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LIVING & TRAVEL

6/11-6/19: Everyone's a Native Tour Guide

If you were traveling through Prague with someone who had lived there all their life, you probably wouldn't give a guidebook a second glance. There's nothing like a native to show you the road less traveled. Tell us where you live and what a Tripod member should do with 24 hours there.

NANCY J SWEANY: First of all, I'd tell the traveler to go the beach and have a good cry that he or she has only one day in this glorious area! In Ventura County we're near Malibu with its fabulous beaches and have great ones of our own in Oxnard and Ventura, not to mention the beautiful mountains around Ojai and Westlake Village. Take a fishing trip to the Channel Islands and stop by the Stagecoach Museum in Newbury Park. Go take a walking tour around old time downtown Ventura and see the Buenaventura Mission. Go shopping at the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks and have a seafood dinner at a Ventura harbor restaurant. There's an exotic animal zoo at Moorpark College where the students learn to train and care for the animals. Professional musical shows are presented at the Probst Center for Performing Arts in Thousand Oaks. Don't forget to stop at the roadside stands outside Camarillo to buy some fresh produce grown right on the Oxnard plain to take home with you.

hata: I live in Dubai a city in the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian Gulf. It is an islamic and arabic country were the formal langauges are arabic english and urdu. Dubai is going to be the succesor for Hong Kong. We have everything you can imagine both for pleasure or business. Water sports, desert rally, desert adventures, lovely beaches, excellent malls and bazars, top quality stores. In short, everything from everywhere in the whole world. The only turn down is the weather during summer time. Although it does not bother the tens of thousands that flock my city every day.

sherwood: I live in Southbridge, MA, USA. "What's a Southbridge?" you ask. Within minutes of my home you can visit Old Sturbridge Village, a working colonial village. Great fun for the whole family! Thirty minutes north is Worcester - The Heart of New England; Holy Cross College. One hour east to Boston, home of the Red Sox, Quincy Market, Old North Church, Fanuel Hall, New England Aquarium, Freedom Walk, old graveyards holding the earthly remains of the patriots who started it all, Museum of Art, etc., etc., etc. A great area to live; a great place to visit! You could spend two weeks here and realize that the surface isn't scratched. Try central Massachusetts sometime - you'll like it!

Trip: Abilene, Texas, hmmmm. Abilene is a small city in West Texas. Here is what we call the BIG COUNTRY. If you are traveling from East to West across Texas on your 12 hour trek, then Abilene is the gateway to the wildest and wooliest part of Texas. It is the beginning of cactus and mesquite trees. Lots of farm land, cattle ranches and oil wells. Abilene, in and of itself, offers 2 wonderful Art museums, The Contemporary Art Center and also, The Grace, that features our West Texas pioneering ancestors. We became a town in the 1880's because of the RailRoad which still comes through here several times a day. We are a clean city, voted in 1990 for being one of the top cities in America for being a good place to raise a family. We have two Universities, Hardin Simmons and Abilene Christian, and one college, McMurry. We also have a Jr. College extension from Cisco, Texas. We're what you might call the belt buckle of the Bible Belt. The best things to do in 24 hours would be to see the Museums, both located downtown. For the night life, you can go to a "kicker" bar, called the Ponderosa for a little two steppin' or if that's a little too rowdy for your blood, visit the historical Paramount Theatre, located downtown which has an "outdoor feel" to it and plays only classic movies. It's really quite beautiful. trek out to Buffalo Gap, where there is a State Park and have a picnic. Go to the Abilene Zoo and sit in the Zoo park and feed the ducks. If you get out in the pasture area, you might even be lucky enough to see our ever endangered horny toads. A direct link to the dinosaurs, only miniature! Whew!

AlvinHong: I live in Hacienda Heights. A tripod member should help out another tripod member or help anyone who is in need of assistance. I would help out anyone who is in trouble or just needs my help.

dpeters: I live in Oak Harbor, WA located on scenic Whidbey Island, the longest island in the U.S.at 47 miles long, located about 1 1/2 hours N.E. of Seattle. First of all, you can get there by either riding over on the car/passenger ferry,(Washington State is known for it's ferry system), or you can drive further north and come across Deception Pass Bridge, aptly named due to the deceptice undercurrents just below the waters' surface. The bridge itself was built in the 1930's by local state prisoners. It is 175 feet above the water and is situated in 2 pieces as there is an island located in the middle of the pass. Located on either side of the pass are several state parks, including Deception Pass State Park, as well as several R.V. sites, in case you're traveling by motor home or camper. All are fully equipped. Whidbey Island is the home of lots and lots of culture and natural history. The town of Coupeville, located at the island's center, was originally settled by native americans. The island is also home to the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, which keeps the population up. There are about 27,000 people that live in Oak Harbor. It is a Dutch town, settled in the turn of the century and still carries much of it's Dutch charm. There are Dutch festivals throughout the year as well as Dutch sites. Down by the citys' beach, called City Beach, there is a full scale windmill that many years ago was restord, although not to working order. If shopping is your forte, there are many shops located along the waterfront that represent a very pleasant afternoon of interesting things from both abroad as well as local artisans. Besides just Whidbey Island, we are surrounded by the great San Juan Islands, as well as Canadian Islands. (The Canadian border is located about 3 hours North of Seattle, 1 1/2 hours north of the island. Skagit Valley, located on the mainland, has the greatest tulip fields this side of Heaven, and when they are in full bloom, there is the Tulip Festival, also popular with the tourists.

Sparkle: I live in Guernsey. It is one of the Channel Islands and is found in between France and UK. Although our roots are in France, we are now part of the UK. Its a small is land - about 60,000 people. First - I would advise them to come in the summer, because when the weather is bad there is nothing to do. But, on a summers day, you could begin by walking down the cobbled high street, towards The Town Church.There are not that many shops, but they are all full of uniquely Guernsey things. (Our mascots are tomatoes, flowers and cows!) Then, a lunch in one of the many cafes, where you can sample the speciality of Fresh Fish, especially, crab or lobster. A must for a visit is the Little Chapel - the smallest Chapel in the world, all decorated with broken pieces of china and pottery. There are other museums which are there to tell of Guernseys occupation during the Second World War. We were the only UK land that was ever actually occupied by German soldiers. As the afternoon continues, you would have to go on a beautiful cliff walk, where the views are breathtaking and you are surrounded by wild flowers and greenery. Then to one of the many small bays and beaches. There is one for every taste, whether you want to windsurf or just relax in the sun. And the water is very clean. If you still have some time left, you could catch the boat to Herm or Sark, tiny islands about 20 minutes away, where there are few people and better still no traffic at all. You can enjoy an evening meal in the restaurant, and then take a moonlit boat journey back to Guernsey. 24 hours just isn't long enough!!

meganc: Well, I'm *from* Seattle, Washington. You'll never get me to admit where I'm living now. I think that with 24 hours in Seattle, the thing to do is to wander around all of the neighborhoods you can: the downtown areas including Pioneer Square, Pike Place, the Waterfront; but also -- out of the downtown area -- Capitol Hill (Broadway), Wallingford, and Freemont. Eat lots of good food, preferably vegitarian or semi-vegitarian, drink lots of coffee, and go to a show at the Crocodile Cafe or at Moe. Stay up all night and have a nice late-night dinner at 13 Coins (expensive, good) or Minnie's (for the atmosphere or the fettucine alfredo). I'm going to have about 48 hours in London in August, so if anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

tracyo: Portland, Oregon: Portland is a great city! It's casual, fun, interesting and beautiful! If you only had 24 hours here, your best bet would be to get up early and start the day with a drive through the Columbia Gorge (the scenic river area that separates Washington and Oregon)to Mt. Hood. Along the way, you should check out the waterfalls and hikes in the Gorge, and then stop at a cafe in Hood River to watch the windsurfers and get some grub. Then head on over to Full Sail brewery for one of the greatest beers in the world, Full Sail Amber Ale!! Next, head on to Mt Hood and go to Timberline lodge. The lodge itself is pretty cool, and the scenery can't be beat! After returning from Mt Hood, you could either head to Yamhill county to do some wine tasting, or rent a bike and ride along Waterfront Park downtown (along the Willamette river). Oregon has some fabulous wines such as Panther Creek or Ken Wright, and you'd get to look at some more nice scenery too! If you choose the waterfront, stop by Saturday Market to pick up your souvenirs and get in some time people watching! On into the evening, you should stroll along NW 23rd for window shopping, great restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, bars, etc. etc. Just leave plenty of time for finding a place to park! Also nice: Portland Rose Garden (the flowers, not the arena) Also fun: Brewer's Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, boating on the river, and First Thursday

kennyo: Well, hi there. I live in Long Beach, California. You can start a guided tour of the fair city of Long Beach by checking out "The Long Beach Snooper." Just point your browser to my page right here on Tripod. See you there, and keep checking in as the Snooper expands on the places of interest (and some notes "would you believe. . . . "

AlMiller: At Lake Tahoe 24 hours is not enough time, but we'll start with a drive around the Lake, with some stops to catch the view at Cave Rock, Sand Harbor, Crystal Bay, and Emerald Bay. Then a drive up to Fallen Leaf Lake to the Glen Alpine trailhead where we park and hike up the hill along the waterfalls to Desolation Wilderness. Depending on the time available, we could hike all the way to Mt. Tallac or opt for a shorter trip to Grass Lake or Angora Lake. Having worked up a sweat and appetite, we head for Camp Richardson for a quick dip in Lake Tahoe and some Rumrunners and oyster shooters at the Beacon. I reserved a cruise on the Tahoe Star, which was once Bill Harrah's private yaght; we get free drinks and munchies on the boat and get to see Emerald Bay from the water, looking up. It's almost sunset and time for dinner at Friday's Station on top of Harrah's Hotel/Casino. After a fabulous dinner, it's time to check out the 10:30 show which I happened to have a comp for. Now that dinner has settled, how about going to Emabassy Suites and dancing at Turtles, and then heading over to Nero's 2000 at Caesar's for more dancing. I suppose you want to gamble. The casinos are open 24 hours, and the drinks are free. It's almost sunrise, and the 24 hours are almost up. We need some sleep. Perhaps you'd like to lie in the sun at Hidden Beach on the East Shore; bathing suits are optional. Before you come check out the Lake Tahoe Alternative Guide on the Net. A few days or weeks advance notice by email would be nice.

droger: Norwalk, Connecticut: Morning: Sleep in, avoid the rush hour traffic that's everywhere. Then, go to Penny's Diner for a classic diner (high fat, high cholesterol, but what the hell, you're on vacation breakfast.) Mid morning: head to South Norwalk. Go to the Maritime Aquarium to check out the fish, seals, and the IMAX movie. spend a few hours there. Mid day: Walk up the street from the aquarium and go to the Brewhouse restaurant, a great beer pub, built on the premesis of a micro brewery. After lunch: Walk over the drawbridge and stroll around Veteran's Park, getting some air from the ocean (Long Island sound). After your walk: go back over the bridge, stop in at Cafe Ole for a jolt of Latte. Hang out at some of the funky shops. Evening: It depends on what floats your boat. movies, more shopping (?), more food, sports bars, etc. Night: book yourself a room at the Silvermine Tavern, a Colonial-era bed and breakfast (and dinner and Sunday brunch). Later in the night: enjoy the romance. Morning, Go for a jog in the Silvermine area, work off all that food from yesterday.

Keaton: I live near Summersville, WV. Here, we have a lot of tourist that come thru here in the summer time. Many people go to Summersville Lake to go fishing, jet skiing, swimming, rock jumping, camping, or boating. All of these would take 24 hours for most people but if all of those activities don't intrest you, you can go white water rafting at the Galley River or New River. The Monongahela National Forrest isn't too far from here and you can go hiking on the many hiking trails they have there.

Billzebub: Columbia, SC -- Go see the statehouse, historic Civil War sites, etc. Visit the Riverbanks Zoo. Go canoeing down the Congaree river. Go to the Mall and shop. Then visit Five Points and take in a show other than Hootie & the Blowfish.

Jaynee: Ah, glorious Washington, D.C.. Too many things to do! Not as many as New York, mind you. But we're a regular METROPOLIS here! When not visiting the numerous monuments to our dead presidents, you can go to the Smithsonian and see Archie Bunker's chair or Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers. Take a walking tour through the White House and try to catch a sight of someone important. When you are done doing that kind of thing, head to Georgetown, which is D.C.'s version of Greenwich Village. Wisconsin & M St. is the place to be, with tons of shops and restaurants and the artsy people of D.C. As for the nightlife, go to my homepage and go to the music site. You'll see links for the entertainment side of D.C. -- nightclubs, bars, comedy clubs -- you name it! I've been here for over ten years, and I never get bored with my city! COME VISIT US REAL SOON, Y'HEAR?

Psychadelic: Hey there. I live in Cumberland, Rhode Island, USA, a suburb between Boston and New York. Although there might not seem like much to do here at first, there really is a wide array of stuff to do. For starters you could hop a train into Boston, and spend the day there. You could also head down south and take a ferry out to Block Island, or spend the day in Newport RI touring a few mansions or walking along the beaches. If you don't feel like going that far you can head to Emerald Square Mall only minutes away, or go canoeing/fishing on the Blackstone River. You could always take in a movie at one of the many nearby theaters, or just go out for a bike ride on the trails at the old Monastery (still called that but monks don't live there anymore). At night, you can hang out on Thayer Street in Providence, or head over to The Strand, where you can either hope a cool band will be playing or just have fun dancing the night away to a great selection of alternative music.

wukong: I live in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. First, I'd suggest a visit to the Bishop Museum to learn more about Hawaii and Polynesian cultures. Then, a circle island trip to: Sea Life Park, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific (Punchbowl), and the Arizona Memorial. Take a couple of hours to enjoy some of our beautiful beaches, too. Go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, take to the surf along the Bonzai Pipeline, or enjoy the more tranquil waters near Waikiki. If you'd rather shop, go to Ala Moana Center. With over 200 stores, you're bound to find something good. Grab dinner at The Golden Dragon and party in the clubs in Waikiki. Then take a morning stroll along the beach before you fly off.

KMorrison: If you ever find yourself here in the land of the Newly-Wed and the Nearly Dead (Port Charlotte, Florida) and you are between the ages of 21-70, get back in your car and head North three hours to Disney World, or South three hours to Key West. If you fall into the 70 and over bracket, go to the Cultural Center for a card game or community ed class, or the Memorial Auditorium for a big-bands concert. Otherwise, get a boat, or log on to the Net. Nothing else is going on around here.

andreamer: If you have 24 hours in St. Louis, stop by the Gateway Arch to gawk, but don't bother going up it. There are always long lines, and the only point in doing so would be to say you have. Then go to Forest Park for a dose of culture. The Science Center is amazing, the art museum is priceless, and the zoo is smelly, but fun all the same. All these things are free. Then, you might feel like shopping. Union Station is a huge mall that used to be a train station. But if you're looking for a more interesting shopping area, go wander about the Delmar Loop or the Central West End.

jzh: Okay--here's a winner. I live in Kirksville, MO. We're only an hour and a half away from the "big city." Columbia, at 20,000 does qualify doesn't it? We're a small college town. Can you guess what our tour book would contain? I would guess a large variety of bars. We have girls in short skirts, food made in microwaves, all you can eat buffets, crowded dance floors, barstools that practically strap you in, and even a two or three dollar cover for hours of all you can drink (draw beer and well drinks). You can tell me this doesn't impress you--but I've read the profiles on you guys!

swampgirl: 24 Hours in Lakeview (a neighborhood of Chicago): Breakfast at Ann Sather's. You've never had better Cinnamon Rolls, but get there early, 'cause there'll be a line out the door. Interesting side note: it used to be a funeral home. Spend the morning in Lincoln Park, enjoying the sun, the people, and Lake Michigan. Eat lunch at one of the hundreds of small, ethnic restaurants. Spend the afternoon at Wrigley Field with the Chicago Cubs, at the Lincoln Park Zoo, or browsing the hundreds of small, hip, trendy and strange stores along Belmont and Clark. Eat dinner at Mama Desta's Red Sea Restaurant (Ethiopian), Little Bucharest (Rumanian), or the Pepper Lounge ("A Swank, Late-Nite, Supper Club"). Then go see a movie at The Vic Theatre (an old, old stage theatre with balconies) and enjoy $2 pitchers. Finish the evening by club-hopping. Go dancing at Berlin, and catch live acts at Lounge Ax, Thurston's, Delilah's or Elbo Room. When every other bar closes, go to Smart Bar at The Metro (open 'til 6 am).

E: I am a native New Yorker and there's very few places I'd rather be. If you're religious, New York offers sights and worship of all kinds. If you're into healthy outdoors fun, Central Park is the place to do a wide variety of activities. Check out the Central Park Skate Dancers near the 72nd Street Band Shell. They're a trip! If you like nightlife, I don't think anywhere is better than The Big Apple (I hear the Palladium is a hot spot every weekend!) Sports? Knicks, Mets and Yankees is all I have to say! Food? Puuhhhlleeeaaasseee! We have every kind of food imaginable here. There are also pools throughout the city for summer fun, a few beaches here and there, parks galore, music, summer fests, art, opera, the Village!, free concerts, Shakespeare in the Park....baby we got it ALL!!!

Mur: My hometown, Banner Elk, NC, USA, is a one-stoplight town specializing in golf, horseback riding, skiing, and the avoidance of growth. The best thing to do is talk politics in The Banner Elk Hardware, where you can either look at tools or The Republic. To pass the time, you can hike or ski, but don't expect to go to a bar late at night -- they usually close down around eleven. The land is beautiful, be sure to take lots of pictures -- and we're right near the Appalachian Trail.

Jimsan: I live in Colorado and what you do depends on the time of year. In winter, it's simple: skiing, both alpine and nordic. Colorado has world class ski resorts. Crosscountry skiing in the back country is an outstanding experience. Follow this with apres-ski soak in a hot tub or hot springs, a wonderful way to end the day. In summer, the variety is endless. Try hiking, camping, climbing, or mountain celebrations like the Telluride jazz festival. I'd say more, but we who live here don't want too many tourists.

3: I live in Monticello, Illinois, a town of about 5,000 people. Let me tell you, there is nothing to do! If you came here for 24 hours, the highlight of your day would probably be to visit the local grocery store, or maybe a few gas stations. The people are friendly though, so I suppose if you could get past the boring part, you could learn to like it here.

DeadManTalking: I live in Odessa, Texas. Twenty-four hours here would be twenty-three too many. It would take anyone with any sense even less than an hour, much less a day, to start trying to devise a method for getting out of this town as quickly as possible. I just came back here to die. I suppose it's as good a place as any for that though. There's lots of sky and lots of dirt and old "Impeach Earl Warren" posters still fading on the telephone poles. The oil and gas business has just about died, and, as far as I can tell, there's nothing to do but cruise around in pickup trucks. There aren't enough drugs in the world to make it bearable or liveable, or hell, even a nice place to visit. My advice to anyone who by some twisted quirk of cruel fate finds him/herself here is to immediately get the hell out of town. I know, I may sound bitter, but after having lived in Austin, Denver, Wyoming, New York City, being here is like living on Devil's Island, only without the water.

DuBois: I live in our nation's capitol. Despite all the rumors, it is still a fun, culturally vibrant city. For starters, there are all the museums, which, suprise to all you New Yorkers out there, are free! Most are conveniently located on the Mall, so you can take a tour through Africa at the African Art Museum, saunter over to Asia, at the Asian Arts Museum, look up at some scary dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum, or see what it's like to be an astronaut, at the Air and Space museum. The very best part of all these museums is that many have free events, like worldclass movies and lectures. Plus, Washington is an international city. You can visit Chinatown, check out Mount Pleasant, which is a Latino area, grab some soul food and head out to Adams Morgan, where everybody hangs out! Best eats: Negril on Howard University's campus 7th Street NW (Jamacain), Big Fish on 13th and U (soul food), any Ethiopian restuarant in Adams Morgan, and Jose's diner on Park Road in Columbia Heights, where a huge steaming bowl of seafood stew, rice, and corn torillas is only $6.00!

JoeDan: I live in Boxford, MA, 30 miles north of Boston. Anyone who comes here should plan a day of biking through the town's rolling hills and farms and end the day at Benson's ice cream stand (rte. 133, West Boxford, not too far from the Brooks School in N. Andover).

Gadj: I live in Angels Camp, Ca. Angels Camp is eighty miles east of Sacramento. What you could do here in 24 hours is up to you. This spring we had a late snowfall, enabling water skiers to have their fun in the sun, while the snow bunnies traveled up the hill to Mt. Reba and ski in the same sun. If your here in the month of May, we have four days of fun with our annual County Fair and Frog Jump contest, immortalized by Mark Twain. Record breaking jumps are worth $5000 and people come from all over to compete. This time of year we enjoy the fruits of Calaveras Counties Vinyards. Wine tasting is a great day long activity. Kautz Ironstone vineyards features wine caves and wine tasting around beautiful settings and always features good entertainment. They have a one-of-a-kind pipe Organ built in the cave. This came from a theater in the Sacramento area and is used for gala parties and weddings.

If you are a fisherman, water sportsman, boater, or camper, go to New Malones Lake with it's 22 miles of shoreline. If you like to explore caves, we have Mercer Caverns and Moaning Caves with a freefall depth of 1500 feet. After your day enjoying the outdoors of Calaveras County, take a dinner at the famous Murphy's Hotel, operating since the 1860s and played host to the likes of Black Bart and President Ulyesses S. Grant. The saloon is just as it was back then. Murphys also has numerous shops or tourist trappings as us locals call them. What's a goldrush town with out an ice cream parlor or a candy store? Yes, we can keep you busy for 24 hours if need be and if we can't accomodate you, pass through on your way to Yosemite National Park, about an hour and a half to the East. If you are as biker, motorized or otherwise, we have hundreds of miles of backroads and bike trails. So if it's a busy vacation you desire come to Angels Camp, if you desire relaxation use one of our Bed and Breakfast Inns! See you soon.

Raftman: Do you enjoy the great outdoors? Do you dream of "getting back to nature"? Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada is the place for you! The list of things to do here continues all year long. Summer: go tubing/rafting on the Kaministiquia River, visit the largest recreation of a fur trading post in the world at Old Fort William, enjoy the spectacular view at "the Niagara of the North"-Kakabeka Falls, enjoy some of the best fishing in North America with over 50 species of fish to be found, and the list goes on .Are winter activities more your style? try skiing at one of our 7 ski resorts located within a 10 minute drive of downtown, explore the vast network of snowmobile trails that are linking Thunder Bay to a vast network of trails over 5,000 miles long across North America. Visit the site I created at to find out more about Thunder Bay.

Marsaya: Marsaya here in beautiful Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you happen to find yourself here with a day or so to kill, I would recommend a few sight, but first of all, you should find out if the Baton Rouge Symphony is having a concert (504/927-BRSO - I'm a cellist in the orchestra).

You can check out Casino Rouge or the Belle of Baton Rouge casinos. They have good food and fun boats. Catfish town has a lot of great restaurants and shops and is located right downtown as well. If you're traveling with smaller kids, you can check out the Baton Rouge Zoo (504/775-3877), the Global Wildlife Center (504/624-WILD), or visit the U.S.S. Kidd (504/342-1942). There's always the L.S.U. campus to visit (504/388-3202 - Geaux Tigers!) or Southern University (504/771-2011 - Go Jaguars!).

VRegan: I live in the Berkshires in Massachusetts and there is nothing to do ever except ski and look at leaves (which sucks).

jimgen: Bakersfield, Ca. In 24 hours, you could: go to Lake Ming, take a trip up Kern Canyon, visit Red Rock Canyon, go rafting on the Kern River, or visit Buena Vista Lakes.

Carlosian_one: Los Angeles. Stay out of Compton and East Los Angeles. Go to the MoCA and the Temporary Contemporary. See Venice Beach (lots of weirdos). Get very drunk, get arrested by LAPD and have your friends videotape your beating (make millions). Cruise by OJ's house in Brentwood, not much to see but at least you can tell your friends that you've been. Have lunch at the MesaLuna, see above motivation. If you want, ride down Sunset Blvd. through Hollywood. Be careful not to pick up the pretty women waiting for a ride, you saw what happened to that goofy English actor dude (can't remember his name at the moment). Get very drunk again. That's what I would do if I were in Los Angeles for only 24 hrs. All of the other stuff you can do in Los Angeles you can probably do elsewhere.

CATHY: Austin, TX is the place to be as far as I am concerned. The city touts itself as the live music capital of the world and lives up to its name every night of the week. Check out the Austin Chronicle for nightly events, it's free and fun to read! Austin is also a place where everyone eats out, whether at 2:30am at Kerbey Lane Cafe or at an intimate dinner at Eastside Cafe or after a long drive out in the hillcountry for some real good barbeque from the Salt Lick. Since I was raised in Austin I've seen the population grow to the point of too many Yankees! However, it's still a small town where you run into people you know left and right. If someone was coming to visit I would probably start the afternoon off at the Crown and Anchor near the Univ. of Texas at Austin (Go Longhorns!) for a pint and then move on to Chuy's for some great Tex-Mex! After gorging on chile con queso and various other fattening foods, it's time to hit the nightlife of sixth street. I prefer low key clubs such as Hondos for a little pool or fooz-ball, but others might enjoy dancing the night away at one of the many cheesy bars (the worst being Toulouse). Of course, if you want to get totally wasted there are shot bars and Fat Tuesdays serving every frozen concoction known to man. And finally the evening wouldn't be complete without a little two-stepping at the Broken Spoke, which is off sixth street but well worth the drive for a real Texas dance Hall! There are so many other things to do but so little time, however its well worth the visit and exploration. Hey, we were rated in the top ten places to live for Money magazine!

LUCHMIASHA: Hello out there Wantok (friend). I am a student in Oz but I come from the Island of Paradise, Land of the unexpected adventure...home to the Kumul,the beautiful Bird Of Paradise and the Alexandra Birdwing, largest butterfly in the world. PAPUA NEW GUINEA it is..an exotic land of mystery where there is much adventure for those who are daring and also peaceful bliss for those who just want to put up their feet and relax. If that sounds like you then welcome to my country.

Given 24 hours, although I must say that is not time enough to see all the marvels of my beautiful country there is still alot that one can do in a day.Should you choose to go to the New Guinea islands then you will be able tosee in New Britain Island the famous 'dukduk' which is the spirit figure of that island and often appears at ceremonies, feasts and shows and also the whip dancers and watch them get whipped but feel no pain. Or you may be entertained at night by the Baining firedancers who are famous throughout the country for their feats with fire. The food there would be all traditional island delicacy being cooked in the traditional way 'aigir' this involves hot stones being placed in food that are in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaf packages and left to cook for a period of time.

Or should you choose to go to the other island New Ireland then there you would be able to observe the master carvers of the traditional Malagan masks or watch the famous shark callers at work out in the sea calling the sharks to them with the use of coconut shell rattles....spend the day swimming or checking out the breathtaking bays and palm fringed beaches and once again eating a traditional feast of garden food and seafood. Manus island is another island not to be missed and there you can spend your day fishing, learning to sail an outrigged canoe or having a look at the war relics that were left behind on that island.

You may want to spend your day on the mainland of the country so you could go to the Momase region up North West of the capital. This would be the Sepik provinces and you could take a ride up the mighty Sepik river stopping to visit villages along the way were you could observe more master carvers at work carving the famous Sepik carvings that the province is famous for, some of these being made to go into the 'Haus Tambaran' which is the sacred house for the men, visitors being allowed after spells are said over them, or watch the ladies weaving baskets and mats. Or you could go surfing in tbe last province to the Boarder where the waves are a surfers delight.

Should you choose to spend your day further down the coast in the Madang province then you would be able to see the prettiest town in the South Pacific,..explore the flying fox islands and watch the Madgaun dancers strutt their stuff along with the bamboo bands of the area...a trip further along to the Oro Province would bring you face to face with the Birdwing Butterfly for which Oro is known for ...spend the day watching how the women make the traditonal cloth called 'Tapa' made from tree bark or watch how the elderly make the beautiful headresses that outshine even that of an Indian Chief. Journey further inland brings you to the start of the most famous trail from the World War II where the bloodiest battle of all time was fought between the allies and Japanese. The Kokoda Trail starts in the Kokoda District in the Oro Province and winds it's way over the great Owen Stanley Ranges to the other side of the country, right to the capital. For those who are very adventurous and would like to experience a bit of what the soldiers had to put up with, a 7 day hike is all it takes to walk from one side to the other with the help of local guides.

Down further from Oro is Miline Bay ...where they are well known for their food festivals and their dancing styles. Feast on all sorts of garden produce mainly yam and tapioca puddings for which the festivals are held and a range of seafood as well. Watch how they make their adze heads from obsidian that is dug out from the rock below the surface or see how they carve their canoe prows and try your hand at their traditional cricket which is somewhat simular to the modern day version of cricket but can invovle whole tribes at times.

Or should you decide to go up to the highlands provinces of the country then you will be able to see the 'Kumuls' flying from tree to tree or try out trail hiking , whitewater rafting, watching brideprice ceremonies or just attending dance ceremonies where dancers are dressed in all their traditional finery and dance for days non stop...check out the Asaro mudmen while you are there and the tree kangaroos the art of traditonal 'bilum' (stringbag) making. Enjoy food cooked in a 'mumu' (earth pit oven) consisting of roasted pork, 'kaukau' (sweet potatoe), bananas, taros, cassava and the lot.

You could also go to the delta provinces being the Western and the Gulf Provinces and spend your day fishing or diving with the locals watching how they build their non outriggered canoes. Or learn how to make mats, baskets and bags...or just stay back in lie in the shade all day under the coconut trees and do nothing.... enjoy meals of fresh seafood and try out the moonlight dancing later on in the night. Or stay in the Central province and watch the 'lakatoi' builders at work building large ocean going canoes that used to sail to the Gulf and Western provinces during the monsoon winds in order to trade claypots for food and weapons. Or you may watch the art of claypot making, traditional tatooing and carving and in the night take part in the hula dancing or just put your feet up and relax. For those who enjoy the more modern comforts of home then all province centres are well catered for in providing such hotels and inns. Guest houses are in every village and travellers are more than welcome. So when thinking of your next holiday make the Island of Paradise your destination...Till then good luck and safe journeying Wantok!

Luckins: I live in San Diego and I have to say that most people around here go to the Zoo, Sea World, or the beach, but I'd do something different. I'd take them to the mountains, or the desert no matter what season it is. We'd go day hiking or shopping in some small town such as Julian or Borrego Springs. Or, we can visit the Chula Vista Nature Interperative Center on the Sweetwater Marsh. Maybe we could go horseback riding on the beach at sunset. Of course, we can always go to Old Town, the Gaslamp District, or Seaport Village, but so does everyone else.

Japan_Dipper: In Narita City there are lots of places to visit, just check out the homepage for Narita. There are centuries old temples right here in the city within walking distance of any hotel (almost). Tokyo is nearby and though I hate it for the metropolis it is, I would not ask anyone to miss it. It is incredible no matter whether you hate it or love it. But back to Narita. Temples, shrines, great food, festivals, good shopping, and food. If I had only 24 hours here, I would go to a restaurant called "Heroe's" and eat the best Japanese food around. I am not talking about raw fish, but yakisoba (fried noodles), okonomiyaki (called by some a Japanese pizza and by others a Japanese pancake, it is neither, but completely delicious), yakitori (the foreigners favorite: grilled chicken and vegetables on a stick), etc. That is just for starters.

b>grovich: Well, I'm from Hazleton PA, which isn't exactly the center of culture in Pennsylvania, as you can see by checking out this page. But, if you *are* stuck here, why not go see the Phillies' AAA team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons? Or, you can always go whitewater rafting down the Lehigh River. If you're here in the winter, head for the nearby Poconos. There's a lot to do around here, just not in Hazleton itself. Enjoy, and stop by!

trainrobber: I live in Anchorage, and the best thing I can tell you is to avoid this city if you can and visit the cities in southeast Ak. Haines is a good example of the real Alaska. Ride the ferry system, Alaska Marine Highway to the end of the line. Or , stop at any of the towns and villages on the route. If you insist on coming to Anchorage, just to say you've been there, you will find a clean city, good eating establishments, night life and many intersting activities to entertain you.

Alexa: I live in Lehighton, Pennsylvania and since it's summer, this is what they should do with their 24 hours. Wake up in the morning while it's still dark outside, and drive out to the heart of the country to watch the sun rise. Hopefully they brought their fishing equipment with them cause they'll be fishing next. Then it's off to Beltzville lake to do some swimming, canoeing, and just plain laying out in the sun. For lunch there will be a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgers and Zimmerman's iced tea. When it gets close to evening, it's time to head out to the Carbon Plaza mall, where you can eat chinese food or pizza, and when they're done there it's time to go to the Mahoning cinema to watch the latest movie. After the movie gets out, you can shoot some pool over at the arcade next door. Then its time to drive out to the country again and watch all the pretty stars. Then it's time to head home.

AndersR: I live in Amish Country, PA. It's one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the United States because we have the largest AMISH population in the world. If you could spend 24 hours here, you just might want to see and "smell" the Amish and their farms. :) The Amish are people who don't use electricity, cars, colorful clothing or shoes or even batteries! And they use manuer for fertilizer, so come planting season, it really smells here. After that, you would want to get some bargins at the numerous outlet stores, antique shops, auction or craft fairs. Museums of interest include Wheatland, the home of president James Buchanan(that's where I volunteer), Lancaster wax museum, Amish farm and house amd you afterwards can conclude the trip with a visit to the Fulton Opera house, one of the oldest working theatres in the US.

Metsfan: I split my time between home and school. Home is Trumbull, CT. If you had 24-hours in this area, I would say to spend the day at Sleeping Giant State Park. It's closer to New Haven, but still pretty close. The view is wonderful! Also, check out Toad's Place in New Haven for nightime activity. There's also a really neato ice cream shop called Dr. Mike's nearby. Great ice cream that, to me, rivals Ben & Jerry's!!

In Washington, DC (where I attend college), there is so much to do that you probably could NEVER do it! You could visit one of the Smithsonian Museums, which is just too cool. I prefer the National Art Gallery. A lot of really interesting art in there. For the kids, The Air and Space Museum is great. It's always the kids' favorite. Just sitting on the Mall is pretty nice too. Everyone will always tell you about Georgetown and Adam's Morgan to visit. There both REALLY cool places, and I want to add Dupont Circle to that list. Dupont is a pretty trendy place. You MUST check out Kramer's. It's this bookstore/cafe in Dupont. It is a pretty jumpin' place. I love it there! For you coffee addicts, across the street from Kramer's in Dupont is Hannibal's, and Starbucks (which is everywhere anyhow) is right down the street. And people wonder why I'm addicted to chocolate latte! The monuments at night are totally breathless. It's amazing to see them all lit up! A definite must for all dessert addicts is the Cheesecake Factory! There are so many different types, and it is probably the BEST cheesecake you will ever eat! Just what we need to add on those extra pounds!

kwyj: I live on Long Island, NY. Go see the beaches. Go see Sagamore Hill, go get drunk in a bar. Go see Joey Buttafuoco's house, see all of our famous societal misfits! Joel Rifkin, David Berkowitz, Amy Fisher. See the homes of some famous celebrities like Seinfeld, the Baldwins, Eddie Murphy, Francis Ford Coppola, Howard Stern, and the most famous of 'em all, Billy Joel. Did I mention the beaches?

szaz: Spokane,Washington. What to do here? I've lived here for two years, and I haven't found a damn thing yet. If you're over 21,the best thing you can do is drink. If not, you're in trouble. I suggest going to Productivity Point and renting yourself some web access time because that's more interesting than anything else you can do in this pit,er,I mean,city.

ARomero: I live on the shore, in a condo, the surf breaks below my fourth floor balcony. While working, I can see through my window the ships entering and leaving Haina harbor. For a change I go up the mountains, to Jarabacoa. I've noticed that people who live surrounded by mountains suffer from more mental and emotional problems than those who live close to the sea shore. I recommend, that you don't stay too long away from the sea.

Taxform: Beaumont, Texas. The best thing about Beaumont is that there are buses, trains and airplanes leaving here everyday and all roads lead out of town. Why am I still here? I'm lost on a cloverleaf and can't find my map. I'd suggest San Francisco, Chicago and/or Memphis. My three favorite cities.

niel: I live in Atlanta, GA, (home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in case you've been living under a rock), and the first thing I would tell you is ignore Underground Atlanta unless you like overpriced touristy shopping malls. Flee the city. Climb to the top of Stone Mountain and enjoy the view. Then you can go back into the city, but don't go downtown, there's nothing to see there. Go to Buckhead, Atlanta's frat-boy entertainment district if you're into that. Or else go to Virginia-Highland for the yuppie entertainment, or Little Five Points for the multiply-pierced scene. If you have one of those "alternative lifestyles", go to Midtown where there are special places just for you. And if you like good acoustic/folk music, go directly to Eddie's Attic, where they have live music every night of the week, and a cosy nieghborhood patio bar. Eddie will be there, smoking his pipe, and if you're lucky an Indigo Girl or one of the boys from Billy Pilgrim will be at the bar.

kf0yn: I live in Davenport, Iowa. And lest you think otherwise, there's plenty to do here. You could gamble or just relax on one of the riverboat casinos here. You could take a walk or ride on our scenic bike paths. Explore some history at the Rock Island Arsenal. And, if you head just a little north, you can visit the birthplace of Buffalo Bill.

Karpov: I am from St. Petersburg, Russia. It is the most beautiful city in the world and there are so many things to do that 24 hours will fly by as one second... The best thing to do is to walk as much as you can and explore it on your own.. Hermitage, the third largest museum in the world, is a must... Russian food is great -- lots of places to eat...and, of course, to drink... Never decline if you get invited to a Russian party...

Sheri: I live in Mount Vernon, Washington. It is on the I-5 corridor midway between Seattle and Canada. With only 24 hours, I would walk along the Skagit River, drive through the farms, and if in Spring, I would enjoy the beautiful tulip fields. A walk in down town Mount Vernon reveals interesting small stores and a drive to Little Mountain Park gives you a glorious view of our valley. I would also check to see what is playing at the historic Lincoln Theatre located downtown. There are classic movies, current movies, live concerts, plays and other diversions staged there. There are many lovely bed and breakfast homes to enjoy, too. Look at the website http://www.skagit.com.

GolfGizmo: I live in Vancouver Washington, not the Vancouver everyone thinks about when they hear "Vancouver"; this is the one that's "The Tijuana of Washington State". If I was here for 24 hours, I'd drive up to Seattle, a real city, which is about 2.5 hours away, and do things there. I might consider going to the beach, which is about 1.5 hours away. Oh Yeah! right accross the river, The Columbia, is Portland Oregon. It's always good for a few laughs what with it's weird mixture of greenies and loggers, techies and old hippies. But if you're there, you have to dig a few things; like rain, and the color gray, both very Potlandish. Okay, have a nice trip!

HeroSandwich: Here in Mt. Storm, WV, there's LOT'S to do. You can visit our local VFW, or choose from our fine selections of gas stations. Yes, we're proud to have a pickup truck in nearly ever driveway. You can check out the local place of learning: Union High School. With a total student bod, K-12, of about 200 people, it's never too easy to actually find someone. Just a short jaunt down the road is Bayard. With only 1 gas station and plenty of trailers to go around, you'll wish that YOU were a redneck! Yes, with careful planning, you can tour Mt.Storm AND Bayard for zero dollars a day! There's always someone willing to help out. And with only 1 state police officer in the county, you can do pretty much whatever you want.

gristle: Hi, Gristle here - here being NYC. That's New York City to the unwashed (and I don't mean the squeege patrol that'll meet you just inside the tunnel).

What do you want to do in NY? Cripes, what can't you do? We've got everything!

First, some survival tips: Don't look like a tourist! No maps, no cameras hanging from you neck, no fanny packs. Trust me, we can spot you a mile a way. The key, however, is attitude. What do I mean by attitude? If ya' gotta ask, chucklehead, go see my homepage for an example, tough-guy.

What you should see depends on what you're into. Just ask anyone on the street (really!) where something is, most of the time you'll get an accurate answer. (oh, a New Yorker'll tell you where to go alright...)

I know, I know. I'm telling you what you want to know. So here goes:

Circle Line (42nd St & 11th Ave - keep going west till you hit the water), A small cruise around the island of Manhattan. It'll tell you everything (almost) there is to know about NY. Museums (5th Ave fr. 72nd-93rd Sts) - otherwise known as Musem Mile, you'll find the Met, Guggenheim and others. Across the park (80th St & Cent Pk West) you'll find the Musem of Natural History. Take the A Train (song?) all the way uptown to 190th St for the Cloisters and Ft Tryon Park. Avoid the Statue of Liberty like the plague! It's just not worth it, and you can't see bubkus once you climb all the way up. If you want to get on a boat and see her, try the Staten Island Ferry. It's still like $.50 round trip. There's also the Empire State Building (33rd bet. 5th & 6th) and the World Trade Center (go downtown and look up, you'll see it) if you want a view. While you're downtown, South Street Seaport used to be fun, before they turned it into a mall. I'd recomend the free Shakespeare in the park durring the summer, but you gotta get there early (7-8am) and wait on line all day to see it; so you'll waste most of your 24hrs.