The city of Portland has as sordid an underground history as my home city of Seattle does, and, like Seattle, it makes for a fun walking tour.
There were plenty of nefarious deeds going on above ground, but the underground was where the really fun stuff was happening.  In the subterranean world of Chinatown, you can still see impressive architecture from years gone by, looking nothing like the modern city in the photo. 
Below ground you’ll find the “Shanghai Tunnels.”  The tunnels originally connected the basements of most of the downtown hotels and bars to the Willamette waterfront, and were used to …read more

I love wandering the streets of a city, never any specific direction in mind, just wandering up and down the streets, popping into any little shop or gallery that may catch my eye, stopping for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine when I get a little tired.
Wandering is a great way to get to know a city, not so much for a tourist point of view, but getting to know it as a resident.  Besides that, you get to discover some great little places.
A few months back, I was in the Upper Noe area and came across …read more

I have an upcoming trip planned to Philadelphia, and was going through my resources trying to get ideas about where to stay, what to do and see, and, of course, what and where to eat.
I noticed that Sound About Philly has added a new walking and podcast tour, this one called Philly Noir.  It’s a walking tour that covers African American culture, history, and experiences (past and present), and includes food, the arts, history and sports.  There are 11 tour segments, and you can download, and then mix and match them based on your interests and time. 
Here’s a sampling of …read more

Now that the cold weather has hit the northern part of the United States, snowbirds and vacationers alike are heading south.
If you’ll be in the Scottsdale (Arizona) area, check out the Convention and Visitors Bureau website, and download a few travel podcasts before you go.  You can play the podcast on your computer or mp3 player.
There is a downloadable map of downtown Scottsdale, and one for the greater Scottsdale area.  The podcasts corresponds with various stops on the map.  Follow the driving tour and discover the history and culture of Scottsdale, along with discovering its architecture, art, sports, and the …read more

There are a variety of ways to get familiar with a travel destination.
Some people enjoy a city tour, allowing them to get a quick layout of the city, making notes of places they wish to explore in more detail.  Some people do all their research online, printing out maps and suggestion lists.  Some people download audio tours and wander the city with their iPods. 
I enjoy wandering around a city, sometimes purposefully, sometimes aimlessly, stopping if and when I want. 
I came across a couple of unique approaches to learning about a city recently.
In Seattle, the Clock Walk takes you on a …read more

Some people claim that Savannah’s just a spooky city, and that Halloween only emphasizes that character.
There are lots of tours that guide you through “haunted” Savannah.  The city has a long history of bloodshed and violence going back to the Revolutionary and Civil War days.  Many of the historic sections of Savannah were built over old cemeteries, some dating back even further in history.
So, it’s believed that those buried in the cemetery now inhabit those beautiful southern homes instead of the crypts. 
The nighttime Ghosts & Legends tour is a walking tour through the shadowy streets of haunted Savannah.  The tour …read more

Sometimes it’s pretty darn hard to get a workout in when you travel all the time.  Sometimes, even if you have the time, there may be a serious lack of motivation.  Westin Hotels now offer two programs designed to help travelers overcome both of these obstacles to good health on the road.
WestinWORKOUT.  In conjunction with Runner’s World magazine, Westin properties offer pocket-sized maps outlining 3-mile and 5-mile running/walking routes.  The routes are rated based upon their level of difficulty, and have points of scenic interest along the way.  According to Westin, the maps are available at all of its properties.
RunWESTIN.  …read more

Looking for a way to visit a city, avoiding the tourist traps, and checking out the not-so-mainstream parts instead?
If Philadelphia is your plans, you may be interested in the SoundAboutPhilly downloadable audio tours and maps, which focus on “lesser-known city experiences and combine interesting tales, fun facts and lively music to tell the area’s story.” 
Even better ““ they’re FREE!
Here’s the info on the tours now available:

“History Unplugged” covers 300 years of history, focusing on what you didn’t learn in your American History class.
“Flavorhoods” covers dining in Philadelphia’s ethnic neighborhoods.
“My Philly” features recommendations from local Philadelphians.

Additional tours will be rolled out one …read more

Located on 14 acres along the east bank of the Anacostia River, you will find the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.  It is the only National Park that is devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants, and its history is one of great significance to the botanical study and development of water plants.
Originally the gardens were a hobby for Civil War veteran W.B. Shaw.  With a few water lilies from his home state of Maine, and a single pond, he started his venture.  As the the plants thrived, he dug more ponds and experimented more in developing hybrid lilies.
In 1921, Helen Shaw Folwer (W.B.’s …read more

This neighborhood just isn’t like it used to be! 
No one can argue with how the Pioneer Square area of Seattle has changed over the last couple of decades.  Before it was what you see now, there was a whole other neighborhood of streets and storefronts, all of which were destroyed in the Seattle fire of 1889.
The fire turned out to be a good thing for the city.  Although it totally devastated 29 square blocks of the city, including nearly all of the business district, most of the wharves, and the railroad terminals, the rebuildding of the city post-fire was a …read more