The Shaw Festival is a world class performing arts company that brings the best plays of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries to life on three stages. This entertainment spectacle nicely compliments every antique collector's annual pilgrimage to Virgil and Jordan and the shops along Stone Rd in the old town of Niagara on the Lake.

Shopping for Antiques?

Niagara on the Lake, Virgil and Jordan are terrific places to shop for antique furniture, vintage kitchenware, stain glass windows and lamps. Although military collectibles are surprisingly scarce, there exists an extraordinary amount of sheet music, lace, dolls and of course doll houses, vintage bar supplies and nostalgia pieces from the 1920s and 30s. The area is also rich in antique toys, primitive iron tools, and collectible fruit sealer jars.

Niagara Falls History

Etienne Brûlé was the first European to see Niagara Falls in 1633. The first eyewitness account of the falls in written text was by Father Louis Hennepin in 1683 wherein he described it as, "the most beautiful and altogether the most terrifying waterfall in the universe".

The first European settlers were primarily British Loyalists fleeing America in 1778. At the end of the American Revolution, these Loyalists were given land grants, and the town of Niagara was laid out on the west bank of the Niagara River. As the first farms were being cut from the wilderness, the first orchards were planted and they included apple trees from Quebec and the Maritimes, and red cherries from the east coast of the United States. The whole settlement prospered under the leadership of John Butler, who had led a regiment of rangers during the revolution.

Handcrafted Wood Furniture

Known for good handcrafted wood furniture, the entire Niagara region is rich with handmade primitives that sometimes incorporate fruitwoods. Inside Europa-Antiques, shoppers will no doubt admire handmade wooden chests, side tables and wardrobes, pine dressers and bookshelf units all being sold for less than $350. The proprietors of this business, located at 1523 Niagara Stone Road, inside a

'dear old red brick church', have an interesting attitude toward recycling furniture as part of their contribution to reducing climate change - Josh points to the green Reduce, Reuse, Recycle triangle on his hemp shopping bags. This business is here to sell good furniture cheap, and keep the inventory moving by offering very low prices. And BEST OF ALL, if you buy over four hundred dollars worth of furniture they will deliver it for free as far away as Toronto!

Pottery, Porcelain, and Fine China

Lakeshore Antiques and Treasures is located at 855 Lakeshore Road in the center of Niagara on the Lake. This is a well stocked 7000 square foot building wherein 15 separate merchants offer up their wares. Overall there are good prices here on painted pine furniture and English china. The shop is filled with tables and chairs and early Canadian pottery, porcelain, and English fine china and American kitchenware from the 1940s and 50s. Antique chandeliers hang from the rafters over many merchant holdings.

Bakelite is a Good Buy in Niagara

The area is becoming known for unusual bakelite items like radios and picnic vessels, tableware and all manner of period Art Deco objects. These gorgeous early wood plastic luxury items were imported by retailers to accommodate Niagara Falls tourists in the booming1950's. Today vintage bakelite is very sheik, and these antiques are cool to collect and relatively inexpensive here because of their availability.

Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian Antiques

Creighton House Antiques is a family business located on the main street of Jordan since 1982, but Joe and Pauline Creighton have been in the area, selling antiques for thirty years. Their large shop is located in the carriage house next to their 1850s Georgian home. They have lots of Canadiana, Victorian, and Edwardian furniture pieces, turn-of-the-century oak wardrobes, and quality mahogany and walnut furniture of the 1920s. The antiques are in “as found condition”, and range from fair to good condition. Joe does the buying and prides himself of the selection - there's something for everyone here.

Jordan Antiques is found at 3836 Main Street in the village of Jordan and boasts 6000 square feet of shopping; there are a lot of antiques here and it's not crowded. The prices are good on pine furniture, fine china and figurines. There's an abundance of Art Deco ashtrays, cranberry coloured carnival glass, vintage Christmas decorations, antique fishing lures, wooden tackle boxes, and handmade quilts. This is the perfect place to outfit a cottage with classic furnishings.

The Shaw Festival plays punctuate the cerebral excitement of this historic destination. Look around this old town and you can see, touch and breathe in the history; the scenery includes thundering black powder cannons in the walls of Fort George, and quaint horse and buggy tours that parade under canopied streets. As most of the buildings in town have historic plaques chronicling their existence, it's quite enlightening to just saunter around town for an afternoon.

I could spend a lot of time telling you how to get to Europe and do it on the cheap; but frankly, I think most of us, even the Europe travel diehards, are planning to "do America first," this year; and perhaps for the foreseeable future.

Here are 5 spots to visit in our own hemisphere that will provide a pleasurable get-away. These 5 just happen to be in California.

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Whether you are an East-coaster or a west-coaster, a trip to California will provide a variety of vacation categories. If you like crowded freeways, smog and high temperature in summer, then Los Angeles may be your thing. But California is so much more than Hollywood and crowded L.A. beaches. I need to add a disclaimer here; I am a Californian, but there are some beautiful areas to visit, with lots of outdoor activities or city entertainment without having to cross into southern California, at all.

San Francisco Bay Area

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The San Francisco Bay Area is beautiful. The city itself is one of my favorite in the entire world, if I may say so myself. You could spend two weeks in the City by the Bay and never get to see and do everything on your agenda. From Golden Gate Park to world-class shopping, San Francisco has it all.

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I recommend a hotel near or on Union Square. From this point, you can walk to great restaurants, shopping venues, Theatres and more. Hotels here are a bit pricey. Forego the St. Francis; Try the Hyatt on the Square for a less pricey stay. The Hilton on O'Farrell is also not so pricey. Be sure you get a room in the main, or old tower. Some of these rooms offer views of the Bay and/or Golden Gate Bridges. Off-season, (not summer) rooms are reasonable for San Francisco. The Prescott is one of my old favorites in this area and a travel bargain for San Francisco. Wolfgang Puck's Postrio Restaurant is attached to the Prescott's lobby.

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A day spent in Golden Gate Park with a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden and the Steinhart Aquarium is a must. Have a picnic in the park, stroll to the Conservatory of Flowers where rare plants are housed in a glass building that is one of the most memorable of San Francisco's landmarks. The DeYoung Museum features world-class exhibits, visit the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco for information on all of San Francisco's museums.

Wine Country

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Napa Valley/Sonoma, Northern California Wine Country is a fabulous area to visit. From San Francisco, The northern wine country is just a 45-minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. We enjoyed our last visit so much that we plan to take the entire family this summer; a cottage rental, perhaps, will be in order...something with a pool because this area can be very hot in summer. The best times to travel to the Napa wine country would be in spring or in fall. But if you like warm weather, summers are very nice but hot.

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Most wineries have complementary wine tasting. The knowledgeable folks who pour will give you a real education in the science and enjoyment of fine wines. The California Wine industry is the world's largest, by value, according to the California Wine Institute. For my money, give me a good California Chardonnay and I'm a very happy girl. The French can keep their whites; except for the champagnes, of course.

Consider the Wine train for an unforgettable wine experience including meals on board, if you wish. Check their website for seasonal rates and event packages.

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Many of the Wineries, tasting rooms and their properties are so beautiful that the whole family will enjoy visiting. Bring your designated driver, however. The local police have very little tolerance for drunk drivers.

As in San Francisco, you can pay just about whatever you want to pay for accommodations in the Northern California wine country. The further you get from the wineries, the more you will spend for a hotel or inn room. Try Petaluma hotels for a bit of a bargain, in Napa, the New Meritage Resort and Spa Terra is very nice for a mid-range Hotel. The spa is fabulous. Check my review here.

The Central Coast

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I live on the Central Coast of California, and I truly believe I live in the most beautiful place on Earth. (It takes a really enticing out of town trip to get my husband and I off of our deck and away from Carmel; why leave when Carmel is so amazing?) Carmel is the focal point of the central coast. Once an artist colony, still an enclave of storybook cottages and a strip of white-sand beach that is drop-dead gorgeous.

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Just on the southern outskirts of Carmel is Point Lobos Preserve. Pack a lunch, hike, cycle or drive in for a small fee and spend the day with your camera shooting some of the most pristine and lovely coastline undamaged by human interference. Watch the sea lions and sea otters at play and hike the trails to get different views of the sea. You can scuba dive here, but nothing is to be disturbed or taken from its natural habitat. Looking only, no touching is the rule at Point Lobos.

Be sure to take a drive through Pebble Beach on 17-Mile-Drive. Stop off at the Lodge for a glass of wine and unobstructed views of Monterey Bay while standing in a landmark building that looks as if it stepped right out of "The Great Gadsby." If you love to golf, The Monterey Bay Area has a plethora of world class golf courses. I don't want to forget about Spanish Bay Resort. While in the "Forest," stop at Spanish bay for a beverage by the fire pits at Roy's at Spanish Bay.

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If you drive along the coast 40 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, you will enjoy spending the day in Big Sur. From high on the cliffs, enjoy lunch at Ventana Inn or Nepenthe. Perhaps not the greatest restaurants, but the views and ambiance make up for it in spades.

In nearby Pacific Grove, a scenic path begins and stretches along the oceanfront for 20 plus Miles northward past beaches, the Monterey Wharf and sand dunes farther north in the Seaside/Marina area. Cyclists and rollerbladers, as well as walkers and joggers can use the path for a good day's worth of exercise combined with sightseeing. Check Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail for information on specific scenic path routes in Monterey County.

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You might also schedule some time to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is no average aquarium. Watch sea otters, penguins, fish native to Monterey Bay and learn why The Monterey Bay is a protected sanctuary. Explore the Aquarium's website for specific information regarding hours and entry fees. Also, you may want to look into a sanctuary cruise or other educational opportunities available to you.

Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz, about 40 miles North of the Monterey Peninsula, is actually considered part of the central coast but has a flavor all it's own. Santa Cruz and Aptos have warmer summer beach weather than does the Monterey Peninsula. If surfing or other water sports are more your thing, or if you want to sunbathe on the beach, you would have better luck in the Santa Cruz area. You will want to put aside time for a stroll through the little enclave of Capitola, as well.

A trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will afford the entire family with a day of entertainment at an old-fashioned yet modernized, seaside park. There are rides as wild as the Big Dipper Rollercoaster to rides in the kiddy section for children as little as 2 years old. I'm not the theme park enthusiast, but once a year we do make a pilgrimage to the Boardwalk for the kids, and it certainly brings back memories of my own childhood with summer days spent there.

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With all of the first three vacation spots, consider the weather for the best time to visit; San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula can be foggy in summer, especially during years when the central valley of California is scorching hot. Santa Cruz, however, has early morning fog but it lifts for sunny, warm summer afternoons.

The best months to visit San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula are May and early June and also, September and Early October. These are rules of thumb; of course, I've been known to soak up the beach sun in Carmel in February, for instance.

The Sierras

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A summer vacation in Lake Tahoe will never be a disappointment. Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevadas, spans two states, California and Nevada. It is a beautiful lake, clear, blue and seemingly untouched by human destruction. If you love to boat, fish, hike, mountain bike, party or just ride the lawn chair, as I love to do, you will fall in love with Lake Tahoe.

Be forewarned that North Shore and South shore are very, very different. South Shore offers Large Hotels, Harrah's and Harvey's, just to name two, with name talent in the showrooms and 24 hour gambling, or as we like to say, 24 hours worth of chances to lose your money! But, very entertaining as your pocketbook shrinks, I must admit.

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North Shore is much more low-key with little enclaves clustered along the lake from Incline Village to Squaw Valley. For the family who wants a family-style vacation, perhaps in a vacation cabin or a condo, North shore would be more to your liking. Also, consider the VERY quiet West shore. The West Shore is less crowded, more "woodsy" with lots of old "Tahoe-style cabins." If you want a quiet retreat away from crowds and you don't care that there isn't much to do at night but vege, (sounds great to me!) look into the west shore of Lake Tahoe.

I am not a gourmet or a gourmand; however, I love to taste. Being familiar with the areas I've listed, I will give you my favorite restaurant picks in each, if any.

Monterey Peninsula: Carmel: The Rio Grill Located in the Crossroads Center, Mouth of Carmel Valley Rib Eye steak to die for on nights when it is served. The best smoked chicken with baby artichoke hearts and baby red tomatoes. Penne pasta with grilled shrimp and Creole cream sauce ... yum! But, if you don't like really spicy foods, ask them to tone it down a bit!

Bahama Billy's, located in the Barnyard, Carmel Rancho, Mouth of Carmel Valley.

I usually don't care for Jamaican/island cuisine but Billy's food is excellent. Try the Sashimi if you like sashimi, this is served wonderfully different. Lightly seared, blackened and served with a unique wasabi sauce. The Lobster bisque is also fabulous. **Billy's also has a sunny, beautiful patio for lunch.

Tarpey's Roadhouse Located on Highway 68, just outside of Monterey on the highway between Monterey and Salinas. **They get the award for best outdoor lunch patio.
Joe Rombi's La Mia Cucina Located in Pacific Grove. Locals' favorite Italian food. The delicate, light, portabella mushroom raviolis are wonderful.

The Montrio Located in Downtown Monterey is another locals' favorite. If you love prime rib, on Thursdays only, The Montrio serves the most mouth-watering roasted, then fire flamed, prime rib ever. Sauce style and accompaniment s vary but all are excellent.

When in Napa:

Brix in Napa Located on the St. Helena Highway in Yountville. Brix' s ambience is very nice, the food is awesome! We loved the New York steak cooked just the way we ordered it, and the butter leaf salad.

When In Santa Cruz/Capitola/Aptos:

I'm sorry to say that this area is a bit gastronomically challenged, save the pub-style foods that the UC students love. However, Bittersweet Bistro is the exception. Bittersweet is a beautiful little restaurant with fabulous food and wonderful service. They have a fun locals tavern-style bar with a lively crowd on "events" days. Food is also served in the pub for a more casual dinning experience if you wish.

If anyone has other suggestions for this area, I would love to hear them because Bittersweet is the only place we have found that we return to each time we are in the Santa Cruz area. Located on Rio Del Mar Blvd. in Capitola, just off Highway 1.

You're planning a family trip to Seattle and you want the most entertainment for your dollar. Who do you ask for ideas? Locals, of course. Here's a local's list of fun things to do and ways to travel that won't break the bank.

• Take a ride on a Washington State Ferry

   Leave your car behind and walk on at Pier 52 and ride for $6.70 round-trip ($5.40 for youth/$3.35 for seniors) to Bainbridge Island (30 minutes each way) or Bremerton (60 minutes each way). The scenery as you cross the Puget (pronounced pyu'jet) Sound is breathtaking, and if you choose to de-bark at either destination and walk a few blocks you'll find quaint shops and parks. For a sailing schedule check here.

• Check out the world-famous flying fish at the Pike Place Market

   Vendors sell everything from fresh flower bouquets to kitsch in three floors of possibilities. Don't miss the fresh doughnuts on the street level and many delicious restaurants peppered throughout the marketplace. Fresh seafood can even be packed up to take home with you or send to your favorite people.

• Forget the Space Needle where you'll pay $16 for an elevator ticket

   The Bank of America Tower (known to locals as the Columbia Tower) is 76 floors high (almost 100 meters higher than the Space Needle), and you'll pay about $5 to get to the observation deck on the 73rd floor. The only drawback is you'll have to go on a weekday during business hours to take the tour. You can call 1.206.386.5151 for tour schedules.

• Downtown buses are free to ride within the "Free-Ride" Zone

  This is basically all of the main downtown area. To find out how to get around on the bus you can go here and enter your current and destination locations and you'll get detailed instructions where to go and which bus(es) to ride. You can also ride the Seattle Street Car, a light rail that goes from the shopping district to east Lake Union, or the Monorail from the shopping district to the Seattle Center.

• Seattle Center Fountain

  On a sunny summer day you can't beat it. Set between the performing arts halls and the Pacific Science Center, the fountain shoots water from hundreds of jets, sometimes choreographed to music. Are you thinking, “I've seen that at the Bellagio in Las Vegas?” This is different- you can descend the steep concrete embankment and cool off in the spray of the fountain. Hours of entertainment for the kids-and it's free. But bring a change of clothes.

• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on Pier 54 (1001 Alaskan Way)

  The coolest gross stuff in the city resides in this shop, including Sylvia and Sylvester, the mummies (yes, real mummies) that guard the back of the store, two-headed pigs in jars and an African voo-doo monkey wearing its intestines on its head. A few steps further is Ye Olde Curiosity Shop Too, a continuation of the first. You can just look around or find some very unique souvenirs.

• Lunch

  While you're down at the piers checking out the Curiosity Shop, head over to Anthony's Fish Bar for amazing fish tacos (it's a Seattle thing) or clam chowder. Or, for the best fish "n chips in town, go to Ivar"s. Nothing at Ivar's tastes bad, and their tartar sauce is arguably the best in the world. Not to mention they've been a Seattle institution for 70 years.

• Travel to Ballard and tour the Hiram M. Chittenden locks and the fish ladder

  The locks make it possible for boats to pass from Lake Washington to the Puget Sound and back. Boats enter a chamber that seals on either end and raises or lowers the water level to meet the level of the body of water they're heading toward. It's fun to watch and it's free entertainment. Be sure to cross over and check out the fish ladder. During peak salmon season you can peer through windows and watch hundreds of fish as they make their climb to the spawning grounds.

• Pacific Science Center

  It's a bit of a splurge, but if your kids love to see how things work it's worth the price. Depending on the size of your family it might be less expensive to buy a family season pass than to pay the entrance fee for one day, and you often get passes to the Imax Theater with your pass. Check before you buy.

• Experience Music Project

  Skip it. It's not worth the entrance fee-you'll be bored within 30 minutes. Trust us on this. No really. Don't do it.

• Alki Beach in West Seattle is Prime People-Watching Real Estate

  Take a picnic lunch and a blanket. The beach is sandy; there are several restaurants along Alki Avenue and lots of interesting people. If you stay until dusk you're in for an amazing sunset and view of the Seattle Skyline, so don't forget your camera!

• Tacoma

  If you've seen enough of Seattle you could take a day-trip about an hour to the south to Tacoma and check out the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium or watch some glass blowing at the Museum of Glass. You might even catch Dale Chihuly doing his thing.

When you travel to Seattle bring a variety of clothing. If it's the middle of summer you'll still need a jacket for the cool evenings and possibly even the days. Seattle natives know to dress in layers-you'll see a lot of Capri pants, t-shirts, hoodies and wind/rain resistant lightweight jackets. Bring your sandals, but also your socks. It's not a fashion faux pas to wear your wool socks with your Birkenstocks in Seattle. We recommend you also bring or plan to buy an umbrella, even in the summer. We can't keep our beautiful city green without a little rain, now can we?

1. Dumbarton Oaks

   On its website, Dumbarton Oaks bills itself as a research institute (part of Harvard University) "dedicated to supporting scholarship internationally in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies through fellowships, meetings, exhibitions, and publications". Well, that's just about enough to scare any tourist off.  But the intrepid tourist who shirks off such stuffiness and actually visits this little gem is treated with both a brilliant museum and a breathtaking garden. The museum, which is free, houses a world-class collection of Byzantine art that spans nine centuries as well as a Pre-Columbian collection of about 700 items including one of the most outstanding collections of Andean art found anywhere in North America. For those visiting the museum, make sure to ask to see the Music Room as part of your visit. It's well worth the hassle and, hey, it's free.
   
   Most people visiting Dumbarton Oaks skip the museum altogether and head right to the gardens. I have to admit, I am not garden lovers, but after strolling through this maze of sensory overload, I am a convert. Whether you are interested in the art of landscape design or just anxious to see a pretty scene, the gardens are for you. I barely saw all of the gardens on my visit, however, because I was mesmerized by the peace and calm of the two-hundred-year-old Orangery attached to the east side of the main edifice (an architectural delight in and of itself) and could barely escape. It is hauntingly beautiful.
   
   The rest of the garden is, well, just beautiful. Plan carefully when you go because the museum is only open from 2 p.m. to 5 p. m. except Mondays and the gardens are only open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on those same days.

2. The Old Post Office Tower

   Okay, so maybe the Old Post Office Tower isn't as sexy as the Washington Monument. Fair enough. But battling 80 Boy Scout troops from San Diego to Sheboygan for a trip up the Big Pencil is not my idea of vacation bliss. I'll take my chances at the OPOT. Home to the Bells of Congress, the Old Post Office Tower, is now operated by the National Park Service and is entirely free to the public. It isn't quite as centrally located as the Big Pencil, but it's right on Pennsylvania Avenue and has a bird's eye view from the Capitol to the White House with a little glimpse at the J. Edgar Hoover Building and the inner courtyards of some of Washington's most hallowed halls. I also think the view up to the National Cathedral is noteworthy and impressive. A simple elevator trip and a few stairs are the only cost in this one.
   

3. National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism

   Dedicated in November 2000, the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism is a little-known, yet well-conceived monument that not only honors Japanese-American servicemen and women, but gives a nod to the 120,000 American citizens placed in internment camps at the outset of WWII. These citizens endured tremendous hardships as they were taken from their homes and carted off to places like Minidoka, Idaho and Topaz, Utah all because their skin was a slightly different hue. With that in mind, it would seem reasonable that the memorial might be kind of a downer, but the memorial is anything but a downer. Comprised of a sculpture of two cranes surrounded by a clean circular wall engraved with the names of the "relocation camps", the memorial deftly points out the struggle of Japanese-Americans to gain acceptance and equality, but does so subtly, almost as if to inspire rather than condemn.
   
   The memorial is tucked away just north of the Capitol on a triangular plot bounded by Louisiana Avenue, New Jersey Avenue and D Street NW and is cared for by the National Park Service as part of the National Mall.

4. National Postal Museum

   If you are one of the approximately 13 people out there in our country that still collects stamps or occasionally sends cookies to the college student by snail mail, this museum is a must. If you are like the rest of us and think Cheers patron, Cliff Clavin, is a doofus, this museum is also a must. Complete with a Philatelic Gallery and a display of WWII V-mail correspondence, the National Postal Museum takes itself very seriously. Exhibits are very interactive and museum workers are literally everywhere to help and guide. On my visit, the staff of the museum grabbed my family and me at the door and wouldn't let us go. Not only did they dress up my little girl in the trendiest postal garb, they strapped a mailbag on to my considerable frame and cajoled me into decorating my own postcard and sending it back home. It wound up being a highlight of our trip.
   
   Keep in mind, this is postal history, and it's not for everyone, but well worth a trip. The Museum is part of the Smithsonian and is located in the old Post Office next to Union Station.
   

5. The Reflecting Pool on the National Mall

   The National Mall is often called the Nation's front yard. Well, if that's true, then the Reflecting Pool is the Nation's plastic swimming pool? Whatever. If you want to get reflective and think about the history of our country or you want to contemplate life's lingering questions, the pool fits the bill, but I like it because it's a total magnet for Americana. America, in all its personal glory and quirkiness, is found within a stone's throw of the Pool. Protestors chant and yell on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Vets quietly stroll along its banks. Busloads of screaming, laughing teenagers splash and frolic while children walk a tightrope on its edge. It's a microcosm of the ol' United States of America and I love it. The Reflecting Pool is hard to miss as its in the very center of the Mall.

 

South Mountain Park

With 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park is named the largest municipal park in the country. What is great about this state park is there is horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels. So, whether your hike is to be a great workout or a slower pace stroll, there is a trail for everyone. The main entrance is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Lost Dutchman State Park

Found in the Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 2000 feet, this park is shrouded in mystery and even has its own lost treasure legend. There are hiking trails, nature trails, 70 regular campsites, picnic amenities, and special programs throughout the year to keep you entertained if searching for gold isn't your thing. The superstition of the Mountains is based on Jacob Waltz "The Dutchman" who found a gold mine somewhere around Weaver's Needle. No one has found the mine because all tries have failed because of foul play, death, or missing and stolen maps. The park is open 365 days a year from sunrise to 10pm for you to go searching out the "lost mine".

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park

Their mission as stated on their website is "to instil in people an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research and conservation opportunities associated with arid land plants." At this park their main goal is to teach visitors about the 3,200 different desert plants within the arboretum, and the more than 230 bird and 72 terrestrial species that can be found along the 1.5 mile main trail. They have guided tours that have special themes such as "Plants of the bible", Bird Walks, and Butterfly Walks just to name a few. During May, June, July and August the Arboretum is open daily from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., whereas from September-through-April admission is taken daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

So, which type of state park are you? Are you the adventurous type who likes to hike, or are you the treasure hunter who seeks out lost mines, or are you the more educational type who loves to learn about birds, animals, and plants? Either way there are some great state parks near Phoenix that can satisfy anyone's personality.

Boston is a small city-a walker's city. So even if the T is running obscenely slow, you can get most anywhere on foot. As you're walking around you're bound to notice a thick red line painted on certain sidewalks. This is the Freedom Trail, a must for any Boston tourist. Following it takes you through the old city and past numerous American Revolution landmarks-forcing even the most jaded American to swell with patriotic pride. I've often said that if they put Army recruitment centers at strategic points alongside the Freedom Trail, they'd never need a draft again. To avoid looking like a tourist, always walk next to the red line, never on it. This isn't a balance beam, people. The Freedom Trail

Not up for all that walking? Maybe a Duck Tour is in your future. Climb aboard these converted WWII amphibious transports for an eighty-minute tour-by land and by sea- of the historic, modern and trendy Boston sights. Unfortunately, it's impossible not to look like a tourist on the Duck Tours since all passengers are strongly encouraged to “quack” at people on the street. But hey, sometimes the locals are in a good mood and will even quack back. Duck Tours

Passing through the Public Gardens, many tourists enjoy taking a trip around the pond on a Swan Boat. For $2.75 per person you can board a pontoon shaped like a giant swan, and be peddled around for fifteen minutes with about twenty other people. Again, it will be blatantly obvious that you're a tourist because no local would be caught dead on a Swan Boat, but that's only because they're too proud to admit how much fun it really is. www.SwanBoats.com

After all that walking, floating and quacking, you'll probably be craving a bite and a beer. And, like most tourists, you'll find yourself drawn inexorably toward that most famous of bars, Cheers-where the only person who knows your name is the guy who swipes your credit card. The food at Cheers (it's real name is the Bull & Finch Pub) is forgettable and overpriced, and the bar looks nothing like on TV. You're better off taking a picture in front of the sign and then patronizing a local brewpub. www.CheersBoston.com

One of the best places to go when you only have a few days in Boston is Faneuil (said: FAN-yool) Hall. With that perfect combination of history, food, shopping and street performers, even the most cravenly anti-tourist Bostonian comes down here several times a year. Jugglers, mimes, and musicians of every style and genre converge on this gigantic performance space any day the weather permits. Make sure to drop a dollar in their hat or guitar case if you're watching for more than a few minutes. www.FaneuilHall.com

In 2004, the Red Sox won the World Series after eighty-six years of blowing it at the end of the season. This is huge. No, I mean really huge. Like, "American Revolution" huge. The Freedom Trail Organization actually repainted their red line to go past Fenway Park. Okay, so I made that part up. But be forewarned, it's been almost four years and this whole city is still coming down from an eighty-six-year contact high. Check out a home game and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. Go to www.redsox.com for tickets.

The only way to truly appreciate a game at Fenway is to sit in the bleachers. We'll have none of this box-seat-behind-home-plate nonsense. It's only in the bleachers where you'll see the true color of Red Sox fans. All the best waves start here. All the best fights start here. And you simply haven't lived until you've spent three hours heckling an opposing team's right fielder. But the best part about sitting in the bleachers at Fenway is that there are no tourists. Everybody may not know your name, but for nine innings you'll be an official Bostonian.

Wear a Yankees hat at your own risk.

A slap on the wrist for a violent crime is a crime itself! You need to do a better job in protecting the good citizens of this city and the tourists so many businesses rely upon.

The descriptions of crimes listed below are real. If you notice the time of day, the first three occurred in broad daylight!

1. In the Visitacion Valley District, Wednesday, March 12, 2008, shortly after 10 a.m., a young man was killed while visiting family in a low income (Sunnydale) housing project.
   
   Remedy: Get bulldozers, take all the buildings to the ground and build houses so they feel only a fraction of the pain they have caused.
   
   Probable punishment by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for criminal(s) if caught, they would most likely be ordered to attend an anger management program.
2. In the Bayview District. Monday afternoon, March 10, 2008, a female San Francisco homeowner was first forcibly robbed, then carjacked a block from her home. The suspect had his hand clutched on an object in his pocket which appeared to be a firearm and pointed directly at the woman. The woman was very lucky to get away without physical injuries.
   
   Though many of the local thugs were standing around, do you honestly think any of them would come forward to help put this suspect back in prison? From what the neighborhood says, the suspect was recently released from prison after serving a four year sentence.
   
   Unfortunately, the victim also lost very expensive camera equipment, electronics, clothing, and miscellaneous items which were in the trunk of her vehicle. Though saddened by the loss of her property, she's thankful to be alive.
   
   Remedy: There is an anonymous hotline where witnesses can report crimes. Prisons need to rehabilitate the convicted felons and their Parole Officers need to keep a close eye on the actions of parolees.
3. In the Bayview District, Tuesday, February 19, 2008, in the early afternoon, a vehicle with two passengers were stopped at an intersection, heard a gunshot and the female passenger was shot. The victim later died at San Francisco General Hospital.
   
   Remedy: Get the criminals OFF the street. There is a very dangerous housing project down the street where this shooting occurred. REMOVE the projects and build something more productive such as a shopping center.
   
4. In the Bayview District, Monday, January 7, 2008, a young man from out of town, was shot in the stomach while in the parking lot of a store. The victim was fortunate to survive the incident.
   
   Remedy: Again, prosecute all criminals to the fullest extent of the law and get them off our streets! If other counties such as San Mateo (one county south of San Francisco), can have a low crime rate, we in San Francisco can have the same if the prosecutors were tough on crime!!!

See the reported Crime Maps of the City of San Francisco:

The Downtown San Francisco Area:

Note that these are only incidents that generally apply to visitors/tourists to the City (rape, robbery, vehicle theft, and assault), and are in the past week. This map does not include things like homicide, drug arrests, et cetera.

The San Francisco They Don't Want You to See:

This map includes the Portola, Visitacion Valley, and Bayview sections of San Francisco City. You will find only some of the reported instances of crimes such as robbery, assault, and larceny, and more.

You can read the “Community News” for each Police District in San Francisco. Please remember they do NOT list all crimes and/ or activities. They're very selective about what is written.

They're not as updated as we should expect:

• SFPD Central Station
  
• SFPD Southern Station
  
• SFPD Bayview Station
  
• SFPD Mission Station
  
• SFPD Northern Station
  
• SFPD Park Station
  
• SFPD Richmond Station
  
• SFPD Ingleside Station
  
• SFPD Taraval Station
  
• SFPD Tenderloin Station
  

On an Ending Note:

Due to the extreme liberalism and failure on the part of the District Attorney's office in San Francisco to prosecute criminals and provide a stronger sentence, I would have to say this is most unsafe city to live or visit in California!

I'm sorry DA Harris, but I do not believe you are rebuilding the trust in the SF criminal justice process as you have stated on your website!

Walt Whitman

On a Democratic National Convention of the 1850s.

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“The meanest kind of bawling and blowing office-holders, office-seekers, pimps, malignants, conspirators, murderers, fancy-men, custom-house clerks, contractors, kept-editors, spaniels well-trained to carry and fetch, jobbers, infidels, dis-unionists, terrorists, mail-riflers, slave-catchers, pushers of slavery, creatures of the President, creatures of would-be presidents, spies, bribers, compromisers, lobbyers, sponges, ruin'd sports, expell'd gamblers, policy-backers, monte-dealers, duelists, carriers of conceal'd weapons, deaf men, pimpled men, scarr'd inside with vile disease, gaudy outside with gold chain made from the people's money and harlot's money twisted together; crawling, serpentine men, the lousy combinings and born freedom-sellers of the earth.”

One of the most influential American poets - If not American in general - ever, Whitman (1819 -1892) is known as the Father of Free Verse, so free speech was fairly important to him too. He published his first works with his own money, which some might see as vanity publishing but it was a genuine attempt to reach the everyday American on the street. Although he did indeed reach them through his poetry, on a personal level it is unlikely that he ever threw his pants to the three winds and dived naked in to bed with anyone, male or female. He did reminisce in his later days about girlfriends and children but there is little evidence to suggest anything more than romantic friendship. Although the above was written in the 1850s Whitman may well have still been in a bad mood about 1864. In a few short months he heard that one brother had been captured by the Confederate Army, another died of alcohol related tuberculosis and a he had another brother committed to a lunatic asylum. Oh dear. He is best remembered for “Leaves of Grass” - the volume of poetry he had first paid to be printed and one which he returned to and revised about a million time in his life.

Norman Mailer

On the Democratic National Convention of 1960

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“A man of taste, arrived from Mars, would take one look at the convention floor and leave forever, convinced he had seen one of the drearier squats of hell.. a cigar-smoking, stale-aired, slack-jawed, butt-littered, foul, bleak, hardworking, bureaucratic death gas of language and faeces… lawyers, judges, ward heelers, mafiosos, Southern goons an grandees, grand old ladies, trade unionists and finks; of pompous words and long pauses which lie like a leaden pain over fever”

Mailer (1923 - 2007) was born in New Jersey and went to Harvard, so in America anything is possible. He was part of the counter culture set in the 1950s and was one of the people who founded The Village Voice. Perhaps the quote above precurses his disgust at losing in the Democratic Primary for Mayor of New York City in 1969. With a secessionist agenda for New York (he wished to create State No 51) this was hardly a surprise. Kind of an American Henry VIII in that he was married six times, except it was a case of Divorced, Divorced, Divorced, Divorced, Divorced, Survived. He died in 2007 of acute renal failure - perhaps unsurprising for a man who could vent spleen with the best of them.

Max Lerner

On the Democratic National Convention of 1968

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"Here in Chicago… you see America plain with no holds barred, no warts missing from the portrait, with everything there, including credential fights and platform debates… with hippies and yippies and the New Left, with soldiers and Secret Service and a maddening security tightness, with newsmen and photographers being clubbed by overreacting police squads, but with an unflinching resolve to show and face what America is really like."

Lerner (1902 - 1992) was a journalist who wrote a controversial column for many years. He befriended Liz Taylor during her marriage to Eddie Fisher which makes him a nice guy in my book! Although he lived a long life he had a long illness in the 1980s, which he wrote about in this book “Wrestling with the Angel”. A wise man, if ever there was, I particularly like this from him “The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core strength within you that survives all hurt.”

Peter Coyote

On the Democratic National Convention of 1996

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“Delegates were warm and gregarious, teased one another liberally, hollered and waved across the room to newcomers, drank lots of wine and chatted as if they had not seen one another in years, when apparently they see one another often. The convention seemed to be just an extension of their intentions to have a good time.”

Coyote (1941 - present) is the guy who played the scientist with the jingly keys in “ET: The Extra Terrestrial” so it may be a surprise to see him in a list of political commentators. However, he had a long history of left-wing political activism. In 1963 he was one of 12 student protestors who met in the White House with President Kennedy. This was the very first time that a group of protestors had been allowed to do so - some would say a dangerous precedent from a soon to be dead President. His most recent TV role has been the Vice Presidential nominee on the now cancelled “Commander in Chief” from ABC (kind of a “West Wing” in pantyhose).

Adlai Stevenson

Democratic National Convention of 1956

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“The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal - that you can gather votes like box tops - is... the ultimate indignity to the democratic process.”

Many people consider Stevenson (1900 - 1965) an also-ran because he lost out to Dwight D Eisenhower in the 1952 and 1956 elections. As a result, though, he cannot be blamed for many of the things for which Dwighty baby is blamed. He was a man of great intellect and liberal ideas even though he came from Illinois. He was from a political family with some closetty skeletons not unlike the Kennedys (Stevenson killed a friend when he was 16, practicing his drill technique with a loaded rifle. We still read the same story ever day so some things never change). You could say he was the “West Wing” TV President that never was - his reputation for being an intellectual endeared him to many people but an awful lot were put off by the same thing. One quote that doesn't appear in this list is “Americans do not like a smart man”, but it should be. We salute you Stevenson, the best President the US never had.

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San Francisco or as the locals would call it, “The City”, has many great romantic places to take your sweetheart. Years before I even purchased a house here, I used to dream of having that special someone with whom I could share all the great activities The City has to offer. I would always think of the song, “I left my heart in San Francisco”,

Of course, there are many more great places to “kiss” in San Francisco and I’m sure you each have your personal favorites.

Cupid Leaves His Mark At The Embarcadero

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You’ll find Cupid’s bow and arrow south of the Ferry Building on Embarcadero. This is a spot where love can begin in San Francisco. Try one of the waterfront restaurants for a spectacular view of the bay, Treasure Island and Alcatraz.

Parking is available in nearby garages and metered on the streets. Read restrictions carefully. DPT does not hesitate to tow vehicles during the posted times parking is restricted.

Twin Peaks

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With phenomenal views of San Francisco, Twin Peaks has lured many couples to watch the sunrise and sunset. If San Francisco had an “inspiration point”, this would be the place. A winding two lane road leads up to the peak. For your safety, please stop only in designated areas.

There is free ample parking.

Union Square

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How much better can life get in the city? Union Square has shopping to fit every taste and budget. In the heart of the square, you’ll find several park benches throughout and on weekends you might enjoy listening to some local music and see art shows. It’s a great place to hold hands, walk, take a rest, and sneak in a kiss or two.

Parking is available under the square. Enter on Geary St or Post St.

Golden Gate Bridge

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This is a beautiful place to be on a clear San Francisco day, but is equally romantic as the fog rolls in.

Metered parking is available in parking lot.

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39

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As two of the largest tourist attractions of San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 offer many great restaurants, retail stores, and tours. If you’re not romantically attached, there are plenty of folks visiting who are in the same situation. Wear your beautiful smile and say, “hello”.

Parking is available in garages and can be costly, so don’t forget to validate! Metered parking is available on nearby streets.

A Jewelry Store

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After purchasing a new “best friend” (diamonds), rubies, or even pearls for her, you could take her to Mel’s Diner for a burger and she would still be in love with you. As for kisses, the sky’s the limit.

Sunset at Seal Rock

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Sunsets by the Cliff House overlooking Seal Rock and the big blue Pacific are truly amazing and can be quite romantic. Bring a couple of glasses and a bottle of sparkling cider, then sit back and listen to the waves crash on the rocks.

Parking here is free.

May you and your sweetheart share a Happy Valentine’s Day!