"I can see my house from here!" (Photo by Ludovic Bertron) On July 4th, just in time to celebrate the Independence Day weekend, the Statue of Liberty will be re-opening her arms to tourists seeking to ascend the 354 narrow steps (154 from pedestal to crown) to view the New York Harbor area from the top of her head. After nearly eight years of security-related closure (due to the events of September 11th, 2001), Lady Liberty will once again welcome visitors to the upper elevations of her copper-clad physique. Ever since her dedication in 1886, the monument standing guard over the New York City area has symbolized democracy and friendship, and she remains a quintessential American icon. As a gift from France to commemorate the centennial of the American Revolution in 1876, she arrived a fashionable decade late, but it's the thought that counts, right? Her creators, sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and structural engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), wanted to ensure her artistic and ever-lasting perfection, befitting what was to become a National Monument and a United Nations World Heritage Site. To return the favor to the French, Americans living in France dedicated a smaller replica of the statue in 1889. It resides in Paris on Île des Cygnes. While this holiday weekend may be one of the more exciting times to (re)visit the Statue of Liberty, the crown tour plan appears to be permanent. The tours will be ranger-led and allow only 10 people every 20 minutes. It is highly recommended that you visit the National Park Service web site to make your reservations for Liberty Island and Crown tour tickets, as this new-again opportunity to experience a global icon of freedom is expected to be quite popular. After all, not many can pass up the patriotic photo op. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend! Suggested Sites... YouTube: Exclusive Tour of Lady Liberty - join Rep. Anthony Weiner in a trip up the spiral steps to the crown observation deck. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. - fun facts about the Statue of Liberty. Free Printable Coloring Pages - color in your very own Statue of Liberty. Wikipedia: Emma Lazarus - biography of the woman whose sonnet is engraved in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. "The New Colossus" - the poem itself.

Directory categories: Statue of Liberty, National Park Service, National Monuments, Fourth of July, U.S. Declaration of Independence

Archived under: 19th Century, 4th of July, 9/11, American History, Architecture, France, Holidays, Immigration, Museums, New York, Parks, Recreation and Travel, Tourist Attractions, Travel, United States

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"What are YOU doing this weekend?" (Photo by Veronica ML) Ah, the lazy days of summer are here. Wait -- "lazy?" We Americans are lazy enough already, according to this month’s American Journal of Medicine. That means it’s time to get out, get active, and to take advantage of some summertime activities! Nothing on your calendar? No problem! Ours is packed through the season. Here are just a few ideas for just this weekend: In major metropolitan areas, of course, there’s always something going on. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, this weekend is "Taste of Chicago," with free admission and filled with food and music. Speaking of music, everyone in Dallas is likely lined up for the "American Idol" auditions. If you missed registering in Texas, get your plane tickets now for one of the upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Orlando, or Denver. Are there events geared toward those who want to get or stay fit this summer? Certainly! Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer swims in the East River because the pool is too constricting? It turns out there's a gaggle of like-minded New Yorkers who are swimming around Liberty Island today. If you can't make it, don’t worry; they have more events scheduled. Of course, you don’t have to live in the big city to find cool things to do. Wherever you are, you can still participate in "Take Your Dog to Work Day" (provided your employer approves, of course!), Some folks in Petaluma, California, however, will be skipping work with their pooches to visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair and enter the "World’s Ugliest Dog Contest." If the thought of big crowds and rats on leashes makes you want to just stay home -- or if you’re just saving all your energy for the Fourth of July weekend -- you can still get involved by watching other people push the limits of hockey, golf, or pure speed. Just don’t say you’re bored!

Directory categories: American Idol, Recreation in Manhattan, Chicago Travel Guides, Activities for Dogs, Sports

Archived under: American Idol, Animals, Boredom, Calendars, Chicago, Cities, Contests, Dogs, Eating, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Health, Outdoors, Pets, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Seinfeld, Sports, Summer, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Vacations

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"Bit of a sticky wicket there!" (Photo by Peter Dutton) For many of us, croquet brings to mind leisurely Sunday afternoon games played in Grandma's backyard or at family picnics. But for some croquet fans, there's nothing leisurely about it -- and it's no mere game. Welcome to the fast-paced, cutthroat world of competitive croquet! Association Croquet players -- and their counterparts who play American six-wicket -- are as serious as hardcore golfers, adhere to the game's complicated rules, handicapping, mind-boggling jargon, and international tournaments. And lest we forget, croquet was even once an Olympic sport. Sure, casual players can stick to the friendlier nine-wicket version (known to the pros as "Backyard Croquet"), but even that game can have an edge. Modern Backyard Croquet players like a challenge, and have devised variations where they play on extreme terrain that borders on obstacle courses, on beaches, or on pavement. They play in snow and rain, and they play at night. They play in costumes, on bicycles, and with unconventional equipment. So, take some tips from extreme croquet players to liven up the next family picnic. We predict even Grandma will love the challenge of using a potato as a ball. Suggested Sites... Mondo Croquet - croquet played with bowling balls and sledgehammers. Smashing! Lakewood Croquet Club - extreme croquet club and organizers of the annual Champions Cup. Ads Featuring Croquet - beer ads would be better if more of them featured croquet. Oxford Croquet - more croquet information than you can shake a mallet at. Wicket World of Croquet - looking for some croquet action? Head to the tournament at the President Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis.

Directory categories: Croquet, Extreme Croquet, Croquet Gear, Croquet Clubs and Organizations

Archived under: Croquet, Cultures, Fanatics, Games, Home and Garden, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Sports, Summer

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Backyard horseshoes The smell of charcoal and charred meat on the grill, the clink of ice in a glass for a mojito, and a warm breeze blowing through the air as temperatures begin to rise. It's the season for that glorious pastime known as the Backyard Olympics: horseshoes, badminton, croquet, and more. This week is "National Backyard Games Week." It precedes Memorial Day weekend, giving bean bag players plenty of time to brush up on their Hacky Sack tossing skills. Backyard sports combine the best of the ice-breaker with the competitiveness of game night. Anyone can whack a two-pound ball across the lawn with a croquet mallet while holding a drink in their hand. (Whether it goes through the wicket is another story.) With bragging rights up for grabs, a friendly game of bocce can quickly turn underhanded, with plenty of room for allegations of cheating, bribery, and even some good-natured ribbing. But why stick with the classics when there are dozens of lawn games out there to experiment with? There’s Mölkky, a Finnish game that involves knocking over numbered pegs with a wooden throwing pin, or washer pitching, a game which rather sadly, does not involve hurling washing machines across the lawn. For those who want to kick their backyard festivities up a notch, there’s glow-in-the-dark bocce, LED horseshoes, and even laser tag for those who really want to go all out. However, it's probably wise to avoid the ever-controversial game of lawn darts, so happy lawn bowling, everyone! Suggested Sites... Tossing Games - forums on dozens of different tossing games. Outdoor Lawn Games - more ideas for your family reunion or bar-b-cue. Cornhole Players - everything about bean bag tossing. United States Croquet Association - all about American Croquet. National Horseshoe Pitching Association of America - forums, rules, leagues, and more.

Directory categories: Bocce, Horseshoe Pitching, Cornhole, Badminton, Croquet

Archived under: Athletes, Celebrations, Children, Croquet, Entertainment, Games, Holidays, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Sports, Summer, Toys

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NYC Hudson at the 1939 World's Fair In a world where even the most remote corners of the globe can be reached in a matter of hours, it's hard remember a time when a train going 60 miles an hour from New York to Chicago was considered the ne plus ultra of travel. But that's the story of the 20th Century Limited, the luxury train that ended its final journey on this day in 1967. When the train began service in 1902, airplanes were still a year and a half away, and automobiles were hardly suitable for long-distance travel. Thus railroads were the only real solution for inter-city journeys. Every town was connected by rail, but the big towns -- New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, St. Louis, Washington, Los Angeles -- had trains with evocative names like the Broadway Limited, the Daylight Speedliner, the Metropolitan Special, and the Empire State Express. These trains whizzed like bullets around the country, giving passengers gourmet meals, Pullman compartments, and personalized service. The jewels in the crown were the Super Chief, which carried businessmen and movie stars from Los Angeles to Chicago in 39 hours, and the 20th Century Limited, which took passengers from the Windy City to the Big Apple in a mere 16 hours to finish the transcontinental journey (once passenger air service finally arrived, it took anywhere from 16 to 43 hours -- with overnight stops -- to fly coast to coast). Passengers on the 20th Century were greeted at New York's Grand Central Terminal or Chicago's La Salle Street Station with carnation boutonnieres for the men, perfume and flowers for the ladies, and a crimson carpet bearing the train's logo. This touch was soon adopted by other venues hoping to show they offered their patrons "red carpet treatment." Once on board the train, passengers enjoyed amenities such as barbershops, personal secretaries, and radio telephones that were unavailable to those on "lesser" trains. The train boasted a $10 million dollar profit in 1928, but by the time the 1950s and '60s rolled around, it was only a matter of time before the 20th's days were numbered. The interstate highway system made auto travel safe, efficient, and speedy, and jet planes had reduced cross-country trips to as little as six hours. The 20th held on until 1967, but when the final journey began, the train was only half full and arrived nearly ten hours late. It was an unfortunate preview of Amtrak's schedule troubles, and a far cry from the glory days when nothing -- not even a Superman -- could stop a speeding locomotive. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: 20th Century Limited - history of the greatest train in the world. Grand Central Terminal - one of the world's great destinations. One-time home to the 20th Century Limited. Hickory Creek - one of the last rail-worthy cars from the 20th, fully restored and available for private charter. Walthers 20th Century Limited - okay, so it's a video about a toy version, but it's packed with information. JoeKorNer Menu Menu - the lunch menu from from the 20th in 1941. $1.75 for a sirloin steak and potatoes?! Highway robbery!

Directory categories: Passenger Trains, Trains and Railroads, Travel and Transportation, Railroad History, Grand Central Terminal

Archived under: 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, American History, Anniversaries, Chicago, New York, Recreation and Travel, Trains, Travel, United States

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