Travel Calendar

I was having a phone conversation with my mother last year and we were discussing my upcoming 2-week trip to Bangkok, Thailand. Toward the end of this conversation, she informed me of an instance when one of her friends asked her if my abundance of abroad experiences was the result of my membership in the United States army.

As a 21 year-old male who has never had an interest or desire to enlist, I found this a little disturbing. But unfortunately, the reality is that many young African-American men only have the opportunity to travel the world by committing to fight for a country that hasn’t always had a history of fighting for them.

The lack of African-American men traveling abroad can partly be attributed to this demographic’s low representation in institutions of higher learning. According to Dr. Keith Hollingsworth, chair of Morehouse College’s Department of Business Administration, the percentage is even smaller for the number of African-American men participating in study abroad programs.

“Some of the research I’ve done recently shows that of all [American] students that study abroad, less than 1.5 percent are black men,” Hollingsworth said in a recent documentary entitled The Experience: Bangkok, Thailand.

The documentary chronicled the progression of one Morehouse student and the effects that the 2-week experience in Bangkok had on him. In addition to showing these effects, the documentary showed viewers the importance of abroad experiences.

Ernest White is an avid traveler and graduate of Florida AM University. He began traveling during his time at FAMU, and has been employed abroad for the past seven years.

He is also the author of fly-brother.com and uses the blog to encourage and inspire African-Americans to travel abroad.

“Traveling abroad has functioned as a continuing education program of sorts for me,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about myself…but the biggest lesson I’ve learned has been that I will never stop learning.”

White attributes the low percentage of African-American men traveling abroad to a culture that doesn’t necessarily promote and reward it.

“The prevailing attitude is that it (traveling) is either frivolous, dangerous, or ‘something white folks do,” he said. “That attitude is changing, but there are still too many of our brothers and sisters who think that travel is something they can’t do.”

“The low number of black men traveling abroad, I think, reflects the same disparity that we see among the population of black college students – in some circles, a young black man can be ridiculed for his intelligence and desire to experience new things,” he continued.

As someone who has traveled extensively and been able to see the effects of abroad experiences firsthand, I can say that it is imperative that we promote them; not only for the sake of African-American men, but for the sake of the world. Many natives of the countries I have traveled to have never met or seen an African-American man in person; and their perceptions of this demographic come solely from the news channels they watch, the music they listen to, and the sporting events they see on television. It is always very interesting to see some natives’ reactions to seeing my friends and I walk into hotels and roam the streets in a foreign country. While some are curious and open to meet us and learn more, some are even more ignorant than those in the United States. More international experiences for African-American men means the broadening of their minds along with the minds of the natives they come in contact with.

“I think we have to make sure our young brothers are made aware of the opportunities available to them,” White said. “We have to talk and encourage our brothers, cousins, nephews, uncles, fathers, grandfathers [and] next door neighbors to get a passport and buy a plane ticket instead of the newest Jordans. An increase in the number of black men traveling abroad would be key in convincing our people that the acquisition of knowledge and experience trumps the acquisition of material things, and hopefully show the world that we are indeed more than the sum of our stereotypes,” he said.

(documentary referenced above) can be viewed here: http://www.vimeo.com/40798680

Ernest White’s blog can be seen here: http://www.fly-brother.com

Follow Nicolas B. Aziz on Twitter:

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In a world where conservation and preservation of the natural world is often overlooked, Costa Rica is one nation that bucks the trend. Visitors to the Central American country find a haven of cloud forests, tropical jungles and lush rainforests that are home to a vast array of wildlife, plants and natural resources – preserved by many dedicated conservation efforts. That’s at the heart of what makes Costa Rica travel so special – and it’s something that’s easy for any traveler to experience.

If you’ve long dreamed of hiking through pristine tropical forests and speeding through the treetops on a zipline, Costa Rica offers the balance of serenity and excitement you’re seeking. Costa Rica travel is made easier by visiting the country on a Tauck tour, which offers an abundance of activities that are suited for families and individuals alike.

Because Costa Rica is so rich in natural beauty and ecological heritage, it’s important that your visit includes time spent with someone who can explain the fascinating intricacies of the wildlife and landscape. Tauck’s tours include excursions with local experts who can give you an in-depth experience that provides unparalleled insight into the places you visit. A Costa Rica travel experience with Tauck gives you these rare and enriching experiences at a cost savings of as much as 40 percent, compared to independent travel.

There’s a lot to see in Costa Rica, but a well-planned itinerary will show you the best of it all, and allow you to feel the rush of adventure as well as enjoy some time for relaxation. Make sure your Costa Rica travel adventure includes these sights and experiences:

* See the world from the treetops. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is an unforgettably beautiful expanse of nature that perfectly captures why Costa Rica’s environment is so treasured. Take a “skywalk” along suspended bridges, looking for some of the park’s wild residents like howler monkeys and sloths. The forest is also rich with insect and bird life, so bring your binoculars.

* Visit a coffee plantation. Costa Rica’s coffee is justifiably world famous, thanks to the ideal conditions for growing perfect beans. Costa Rica travel with Tauck will take you to a coffee plantation, where you can learn the fascinating process that goes into producing a world-class cup of joe.

* Explore different ecosystems in Costa Rica. The landscapes of Costa Rica are a bit like a living classroom. You’ll learn all about the delicate balances of nature on your trip, such as a visit to Arenal National Park, home to the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a trip to a cloud forest; a float trip on an inland jungle river – and more.

* Get adventurous. You’ll find so many different Costa Rica travel adventures throughout the country. The exceptional opportunities in Costa Rica include white water rafting, ziplining or taking a walk on bridges suspended in the rainforest canopy – they shouldn’t be missed.

For more information about the great sites to see on a Costa Rica travel adventure, visit www.tauck.com

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The order, signed Sunday by Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, orders the military service chiefs to review upcoming conferences costing more than $100,000 to ensure that they “significantly further the department’s mission.”

“Each component or service shall suspend incurring any new obligations for conferences to which it is not yet committed until it has completed its review,” Carter wrote.

Conferences expected to cost more than $100,000 will require approval from top Pentagon officials, according to the memo.

The memo follows a directive from President Barack Obama in May calling on all federal agencies to reduce travel costs by 30 percent for fiscal 2013. In January, the Pentagon said it wanted a $525 billion budget in 2013, a 1 percent decrease from the current year.

Less than two weeks after two Tibetans set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule of the troubled Himalayan region, Chinese authorities have banned foreign tourists from visiting.

China sporadically prohibits foreigners from entering Tibet, where many Tibetans complain of cultural and religious repression – a claim the Chinese government denies, says AFP. Foreign tourists were prevented from traveling to the region for more than a year in 2008 after anti-government riots erupted in the administrative capital, Lhasa – unrest that subsequently spread to other Tibetan-inhabited areas of China.

Even in normal times, says AFP, overseas tourists need special permits as well as Chinese visas, and must travel in groups.

Since last March, activists say, 37 people have set themselves on fire in Tibetan-inhabited areas of China. On May 27, two Tibetan men set themselves alight in front of Lhasa’s Jokhang temple, a famous center for Buddhist pilgrimage.

According to ABC News, the shutdown also coincides with the Saga Dawa festival, which celebrates the Buddha’s birth and draws many Buddhists to Tibet. This year, the festival began on June 4, which is also the anniversary of the Chinese government crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests.

WildChina, a prominent travel company that regularly coordinates trips to Tibet, told ABC News Chinese authorities had informed them in mid-May that travelers would only be allowed to visit Tibet in groups of five people of the same nationality. Last week, the government stopped issuing entry permits to Tibet altogether and said only Chinese nationals would be allowed to enter.

To snag the best airfares, travelers need to be adventurous and willing to pick up at a moment’s notice.

OK, now let’s be realistic. Most people making summer travel plans need just that: plans. They get a week off, maybe two, and aren’t going to spend hard-earned cash on a last-second whim.

But great deals are still within reach for those who have even a little flexibility in choosing where and when to travel.

The average roundtrip domestic ticket will cost $431 this summer, an increase of 2.6 percent from last year, according to Kayak.com. But remember: that’s an average. One trip might cost $800 while another can be found for $200.

“Airfares are high but there are pockets of cheap out there,” says Seth Miller, an information technology consultant who writes a blog under the name The Wandering Aramean. Miller does his best to beat the system by connecting in strange cities, flying at off hours and taking advantage of sales often offered when an airline adds a new destination.

Here are some tips from Miller and other expert travelers on how to combat rising airfares.

— LAST-MINUTE WEEKEND FARES

When airlines don’t fill planes for an upcoming weekend, they slash prices.

Each Tuesday, they email offers for that coming weekend or the following one to fliers who have signed up online for the deal alerts. Travelers have to depart late Friday night or anytime Saturday and come back Monday or Tuesday. An added plus: weekend getaways save precious vacation days.

Recent offers include: Houston to Memphis for $180, Huntsville, Ala. to Chicago for $174, Washington D.C. to Greenville, S.C. for $157 and Charlotte, N.C. to West Palm Beach, Fla. for $240.

— TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

Airlines are experimenting with sales on Twitter. At the forefront is JetBlue, which tweets last-second fare sales and vacation package discounts from (at)JetBlueCheeps. Some deals apply to just a few seats and are gone within hours.

“If you find something, jump on it,” says John DiScala, who each year flies around 150,000 miles, visits 20 countries and writes about it at JohnnyJet.com.

JetBlue recently tweeted a sale at 3:16 p.m.; it ended at 6 p.m.

Airlines announce special sales to those who “like” their Facebook pages and sites like AirfareWatchdog offer fare alert emails (airfarewatchdog.com/fare-alerts/).

There are also frequent fliers who search for and post cheap flights in online discussion boards. Two of the better discussion boards are: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/ and http://milepoint.com/forums/forums/mileage-runs-mattress-runs-travel-hacking.6/

— FLEXIBLE DATES

Looking to go to Paris for a week but don’t care when in the next few months? ITA Software’s airfare search (matrix.itasoftware.com) provides a calendar of the lowest fares.

Just enter the departure and destination city — nearby airports can even be added — and then how many nights to spend there. It will find the cheapest prices for a month out from a given date. The length of the trip can even be a range, say five to seven days.

— CHASE THE FARE, NOT THE DESTINATION

Want to know the cheapest fares from a departure city to anywhere? Check out Kayak’s explore tool (kayak.com/explore). It allows travelers to search multiple airlines at once this way. A map pops up with all the destinations under a set budget point.

Searches can be done for a particular month or for all of summer. The query can be narrowed by activity — beach, golf, gambling, skiing — or by continent.

— ODD CONNECTIONS

Fares to Hawaii might be steep. But connecting though another city with a sale to Hawaii, could save a lot of money. Use AirfareWatchdog’s “fares to a city search” (airfarewatchdog.com/cheap-flights/to-a-city) to see if there are any less expensive indirect routes to your destination. Instead of flying from, say, Boston to Honolulu, it could be a lot cheaper to book two separate tickets — the first between Boston and Houston and the second from there to Hawaii.

“If you can save $1,000 per couple and get two cities for less than the price of one, it’s a no brainer,” says Georgia Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

It’s fun to be one!

Surrounded by 20 children and 60 adults, Autumn Reeser and her husband Jesse Warren celebrated son Finneus James‘ first year with a vintage birthday bash on May 12 in Los Angeles.

Inspired by the globetrotting tot’s travels — he’s been on 24 flights since birth! — party planner Ashley Fauset adorned the special space with antique world maps, vintage postcards and luggage, and hanging airplane gliders.

And to pay tribute to Finn’s worldly experiences, proud papa Warren hung 24 colorful balloons in the entryway.

Plus, guests were able to sneak a peek at all of Finn’s fabulous destination spots with a clothesline display clipped with onesies highlighting each trip.

Inviting their pint-size party goers to join in on their journey, children had Polaroid pictures taken and later decorated their passport sticker books and constructed their own paper airplanes.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

Later, they munched on delicious snacks catered by Leslie Durso, including a brightly-colored salad, decorative fruit plates, chocolate cupcakes, and animal crackers with juice courtesy of a vintage bar cart.

“My wonderful friend and party planner Ashley Fauset paid homage to the different places Finn has been with food and drinks that referenced all the cities he visited,” Reeser, 31, tells PEOPLE.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

But, according to the first-time mom, the celebration was much more than Finn’s first birthday.

“The year birthday is such a milestone not only for the birthday baby, but also for mama, who’s celebrating making it through that difficult first year,” she shares. “I definitely toasted to our mutual success with a mimosa!”

Party favors were packed inside of vintage suitcase boxes from Crafts by Rosa and tagged with Mabel’s Labels Bag Tags.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

While Reeser donned a summery striped dress by Shoshanna, the birthday boy dressed the part in babyGap‘s cargo shorts, glittery turquoise Toms, and an extra special top custom-made by mom!

“I layered two super soft long sleeve tees from The Little Seed and used iron-on decals from Sukie to say ‘ONE’ on the pale blue tee,” she explains.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

“My favorite part of the day was hearing our friends and family sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to our little guy. He looked so surprised and then burst into the biggest smile and kicked his feet,” she reveals.

But the family isn’t finished with their flight plans; They are relocating to Hawaii later this year while the actress films her new show, Last Resort. The show will air Thursdays this fall on ABC.

Adam and Sylvia Hendershott

For more on Reeser and family, visit her blog Move Lifestyle.

– Anya Leon

If your children love visiting the “Kidcot Fun Spots” in World Showcase, love classic children’s stories, and are open to exploring new places and learning new things, could they be ready for a trip to Europe? Are the benefits of European travel worth the potential hassles of traveling abroad with your family?

Experts and educators respond with a resounding “yes”.

International travel expands children’s world views, broadens horizons, and encourages cultural sensitivity and acceptance. Some educators even suggest that students who travel are more interested in history courses that relate to places they’ve visited. They are more likely to be open to art, music, and literature from cultures and time periods other than their own.

According to Pat Ricard of ACIS Educational Travel Company, “Travel changes lives. For generations, travelers have been inspired to greater understanding of themselves, of the world around them, and of other peoples and cultures through travel.”

So how can you make the most of your child’s first introduction to the charms of the “old world”? Choose your destination carefully, design activities that actively engage your child, and involve the child in the planning stages of the trip.

London is a logical choice for a first European experience. London’s size and excellent public transportation system make it an attractive destination for families. The common language of English is a major plus as well. Interacting with locals is half the fun, and children will feel a sense of connection with their British counterparts just by talking with them.

A child’s travel experiences are strengthened when he or she is able to relate the unfamiliar with the familiar. Children’s literature is filled with stories set in and around London. Use these as a springboard for planning your London itinerary.

Kensington Park is lovely, especially in the spring and summer. The Peter Pan statue is a favorite stop as is the new Neverland themed playground. For a glimpse into the life of a real princess, the Kensington Palace tour is a must for admirers of the late Princess Diana.

Regent’s Park is another logical stop for children. In the formal English gardens, you expect to see Mary Poppins and her charges among the nannies and children there. Be sure to stop by the picturesque tea rooms for sweets and a spot of tea, much like Mary and Bert enjoyed on their “jolly holiday.”

The London Zoo—familiar, to children who’ve read or seen the Harry Potter stories—is another popular destination located within Regent’s Park.

Climb to the top of
Primrose Hill for a beautiful view of London, the same one enjoyed by Pongo and Perdita in
101 Dalmatians when they initiated the famous “twilight bark” in search of their kidnapped puppies.

Fans of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy the museum dedicated to this famous sleuth located at
221b Baker Street, very near Regent Park.

Hampstead Heath is a pastoral respite from the city life of London. It offers many diversions—room to play football or cricket, lovely places for picnic lunches, winding trails for hiking, and even a small art museum. These woods inspired C.S. Lewis to create the great forests of Narnia in his beloved stories.

There are plenty of diversions for children within the city of London as well. Be sure to check out the theater scene in the
West End. There are sure to be several shows that children will love, like the current productions of
The Lion King,
Singin’ in the Rain, and
The Wizard of Oz. Productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the Globe theater are affordable experiences that most older children will enjoy, especially if the play is a comedy or one of the tragedies they’ve read in school.

Children love the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard at
Buckingham Palace as well.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is another popular destination. Time your visit to attend a Sunday service or, for a shorter experience, an Evensong service. Children are fascinated by the Whispering Gallery inside St. Paul’s famous dome. If you have the time—and the nerve—a climb to the top of the Golden Gallery is one that you will always remember. You’ll enjoy the view that Bert claims is usually reserved for birds and chimney sweeps.

Portobello Road’s famous Saturday market is a lively experience. Children will enjoy rummaging through the “tokens and treasures” sold there by many vendors, much like the ones found in the Disney film
Bedknobs and Broomsticks based on stories by Mary Norton.

The
Tower of London fascinates children, especially if they’ve read
The Ravenmaster’s Secret by Elvira Woodruff. The Beafeater tours are well worth the extra admission, and kids thrill to their stories of mystery, intrigue, and torture. Tower Bridge, familiar to anyone who knows the story of Peter Pan, offers interesting tours of this Victorian marvel as well as spectacular city views. The London Eye, an elaborate ferris wheel of sorts, offers spectacular city views.

Beatles fans will enjoy a visit to the
Abbey Road Studios and a stop at the funky gift shop.
Picadilly Circus is also popular with teens—think Times Square only smaller and more manageable. Huge stores offering cds, Dock Martins, sporting goods, and everything else that makes a teen’s heart race, are available here.

A stop at
King’s Cross Station (where Platform 9 3/4 is clearly visible, even to Muggles) is a prefect starting point for a day trip to Cambridge University. Visit one of the older colleges—Queen’s College and St. John’s are particularly picturesque—that call to mind the atmosphere of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shop in the city center for scares, ties, sweaters, and pennants with the colors of your favorite Cambridge schools.

Oxford University is another option with many fine old school buildings open to public tours. The Bodlien Library is located here and will be familiar to fans of Rowlings’ novels as it is used for the library scenes in the films. Fans of Middle Earth and Narnia might want to stop at the Eagle and Child pub, for it is here that J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis met to discuss their famous fantasy novels.

Back in London proper, the
British Museum offers treasures from around the globe. Reading stories or watching documentaries about ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures will help children appreciate the wonders they’ll see hand at this world class museum.

The suggestions here represent a fraction of the wonders that London has to offer for families and children. The key to a successful vacation—planning, involving your children, and preparing them by exposing them to Britain’s rich literary heritage—will make your trip memorable not only for your children, but for you as well. As an added bonus, the next time you visit Peter Pan’s Flight, your children will be able to point to landmark’s like Big Ben and Tower Bridge and say, “We’ve been there!”

MousePlanet.com is the leading independent online source for all information about the Walt Disney Company. Be sure to check out our
Disneyland and
Walt Disney World Park Guides and other featured articles at
MousePlanet.com.

By Malathi Nayak

SAN FRANCISCO, June 8 |
Fri Jun 8, 2012 2:30pm IST

SAN FRANCISCO, June 8 (Reuters) – With its striking
cityscapes and an eclectic offering of food, arts and culture,
San Francisco captivates travelers and residents alike.

Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors
get the most out of a short stay in the city on the bay.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. – Start your visit with a meal at one of the city’s
hot dinner spots, Zuni Cafe, a glass-enclosed space overlooking
Market Street that offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes that
change daily. Sample fresh local oysters at the downstairs bar
or grab a table upstairs and try the signature roast chicken
with bread salad.

8 p.m.- See what’s playing at the American Conservatory
Theater, which puts on a mix of classical and new productions.
After a show, head to the Prohibition-era inspired speakeasy
Bourbon and Branch. Make an online reservation
at www.bourbonandbranch.com to receive a password that you’ll
need to walk through a nondescript door on 501 Jones Street.

Relax at a cozy booth and be transported to the 1920′s. The
mixologists will answer questions or create new cocktails to
suit your taste. For a more local experience, try the former
beat bar Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach, or wander up Columbus
Avenue and take a right on Stockton Street to Tony Niks, a hip,
friendly neighborhood bar.

SATURDAY

8 a.m. – Begin the day at the historic Ferry Building at the
foot of Market Street and stroll through dozens of shops and
restaurants that sell everything from fresh local fish to
artisan cheeses to just-baked breads. Try a breakfast sandwich
from Sidekick, the take-out café run by the Cowgirl Creamery, or
pick up some chocolate from Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker.

Grab a coffee, some pastries and enjoy breakfast outside
while watching the ferries dock. On Saturdays, the plaza teems
with local farmers who set up stalls at a thrice-weekly Farmers
Market to sell fresh California fruits, vegetables, jams,
breads, cheeses and other locally produced foods.

10 a.m. – Jump on a street car or take a leisurely walk up
the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf. Head to Pier 33 near Bay
Street and catch a ferry to Alcatraz, the rock island and former
maximum security prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay.

Its former inmates included Al Capone and Robert Stroud,
better known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Visitors can roam
around the island, including cells, the cafeteria and gardens
once tended by prisoners. Nesting sea birds of Alcatraz are also
an island attraction. If you’re a bird lover, spend some time
spotting cormorants, egrets, herons and pigeon guillemots.

12 p.m. – Head to the city center by way of North Beach.
Jack Kerouac and the Beat poets called the cafes and bars of the
neighborhood home and many of their favorite haunts still exist.
For lunch, try Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Bar overlooking Washington
Square Park for its famous meatball sandwich slathered on
locally-made focaccia bread. Head up Grant Street to check out
the boutiques and then walk back to Columbus Avenue for a snack
at Stella Pastry.

Turn the corner to Cafe Trieste for java coffee the locals
swear by. Make a last stop at Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s legendary
City Lights bookstore to find radical political titles not
available at mainstream shops. Climb the stairs to Coit Tower
for views of the Bay and Lombard Street, known as the most
crooked street in the United States.

2 p.m. – Stroll toward Union Square through one of the
largest Chinatowns in the United States. Walk to Stockton Street
and make your way through the shopping crowds. For souvenirs,
meander down Grant Street, which is full of shops and
restaurants. The end of Grant spills out onto the edge of Union
Square, the city’s most famous shopping district.

4 p.m. – Skip the Powell Street Cable Car for the less
crowded California Street car. Clamber off at the top of Nob
Hill and head to the Mark Hopkins Hotel for their traditional
afternoon tea service. Ride the elevator to the famous Top of
the Mark bar on the 19th floor for stunning 360-degree views of
the city.

6 p.m. – Hop in a cab or take the city’s BART subway to the
Mission District for dinner. The traditionally working-class
Latino neighborhood is now a mix of hip bars and restaurants
that bump up against long-time taquerias and small stores. For
some of the best tacos and burritos in town try La Taqueria at
Mission and 25th Street.

For something trendier try Foreign Cinema, Bar Tartine or
Delfina, which are neighborhood favorites. Bi-Rite creamery,
across from Dolores Park, serves imaginative ice-cream flavors.
Walk to the top of the hill in the park to take in a spectacular
view of the city at dusk.

8 p.m. – After dinner, follow the crowds to the corner of
17th and Valencia and choose from dozens of bars for a drink.
Blondies is a popular meeting spot. Etcetera wine bar showcases
an impressive selection of wines with flatbreads and tapas. For
some music, head to the neighborhood bar Amnesia.

SUNDAY

9 a.m. – Start the morning at Ton Kiang in the Inner
Richmond district for dim sum. Get there early or be prepared to
wait because it is always crowded. Or try pastries, fresh breads
and gourmet pizzas at Arizmendi bakery.

11 a.m. – It’s a short taxi ride to Haight Street for
shopping in a neighborhood synonymous with the hippie generation
of the 1960s. The few short blocks feature everything from
second-hand clothing stores to high-end designer boutiques. A
must-see for music lovers is Amoeba music at 1855 Haight Street.
The massive store in a former bowling alley stocks more than
100,000 new and used CDs, vinyl records and audio cassettes.

1 p.m. – Walk to the end of Haight Street into Golden Gate
Park. Built in the 1870s, the park stretches to the Pacific
Ocean. Visit the Conservatory of Flowers, which is the oldest
glass-and-wood Victorian greenhouse in the Western Hemisphere
and home to more than 10,000 plants. Other popular attractions
are the Japanese Tea Garden and the $200 million copper-clad
M.H. de Young Museum, which houses American art from the 17th
through the 20th centuries along with works of natives from the
Americas, Africa and the Pacific.

Take a quick cab ride to Crissy Field, a former airfield now
controlled by the National Park Service, to enjoy a cool
California breeze and breathtaking views of the Golden Gate
Bridge and the city.

(Editing by Patricia Reaney, Bernard Orr)