Transport & Travel
What Can I Do in Chicago, Illinois?
Jan 4th
No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find a great variety of things to do in Chicago. Whether you’re outdoors or indoors, Chicago’s attractions are endless. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio, Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Lamb’s Farm and the Navy Pier offer just a few of the many great sights and sound of Chicago.
The Navy Pier at Chicago’s lakefront area has restaurants, shopping and attractions such as a huge Ferris wheel and an IMAX theater. A carousel, mini golf course and children’s museum can also be found here. One of the most popular things to do at the Navy Pier is to spend at least twenty minutes walking through the Amazing Chicago Funhouse Maze. The activity is educational and fun as you walk in Chicago settings including Above Chicago, Landmark Chicago and Underground Chicago as you experience special effects such as funhouse mirrors and lights.
Lamb’s Farm is a great place to take children as it has a petting zoo, miniature golf and a miniature train. It’s a popular place for birthday parties and has a restaurant, bakery and ice cream parlor. Lamb’s Farm was started in 1961 by two special education teachers, Robert Terese and Corrine Owen, and the Farm employs adults with mental disabilities in a supportive live and work environment.
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is a world-class museum with many exhibits and astronomical discoveries from ancient times to the modern day. Adler is educational for all ages and has a digital theater, valuable books, interactive exhibits, computer games and films. The Art Institute of Chicago is another interesting and educational place perfect for all ages. The Institute has American, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works such as pieces by Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, Seurat, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The new Modern Art Wing has paintings by Picasso, Magritte and Matisse as well as sculptures, drawings and textile art from Africa and Asia.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio is located in Oak Park, Chicago. Wright built the home for his wife, Catherine, and their six children. The family lived here from 1889-1901. Many of Wright’s well-known design principles were illustrated first in this home and studio. Guided tours may be available and you can tour the home and studio and see beautiful details such as the art glass window in the children’s playroom.
What can I do in Boston?
Jan 4th
Boston is a lively city that is home to countless attractions. As the capital of Massachusetts, this New England city contains myriad historical landmarks, as well as professional sports teams and dozens of museums. When visiting Boston, you will likely have to choose between attractions, as it would be impossible to see them all in one visit.
The Freedom Trail allows visitors to see sixteen historical sites along a 2.5 mile (4 km) walking trail. The trail starts with the Boston Common, which is America’s oldest public park, and concludes with the Bunker Hill Monument. The trail is clearly marked in red by either paint or bricks, and guidebooks are available. Along the trail, you will see Paul Revere’s house, Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, multiple historic churches and more.
Near Boston Common is Boston Public Garden and the lake with the famous swan boats, which have existed since 1877. Quincy Market, a combination indoor-outdoor marketplace of shops and restaurants, is in the vicinity of Faneuil Hall. The New England Holocaust Memorial is also near Faneuil Hall. Many types of tours, from walking to ducks, a type of amphibious vehicle, exist to provide various slants on the sights.
Another walking tour is the 1.6 mile (2.5 km) Black Heritage Trail. The many museums in the Boston area include the Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and the Museum of Afro American History. Two others are the Children’s Museum of Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which houses a massive art collection and is also known for its garden.
There is also the New England Aquarium and the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S., which is also undefeated in battle. Boston Harbor National Park houses Fort Warren, a Confederate landmark. Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is one of the oldest baseball parks in the U.S.
Pop culture fans will want to see the two Cheers bars. One is the bar used for outside shots of the long-running Cheers television sitcom. The other is a replica of the inside of the Cheers set, located in Quincy Market. A newer and rather unusual Boston attraction is the interactive TOMB experience, which features an Indiana Jones theme and Disney-like special effects.
Beacon Hill is a unique Boston neighborhood with cobblestone streets and elegant townhouses. Newberry Street is a stylish shopping destination, with top of the line merchants and trendy boutiques. Last but not least, Filene’s Basement is a very famous discount retailer that has existed since the early 1900s.
What are Some Free Things to Do in Washington DC?
Jan 4th
Washington DC is a paradise for travelers on a budget. Most of the attractions worth visiting are either free or close to free. This includes most museums, monuments, and parks. Your first stop when in Washington DC should be the White House. Free guided tours will take you through several rooms, although you will have to endure long lines to get in, even if you arrive early in the morning.
The next best free stop in Washington DC is the Smithsonian Institution, which comprises 16 museums. Unless you are in town for a long time, choose just a few of the galleries, such as the Space Museum, where you can get a glimpse of the Apollo and touch a piece of the moon. Another great museum is the Navy Museum, where you can see World War II guns and ship equipment.
History is alive in Washington DC and you can take part by watching the Supreme Court in session, touring the FBI headquarters, and walking around the Pentagon. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing allows you an exciting peek into the actual printing of money. The Arlington National Cemetery is another must-see in Washington DC. Besides the war veterans, President John F. Kennedy and a big part of his family are buried here. Watching the guard change is an event in itself. Other free historical monuments include the Washington monument, the Vietnam Memorial, the Union Station, the I.S. Capitol building, and the National Archives, where you can see the original copy of the Declaration of Independence, among many other historical documents.
Outdoor attractions are a big part of the charm of Washington DC. For a quick picnic or a peaceful stroll, head to the Mall, a large green area on the way to the Smithsonian Museums. The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a natural marsh, are a great space for bird watching and a chance to see thousands of flower species. For a peek into the cultural world of Washington DC, head to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and take their free behind-the-scenes tour. Performances are paid, though, and are often sold out. The National Gallery of Art and the television and radio towers and broadcasting services are also open to the public and free.
Difference between Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and England
Jan 4th
The United Kingdom (UK) is often incorrectly referred to as England, Britain, or Great Britain. In fact, the UK is the union of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The name United Kingdom is short for: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain refers to one of the two major islands that comprise the British Isles; it is made up of England, Scotland, and Wales.
Some people likely confuse England as being the same as the whole of Great Britain or the United Kingdom because of England’s dominance and power in Great Britain and the UK. As the largest part of the UK, England holds about 84% of the population of the entire United Kingdom and geographically covers approximately 57% of Great Britain. Moreover, London, as England’s capital and the largest city in the UK, has been the ruling center of government for the United Kingdom since 1707. In 1999, however, Scotland and Wales were granted some self governing powers, and the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly of Wales now has some ruling power.
It is also easy to confuse the term “British” as meaning the same as “English.” “British” correctly refers to any people from Great Britain and not only the “English” from England. For the most part, people from England, Scotland, and Wales, prefer to be referred to as “English,” “Scottish,” and “Welsh” respectively, as opposed to the more generic “British” term.
Scotland occupies the top portion of Great Britain. It was a separate country from England until 1603, when King James VI, the king of Scotland, inherited the English throne as well. The countries, however, remained separate until the Acts of Union were passed in 1707 merging the English and Scotish parliaments into a single United Kingdom parliament. By this time, England already controlled Wales and Ireland.
Wales, on the other hand, occupies a sort of southwestern region of Great Britain and is separated from Ireland and Northern Ireland by the Irish Sea. While its complex history with England has spanned many centuries, it has been officially considered separate from England since 1955.
The final component of the United Kingdom is Northern Ireland, which was established in 1920 and is independent from the Republic of Ireland. It is the only of the four UK countries that is located on a different island. Both Ireland and Northern Ireland occupy the island west of Great Britain. These two islands, the Irelands on one hand and Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) on the other, as well as thousands of little islands comprise the British Isles. The Channel Islands, The Isle of Wight, the Hebrides, and the Isle of Man are some of the more well-known small islands in the British Isles.