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Category Archive: Destinations

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

Honolulu may be known for its sun and sandy beaches, but it is also home to one of the most sobering military history sites that I’ve ever visited — the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The Memorial, dedicated in 1962, honors the site where World War II began for the United States, with the bombing that entombed 1,102 crew members on December 7th, 1941. The memorial was designed to span the hull of the sunken battleship, yet never touch it. The structure is 184 feet long, with two peaks at each end, and a deliberate sag in the middle. Alfred Preis, the memorial designer, sums it up like this: “Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory… The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of […]

Netherlands Carillon Rings Out Over DC

Located on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, opposite the District of Columbia and bordering the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery, the Netherlands Carillon is adjacent to the Unites States Marine Corps War Memorial. The site is park of the National Park System. Set among thousands of tulips in a park setting, the 127-foot high tower was a gift to the American people from the Dutch. It was a symbol of friendship characterized by a common allegiance to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that has weathered temporary differences. The bell carillon was originally installed in a temporary tower in 1954, and was then moved to its current location in 1960. It was officially dedicated on May 5th, 1960, the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis, meaning the 50th anniversary is nearly upon […]

Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End

In Boston’s North End you’ll find the small wooden home that was the starting point for Paul Revere’s infamous ride. He lived in the home with his wife, five children, and mother, remaining in the home long after the ride that made him a legend. The house was eventually sold around 1800. The Paul Revere House still stands today and is downtown Boston’s oldest building. The home was opened as a museum in 1908, one of the first historic house museums in the country, and today it is one of the few buildings remaining from the colonial era. Although it has been renovated substantially over the years, about 90% of the building is original back to 1680. Some of the original items include two doors, three window frames, and portions of the flooring and rafters. The heavy beams and large […]

Driving the Crookedest Street in the World

For one block, San Francisco’s Lombard Street is the crookedest street in the world. You may have seen that one block in photographs, movies, or on television, but the full length of the street is much more than just that one block. The street runs east and west, and starts at The Presidio, runs through Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and finally ends at The Embarcadero. For much of that distance, it’s a pleasant, but relatively boring street. That one crooked block between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets (on Russian Hill), however, is what’s made Lombard Street famous. The crooked block is paved in brick, and has eight S-turns, in a switchback design, and was originally designed to ease the natural grade of the street. Houses and townhouses line both sides of the street, and despite the incredible driving and pedestrian […]

The Famous & Exclusive Avenue des Champs-Élysées

If the thought of a beautiful bag, a decadent pair of heels, or the luxurious feel of the fabric of a finely crafted suit make you swoon, then an afternoon on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris may be your definition of heaven. The Champs-Élysées is not only one of the most recognized street names in Paris, but in the entire world, and is lined with luxury and specialty shops, theaters, cafes and restaurants. The street itself is a little over a mile and a quarter long, running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe in the 9th arrondissement. The name translates to “Elysian Fields” a reference to the “place of the blessed” in Greek mythology. With the prices you’ll see at most of these shops and cafes, you’ll need to be blessed, indeed, to make […]

Shopping at Hilo Hattie’s

A trip to the islands isn’t complete without shopping at Hilo Hattie’s. Some people might call it touristy, but I think of it as one of the rituals of an island visit. During the 1950-60’s, Hilo Hattie was the stage name for a popular Hawaiian entertainer whose real name was Clarissa Haili. She was originally a teacher, but achieved fame as a singer and dancer, popularizing a comedic hula-style dancing. In 1963, a Hawaiian store opened for business, naming the store after the very popular Hilo Hattie. The store aims to provide one-stop shopping for Hawaiian goods and products and is the largest Hawaiian retailer and manufacturer of the same. In memory of the original Hilo Hattie, who passed away in 1979, the store gives scholarships to University of Hawaii students who are pursuing degrees in Hawaiian studies and music. Powered […]

Travel to Argentina to Visit your Wine

If travel, just for the sake of travel, seems too decadent for you, how about this excuse: I have to pop down to Argentina to visit my vineyard and check on my wine. OK, I might be overstating things just a bit, but with the Algodon Wine Estates Barrel Ownership program you can combine your love of travel with your love of wine. Algodon Wine Estates is located in Mendoza, Argentina, an area known as the Napa Valley of South America, and home for production of some top wines. Now, you can get a barrel of your own. Purchase it solo, or get together a group of friends, then choose your grape or varietal preference: malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, bonarda, or chardonnay. Here’s how it works — You choose your grape or varietal, and then choose a French or […]

The Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome is Worth a Stop

The imposing cylindrical Castel Sant’Angelo, situated along the Tiber River in Rome, was built between 123 and 129 AD. It was first known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, serving as the resting grounds for the ashes of the Roman emperor. Ashes of Hadrian’s family, as well as subsequent emperors, joined him there. The tomb was ransacked during one of Rome’s less civilized periods, and the Castel Sant’Angelo was later used as a fortress (Popes hid out here), castle (connected to St. Peter’s Basilica by a covered corridor), and prison (executions were held in the interior square). Today it is the location of the National Museum’s collections of weapons, ceramics, furnishings, and Renaissance paintings, and is still a formidable presence on the Rome’s skyline. It’s worth stopping by to look at the architecture and history of the building, and the great […]

Udvar-Hazy Center Near Dulles Airport

If you find yourself with spare time while waiting for your connection at Dulles Airport, consider getting off property for a few hours at the Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center. A part of The Smithsonian Institute, the Center is a companion facility to the National Air and Space Museum (map), and is located near Washington Dulles International Airport (map). The two locations have the largest aviation and space collection in the world. Udvar-Hazy is the President and CEO of International Lease Finance Corp. (a major player in the commercial aircraft business), and the major donor to the Center. The name honors his efforts to the funding side of the Center in addition to his career in aviation. The facility is immense, and full of displays, large and small, famous and relatively unknown. Among the famous are: the Enola Gay, the SR-71 […]

President Warren G. Harding Home & Museum

Since it’s President’s Day, I thought a fitting theme for today’s post would be something about one of our Presidents. There were some obvious presidential choices, but never being one to make the obvious choice, I looked at some that might typically get overlooked. And that led me to President Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States. With a rousing speech from the front porch of his home in Marion, Ohio, Warren Gamaliel Harding launched his campaign for the presidency of the United States. Historians may argue that Harding was one of the least effective Presidents, but he was certainly an interesting and colorful man, who, right up to his death, led an administration filled with scandal. The Harding Home, located at 380 Mt Vernon Avenue in Marion, Ohio (map) has been restored to its original Victorian […]