Destination spotlight is travel stories and information on cities in the USA and around the world for senior travelers and family travel with discounts, cruise information and more
Stories on individual destinations in the USA and around the world.
History of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia PA
My personal acquaintance with the Liberty Bell goes back to when I was six, and our first-grade class was taken to Independence Hall, where the famed artifact was on display inside at the time. There were no guards then, so we kids could run around, try to make it clang, climb all over, get greasy fingerprints all over it, and generally make pests of ourselves.
Years later, during 1976's celebration of the Centennial, I took my own kids to see the Liberty Bell. It had been moved to its own little glass house across Independence Square, which seemed to be a large telephone booth. Now it is housed in a larger Liberty Bell Center, and surrounded by exhibits, as well as a bunch of guards in Smokey hats who make sure visitors keep their distance and their greasy fingers to themselves.
Florence, or Firenza to Italians, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From our traveling experience, it is our favorite in Italy, not only for its timeless charm, but because the other big cities there have turned into tourist traps.
Rome is crowded, dirty and has turned into a 24-7 tourist rip-off. We couldn't even visit the Vatican, the Forum or the Coloseum without being overwhelmed by street vendors, creepy would-be guides, urchin pickpockets, phony costumed characters and non-stop commercialism. Also, all public toilets in or near the landmark buildings are pay. If you don’t know the exchange rate, the surly guards will grab everything you have in your hand, whether an English pound, an American dollar or whatever.
Venice is still unique when viewed quickly, but once one goes strolling along the narrow streets or drift by the canals, one can see and smell that the city has degenerated into a glorified sewer. The famed flocks of pigeons in San Marco Square look great in photos, but in reality are dirty pests that flock and poop all over people, and fight to scarf up the expensive birdseed in a tiny paper cup sold by greedy vendors.
National Museum of American History's New Exhibition Goes "On the Water"
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History today opens "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America," a new, permanent exhibition designed to engage the public in a dynamic exploration of America's maritime heritage. The 8,500-square-foot exhibition builds on the Smithsonian's unparalleled National Watercraft Collection of rigged ship models, patent models, documents and images to bring the sights, sounds and stories from the oceans, inland rivers and coastal communities to the museum's millions of visitors.
PBS' NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO THE SACRIFICE OF AMERICA'S SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
They did it in Vegas
Ava Gardner did it. Rita Hayward did it. Betty Grable did it. Donald Trump did it. Frank Sinatra did it. Sammy Davis Jr did it. Jon Bon Jovi did it. Britney Spears did it twice. Zsa Zsa did it three times. Mickey Rooney did it four times. Elvis never did it there. What they all did, except for the real Elvis, was get married in Las Vegas.
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
