Save Gas This Summer - "Staycation" in Boston!

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Gas has gotten more and more expensive over this past year. I'm sure that we can all remember, even 6 months ago, our horror at the possibility of a gallon of gas hitting $4.00. As prices stand today, the average is currently $4.00 here on the East Coast and there is no end in sight. For those of us who love taking summer vacations with our friends, family, and loved ones, this is a depressing thought. It's impacting not only the price of filling up our own personal gas tanks, but also the price of airfare, cruises, and all other forms of transportation to get us out of town on our vacations.

However, there is no need to worry! Here in Boston, we live in a world-class city, and in all of our travels around the country and world, we have really taken that fact for granted. Mayor Menino himself feels our pain and has created a campaign called "Visit the Pin" and he has chosen 10 attractions around the city at which to place giant, 12-foot, red "push pins". The pins have been created to grab our attention and alert us to all the wonderful attractions that Boston has to offer. However, while the places he has chosen are pretty great, they are also very touristy and if you have lived here for a while, you have probably already been to them - maybe even several times.

I have created a list of some of the great, under appreciated spots in Boston that you should visit for the first time, or visit again! I've organized them into 10 can't-miss "day" trips. This list is chock-full of ideas. You may find that each "day" trip contains more than you would be able to accomplish in one day, so you might have to choose the attraction(s) that appeal most to you. Be sure to visit the websites for each of the suggestions for more information. I have tried to choose cost-effective suggestions so that your week off won't break the bank. All you need is your T pass (and not an ounce of gasoline) for a wonderful "Staycation" week in Boston!

1. Day Trip #1: Fine Arts and Culture

If you live here, you have probably spent time at the Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall at some point, but there are MANY other ways to explore arts and culture in Boston. Stop by two or three of these lesser known spots for a very enriching day! I would suggest an art museum or two in the morning and afternoon and a performance in the evening. You could even head over to the waterfront to have lunch at the Channel Cafe (food and drink/art gallery). Be sure to click below and visit the various websites ahead of time for hours, special show and exhibit info.

* Take in some art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

* Visit the new Institute of Contemporary Art now on the waterfront

* Get tickets to a show at or take a tour of the newly restored Boston Opera House

* See a show at Emerson College's Cutler Majestic Theater...

* ... or at Harvard's American Repertory Theater

* ... or at Boston University's Huntington Theater

* ... or at the exciting Boston Center for the Arts

* Watch some Shakespeare on the Common presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company

* Catch some amazing music at the Berkelee Berformance Center

* Support music of the 20th century through the Boston Modern Orchestra Project

2. Day Trip #2: Sports Appreciation

It seems that Boston is the center of the sports universe at the moment - the Red Sox moved into the All-Star break in first place after winning two World Championships in the past 4 years. The Patriots had an undefeated regular season this year after winning the Super Bowl in '01, '03, and '04. This year, the Celtics won the NBA Finals in dramatic fashion. Even the Bruins and the Revolution made great showings in the playoffs. When thinking about what to see in Boston, sports appreciation is at the top of the list! While watching a major sports game might be out of your price range, there are countless ways to appreciate sports in this city. Check out a few of these options:

* Take a tour of historic Fenway Park and check out the famous Citgo Sign

* Run the Boston Marathon (or at least up Heartbreak Hill!)

* Visit the Sports Museum (in the TD Banknorth Garden)

* Attend a game at BC, BU or Northeastern (some are easier to get tickets to than others!)

* Visit the site at Northeastern that was once Huntington Avenue Grounds (original Red Sox home)

* Stop by the historic Boston Braves Field (Now BU's Nickerson Field)

* Catch a horse race at Suffolk Downs

* Visit Harvard Stadium

* Watch a Boston Lobsters Tennis Match

* Visit the Science Museum's current Exhibit: "Baseball as America"

I would suggest lunch/dinner at the Sports Depot, Game On, The Fours, or Boston Beer Works for the full Boston sports experience!

3. Day Trip #3: City of Learning

Above all else, when people think about Boston, they think of the rich academic culture that our city embodies. Boston has more colleges per square mile than any other city in the world. Naturally, we are a city that is overflowing with learning opportunities. Why not spend some time appreciating those opportunities? Here are some wonderful ways you can spend the day learning in Boston. Break for lunch at Novel, the Boston Public Library restaurant!

* Visit the historic and beautiful Boston Public Library

* Stop by the Boston Anthenaeum

* Take a free walking tour of Harvard University or MIT

* Spend an afternoon in one of many used book stores in Boston or Cambridge

* Take a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education

* Learn about how beer is made! Take a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery

* Visit the Mary Baker Eddy Library and it's famous Mappariam

After your intense day of learning, you'll need to kick back - stop by the Thirsty Scholar Pub for some dinner and a drink and give your brain a break!

4. Day Trip #4: History

It can easily be argued that there is really no city in the United States that is more historically significant than Boston. The city wears this identity well while still looking toward the future, mixing centuries-old beautiful buildings with modern towering skyscrapers. If you work downtown, unless you walk slowly and read the signs you pass each day (and who does that around here?) you may not realize the significance of the buildings around you. I'm sure that if you grew up around here, you have walked the Freedom Trail once or twice, but there may be more obscure historical landmarks that you have never even noticed! Take a day to walk around a little more slowly, visit some of these interesting landmarks, and look up once in a while! While you are at it, stop by Boston's oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House, for dinner.

* Learn about the lives of a well-to-do family in historic Boston at the Gibson House Museum

* Visit the headquarters of Historic New England at the Otis House Museum

* Pay your respects to our forefathers and foremothers at Granary Burying Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground

* Visit the Museum of African American History and take the Black Heritage Trail

* Talk a walk along the Boston Women's Heritage Trail

* Tour the historically and architecturally significant Trinity Church

5. Day Trip #5: Island Hopping

If you are anything like me, you have never taken full advantage of the fact that we have an amazing National Park right off the coast of Boston. The park is comprised of 34 small islands (11 of which are open to the public) just minutes away by boat. The islands vary as far as what you can do on each of them, so use this list as a guide to get you started. The National Park Service recommends picking no more than two islands to visit in one day, so take a look and choose one or two that look interesting to you. Concession stands are available at Georges and Spectacle Islands, but why not bring a picnic lunch for your visit to the islands! It's a perfect excuse for a picnic!

* Camp overnight on Grape, Bumpkin or Lovells Island - Permits are required

* Visit Lovells Island for the day for trails that pass by dunes and woods, picnic areas, an unsupervised swimming beach, and the remains of Fort Standish

* Visit and explore Deer Island and learn about its fascinating history

* Visit popular Georges Island, the transportation hub for the system of islands, its open fields, paved walkways and gravel beach - be sure to tour historic Fort Warren while you are there

* Check out Little Brewster, home of Boston Light, the country's oldest continuously running light house

* Experience a wide range of natural beauty and check out historic Fort Andrews at Peddocks Island

* Visit Spectacle Island, which features a marina, visitor center, cafe, a life-guarded swimming beach, and five miles of walking trails that lead to the crest of a 157 foot-high hill, offering panoramic views of the harbor and the city

* Take a tour and enjoy nature at Thompson Island, which is a particularly good choice if you have a large group (like a company or school)

* Picnic, fish and enjoy walking trails at Webb Memorial State Park

* Enjoy Hingham Bay, rocky beaches, ledges, cliffs, patches of salt marsh and an area of freshwater marsh at Worlds End Reservation

6. Day Trip #6: Beach Bum

If the only great vacation you can imagine is one in which you are lying on a beach for at least a day, there are many great options for you around here! You might assume that you have to drive down to the Cape or up to the North Shore for great beach experiences, and if so, you will be pleasantly surprised by the following recommendations. There are several great options easily reachable in or very near the city by subway or bus. A day at the beach requires beach food, in my opinion, and so I suggest a stop at Sullivan's at Castle Island or Kelly's Roast Beef in Revere. I've also suggested a few options that are outside the city, but easily accessible from the commuter rail, if you really want to get out of the city for the day.

* Take the Blue Line to America's First Public Beach, Revere Beach

* Throw on your swim suit and take advantage of The Boston Harborwalk

* Take the Red Line to JFK and visit Carson Beach, L & M Street Beaches, Pleasure Bay and Castle Island, which are all connected

* Take the Commuter Rail north to Ipswich Station, then board the Ipswich-Essex Explorer Shuttle to Crane Beach

* Take the Commuter Rail north to Manchester-by-the-Sea and walk a short way to Singing Beach

* Take the Amtrak Downeaster to Old Orchard Beach in Maine

7. Day Trip #7: Appreciation of Unusual Things

If you are someone who enjoys exploring the unique and unusual aspects of a vacation destination, you have plenty of options to appreciate the quirky - right here in Boston! As you are exploring a few of the following unusual spots in Boston, a couple of well loved, but certainly unique, Boston restaurants worth your time during this day would be Fire & Ice Improvisational Grill for a fun, interactive experience and the Beehive, for some great food, atmosphere and live jazz.

* Visit America's oldest car collection at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum

* Learn history from a unusual perspective on New England Ghost Tour!

* Experience Boston's most interactive entertainment at Tomb by 5Witz

* Appreciate some art that's too bad to be ignored! Visit the Museum of Bad Art

* Explore invention, ideas and innovation (including holograms!) at the MIT Museum

* Visit the Harvard Bridge and count how many Smoots long it is!

* Take a Duck Tour (come on... you know you want to!)

* Visit the spots where your favorite movies were filmed on one of the Boston Movie Tours

* Discover the secrets of Boston through an Urban Interactive sight-seeing adventure

* Find out what is so special about the Scarlett O'Hara House

8. Day Trip #8: Nature

If you are stuck in Boston, but prefer a more serene, natural vacation, there are many options for you, even within the city limits! There are many opportunities in the city that will allow you to spend time appreciating the nature around you. I recommend exploring some of the following recommendations. If you want a fully natural day, take a break and visit Grezzo Restaurant for lunch, Boston's 100% organic, raw food restaurant.

* Take a ride on the Swan Boats while visiting the Boston Public Garden

* Hang out with the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo in the heart of Franklin Park

* Visit Arnold Arboretum, the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants

* Spend some time at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (especially great if your "nature" themed day turns out to be a rainy one!)

* Go for a peaceful and quiet run in the Fens nature trails

* Visit the Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

* Find a Boston area State Park near you for everything from hiking to mountain biking

* See "Day Trip #5" (Above) for info about the Boston Harbor Islands - spend a while at one!

9. Day Trip #9: On the Water

We are so lucky to be living right on the water here in Boston. As I mentioned above, this opens up many possibilities as far as enjoying wonderful beach days, as well as visiting the Boston Harbor Islands right off the coast. However, a huge benefit to having so much water nearby is the opportunity to get out on it for the day. Whether you are an accomplished sailor or have never stepped food in a boat, there are options here for you. Read through this list and choose an adventure or two just for you! During the day or evening, if you are hungry, stop by Tia's On the Waterfront for a bite, a drink and a chance to enjoy the view of the water!

* Contact Community Boating, Inc. to find out how you can learn to sail - Use your vacation day to get started on the Charles River

* For a relatively inexpensive chance to spend time in a boat on the water, take an Inner Harbor Ferry or Commuter Boat or the Rowes Wharf Water Taxi

* Take a sunset or sightseeing cruise through the Charles Riverboat Company

* Take a Boston Light Tour and experience first-hand the oldest lighthouse site in the U.S.

* Join in on a sail aboard the 125' Schooner Liberty Clipper

* If you can't bear to actually get out on the water, you can enjoy WBZ's Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell - enjoy the breeze of the Charles from safely ashore, and watch a movie under the stars!

10. Day Trip #10: Festivals

Summer in Boston always reminds me of all the neighborhood parties and celebrations in the city. Every weekend throughout the summer, there is at least one festival somewhere in the city that is an excuse to enjoy Boston and its cultural diversity. A day at any of these festivals would be worth building into your "staycation" week schedule. I don't need to recommend a restaurant for you, since the mark of a great festival is the amazing food it serves. Enjoy!

* Choose a weekend this summer and stop by the North End for the North End Festivals of Saints

* Stop by Government Center on August 2 from 4:00-8:00 for the Peace Hip Hop Festival

* Spend August 17 in Chinatown for the August Moon Festival

* Head to Dorchester on August 23rd for the Caribbean Carnival Parade & Festival

* Show off and add to your ink from September 12-14 at the Boston Tatoo Convention

* Settle in from September 12-18 for the Boston Film Festival

I hope that you enjoy all my suggestions and that they inspire you to rediscover our great city in these times of high gas prices! These are also great suggestions for you if you are visiting Boston from out of town. If you are stuck in another city, and these suggestions sound fun to you, look for similar ideas near your home. I bet you will be surprised by what you will find!

Please respond and let me know what you love to do when you are spending time in Boston - I am very interested to hear!

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5 Best National Parks to Take Your Dog

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The welcome mat in our National Park System rolls up when we drive in with our dogs. Very few national parks allow dogs on hiking trails. In Yellowstone National Park dogs are not allowed more than 100 feet from roads, parking areas and campgrounds. In Yosemite National Park dogs can walk the paved paths of the Valley floor but are not permitted on any trail or slope. At the Grand Canyon dogs can walk along the South Rim in developed areas but can not go on any trail below the rim. At Zion National Park dogs are permitted on one mild trail.

And on and on. So, while most of America is making plans to visit our national natural treasure, we dog owners must be a bit more creative. Here are the 5 best national parks to take your dog in America.

1. Acadia National Park Bar Harbor, Maine

Acadia National Park is certainly one of the crown jewels in the National Park Service and dogs will not bark in dissent - this is the best national park to bring your dog for outdoor adventure. Except for the swimming beaches and ladder hiking trails like the Precipice Trail, dogs are allowed throughout the park.

Much of your time with your dog in Acadia will be spent on its intricate network of carriage roads. Mount Desert Island, named by French explorer Samuel Champlain in 1604, was once the summer

playground of America's rich and famous. When John D. Rockefeller, Jr., no great fan of the horseless carriage, visited the Maine coast he enjoyed outings with his team of horses and open coaches. He painstakingly directed the construction of wide, motor-free carriage roads twisting through the island mountains. Forty-five miles of rustic broken stone roads were eventually built between 1913 and 1940 and the hand-built byways are the best examples of the construction technique still in use in America. In addition to the stone roads and stone guardrails, irregularly spaced granite slabs known locally as "Rockefeller's Teeth," there are 16 stone-faced bridges - each unique in design.

One of the wealthy elite, George B. Dorr, devoted 43 years and much of his family fortune to preserving the island. He offered more than 6,000 acres to the federal government and in 1916, Woodrow Wilson established the Sieur de Monts National Mounment. Three years later Lafayette National Park became the first national park east of the Mississippi River. Honoring its Acadian heritage, the park became Acadia National Park in 1929.

Several park highlights come with little purchase for your dog. The Jordan Pond Nature Trail is a mile-long loop leading to views of glacial mountains reflecting in the pond waters. The rounded mountains, known as the Bubbles, can be climbed on short trails. Other easy hikes include the Ocean Trail to Otter Cliffs that clings to the edge of lands' end over the Atlantic surf and exploratory walks atop Cadillac Mountain. The 1530-foot summit is the highest point on the Atlantic Ocean north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and sunrise hikes here will be the first to be illuminated in America. The Great Head Trail loops across Sand Beach and most people go right at the head of the loop. But going left into the maritime forest saves the spectacular coastal views from one of America's highest headlands until the end. All these trails are easily accessed from the Park Loop Road and can get busy. Seek out trails across Somes Sound - America's only fjord - in the western reaches of the park to find fewer paw prints.

2. Shenandoah National Park Luray, Virginia

The Blue Ridge Mountains that host Shenandoah National Park are the oldest rocks on earth. A billion years ago these mountains were higher than the Rockies when they were created. Time has weathered and rounded the peaks and valley that we see today. But what we see in Shenandoah has not been left to the hand of nature, as we have come to expect in our national parks.

Shenandoah is very much a planned national park. Herbert Hoover established a Summer White House on the Rapidan River (the park is only 75 miles from Washington DC) helping to trigger wilderness development. During the Great Depression Shenandoah was officially designated a national park and Franklin Roosevelt's "Tree Army" planted hundreds of thousands of trees on slopes that had been cleared for farms and firewood.

At the same time construction began on the 105-mile Skyline Drive that is today the only public road in Shenandoah National Park. Your dog is welcome at just about every stop along the way - only 20 of the more than 500 miles of hiking trails are off-limits for dogs. These are usually trails involving awkward passages and rock climbs. Unfortunately one such trail is on Old Rag Mountain that is considered by many to be the best hike on the East Coast. But generally your dog will be able to visit the best views and waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park.

3. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Brecksville, Ohio

Raise your hand if you knew that America's first national park of the 21st Century was created in...Cleveland? To the first people who came here 12,000 years ago the Cuyahoga was the "crooked river." Its steep valley walls inhibited settlement as easterners poked into the region in the late 1700s. But a navigable water link between Lake Erie and the Ohio River was a priority in the early American Canal Age and in 1832 the Ohio & Erie Canal became a reality. Ohio boomed and settlers poured into the area. The canal was put out of business by the Great Flood of 1913 and the Cuyahoga Valley was left to recreational purposes. The 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River were protected as a national recreation area so the heavy lifting for creating the park was done before its designation as a national park in 2000.

As befits its history as a recreation destination, Cuyahoga is a national park that permits dogs on its trails. It doesn't have the feel of the grand American national parks but instead evokes an intimate feel on the trails that are squeezed between highways, farmlands and neighborhoods.

The main trail through the park is the nearly 20 miles of the Towpath Trail along the route of the historic canal. Ten trailheads make it easy to hike the crushed limestone path in biscuit-size chunks. The trail is a mix of meadows and forests and the remnants of locks and villages. Another long distance trail through the park is the Buckeye Trail that circles the entire state of Ohio for over 1200 miles. About 33 miles of the blue-blazed pathway wander the ravines and ridges of the valley.

Some of the best outings with your dog in the park are in the north end of the Cuyahoga Valley, in the Bradford Reservation. A five-mile all-purpose trail traverses the Tinkers Creek Gorge area, exploring Ohio's most spectacular canyon. The gorge is a National Natural Landmark, noted for its virgin hemlock forests. Short detours off the main trail include an easy walk to Bridal Veil Falls and the Hemlock Creek Loop Trail.

Other highlights include the dark and mysterious 2.2-mile ramble around the Ledges (from the Happy Day camp) and a short 1.25-mile loop through the Brandywine Gorge that takes your dog to the lip of Brandywine Falls and 160 feet down to the water level.

4. Hot Springs National Park Hot Springs, Arkansas

The water that bubbles to the ground at 143 degrees Farenheit fell to earth 4,000 years ago, percolating deep into the earth and heating four degrees every 300 feet before seeping out of the lower west slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Spanish explorers and French trappers visited the springs for centuries. In 1803 the United States acquired this land in the Louisiana Purchase and in 1832 the Federal Government reserved land around the springs - the first "national park" to protect a natural resource. There was little done to administer the reserve, however, and private bathhouses sprung up to cater to tourists visiting to relax in the "healing" waters. Finally in 1921, Hot Springs became a true National Park, a unique blend of a highly developed small city set in low-lying, rounded mountains.

There are more than 30 miles of top-notch hiking trails available in Hot Springs, mostly on short, inter-connecting jogs on Hot Springs Mountain and West Mountain that flank the city. Many of these paths were carved for visitors who were encouraged to walk daily in addition to their baths as part of an all-encompassing healthy routine at the spas. Most were constructed wide enough to handle carriages and are still roomy today. Although the mountains only top out at little more than 1,000 feet expect to find some climbs that will leave you and your dog panting. Also, there aren't many streams so make sure you carry plenty of cooling water for your dog on a summer afternoon's outing.

For extended canine hiking head out on the Sunset Trail that leaves West Mountain and tags Music Mountain at 1,405 feet (the highest spot in the park) before doubling back onto Sugarloaf Mountain. This trail doesn't loop and is a good candidate for a car shuttle. Back in town you can take your dog on a tour of Bathhouse Row with a half-mile saunter down the Promenade, vsiting several of the 47 springs that flow at an average rate of 850,000 gallons a day.

The one place you can't take your dog in Hot Springs is in the centerpiece bathouses but across from Bathhouse Row you can catch a ride on a Duck Boat, an amphibious vehicle that drives south of town for a cruise on Lake Hamilton. Dogs are allowed to ride on the top deck.

5. Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Not named for extinct wooly elephants but rather the length of its passageways, Mammoth Cave is by far the longest known cave system in the world. There may be no traces of mammoths in the vast underground world but archeologicalists have unearthed evidence of human occupation in Mammoth Cave from as far back as 4,000 years ago. In the early days of the country, Mammoth Cave was used commercially to produce saltpeter needed to manufacture gunpowder and in 1941 the cave was protected as a national park. In 1981, Mammoth Cave was named a World Heritage Site.

Your dog won't be able to sniff around the 336 miles of underground passages in Mammoth Cave but there are more than 70 miles of trails above ground to explore in the park. A variety of leg-stretching hikes less than two miles are available around the Visitor Center, including the Green River Bluffs Trail that snakes through thick woods to a promontory above the Green River. For prolonged canine hiking head for the North Side Trails. A half-dozen mid-length day hikes launch into the dark hollows and hardwood forests from the Maple Spring Trailhead (North Entrance Road). This labyrinth of trails cuts through rugged terrain that has been left in its natural state. In the Big Woods (Little Jordan Road), you can hike the White Oak Trail through one of the last remaining old growth forests in Kentucky.

Along Highway 255 (the East Entrance road) is a small parking lot for a short trail to Sand Cave. For several weeks in the 1930s, this remote section of woods was the most famous spot in America. A local cave explorer named Floyd Collins became trapped in the cave and the nation became fixated on the rescue efforts that were meticulously detailed in newspapers and radio reports. Rescuers were ultimately unsuccessful in freeing Collins from a leg-pinning rock. The incident spawned books and a movie starring Kirk Douglas, Ace In The Hole. The small entrance of Sand Cave is wired off today and there is little to remind visitors of the drama that once gripped America here.

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Save Gas This Summer - "Staycation" in Boston!

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Gas has gotten more and more expensive over this past year. I'm sure that we can all remember, even 6 months ago, our horror at the possibility of a gallon of gas hitting $4.00. As prices stand today, the average is currently $4.00 here on the East Coast and there is no end in sight. For those of us who love taking summer vacations with our friends, family, and loved ones, this is a depressing thought. It's impacting not only the price of filling up our own personal gas tanks, but also the price of airfare, cruises, and all other forms of transportation to get us out of town on our vacations.

However, there is no need to worry! Here in Boston, we live in a world-class city, and in all of our travels around the country and world, we have really taken that fact for granted. Mayor Menino himself feels our pain and has created a campaign called "Visit the Pin" and he has chosen 10 attractions around the city at which to place giant, 12-foot, red "push pins". The pins have been created to grab our attention and alert us to all the wonderful attractions that Boston has to offer. However, while the places he has chosen are pretty great, they are also very touristy and if you have lived here for a while, you have probably already been to them - maybe even several times.

I have created a list of some of the great, under appreciated spots in Boston that you should visit for the first time, or visit again! I've organized them into 10 can't-miss "day" trips. This list is chock-full of ideas. You may find that each "day" trip contains more than you would be able to accomplish in one day, so you might have to choose the attraction(s) that appeal most to you. Be sure to visit the websites for each of the suggestions for more information. I have tried to choose cost-effective suggestions so that your week off won't break the bank. All you need is your T pass (and not an ounce of gasoline) for a wonderful "Staycation" week in Boston!

1. Day Trip #1: Fine Arts and Culture

If you live here, you have probably spent time at the Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall at some point, but there are MANY other ways to explore arts and culture in Boston. Stop by two or three of these lesser known spots for a very enriching day! I would suggest an art museum or two in the morning and afternoon and a performance in the evening. You could even head over to the waterfront to have lunch at the Channel Cafe (food and drink/art gallery). Be sure to click below and visit the various websites ahead of time for hours, special show and exhibit info.

* Take in some art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

* Visit the new Institute of Contemporary Art now on the waterfront

* Get tickets to a show at or take a tour of the newly restored Boston Opera House

* See a show at Emerson College's Cutler Majestic Theater...

* ... or at Harvard's American Repertory Theater

* ... or at Boston University's Huntington Theater

* ... or at the exciting Boston Center for the Arts

* Watch some Shakespeare on the Common presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company

* Catch some amazing music at the Berkelee Berformance Center

* Support music of the 20th century through the Boston Modern Orchestra Project

2. Day Trip #2: Sports Appreciation

It seems that Boston is the center of the sports universe at the moment - the Red Sox moved into the All-Star break in first place after winning two World Championships in the past 4 years. The Patriots had an undefeated regular season this year after winning the Super Bowl in '01, '03, and '04. This year, the Celtics won the NBA Finals in dramatic fashion. Even the Bruins and the Revolution made great showings in the playoffs. When thinking about what to see in Boston, sports appreciation is at the top of the list! While watching a major sports game might be out of your price range, there are countless ways to appreciate sports in this city. Check out a few of these options:

* Take a tour of historic Fenway Park and check out the famous Citgo Sign

* Run the Boston Marathon (or at least up Heartbreak Hill!)

* Visit the Sports Museum (in the TD Banknorth Garden)

* Attend a game at BC, BU or Northeastern (some are easier to get tickets to than others!)

* Visit the site at Northeastern that was once Huntington Avenue Grounds (original Red Sox home)

* Stop by the historic Boston Braves Field (Now BU's Nickerson Field)

* Catch a horse race at Suffolk Downs

* Visit Harvard Stadium

* Watch a Boston Lobsters Tennis Match

* Visit the Science Museum's current Exhibit: "Baseball as America"

I would suggest lunch/dinner at the Sports Depot, Game On, The Fours, or Boston Beer Works for the full Boston sports experience!

3. Day Trip #3: City of Learning

Above all else, when people think about Boston, they think of the rich academic culture that our city embodies. Boston has more colleges per square mile than any other city in the world. Naturally, we are a city that is overflowing with learning opportunities. Why not spend some time appreciating those opportunities? Here are some wonderful ways you can spend the day learning in Boston. Break for lunch at Novel, the Boston Public Library restaurant!

* Visit the historic and beautiful Boston Public Library

* Stop by the Boston Anthenaeum

* Take a free walking tour of Harvard University or MIT

* Spend an afternoon in one of many used book stores in Boston or Cambridge

* Take a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education

* Learn about how beer is made! Take a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery

* Visit the Mary Baker Eddy Library and it's famous Mappariam

After your intense day of learning, you'll need to kick back - stop by the Thirsty Scholar Pub for some dinner and a drink and give your brain a break!

4. Day Trip #4: History

It can easily be argued that there is really no city in the United States that is more historically significant than Boston. The city wears this identity well while still looking toward the future, mixing centuries-old beautiful buildings with modern towering skyscrapers. If you work downtown, unless you walk slowly and read the signs you pass each day (and who does that around here?) you may not realize the significance of the buildings around you. I'm sure that if you grew up around here, you have walked the Freedom Trail once or twice, but there may be more obscure historical landmarks that you have never even noticed! Take a day to walk around a little more slowly, visit some of these interesting landmarks, and look up once in a while! While you are at it, stop by Boston's oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House, for dinner.

* Learn about the lives of a well-to-do family in historic Boston at the Gibson House Museum

* Visit the headquarters of Historic New England at the Otis House Museum

* Pay your respects to our forefathers and foremothers at Granary Burying Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground

* Visit the Museum of African American History and take the Black Heritage Trail

* Talk a walk along the Boston Women's Heritage Trail

* Tour the historically and architecturally significant Trinity Church

5. Day Trip #5: Island Hopping

If you are anything like me, you have never taken full advantage of the fact that we have an amazing National Park right off the coast of Boston. The park is comprised of 34 small islands (11 of which are open to the public) just minutes away by boat. The islands vary as far as what you can do on each of them, so use this list as a guide to get you started. The National Park Service recommends picking no more than two islands to visit in one day, so take a look and choose one or two that look interesting to you. Concession stands are available at Georges and Spectacle Islands, but why not bring a picnic lunch for your visit to the islands! It's a perfect excuse for a picnic!

* Camp overnight on Grape, Bumpkin or Lovells Island - Permits are required

* Visit Lovells Island for the day for trails that pass by dunes and woods, picnic areas, an unsupervised swimming beach, and the remains of Fort Standish

* Visit and explore Deer Island and learn about its fascinating history

* Visit popular Georges Island, the transportation hub for the system of islands, its open fields, paved walkways and gravel beach - be sure to tour historic Fort Warren while you are there

* Check out Little Brewster, home of Boston Light, the country's oldest continuously running light house

* Experience a wide range of natural beauty and check out historic Fort Andrews at Peddocks Island

* Visit Spectacle Island, which features a marina, visitor center, cafe, a life-guarded swimming beach, and five miles of walking trails that lead to the crest of a 157 foot-high hill, offering panoramic views of the harbor and the city

* Take a tour and enjoy nature at Thompson Island, which is a particularly good choice if you have a large group (like a company or school)

* Picnic, fish and enjoy walking trails at Webb Memorial State Park

* Enjoy Hingham Bay, rocky beaches, ledges, cliffs, patches of salt marsh and an area of freshwater marsh at Worlds End Reservation

6. Day Trip #6: Beach Bum

If the only great vacation you can imagine is one in which you are lying on a beach for at least a day, there are many great options for you around here! You might assume that you have to drive down to the Cape or up to the North Shore for great beach experiences, and if so, you will be pleasantly surprised by the following recommendations. There are several great options easily reachable in or very near the city by subway or bus. A day at the beach requires beach food, in my opinion, and so I suggest a stop at Sullivan's at Castle Island or Kelly's Roast Beef in Revere. I've also suggested a few options that are outside the city, but easily accessible from the commuter rail, if you really want to get out of the city for the day.

* Take the Blue Line to America's First Public Beach, Revere Beach

* Throw on your swim suit and take advantage of The Boston Harborwalk

* Take the Red Line to JFK and visit Carson Beach, L & M Street Beaches, Pleasure Bay and Castle Island, which are all connected

* Take the Commuter Rail north to Ipswich Station, then board the Ipswich-Essex Explorer Shuttle to Crane Beach

* Take the Commuter Rail north to Manchester-by-the-Sea and walk a short way to Singing Beach

* Take the Amtrak Downeaster to Old Orchard Beach in Maine

7. Day Trip #7: Appreciation of Unusual Things

If you are someone who enjoys exploring the unique and unusual aspects of a vacation destination, you have plenty of options to appreciate the quirky - right here in Boston! As you are exploring a few of the following unusual spots in Boston, a couple of well loved, but certainly unique, Boston restaurants worth your time during this day would be Fire & Ice Improvisational Grill for a fun, interactive experience and the Beehive, for some great food, atmosphere and live jazz.

* Visit America's oldest car collection at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum

* Learn history from a unusual perspective on New England Ghost Tour!

* Experience Boston's most interactive entertainment at Tomb by 5Witz

* Appreciate some art that's too bad to be ignored! Visit the Museum of Bad Art

* Explore invention, ideas and innovation (including holograms!) at the MIT Museum

* Visit the Harvard Bridge and count how many Smoots long it is!

* Take a Duck Tour (come on... you know you want to!)

* Visit the spots where your favorite movies were filmed on one of the Boston Movie Tours

* Discover the secrets of Boston through an Urban Interactive sight-seeing adventure

* Find out what is so special about the Scarlett O'Hara House

8. Day Trip #8: Nature

If you are stuck in Boston, but prefer a more serene, natural vacation, there are many options for you, even within the city limits! There are many opportunities in the city that will allow you to spend time appreciating the nature around you. I recommend exploring some of the following recommendations. If you want a fully natural day, take a break and visit Grezzo Restaurant for lunch, Boston's 100% organic, raw food restaurant.

* Take a ride on the Swan Boats while visiting the Boston Public Garden

* Hang out with the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo in the heart of Franklin Park

* Visit Arnold Arboretum, the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants

* Spend some time at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (especially great if your "nature" themed day turns out to be a rainy one!)

* Go for a peaceful and quiet run in the Fens nature trails

* Visit the Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

* Find a Boston area State Park near you for everything from hiking to mountain biking

* See "Day Trip #5" (Above) for info about the Boston Harbor Islands - spend a while at one!

9. Day Trip #9: On the Water

We are so lucky to be living right on the water here in Boston. As I mentioned above, this opens up many possibilities as far as enjoying wonderful beach days, as well as visiting the Boston Harbor Islands right off the coast. However, a huge benefit to having so much water nearby is the opportunity to get out on it for the day. Whether you are an accomplished sailor or have never stepped food in a boat, there are options here for you. Read through this list and choose an adventure or two just for you! During the day or evening, if you are hungry, stop by Tia's On the Waterfront for a bite, a drink and a chance to enjoy the view of the water!

* Contact Community Boating, Inc. to find out how you can learn to sail - Use your vacation day to get started on the Charles River

* For a relatively inexpensive chance to spend time in a boat on the water, take an Inner Harbor Ferry or Commuter Boat or the Rowes Wharf Water Taxi

* Take a sunset or sightseeing cruise through the Charles Riverboat Company

* Take a Boston Light Tour and experience first-hand the oldest lighthouse site in the U.S.

* Join in on a sail aboard the 125' Schooner Liberty Clipper

* If you can't bear to actually get out on the water, you can enjoy WBZ's Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell - enjoy the breeze of the Charles from safely ashore, and watch a movie under the stars!

10. Day Trip #10: Festivals

Summer in Boston always reminds me of all the neighborhood parties and celebrations in the city. Every weekend throughout the summer, there is at least one festival somewhere in the city that is an excuse to enjoy Boston and its cultural diversity. A day at any of these festivals would be worth building into your "staycation" week schedule. I don't need to recommend a restaurant for you, since the mark of a great festival is the amazing food it serves. Enjoy!

* Choose a weekend this summer and stop by the North End for the North End Festivals of Saints

* Stop by Government Center on August 2 from 4:00-8:00 for the Peace Hip Hop Festival

* Spend August 17 in Chinatown for the August Moon Festival

* Head to Dorchester on August 23rd for the Caribbean Carnival Parade & Festival

* Show off and add to your ink from September 12-14 at the Boston Tatoo Convention

* Settle in from September 12-18 for the Boston Film Festival

I hope that you enjoy all my suggestions and that they inspire you to rediscover our great city in these times of high gas prices! These are also great suggestions for you if you are visiting Boston from out of town. If you are stuck in another city, and these suggestions sound fun to you, look for similar ideas near your home. I bet you will be surprised by what you will find!

Please respond and let me know what you love to do when you are spending time in Boston - I am very interested to hear!

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Maine Adventure Travel

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Maine is a surprisingly exotic destination. Offers tourists more than just a refreshing and honest exchange for his money. Each season has different sports that are played as part of its attractions seasonal and witness the active participation of both visitors and local residents in full swing. These sports offer visitors the unique opportunity to bond with the locals. Makes the holiday memorable and different.

There is aThe diversity of wildlife in the forest and hiking trails, and finding wildlife is a wildlife enthusiasts dream come true. Maine also has a natural park in gray, home to over 25 species of wild animals, indigenous peoples in this region. There are bears moose, and mountain lions that local forests.

The main tourist attraction in spring is the annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. E 'ideal for adventure sports. Takes canoeists and kayakers,from the small town of Kenduskeag to Bangor. And 'the reputation of the most exciting kayak competition in this area.

Outdoor adventurers can spring the best time, with the annual competition. This sport requires canoe and kayak from the small town of Kenduskeag Kenduskeag Village and in Glenburn, before Bangor. Has the reputation of one of New England's most exciting races of canoe. Maine also offers a swimming enthusiasts and those whoadore snorkeling and diving. All water sports can be pursued along the endless, winding coastline in leisure time in Maine.

Winter sports are popular events. There are races held in the mountains in the mountains of Maine snow load. All four major disciplines, slalom, giant slalom, super G and downhill are active in the local population and tourists are involved.

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American Exceptionalism - The Appalachian Trail

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The Appalachian Trail makes up one third of the Triple Crown of United States long distance hiking and runs about 2,178 miles. Home to over 2,000 rare species of plants and animals, it starts at Springer Mountain in the state of Georgia and runs all the way to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Animals that are commonly seen along the trail include moose, elk, timber rattlesnakes, and copperheads. Although some sections cross through towns and over rivers and roads, the majority of the trail travels through wilderness.

The trail also follows closely the ridge and many of the highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountains. People who attempt to hike the entire trail in a single season are called Thru-Hikers. Andrew Thompson holds the record for fastest hiking of the entire trail with a time of 47 days, 13 hours, and 31 minutes. Fourteen states are part of the trail. There's even a 690 mile extension, called the International Appalachian Trail, that keeps going into Canada. Another extension that would run to Newfoundland is under construction.

Conceived by forester Benton MacKaye after his wife's death in 1921, the original idea was for a grand trail to connect a network of wilderness study and work camps and farms for the benefit of recreational city folk. Following a story in a 1922 edition of the New York Evening Post, the realization of MacKaye's idea became the top priority of the Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conference. The first section of the trail, which stretched from Arden, New York to Bear Mountain, opened on October 7, 1923. The 2008 connection of the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama to the end of the Appalachian Trail shows that the trail may never really be complete.

The preferred way to hike the trail is from south to north. Hikers usually begin their treks in March or April and finish them late in the summer or early in the fall season. The main trail is marked by blazes of white paint, with side trails marked by blue blazes of paint. There are over 250 or campgrounds along the trail. The shelters are called lean-tos, huts, or adirondack shelters. They usually have only three walls and wooden floors. About a days walking distance apart, most are located near water and include cords on which to hang food. Many inns are also located along the trail. There have been nine reported homicides on the trail.

With its wealth of scenic beauty, the Appalachian Trail is a place that every American should visit at least once in his lifetime. Adventure, self-reliance, and the American Spirit can be found on this long path. Take the time to hike the Appalachian Trail. You will be greatly rewarded.

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Whitewater Rafting Rapids and Classifications in Maine

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Whitewater rafting is a great activity that has become more common around the world since the 1970s. Since then, we have developed an expertise in the sport, and there is now better quality equipment available to use. Because of this, a river that has been known to swallow whole an expedition in the past is now safe enough for people to take their rafting trips down hundreds of times each year. There are also outfitters, which are rafting operators, who will be your guides for the trip. These outfitters have legislated safety requirements to go by, and they vary depending on the area you are rafting in. However, all off the requirements are closely the same to ensure that everyone is safe. You should talk with your raft operator about all of the safety guidelines and the classifications of the rapids before you decide to sign up for the trip.

There are six different whitewater classifications that range from easy to nearly impossible. Class one is, obviously, the easiest. It has no obstacles, only small ripples, and a slow current. Class two is considered moderately difficult with occasional obstacles and a medium current with waves. Classes one and two are ideal for younger and inexperienced people to run on. Class three is difficult with longer rapids and strong currents that are irregular, and class four is very difficult, longer with numerous waves, and has steeper drops. These two classes, three and four, are considered okay for more experienced groups to take. Class five is extremely difficult, has very big drops, is very swift, and heavily obstructed with obstacles, which is considered an amateur class. Then there is class six. This class is nearly impossible and extremely dangerous. It should only be run by expert teams, with all precautions taken and close studies completed.

Maine has three rivers that are usually used for whitewater rafting. These are the Kennebec River, Penobscot River, and the Dead River. Each one of the these rivers are different and unique in their own way, but you are sure to get the thrill and excitement that you seek for your adventure on at least one of these rivers. The Kennebec River has a twelve mile trip that begins on Indian Pond at Harris Station. It then flows through the Kennebec Gorge, which ends at The Forks. This twelve mile trip can be classified anywhere between a class two and a class four, because in sections of the river there are all of the traits that these classifications have. Next, is the Penobscot River, and this river has a fourteen mile long trip. For the first two miles, it descends from McKay Station through Ripogenus Gorge. The other twelve miles of rapids will take you on a journey that will end near Pockwockamus Falls. This river has all the traits of a class three to class four rapids. Last, but not least, is the Dead River, which has the longest stretch of continuous rapids at sixteen miles. Your trip will begin at Grand Falls and will end at The Forks. The Dead River has a classification of classes four and five and should only be run by experienced whitewater rafters.

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A River Rafting Trip - A Good Summer Vacation

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Most of us are tired of the same old vacation and are looking for something just a little more exciting, while remaining safe and fun. Are you one of the many? If you want a good summer vacation, why not try a river rafting trip?

I know what you are thinking "but the kids"- not to worry, white river rafting is available at all levels. More and more of us are taking to the back country for our vacations. We're tired of the commercial vacation and looking for something that's more alive and that will stimulate our senses like never before. That's just what a river rafting trip will do for you. You'll get to see and hear the sights and sounds that nature has to offer.

If you are new to whiter river rafting, when you plan your rafting trip you'll want to make sure you choose the right package. A beginner rafting trip will be designed to get you hooked. You should start with a level one or two, which will provide you with all kinds of great adventure while keeping you save and at a level that's not difficult for you. Even as a beginner, you want to enjoy the thrill of paddling the rapids, never mind the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you.

As you get more skills you can turn it up a notch eventually making it to level five which requires a great deal of skill and stamina. But wow what a ride! Enjoy the rush of the challenge of navigating through the rapids, and don't forget to take in the invigorating surroundings. Now that's nature at its best!

The more experienced you get the more fun you'll have. Of course like any other sport or hobby it's going to take some work to develop the more advanced skills, but worth every minute. And besides what could be more fun than being able to develop those skills on the river while enjoying the sites and sounds around you.

There are some great white river rafting packages. How about a trip through Lodore Canyon? This river rafting trip will keep you enchanted from beginning to end. If you're an advanced rafter, you'll enjoy a highly technical ride that will have your oars busy all the time. And what an adrenalin rush!

Or maybe a river rafting trip through Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid country is more your style? Explore the remote canyons, crystal clear waters, and with more than 84 miles to explore you'll have the adventure of a lifetime.

Perhaps this is the summer to let the kids experience something outside the bounds of the concrete urban world most us live in. They'll have a great time and so will you! And think about the stories the kids will have to tell. Isn't great memories what life is made of?

It doesn't really matter where you plan your river rafting trip, nor the level of your skills. Because you see, your river rafting trip isn't just going to be a good summer vacation; it's going to be extra-ordinaire! And you'll have a tough time beating it next year. Get ready for the experience of a lifetime!

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