Overview
Greenville is located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area, commonly referred to as the Upstate, includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens and Cherokee counties and the cities of Anderson, Clemson, Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer and Spartanburg.

Greenville is the third largest city in the state of South Carolina. As of the 2006 census, the city had a population of over 1.2 million.

Greenville

Greenville

The famous Liberty Bridge

Highlights:
Falls Park on the Reedy
This is a large regional park in the West End with beautiful gardens and several waterfalls. The park is home to the Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge overlooking the Reedy River.

Greenville County Museum of Art
This museum specializes in American art, frequently with a Southern perspective that dates back to the 1700s. It is noted for its collections of work by Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns, as well as a contemporary collection that features such notables as Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and others.

Greenville Zoo, in Cleveland Park.

The Furman University
The campus features a prominent Bell Tower housing a 61 Bell Carillon, one of the largest in the southeast. The campus also contains an authentic Japanese Garden.

Downtown
The vibrant downtown won the prestigious 2003 Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It’s a MUST see if you are in Greenville

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
Greenville is a very clean and organized place. People are so friendly here that they are willing to offer their assistance anytime needed. It is recommended to stay at downtown where all the actions will take place. I stayed at this beautiful hotel called Hampton Inn & Suites (http://www.hamptoninnandsuitesgreenville.com/)

Waterfall at Falls Park on the Reedy

Downtown

Hampton Inn and Suites hotel

Best Way to Get Around:
Bus
Public transit in Greenville is handled by the Greenville Transit Authority (GTA). GTA runs a bus system that serves the Greenville area and much of Greenville County.

Foot
Downtown is best seen on foot. Walk and meet friendly people as you enjoy the stroll at downtown.

Overview:
Washington is one of those places that holds an endless facination for many Americans. This time i went looking for the road less traveled and had a wonderful time finding it. Whether you have a week to spend or only a long weekend, there are an endless array of options of what to see and do in DC. I am artsy so my getaway involved museums, galleries and a show.

Capitol Hill

U.S. Supreme Court

Highlights:
KENNEDY CENTER
Located right outside zone one in Washington, the Kennedy Center is a must see. Their website offers not only the full schedule of events but the ability to purchase tickets online. www.kennedy-center.org. Be sure to stop and grab a bite at the KC café and take a walk outside for one of the best views around.

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
One of the finest collections of American 19th-century art in the world. It is not confined to that however, it includes photographs, sculptures and other more modern art forms. My favorite is the Viger LeBrun portrait of Madam DuBarry, which is neither American nor 19th century.

RENWICK GALLERY
This museum is part of the Smithsonian Museums. It is a national treasure. If you have ever had any interest in Native Americans the Caitlin Gallery is a fascinating study of the face of the Indian in the 19th century.

PHILLIPS COLLECTION
Located near Dupont Circle this is an amazing museum. Housed in a home with two added wings it has a fine collection of Impressionist works as well as an EL Greco just to mention a few of its treasures.

HILLWOOD HOUSE AND GARDEN
Located beyond the Washington Zoo this is the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post. Her fascination with all things Russians has led to a collection that will delight and fascinate. The greenhouses and gardens are well worth visiting in their own right.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
A must stop for any history buff, the history of the United States from the Civil War to the present can be understood through the brave men and woman who have served our government. A tourmobile tour is a good idea for getting from one site to another since this is a very large cemetery

Library of Congress

Washington Monument

White House

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
Washington is an expensive city. Hotel rooms can run anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on where and when. I got my room at the Washington Hilton for $87 on Hotwire. The location of this hotel is perfect and the neighborhood has loads of restaurants and shops.

One benefit of visiting Washington is that many of the sights are free. If you want to visit any of the Smithsonian Museums they are free of charge. The Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson memorial are also free. You can visit the Kennedy Center for free to enjoy the spectacular view or to catch a bite to eat.

There is no charge to visit the Mall and the Vietnam Memorial. If you want to walk around Arlington National cemetery, that is also free of charge. The Tourmobile however is not free.

Best Way to Get Around:
Washington Flyer
I flew into Washington Dulles International Airport. I then caught a bus from ‘Washington Flyer’ that cost US$9 to take me to the West Falls Church metro stop. I purchased a round trip metro pass for US$6.50 that gave me unlimited access to the public transportation system in Washington. The Metro is fast, efficient and easy to understand.

Airports
Washington is served by two other airports: Reagan National Airport, which is the closest to downtown; and Balitmore International Airport. All major airlines use one or all three of these airports.

Taxi
Within Washington taxis are a very good alternative. Prices are fixed and as long as you stay within the zone you will pay one price. Even if you go into zone 2 it still only cost two people $10. Considering the comfort and speed it was a very good bargain.

If you are considering bringing your car, please don’t. Or if you must, get a hotel in Crystal City, park your car at the hotel, and take the Metro into the downtown. Parking is expensive and hard to find, traffic is heavy, and like any big city it is a nightmare.

Metro

Inside the Metro station

Ah…autumn in New York. Carriage rides through Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, views from the Empire State Building, a Broadway show, a ringside seat at Times Square, Chelsea Markets, beers at Connelly’s, and shopping along Fifth Avenue. That certain nip in the air and a crystal blue sky.

For the foreign tourist there are a wealth of things to see and do. There are sights that you have only seen on the movie screen, and avenues that seem to stretch on until infinity and a skyline that defies description. Most cities in the world have skyscrapers, but New York is rather special and look in their art deco beauty rather ancient which I think adds to their charm. You need at least five days to “do” New York and a week is ideal.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
New York is an island. And like most islands it becomes very inward looking and enjoys gazing at it’s own navel. The island is 12 miles long and only four miles wide at it’s narrowest point. You can walk the entire length of 42nd Street from East Hudson river to the green part of 12th Street in 3/4 of an hour, maybe even less. It’s layout is unique however as it is designed as a grid. The oldest part - the financial district, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side have the criscrossing maze streets of European cities but above Houston Street, New York turns into the largest chessboard in the world.

Best Way to Get Around:
Subway: The subway will be the method you will use most in New York, and in Manhattan there are over sixty stations. Gone are the old tokens sold in booths that I remember and they are replaced by the metrocard. It is a speedy system but is most useful when going north to south. Four lines travel the length of Manhattan, each colour coded, and only two lines head east and west. Many of the downtown stations connect up to each other but if you are travelling east to west in Mid-town maybe the bus is more reliable.

Yellow Cab: Getting to and from the airport is relatively easy. A yellow cab costs about $60 (RM240) dollars but the ‘New York Shuttle’ costs barely $12 (RM48) and connects mid-town with Newark, La Guardia and JFK. Their base is on Park Avene South and 42nd Street opposite Grand Central Station and the driver will drop you off at the terminal of your choice. There are no subway connections with the airport but a train link is being built to JFK in the near future.

On Foot: New York due to this system is one of the easiest cities in the world to navigate and is built for walking. Now that it’s streets are safe the city now opens up for the tourist. People seem in a terrible rush in New York but will stop and give tourists directions. They are no different from any other city dweller - more interested in getting from A to B then anything else. And most are very proud of their city.