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September 25, 2005

Taiwan: A Country to Touch Your Heart

By: Sandra Scott

Do you dream of visiting China but it seems too daunting, too big, too forbidding? Not to worry! There is a China where you will immediately feel at home, a China you can explore on your own, a China that the tourist advertisements suggest will, "Touch your heart!"

Taiwan, the Republic of China is a small island country that is a wonderful blend of green mountains and crescent beaches, high fashion boutiques and handicraft shops, ancient temples and modern water fun parks. The people will greet you with a warm smile, pleased you have chosen to visit their country.

Taiwan, about 100 miles across the Taiwan Straits from Mainland China, was known for centuries to the west as "Formosa," a name given to it by 16th Portuguese mariners who, on first sighting the island, named it "Ilha Formosa"- island beautiful.

Since the Nationalist Government moved from Mainland China to Taiwan in 1949, Taiwan has developed into a major economic power. Taiwan's success story continues, as it is one of Asia's most developed countries and the world's 14th largest trading nation.

All travel starts in the capital city of Taipei, where dominating the skyline is Taipei 101, currently the world's tallest building according to Guinness World Book of Records. Much attention was taken during the design process to create a building that incorporated aspects of Chinese heritage. Auspicious symbols, so relevant to Taiwan's past, are an integral part of this engineering marvel. Stylized dragon heads adorn the corners, each side of the building has a large round disc recalling the ancient Chinese coin, and the building is built on eight pillars, all thought to bring good luck to the occupants.

Engineering marvels, other than the obvious structural components, include the world's two fastest elevators, pressurized for added comfort, which whiz visitors to the observation floor. They are even A 900-ton mass damper was installed on the 87th floor to counter earthquakes and typhoons. It is available for public viewing from the restaurant levels and observation deck.

This blending of old and new is obvious throughout the city. A modern metro system is not far from Longshan Temple. The temple was originally built in 1738 in order to worship Kuanyin, the goddess of mercy.

Incense fills the air as worshippers pray. Tourists are free to wander around enjoying the marvelous and colorful architecture. The National Palace Museum glorifies five thousand years of Chinese history with exquisite pieces of artwork in ivory, bronze, and jade pieces. Taiwan celebrates the natural world at the Taipei Zoo with penguins, koalas, elephants and more.

Taipei is a shopper's delight. The Howard Plaza with four shopping levels is just one venue offering buyers articles from world class merchants. Or, join the Taiwanese and shop in one of the many night markets such as the weekend jade and flower market. Don't miss a walk though the fascination night market in snake alley where snake wine and meals are still served.

Even though Taipei 101 is magnificent, what man creates can not compete with what nature has created.

Located on Taiwan's east coast, Taroko Gorge is known for its sheer marble cliffs, deep gorges, winding tunnels and the Liwu River, which flows through its craggy landscape.

One of the most impressive sections lies between Yantzkou and Tszmu Bridges where the road is carved into the cliff face and the sky is a narrow slit between sheer cliffs. At the Tunnel of Nine Turns the road has been closed to vehicular traffic so walkers can take a leisurely stroll, sometimes in the shadow, sometimes in the light, and gaze in wonder at the magnificent scenery. The Jueliu Precipice, which rises nearly 5,000 feet above the riverbed, rivals the Grand Canyon in size. Taroko is just one Taiwan's many national parks and designated national scenic areas.

Even though Taiwan is a modern industrialized country it strives to preserve the ancient culture of the country's nine major aboriginal groups. Not far from Taipei is Wulai, home of Atayal people. Wander the colorful streets, shop for native handicrafts, and enjoy a show of traditional dances and rituals. Visitors are encouraged to join in the dancing.

Also in Wulai, see the gushing waterfall amidst the lush green landscape, take an exciting cable-car ride across the gorge, or a thrilling ride on the Wulai tramway linking Lansheng Bridge and the Wulai waterfall. The rail trams are light rail vehicles that were once manually operated and used to carry timber but now transport tourists.

Wulai is just one of many locations renowned for its hot springs. Hot springs, called the tears of the earth, are recognized for their rejuvenating and therapeutic properties. The Sun Moon Hot Springs has multiple pools ranging from freezing cold to scalding hot, all with a beautiful view of the river and mountains. They cater to the day visitor and the overnight guest with luxuriously appointed rooms where visitors can chose from a variety of bathing areas designed for the clothed and unclothed, for males or female only, with indoor and outdoor pools, or even a pool in your own private room.

Take your time to explore Taiwan- the mountains, the seashore, the lakes, and the antiquities. Though small, Taiwan has much to offer in terms of recreational activities from snorkeling, surfing, boating, and river rafting to hiking and mountain climbing. Those looking for heart-stopping adventures can para-sailing and hang-glide.

Taiwan has hotels to fit every budget, from opulent international-quality hotels like the Howard Plaza in Taipei and the Parkview in Hualien, to staying with the monks in Fokuangshan Monastery.

Travelers looking for an Asian adventure with variety should visit Taiwan where there is much to discover.

It is a place where you will instantly feel at home, a place where Americans are remembered fondly for their support and aid during the Cold War days. Bruce Liu, director of Taiwan tourism, put is so nicely when he said, "We are separated by an ocean but we are connected by the heart." Taiwan will surely touch your heart.

If you go check the following first:

Tourist information: www.tbroc.gov.tw

Air connections: China Airlines, www.china-airline.com Recommended hotels:

Howard Hotel, seven locations in various areas of Taiwan, http://3w.howard-hotels.com.tw Parkview Hotel in Hualien, www.parkview-hotel.com

SoGoNow.com by: Sandra Scott on: 10:32 PM | What do you think? (1)

September 18, 2005

A Day in San Francisco

San Francisco is a wonderful city for a walking tour and a day trip. We only had 6 hours to spend in the city so it was a matter of what to explore and what to skip.

We took the BART in from the airport. The BART is only $4.95 one way- a real deal for a ride into the city. Once we got off the BART at Union Station we were starving and wanted to eat at the closest place possible. I spied an interesting place called John's Grill; once we sat down I was delighted to find that we had stumbled on a historic literary stop. Dashiell Hammett spent many hours in this restaurant/bar and even used it as a setting in the Maltese Falcon. In addition to the historic aspect, the ambiance and food was outstanding.

Once fueled up we decided to walk to Chinatown. As we were approaching Chinatown I heard rather than saw that we were in the right location. Firecrackers were blasting and a couple of huge base drums were being played on the back of a pickup. I then saw a two person floppy dragon in double making their way up the sidewalk on both sides of the street. A martial arts club was visiting all the merchants in the area with a dragons, drums and fireworks.

We could spy Coit Tower so we made our way up the hill to the see outstanding view of the Bay Bridge. We walked down the hill to Fisherman's Wharf and with all the madness of a Saturday afternoon at a tourist location we decided to hit another spot. We first walked to the swim beach and watched all the people get in and swim in freezing cold water; after I got too cold to have any fun (Mark Twain said that the coldest winter he ever spent was the summer he spent in San Francisco). We headed east to Ghirardelli Square. My son and I walked into the chocolate shop and had a great piece of free chocolate that a salesperson was handing out at the door.

Our great day in San Francisco was almost over so we headed back to Union Square and retraced our steps to China Town. We stopped to eat at a local Chinese Restaurant and had a huge meal for 12 dollars for a party of three. We jumped on the BART headed for the airport and home, dreaming of our great day in San Francisco.

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September 15, 2005

Toronto Touring: A Favorite for Conventions, Weekends, and Week-long Retreats

By: Demetra M. Pappas

Toronto is increasingly popular for long weekends, conventions, and week-long visits. This cosmopolitan "world within a city," is delightful to have time to explore and is a clean, compact and safe metropolis. (Ironically, this was something of an immediate necessity, given a luggage delay in arrival- no problem, the posh Holt Renfrew on Yorkville's Bloor Street West came to the rescue and provided new and attractive necessities, with spectacular customer service, on the evening of arrival).

The elegantly charming Sutton Place Hotel, 955 Bay Street, is in the heart of the city, www.toronto.suttonplace.com . Rooms are furnished with equal emphasis on comfort and grace, with guests given an absolute commitment to privacy and service. A club sandwich from room service ordered upon arrival was a tasty treat that Accents Restaurant sent up with incredible speed and complete with fresh cranberry dressing; Accents also arranged for prompt, attractively presented and delicious breakfasts. The pool and deck are the perfect antidote to flying, and the staff cheerfully accommodated every need (from delivering the much delayed luggage to arranging transport to business faxes at odd hours).

The hotel is also conveniently located for the Royal Ontario Museum, which is situated just off fashionable Queen's Park, 416-586-5889, www.rom.on.ca. ROM, as it is affectionately called, currently has a spectacular exhibit, "Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Flight," until September 5, 2005. "Feathered Dinosaurs," offers some photos, drawings, notes and some 34 original fossils as much as 125 million years old, and recently unearthed from Liaoning Province in North Eastern China's fossil beds. These works (and the very well-versed docents) go far in answering questions about the evolution of birds, feathers, flight and how they relate to dinosaurs. For anyone who wandered and wondered in New York's Museum of Natural History, with or without children, this is a must. While awaiting the museum tour of this exhibit, consider visiting one of the many other wonderfully presented exhibits. For those wanting a more collegiate experience, take a stroll outside through the park and through the University of Toronto.

Sarah Jessica Parker worshipers should visit the nearby Bata Shoe Museum on Bloor Street W(www.batashoemuseum.com). The next-door Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, under renovations until 2006, should be kept in mind for upcoming visits.

Serious sight seeing requires serious dinner and relaxation. A perfect choice is Bistro 990 on Bay Street, 416-921-9990. The earth tone walls, simple designs and soothing lighting, allow the eye to recover, while the palate enjoys classic bistro style food, with a Provencal touch.

Great weather suggests a Grayline Sightseeing Tour (a good way to get the lay of the land in any city). With the Grayline, see Historic Fort York, and the very modern CN Tower built by Canadian National in 1976 -- arguably the tallest building in the world, since tens of stories extend both above and below the ground. Also on the tour is the magnificent Casa Loma, www.casaloma.org, the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a renowned financial and military man who first had built, then lost, this castle. Those more interested in sports might stop at the Hockey Hall of Fame, 30 Yonge Street, BCE Place, www.222.hhof.com, where the newly refurbished and expanded Royal Canadian Mint World of Hockey opened to the public on May 20^th, 2005. Grayline's driver noted, tongue firmly in cheek, not to go the wrong way and get semi-permanently lost on Yonge Street, the longest street in the world at 1,178 miles from downtown Toronto to the northwestern Ontario border town of Rainy River. He also noted that lacrosse, which originated with the indigenous First Peoples, was the official national sport, though hockey is certainly a nationwide sport of international fame.

Toronto's evening attractions are as varied and as those of New York. To get a micro beer, accompanied by a maximum flavor buffalo burger, go to the friendly and moderately-priced pub, C'est What, 67 Front Street, near the harbor. This is a perfect location from which to head to the theatre at CanStage Bluma Appel, 416-368-3110, which had a fantastic production of "Ain't Misbehavin'," starring local legend and regular Jackie Richardson, whose powerful voice was matched by her cheerful energy and professional supporting cast. In addition to the many theatres, the upcoming July 2005 Toronto Fringe Festival will hold its 16^th year of celebrating independent theatre, with some 134 plays.

Touring Toronto- whether for a convention, a weekend, or a week- is a good idea at any time during the year.

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September 14, 2005

Milwaukee Art Museum a Wisconsin Treasure

By Shifra Stein

It's a bright, clear day in Milwaukee. The downtown shoreline shimmers under the radiance of a sun that is dazzling in intensity. Its luminous glow lights up the visually stunning structure of gleaming steel and concrete that is the Milwaukee Art Museum. Gracing the city's downtown lakefront area, the Museum is a marvel of architecture and engineering that owes its existence to the imagination and ingenuity of its creator, Santiago Calatrava. His role in the Museum's monumental expansion project, completed in October 2001, has turned the Museum into a cultural cornerstone for national and international visitors to the Milwaukee community and region.

Calatrava, an internationally renowned architect, artist, and engineer, conceived and built the Museum's 142,050-square-foot Quadracci Pavilion as the first Calatrava-designed structure to be completed in the United States. The Calatrava-designed Reiman Bridge, a 250-foot-long suspended pedestrian bridge boasting an unusual 200-foot angled mast with cables, leads to the Museum's main entrance. The Museum's crowning glory is the elegant Brise Soleil, a moveable wing-like sunscreen that rests atop the parabolic-shaped, glass-enclosed Windhover Hall, with its 90-foot high ceiling. Comprised of 72 steel fins, the Brise Soleil has a wingspan of 217 feet at its widest point. The "wings" also "flap" (close and open) each day at noon creating a moving sculpture. Time Magazine called the Calatrava-designed structures the "Best Design of 2001".

The vast complex sparkles with color and texture. Inside are permanent collection galleries, a large museum store and auditorium, and constantly changing feature exhibitions such as Rembrandt and His Time: Masterworks from the Albertina Museum, Vienna, which runs through January 8, 2006. The show was organized in conjunction with the 400^th anniversary of the artist's birth and explores the pivotal and influential role of Rembrandt's art. Included are 27 of his drawings and prints along with some of the greatest art ever produced by Netherlands artists. To complement this display is the Milwaukee Art Museum's permanent collection of 17th century Dutch paintings and 18^th century French paintings.

The Museum also boasts a large collection of 19^th Century American paintings, furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, and other works as well as an extensive exhibit of modern American and European art, especially with regard to European modernism during the first half of the 20^th Century. Important pieces such as Robert Henri's "The Art Student", and George Bellows' The Sawdust Trail " can be found here.

An unusual permanent collection of 22 paintings by celebrated artist Georgia O'Keeffe can be found in the museum's Bradley Galleries-making the museum a leading repository for the famed artist's paintings and the only dedicated Georgia O'Keeffe gallery east of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Other important acquisitions include contemporary works by Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Robert Motherwell and Frank Stella. The Milwaukee Art Museum also holds an excellent photography collection that is a "must" for anyone who is a fan of modern and contemporary masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and the controversial Robert Mapplethorpe.

Strolling through the museum's many galleries, or stopping to watch the Brise Soleil open its wings to the sky at noon, you can't help but feel that you are experiencing something very different. The Milwaukee Art Museum is, itself, an extraordinary accomplishment that should be on the "don't-miss" list of every visitor to this city by the lake.

For more information see the museum's website at www.mam.org or call 414-224-3220 for information and brochures on hours, exhibits, and more.

To learn about what else there is to see and do in and around Milwaukee, or to get information on accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions, go to the Visit Milwaukee website at www.milwaukee.org or email visitor@milwaukee.org; or phone: 800-231-0903.

Travel writer and author Shifra Stein has penned stories about travel, art, and creativity for over two decades. She is the creator of the Day Trips® series for Globe Pequot Press. See her books in print on www.amazon.com or visit her website at www.artforhealth.us ; email: shifra@artforhealth.us

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September 13, 2005

Wild About Wildwood

By DAN SCHLOSSBERG

Before breezing into the Wildwoods on a late August afternoon, I always thought Doo-Wop was a form of music. I stand corrected.

In September 2003, a special review board added 275 Wildwood structures to New Jersey's Registry of Historic Places.

Like the music, the architecture is brash and bold, with space-age imagery, tropical colors, and a dazzling display of neon- not to mention jutting, angular elements that suggest the fins of an Edsel.

Just as Ocean Drive, in South Beach Miami, represents the Art Deco style of the '30s, the strutting structures of the Wildwoods are stunning standards of the '50s, in all their garish ways.

The locals even formed a Doo Wop Preservation League to keep 21^st developers from destroying the tacky mix of motels, bars, restaurants, and ice-cream shops.

That group has prevailed: historians now say the Wildwoods have the greatest collection of mid-20th century American architecture. Since Cape May, 10 miles south, has more Victorian structures than anywhere else, the tip of New Jersey represents a 70-year trip through time.

Like Miami Beach, Palm Springs, and Savannah, the Wildwoods- specifically Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwoods- are riding a nostalgia wave that has created a new industry: heritage tourism. Doo Wop is the major catalyst, with narrated trolley tours passing the architectural treasures, including a local Wawa convenience store designed to fit the motif.

Though too far north to fit the trolley route, the top Doo Wop spot in the area is a seven-room B&B meticulously designed and operated by an Elvis enthusiast who escaped the corporate world.

Sheila Brown bought the 1913 corner property in 1995, eight years before she put the finishing touches on each of her themed rooms.

The Elvis Room, named for her idol, is a two-room suite on the lower level, which is also occupied by a handicapped-accessible '60s suite with pictures of the Beatles, Woodstock, and John F. Kennedy.

There's a TV room, movie room, music room, Marilyn Monroe room, and Life's a Beach room- all carefully designed with the '50s in mind. An airbrushed oversized Marilyn actually seems to be climbing out of the Jacuzzi in the all-pink Monroe room.

While in-room Jacuzzis, VCRs, and cable-TV are concessions to modern comforts, Brown hasn't forgotten what life was like in the '50s. There's a working black-and-white TV, as well as a huge mural of the old-time Wildwood boardwalk, in the living room; a 10-cent Coke machine in the basement; and a 1953 Seeburg jukebox (three plays for a quarter) in a dining room that resembles a diner, with red-seated booths, neon lights, curved ceilings, and overly-friendly service provided by Brown, decked out in poodle skirt and saddle shoes, and her mother Sandy. What other B&B provides Hebrew National salami and eggs?

The place just oozes '50s ambiance. There are books about the '50s, board games from the '50s, and paintings that show the '50s. The house has a huge wrap-around porch, perfect for guests who prefer finding fresh fish from take-out stands, and an oversized sun room, complete with pool table, jukebox, and a mechanical dog that howls Doo-Wop tunes while doing the twist on its tiny frame. And no one will forget the couch, shaped like a pair of lips, that Sheila uses to take souvenir pictures of guests. Those pictures, like the coins for the Coke machine and jukebox, are complimentary.

There's even outdoor music; a stereo system, designed to play '50s music, is part of the outdoor hot tub, located on the third level of the four-story house (Sheila and her husband Rick occupy the apartment on the top floor). Ending the day under the stars in the Summer Nites hot tub is a rare treat.

So is the afternoon repast of root beer floats, milk shakes, and oversized salted pretzels.

Summer Nites will even provide oreos, fruit, or almost anything else guests can name.

Rooms have refrigerators, encouraging longer stays, and some have fireplaces. All have little touches that show Brown's keen eye for detail: hand-painted headboards, one-of-a-kind night-lights, and photographs, bedspreads, and even throw rugs. All are throwbacks but hardly throwaways.

Brown finds many of her treasures- including the red 1957 Chevy that sits on the street in front- on the eBay website. She got some of her nine poodle skirts there too. During a recent two-day visit, she wore blue one morning and red the next, then changed into a more current outfit later on.

Guests also make frequent changes, especially if they take advantage of the Summer Nites sun deck and hot tub (beach towels are provided).

Even on rainy days (rare in summer), there's plenty to do without leaving the house. The basement game room has four operational pinball machines, one of them complete with bowling pins and a puck that relies on sawdust to return to the player. Bicycles, a healthy alternative to the $2-a-ride boardwalk tram, are free at Summer Nites. And there's a long list of tapes, DVDs, CDs, and books to reinforce the '50s atmosphere.

Most guests make a beeline for the beach, since the sand, surf, boardwalk, and amusement piers are only a few blocks away. T-shirt and souvenir shops compete with food stands and rides for tourist dollars. To see everything with limited effort, families of four can rent surreys- with fringes on top- and pedal together.

Since the three-month summer season always seems too short, many merchants remain open well into fall- if they can get help. Once beaches close, however, they must rely on special events to bring tourists to town.

There are plenty, including a Fabulous '50s celebration scheduled for Oct. 14-16.

The menu includes concerts, memorabilia shows, classic car parades, and exhibitions featuring '50s antiques and pop culture.

The area has a considerable musical legacy: Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock, Dick Clark's first American Bandstand telecast, and Bobby Rydell's hit Wildwood Days all originated there. Purple-and-yellow banners on every light pole suggest that Wildwood Days are still there.

Though judges may be hard-pressed to find another Bill Haley or Bobby Rydell, the annual Wildwood Music Awards will be presented Oct. 16 at Cool Scoops, a '50s ice-cream shop that recaptures the old soda-fountain image to a T. Old cars and old cards (most of them autographed) compete for attention with photos, paintings, and items that look like movie props used by Frankie Avalon and Annette Funnicello.

Other events slated for fall include craft shows, fishing tournaments, power-boat races,

and a gala Halloween celebration featuring a parade and party. There's also an event called the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge, held at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, on the tip of North Wildwood.

Summer Nites keeps the summer theme hopping even when the dead of winter silences many competitors. Although it closes briefly in January to allow the owners to vacation, big parties are held for both New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. According to Sheila Brown, every day is a summer day at Summer Nites. And that's just how her guests like it.

Out of consideration for guests, Brown keeps her place smokefree, quiet, and immaculately clean. Because she wants to keep it that way, guests under 16 are strongly discouraged. Few of them are Doo Wop fans anyway.

Summer Nites is located on the quiet corner of Atlantic Avenue and 22^nd Avenue- close enough to enjoy the din of the boardwalk but far enough away not to be bothered by it.

It is also close to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which makes 80-minutes crossings of the Delaware Bay, allowing easy automobile access to Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (the Delmarva peninsula). The ferry not only saves miles of highway driving but gives drivers much-needed time to relax.

For further information, contact The Wildwoods, 4500 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260-0217 (Tel. 609-729-9000, Fax 609-523-9350); Summer Nites, 2110 Atlantic Avenue, N. Wildwood, NJ 08260 (Tel. 866-ROC-1950, 609-846-1955, www.summernites.com).; Cape May-Lewes Ferry, Sandman Boulevard & Lincoln Drive, Cape May, NJ 08204 (Tel. 800-643-3779, www.capemaylewesferry.com).

_________

Former AP newsman Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ has been covering travel since 1969. He can be reached via e.mail at dan@natja.org.

SoGoNow.com by: Dan Schlossberg on: 10:21 PM | What do you think? (1)

"Vacate" to the Central Adirondacks

by Sandra Scott

The Central Adirondacks in New York, namely the area around Raquette and Blue Mountain Lakes, is a magical place where mountains, forest, rivers and lakes are the setting for whatever tickles your fancy. A part of the Adirondack State Park, the nation's largest state park, it is a major recreation area where visitors can fish, hunt, boat, hike, and camp. The area, once the playground of the wealthy, offers experiences from a tranquil bird-watching hike to a gut-grabbing, Class V river ride. Visitors can curl up in their bedroll in a lean-to or get a "Gilded-Age" treatment at one of the Great Camps.

During the Gilded Age the Vanderbilts, Durants, Morgans, and their aristocratic friends "vacated" New York City on their private railcars, laden with every conceivable luxury. Only a couple of hundred miles from New York City, the privileged summered in the cool, refreshing Adirondacks, away from the industrial soot and smog of the city and added the word "vacation" to our vocabulary.

These summer retreats were not the baronial summer homes of Newport, RI, but rustic cabins hidden deep in the woods. With disdain for pretension and lured by the mystique of the Adirondacks, they built Great Camps using wood, twigs, and bark creating summer retreats that reflected the harmony between man and nature but still allowed them to maintain their pampered style.

Near Raquette Lake is one of the best examples of the Great Camp style - Sagamore, Alfred Vanderbilt's camp. In its prime it encompassed 60 buildings and had a permanent staff of more than 30. Guests dressed nightly for formal dinners prepared by a chef Mrs. Vanderbilt brought from NYC's Delmonico's Restaurant and served by liveried servants. Guests included the likes of Gray Cooper and Madam Chiang Kai Shek. Days were spent hunting, fishing, and boating, while evenings were devoted to playing cards, chatting, or bowling on the open-air, covered alley. 

Now designated as a National Historic Landmark, Sagamore offers daily tours from June to October but for overnight stays guests must register for one of their programs that include grandparent stays, canoe building, Elderhostel, and fly-fishing. Another place enjoy the ambiance of the Gilded Age is The Hedges Resort, a hidden gem on Blue Mountain Lake where several of the buildings reflect the Great Camp style.

Water is the defining characteristic of the area. Start with a boat ride on Raquette Lake on the vintage-style "W.W. Durant." Or relax with a whisper-quiet canoe ride through on unspoiled streams and lakes that have remained essentially unchanged since they were first used by Native Americans. Canoe country in the Adirondacks extends from Old Forge through numerous lakes and rivers including Raquette and Blue Mountain Lakes on to Saranac Lake.

The primer climb in the area is to the top of Blue Mountain. A combination of extraordinary views and easy accessibility attracts thousands of hikers yearly to the 3,759-foot summit. The 2-mile one-way climb of 1,560 vertical feet requires two hours and is not overly strenuous. The summit fire tower is manned in the summer courtesy of private donations.

Don't miss the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, known nation-wide for exhibits, collections and special programs that reflect the area and is the best place for learning about the local history. The first artifact to become part of the Museum was private railcar that brought the NYC aristocracy to the "woods" and in turn popularized the area. Called "the best of its kind in the world," by The New York Times, the Adirondack Museum overlooks the lake of the same name.

The Adirondacks was the first great preserved wilderness. It is a place for all seasons. Winter snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing follow closely behind the famed fall foliage tours.

During the spring run off, mountain snows melt turning the Hudson River Gorge into a roaring Class III, IV and V rapids that is the thrill of rafters. This part of the river is well known for its unusually long, continuous white water sections. Enjoy running famous rapids such as Blue Ledges, Mile Long, and Big Nasty. Looking for a tamer experience? Then summer rafting and picnicking is for you.