Maui, Hawaii

Carol S. just returned from a family reunion held in Hawaii and this is her review:

“With its gorgeous beaches, tropical flowers, beautiful waterfalls and plush golf course, it's no wonder Maui is called the Magic Isle, and anyone who visits, falls in love with it instantly. The weather in Maui averages 80 during the day, but a cool breeze off the ocean makes it very pleasant -just use sunscreen or sunblock to protect your skin from the strong sunrays.

Maui has 30 miles of beach where you can snorkel, scuba, water ski, surf board, paddle board, and parasail. You also can board a boat to watch the whales or board a submarine to see the colorful sea life. A tram ride around a plantation will show you how pineapples, sugar cane, palm trees, and coffee trees grow.
For the more adventurous take a ride in a helicopter to see the island or go zip lining; take a ride to Hana to see the gorgeous scenery, waterfall, flouring rainforest and beautiful seascapes. And of course, make sure to bring a camera!
Travel to the top of Haleakala volcano to watch the sunrise (be sure to bring a winter jacket or a blanket); watch the sunset during the torch lighting ceremony at black rock beach; hike or camp in Haleakala national park.

Kaanapali is favorite resort area on the west coast of Maui with its white sand beaches, blue green water and its variety of activities. Although there are numerous resort hotels, I recommend renting a condo if you plan to stay a week or more. The apartment comes with a bedroom, a sofa in the living room, and a completely equipped kitchen. Room service is provided daily. The condos have their own beach, pool, and restaurant. If you go sightseeing or spend time on the beach, it is easier to eat breakfast in the room and pack a picnic lunch. The condos also have an area for barbequing. The condos have free shuttle buses to take you into town, but if you rent a car you can travel at your leisure. To make a reservation go to http://kaanapalialii-px.rtrk.com/

In Lahaina at the Maui theatre (http://www.mauitheatre.com/) you can see Ulalena - a wonderful live show depicting the story of the Hawaiian people in song and dance.
There are also numerous restaurants and shops in Lahaina. You can eat inexpensive dinners at Cool Cats, Hardrock cafe or Cheeseburger paradise. Mama's fish house serves excellent food with a setting on the beach. The best shopping is in Lahaina, and Hilo Hatties and ABC stores in Whalers village Shopping Center have wonderful souvenirs. While walking through the town, make sure you see the banyan tree that encompasses the whole park.

Maui is a wonder place for honeymooners, singles, couple, and families. It's a place you will want to visit again and again!”

Crystal Cave in Kutztown, PA

My friend and coworker Mirlene, send me the following story: 

“On Saturday, my husband took the family to Crystal Cave in Kutztown, PA – the most popular natural attraction in Pennsylvania. There, we took the tour that I found to be very interesting.  The tour start in a theater where we learned about the history of the cave from the time it was discovered to now.  Then, a tour guide took us inside and was able to reiterate many of what we saw in the movie as visuals.  For instance, the crystals inside the cave, where the bats live, where people used to have their dance, the various natural shapes formed inside the cave by water dripping…..At one point, he turned most of the lights inside the cave so we can have a sense of what explorers experienced when there was no electricity inside.  
Besides the tour, there are other activities such as mini golfing and panning for gemstones.
Since it was the Mother’s Day weekend, my highlight of the trip was the gift shop where my sons picked my Mother’s Day presents.  Although, the cashier ruined the surprise for me by excitingly telling me that my boys did a great job at picking my presents, one could imagine the boys’ reaction…
I was not allowed to peruse the gift shop too much. I conclude that it must have some inexpensive, beautiful souvenirs.  I was given a set of crystal emerald earrings and a necklace made out of rocks.  Both pieces can be elegantly worn and do not look cheap at all.

Overall, I would recommend visiting this place, especially to families with kids. We got some good exercise from it as we were still tired the next morning.”

Crystal cave is open every day from March 1 trough November 30. For directions please go to http://www.crystalcavepa.com/MapDirections.html.

Old Westbury Gardens

It looks like the warm weather is finally here, and of course we want to spend more time outside.
I’d like to dedicate this post to what in my opinion is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world – Old Westbury Gardens (www.oldwestburygardens.org)

Old Westbury Gardens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the former home of John S. Phipps family. Completed in 1906 by the English designer, George A. Crawley, this magnificent Charles II-style mansion is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. I like this place very much!
Westbury Gardens welcomes visitors of all ages for guided tours of Westbury House and Gardens, in-depth tours of the formal gardens, classic car shows, indoor and outdoor classical concerts, summer pop concerts, etc. You can check the complete schedule of events on http://www.oldwestburygardens.org/05_calendar.htm

Long Island Mozart Festival, which will take place in the Gardens on Memorial weekend, returns for the fifth season. All activities are included in admission. Lawn seating: bring chairs or a blanket. Take the children to the Mozart Festival and introduce them to the joys of music in an informal setting!

Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, New York, between the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and Jericho Turnpike (New York Route 25), approximately 20 miles east of New York City. It is open every day EXCEPT TUESDAYS, from April 30th to October 31st, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm (the House will open at 11:00 am), with the last vehicle being allowed onto the property at 4:00 pm.

You can honor your Mom on Mother’s Day with a visit to the Gardens:
Not only Mom gets a free pass Sunday, May 13, but all women 18 and older will receive a complimentary lavender plant, while supplies last.

Also, I’d like to remind you about a places I already covered that definitely make for a great nice weather excursion:

Grounds for sculpture in NJ, Kykuit, etc - see my September-October’s posts on www.friendstravelclub.blogspot.com

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms!

" it’s like Paris, only created by Mother Nature…”

Ten days ago we returned from a very exciting trip. This was our first Caravan tour (www.caravan.com) and our first time out West! The trip was excellent and Caravan helped us enjoy it to the fullest. We saw a lot for a seven-day vacation. It was well planned and not too fast paced.

We enjoyed a leisurely pace, delicious meals, and, most importantly, outstanding side trips. Not only was there the breathtaking scenery of Grand Canyon, but everyday promised more and better things to see: Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Lake Powell, Monument Valley.

All three canyons are so different! We started from the grandiosity of Grand Canyon with its colors changing at sundown; then were completely stunned by looking at colorful pinnacles, called hoodoos, which are up to 200 feet (61 m) high in Bryce Canyon. Finally, we enjoyed the tranquility of Zion Canyon with its wild life, many trails, and a wooden cabins with a fireplace, one of which we were staying in overnight.

Where else can you see the vista we enjoyed during our boat cruise through Lake Powell’s Antelope Canyon, lined with rich red sandstone walls, or go on a guided jeep tour of the restricted backcountry of Monument Valley, a beautiful, pristine area of buttes and arches accessible only with authorized Navajo guides?

If you do not want to join an organized tour, you may do it on your own. Just do it at least once because as my husband said: “These places we visited, everyone should take the time to see; it’s like Paris, only created by Mother Nature… ”

To All Bank of America Customers

If you have any of Bank of America (check, ATM, or credit), or a Merrill Lynch card, this message is for you. They are offering free museum days to a number of museums the first weekend of every month. There are 150 museums in 31 states that are participating.

To see eligible weekend date and locate a Museum near you or view full list by state go to http://museums.bankofamerica.com/ and just click “Details”.

The program starts this weekend!

Keeping In Touch While Traveling

My husband and I just returned from a very exciting trip and I’ll tell you about it next week. Today, I’d like to share with you my little discovery, which is connected to travel.

While we were on vacation, two of my girlfriends had their birthdays. Worried about not being able to use either cell phone or internet during those two days (we spent part of the trip in secluded area), I wanted to schedule their “Happy B’day” e-mails in advance.

Since Yahoo or Gmail do not have that option, I searched the internet in hopes of finding a solution, and guess what? I did! Website www.LetterMeLater.com allows you to send emails to anyone you wish, with the ability to schedule them at any future date and time you choose. With this service, you can write emails with your existing email address, and they will get sent at the exact date, or dates that you specify - down to the minute. Other features include but not limited to, file attachments, HTML emails with rich content to add style and structure, and even sending scheduled txt messages to your cell phone!

No advertisements will be sent with your emails. You can find the detail instructions on http://www.lettermelater.com/forum.php?id=1.

New Orleans

It is my opinion, that before going to New Orleans - one of my favorite places in USA, you need to know the answers to 3 major questions: where to stay, where and what to eat, and what to see.
    Stay in French Quarter; I personally like the area between Bourbon and Royal streets.
    Eat...There are so many options, but there are two very New Orleans places that are musts: begnets at cafe Du Monde at 800 Decatur Street  (http://www.cafedumonde.com/locations.html) and muffuletta at Central Grocery at 923 Decatur Street.
    About sightseeing: walk around French Quarter, go to Jackson Square and if you are lucky, you might see a wedding procession with traditional white umbrellas and a dixieland band.
You can also take one of the horse-drawn carriages there for some extra history (http://www.jackson-square.com/).
Go to the Preservation Hall, but be there early to get in first otherwise you have to wait for the next session. There are 2 sessions, one that starts at 8pm, which we took, and the 2nd one at 10pm. You have to get in line around 7pm if you want to be seated, otherwise, you'll be in the standing area (http://www.preservationhall.com/hall/concert_schedule/index.aspx).
One more thing which is a must see is the unique New Orleans Holocaust Memorial located in Woldenberg Park on the bank of the Mississippi River (http://www.holocaustmemorial.us/index.htm)

    The rest is up to you depending on your taste and amount of time you'd like to stay in this fabulous city where every day is a holiday!

NY Museums with free or pay-as-you-wish hours in 2012

I have to apologize in advance that this article is pretty long, but that just means that every day you can visit some museums for free or without paying full price.

Although several of New York’s biggest museums increased the price of admission within the past year, many operate as always free or always suggested-donation museums, (including the Met.)
Others offer free or pay-as-you-like hours on a weekly or monthly basis. Here’s the updated list for 2012 of where and when to get into NYC museums, zoos, and gardens for free.

Museums with free or pay-as-you-wish hours in 2012
 
Mondays
Museum at Eldridge Street - free 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (normally $10)
Yeshiva University Museum - free 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $8)

Tuesdays
McKim rooms of the Morgan Library & Museum - free 3 to 5 p.m. (full museum access is $15)
Brooklyn Botanical Garden - free all day (normally $10)

Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo - pay-what-you-wish all day (normally $16)
Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust - free 4 to 8 p.m. (normally $12)
NY Botanical Garden - free grounds access all day, excluding the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Rock and Native Plant gardens and tram tour (grounds-only access normally $10; a one-day all-garden pass is $20)
Yeshiva University Museum - free 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $8)
Queens Botanical Garden - free 3 to 6 p.m. (normally $4)

Thursdays
Museum of Arts & Design - pay-what-you-wish 6 to 9 p.m. (normally $15)
China Institute Gallery - free 6 to 8 p.m. (normally $7)

Fridays
Museum of Modern Art - free 4 to 8 p.m. (normally $25)
Whitney Museum of American Art - pay-what-you-wish 6 to 9 p.m. (normally $18)
Morgan Library & Museum - free 7 to 9 p.m. (normally $15)
Museum of Arts & Design - pay-as-you-wish 6 to 9 p.m. (normally $15)
New York Aquarium - pay-what-you-wish 3 to 5 p.m. (normally $14.95)
International Center of Photography - voluntary contribution admission 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $12)
Museum of the Moving Image - free 4 to 8 p.m. (normally $12)
Rubin Museum of Art - free 6 to 10 p.m. (normally $10)
Yeshiva University Museum - free 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (normally $8)

Saturdays
Guggenheim - pay-what-you-wish 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. (normally $18)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - free 10 a.m. to noon (normally $10)
NY Botanical Garden - free grounds access 10 to
11 a.m., excluding the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Rock and Native Plant gardens and tram tour (grounds-only access normally $10; a one-day all-garden pass is $20)
First Saturdays only: Brooklyn Museum - Free admission and programs 5 to 11 p.m. (normally a suggested $12)

Sundays
Frick Collection - pay-what-you-wish 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (normally $18)
McKim rooms of the Morgan Library & Museum - free 4 to 6 p.m. (full museum access is $15)
September through June: NY Hall of Science - free 10 to 11 a.m. (normally $11)
Studio Museum in Harlem - free noon to 6 p.m. (normally $7 recommended)
Museum of Biblical Art - free 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (normally $7 recommended)
Queens Botanical Garden - free 4 to 6 p.m. (normally $4)

Additional free hours:
Brooklyn Children’s Museum - some Thursdays and weekends
Renoir Night at the Frick Collection - April 27, 2012
International Museum Day - May 18, 2012
Museum Mile Festival - June 12, 2012
Smithsonian Museum Day - Sept. 29, 2012

5th Avenue Easter Parade

This coming weekend will be busy for many of us.

Friday, April 6th is the first Seder of Passover 2012, and it is also Good Friday. April 8th is Easter Sunday. 

So, Happy Holidays to all!

New York City has several traditions for this time. One of them is 5th Avenue Easter Parade.

The Easter parade is an American cultural event consisting of a festive strolling procession on Easter Sunday. Typically, it is a somewhat informal and unorganized event. Persons participating in an Easter parade traditionally dress in new and fashionable clothing, particularly ladies' hats, and strive to impress others with their finery. The Easter parade is most closely associated with Fifth Avenue in New York City, but Easter parades are held in many other cities. Starting as a spontaneous event in the 1870s, the New York parade became increasingly popular into the mid-20th century—in 1947, it was estimated to draw over a million people. Although its popularity has declined significantly, drawing only 30,000 in 2008.

The parade begins at Fifth Avenue and 47th Street near St. Patrick's Cathedral and continues up Fifth Avenue to 57th Street.

The best spots to catch the action are between 49th and 57th Streets on Fifth Avenue with the action starting at 10am and continuing well into the afternoon. So start planning your crazy outfits and bring along those binoculars for optimal viewing pleasure at the Fifth Avenue Easter Parade this year!

The Hoover Dam Trip

My daughter and her husband just came back from Las Vegas. It was their second trip to Vegas, so they decided to spend one day exploring something new. This is their story:

As it turns out, Las Vegas is not only about flashy casinos, Cirque du Soleil shows and all you can eat buffets; there are actually some exciting things to see outside of Sin city.
On our last trip to Las Vegas we rented a car (about $60 a day) and drove to none other than the biggest construction project of the Great Depression, The Hoover Dam. Less than an hour drive on the I-15, the one that takes you all the way to California, brings you directly to one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1935, almost 2 years ahead of schedule, Hoover Dam is not only a monument to the strength and resilience of the men who built it during the days of no unions, no labor laws, but also to the human ingenuity that used the power of destructive waters to bring good to the people (arguable environmental issues notwithstanding).

Different tours are available within the Dam, and I suggest taking the longer, 1 hour one, that allows you to go deep within the structure with a guide who informs you of many interesting facts and insider anecdotes of the Dam and what it takes to run it. Cost of the tour- $30 per person. An added perk of the trip: breathtaking scenery that unfolds before your eyes as you make your progress on the I-15.