East Coast

Each year I post some ideas about what is fun to do in NYC around the holidays. The usual cliche events are often included (tree lighting, ice skating, holiday windows, Rockettes, etc) and shouldn’t be missed, but if you’ve seen and done all of that (although seeing that tree never gets old) here are some holiday type things to do THIS year.

1. Go cheer up employees at Old Navy at 34th & Broadway because they are likely NOT in the holiday mood as that location is open 24/7 through the 24th. WTF? Those poor employees.

2. If religion is your thing, go see the Ten Commandments with your own eyes (not the movie—the actual document included as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit). Running until Jan 2nd in Times Square.
Discovery at Times Square 226 W 44th between 7th & 8th Ave.

Charlton Heston as Moses (but looking a bit Planet of the Apes-like)…

3. Run (or Walk) in the 2nd Annual Christmas Day Marathon in Westchester County!

Designed to bring new people to the sport of running, there is no entry fee (donations are accepted) and you can sign up for 1/8 marathon, 1/4 marathon, half marathon, 3/4 marathon and full marathon and according to the organizers, all paths loop back, are paved and scenic. PLUS- Santa hats are available and all finishers get a candy cane!
Tibbetts Brook Park 120 Teresa Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 11:00am on 12/25

4. For some adult only fun, go enjoy the annual reading of the Dickens’ classic: A Christmas Carol. Read by burlesque professionals with names such as Legs Malone and Franny Fluffer. Oh yeah, the girls are completely naked during the reading.
One showing (no pun intended) on the 21st at Under St. Marks at 94 St. Marks Place

photo from the Naked Girls website

5. See lights and over the top Christmas decorations in the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Very traditional. Very cool. Word has it, that he greatest concentration of decorated homes is around 12th Avenue and 84th Street. The Gothamist site has a good write up and includes pics like this:

6. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy some of the fun had during Hanukkah! Check out the Beer + Latke Hanukkah Celebration on the 22nd in Tribeca. Brooklyn Brewery will be there to help you choose the best brew to compliment the variety of freshly made latkes on hand! And don’t miss the dreidel competition!
December 22, 7PM at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street $22.

7. Go see Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ before his run is over on the 1st of January. This really isn’t “Christmasy”, but Harry Potter always feels a little festive to me so I thought I’d add it in here!

My old Mac Air was having some battery and storage space issues–understandable for such an old, out of date piece of technology and really I had no choice but to replace it with a brand new shiny Mac Air. Was this a need? No–it was a want and while I haven’t been writing as much lately as I would like (summer, moving, the beach, what-not)… writing was my justification for getting a new one and I’m happy to say I’m back into the swing of things–including my newest off-shoot of this site “coming soon” (Three words: Strong Sweaty Traveler).

Anyway– the same day that I ordered my new Air I spent a couple of hours leisurely roaming around downtown Point Pleasant. The quaint shops make this beach town so great– I really love the beach scene and can’t believe that the Jersey Shore show is filmed in the next town over. Don’t get me started, but that show— I detest it– it gives the real Shore such a bad name.

The beach stores and the local True Value are normally the stores I browse but today, for some reason, I glanced towards the antique store across from the coffee shop. In my college days I thought shopping at antique stores was chic–but as I got older (and learned more about bed bugs and how they can live in ANYTHING) I steered clear, they just became too… shabby. But today something caught my eye. Through the window next to the the old fashioned washboard and and just behind the slightly rusted ancient tin sign of a woman advertising Coca-Cola was a typewriter. It wasn’t the kind of typewriter I used in my senior year keyboarding with Ms. McCarroll who sashayed her 60+ year old stomach around the classroom in her nauseating half shirts while we all typed out how that brown dog jumped over the lazy fox… or fox over dog– I forget.

Senior Year Ms. McCarroll typewriter

This was the kind from the “olden” days– from the 40′s (but oddly, similar to the one my grandmother’s doctor’s receptionist still uses in teeny tiny Omak, Washington).

The porcelin keys were rounded, off-white and naturally, I’m guessing, indented for ideal placement of the finger pads– but likely even more indented from years of use. The perfect fit of my fingers on the a s d f & j k l ; keys felt incredible, and I realize it may seem strange to some that I would use the adjective incredible to describe this feeling— but it was.
As far as I could tell, the keys didn’t stick when pressed and after I removed the “Do Not Touch” sign off of the ribbon area, I tested the return function and it worked! There was even ribbon and the body of the machine was in tact except for inches of dust accumulated in the crevices.

As a writer I have had my eye on one of these “real” typewriters for years, but the price was always unjustifiable to me considering it would be used only for decoration. On eBay I’ve seen similar models that sold for well over $300 and some as high as $700 so I was skeptical that this one had a price tag of just $37. After replacing the “Do Not Touch” tag I decided to walk around the store to see what else was for sale while the clerk helped an elderly woman compare Cupie dolls. I saw an old rotary pay phone and an even older record player– but both were priced at what I figured was reasonable but still much less than I thought the typewriter should have been priced.

Cupie or Kewpie doll

After the elderly woman bought her collection of Cupies, I inquired about the typewriter, trying to hide my amazement that it was priced so low. It was a Royal Deluxe from the 40′s and it worked with ribbon the clerk picked up at Staples (Who knew, turns out they still make ribbon for these old typewriter models).

Apparently this antique store bought out an estate sale and $37 was what they thought was a fair price for this Royal since it didn’t have a case. Of course, I bought it.

Once home I showed it off to anyone who’d care (my husband still doesn’t really get why I bought this huge paperweight) and I also googled the hell out of it. Not only did I see the SAME model in similar shape for sale in the $500′s, I learned that Ernest Hemingway used this same model, and if that isn’t purchase validation I don’t know what is!

I may not be a writer of Hemingway’s stature and even while I write this post on my fancy-shmancy top of the line new Air, my “olden days” typewriter makes me feel happy to the core whenever I glance over and see it sitting on my desk.

Trip Advisor, an essential website for any traveler regardless of your destination, just put out their “Top 25″ list for different regions of the World listing the locations where people say they want to go.

There are some obvious ones like Banff. Banff was voted #1 for Canada and if you haven’t been to Banff stop everything (after you finish reading this post) and book a trip there. Soon. Winter or summer–it doesn’t matter. There were also some interesting choices… Machu Picchu got #3 on the World list below Cape Town and Sydney? Hmmm, yeah… I’m not sure.

Me and Banff

Of course, I have an opinion on all of the rankings, but thats the point — opinon is what generated this survey. Here I choose to focus on the United States top 25 and rate them based on MY opinion.

Trip Advisor’s #1: New York City
Diana’s #1: New York City

NYC over the Hudson

No argument here. I am biased and if you don’t know of my love of this city please refer to my archives or at seenyc.com, the NYC travel site I write for. I love this city. Anything you want to do, want to see, want to eat, want to BE– NYC is the place. THE place.

Trip Advisor #2: Honolulu, Hawaii
Trip Advisor #3: San Francisco
Trip Advisor #4 Las Vegas
Trip Advisor #5 Lahaina, Hawaii (Maui)

Maui

Spoiler alert: Hawaii appears often in this top 25 list, but personally I would have put Lahaina at #2 behind NYC. Honolulu is nice, but the island of Maui offers less tourism and just as much to do.

I’d also put San Fran above Honolulu. What a fab city SF is and if you catch it on a sunny day as I did this past April, you’d be hard pressed finding another city that can beat the vibe SF gives.

Las Vegas. Well, for me, Vegas would be near the end of the list–if it even made the list. I do think everyone needs to see Vegas once, but there are so many cities in this country that deserve a much more serious look than Vegas.

Trip Advisor #6 Kona, HI
Trip Advisor #7 New Orleans
Trip Advisor # 8 San Diego, CA
Trip Advisor #9 Sedona

Wait — stop right there. I am ok with New Orleans being on the list and even in the top 10, and San Diego–I LOVE the La Jolla neighborhood, but for Sedona to rank lower… I’m not sure about that. Maybe its because I recently spent some time in Sedona and perhaps the beauty still has me hypnotized, but this eccentric town with the captivating scenery is easily in my top 5.

Sedona, AZ

Trip Advisor #10 Seattle
Trip Advisor #11 Anchorage, AK
Trip Advisor #12 Chicago
Trip Advisor #13 Boston

Being a Seattle native I can appreciate the beautiful mountains, the surrounding water and abundant supply of fleece jackets, but I still wonder: “Why do people vacation in Seattle?” The weather is TOO unpredictable and the sights to see can be done in a weekend. IF you have a desire to go to the Seattle area, stay for an afternoon and then head to Vancouver, BC. Trust me.

I am ok with the other 3 being in the top 25. Boston though—should be much higher. The history and walkability of the town is addicting.

Trip Advisor #14 Estes Park, CO
Trip Advisor #15 Washington DC
Trip Advisor #16 Poipu, HI (see—I told you Hawaii was on here a lot)
Trip Advisor #17 Orlando, FL

As we get to the bottom half of the list I think the locations are reaching to be part of the top 25 (I am surprised Portland, Or; Santa Cruz, Ca or Boise, Idaho aren’t on the list).

Colorado is great regardless of the city and I think I would have chosen Boulder for the top 25, but Estes Park is only an hour away and with 345+ sunny days a year how can you NOT want to live visit there? Ski, hike, shop, swim. Colorado is like Seattle, but less natural water and MUCH more sun.

Washington DC is great. History is #1 here but if you escape to the Georgetown area you really get a taste of DC–and in a good way.

Lincoln Memorial in DC

Orlando.
Apparently the top 25 for Trip Advisor was voted on by parents. Yes, Orlando is fun and I say that as a non-parent. But it is all Disney and while Disney is fun, Orlando IS Disney and that only goes so far.

Trip Advisor # 18 Big Sur, CA
Trip Advisor #19 Bar Harbor, Maine
Trip Advisor #20 Carmel, CA
Trip Advisor #21 Destin, FL

Two in California and Destin is a great getaway. My brother and sister-in-law in Dallas love the driving distance and white sand beaches–so I can see why Destin made the list. And Maine is neat. Just neat. Bar Harbor has been a top vacation spot since the 19th century.

Trip Advisor #22 Savannah, GA
Trip Advisor #23 Gatlinburg, TN
Trip Advisor #24 Miami Beach, FL
Trip Advisor #25 Myrtle Beach, SC

I was happy to see the South represented in the top 25. Savannah and Gatlinburg are NOT to be missed. Here you can get a taste of the real south. Grits anyone?
Miami Beach and Myrtle Beach are known more for their name than the place/experiences, but nonetheless, they do belong in the top 25. You can’t really go wrong with any city that has “beach” in the name.

Whether you agree or not with my comments, below is my ranking of the top 25 (using only cities on Trip Advisor’s top 25).
Let it be known that there are some major cities missing that would be on my Top 25–some I mentioned above but others are Austin, TX, Missoula, MT, Princeton, NJ and Key West.

Diana’s Top 25
1. New York City
2. Lahaina, HI
3. San Francisco
4. Sedona, AZ
5. New Orleans, LA

6. Boston, MA
7. Chicago, IL
8. San Diego, CA
9. Washington DC
10. Honolulu, HI

11. Savannah, GA
12. Estes Park, CO
13. Poipu, HI
14. Kona, HI
15. Big Sur, CA

16. Anchorage, AK
17. Bar Harbor, Maine
18. Destin, FL
19. Carmel, CA
20. Gatlinburg, TN

21. Miami Beach, FL
22. Myrtle Beach, SC
23. Seattle, WA
24. Orlando, FL
25. Las Vegas, NV

Tell me — what are your top cities in the US? Where am I wrong? Where am I right?

I am known for never wanting to move away from New York City. But, if I had to move, I mean, if someone MADE me move but gave me the ability to pick the location, Boston would be one of my top choices. Of course Boston is much smaller than NYC, although that isn’t saying much since most cities are, but it has all of the charms of a large city (culture, walkability, sports) but in a tidy package.

On my first visit to Boston I armed myself with a pocket size fold out map and set out by foot to see the sights. Maps can be misleading and I was expecting a much larger area — I ended up being surprised at how small the city really was. Known for its rabid Red Sox and Patriot fan base (and believe me, rabid is not an exaggeration), Boston is also full of history. Boston’s favorite son isn’t Larry Bird from Celtic fame or even Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL — the favorite son and keeper of the city is the historic hero Paul Revere. The story of Revere’s horse ride through town alerting the residents “the British are coming, the British are coming” is taught to all American children at an early age. That act of bravery secured him a place in US history but also on many of the streets and landmarks (and tourist gifts) throughout the city where his influence has been great.

I decided that I owed it to my US history teachers and to Boston to immerse myself first and foremost into all that was Paul Revere. I headed to the North End neighborhood where I toured the home he lived in with his 16 children (yes, 16) and as in most historical home/museums, I was pleased to see the rooms of the house were still decorated as they would have been during the time period in which Revere lived there. I saw the North Church where his lanterns hung from the steeple warning the townspeople of the British approaching, quite a few statues of him scattered about and finally, the cemetery where he is buried. The cemetery was actually across the street from my hotel–which creeped me out a bit–however realizing how old this city is (Boston had many “firsts” for the United States including the first park [established in the 1600s], the first church, first public school and first subway system), it seemed almost normal that modern hotels (such as mine, Nine Zero) and shops would be integrated in with the original buildings, cobblestone streets and, yes–cemeteries.

cemetery where Paul Revere is buried. the large tombstone belongs to Ben Franklin

Boston is full of diverse, beautiful neighborhoods surrounded by parks, boutiques and restaurants. Many of these neighborhoods and major landmarks throughout the city can be reached easily by strolling the “Freedom Trail” that winds through the city. Here are some of my favorite neighborhoods:

Beacon Hill, one of the oldest and smallest neighborhoods in the country, is also one of the most famous. It is known for its elegant brownstones and fashionable shops. A walk down Charles Street will introduce eclectic antique shops, welcoming cafes and top of the line clothing boutiques.

brownstones on beacon hill

Faneuil Hall has been a bustling marketplace and meeting spot for over 200 years. Near both the Waterfront neighborhood and the North End, this neighborhood has a huge shopping area (indoors and out), sidewalk performances during warmer months and is one of the most famous stops along Boston’s “Freedom Trail.” The famous bar “Cheers” from the TV show of the same name has been remodeled and relocated here too.

Here is a video I took of a street performer just outside of the marketplace.

boston street performer

the author outside of Faneuil Hall

Back Bay is the neighborhood that I think I enjoyed the most. This area claims the gorgeous Public Library (wonderful tour) and Trinity Church in Copley Square. Many browse-able boutiques are to be found on posh Newbury Street along with galleries, bars and restaurants.

lion in the boston public library

Boston can be reached in under 5 hours by car from the New York City area which makes it an excellent choice for a long weekend getaway. I look forward to going back soon–maybe for a Red Sox game this fall–or a classic Ivy League football game so I can better check out the Fenway and Harvard neighborhoods I didn’t have a chance to visit or maybe to find more reasons that will put Boston at the top of my “if I had to move list”.

In August I did a little self promotion when I proudly introduced my freelance writing gig on www.seenyc.com, a website dedicated to New York City and a perfect site for everything there is to know about getting to, staying in and enjoying yourself in this great city!

The site has actually just been redone and is ready for action! Check it out for all of your NYC travel needs. Book flights and hotels with confidence knowing the search engine will find you the best deals and read the top 10 things to do in NYC (a revolving list) with pieces written by yours truly!

Be ready for up to the minute information on things to do and see. I LOVE this city!

Thanks for all who have visited and please keep coming back!

With Spring officially here and the snow finally melted, I’m ready to get outside! Lets hike!

Growing up in the Pacific North West, it was hard NOT to hike. The outdoor co-op company REI has it’s headquarters in Seattle, the mountain ranges are populated with gorgeous waterfalls, canopied by enormous evergreen trees and thick with rain forests and mountain lakes–some not yet reached by humans. The year-round moderate temperatures in the area allow for enjoyable hiking in every season (just be prepared to spend some money on the Gortex gear as it does rain; a lot.).

Seattle with Rainier in the background flickr: jim914109

University of Washington with mountains at sunset.

In Seattle, where I lived, one can look in every direction (on a clear day of course), and see snow capped mountains encircling the entire city with the gem of the state, the highest elevation point in Washington towering above all the rest: Mt Rainier–nearly 15K feet at the summit. While impossible to hike to the top of Rainier causally as much planning is required due to the conditions and elevation gain– it is not uncommon to go on a day hike in and around Rainier or in other areas just outside of Seattle and reach an elevation gain of 4000 to 5000 ft. Aside from Rainier National Park there are dozens of other hiking spots that are easily climbed in just a few hours including the still active Volcano Mt. St. Helens and one of my favorite spots, Mt. Si which tops out at 4166 ft and is 8 miles round trip.

Mt Rainier flickr: pjink11

Oregon and Vancouver BC make up the rest of the NW and also have their share of hike destinations including Mt. Hood and Crater Lake just outside of Portland, Or and endless trails in Whistler BC –a couple hours drive from Vancouver. Both Ski resorts in the Winter, Whistler and Mt Hood boast nearly as many visitors in the summer for hiking and mountain biking as they do in the Winter due to their reputation for reliably sunny skies and accommodating village environment with lodging, restaurants and nightlife .

Crater Lake

Mt Hood

Whistler

In contrast–here in my new state of New York–the highest point is Mt. Marcy in the Adirondack Mountain Range at 5134 ft. The Adirondacks, in the NE part of New York, boast many lakes and hiking trails, was the nation’s first preserved wilderness and the closest distance for Manhattanites escape the concrete forest and experience the “real” outdoors.

Lake George is one of the highlights in the Adirondacks (popular not just for hiking but also fishing and swimming) and other spots I’ve had the time to discover in the area are Lake Placid, home of the 1980 Winter Olympics and Stowe, VT.

Stowe too is a ski mecca in the winter but caters to the spring and summer crowd with Gondola rides to the tops of the peaks and well kept trails with names like Hogback Mountain and Emily’s Bridge to bring you down.

Stowe, VT

While the elevation gain of these North East locations cannot be compared to the West Coast, one benefit out East is traveling far distances is not required to find hiking opportunities in many different states. The states in the NE are much smaller in size and are in closer proximity to each other than are the states out West, so East Coast hikers generally hike different spots more often.

For example, driving from New Jersey to Vermont takes about 4 hours, but the different routes and states traveled during that drive all have varying trails and scenery (not to mention historical and cultural landmarks). The same time span traveled in the West Coast may get you to the edge of a bordering state, but likely you will still be within the same state you started in.

So which area has better hiking? West or East? Of course it is based on personal preference. If elevation gain is your thing and you don’t mind a little soggy hiking, head West. If covering more area quicker without sacrificing beauty is more appealing–come out East. Either way– go, hike!

the author, hiking Whistler, BC

For more information on any of the trails or locations mentioned, please leave a comment and I will get back to you!

All pictures by diana ellefson except where mentioned.