Boston Duck Tours

Boston Duck Tours are a great way to combine a tour of the city with a boat ride. The fun begins as soon as you board your "DUCK", an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. You'll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill to Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and more. And just when you think you've seen it all, it's time for "splashdown" as your DUCK plunges right into the Charles River and you are treated to breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines. Quack, quack!

All About Bermuda

For some basic information about the history and government of Bermuda, click over to Bermuda-Online.org, a comprehensive web site that covers the discovery of this beautiful island and its early days. You'll also find the details you need about travel documents, currency and customs.

Calling All Golfers to Hawaii!

Hawaii is a golfer's paradise. There are world-class courses on every island that are both breathtakingly beautiful and fun to play. But before you pack up your clubs, check out our round-up of Hawaii's best golf courses.

San Franciso's Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is host to a wide variety of running, sporting and musical events. Check out the event calendar to see what's happing today. While you're there, be sure to enjoy some of the Park's other attractions, which include 3 manmade lakes, horseback riding, polo fields, golf courses, tennis courts, an Arboretum, and the wonderfully serene Japanese Tea Garden.

Philadelphia Art

Here's a good tip from The Philadelphia Insider: the Philadelphia Art Alliance, housed in an 1890's mansion off Rittenhouse Square, has wonderful galleries that are open to the public.

Chowing Down in NYC's Chinatown

We love one of former mayor Ed Koch's favorite restaurants, a place on Mott Street called The Peking Duck House. (After all, who are we to disagree with someone who once said, "New York is not a problem. New York is a stroke of genius!"). Wo Hop, which is diagonally across the street, is a reliable choice, too.

All Things Japanese - in Boston!

On your next trip to Boston, we recommend a visit to the Japanese Garden which is behind the Museum of Fine Arts -- not only is it a wonderful place to sit quietly and let the stresses of modern life slip away, but admission is always free. And while you're at the museum, peruse the Japanese collection inside, which is widely regarded as the richest collection outside Japan itself.

Talk Your Way to a Hotel Upgrade

Get the most for your hotel dollar by paying for one of their least expensive rooms, but staying in one of their most luxurious. How? By asking for an upgrade! If a hotel doesn't expect to be full, they will usually gladly put you in a better room than you paid for, rather than have it stay empty. It's a win-win situation -- you're happy to have "gotten something for nothing" and the hotel knows that treating customers well often pays off handsomely in return visits. So don't be shy -- ask for the upgrade!

See All There is to See in Hawaii

We definitely recommend that you rent a car when you visit Hawaii. Many of the fun places you will want to visit are not served by public transportation (for example, the volcanoes on the Big Island, stunning Mount Haleakala on Maui, and beautiful Waimea Canyon on Kauai).To help you out, we've compiled a list of our best tips on renting a car and even offer car rental services on our web site. So get out and explore!

Writing About San Francisco

One of our favorite bits of travel writing about San Francisco is in the John Steinbeck's classic, Travels with Charley: In Search of America. Steinbeck writes, "When I was a child growing up in Salinas we called San Francisco 'The City.' Of course it was the only city we knew, but I still think of it as the City and so does everyone else who has ever associated with it... San Francisco put on a show for me. I saw her across the bay from the great road that bypasses Sausalito and enters the Golden Gate Bridge. The afternoon sun painted her white and gold -- rising on her hills like a noble city in a happy dream... New York makes its own hills with craning buildings, but this gold and white acropolis rising wave on wave against the blue of the Pacific sky was a stunning thing, a painted thing like a picture of a medieval Italian city which can never have existed. I stopped in a parking place to look at her and the necklace bridge over the entrance from the sea that led to her. Over the green higher hills to the south, the evening fog rolled like herds of sheep coming to cote in the golden city. I've never seen her more lovely."

Philadelphia Running

Now's a good time to train for the Philadelphia Distance Run - a half-marathon course that runs through the streets of Center City and along the Schuylkill River. It takes plance Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. See http://www.ingphiladelphiadistancerun.com for details.

Weekend in Montauk

We've just returned from a relaxing weekend in Montauk, at the end of New York's Long Island, and wanted to share the details with you all.

We stayed at the Ocean Inn Resort, one of many small-ish motels/hotels on the ocean. It was nothing fancy, certainly, but the location was ideal - right across the street from a nice beach - and it had a pleasant courtyard where we sat and read the newspaper every morning. We had breakfast our first morning at Anthony's Pancake & Waffle House - with good coffee and plump fresh blueberries in the pancakes, what could be better? We spent the rest of the day at the beach, only taking a break for a few slices at Pizza Village. Dinner was at Gosman's - great fresh seafood with a view of the water. We walked off some of the calories with an evening stroll on the beach and was surprised at the number of groups who had built fires in the sand.

We spent the next afternoon fishing for fluke on the good ship Lazybones, which provides a wonderfully friendly and helpful crew - perfect for first-time fishermen like us. Despite their mantra - "bring your lunch; catch your dinner" (we bought sandwiches and drinks at Ronnie's Deli on Montauk Highway) - we didn't catch anything to take home - our one fluke was 1/4 inch below the legal limit and the little skate we hooked wasn't worth holding onto. After we debarked, we still had time to visit the iconic Montauk lighthouse and climb to the top. Dinner was at Lenny's, right next to the docks, with more delicious fresh food and fantastic mango martinis.

Our final day featured breakfast at Mr. John's Pancakes (we recommend the special crepes Suzette) and more time at the beach. In between the two, we squeezed in some time to browse through the Montauk Art Show on the Montauk Green. One of our favorite exhibits was the lovely work of J. Mure Glass Art. Riding home, we were tired, sunburned and sandy, but incredibly relaxed and happy.

Good beach reading about Montauk or by Montauk writers:
The View From Lazypoint by Carl Safina

2009 NYC Century Bike Tour

Plan now for the 2009 NYC Century Bike Tour, scheduled for Sunday, September 13th, which promises to be the biggest and best ever. Not only is it the 20th anniversary of the event, but there will be new routes, new events and some exciting new sponsors. You'll take a scenic trip through four boroughs on the country's only all-urban century bike tour. It's fun for everyone, and the money it raises goes directly to making New York City a better place to bike. In the two decades that Transportation Alternatives has been encouraging New Yorkers to bike for better biking, they've won some landmark changes, including:
This event is to biking what the NYC Marathon is to running - so don't miss it!

• The installation of thousands of bike racks
• The Hudson River Greenway
• Bicycle paths on all of the East River bridges
• A doubling of the NYC bike network since 2006
• Physically separated bike lanes (they're so much safer!)

Beat the Boston Heat

Need to cool off a bit? Take a trip to the New England Aquarium and visit the penguin exhibit -- the feeling of Arctic air will help you forget what the temperature really is outdoors.

Bermuda's Town of St. George

We love St. George's old-world ambiance, with its plethora of historical attractions, restaurants, and shops and its tiny, picturesque streets. We recommend that you set aside a least half a day to soak up its charm at a leisurely pace. Meander through the narrow streets on your own, or follow our tour. Either way, you're bound to have a lovely time.

Top 10 Things to Do in Hawaii

There is no question that Hawaii offers endless options for fun. We are so often asked for our favorites, that we decided to list them here (in no particular order):

1. Pearl Harbor Tour
2. Old Lahaina Luau
3. Haleakala Bike Tour
4. Sea Life Park
5. Kealakekua Bay Snorkel
6. Mauna Kea Summit & Stars
7. Molokini Snorkel Cruise
8. Ulalena
9. Na Pali Snorkel Sail
10. Polynesian Cultural Center

NYC Pools and Beaches

Today will be the hottest day of the summer so far in New York City. How to deal with the 95 degree temperatures? How about a cool dip in a pool or the ocean? To help you find the place that's perfect for you, we've compiled this list of our favorite spots:

Favorite NYC Public Swimming Pools

• John Jay Pool (77th St. & Cherokee Place, 212-794-6566). Very family friendly and one of two pools in Manhattan that allows diving. The center also houses a snack bar and a small playground with benches.
• Lasker (110th Street & Lenox AvenueSetting, 212-534-7639). Located on the northern edge of Central Park. The teenage crowd can get rowdier as the day wears on, so get there early.

Favorite NYC Beaches:

• Jacob Riis Park - located in the Rockaways and famous for its Art Deco bathhouse.
• Brighton Beach - offers great food and lots of activities.
• Coney Island Beach - home to the famous Boardwalk and other New York favorites like Nathan's hot dog stand.
• South Beach and Midland Beach - both offer free concerts and fireworks on the boardwalk.
• Robert Moses Beach - great for swimming and surfing.
• Orchard Beach - surrounded by food stands, playgrounds, and picnic areas.

Private Pools Offering One-Day Passes:

• Stuyvesant High School Community Center (345 Chambers St., 212-312-4800)
• Asphalt Green (555 E. 90th St., 212-369-8890)
• Manhattan Plaza Health Club (482 West 43rd St., 212-563-7001)
• New York Marriott Hotel at the World Financial Center (85 West St., 212-385-4900)
• New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (333 Adams Street, 718-246-7000)
• Millennium UN Plaza Hotel (44th St between 1st and 2nd Aves, 212-758-1234)
• YMCA's around the city - One-day pool passes vary per branch, but are usually around $15.
• New York Sports Clubs - Various locations throughout the city charge $25 for a one-day pool pass, but not all locations not all locations have pools.

San Francisco Weather

Although Mark Twain said: "The coldest day I ever spent was a summer's day in San Francisco," San Francisco is actually blessed with a wonderful climate all year long. The temperature is rarely too hot, and only seldom too cold. The average daily temperature is 62.5 degrees. Expect some of the famous fog during the summer and a little rain November through March. The months of September and October are renowned for their balmy fog free sunny days.

Philadelphia's Fairmount Park

One of our favorite places to hang out in Philadelphia is Fairmount Park, which features (among other things) a zoo, historic houses, and plenty of places to go hiking and walking (after all, Fairmount Park's 8,500 acres make it the largest landscaped city park in the world). We love the azaleas in the Spring, the outdoor concerts in the Summer, the Sculpture Garden in the Fall and the twinkling lights of Boathouse Row in the winter. Season after season, there's no place like it!

Grab a Seat at the U.S. Open

As Labor Day approaches, New Yorkers know it's time to start thinking about heading out to Queens for the U.S. Open. Don't wait too long to book your tickets -- they always go fast -- this is, after all, the highest attended sporting event in the world (betcha didn't know that!). And remember to check out our insider tips for the best ways to snag seats.