New Fountains at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

We love the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and always have.  Just walking up the magnificent front steps thinking about all the wonders inside that await us still provides a thrill on every visit.  So we were thrilled to read in this morning's Wall Street Journal that there is an early-stage plan to revamp the pair of oval shaped fountains in the plaza outside.  While it's hard to know exactly what will be developed that is both environmentally-friendly and respectful of the fountain's historical status, we can't wait to see what's in the works!

Alcott et al

Planning a trip to the Boston area this spring? Fans of the novel Little Women will want to see the Orchard House in Concord, MA, which often features events surrounding Meg's wedding (Anna Alcott in real life), which took place in the parlor on May 23, 1860. The Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA makes another great day trip. You’ll see the farmhouse where Bronson Alcott (Louisa May Alcott's father) established his experiment in communal living, as well as galleries featuring Native American art and artifacts, a Shaker collection, and a Picture Gallery of American vernacular portraits and Hudson River School landscapes.

San Francisco Weather

Planning a trip to San Francisco this month?  Your timing couldn't be more perfect!  April is historically the Bay Area's least foggy month and there is rarely rain, so vistas are clear. Expect mornings in the high 40s and pleasant afternoons in the mid 50s.

Baseball in Boston

Baseball season is well underway in Boston, and the nice weather we've been having this spring makes now the perfect time for planning to attend a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. This historic field, which was built in 1912, is the oldest baseball park still in use and is famous for the left field wall called the "Green Monster."

Book Your Hotel Room Now -- and Save!

The Wall Street Journal reported today that hotel rates are projected to rise this year as the travel industry begins to bounceback from the world-wide recession.  So if you are in the midst of planning your vacation, it might behoove you to book your room now and lock in your rate while prices are still low.  This is especially true for popular places like New York City and beach front properties in Hawaii.

San Francisco's Presidio

When people think of San Francisco, cable cars, crooked streets, and the Golden Gate Bridge are the images that most often come to mind.   Most don’t think of San Francisco as an army town. But the military — first Spanish, then Mexican, then American — played a pivotal role in forming and defining the city.  The reason?  San Francisco Bay's deep natural harbor, which can be entered only via the narrow channel known as the Golden Gate, gave the city strategic importance. 

To get a feel for the critical role that the harbor played, consider that as recently as during World War II, the Presidio was the headquarters for the defense of the entire western United States.  Throughout that war, San Francisco was the point of embarkation for a million and a half troops and 23 million tons of cargo bound for the Pacific theater. 

In 1994, the Presidio ceased its military role and became a national park.   At 1,490 acres, the Presidio ia almost twice the size of Central Park in New York City, and includes historical structures, hilly acres of cypress trees, trails and curving roads that invite hiking or cycling, and Baker Beach, a swimming hot spot — all free and open to the public.  We recommend a visit.