History, Culture and Play: The Museums of Rochester, New York
As befits a city with a long history of innovation, culture and notable residents, there are dozens of fabulous museums in Rochester and the surrounding area. There are the collections that you might expect – like the Memorial Art Gallery – and less obvious ones such...
read more
What to See and Do in Rochester, New York
Rochester is the third largest city in New York State, and the gateway to the beautiful Finger Lakes region. It is vibrant and booming, a centre for culture, cuisine and craft beers. And it is conveniently situated between New York City and Niagara Falls. All of that...
read more
Why You Need to Visit the Finger Lakes, in New York State
Even those who live in the United States may not be familiar with the Finger Lakes. They are a well kept secret, the part of upstate New York that sits beneath Lake Ontario and the Canadian border. But just imagine lakes and waterfalls; steep slopes covered with...
read more
Looking forward to TBEX North America at the Finger Lakes, New York State
I’ve been going to TBEX (Travel Bloggers’ Exchange) conferences for a few years now, but I’ve never yet made it to one in North America. But that is about to change: I’ve got my ticket for TBEX Finger Lakes in September. For the simple reason that the Finger Lakes...
read more
Exploring the Architecture of Oakland, Old and New
One of the things I love about American cities is the wonderful mix of architecture. From Victorian houses to the grand designs of the early 20th century, to sweeping modern skyscrapers. The city of Oakland, just a short metro ride from downtown San Francisco, was no...
read more
The Mission District Murals of San Francisco
San Francisco is famous for its colourful and provocative street art. You can find it everywhere, with a thousand or more murals across the city. But the greatest concentration is in the Mission District, with whole streets full of vibrant murals and mosaics. Balmy...
read more
The Stairways of San Francisco
San Francisco is built on 49 hills – not just ordinary slopes, but tall steep inclines. Yet the city’s early planners and developers chose to lay out the roads in a grid pattern, paying no heed to contours. This resulted in some very steep streets, causing problems...
read more
The Historic Houses of Alamo Square, San Francisco
One of the pleasures of San Francisco is its historic architecture. Of course, the city is full of the impressive modern buildings that you’d expect in any American city. However there are also rows of well preserved Victorian houses. They seem to be everywhere, on...
read more
Going Japanese in San Francisco
The links between San Francisco and Japan stretch back to the end of the 19th century, when the first emigrants arrived in the city. Today San Francisco has the largest remaining Japantown area in the US. And in 1957 it strengthened its relationship with Japan by...
read more
Sculpture and Art on New York’s High Line
Even on a cold winter’s day New York’s High Line is a popular place. It is somewhere to escape from the noise and the traffic, a peaceful spot where you can enjoy the fresh air and the plants. With the added bonus of outdoor art and sculpture as you walk through the...
read more