You don’t have to go to Washington DC to learn about politics and the latest efforts for social justice. In New York City, the best place for this type of educational day is the United Nations. Every year over 1 million visitors take the time to visit the headquarters of the United Nations, located on 1st Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets in Midtown East. When I first saw all of the international flags waving outside of the iconic building, my curiosity was piqued about what goes on inside. Visitors are welcome to take a behind-the-scenes tour and find out for themselves. The United Nations Building from the East River The most popular way to explore the United Nations is by guided tour. This exploration of the headquarters building features a recorded video message from the UN General Secretary, a visit to the General Assembly Hall, and an exploration of exhibits grouped under the title, “United Nations:  From War to Development.”  This option allows visitors to...

Los Angeles, California is one of the few places in the United States that outdoor enthusiasts can participate in their favorite outdoor activity nearly year round, thanks to moderate temperatures and over 300 days of sunshine each year.  With everything from surfing and kayaking to biking and hiking, there is something for everyone.  As an occasional trail runner myself, I enjoy looking for new routes to explore, and there sure are plenty of them in the LA area. The five hikes listed below are some of the best and most popular in LA, which means generally well-marked trails and breathtaking views of either the city or the ocean.  If you happen to be traveling to or through nearby Orange County, be sure to check out Take a Hike in the OC. Ferndell Park to Griffith Park Observatory Distance: 2.5 miles round trip Duration: 1.5 hours Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Directions to trailhead: From Los Feliz Boulevard, turn onto Fern Dell Drive and park anywhere along the curb.  You will find...

The majestic saguaro cacti at sunset The Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona is one of the Southwest’s crown jewels, mostly because of the thousands of gigantic saguaro cacti that dot its sandy landscape. In fact, the cacti almost have a celebrity status among the thousands of people who visit the park each year. Part of that has to do with the cacti’s enormous size, which for me is the main reason I make an annual pilgrimmage to the park. I also enjoy going there to get out of the city and clear my head. The park has a serene quality to it. Often you can feel like you are the only one in the park (which isn’t surprising considering the park is 90,000 acres) and you can literally hear nothing, which for me is a welcomed treat since most days in Chicago where I live all I hear are sirens and horns honking. I am also a nature lover and a photographer and it is pure bliss for me to spend a day or two at the park snapping photos, mostly of the 50-foot tall, 10-ton saguaro cacti....

I have had the thrill of living in some pretty exciting areas of the country.  One of the best parts of living in enticing destinations is that you get to play tour guide for friends and relatives eager to see the sights of your city.   While living in Baltimore, I was stuffed to the gills with blue crab, in Seattle I knew the facts of the Space Needle by heart, and actually no, the whipping wind is not why Chicago is called the Windy City. Now it may seem like I am complaining, truly I am not, as playing host to visitors forces you to get out and explore, try something new and really get to know your community.  When sharing the tales of our adventures with our new neighbors, I was always shocked at how often they would declare that they had never been to many of the city’s attractions, even though they had lived there for years. My only regret is that I did not use Go City Cards when entertaining my guests.  A product of Smart Destinations, Go City Cards allow “tourists”...

During your visit to London, hopefully you will have an opportunity to visit one of the great wonders off the world, Stonehenge (map).  Located on a flat plain near Salisbury, the site is an easy day trip from London and in fact can be combined with a trip to other quaint villages in the area. People often ask me what Stonehenge is like in person.  Well, without trying to ramble, here are a few things you might find of interest: A major motorway was built within earshot/eye shot of Stonehenge.  Incredibly poor foresight, yes.  They tried to bury the roadway in a tunnel, which proved to be took expensive.  So much for your quiet, mystical experience. You can’t normally get anywhere close to the stones.  See the above photo – touching is not possible, nor encouraged.  BUT you can get one of the tour operators who have access to sunrise or sunset tours – and this allows you to get into the inside circle. Yes, it will likely rain on your trip – it seems to be...

Want to get spooked?  How about a trip into the annals of London’s dark past where peering into history might just give you a chance to come face to face with it – as in visiting legendary haunts in which ghosts can be found. At least according to some folks anyway. While a tour is certainly one way to dig up a few ghosts in the city, it’s not hard to walk around and discover a few places on your own that will also raise a few hairs. Some of London’s spookiest stories are brought to life however, on a London Ghost Walk tour with author and London ghost expert Richard Jones’ offering stories and a first-hand look at some of the city’s dark alleyways and quarters. Find cheap short-term rentals near London with iStopOver.com ! Fashionable London Apartment London $155 per night Stylish City Studio London $163 per night Spacious Modern Loft London $65 per night Not for the faint of heart, here are a few of our recommendations from his spooky tour. The Tower of London...

In New York, buildings can undergo several reincarnations. In the case of the former church that is now home to the recently opened Limelight Marketplace, this history is an interesting one. The distinctive building first opened in 1844 as the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. In 1982, the church was transformed into a nightlife destination called the Limelight. From the 80′s all the way to 2007, the Limelight enjoyed the glow of its nightclub status. In February 2009, a new plan was hatched to transform the abandoned church into a lively marketplace. In May 2010, the doors were opened once again for the building’s newest reincarnation. History buffs will be pleased to know that the church actually underwent some careful restoration during its transformation from abandoned nightclub to marketplace. Visitors can see the restored stained glass windows and limestone arches during a shopping or eating expedition. On a recent cold New York afternoon, I stepped off 6th Avenue...

Ski Lifts You don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy yourself at Sun Peaks Resort. There’s fun for the whole family, from grandparents to little tots.  Sun Peaks is the third largest ski resort in Canada. You’ll find oodles of fun at this family friendly alpine village,  located a 45 minute scenic drive from Kamloops, nestled at the foot of three mountains:  Mt.Morrisey, Mt. Tod, and Sundance.  There are 122 runs for skiers and boarders of all skill levels as well as cross-country ski trails and snowmobile areas.  Skiers of various levels can explore them all in one in a day on a self-guided tour. Usually the runs aren’t crowded and you’ll feel as if you have the mountain to yourself. The popularity of this world class resort, is growing. Folks from all over Canada, USA and abroad arrive to enjoy the winter sports.  Many Australians come to the resort to ski and work in the shops and hotels.  Japanese investors (Nippon Cable) own the ski lifts and runs and there...

OK, I’ll admit it. My husband and I are snowbirds — that’s what year-round Floridians call us northerners who flock to their sunny coasts in the winter. Because most of us want to take a break from cooking as well as the blizzards up north, restaurants in southwest Florida can get mighty busy during peak season. Reservations are always advised, even if you want to eat before 6 p.m. The state is a haven for retirees who love the smaller, less expensive dinners on the “early bird menu”. That said, there’s great food in my favorite cold weather getaway, Venice (it’s about 20 minutes south of Sarasota along U.S. 41). Yes, as you may have guessed from the name of the town, there’s a large Italian-American population in Venice. The annual festival sponsored by the Italian American Club of Venice (held in late February) is an eagerly anticipated event, but the club also serves pasta dinners at its clubhouse (1375 Ringling Drive, Venice, Florida –...

An estimated 826,000 day visitors and 110,000 overnight visitors visit Liverpool each year to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles. Indeed, think of Liverpool and the Beatles immediately come to mind and it’s true, the Fab Four did put the city on the map so there’s plenty of Beatles-mania to enjoy.  However, upon closer look there are all sorts of other things Liverpool has going for it. Considered one of Europe’s cultural capitals, the city offers a rich cultural heritage with a blend of music, sports and the arts.  Liverpool was  awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004 so even if you do stop in for a Beatles fix, take the time to discover some of the additional rich offerings too. For Beatles Fans: For the die-hard Beatles fan your first consideration might be to stay at the new Hard Days Night Hotel (map) Beatles influenced hotel just minutes from the world-famous Cavern Club.  Experiences like the Cavern Club also give way to other Beatles options like touring The...