GRAND CANYON WITH CARAVAN

My very close friends just returned from one of the most amazing places on the planet.
This is their message: 

We are a mature couple, well-traveled, mostly Europe and Caribbean Islands.
Just came from vacation in Arizona, Utah and Nevada! (Grand Canyon, Sedona, Lake Powell, Bryce & Zion)
For us it was the first organized trip in USA.
Over all it was very exiting and enjoyable, reasonably loaded with sightseeing and activities.
The tour was with "Caravan".
Well organized, moderately priced.
The hotels and food are as good as they could be in this territories.
Very important to check the weather before the trip and pack accordingly. Evenings and nights are much cooler than you would expect.
We could not single out anything we have seen, all equally interesting and impressive in it's own way.
Both the guide and the driver were excellent.
Should we look for another trip, we will definitely go with "Caravan"

P.& L.

I'd like to add that if you decide to take this trip please go to http://www.caravan.com/tour/usa-grand-canyon.
There you can find several other trips offered by Caravan.com as well as information about dates and prices.

KYKUIT AND UNION CHURCH

 Kykuit (pronounced "Kye-cut") is not the oldest or even the largest of the estates in Hudson Valley, but many people find it the most spectacular. When John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, built Kykuit in 1913, he was the richest man in the world. Kykuit also houses Governor (and later Vice President) Nelson Rockefeller's incredible collection of 20th-century modern art, which graces the gardens and fills the entire lower level of the house. Outstanding among the pieces in the very Sixties art gallery in the house is a unique series of giant and shockingly vibrant tapestries commissioned from Pablo Picasso.
Visits to Kykuit begin at Philipsburg Manor; park your car, buy your ticket in the back of the gift shop and jump on the guided shuttle bus for your tour. Tours of Kykuit last between 2 and 3 hours. Choose from among 5 different tours depending on your interest. You can also buy the tickets in advance on the internet.
For direction, tours description and schedule go to http://www.hudsonvalley.org/historic-sites/kykuit.
I recomend after the tour have lunch in one of nearby places and then get in the car and visit Union Church located just less than 2 mi away.

This unassuming country church contains a stained glass window by Henri Matisse, his last work of art, and nine windows by Marc Chagall!

To check the visiting hours go to http://www.hudsonvalley.org/historic-sites/union-church-pocantico-hills

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE

Grounds for Sculpture http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/visit_us.html sits in the middle of an industrial area in Hamilton, New Jersey, mid-way between New York City and Philadelphia. It is absolutely amazing place. They have beautiful sculptures, nice staff, the most amazing water lilies and random peacocks roaming around.
I recommend after you park your car, go to the information center and get the $1 map because most of the sculptures are off the path, so you need to look for them; you will see statues in the most random places, like by the lake they have a man fishing, and on this path that leads into trees there's a sculpture recreating Manet's picnic picture... Along the pathways, there are covered boxes with poems inside. 
There are always art, music, and poetry events (for children and adults) throughout the season.

If the sculpture "Generalissimus" is still on display, go around , find the narrow slot on the back and take a look inside the sculpture... 

Grounds For Sculpture open Tue-Sun 10-6, admission fee is  $12.00 for adults, and $10.00 for Seniors (65+). 

VERMONT

Эти путевые заметки прислал Гена - один из друзей путешественников:

 Привет! Итак, Вермонт! Горы, воздух, меняющие цвет листья, красивые дороги, маленькие городки... Ничего больше.
Поездку назвал "Звуки музыки" просто потому что в этих местах снимался этот знаменитый фильм. Ничуть не хуже Альп. Там и сейчас семья фон Трапп ( на их истории снят фильм) держит гостинницу и ресторан, где подают венский шницель. http://www.trappfamily.com/
Рядом с ними находится деревня Москва. Почему так называется, не в курсе. Проехал Москву насквозь за 2 минуты... Ничего общего :)
По компьютеру от Статен Айленда до Stowe езды 6 часов. Но я выбрал маршрут где можно глазеть по сторонам. Дорога 87 до выхода 17, затем 84 до Taconic Parkway. Очень красивая дорога. Потом остановка в Manchester Centre. Там можно погулять, есть магазины. Можно взглянуть на Equinox Hotel http://www.equinoxresort.com/
Затем дороги 73, 89, 100, 108. И вот Stowe. http://www.stowemountainlodge.com/about-stowe-vermont-resort.php
Отель входит в 100 лучших отелей мира. Сервис отличный. Ресторан уровня Манхеттена.
Очень популярное место у любителей горных лыж. Цена $$$.
Вермонт-совсем другая Америка. Многие горные дороги повреждены ураганом. некоторые закрыты. Смыты ограждения. Встречаются разрушенные дома. Поэтому наши деньги очень нужны штату...
Озеро Шамплейн. Симпатичный студенческий городок Барлингтон.
Обратный путь лежал по другую сторону Гудзона: озеро Джордж, 87 дорога..

Гена

От себя добавлю: Добраться до Вермонта можно всего за полтора часа на самолете.
Несколько рейсов ежедневно из LGA (LAGUARDIA AIRPORT ), а там взять машину напрокат. Билет туда и обратно стоит сейчас  $119.00-139.00, а прокат машины -$25.00 и выше в день.
На сайте http://www.central-vt.com/visit/foliage.htm есть интересная карта Вермонта показывающая периоды листопада.