love to get our dose of unstructured green. Also interested in easy hikes (less than 3 miles, not much climbing) and places where could get wet (wading and/or swimming).

What to do in town: places to eat, hang out, shop.

And I've heard something about a Buddhist Monastery?

Any other cool things to do in the area are appreciated.

Ocean City, NJ - Travel & Food

cajo — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:28:46 -0800

Traffic on the shore in Ocean City, NJ and food recommendations. Posting for a friend of mine:
Im traveling with my husband and seven month old to Ocean City, NJ from the western Philly burbs and were staying a couple of blocks from the boardwalk (on Central Avenue) for a week. I hate sitting in shore traffic so we were planning on taking 73 south to 322 E to some short stretches on back roads. Does this sound like a good way to avoid the traffic? Wed also love some food recommendations they dont have to be in Ocean City, although with a baby thats easiest. I havent spent any real time in OC since I was about fifteen, and all I remember is Mack and Mancos. We also need a dinner recommendation for Sea Isle City, somewhere where two couples can go with three kids under the age of five and eat crabs and something that is neither crabs nor shellfish. Any ideas (including anything else you might happen to love about OC) would be much appreciated!

Be my guide to Charlotte, NC

Terminal Verbosity — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:37:52 -0800

What's a family of four to do in Charlotte, NC? My wife and two kids (five and seven) will be in Charlotte from June 9-14. We're staying at the Westin on College and Stonewall and are logistically limited to places we can walk or take public transportation. So what is there to do in downtown Charlotte for kids and what is there to do for adults that accommodates children? Restaurants, museums, planetariums...all recommendations welcome. Is there anything going on that week specifically we should check out?

Also, I'm missing a large book festival in Chicago for this trip; are there any good used book stores in that area I can hit?

San Diego visitor tips for Seaworld area, and do we need a car?

LobsterMitten — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:30:17 -0800

Visiting San Diego this weekend: do we need a rental car, and is there anything secret and great near Seaworld that we should see? (esp. good coffeeshops for hanging around in?) We'll be going to and from the airport, to a hotel near SeaWorld, to Mission Beach, University of San Diego, and a Padres game. Can we reasonably do all this without a rental car (on buses or by taxi)? If we rent a car, are there any secrets to driving around those areas (eg routes to definitely avoid)? Are there good coffeeshops or book/comic/record stores near where we'll be? Great medium-price restaurants? Other must-sees for bookish types interested in architecture, old stuff, baseball?

River cruises and the little-known in Chicago.

the christopher hundreds — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:56:17 -0800

I'm looking for a gift for some new Chicagoans and think they would enjoy one of the river architecture tours. Is there any appreciable difference between the competing operators? Bonus points for any inexpensive (~$10 per person) and little known/unusual Chicago experiences I can bundle in to the gift. They've both visited the city many times and have done all of the major touristy things (like zoos, ballparks, the main museums, and elevator rides, though not an architecture cruise). What they haven't done are a lot of the things that only "real" Chicagoans would know about. I'd like to help fill some of their spare afternoons with some bits of Chicago you wouldn't get on a package tour. These extra things don't need to tie in to the cruise at all. And feel free to offer alternatives if you found the river cruises lame. Ultra-bonus points for proximity to Lincoln Park.

San Jose Bars

special-k — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:50:42 -0800

I need bar recommendations for San Jose. Ill be in San Jose this August for a big conference. My boss (i.e. department chair) has given me the task of finding a bar in downtown San Jose where we can have a mixer.
Requirements:
a) Bar has to be within walking distance of the convention center. Most people wont have rental cars (and Id rather not have them drive back after anyway).
b) On a scale of divey------------------chi chi, the bar has to be closer to the divey end. Were a bunch of grad students, post-docs and professors (liberal tree-hugging types). So a place with reasonably priced beer is what Im thinking.
c) A place where we can dance (#1 requirement for the boss). So music (live or not) would be great.
d) We dont necessarily want to party with locals (there will be 100+ of us) but some place where locals go would be nice too.

This will be on a weekday.

I found this site but it looks like it was written by the business bureau (hence the glowing recs)

Any of you locals got ideas?

First time to Boston

FLHunter3006 — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:53:09 -0800

Will be going to Boston on our 25th wedding aniversary, Thursday June 7th for 2.5 days, staying at the Westin Waterfront 425 Summer Street. Need your recommendations on: Best way to get from hotel to downtown (don't mind public transportation) Good local places to eat, seafood,italian,etc ( not formal, please) for lunch & dinner Interesting must do things,etc,etc This trip was sort of a last minute thing, and don't have too much time to research, so please HELP Thanks

Evening sightseeing/photography in Philadelphia?

roderashe — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:14:09 -0800

I will be traveling to Philadelphia in mid-July and would like to get some tips on sightseeing. The problem is that I will be training M-F 9-5pm so I'll have to do my tourist thing in the evening. Any great tips? I would like to spend most of the time taking photo's if that helps. I found the evening Segway tours - that looks fun!

What To Do in South Carolina?

Raybun — Wed, 30 May 2007 17:22:51 -0800

I and my SO have to travel to the Sun City, Hilton Head, Florence part of South Carolina. We have a two day block where the person who we are to visit has to attend a conference. Whats to do in this area? Not interested in golf or other sports.

Tips on Miloli'i, Big Island?

Mmothra — Wed, 30 May 2007 11:47:52 -0800

The SO and I have rented a house on the Big Island of Hawai'i in "the last authentic Hawaiian fishing village," Miloli'i in October. There is very little substantive info I can find on the web (it's mostly real estate listings). I know it is on the dry, lava side of the island and I know it is somewhat remote. Can anyone here who is familiar with this community and the area provide some tips? FYI and FWIW, we are not beach junkies but like hiking, traditional Hawaiian culture and "local color." Help?

Newport Noob

dnthomps — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:23:37 -0800

What to do in or around Newport Beach, CA with a budget of $1,000? My family and I will be going to Newport Beach, CA from June 9th - June 16th. We have living arrangements already setup, so we do not need to include this in the budget.

I want some ideas on where to eat, what to see, and what to do. My daughter is 4 years old, so we will be doing Disneyland, Knottsberry, and maybe the San Diego Zoo. My wife wants to go to the South Coast Plaza and check out the shopping. /bore/ I wanted to have some time at the beach, but from what I can tell, it will be too cold.

I need to know what else to do while we are up there. Any of the locals have any ideas for me?

Weekend in Chicago: how to find a few things

4midori — Sun, 27 May 2007 23:00:30 -0800

I'm going to Chicago in June for a weekend. Where should I go to find the following:

Cool neighborhood with coffee shops where I can get a copy of Illinois Entertainer and Chicago Reader
Best music equipment store in Chicago or northern suburbs (I'm staying in exciting Itasca)
Something unique and fun to do on a Sunday afternoon

Last Minute Outer Banks, NC Trip Planning

inigo2 — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:27:44 -0800

Outer Banks, NC: Heading down there for the week (yes, last minute travel-planning). Any suggestions on what to do while we're down there? Places to stop at on the way down there from DC? (Aside from the fact we'll be stopped on 95 the whole way down...) We're staying in a house in South Nags Head. Meals are pretty much taken care of, so I'm not looking for restaurants or bars or anything like that. More for a few things to check out for the days we don't hang at the beach. We're interested in science/nature stuff (national parks, the sand dunes, etc.), and we think we want to try hang gliding. Any specific place we should try to do that? Any other suggestions, or can't-miss type places?

Thanks!

Fun in F-burg?

arianell — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:10:46 -0800

Is there anything fun to do/see in Fredericksburg, VA on a Friday evening? I'm meeting a friend for dinner in Fredericksburg tomorrow. We'll probably eat somewhere downtown (restaurant recommendations would be great!) , but we're not sure what we should do afterwards. Is there anything in the area worth seeing after 7 PM? Historical sites, parks, shopping areas, movie theaters?