(cc: photo credit: Definitive HDR)

Visitors to San Antonio of sure to check out the top tourists spots and they’ll obviously remember the Alamo, but the savvy golfing tourist will remember the city for a lot more, they’ll come back with a deep appreciation of the incredible golf courses that literally litter the landscape. No matter what type of golfer you are, an old duffer who’s more interested in the enjoyment of the sport or a cracker jack professional looking to hone his or her skills on a championship level course, San Antonio has a golf course or two designed to fit every experience level.

I did say tourists will remember the Alamo, well golfers will as well with the Alamo Golf Club. A simple public course with reasonable (some would say inexpensive) fees, an uncomplicated layout and well cared for grounds. The Alamo Golf Club is just simply an excellent way to squeeze in a quick round before you’ll required for other family or tourist duties. If you’re too pressed for time to fit in a quick 18 or 9 holes, try the Par 3 Putt and Pitch or spend a little time working those kinks out on the range. As a special side note, the course has a club maker who will design and make custom clubs for hard-to-fit golfers and will repair old favorites. Now that’s worth remembering.

For a totally different public course experience, make some time to fully experience Canyon Springs Golf Course. Nominated by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as best new course in 1998 and winner of the Reader’s Favorite course that year, Canyon went on to receive further accolades in 2005 and 2005 as best overall golf club in San Antonio. So is this course worthy of the hype? Absolutely! A hill country course, you’d be best advised to stay straight and true or risk losing a few dozen balls in the tall rough. Beyond the challenge of the course, the scenery is something you’ll want to take in and absorb over and over again. Built on the Claussen Homestead, Canyon Springs, pays homage to the rich and storied history of the land. Look for remnants of the old farm and keep your eyes out for caves. Several caves are registered by the National Geologic Society and excavations discovered the intact remains of a saber tooth tiger and several Winchester rifles. Truly a stunning course full of challenges and beauty as well as an intriguing past.

Another great municipal course to check out is Cedar Creek Municipal Golf Course. Not a quick round like Alamo Golf Club, this one will take a big chunk of your day as it’s so popular and can get backed up. But there’s good reason for its popularity, Cedar Creek Muni is consistently rated as one of the top municipal courses in the entire country. The fairways are narrow and challenging as the course winds through limestone hillsides, past stunning waterfalls and over generous creeks. More beautiful and well kept than a muni course usually deserves, this public course is a heavenly concoction of all that is really great about golf.

Looking for the total golf experience rather than sneaking a quick round in where you can, then there’s nothing like staying at a golf resort and immersing yourself in the game. One of the best resort courses in San Antonio is Hyatt Hill Country Club and Golf Resort.  Ranked the number one Texas golf destination and the seventeenth worldwide by Conde Nast Traveler, Hyatt Hill is set on a whopping 200 perfectly manicured acres and features 27 holes designed by famed golf course architects, Arthur Hills and Associates. Expect to play across wide and rolling meadows flanked by both steep hillsides and wooded ravines and get ready to play over (hopefully) several water hazards. As all good results should, Hyatt Hill offers some of those little extras that make the experience exciting, one of the most popular current amenities is the GPS loaded golf cart. If you have yet to experience golf with this electronic caddy you’re in for a real delight, if you’ve become accustomed to the yardage information, the hazard locations, and the helpful hints then you will be happy to find this old friend along for the ride. The resort itself is packed with amenities and loaded with professional staff while still retaining its comfortable western atmosphere. Oh! And did I forget to mention the four acre water playground?

Another resort worth noting is The Westin La Cantera Golf Club another highly rated course as not only Golf Digest found a way to recognize it more than once, the PGA has also stood up and taken notice and La Cantera can boast that it’s the current host of the PGA Texas Open. This remarkable public course sits atop one of the highest points in San Antonio and offers guest some breathtaking views of the rolling hills and downtown. But it’s not just the view that will take your breath away, the course itself is nestled in a very beautiful surrounding amplified by gorgeous waterfalls, tricky creeks, and wicked hills. In addition to the noted 18 holes preferred by the PGA, La Cantera has a new 18 holes designed by Arnold Palmer. If you’re wondering about the amenities, La Cantera’s golf course is not the only thing recognized by the press, Golf Digest named their golf shop the best of 2008 and of course the resort itself is reaping awards as well.

This list hasn’t even scratched the surface of golf courses in San Antonio. There are dozens more that draw golfers from around the globe. Heck, we haven’t even mentioned the famous The Quarry Golf Club a course with its own list of awards and accolades including the moniker of One of the Most Unique Golf Courses in America. There is no end to the fun and challenge a golfer can find in San Antonio, you could spend a lifetime looking for the perfect round in San Antonio.

Golfing can get expensive.  Save money on your hotel and golf more!  Click here for hotel savings in San Antonio and around the world.

For the sports enthusiast, 4S Ranch Sports Park does all that it can to reach out to the community youth and give them the space desperately needed for group activities. This 25-acre park has five baseball/softball fields, five soccer/multipurpose fields, two tennis courts, two basketball courts and a roller-hockey rink. In addition to the sports facilities the park also has ample grassy areas for smaller group or individual activities, several playgrounds, a gazebo and a picnic area. It’s a great big park that can easily fill an entire day with activities.

Looking for a different sporting activity, something specific like BMX maybe? Then you’ve just got to familiarize yourself with Cactus Park in Lakeside, California. You don’t have to be a seasoned veteran at Cactus Park, just bring your BMX bike, about $35 and a reserve of bravery. The 1000 foot long dirt track features banked turns and jumps which can surprise you on a first run so its recommended that you spend a while watching other racers first. No one expects a beginner to be excellent but there are classes so you can at least smoke a few other racers on your first go-round. Check the park website for information on classes, clinics and race information.

For campers a trip outside the city of San Diego is necessary, but still within Riverside County is the incredible Agua Caliente . Like its name implies, Agua Caliente features geothermally heated springs which reside smack dab in the middle of a desert this oasis is sought as a therapeutic retreat. But beyond the pools are spectacular vistas and beautiful canyons and hillsides to explore. If you’re going specifically for the pools, you may want to avoid the high time, September through May, when the park is packed with visitors. The two pools are mineral water spring fed. The outdoor pool is a constant 90 degrees while the indoor one is heated to 102 and features some very man-made Jacuzzi jets.

As long as you’re in the Anza-Borrego Desert you may want to check out the campgrounds, or at least the park, at Vallecito County Park. Visitors to Vallecito Park consider it a green refuge in the desert sea. The stage station remains and once served as an army supply depot, a rest stop, and a stage line for mail and passengers. The stage station eventually fell to ruin, as did the pony express, but in 1934 the County rebuilt it using original materials. They also spent considerable time and effort bringing the natural area to its previous glory. This 71-acre park is so close to Aqua Caliente that campers can visit the springs and then retreat to Vallecito Park (where it’s always about 10 degrees cooler) for a peaceful night’s sleep.

If the history of the stage station at Vallecito Park has sparked your nostalgic curiosity then the San Diego area has several historic parks that can fill that yen. Rancho de los Panasquitos should be a first stop on any historical tour of San Diego. The Commandante of the San Diego Presidio once lived in this adobe ranch home and in 1846 it became noted as being a rest place for General Stephen Watts Kearney and his army after the Battle of San Pasqual. Since then many other notable and wealthy families lived in the home and expanded it. Now the home and the surrounding area are part of a National historic and Archaeological District. Nestled in a stunning 3700-acre park with a remarkable canyon, visitors can spend the day hiking, biking or riding horses.

The Whaley House Museum is another fascinating stop on any historical tour of the San Diego region. The Whaley House Museum is of the classic 19^th century Greek revival style and has been a public museum since 1960. Before then it began its life as a granary, a courtroom, a home, a theater and a general store. While the verifiable history of these buildings is fascinating and gives visitors a real glimpse into what San Diego was like about 150 years ago it’s the sidelong glimpses that have left a lasting legacy. With so many businesses and life activities occurring in the area, several violent events have left an impression, such as the suicide of Violet Whaley, the seizure of court documents and some public hangings. The Travel Channel’s America’s Most Haunted television program has listed Whaley House as the most haunted place in the United States. Stop by and stay after dark if you dare.

For a different sort of park and historical field trip, try Heritage Park. This almost 8-acre park is dedicated solely to Victorian architecture. These beautiful, antique homes were facing demolition after WWII and reaction from locals was great enough that the county along with private donors were able to save these buildings. Current residents rent their space and are obligated to maintain the interior and exterior in a truly Victorian manner. For romantics at heart, there is a Wedding facility at the Temple Beth Israel, an example of Classic Revival architecture.

These are just a handful of the multiple parks that are in and around the San Diego area. Whether you’re a visitor or a long term resident, a visit to the County of San Diego parks website will give you all the information you need on which park best suits your lifestyle and excursion desires. And don’t limit yourself to just one park or one activity. It’s possible to spend an entire day at any one of the parks and not run out of things to do or you could break up your day and hit several parks, taking in all that the San Diego region of California has to offer.

These are the best parks in San Diego, to find the best hotel deals in San Diego, check Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: davedit)

Your Disney hotel is a comfortable home-away-from-home, but it’s hardly Orlando‘s finest destination. Central Florida is one of the U.S.’ most varied landscapes, and can be easily accessed from the Orlando International Airport. These outdoor attractions will make those oft-trod and overrun theme parks look like your local mall, so long as you’re not too afraid of gators.

Boggy Creek: Airboating in the Central Florida Everglades

We don’t normally associate Central Florida with the Everglades, but over half of the state is packed with subtropical marshlands. Boggy Creek’s airboating tours allow the Disney crowd to experience Florida’s wilds without straying outside the Kissimmee bounds. Daily tours, according to the Boggy Creek website, showcase “wetlands, cypress trees, and wildlife,” including “alligators, turtles, and birds.” For the truly adventurous, nighttime boating tours offer the best chance to see gators in their natural habitat. Apart from the cool allure of the gators, the airboats themselves prove exciting: they skim the marsh’s surface at 45 miles per hour.

The Wallaby Ranch: User-Friendly Hang Gliding

This Orlando mainstay claims to be “the first and largest aerotow hang gliding flight park in the world,” allowing its visitors all the thrill of unencumbered flight without an extensive training and testing period. Through their aerotow method and by using two-place hang gliders, Wallaby offers a relatively simple tandem flight experience. Even young children can safely participate in two-place hang gliding, bolstered by the ranch’s longtime instructors. The ease and accessibility that the Wallaby Ranch offers make hang gliding the perfect diversion from a park-heavy vacation.

Gators Fishing: Big Bass with a Local Dude

Large-mouth bass fishing is, by all accounts, Orlando’s most thrilling outdoor activity, and there’s no better way to experience it than on a private tour with a dedicated guide. Gators’ catch-and-release action takes place on metropolitan Orlando’s Lake Conway, where patrons can expect to see alligators, eagles, otters, and assorted other wildlife while hooking their bass. Though the tours are a bit pricey, the experience is well worth it; half-day adventurers can expect to interface with about 60 bass, while a full day’s fishing produces around 100. Also, Gators offers fiberglass reproductions of your best catch for your rec room wall.

Ocala National Forest: That Big Green Splotch on the Map

Ocala’s website warns visitors (twice in close succession) to “Be Bear Aware!” This dictum is either enticing or frightening, depending on how much you like bears. For the bear aware, the forest offers a range of campground accommodations, from relatively luxurious cabins to “primitive” setups. For the pleasure of hikers, Ocala also offers a length of the Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs 67 miles through forests, boardwalk-plated swamps, and prairies, as well as the Yearling Trail, named for the classic movie filmed on the forest’s grounds. This massive preserve is a perfect natural respite from overdeveloped Orlando.

Silver Springs: “Nature’s Theme Park”

Situated near Ocala, Silver Springs is Central Florida’s natural alternative to Disney. Though the park houses traditional attractions like a carousel and a petting zoo, it’s designed to preserve the integrity of its landscape. Visitors will want to tour the grounds in glass bottom boats: they’re the best way to see the constant production of the namesake springs, which produce “550 million gallons of sparkling-clear water a day” according to the park’s website. The park also offers extensive wildlife habitats, including one of the world’s largest bear exhibits, the white alligator-housing “Big Gator Lagoon,” and the “Panther Prowl.” Sure beats another day with the Mouse.

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Mt. Rainier National Park

Ambitious mountaineers will want to devote a few weeks to hiking the Wonderland Trail, but even weekenders can enjoy the ecologically diverse surroundings of the iconic Mount Rainier. The park’s grounds incorporate waterfalls, wildflower meadows, old growth forests, and 20 to 30 glaciers. Must-see natural wonders include Carbon Glacier, located about 2 miles from camp and accessible by suspension bridge, and the frequently snowy wildflower fields near the Paradise Inn.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

The Trek promotes a more structured approach to Washington oudoorsing: visitors shuttle around the free-roaming animal habitats in comfortable trams. Some of the park’s notable residents include grizzlies, black bears, wolverines, moose, caribou, eagles, and an adorable herd of pygmy rabbits. Young guests are encouraged to explore the Trek’s two visitor centers, where they can view smaller animals, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and learn about the park’s conservation efforts.

Mt. St. Helens

The Northwest’s most famous stratovolcano is a bit of a haul from metro Seattle, but its regular ash and steam eruptions are a sight to behold. Plus, the area surrounding the volcanic monument is well-appointed for outdoorsy tourists, offering designated fishing areas, horseback tours, and elk viewing points. The ultimate St. Helens experience includes a 30-minute helicopter tour, straight over the perilous “blast zone” and surveying the damage of previous eruptions.

Olympic National Forest

Olympic is proof that Western Washington is the country’s most ecologically diverse landscape; the grounds include lakes, wilderness areas, temperate rain forests, and salt water fjords. The Forest encompasses Olympic National Park, which contains glaciated mountains and a rugged coastline. Hikers should plan to undertake the 19-mile trek to the Seven Lakes Basin, and winter recreationists will want to brave Olympic’s Hurricane Ridge ski and snowboard park.

Lake Chelan

This narrow lake is the country’s third deepest. Its surrounding recreation area is one of Washington’s strangest regions; inside Lake Chelan Park’s grounds is an unincorporated town called Stehekin, accessible only by boat and floatplane. It’s a popular destination for winter sports and artistic pursuits, and its attractions include an old-fashioned one room schoolhouse and a three hundred foot waterfall. Lake Chelan itself is a boating Mecca and powers a large hydroelectric dam.

Unless you intend to camp for your entire outdoor Seattle trip, you will eventually find yourselves indoors looking for a hotel room.  Click here for the best rates and availability on hotels in Seattle, or anywhere.

The Municipal Art Society of New York’s Walking Tours: Local Culture According to the Experts

The MAS’s walking tours offer a range of experiences for the curious tourist, including visits to oft-ignored outer-borough attractions and historians’ views of Manhattan’s architectural development. Witness undeveloped New York on a tour of Queens’ Willets Point, characterized by the MAS’s website as a, “hardscrabble area of auto junkyards and related businesses that has twice beaten back attempts at redevelopment,” tour a paragon of urban renewal in Brooklyn’s “New Williamsburg Waterfront,” or stick to the relative basics on a walk through historical “Radical Greenwich Village.” Whichever route you choose, you’ll encounter authentic New York through the lenses of some of its most learned inhabitants. In keeping with the MAS’s mission “to promote a more livable city,” these walking tours offer tourists a glimpse of the city’s thriving culture and ongoing development.

HUSH Hip Hop Tours: A Guided Foray into New York’s Arts Communities

HUSH’s aptly-named bus tours offer a hip-hop experience according to the landmarks; visitors can choose from the “Pioneers” tour of Harlem and the Bronx, the “Rapper’s Row” tour of Queens, and the “Where Brooklyn At?” tour of, well, Brooklyn. In keeping with its mission to communicate authenticity to its patrons, HUSH promises opportunities to “meet, greet and be guided by hip hop legends like Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, Raheim, Reggie Reg and an assortment of others.” Guests can expect the unique treat of live entertainment, and ambitious visitors can also partake in walking tours of the famed neighborhoods or the occasional Graffiti tour. A wary visitor has only to visit HUSH’s website for customer reviews; these tours are overwhelmingly well-received for their informational and amusing qualities.

Circle Line’s Other Tours: Speed-Boating and Boozing Abound

The harbor cruise is a popular notion for New York’s visitors, and the Circle Line is the city’s most trusted purveyor of basic aquatic experiences. In addition to their “humorous, yet informative” semi-circle and full-island tours, the company offers the more entertaining options of an evening booze cruise and a quickie speedboat tour, both affordable at $27 and $19, respectively. The “Harbor Lights” evening cruise offers its patrons views of Liberty and Ellis Islands, the East River’s bridges, and Midtown’s most famous skyscrapers, while the speedboat tour boasts a vessel called the “Beast,” complete with a gaping maw. Put simply, the harbor cruise is still a great way to enjoy the city’s best vistas, though you might want to do it with a drink in your hand. Or really fast.

NBC Studio Tours: A Classic Choice for the TV-Loving Tourist

While this tour charts familiar territory, its sights are still undeniably exciting. Visitors to the famed 30 Rock gain entrée to the base camps of Conan, the Today Show, and Saturday Night Live, among several others. In addition to its basic studio tour, NBC offers package deals for its patrons that include a complete tour of Rockefeller Center and an On-Location bus tour of Manhattan’s television and movie sites. The studio tour also gains points for sheer convenience: it runs every 30 minutes during business hours on weekdays and every 15 on weekends. While it may be nearly impossible to get a group of SNL standby tickets, NBC assures that you can still witness some genuine backstage action on your New York vacation.

New York Culinary Tours: Eat Your Way through the City’s Ethnic Enclaves

As the website advertises, the aim of New York Culinary Tours is to venture “beyond the tourist track” into the city’s culturally representative neighborhoods. Patrons can opt for well-known culinary mainstays like Chinatown and Little Italy or venture into the outer boroughs for new tastes. For the adventurous foodie, a tour of Queens’ Astoria promises the city’s most authentic Greek cuisine and Turkish coffee. Additionally, Brooklyn’s Sunset Park is one of New York’s most diverse areas, hosting an array of South and Central American and Chinese eateries. These tours are the surest way to fully experience the cultural variety that defines New York, especially for the wayfarer who is willing to stray from Manhattan’s beaten paths.

In order to afford these tours, save money on your hotel room in New York by booking here.

The National Mall and the Smithsonian institution are inimitable classics in the museum world; Natural History and Air and Space will always be tourist favorites. However, amid Washington D.C.’s torrent of museum culture, some oddities exist. The following are the most compelling, strange, and niche-specific of the District’s exhibitions.

The International Spy Museum

The Spy Museum is one of D.C.’s favorite privately-owned attractions, beloved for its inventive exhibits and dedication to the realities of reconnaissance. Guests immerse themselves in the espionage experience by studying “cover” identities and choosing one to adopt for themselves. After completing their tours through the museum, visitors can choose to “debrief” by testing themselves on the details of their assumed persona. Attractions along the way include extensive displays of spy gadgets, explorations of spies in wartime, videos on the C.I.A. and the K.G.B.’s most infamous, and various interactive exhibits. Kids can even crawl through air ducts to spy on their parents’ museum-browsing.

The Hirshhorn

An oft-neglected branch of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn displays some of the National Mall’s strangest holdings. Unlike the rest of the Mall’s museum buildings, the Hirshhorn’s cylindrical structure resembles a spacecraft. Current displays include a technicolor film tribute to “digital noise and computer anarchy” that explores what the artists refer to as the “secret lives” of magnetic fields. While this might sound confusing, the visual result is stunning and wild. Other exhibits, especially the museum’s permanent collection, are primarily sculptural, and visitors will certainly enjoy the Rodin sculpture garden.

The Newseum

The immense Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue contains twelve galleries, fifteen theatres, two broadcast studios, a towering atrium, and an interactive newsroom. Its glass elevators are the tallest in the world, relaying guests to its seven stories of exhibit space. Its theatres screen news and sports documentaries daily and occasionally host high-profile performances, while its exhibits include photographic galleries devoted to Pulitzer winners, the Berlin Wall, and 9/11, historic explorations of journalism, and a journalists’ memorial. Perhaps its main draw is the fully interactive NBC newsroom, where visitors can engage in tutorials and sit at the anchor desk “hot seat.” It’s sponsored and curated by leading network news personalities, and it’s definitely unique to D.C.

National Museum of Health and Medicine

Due to the graphic nature of its holdings, the NMHM is a little less than family-friendly. However, for the bold and strong-of-stomach, it’s D.C.’s most exciting museum venture. Its most famous displays are also its most gruesome: patrons can view the pistol that killed Abraham Lincoln, the probe that the Surgeon General used to find the bullet, pieces of Lincoln’s skull and hair, and a shirt cuff stained with his presidential blood. Other famous displays explore infectious diseases, skeletal anatomy, preserved organs, neuroanatomy, and developmental anatomy. For anyone with even the slightest morbid curiosity, the NMHM is a must-see.

National Museum of Crime and Punishment

This Penn Quarter museum invites its patrons to, “test your Wild West shooting skills, crack a safe, and try to hack into a computer.” In other words, it offers burgeoning young criminals a chance to hone their skills. Favorite exhibits include a gallery of Medieval punishments, a Pirate hall of fame, a mock crime scene, an electric chair, and the CSI experience. In case those young criminals are too enticed by illicit glamour, the museum offers an authentic showcase of prison life and capital punishment: displays include a jail cell, a rebuilt guillotine and gas chamber, and a genuine lethal injection machine from a Delaware prison.

These are the best museums in D.C.  Click here for the best rates at the best hotels in the D.C. area, or anywhere.

Season: Spring

Event: Cherry Blossom Festival

“Festival” is a term somewhat loosely applied to the activities surrounding Cherry Blossom season. What takes place is more of an association of celebrations, all of which encourage tourists to visit the District at its most beautiful. The early spring events include guided tours of the city’s best blooms, bike tours with knowledgeable park rangers, exhibitions of Japanese art, sporting events, and fireworks cruises on the Potomac. Most events are free to the public, and the omnipresent blossoms are sure to make your vacation more memorable and photogenic.

Visit: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

Season: Spring

Event: Earth Day on the National Mall

The Mall hosts the largest Earth Day celebration in the world, incorporating the nationally renowned Green Apple music festival. The events operate free-of-charge, though they come with a healthy political earful about the virtues of going green. Guests at the 2008 festival enjoyed performances by the Roots, O.A.R., and Toots and the Maytalls, as well as speeches by Chevy Chase and Edward Norton. While exhibitions on green technology and environmental action take place on the Mall’s expansive lawn, most of the musicians perform at D.C.’s major venues.

Visit: http://www.greenapplemusicfestival.com/

Season: Summer

Event: Capital Fringe Fest

Fringe Fest’s tagline promises “unjuried, risk-taking, independent performing arts,” and delivers D.C.’s wildest mix of events over a period of about two weeks in July. Performers include comedians, political playwrights, vaudevillians, and other promoters of on-stage mayhem. It’s an ideal program for theatre lovers, and other visitors are certain to find a light-hearted improv troupe or critically acclaimed play to suit their interests. During the festival’s zenith it sponsors upwards of twenty events in a single evening, so there are plenty of performances from which to choose.

Visit: http://www.capitalfringe.org/fringe-festival.html

Season: Summer

Event: Smithsonian Folklife Festival

This annual “international exposition of living cultural heritage” takes place on the lawn of the National Mall and runs for two weeks in July. Artists, storytellers, performers, craftspeople, and musicians congregate to share and celebrate their cultural traditions with the museum-going public, who can enjoy the free-of-charge festival at leisure. In the evenings, the Smithsonian sponsors outdoor concerts that are cultural explorations in their own right. This year’s festival featured a celebration of Texan music, exhibits on the art of Bhutan, and a tribute to NASA.

Visit: http://www.folklife.si.edu/center/festival.html

Season: Fall

Event: Adams Morgan Day

Adams Morgan is one of D.C.’s most culturally diverse areas, and its annual street fair reflects its composition. Political demonstrators, cultural dancers, craft merchants, and food vendors assemble to celebrate the neighborhood every September. Dance troupes hold workshops to instruct community members on their art, while clowns and carnival games entertain children. First-time visitors to the area will be able to enjoy the Morgan’s sundry ethnic cuisines in a lively street fair setting, and local entertainers provide family-friendly fun.

Visit: http://www.ammainstreet.org/

Season: Fall

Event: Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

This city-wide jazz celebration typically takes place in early October, when the District enjoys its finest weather. Over a hundred acts perform in the space of a few days, inhabiting the city’s most celebrated music venues and jazz clubs. The festival also organizes parties for jazz-based mingling, classes in jazz technique, and a “Jazz n’ Families” fun day that encourages the younger generation to explore the music’s complexities. If you’re not jazz-obsessed, you’ll at least enjoy the festival’s free performance event on the National Mall.

Visit: http://www.dejazzfest.org/

Depending on price and the location of your accommodations, your itinerary to D.C. may include flights into Reagan National Airport, Dulles Airport or Baltimore’s BWI Airport.  Be sure to check out Hotels Cheap for the best discounted hotel rates.

When planning a trip to Detroit the first two things that come to mind are the auto industry and Motown. You can guess that there are museums in this town to cover both of those subjects. Even better, after you’ve enjoyed museums about cars and music, you’ll be overjoyed to know there’s more to learn and see in the way of Detroit Museums.

Motown Historical Museum is actually Detroit’s highest attended attraction. It draws people from around the world, keeping the legacy of Motown alive in their hearts and the streets of Detroit. You’ll learn the history and impact this music industry had on the 20^th century. The museum is located in a small house where Berry Gordy Jr. first dubbed it Hitsville USA. You will love looking at historical photographs, artwork, costumes and the fully restored home of Mr. Gordy.

Henry Ford Museum offers viewing of classic Ford autos. But you won’t just find evolution of auto manufacturing, there are also histories on other American’s ingenuity including everyday household items all the way to airplanes. The building is a large hanger-type hall with tall 40 foot ceilings. Besides the relaxed stationary exhibits, there are always traveling exhibits such as the James Bond exhibit and the Chocolate exhibit. Don’t miss the Made in America exhibit which features history and information on the steam engine and other American inventions.

Detroit Children’s Museum has so many activities and exhibits that it is hard to pick just one outstanding feature of this museum. But, if one had to pick, the must see feature would have to be the planetarium. The “Autumn Constellation” is a don’t miss event if your are visiting Detroit during the fall months. The museum also helps children and adults discover world arts and cultures, sciences and history. For a fun and imaginative learning experience, the Detroit Children’s Museum is hard to pass up.

Detroit Historical Museum presents the history of southeast Michigan within 78,000 foot building. You’ll find a replica of the streets of Detroit during the 1840s, 1870’s and 1900s. This is truly the most popular feature of this museum where you can lose yourself, if even for a few moments, in the past life of Detroit. Don’t miss their special events such as African American History Day in February and Eggstravaganza in April. Admission is always free.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History explores the diversity and culture of African American History. It is the largest facility of it’s kind that is dedicated to the experience of African Americans. The museum is home to over 30,000 artifacts including the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, the Coleman A Young Collection and the Harriet Tubman Museum Collection. There is also a 22,000 square foot multi-level interactive exhibit. Special events include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and Malcolm X Day in May.

Detroit Lighthouse Depot is a new museum that was currently the headquarters for the U.S. Coast Guard. Originally it was an actual lighthouse depot, working as a supply storage location for illuminating oil, buoys, fuel and other maintenance equipment for lighthouses. This beautiful 3-story brick building was built in 1874.

Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the education and joy of gospel music around the world. Each year a grand celebration takes place at the museum with an induction ceremony honoring the legends of gospel music. Some of the current inductees include Aretha Franklin, The Barrett Sisters, Della Reese, Edwin Hawkins, Leonard Scott and many more. Learn about all of your favorite gospel singers at the this museum.

National Museum of Tuskegee Airmen honors the African-Americans aviator fighters during World War II. Housed in historic Fort Wayne, you’ll be able to see authentic uniforms, equipment, aircraft and photographs depicting the reality of a point in time when the armed forces were segregated, yet true Americans did not let this stop them from fighting for their country. Large tours can be arranged at any time.

Automotive Hall of Fame celebrates the creativity of men and women of the motor vehicle industry. You’ll especially enjoy the classic car show held the last weekend in July. You may want to plan your trip around this event. Best yet, it’s close to the Henry Ford Museum making it a great day’s adventure for car buffs. Enjoy the “Design Your Own Car” interactive exhibit.

Lincoln Park Historical Museum preserves and collects historical artifacts, photos pertaining to Lincoln Park for the enjoyment and education of the public. You’ll learn about the French settlers and the original inhabitants of the area, the Potawatomi Indians. This location is also the home of the Downriver Geological Society.

Carver/Curtis Museum honors the memory and work of scientist George Carver Washington and Dr. Austin Curtis, his assistant. Take a tour to see how the natural skin care products are still made today.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) serves as a hub for contemporary art ideas. Make a day trip to enjoy the exhibitions as well as the bookstore and café included in this 22,000 square foot cavernous building. For those who enjoy modern and contemporary art pieces or those who enjoy all art. Admission is free.

More money in your pocket means you can afford to enjoy even more museums.  Check out the great hotel deals for Detroit at Hotels Cheap.

Free Public Tours of the Capitol

These daily tours run on a first come-first served basis; interested participants must first visit the Mall’s ticketing kiosk to enroll. The basic tours cover the famous Rotunda, some meeting spaces, and old Senate chambers, and are fairly limited in scope. Anyone interested in a more in-depth experience should contact his or her local representative. Many Congress-people engage in the occasional guided tour, and they’ll get you into spaces that the interns can’t. It’s certainly worth the e-mails and phone calls to be able to witness the legislative process in action.

White House Tours

While spoof site whitehouse.org may lead you to believe that White House tours are sickeningly pricey ($250 a head) and adherent to a strict dress code of slogan tees, actual 1600 tours are free and fairly informal. Furthermore, they’re consistently the highest-rated of D.C.’s political tours. Visitors enjoy the Presidential art collection and the vigilant, 24/7 protesters in equal measure. While an encounter with the big cheese is unlikely, tour participants describe the White House experience as unforgettable.

Spy City Tour

This tour promises a few dozen stops at espionage’s most storied destinations. Sites include the nominally mundane, like office buildings, hotels, and restaurants, and guides assure that you’ll never look at a normal location in the same way again. What’s more exciting is the mission that every tour entails: participants obtain coded, classified information and must decipher an important message to deliver to headquarters before tour’s end. To truly hone your undercover skill set, visit the International Spy Museum, the tour’s parent organization.

Civil War Washington: Soldiers and Citizens

Cultural Tourism D.C., a nonprofit coalition focused on the city’s heritage and arts, offers this extensive bus tour to private groups. Participants follow the paths of infantry soldiers from downtown to Fort Stevens, pausing at the preserved Lincoln Cottage for a walk through the President’s seasonal digs. Other stops include the African American Civil War Memorial in the U Street district, and the time on the coach is entirely informative. Cultural Tourism’s website promises that you’ll learn “about Matthew Brady’s attempts to photograph the battlefield, Clara Barton’s tireless efforts on behalf of missing persons, and John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of President Lincoln.”

Mount Vernon Tour

If you’ve got any desire to get out of the city and explore the countryside, Tourmobile’s Mount Vernon jaunt is an efficient and informative means. A coach bus takes participants through Old Town Alexandria, one of metro D.C.’s most charming areas, and out into the Virginia countryside, to the grounds of George Washington’s fabled estate. Visitors are free to explore the mansion and its gardens and grounds, which include a museum and education center. More than just an escape into idyll, this tour is a must for history buffs.

Save on Washington D.C. hotels at Hotels Cheap.

Babe Zaharias Golf Course

This 6,244 yard golf course is located just 20 minutes north of downtown Tampa.   It’s a smaller course, but it offers challenges where they are least expected.  Both 9-holes of the 18-hole course are a par 35.  The course is named after “Babe” Didrikson who was called the most versatile female athlete by the Guinness Book of World Records.  She purchased this Forest Hill course, herself.  Later, after her death, the City of Tampa purchased it.  After renovations it was reopened.  The golf course now touts Historical Landmark status.

Rocky Point Golf Course

Located conveniently, the Rocky Point Golf Course is just 15 minutes from the Tampa International Airport.  12 of the holes have water hazards.  Interestingly, the lakes, on the course, have developed into wildlife habitats.  This 18-hole gold course is 6,444 yards.  Busy streets are close by several of the holes so care must be taken in those areas.  Overall this is a solid course with nice greens.

The Claw at USF

This golf course, near the University of South Florida, spans 6,809 and offers 4 sets of tee boxes to accommodate golfers of all skill levels.  The fairways are lined with pines, cypress and oaks.  Other than an occasional alligator, the wildlife is not bothersome or dangerous.  Golf clinics and lessons are available with PGA professionals.  The challenge of this course is the long and narrow structure. The Claw offers a large practice green, lighted driving range and refreshments served on the course.

Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club

This course is at the top of the list for premier Tampa public golf courses.  Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club has hosted the JCPenny Classic as well as the PGA/LPGA.  In 1998 they added a 12,000 foot club house.  Besides holding the tennis operation, the club house is home to a bar and grill, locker rooms, the golf shop and banquet facility.

Bloomingdale Golfers Club

This golf course has a 74.4 rating and is one of the most challenging in the country.   Still it has enough birdie opportunities to make a fun game and even a terrific short game. Bloomingdale Golfers Club has a 1, 000 square foot putting green.  The towering pines and 100-year old oaks frame the natural marshland course.  With 7,155 yards of playing field, half of this golf course’s 219 acres is a wildlife preserve.  It was designed and built to work in harmony with the surrounding nature.

Golf Club at Cyprus Creek

Another scenic course, Golf Club at Cyprus Creek is placed within 640 acres of protected wetlands.  Golf course architect, Steve Smyers, created a course in which the golfer would use every club in his bag.  You will find challenging features on 14 of the holes.  All skill leveled golfers will find the course both challenging and enjoyable.  Cyprus Creek is 6,830 yards with 75.5 rating.  Located in the Tampa Bay area, just south of Tampa, the course was recently updated giving it new tee boxes, bunkers and greens.

Lexington Oaks Golf Club

A new course, Lexington Oaks was opened in 2000.  It is part of a real estate development project by Pulte Home Corporation.  The 6,748 yard course is a Gordon Lewis design.  The lakes and wetlands add challenge to the course, while the 4 sets of tees make it an enjoyable game for all skill levels.    This club is strong on customer service and it shows from the moment they greet you at your car when you first arrive.

Sherman Hills Golf Club

Not your typical Florida golf course, Sherman Hills features rolling hills and undulating greens.  It is located in the states highest area, north of Tampa in Brooksville.  This 6,773 yard course is rated 71.4.  The front 9 holes are open with elevated greens and tees while the back 9 are surrounded large oaks.  It is like playing two separate courses.

Tarpon Woods Golf and Tennis Club

This course has one of the best junior golf programs in Tampa Bay. It boasts water challenges at every hole in this tree lined course.  It has 6,613 yards and is rated 72.2.  Located northwest of Tampa, it is easy to locate at just 2 miles off of Tampa Road.   The challenging layout offers abundant wildlife throughout.

Lansbrook Golf Club

This course is designed so that golfers of all skill levels will have an enjoyable game.  The 4 sets of tees create a game played on a course of 5,333 yards to 6,862 yards.  Water challenges show up on 16 of the 18 holes.  The 11th green is a replica of the Augusta National 16th hole.  It’s an easy drive at less than 30 minutes northwest of Tampa.

With so many great public golf courses to choose from, Tampa is surely a great golfing vacation destination.    With Tampa your home base, it will be convenient to try several courses during your stay.   Make your trip a family affair.  Tampa has something to entice every member of the family.

 Save money on hotels so you and your family can golf even more.  Book your discount Tampa hotels at Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: FloridaRealEstate)

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture offers Native American crafts, masks, totem poles, Asian costumes, bugs and birds, oh my.  They have expert exhibits with such interests as fossils, dinosaurs, marine reptiles, wildlife photography, and much more.  It one of the “Top Ten Peoples Pick” for Seattle Museums.  Check their website for current and traveling exhibits.  It’s open every day, except holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm with late hours to 8 pm the first Thursday of every month.  There is a slight admission fee, but it is free on the first Thursday of every month.

Seattle Microbrewery Museum will teach you about the entire history of beer.  Located at Pike Brewing Company in the famous Pike Place Market, you can stop and have a cold one after your tour.  Or better yet have a hearty, wholesome lunch.  You might fancy one of their salads full of fresh vegetables with smoked salmon.

Wing Luke Asian Museum recently moved to a larger location, the East Kong Yick Building.  Explore the history, culture and art of Pacific American Asians.  This museum was founded in 1967 and named for the beloved City Council Member, Wing Luke.  As the first Asian American to be elected a public official in Seattle, Wing Luke is most well known for passing the Open Housing Ordinance which fought against racial discrimination in housing.  Contact the museum for special timely exhibits.  Group tours are available by reservation.  They charge a small admission fee.  However, free admission days are every third Thursday and third Saturday of each month.

The Children’s Museum encourages children to touch.  Their hands-on exhibits help children to garner more interest and learn more easily.  However, they won’t realize how much knowledge they are gaining while having so much fun.  While vacationing, if you have children up to age 10, there won’t be a better stop-off in Seattle.  They will have the option to climb a mountain or jump down into a marmot hole.  They’ll learn cultures of different people as they jump into different locations of the globe.  You can even have the museum all to yourself by renting it after hours.  Plan a birthday party in a special room at the museum.  After birthday cake and presents, enjoy the many exhibits.

Museum of Flight, located on Boeing Field just west of I-5, you’ll see one of the first primitive Write Brother gliders to the Mach 3 “Blackbird.”  The massive flying machine collection of commercial, military and civilian planes is situated over several buildings.  Enjoy the thrill of boarding a retired Air Force One Plane and a Concord or visit the original Boeing Barn.  If you are on a budget, the admission fee of $16 may seem more than you would like to spend, however it is worth the price and then some.

Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is located on 24th avenue in McCurdy Park.  Opened February of 1952, it is the largest private heritage association in Washington.  The history of Seattle, from the 1800s to today, can be viewed through their many artifacts, images and information.  The hands-on exhibits are a joy for both adults and children.  Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the grounds of McCurdy Park after your tour of the museum.  Then get a little exercise by following the trail at the edge of the museums parking lot.  You’ll find a bridge half way through the trail where you’ll enjoy views of hilltop houses and natural foliage.

Seattle Art Museum (SAM), admission free on the first Thursday of every month, displays nearly 25,000 pieces of art.  This eclectic, non traditional art museum has a very impressive collection of contemporary art.  Their traveling exhibits on the third floor are not to be missed as they are always the showcase of the visit.  The Native Alaskan art is impressive of itself.

Pacific Science Center should be on your list of “several visits” list of vacation spots.  You’ll learn something new every time.  Kids will love the video game history room – they had no idea.  Adults and children alike will enjoy the tic-tac-toe robot, see if you can beat him.  The Pacific Science Center was voted one of the “50 Top Family Attractions.”

Center for Wooden Boats Museum, located in the heart of Seattle on Valley Street, is a hands on maritime heritage experience.  They will take you out onto the water, every Sunday, in a restored historic sailboat or rowboat, originally handcrafted.  Enjoy Tug Boat Story Time aboard the Arthur Foss, a tugboat near 100 years old.  Here’s your chance to learn how to sail, tie a sailor’s knot or navigate by the stars.  It’s located on Valley Street, admission is free.  A good choice for the family if you are trying to stay on a budget.

Seattle Museums

We’ve touched on just a few of Seattle’s fun yet educational spots to visit.  After you’ve stop by each of these museums, you may want to look into Rosalie Whyle Museum of Doll Art, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the Klondike Gold Rush Museum or even the Nordick Heritage Museum.  There seems to be something for everyone’s interest.

Click here for the very best discounted hotels in Seattle.

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Heading south this winter? Here’s 50 things to get you started in Fort Lauderdale upon arriving at its international airport.

1. Bike through Markham Park.
2. Shop for bargains at Neiman Marcus Last Call.
3. Sip on complimentary iced tea at the Pillars Hotel pool.
4. Catch the sunrise at Lighthouse Point.
5. Go back in time.
6. Take an airboat ride through the swamps.
7. Try the roasted-garlic stuffed grilled tenderloin of beef at Mark’s Las Olas.
8. Spend the night at the Seminole Indians Big Cypress Reservation.
9. Take a tour of the Bonnet House, a 35-acre plantation.
10. Broaden your horizons at the Museum of Art.
11. Hike at the Fern Forest Nature Center.
12. Learn about the Florida ecosystem at the Museum of Discovery and Science.
13. Visit the oldest structure in Fort Lauderdale, the Stranahan House.
14. Pick up some bric-a-brac at the Swap Shop, one of Florida’s largest flea markets.
15. Practice your tennis swing at the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center.
16. Dine on Jaibas Rellenas at the Eduardo De San Angel.
17. Scuba dive.
18. Shake your booty at the Coliseum.
19. Hit the Fort Lauderdale beach.
20. Break down and buy a shirt with palm trees at Palm Produce.
21. Jump in the car and visit the Sample-McDougald House in Pompano Beach.
22. Rent a boat at the marina.
23. Riverwalk.
24. Picnic in the shade at the Hugh Taylor Birch State Recreation Area.
25. Chug a pint at Murphy’s Law Irish Pub.
26. Pick up some wax at Cocos Surf Shop.
27. Smoke a cigar purchased from Havana Republic
28. Catch a show at the Au-Rene Theatre.
29. Write out postcards from Cherry O’s.
30. Cool off at the IMAX theater.
31. Charter a saltwater fishing boat at the Radisson Bahia Mar Beach Resort.
32. Catch a performance of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus.
33. Lip sync to your favorite Babs tunes at the Parker Playhouse when Marvin Hamlisch comes to town on 11/14.
34. Learn how to surf.
35. Rent a canoe at Quiet Waters Park.
36. Bond with butterflies at Butterfly World.
37. Take a water taxi to the Las Olas Waterfront.
38. Get lost in Sawgrass Mills, Florida’s largest retail and entertainment center.
39. Get down at Passion Nightclub in the Hard Rock Hotel, Hollywood.
40. Pamper yourself at the Stonewater Spa.
41. Spend an afternoon in downtown Hollywood.
42. Nosh on strawberries and eel together at Sushi Rock Café.
43. Compare the records at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
44. Bike along the Atlantic coast A1A
45. Immerse yourself at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center.
46. Catch a spring training game from mid-February to the end of March.
47. Play 18 holes.
48. Go snorkeling.
49. Walk your dog along the New River trail.
50. Perfect your tan!

Enjoy more activities by saving money on your hotel room in Fort Lauderdale, or anywhere.

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1. Sip a cocktail at the Delano.

2. Take a tour through historic Art Deco Miami Beach.

3. Take an air boat ride in the Everglades.

4. Flirt.

5. Rollerblade along Ocean Drive.

6. Brunch at Big Pink Restaurant on Collins

7. Take the obligatory photo op at the former Versace mansion.

8. Purchase something with a pink flamingo

9. Eat key lime pie for dessert.

10. Adjust your internal clock to 5 hours ahead because everything happens much later in South Beach.

11. Walk through the Italianate gardens of Vizcaya.

12. Wake up with some Cuban coffee.

13. Salsa dancing.

14. Dip your toes in the temperate Atlantic waters.

15. Take an aimless walk along the shore.

16. Dinner at the original Joe’s Stone Crab.

17. Window shop on Lincoln Road.

18. Indulge yourself at Eden Day Spa.

19.Visit the Barnacle.

20. Go gator wrestling.

21. Take the CocoWalk.

22. Catch a performance at the Miami Performing Arts Center.

23. Check out the Espanola Way Market.

24. Have a schvitz at the Russian Turkish Baths.

25. Take a drive through Little Havana.

26. Get the edge on up and coming artists at the Miami Design District.

27. Practice your golf swing at one of the hundreds of courses in the region.

28. Dive or snorkel one of the offshore coral reefs.

29. Enjoy a day at the races at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

30. Catch a Jai Alai Fronton match.

31. Start an all nighter at Crobar.

32. End it at News Café.

33.Rent a chaise on the beach and bake out the toxins from the night before.

34. Visit the Alhambra water tower in Coral Gables

35. Then drop by the coral-colored Biltmore Hotel for a bite.

36. More shopping in Coconut Grove.

37. Take wind surfing lessons.

38. Max out your credit cards at Bal Harbor.

39. Try out the Everglades Grass Body Wrap at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne.

40. Head out to Key West for the day.

41. See a Miami Dolphins game.

42. Try inline skating on Ocean Drive.

43. Channel the spirit of the Rat Pack at Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House.

44. Have cocktails at the Fontainebleau Hotel.

45. Catch a few more rays on South Beach.

46. Rent a car that you can’t afford to buy and cruise the strip on Ocean Drive.

47. Get out of town and pick up some fresh produce at a “u-pick-them” stand.

48. Take a tour with Dr. Paul George.

49. Cruise to the Bahamas for the weekend.

50. Finish your vacation at B.E.D.

But before you can get started, your trip begins with your hotel reservation.  Book here to save money on great hotel deals in Miami.

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Dallas, the second largest city in Texas, is a great place for a vacation. Here are fifty different things to do there:

1. Learn about the life of JFK at the Sixth Floor Museum where Oswald fired those infamous shots.
2. Wander around thegardens of Fair Park.
3. Get some culture at the Dallas Museum of Art.
4. Explore the Dallas Museum of Natural History.
5. Watch tigers swim at the Dallas Zoo.
6. See works from Rodin, Picasso and Matisse at the Nasher Sculpture Center.
7. Shop til you drop or hit the nightlife in Deep Ellum.
8. Photograph the monument to JFK on the plaza next to the Texas School Book Depository building.
9. Wander through the galleries of the Meadows Museum of Art.
10. Go running, fishing or birdwatching at White Rock Lake Park.
11. See the double-story conservatory at the Texas Discovery Gardens.
12. Visit the African American Museum.
13. Find the resting place of the Clyde half of Bonnie & Clyde at the Western Heights Cemetery.
14. Get scientific at the Museum of Nature and Science.
15. Take a stroll down Greenville Avenue and around Pioneer Plaza.
16. Listen to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
17. Visit historic Winfrey Point where Germany POWs were held during the 1940s.
18. Uncover a plot at the Conspiracy Museum.
19. See works of art from Japan, China and Southeast Asia at the Crow Collection of Asian Art.
20. Explore Texas history at the Dallas Heritage Village.
21. Get a good view from the Reunion Tower Lookout.
22. Climb aboard at the Age of Steam Railroad Museum.
23. Explore the Museum of Biblical Art.
24. See the smallest things at the American Museum of Miniature Art.
25. Celebrate aviation achievements at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
26. Visit the historic Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe.
27. Explore women’s contribution to America at the Women’s Museum.
28. Haunt some antique stores in the Bishop Arts district.
29. Catch a performance at the Bath House Cultural Center.
30. Count the 172 fountains at Fountain Place.
31. Laugh the night away at the Ad-Libs Improv Comedy Club.
32. Check out the Dallas Art Institute.
33. See Dallas’ tallest building, the Bank of America Plaza.
34. Drive-in to Keller’s Drive-In restaurant.
35. Appreciate some grim history at the Dallas Holocaust Museum.
36. See a play at the Majestic Theater.
37. Take a picture at the Freedman’s Memorial.
38. Save the sea turtles at the Dallas World Aquarium.
39. Catch games at the Cotton Bowl, Reunion Arena or American Airlines Center.
40. Choose from 20 screens at the Cinemark Theater.
41. Get dinner and a show at Medieval Times.
42. Play 18 holes at the Tenison Highlands golf course.
43. Dance your night away at Sons of Hermann.
44. Take a walk along the Trinity River.
45. Stroll through the Dallas Arboretum and botanical gardens.
46. Go hiking in Boulder Park.
47. Find birds with your binoculars at the Old Fish Hatchery Nature Area.
48. Ride the McKinney Avenue Trolley.
49. Walk around the Swiss Avenue Historic District.
50. Get on the rides at Six Flags Over Texas.

Before your trip, book your Dallas hotels at Hotels Cheap.

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An incredibly worldly city, Toronto a great spot for visiting singles, couples or families. Here’s a look at 50 things to do there after flying in to Pearson International Airport:

1. Visit Canada’s tallest building – the CN Tower.
2. Meander through the corridors, passageways and stables of, Casa Loma.
3. Visit the chic shops and indulgent restaurants in Yorkville.
4. Take in a show at the historical Elgin or Wintergarden theatres on Yonge Street.
5. Get a history lesson at the Royal Ontario Museum.
6. Marvel at the architectural wonders of Union Station.
7. Experience the urban living mecca that is the Manulife Centre, located on Bloor Street West.
8. Find produce from all over the world at Kensington Market.
9. Immerse yourself in the culture and Asian way of life in Chinatown.
10. Shop ’til you drop at the Eaton Centre mall.
11. Tour a Greek Revival row-house at the Mackenzie House.
12. Visit in November to be a part of the enormous Santa Claus Parade.
13. Lose yourself in a museum solely revolving around shoes at the Bata Shoe Museum.
14. Take a day trip on Via Rail.
15. Bust a sweat at the Wellington, an uber-swanky fitness club.
16. Explore the heart of Toronto’s gay and lesbian communities on Church Street.
17. Enjoy a concert or performance at the Sony Centre (formerly the Hummingbird Theatre).
18. Head to the One of a Kind Show and Sale, featuring 750 Canadian Artisans bi-annually.
19. View some of the finest art on the Toronto scene at YYZ Artist’s Outlet.
20. Take in a musical show at Massey Hall.
21. Ice skate in the winter and people watch year-round at Nathan Phillips Square.
22. Re-energize with an oxygen treatment at the O2 Spa Bar.
23. Catch a Toronto Maple Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre.
24. Tour the artsy shops of Queen Street West.
25. Live the Greek life in Toronto’s East End’s Greektown.
26. Let the kids loose at the Children’s Own Museum.
27. Tour the maze-like underground Toronto world of The Path.
28. Laugh yourself silly at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Cabaret.
29. Experience a Blue Jay’s game at the retractable-roofed Skydome or a concert at Rogers Centre.
30. Roam through the campus of  University of Toronto.
31. Observe the rich history of Toronto’s Old City Hall.
32. Compare Old City Hall with the architectural advances of New City Hall.
33. Tool through the “hippest address in town,” The Distillery District.
34. Visit the Museum of Television in its brand new location.
35. Check out the largest enclave of Victorian Homes in North America in the Cabbagetown Neighbourhood.
36. Be amazed by the beauty and grace of the National Ballet of Canada.
37. Wander amongst the vast offerings of Yonge Street.
38. Take a break from the hustle and bustle at Toronto Islands Park.
39. Shoot pool at the Andu Pool Hall on College Street.
40. Listen to the glorious sounds of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
41. Head to services at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
42. Watch the animals at the Toronto Zoo.
43. Go medieval at the Medieval Times Dinner Show.
44. Eat pasta  at a restaurant in Little Italy .
45. Spend hours at the entertainment complex and night club, the Sound Academy.
46. Take in a show at the Canon Theatre (formerly the famous Phantom of the Opera’s Pantages Theatre).
47. See lives music at the Horseshoe Tavern.
48. Take in a show at the Canadian Opera Company.
49. Catch your breath at High Park.
50. And don’t forget the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Tip:  Saving money on your hotel means you can afford more activities.  Check out Hotels Cheap for great hotel deals in Toronto.

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