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If you’re traveling with a group there are a couple of advantages of taking them on an outing to a jail. Not only will most of them find it a fascinating experience, but you can also make plenty of (bad) jokes about how you’ll leave the troublemaker of the group there!
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If you’re group is traveling to Berlin, an absolute must-see is the home of the German parliament, the Reichstag building.
It’s an old building with new tricks. The Reichstag was reborn as the capitol building of the unified German government when the capitol was transferred from Bonn in 1999. It’s been renovated with a spectacular glass dome. This is a real highlight for any visitor, as you can walk up to the top and catch some great views of Berlin.
Since it’s such a popular attraction, there are often long queues of people lining up to visit the Reichstag. If your group arranges a prebooked tour, you can enter the Reichstag via a special entrance, and do either a normal tour of the building with some explanations, or special art and architecture tours. Groups must be between six and 25 people.
You can also sometimes attend sittings of parliament. There’s a restaurant on the roof-top terrace if you get hungry.
There are too many scenic parts of Australia to count, but one beautiful strip of coast west of Melbourne is known as the Great Ocean Road. Continue reading »
Ireland has become one of the top tourist destinations, thanks to its breathtaking scenery, cultural delights and ancient history. For a special trip that lets you spend more time at your favorite locations and less at ones that don’t suit your personal style, consider a self-drive tour through the Emerald Isle.
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Why not look abroad to Japan for your next family vacation? Taking the kids to somewhere different from home helps them be open-minded and will surely keep them interested, with unusual foods, buildings and customs to see and experience. For a first family trip to Japan, basing yourselves in Tokyo is definitely the easiest way to go. Here are a few family outings that will make a Tokyo family vacation one of the most memorable you can have: Continue reading »
Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district, festive and snowy atmosphere, and friendly people make it an ideal place to visit for the holidays. The “Windy City” also hosts a number of annual events to celebrate the season.
Lesser known than their Colorado cousins, Utah ski resorts quietly boast some of the best skiing mountains in the United States. Less crowded than the Colorado and New England resorts, Utah ski resorts get a huge blanket of powdery snow each season–an average of 500 inches–and offer some of the most challenging skiing in the country. Plus, shared outdoor activities and cozy lodges make for a romantic getaway or a fun family vacation. Among the most popular Utah resorts are: Continue reading »
For more than 20 years now, the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV has been hosting the Festival of Lights, a jolly way to kick off the holiday season, particularly if you live in the Pennsylvania/Ohio/West Virginia region.
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Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the hilly, central region of the country. Spain, generally, is more affordable than many European capitals. The large number of free attractions and events also help to keep down the cost of visiting this historic city. Continue reading »
If you’re looking to add some twists and turns to your typical Saturday afternoon, talk your friends into signing up for an off-road driving course at a Land Rover Experience Driving School. Continue reading »
Up for a tourist stop that will keep you talking? How about a ventriloquist museum? Continue reading »
If your group decides to visit Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, you’d better be prepared for arguments over which cultural spot to hit each day. Melbourne’s renowned as being multicultural and multifaceted, showing Australia’s melting pot to the full. Continue reading »
If you are planning a family vacation or family reunion, a great destination to consider is San Diego. It’s a terrific place for a family looking to see the sights, enjoy the beach, play golf or just relax and unwind. Continue reading »
Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is not generally known for its affordable prices. Yet the City of Lights offers a variety of free things to do. Perhaps the best free thing to do in Paris is to explore the compact city on foot. This planned city rewards sightseers at every corner with a new vista or spectacular building. In addition, here is a sampling of the free things to do in Paris: Continue reading »
With the presidential election in full swing, people are more interested than usual in what is going on with their country. And that goes for the country’s past as well. This makes it a perfect time to go on a group trip which touches on some of that history. Continue reading »
While thousands of Canadians and residents in the northeastern United States are heading to the warm weather of Florida and the Caribbean, many people in the know flock to Quebec City in Januaryfor the Winter Carnival. Continue reading »
If you are planning a group adventure, consider the option of going with Carnival Cruise Lines. On the Carnival Cruise website, you can contact a representative that specializes in forming packages specifically for groups. The group rates are much less expensive than individual rates and can sometimes have added perks that you can’t otherwise get. Continue reading »
If you’re traveling to Costa Rica, make it a point to visit Manuel Antonio National Park at some point during your vacation. Located 100 miles south of San Jose, it’s ideally situated between the beach and the rain forest and offers a host of recreational activities including sportfishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sea kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding or just relaxing on white-sand beaches.
In other words, you’re sure to find something that will appeal to everyone in your group.
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Have you ever wanted to visit Africa but couldn’t find anyone to go with you? Safaris4Singles.com offers tours to the dark continent for a group rate. Continue reading »
Memphis, located in eastern Tennessee along the Mississippi River, is home to Elvis and the Blues. It’s also filled with historic buildings, art galleries and a surprising number of free attractions. Below is a sampling. Continue reading »
Any group going to London has conflicting goals: Someone wants to haunt the royal spots like Buckingham Palace and watch the Changing of the Guard, another wants to hang out with wax figures at Madame Tussauds and another group member really wants to get arty at the Tate Gallery. How can you satisfy the tastes of everybody? Continue reading »
Have you always dreamt of a villa vacation? Perhaps you were inspired by Under the Tuscan Sun when Diane Lane’s character picks up and begins a new life in Italy. The weak dollar makes Tuscany or anywhere else in Europe a bit out of this world for many, but there are plenty of more reasonable possibilities available in Mexico. Continue reading »
You’ll need at least three months of lead time if you’re planning a group trip to Las Vegas. Continue reading »
The “City by the Bay” has a number of appealing aspects. The weather is temperate; the culture diverse; and the food always enjoyable. San Francisco also offers a wide range of free activities. Here are a few: Continue reading »
The Staten Island Ferry, which connects lower Manhattan with the borough of Staten Island, is one of the best free things to do in New York City. The ferry makes its 5.2-mile, 25-minute run from Manhattan’s Whitehall Ferry Terminal to Staten Island’s St. George Terminal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Continue reading »
One of the most famous reminders of the Berlin Wall is the border crossing known as Checkpoint Charlie. It doesn’t exist any more, of course, but the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie located near the original site of the crossing is a great place to learn about what went on in Berlin during those difficult times. Continue reading »
If you’re looking for a different kind of vacation, try volunteering. Habitat for Humanity offers vacationers a host of options. Continue reading »
Money magazine named Middleton, Wisconsin the number one place to live in the United States, but what is it about this town that earns it such high praise? Money cites economic opportunities, the quality of the schools, safety, the proximity to the state capitol and the amount of green space. Continue reading »
The Louvre, probably the world’s most famous museum, is home to 35,000 artworks from all over the world and from every era in history. But if you’re going with a group, you’ll need to plan in advance. Following are some points to consider. Continue reading »
We’re always looking for a great travel deal: One that allows us to see the most beautiful parts of the world, wash down exotic flavors with delicious local drinks, and enjoy local culture without lightening our wallet too much. Sometimes this seems a tall order to fill, but if you plan it right, you can have an amazing vacation without cleaning out your bank account. Continue reading »
San Francisco is a great place for a weekend with the girls. Here are a few tips for enjoying a girls’ getaway in San Francisco: Continue reading »
Prices are going up at all of the country’s national parks. The plan is to raise the rates of all national park entrance fees to a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $25 over the next several years. After that, rate increases at each park should be expected every few years in accordance with inflation. Continue reading »
Between the Black Hills and the Badlands, South Dakota offers travelers unparalleled views and a variety of outdoor activities. But, wait, there’s more. Continue reading »
Germany’s “Castle Road” stretches 585 miles across southern Germany and the Czech Republic, from Mannheim, Germany to Prague. Along the way, there are 70 castles and a variety of Medieval cities and fortresses to explore. Continue reading »
Disneyland, the original theme park in Anaheim, California, is always festive and entertaining, but during October, the park dresses itself up in Halloween and Fall finery, to spectacular effect. There are pumpkins galore, costumes, special events, and Halloween surprises and treats. Continue reading »
How about a vacation destination of a lifetime? If you’ve ever wanted to zip around a racetrack on a Porsche then the Porsche Sport Driving School is a vacation must. Continue reading »
The Palace of Versailles, the official residence of the kings of France from 1682 to1790, is the most popular tourist destination outside of France. But groups of 30 more more must make arrangements in writing at least four months in advance before visiting.
The Getty Center offers a guaranteed good time for groups visiting Los Angeles. Not only is admission free, but the Getty caters to a range of interests: From paintings to architecture to gardens. Continue reading »
In a city with dozens of sensational attractions, New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art stands apart. Home to one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive art collections, the museum houses more than 2 million objects, spanning over 2,000 years of history and covering virtually every corner of the globe. Continue reading »
Amsterdam is a wonderful, welcoming place for women to visit thanks to the Dutch belief in women’s independence and the fact that English is spoken everywhere. Continue reading »
If you absolutely love theme parks and you also love the thrill of being safely terrified, you should probably start planning now to make it out to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. Continue reading »
Men with a need for speed will enjoy the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The excursions are available to groups across the country, with 20 different tracks to choose from: in California, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas and more. There are a variety of options on offer: Visitors can sit shotgun in a two-seat stock car or drive a NASCAR-style racer themselves. Continue reading »
The crisp snap of autumn in the air draws many hearts to the gridiron. If you’ve got a group of football fans then the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a must-see destination. Continue reading »
Maine’s Acadia National Park was the first national park east of the Mississippi. Established in 1916, the 47,000+-acre park encompasses all of Mount Desert Island and some of the mainland, just outside of Bar Harbor. The topography ranges from mountains, to meadow, to white sand beaches. It’s beautiful any time of year, but the park sparkles in the fall when the leaves change to red, yellow, and orange.
One of the advantages to visiting Washington D.C. with a group, aside from being able to share the experience with your friends, is that you are able to apply for a visit to the White House. Groups of ten or more qualify to take a guided tour of many of the state rooms at the executive mansion.
Farmers’ markets have been growing in popularity throughout the United States over the past few years. This is because we are increasingly aware of the importance of organic farming, eating local foods, and supporting small artists and craft makers. We are also increasingly interested in developing a sense of community in our areas. But farmers’ markets aren’t a new thing. The Pike Place Market, one of Seattle’s biggest tourist destinations and the country’s longest-running farmers’ market, was set up 100 years ago. It is a destination which offers a great amount of history to visitors while also introducing them to the local community.
There are more than 45 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry. This combined with the ease of traveling in Ireland, the lack of a language barrier and the abundance of choices of travel packages has made this small island a favorite destination.
Ireland is only 350 miles long and 200 miles wide. This makes it possible to see a great deal of this lovely country in a relatively short period of time. But don’t be tempted to “see it all” in one trip. Rushing through a country as varied and special as Ireland would be a terrible mistake.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are the embodiment of America’s field of dreams and a visit here can be a very special experience in the celebration of your American roots. Your visit here is all what you make it, whether it’s an hour or the whole day. The American Family Immigration History Center is the focal point of Ellis Island, and how amazing would it be to view immigration manifests of your ancestors or Bob Hope or Max Factor? This amazing database contains the records of some 25 million immigrants to the US. The Statue of Liberty is equally amazing and worthy of some attention. Reservations are not required to visit the Statue of Liberty, however if you plan on entering the monument itself, you will need a “Time Pass, which can be arranged in advance over the phone or online at www.statuecruises.com. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of 9/11, the crown is closed off to the public and it’s not possible to climb up there anymore since an immediate evacuation isn’t possible on an emergency basis. Nonetheless, the promenade offers a splendid view of the New York harbor and Lady Liberty herself. Here we’ve thought all of these years that the French didn’t like us!
Not only is it a National Historic Landmark, a visit to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago is quite simply a great day out. It’s one of the oldest planetariums still existing today and the only museum of any kind in the world to have two full-size planetarium theaters - you know, those dazzling, neck-craning ceilings full of even more than the sky usually seems to hold. The second theater is used to take you beyond the night sky and into the depths of outer space.
Austin, Texas is an incredibly diverse city in the heart of Texas, catering to the likes of almost everyone that steps foot within it borders. If you’re planning a group trip to this unique Texan city, be forewarned: the only problem you’re likely to encounter is finding enough time to squeeze into your schedule all the activities that your group has planned.
Athens is one of those cities that is fascinating on multiple levels. History lovers could spend a lifetime in the Greek captial and not see everything. Remnants from Ancient Greece, some remarkably well-preserved, stand next to Byzantine chapels, alongside a row of 19th century colonial buildings. The Greeks themselves take their past in stride, bustling past these wonders, with the nonchalance of ones who see history every day.
Dining in Athens
Then there’s the dining. Like Paris, but on a different scale, it’s all but impossible to get a bad meal in Athens. The traditional dishes are simply prepared–grilled or baked–and the produce is colorful and just off the vines. From a lively taverna in the Plaka to a seaside eatery along the Aegean in Pireaus, the food is delicious.
Outside of Athens
Athens is also a great starting point for exploring the interior of Greece–places like Delphi and Olympia–or the dozens of sun-filled Greeks islands, each with its personality, such as Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini.
Traveling to Athens
Roundtrip airfare to Athens starts around $800 from New York City. Once in the city, you’ll find hotels, restaurants, and transportation much less expensive than in other European capitals.
(photo credit: Flickr user: R Polls/cc license)
For those looking for a vacation with a little more culture then how about a trip to the City of Culture? Barcelona, Spain is one of the most vibrant cities in the world with incredible architecture by Antoni Gaudi punctuated by the flowing beat of flamenco music and dancers.
The most popular stop in Barcelona is a magnificent temple designed by the master, Gaudi, himself. La Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and it still has at least another 30 years to go.
If you’re looking to experience Spanish culture throughout the ages then the Spanish Village or Poble Espanyol de Montjuic is a must-see. This small Spanish village contains different quarters, which depict different style of architecture throughout Spain. There are also several shops for tourists to pick up a souvenir or two. In addition, the Spanish Village hosts the famous Flamenco show at tablao de Carmen.
No trip to Barcelona is complete without a visit to Museu Picasso. This art museum hosts over a million guests a year and features one of the largest collections of Picasso’s artwork. The artist’s life unfolds before visitors in a chronological fashion, making it one of the most enlightening tours through Picasso’s life.
Many different group discounts are available for tourists interested in Barcelona, Spain; contact your travel agent to find the right discount to suit your particular group’s needs.
As the diverse and richly-cultured capital city of England and the United Kingdom, London is a fantastic destination for groups. Filled with sites like London Tower, the famed London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and so much more, London is large enough to cater to groups but intimate enough to welcome you like a long-lost relative.
Groups as large as 25 will be comfortable in London, able to travel en masse, be accommodated in some of the cities coziest (or “cosiest,” if you’d like to do it London style!) inns and hotels, and can easily pile on the city’s fantastic underground to visit the best attractions.
History buffs will want to spend time at places like Westminster Abbey, one of the kingdom’s finest examples of Gothic architecture. Politics lovers will scramble to visit the iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, aka the Palace of Westminster, home to Britain’s House of Commons and House of Lords. Romantics will get nostalgic at St. Paul’s Cathedral, famous site of Prince Charles and Diana’s beautiful wedding. And when the group is up for a little down time, the giant ferris wheel-esque London Eye will give you a bird’s eye view of London during your 30-minute ride.
London offers a little (or a lot of) something for everyone, making it perfect for your next destination. When you’re booking hotels, make sure to ask for group discounts and when making your restaurant reservations, don’t forget to emphasize the size of your group.
If you and your friends are spending some time in Paris and the hustle and bustle of city living is getting to be a bit much, then a day trip to Versailles might be in order. Besides Euro Disneyland, Versailles is one of the most popular destinations outside of Paris for tourists. If you are traveling with a group of 30 or more, you will need to make your travel arrangements 4 months in advance and they should be made in writing.
These days, a trip to the beautiful Australian city of Sydney is not complete until your group has joined forces to conquer the Bridge Climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This exciting “soft adventure” activity involves suiting up in a special BridgeSuit, hooking up to some communications equipment and then climbing up through the structure of one of the world’s most famous bridges to reach the top and get the most incredible views of Sydney, along with a special feeling of achievement. Along the way your guide will give you a commentary of Sydney’s sights and history, and the climb leaders are also specially trained to help any of your group members who might suffer from a fear of heights.
Bridge Climb is now open seven days a week between around 7.30 in the morning and 8.30 at night, and your total climbing experience will take around three and a half hours. Climbs operate with groups of 12 people; if your group has ten members or fewer, you can book online in the regular way, but for larger groups you’ll have to make special inquiries. When you reach the top, a group photograph is always taken, and it makes a great take-home souvenir to see your group literally on top of Sydney.
Most people who take group tours to Ireland either head to a major destination (such as Dublin) or they plan their full-country tours around a specific type of sight (such as Irish pubs!) Ireland’s a great place and there’s no wrong way to see it but you might be better served by taking your group on a more unique vacation in Ireland. Western Ireland is a great group travel destination because it offers you a range of different sites and plenty of the great Irish culture while keeping you somewhat off-the-beaten path enough to make it affordable.
The winery tour at Robert Mondavi is consistently ranked the best among connoisseurs and tourists alike. Located in the heart of Napa in the quaint village of Oakville, Robert Mondavi Winery offers a variety of different tours with an effort to educate your wine palate. The To Kalon Tour and Tasting is quite popular, and the 75-minute tour shows you the full cycle process of wine making. The tour starts out in the vineyards where the grapes are harvested and continues to the cellars where the grapes are fermented to the bottling process. “A Guided Tasting” is another popular tour where a wine educator demonstrates the basics of wine tasting. Perhaps you think people are just being pompous by swirling the wine around the glass, but the reason for doing this is explained in the class, and they also go into discerning wine labels and describing wines. In addition to the tours, there are 2 tasting areas set up in the winery with a shop featuring the Robert Mondavi Wines and wine themed accessories. Robert Mondavi is located on Highway 29 in Oakville, the heart of Napa and is open daily from 10am to 5pm (closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.) For more information on Robert Mondavi wines, visit www.robertmondaviwinery.com.
The Alamo, located in the heart of San Antonio Texas, is one of the most popular of the city’s attractions. Originally named the Mission San Antonio de Valero, one of several 18th century Spanish missions in the area, the Alamo (along with four other San Antonio missions) were deeded to the area’s Native American residents in the late 18th century.
The Grand Canyon is one of those few things on earth that you just can’t fully appreciate from pictures. The enormity and the beauty of the Canyon has to be experienced in person. Luckily, the National Park Service makes it easy to groups to visit the Grand Canyon and enjoy its many wonders in a number of ways.
Every year, in September, divers and snorkelers flock to the Florida Keys to witness some sex on the reef, or the spawning of North America’s only living coral barrier reef. The reef breeds by an evolutionary method called broadcast spawning. Egg and sperm are ejected into the water and unite in the salty sea. There they form a planula, which is actually a larval form of coral. The planula swims or floats to the surface and then continues to ride the waves and grow for anywhere between two days to two months. Once it’s large enough the planula sinks to the bottom of the ocean and grows into a polyp where it continues growing and developing more polyps until it becomes a coral head. These bursts of spawning seem directly linked to astronomy as the late August full moon signals the frenetic breeding. Approximately three to five days after the full moon and two hours after sunset the branching corals begin mating. Star and boulder corals wait until about a week after the full moon and three hours after sunset. There is no guarantee that you’ll be able to catch sex on the reef but generally the local dive shops can narrow the window to about five days and many of them offer evening excursions for voyeuristic tourists.
The San Francisco Zoo is a terrific place to take a group. Any zoo is a great group outing because it’s fun for all ages and generally comes along with a built-in group discount. But the San Francisco Zoo is particularly great because of the variety of animals it has, the different interactive activities that happen there and the fact that the weather in the area is frequently good enough to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, the San Francisco Zoo is located right next to the ocean so there’s a free place to enjoy picnicking and other outdoor fun with your group either before or after the trip.
The Bronx Zoo in New York is the largest metropolitan zoo in the country, so you need to plan a full day to be able to get to everything that you really want to see. There are over 4000 animals so this really might not be easy! The thing I like about the Bronx Zoo is it was a bit of a pioneer in taking animals out of nasty steel cages and creating enclosures that better mimic the natural environment. Since then, many zoos around the world have followed suit, and that’s a great thing for these animals.
Niagara Falls is one of those rare tourist attractions that lands between two countries, the United States and Canada. It helps that this attraction is one of Mother Nature’s great beauties and not a typical theme park. Just about 12,000 years ago ice retreated from much of Canada and the Northern United States. The receding ice dug gouges and troughs through the earth and left the Great Lakes in its wake. Currently, the Falls straddle the Canadian/U.S. International Border and reside in both the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. Initially the Falls were about seven miles downstream from their current location and were eroding at approximately 3 feet a year until the 1950s, at which time some major water diversions were established which greatly slowed the progressions of the falls. There are basically three sets of falls but they are further categorized into the U.S. Falls and the Canadian Falls. The Canadian Falls are referred to as the Horseshoe Falls and are approximately 170 feet high. The depth of the river at the base of Horseshoe Falls is actually deeper than the falls themselves, coming in at an amazing 184 feet. A recent United States Geological Survey actually places about a third of the Canadian Falls in U.S. territory. The U.S. side consists of both the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The American Falls are slightly higher than their Canadian counterpart, reaching up to 180 feet. But the water diversions have lessened the amount of water that cascades over this section of Niagara. It’s estimated that only about 10% of total water flow falls over the American side. If you’ve ever heard tales about daredevils riding in barrels over falls it has happened, but only on the Canadian side, the American Falls do not have enough water flow and dangerous rocks line the bottom.
San Francisco is an impressive city with so much to do that you can be overwhelmed if you’re trying to figure out what to do with your group. For that reason, it’s a great city for taking organized group tours. These tours give you a chance to see all that San Francisco offers without having to do excessive planning about how you’re going to see it all.
Here are some of the group tours that you might want to check out for a trip to San Francisco:
• 5 Hour Shuttle Tour – Groups that want to try to hit all major tourist destinations in one day should take this tour.
• Bike the Golden Gate Bridge. This one isn’t actually a guided tour but it’s a standard planned route. You rent bikes at Fisherman’s Wharf from any of the available stands and then the group can bike across the bridge together.
• Ghost tours. There are two different ghost tours (as well as a vampire tour) in San Francisco. These show you haunted spots in the city but they also give you lots of information about the history of the area. They run regularly and offer group discounts.
• SF Heritage Walking Tours – A variety of guided walking tours are available to learn the history of the area.
• Stroll San Francisco - These are audio guided tours that you can download on to your mp3 player. Great for groups that need to stick to their own schedule.
• Victorian Home Walk – Travelers who love the Victorian architecture that the homes of San Francisco are known for will like what they see on this walking tour.
San Francisco is one of the few cities where it really is better to take advantage of the available group tours than to try to make plans with your group yourself. The tour guide can provide you with historical information, restaurant recommendations and insider tips about how to best see San Francisco. And if your group is big enough, you can probably get a discount on everything!
San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has a long history of encouraging and displaying 20th century art. In fact, the museum, founded in 1935, was the first west coast museum to be devoted solely to that period.
About the Museum
Since 1995, SFMOMA has been located in the city’s “South of Market” (SOMA) district in a dramatic building designed by Mario Botto. Highlights of the museum’s collection include works by Paul Klee, Ansel Adams, Jackson Pollack, and Marcel DuChamp.
Temporary Exhibits
The museum augments its permanent collection with regular traveling exhibits. Recent shows have included “Matisse: Painter as Sculptor” and “The Surreal Calder.”
Hours and Admission
SFMOMA is open Thursdays through Tuesdays, except for New Years Day, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The museum is open late on Thursdays and closed on Wednesdays. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $8 for those 62 and older, and $7 for students with ID. The museum is half price on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 9pm and free to all on the first Tuesday of the month.
SFMOMA is located at 151 Third Street in San Francisco, between Mission and Howard Streets. The museum is adjacent to the Yerba Buena Garden cultural center.
(photo credit: Flickr user: Sp8254/cc license)
The mission of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, “To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life.” is actually a very lofty goal but one the facility accomplishes with great vim and vigor.
Established in 1859 the Missouri Botanical Gardens are a National Historical Landmark and a must-see if you’re traveling in the area. Amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown St. Louis, this is 79-acre wonderland feels like a magical world.
Founder Henry Shaw’s 1850 estate, Tower Grove House, underwent a 2-year, $1 million restoration and reopened to the public in 2005. The Italianate-style home is surrounded by reflecting pools and stately sculptures, not to mention the delicate blossoms and sometime riotous blooms that decorate the grounds.
The 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, Seiwa-en, is the largest traditional Japanese Garden in North America and embraces a beautiful 4.5-acre lake. Using the ideas and principals of Zen Buddhist monks, the garden encourages visitors to slow down, contemplate and observe. Traditional Japanese aesthetic principals wind through and around the garden, intertwining beautifully with each other. Another delightful feature of the Gardens is the Climatron Conservatory, which brings an actual rainforest to the center of St. Louis. The native animals run (and fly) wild through the Conservatory and may grace visitors with a brief glimpse as they carom about, darting behind waterfalls, playing in the native hut and racing through lush foliage. St. Louis may not seem like the ultimate get away but a visit to the Missouri Botanical Gardens is sure to enrich your life.
Would you be interested in taking your group to a dynamic museum where history comes alive? If so, The Field Museum in Chicago could be a great destination for you. First opened over 100 years ago, The Field Museum itself is a historical landmark. Featuring exhibits related to archaeology, art and science, it also explores various aspects of history in a fun setting where people of any age can have a great learning experience. Continue reading »
2 years and $109 million later, the renovation of the Liberty Science Museum is now complete, and it’s open to the public. Located in Jersey City, NJ, the Liberty Science Museums has added 100,000 square feet of exhibit space to the science museum as well as the nation’s largest IMAX Dome Theater. The goal in mind was to reshape how people interpret science museums. The museum is changing gears from focusing on the past to highlight the effects of modern day living impact the scientific world. Continue reading »
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a great destination for a group excursion, whether you’re taking a bunch of kids, a group of colleagues or just a large gang of your friends. Who can resist seeing a cuddly koala, the chimpanzees or those fascinating zebras? But for those with different tastes, there’s always the Madagascan hissing cockroach, the desert tarantula or the Chinese alligator.
The Hayden Planetarium, located in New York City’s Central Park West, adjacent to the American Museum of Natural History is a fun and educational destination for visitors of all ages.
The Building
The building, completed in 2000, is a dome inside a glass cube. The upper half of the dome houses the Star Theater, a facility that uses full dome video technology to project “Space Shows.” The bottom half of the dome is home to the Big Bang Theater, which features a continuously running four-minute film about the birth of the universe.
Exhibits
Additional exhibits at the Planetarium include “Sonic Vision,” an exhibit that illustrates visual images created by the sound waves generated by your favorite pop songs.
Hours and Admission
The Hayden Planetarium is open every day, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, from 10am to 545pm. Admission, which includes entance to the American Museum of Natural History next door, is $15 for adults, $11 for students and seniors, and $8.50 for those under 12. The “Space Shows” carry an additional admission charge.
The Hayden Planetarium is located at Central Park West at W. 79th Street in New York City. For more information, see the Planetarium’s Web site.
(photo credit: Flickr user: Mr. V/cc license)
When you’re planning a group trip, you have to take into consideration the likes and dislikes of your travel companions. This can be a difficult task, largely depending on the size and type of group with which you are traveling. Pleasing everyone hardly seems possible. To this I say, “Consider Maine.”
One of the most naturally beautiful states in our country, Maine offers nearly everything a visitor could want. Miles and miles of beautiful coastline can be just steps from your front door, catering to shellers, boaters, crabbers, and those that simply like to sightsee. There’s bound to be an activity or two to please every member of your group, no matter how picky they may be. Continue reading »
A group trip to The Alamo can be a terrific experience. It’s a place where all ages can enjoy an experience steeped in the history of Old West. And it’s located right in San Antonio, a city that has something to offer to everyone. You’ll probably want to take your trip to The Alamo during the spring or fall since these are the most moderate seasons in the area in terms of temperature, but The Alamo is a place that can be visited all year round. Continue reading »
What’s more fascinating that a secret city underneath the real city? To visitors of Montreal almost nothing, but to natives the almost 20 miles of subterranean metropolis is second nature.
There’s just a little over a month left for regular season baseball, but that’s still plenty of time to reward your little league team or bowling league with an afternoon out at the ballpark. Many major league teams offer special rates and attractive perks for groups attending a game. To make the most of your outing, consider the following:
1. Plan ahead. Yes, it’s August, but even a few weeks advance planning can make your event go more smoothly. Plus, giving the participants a little notice will help increase your turn-out. Some ball clubs require five to seven days notice in order to qualify for a group discount.
2. Check with the team’s group or event office. Most major and minor league teams offer discounts and other perks to groups, usually starting at 20 to 25 members. For instance, Yankee Stadium offers discounts for groups with as few as 20 members plus free tickets based on the size of the group for weekday games. Most group policies are outlined on the individual team Web sites.
3. Don’t forget the Minor Leagues. AA and AAA teams can offer a fun — and affordable — alternative to big league prices. For instance, the Akron Aeros, the AA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians offers $6 tickets for group events with a minimum number of 25 participants. That compares to $10 to $85 at the Cleveland Indians’ Jacob’s Field (pictured above). Plus, your group will be mentioned on the Aeros scoreboard. Attending a AAA or AA game is also a great way to see young ball players before they make it big.
4. Enjoy. Win or lose, few things beat watching a fall ball game with your friends.
(photo of Cleveland’s Jacob’s Field; credit: Ohio Dept. of Travel and Tourism)
Since 1956, the Washington National Opera has been dazzling locals and DC visitors alike. And one of the world’s most famous opera singers, Placido Domingo, has been the General Director of the WNO for over ten years, which seems to lend it a greater chunk of credibility.
So why not take your DC group trip out for a night at the opera? With shows like La Bohème, Don Giovanni and Rigoletto programmed for the coming season, there are plenty of chances to make a fantastic evening of it and bring a bit of a spark to your group’s time in the capital.
The key to planning a Washington National Opera night with your group is to plan ahead. They consider a group to be a minimum of 10 people, if you attend on one of their designated “group priority nights”, or at other times a group is considered to be 25 or more people.
The usual deal is $10 off the cost of each ticket, and a further tip is to try to plan your outing for a weeknight. On these days, you can usually pay even less for a ticket, as well as getting better seats for your group. There are other benefits available for groups, including special costume studio tours and various lectures put on by the company.
A day trip to the Napa/Sonoma region is a popular choice for Bay Area residents and most tourists that visit San Francisco. The wine industry is big business in California; in fact it represents more than $50 billion in revenue for the state and $125 billion in revenue for the nation. With that being said, there are hundreds of wineries in the Napa/Sonoma region so choosing a winery for a group outing can be an overwhelming decision.
If you’re an art buff, looking for a reason to take off to Los Angeles then I’ve got your answer. LA is full of every art genre imaginable. All modern and visually splendid – here are two of my absolute favorite Los Angeles art hot spots:
Unlike American Ski resorts, which are generally large and filled with new hotels and condos, European ski resorts tend to be small villages at the base of mountains, with inns and guest houses as their primary accommodations. Most of them are older than their American cousins and offer more history and, dare I say, charm.
One of the best ways to enjoy a ski trip to Europe is to book one of the many group tours. Not only are these trips more affordable, but you’ll be traveling with other ski enthusiasts. Most tours have a guide available for hints on restaurants, ski trails, and sightseeing as well as to help with any mishap or communication problem. Among the best of the companies offering ski tours to Europe are:
Whether you’re headed to the chic slopes of St. Moritz, Kitzbuehl, or Davos or prefer the more casual skiing at Chamonix or Grindenwald, you’re sure to find European skiing a once in a lifetime experience.
(photo credit: istockphoto)
You’ve done the hard part already. You’ve gotten your group together and settled on a destination – Myrtle Beach. And you’ve even picked your main activity – golf. But there’s still a lot of planning left to do before it’s tee time on the South Carolina coast. You need to pick your golf courses, find accommodations and get everyone packed and ready to go.
Want to take your baseball or softball team on the most perfect trip ever? Then get them along to Pennsylvania for a visit to the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum in South Williamsport. It traces the history and excitement of the Little League since it began back in 1939. Continue reading »