This large aerospace museum is an annex of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Located in Chantilly Virginia this museum features some of the most impressive collection of spacecraft and aircraft found anywhere in the world.
The highlight of the museum is the Space Shuttle Discovery, when we took these photos in late 2011 the test Space Shuttle Enterprise was on display but this has since moved to New York. The museum is home to a Air France Concorde, the only surviving Boeing 307 and the Enola Gay the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II. Read the rest of this entry »
The Seattle Museum of Flight is located on King County International Airport better known as Boeing Field on the outskirts of Seattle, Washington. This aviation museum opened in 1965 and is one of the premier museums of its type in the United States, being home to the largest private air and space museum in the world.
The museum is spread over two large annexes and also features a large outdoor area where some of the larger aircraft are on display.
Highlights include the the City of Everett, the first ever Boeing 747, a British Airway’s Concorde and the first presidential jet that served the US President between 1959 and 1996.
New York City’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is a wonderful display set upon the USS Intrepid a Essex class aircraft carrier that was built during World War II. The ship forms part of a spectacular museum that features a wide range of military, civilian and passenger aircraft. The two biggest iconic attractions are the Concorde and the Space Shuttle Enterprise that made its home at the museum in July of 2012.
The Intrepid is located at Pier 86 off 46th Street on the west side of Manhattan within walking distance of many of New York’s major attractions.
Any city we visit we always like to find a cool bar to have a refreshing beer at and they don’t come much cooler than Rudy’s in New York’s Hells Kitchen. Read the rest of this entry »
Coney Island was once considered one of the world’s best amusements parks, but that was a very very long time ago. Today there are a few small attractions, a few shops, food vendors and a large boardwalk and beach. Before World War II Coney Island was the biggest amusement park in the United States, today the area is a shadow of its former self and in some places looks very run down. There have been various plans to restore or redevelop the area over the years but none have gained too much momentum. Â We think this is probably not a bad thing as some of the venues of the area have a quaint charm about them that would be a great loss if destroyed. Read the rest of this entry »
Catalina is a small island off the coast of Long Beach California, and its most famous landmark is the magnificent Art Deco Casino which sits on Avalon Harbor. The casino was built by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr, who owned much of the island in May of 1929. It was not a casino in the usual form with no gaming, it was actually a theatre designed for the first talking movies. The theatre has seating for 1154 people and there is also a ballroom which can cater for around 6000 making it the world’s largest circular ballroom, it has a whopping 55metre round dance floor. The interior of the casino was restored a few years back returning the building to its former glory with amazing fresco walls and murals, incredible plasterwork and ornate lighting. Read the rest of this entry »
The beautiful Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and is the pride and joy of the San Diego Maritime Museum. Built in 1863 at the Ramsey Shipyard on the Isle of Man the ship was one of the first built of iron and was originally called Euterpe. As the Euterpe it suffered a bit of tragedy with a mutiny, collision and a nasty cyclone off the Bay of Bengal. The ship was also used in bringing emigrants to New Zealand, Australia and the Americas from England, Scotland and Ireland. The vessel even had time as a salmon hauler working in Alaska. Today she is the second oldest ship what is still sail worthy and the oldest iron hull merchant ship floating. The ship has been declared a United States Historic Landmark and still sails a couple of times a year.
The old Tony Bennet song goes “I left my heart in San Francisco” well this is where artist Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen got the inspiration for this beautiful bow and arrow sculpture called Cupid’s Span. This place is where Claes and Coosje symbolise the place in the song. The 60 foot high and nearly 130 foot wide sculpture is made of stainless steel and fibre glass and sits in Rincon Park which is along the Embarcadero in San Francisco between the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge looking up Folsom Street. Rincon Park is a two acre oasis with spectacular views of the bay and a very popular place for people to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. This sculpture really ads a fantastic dimension to the park.
The Roosevelt Hotel is one of the most known hotels in Los Angeles and brings back a time when Hollywood was all about glamour and movie stars. Opening in 1927 the 12 story Spanish styled building has been home or played guest to many of the huge names of the golden era of movies and was the home of the 1st Academy Awards back in 1929. Some notable people who lived at the Roosevelt include Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, other people who have stayed there include Charlie Chaplin, Errol Flynn, Shirley Temple, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Clark Gable who allegedly paid five dollars for the penthouse with friend Carole Lombard. The hotel t is now managed by Thompson Hotels who have several trendy hotels in Los Angeles.
