Things to do in Chicago in the Fall
November 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Chicago, Illinois is a great city to visit, especially in the fall when the weather becomes cooler and the air is refreshing. With the Chicago Theatre, the Field Museum, Millennium Park, the Willis/Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, and dozens of museums, there are plenty of places to go in Chicago.
If you are looking for events and festivals happening this fall, Chicago has much to offer.
Double Decker Bus Tours:
On a cool Chicago day there is nothing like a double decker bus tour to see the city. With both open air seating on the second floor, and covered seating on the first, a double decker bus tour is a great way to see the city and learns about its history and local attractions.
Visit the Shedd Aquarium:
Periodically in the fall, the Shedd Aquarium will offer free general admission to the aquarium. The Shedd Aquarium contains over 25,000 fish and has exhibits such as Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, the Oceanarium and Wild Reef. This aquarium also has a Polar Play Zone for children and Fantasea, their new aquatic show.
First Thursdays:
Visit Chicago’s galleries in the River North, the West Loop, and the Fulton Market neighborhoods on the first Thursday of every month until December 3rd. The art galleries stay open until 7pm and offer refreshments. The event is free and details can be found on the Art Dealers Association of Chicago’s website.
Sleepy Hollow Show:
Spend an afternoon at the Morton Arboretum watching scenes from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Washington Irving’s tale of the headless horsemen. The outdoor show occurs each Saturday and Sunday at 3pm until November 1st. Tickets are $15-$25 and a great way to enjoy Chicago’s fall air. Remember to bring a lawn chair or a blanket in case it gets chilly.
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade:
If you are visiting Chicago on November 21st, be sure to attend the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade. If you’re staying at a Magnificent Mile hotel, you’re in luck! The parade is on Michigan Avenue and goes from Oak Street to the Chicago River. It starts at 6pm with Mickey Mouse and his friends leading the parade.
Maxwell Street Market:
Every Sunday from 7am to 3pm, the Maxwell Street Market on Desplaines Street and Roosevelt Road is a great place to buy odds and ends. The open-air flea market has more than 500 vendors selling produce, authentic meals, household goods, jewelry, and CDs. Maxwell Street has been called “The Ellis Island of the Midwest” because it was a destination for immigrants from the 1880s to the 1980s.
Daley Plaza Santa’s House:
If you have children and you love Christmas, take them to visit Santa at the Daley Plaza Santa’s House. From November 24th to December 24th, children can visit Santa from 11am to 8pm. Admission is free and children can take pictures Jolly Old St. Nick.
Chicago is a large metropolitan area with many museums, historic landmarks, and art performances. This city has festivals and shows held each day of the week. Before taking a trip, search online to find special events happening during your stay. While you’re searching you might want to also do a search for Chicago hotel packages.
As you can see there is a lot to do in the fall. Pack your bags, reserve your Chicago boutique hotel room and get ready to explore the Windy City!
Norma Berry is an expert on the downtown Chicago hotel industry, including Chicago boutique hotels and pricing for hotel reservations in Chicago.
To Get to Key West, Start in Key Largo and You’ll Get There, Eventually
November 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I have lived in Florida over half my life and one place I’ll never get tired of visiting is the Keys. When I first moved down here and heard the word “Key” I had no Idea what that meant or what that was. I found out a “Key” is a derivative of the Spanish word Cayo, which means Small Island. The Florida Keys are a chain of small islands that begin about 15 miles south of Miami; the main chain swoops south-southwest for about another 120 miles or so over the highway. The Keys divide the Atlantic Ocean on their east from the Gulf of Mexico on their west, not a bad spot to be in. At the southern most tip, Key West, we are only about 90 miles from Cuba which has added its flavor and influence to the Keys.
The Florida Keys are made up of a cluster of over 1700 islands in all, some of the main ones being Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and of course Key West. The Dry Tortugas are islands just off Key West but are uninhabited except for the tours and day trips over to them.
Key Largo is considered the first key; it’s a great place to snorkel and camp and is known as the Diving Capital of the World” whether that is true or not the people who live, work and run the diving shops in the area would like to believe it and have us believe it too. Key Largo is also the home of John Pennekamp State Park which was the first underwater park in the U.S. and has the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S.
Islamorada is next down the highway and is itself is made up of 6 different islands, it is known for great fishing both in the ocean and in the flats around the island. They have this great little place there called Robbies Marina that’s kind of famous as a place to feed the Keys favorite local fish the Tarpon. Many people from all over also come down to swim with the dolphins here, there are several places in Islamorada to do this.
Next is Marathon, it’s known to be a great place for diving, snorkeling and spearfishing, they also have an open lobster season during the year. Marathon has several dolphin research centers that the public are welcome to tour, Islamormarda has one as well. Marathon holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I first fell in love with the Keys. The summer after high school a friends parents had a condo in Marathon and we went down to join them for the week. What a week it was, I’d never had so much fun. They had been going there for several years and had made friends so when we got there we already had a gang to hang out with. We played on the beach, got in the pool, hung out in the hot tub and of course, drank. The water was so blue, the breeze so warm and the palm tress all over made it look like a moving postcard. I’d just moved form Atlanta a few years before so I hadn’t seen anything like this – ever. I never wanted to leave but, alas, the week ended and we had to go, but I vowed I’d be back and I have been many times.
Big Pine Key follows Marathon and is considered the start of the lower keys and near where you end up off the famous Seven Mile Bridge. The Seven Mile Bridge is something else; it’s been featured in several movies including ‘True Lies’ that starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. There’s a certain feeling that washes over you as you’re driving over Seven Mile Bridge, it’s like the world melts away, if you’ve already been to the Keys then you know what I’m talking about. Big Pine Key is a great place to just relax; it’s quieter and more unspoiled than some of the other Keys. It’s a great place to get back to nature, take a trail by land or water, or just sit and be still. The National Key Deer Refuge is on Big Pine Key. The Key Deer are the smallest of the white-tailed deer and are federally protected because they are endanger of extinction, there are only about 700 in the herd. They are so tiny, cute and sweet you just want to cuddle one, but you can’t.
Then there’s Key West, what can I say? I’ve been to Bourbon Street in New Orleans and I can honestly say that Duval Street in Key West rivals it for fun, fantasy and people watching. Home of the world famous “Duval Crawl”, the ORIGINAL pub crawl, Duval Street starts to party with the setting of the sun. Seriously, the city goes out to Mallory Square to watch the spectacular sun set, street performers and the fantastic boats in the water. There are several great places to eat at Mallory Square, local vendors line the boardwalk selling their arts and crafts and in the air there’s just a general sense of fun. Key West is a great place to get married too. I got married in a garden there by a great little guy who called himself “Admiral” and in his younger days looked just like Sonny Bono. What a great place.
If you asked me where in the world I’d like to go and know for certain I was going to have a good time, I’d have to ask to be dropped off in Key West or hey, anywhere in the Keys would be good, I’d make it to Key West, eventually.
Whether its diving and snorkeling in Key Largo or fishing in Islamorada plus all the things to do in Key West, you’ll find warm tropical breezes and calm seas all year long. The Florida Keys is America’s only tropical vacation paradise.
Things to do in Central Park This Fall
November 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Are you planning a trip to New York City this fall? Consider spending a couple of days at Central Park, a large urban park in the heart of Manhattan in New York City. Central Park has many activities and events for New Yorkers and visitors. Below is a sampling of things to do in Central Park.
Visit the Conservatory Garden:
The six-acre Conservatory Garden in Central Park was built in 1898. The garden has a geyser fountain, plants, indigenous flowers, heirloom roses, Korean holly, and English yew. The garden is divided into three sections: The French Garden, the Italian Garden, and the English Garden.
Rent a Rowboat:
The Boathouse at Central Park offers rowboats for $12 for the first hour and $3 for each additional 15 minutes. Hop in a rowboat and explore the park’s marshy areas while looking for turtles, frogs, ducks and swans. 4 persons are allowed in each boat and life-jackets are provided.
Watch a Marionette Production:
The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater is one of the few public marionette theatre companies in the country. This fall, the City Parks Foundation will show Peter Pan & Adventures in Never Land. The show runs from October 6th to November 8th and tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children.
Ride a Carousel:
The Friedsam Memorial Carousel was built in 1908 and moved to Central Park from Coney Island in 1951. The carousel has 57 hand-carved horses and is considered one of the finest examples of 20th century folk art. A Ruth Sohn band organ plays the music, ranging from waltzes to polkas. A ride on the carousel costs $1 for adults and $1 for children.
Special Events in Central Park:
If you are interested in attending special events held at Central Park, there is much to offer. Central Park hosts music, crafts, and social events on a monthly basis.
Halloween Ball – October 27th:
On Tuesday, October 27th, Central Park will host the 2009 Halloween Ball. The event starts at 7pm and includes cocktails, dinner, dancing and a costume tickets. The Halloween Ball has been called one of the “10 Best Events in New York” and features music by DJ Tom Finn of Topspin Entertainment.
Harlem Meer Social Hour – November 12th:
On Thursday, November 12th, the Charles A. Dana Discover Center features an alternative happy hour for adults from 6:30-8pm. The Harlem Social Hour is free and features a conversation with Mercedes Ellington, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music.
Thanksgiving Crafts – November 19th:
On Thursday, November 19th, the Checkers House located at mid-Park at 64th Street will have crafts for the entire family. The Checkers House has crafts for one Thursday of every month from 2-4pm.
Central Park has been part of New York for about 150 years. Make sure to visit this National History Landmark when you are in New York City–you will not be disappointed with everything it has to offer.
Looking to travel in style? Some of the finest hotels in the city are just steps from the park. You may want to consider looking for Manhattan luxury hotel suites, or a Central Park boutique hotel among other options for New York luxury hotel reservations.
Alex Zesch is an expert on premier boutique hotels, including Manhattan luxury boutique hotels, and luxurious hotels in New York.