David Lichtenstein

When you travel you are dependent on your GPS, especially when you spend a lot of your time traveling from one place to another in your car. The thing about being dependent on your GPS is that you tend to take routes to certain places that no one in their right minds would ever take. The problem with a GPS is that it tends to only give you the route that gives you the least amount of driving distance, which always ends up being the one that has shortcuts that most people don’t normally take. When I was traveling from Multnomah Falls near Portland, Oregon to a city near Mt. Hood, the GPS gave me a route and I took it. Unfortunately, the route that it choose was not the highway route (which I later learned only added two miles to the trip), but instead one that took us through the true back country of the area. Continue reading “Don’t Always Follow the GPS” »

Here in our area on the East Coast, we call them “pan handlers,” but when I mentioned this expression to a friend of mine out in California regarding the activities at the Fisherman’s Wharf area near her, she got indignant with me and said “Out here we call them ‘street entertainers, not panhandlers.” I stood corrected.

We got to see first-hand what some of these ‘street entertainers’ do to make money. One was a man who had spray-painted himself with silver paint and would pose for pictures for a small fee. He was quite good at tossing his coin or coins into this small bucket he held behind him for the purpose as he twirled around in front of his audience. We never saw any of these coins miss the bucket the whole time we stood and watched him. And, by the way, he drew quite a crowd.

Another one who probably could be called a street entertainer we jokingly nicknamed ‘the Bush Man.’ This man had gotten a fairly large piece of shrubbery (hence the name, ‘Bush Man’) from somewhere, who knows where, to stand behind and hide from people as they would (unsuspectingly) come walking by him on the sidewalk; and then, just at the right moment, he’d jump out at them to scare them. Boo!

We got a picture of this ‘Bush Man’ for future reference as a memory of our trip, as he did manage to give me a good scare much to the ‘entertainment’ of my husband and our traveling companion. They both loved seeing me jump and come back down to earth (sidewalk) again.

For being the capital of Canada, Ottawa is a surprisingly little known city with a tremendous amount to offer. Located in Southern Ontario, Ottawa is a bustling city brimming with culture and charm. Sitting on the edge of the Rideau Canal, downtown Ottawa is breathtaking with the feel of a centuries old European city. The offerings of Ottawa are far from slim; year round the city offers events as well as dozens of museums, the world famous ByWard market, and, of course, Parliament Hill.

Ottawa experiences a full four seasons a year, and given its northern location the winters are not mild. This isn’t to say that Ottawa shouldn’t be experienced in winter, however. In February the Rideau Canal freezes over and it’s opened up for Winterlude, a festival which offers the world’s largest skating rink with almost 5 miles of open canal skating. Spring offers the Ottawa Tulip Festival which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is the world’s largest tulip festival. In addition to festivals, cultural heritage sights and museums, Ottawa offers endless nightlife options, world class dining, and an NHL hockey arena.

Depending on what you’re looking for, any time of year is an ideal time to visit Ottawa. The people are friendly, the prices of lodging, entertainment and food are comparable to other mid-size North American cities and the experience is once in a lifetime.

For a fun-filled family vacation visit Myrtle Beach. There is plenty of beach available to sunbathe, parasail or just collect shells. When you are ready for more excitement, check out some of the great attractions.

Magiquest will give you an adventure like you’ve never had. Grab your wand and explore the castle. Wave your wand at hundreds of different objects to collect coins. Go on a quest to seek out the items you are sent to find. The golden coins you find will be counted and kept on your wand for redemption of prizes after you are done exploring. You may even get a chance to slay the dragon. This is great for all ages.

David Lichtenstein recommends spending a day at Broadway (Myrtle Beach Shop)

Spend a day at Broadway at the Beach and shop ’till you drop at the hundreds of different stores available. Visit Wonder Works, the amazing upside down house full of surprises. Take a zipline ride across Lake Broadway. Take in a movie at the IMAX or play putt putt golf with dragons at Dragon’s Lair.

Dinner will never be the same once you dine at one of the exciting dinner theaters. Pirates Voyage is the newest addition. Have a swashbuckling adventure while you feast on an excellent meal. Or go back in time at Medieval Times and enjoy great food while you see the knights joust and watch the horses amazing tricks. Myrtle Beach has something for everyone.

David Lichtenstein’s review of the Pacific Northwest:

Are you a coffee connoisseur looking for your next caffeine fix? Do you enjoy cooking and would love to peruse farmer’s market for fresh, locally produced vegetables? Have a great meal that you’ve prepared and are looking to pair it with the perfect wine? Look no further than the Pacific Northwest. Located along the Pacific Coast, from Oregon up through Washington, you’ll find an eclectic range of places to visit within just a few hours drive.

Oregon:

Nike, Inc. is headquartered in Oregon. Oregon also provides the backdrop to great movies like The Goonies and Stand By Me. When you’re in Oregon, head to Portland, nestled between the Willamette and Colombia rivers. Portland’s center has a diverse menu of restaurants and thrives in organic foods. You’ll be able to find a farmer’s market on any day of the week. Just southwest of Portland, you have the Willamette Valley wine region which boasts top notch pinot noirs.

Washington:

Heading northeast from Portland, Oregon, along the Colombia River, you’ll find breath-taking views of spectacular waterfalls. Cross over the Colombia River into Washington, home to Microsoft and Starbucks corporations. You’ll find you’re just within a few hours’ drive from Seattle. Taste some of the best coffee while taking in the view of the city from the top of the Space Needle.

Fall instantly in love with the sights, sounds, foods, and drinks of the Pacific Northwest.

David LIchtenstein does Colonial Williamsburg…