This past November, New York magazine discovered the City Council had requested a report about ferry costs and found that a $2 fee per person would cover operating costs. The latest report puts the cost at $4 per passenger, according to the Post.

Proud of its title as Music City U.S.A., Nashville offers a wealth of live entertainment. From the Grand Ole Opry and two-stepping to tiny honky-tonks with smoky dance floors, venues for live music are everywhere. (Related story: Spotlight on the Grand Ole Opry)

But Nashville isn't just about sound. It's playing with the big boys now. The Tennessee Titans put this city in the NFL a few years back, and The Coliseum is packed on game Sundays. When the NHL returns to work, the Nashville Predators are ready to take the ice at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. The Frist Center for the Visual Arts hosts nationally acclaimed traveling art exhibitions. And the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is home for the Nashville Symphony and Ballet as well as home away from home for Broadway touring productions.

New and diverse restaurants are popping up everywhere. Neighborhoods are grabbing attention with their distinctive style and attitude. Hillsboro Village, by the Vanderbilt campus downtown, is a neighborhood of tree-lined sidewalks where country music stars and college professors stroll to corner restaurants and quaint shops. Germantown, Nashville's oldest residential neighborhood, hosts festivals like Oktoberfest and Maifest to celebrate its heritage.

An old, sleepy southern town Nashville is not. The party is really just started.

Presidential home — After Washington's Mount Vernon, Jefferson's Monticello and the White House, the Hermitage — the home of former President Andrew Jackson — is the most visited president's home in the nation. Jackson's estate, located 12 miles east of Nashville, draws more than 250,000 visitors annually. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and students (13-18), and $5 for kids 6-12. 4580 Rachel's Ln.; 615-889-2941; www.thehermitage.com.

Step back in time — Historic Travellers Rest Plantation and Museum is a Federalist-style home that once served as the headquarters for the Confederate Army of Tennessee. It is Nashville's oldest historic home museum, focusing on life here between the city's frontier birth and the Civil War. Its owner, John Overton, was once the richest man in Tennessee and a friend of Andrew Jackson. Nestled amid magnolias, elms and ginkgoes, the bead board house was the hub of a 2,300-acre estate that boasted fields of cotton and tobacco as well as groves of peach, apple and pear trees. Visitors can see an autograph book signed by seven Confederate generals. Lately the plantation has taken on a new role, playing host to theater productions, which will start the new year with a performance titled "An Evening With Mark Twain." Aside from special events, the plantation continues to be open for regular tours. It is located about 8 miles southeast of downtown. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for youths 13-18, $3 for children 6-12. 636 Farrell Parkway; 615-832-8197; www.travellersrestplantation.org.

Art excellence — The former main post office, a magnificent Art Deco structure built in 1934, is the home of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the center of the city's cultural scene, located downtown. Although the center has a small permanent collection, it specializes in touring exhibitions. Children are the subject of two exhibitions running through Jan. 2, 2005. "Golden Children: Four Centuries of European Portraits" consists of court paintings of young royalty most dating from the 1600s. "The Child in Modern Photography" has 39 modern images by such photographers as Tina Barney, Loretta Lux and Nicholas Nixon. Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except Thursday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Sunday (1 to 5 p.m.). Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, $6.50 for college students. 919 Broadway; 615-244-3340; www.fristcenter.org.

Country classics — Located behind Gaylord Entertainment Center off Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame houses thousands of items from country stars past and present. Elvis Presley's solid gold Cadillac, Dwight Yoakum's torn jeans, Faith Hill's pink Versace dress, a Harley donated by Alan Jackson and a 100-year-old Gibson guitar are among the items on display at this museum, which was opened in 1999. A special exhibit "Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm and Blues 1945-1970" is on display through December 2005. Black artists from Sam Cooke to Etta James to Jimi Hendrix are all a part of Nashville's musical past. Their work and that of many others are featured in this 5,000-square-foot multimedia exhibition. Tickets to the $37 million Hall of Fame are $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors and the military and $7.95 for kids 6-17. A combination Hall and Studio B tour ticket costs $22.95. Studio B is the legendary recording studio on Music Row where many of Elvis' early hits were produced. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 222 Fifth Ave. S.; 800-852-6437; www.countrymusichalloffame.com.

Top theater — At the prestigious Pollster Concert Industry Awards in Hollywood, the historic Ryman Auditorium, known as the "The Carnegie of the South," was named 2004 national "Theater of The Year" — and with good reason. Originally built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892, the Ryman has played host to an incredible range of international performers (as well as hosting the Grand Ole Opry from November through February). Check the Web site for a list of concerts. The Ryman is located on Fifth Street just north of Broadway. Tours of the music hall are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (though times might change depending on show times). Tours cost $8.50 for adults and $4.25 for children. The Ryman also has begun special backstage tours for $11.25, $7 for children 4-11. 116 Fifth Ave. N.; 615-889-3060; www.ryman.com.

Artistic gem — A gift of 101 Modernist art works from the collection of photographer Alfred Stieglitz laid the foundation of Fisk University's exceptional art collection. Artist Georgia O'Keeffe, Stieglitz's wife, donated these paintings, photographs and sculptures after his death in 1946, in an effort to build a significant collection at this historically black university. Fisk University Galleries include works by 29 prominent artists, including Picasso, Cezanne, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec. With this auspicious beginning, the Fisk collection grew and now has works by William Henry Johnson, Henry O. Tanner, Clementine Hunter, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Jasper Johns and Alexander Calder. Most of the collection is in the Carl Van Vechten Gallery, housed in a neo-Romanesque structure originally built as a church in 1888, and in the Aaron Douglas Gallery in the University Library. Douglas' freshly restored murals in Cravath Hall are well worth the walk across the small campus. The Aaron Douglas Gallery is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Sunday. The Carl Van Vechten Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Fisk University is located on the near northwest side of town. Donations for all galleries are accepted at the door. 1000 17th Ave. N.; 615-329-8720; www.fisk.edu.

Hop into the Hatch — The Hatch Show Print shop is one of those quirky little places down on Broadway in the downtown entertainment district that really gives you a sense of Nashville's personality. The Hatch has been producing show posters since 1879. Old concert posters line the walls; a clean-shaven Willie Nelson and a young Johnny Cash peer down on visitors. There is no admission charge and plenty of souvenirs for sale. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 316 Broadway; 615-256-2805.

Urban oasis — The Bicentennial Mall, just behind the state Capitol, is a great place for a lunchtime walk. Thirty-one water fountains, a 95-bell carillon and numerous war memorials offer great conversation pieces. James Robertson Parkway; 615-741-5800; www.tnstateparks.com.

The Mall can get active on Saturdays when the downtown Farmers Market next door is at its busiest. The market is open daily and area farmers sell all types of vegetables, fruits, herbs, baked good, hams and sweets. The fish market here is one of Nashville's best. 900 Eighth Ave. N.; www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org.

Celebrity search — Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, housed in the former Cheek mansion, once home of Maxwell House Coffee investor Leslie Cheek. The neo-Georgian residence constructed in 1929 holds a permanent collection of 19th- and 20th-century art. The gardens are a masterpiece in themselves. Built on 55 acres, 8 ½ miles southwest of downtown, they have been judged among the top five in the South by Southern Living magazine. They feature the remarkable, 40-foot-long "Glass Bridge" on Cheekwood's Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail. Artist Siah Armajani's creation of 35,000 pounds of glistening glass spans a stream in a secluded grove. Through Jan. 2, you can see "The Art of Celebrity: Glamour Photography 1930-1960," featuring photographs of Hollywood starlets. Open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 age 6-17. 1200 Forrest Park Dr.; 615-356-8000; www.cheekwood.org.

Tennessee history — The Tennessee State Museum, in the heart of downtown, is one of the largest state museums in the nation, with more than 60,000 square feet of permanent exhibition space and a 10,000-square-foot exhibition hall. The museum's interpretive exhibits begin 15,000 years ago, from the Prehistoric, Frontier, Age of Jackson, Antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction periods through the early 1900s. These sections include special displays of furniture, silver, weapons, quilts and paintings produced by Tennesseans. The Tennessee State Museum's holdings of Civil War uniforms, battle flags and weapons are among the finest in the nation. The museum also has many one-of-a-kind items associated with Andrew Jackson, Daniel Boone, James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, David Crockett, Sam Houston and Alvin York. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. Fifth and Deaderick streets; 800-407-4324; www.tnmuseum.org.

By Linda Lange

The storied streets of Hollywood have gotten a recent face lift as well, as vintage Golden Age landmarks are reinvented for a new millennium. The Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex, for example, is flanked by larger-than-life stone elephants reminiscent of a Cecil de Mille film epic; they're a fitting tribute the industry that brought Los Angeles from its dusty past as Spanish trading post and frontier farm town into its 20th-century-and-beyond prominence.

The city's near-perfect weather is a cliche that's nearly always true (especially on January 1, when L.A.'s sunny skies are broadcast to the nation from Pasadena's Rose Parade), and makes it possible to enjoy the outdoors any time of year, whether you're cruising for celebrities, rollerblading on the beach or taking in one of the major family attractions in Southern California.

Los Angeles also boasts a multi-ethnic flavor that provides endless opportunities to sample new cuisines, architecture and cultural traditions — all brought here by the scores of immigrants drawn to the California lifestyle. Just spend an extra day here, and you'll discover why the appeal is so strong.

See a star or two — Just a few minutes north of downtown off U.S. 101 is Hollywood, the original heart of Tinseltown. Originally a sleepy suburb, Hollywood's scenic locale made it a natural for filming early silent movies. Big-name studios such as Paramount quickly followed, and Hollywood became the center of cinema's Golden Age. Stroll along the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and find your favorite celebrity's star. Visit the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex to glimpse the famous white billboard "Hollywood" sign through the archway, then shop for some vintage souvenirs. Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue; 323-467-6412; www.hollywoodandhighland.com.

Catch a movie — Is there a better place than Hollywood to see the latest movie release? The most famous theater is Grauman's Chinese in Hollywood, where Clark Gable, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe and more than 150 others have left their footprints in the cement since 1927. Tickets are about $10. Next door, six newer screens at Hollywood & Highland offer more choices. 6925 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-464-6266; mann.moviefone.com/services/graumanmain.adp.

Another option is El Capitan, also located in the heart of Hollywood, a nearly 80-year-old movie palace that Disney restored several years ago. The proscenium stage often features live entertainment before the film, which always is a current Disney release. 6838 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-467-7674; disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan.

A third option is The Egyptian, which runs classic films and hosts festivals and other special events after being renovated as the home of American Cinematheque. One weekend a month, visitors can tour the 1922 structure — which features hieroglyphics, Egyptian-style paintings and sphinxes and is located just a few blocks from Grauman's and El Capitan — and see Forever Hollywood. 6712 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-466-3456; www.egyptiantheatre.com.

Get the best view — Visit the Santa Monica Pier — about 30 minutes west of downtown — to dip your toe in the Pacific surf or get a bird's-eye look at the coast from atop the Ferris wheel; you can enjoy other carnival games and rides too, such as the 1916 carousel, located at the end of Colorado Boulevard. 310-458-8900; www.santamonicapier.org.

Check out the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium — an aquarium and marine science learning center operated by the environmental group Heal the Bay. The Aquarium is open afternoons every day except Monday; the suggested donation is $5 for visitors over 12, with a minimum donation of $1. 1600 Ocean Front Walk; 310-393-6149; www.healthebay.org.

When you're hungry, there are numerous noshing options right on the pier: Sample some seafood amid a collection of vintage surfboards at Rusty's Surf Ranch (256 Santa Monica Pier; 310-393-7437; www.rustyssurfranch.com) or hang out at the Surf View Cafe, a casual diner with patio seating (330 Santa Monica Pier; 310-394-4231).

Explore a famously chic zip code — You've seen its immaculately clean streets and palm-framed mansions in countless movies and TV programs, but what is Beverly Hills really like? For one thing, it's small enough for a delightful afternoon of self-guided walking, shopping and celebrity-spotting.

Beverly Hills is northwest of downtown, wedged between West Hollywood and Century City, and possesses (but often hides) a very prosaic history of farming and ranching — famous Rodeo Drive was originally named for the yearly cattle roundup held when this was a vast Spanish rancho — before early screen legends like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks "settled" this untamed countryside and helped launch modern Beverly Hills.

Stop by the city's picturesque civic center, a cluster of 1920s-era Spanish Renaissance masterpieces that include the still-active City Hall and a matching public library. The early planner's vision included plenty of parkland, and today's denizens jog, walk or relax in Beverly Gardens, a 14-block necklace of impeccably manicured greenbelt (including benches and outdoor art installations) along Santa Monica Boulevard. Beverly Hills is best known throughout the world as a center of chic designer shopping (see Where to Shop), but another appeal is the unique Museum of Television and Radio, located in a striking modern building on a prime Beverly Drive street corner. This branch of New York's MT&R is a virtual broadcast library, where highlights include Neil Armstrong's historic moon walk, the first-ever hour of MTV, and every I Love Lucy ever made (465 N. Beverly Dr.; 310-786-1000; www.mtr.org).

Beverly Hills Visitors Bureau: 239 S. Beverly Dr.; 800-345-2210; www.beverlyhillsbehere.com.

Take a scenic drive — Mulholland Drive — a two-lane road that snakes lazily along the foothill ridge dividing most of L.A. and the sprawling San Fernando Valley — has been immortalized in film and local legend. The Santa Monica mountains are home to everything from unspoiled backcountry to clusters of multimillion-dollar estates, with alternating city and valley views around every turn. Stretching from the top of the Cahuenga Pass westward to the ocean, Mulholland is a popular drive for "weekend warrior" motorcycle posses, sports-car aficionados, and families just getting to and fro.

In the Hollywood Hills, you can reach Mulholland from Cahuenga Boulevard (or the Cahuenga exit from U.S. 101) and Laurel Canyon; farther west, Sepulveda Boulevard and I-405 rise to meet the mountain ridge at the top of the Sepulveda Pass, a major route between the valley and city. To explore the rugged Malibu hillsides, take U.S. 101 west to Topanga or Malibu canyons, then head south into the hills.

Got the kids? Long before Jack Nicholson and Ben Affleck ruled the L.A. scene, the West Coast's dominant residents included Colombian mammoths, giant ground sloths and other extinct species. See them all at the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in the Miracle Mile district, a culturally rich stretch of Wilshire Boulevard west of downtown that's home to several prominent museums and a growing number of nightspots. Feel what it was like to get stuck in the sticky black goo, touch bones and watch paleontologists work. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for kids 5-12. 5801 Wilshire Blvd.; 323-934-7243; www.tarpits.org.

For a mind-expanding educational experience that really feels like playing, visit the California Science Center, near downtown in Exposition Park (also home to the Natural History Museum, the Coliseum and USC). High-tech sleight of hand and interactive adventures teach kids about the world around them, and there's an attached IMAX theater with surround sound and 3-D. The Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission is free; IMAX ticket prices vary. 700 State Dr.; 213-SCI-ENCE; www.californiasciencecenter.org.

Save a day for Disneyland — The "Happiest Place on Earth" is in Anaheim, a 45-minute drive south of Los Angeles. The original Disneyland Park is as fun as ever, with perennial favorite rides such as Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Indiana Jones, along with beloved Disney characters and live-action shows.

In 2001, the theme park — and surrounding neighborhood — got a boost with the opening of adjacent sister park Disney's California Adventure, which presents the diversity of the Golden State as entertainment: You can take a virtual hang-gliding tour above statewide highlights in Soarin' Over California, take a white-knuckle plunge on Tower of Terror, or experience an authentic old-style boardwalk at Pacific Pier.

The Disney expansion also added Downtown Disney, an idealized street scene modeled after the one at Orlando's Magic Kingdom. Whether you want to stroll with the kids in tow, have an upscale dinner for two or party into the night, Downtown Disney offers restaurants, shops, and entertainment for all ages. Highlights include the House of Blues, Rainforest Cafe, ESPN Zone and the World of Disney superstore.

A one-day admission ticket to either park is $49.75 for adults, $39.75 for kids 3-9, and free for children under 3. Multiday Park Hopper tickets are also available. Hours vary by season, but the parks are generally open from 8 or 9 a.m. and close as late as midnight on busy weekends. 1313 Harbor Blvd.; 714-781-4565; www.disneyland.com.

Experience special effects — Universal Studios Hollywood, about 20 minutes north of downtown, started out with a behind-the-scenes Backlot Tour — still part of the fun here — to become L.A.'s most popular family attraction, including special effects displays, a rock 'n' roll Spiderman show, hilarious Shrek 4-D film, plus adventure rides inspired by movies like Back to the Future and Jurassic Park. Just outside the gate, Universal Citywalk throbs with the pulse of youthful shopping, dining, and live music clubs.

Admission is $49.75 for adults, $39.75 for kids 3-11, and free for children under 3. Universal often offers special promotions and discounts, which are available online, in many tourist publications or through your hotel concierge. Hours vary seasonally but the park is generally open from 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 100 Universal City Plaza; 800-UNIVERSAL; www.universalstudioshollywood.com.

Love that art — The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, located on Museum Row in the Miracle Mile district west of downtown, has collections of Islamic art, Tokugawa period Japanese paintings and woodblock prints, American paintings and sculpture, and a costume and textile collection of more than 50,000 pieces. A new Latin American gallery covers more than 4,000 square feet. "Family Sundays," geared for families with kids 5-12, features hands-on art projects, storytelling and bilingual gallery tours. Special exhibit highlights include "Trajectories: The Photographic Work of Robbert Flick" (through Jan. 9, 2005), which focuses on the local photographer's career from the 1970s to the present. A 50th anniversary celebration of LACMA's pre-eminent costume and textile department: "Luxury Textiles East and West" continues through the summer of 2005. The museum is open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; from noon to 9 p.m. Friday; and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free to kids under 17. 905 Wilshire Blvd.; 323-857-6000; www.lacma.org.

Another art option is the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center, an imposing travertine marble fortress on a hilltop near Westwood alongside I-405. This modern architectural masterpiece, opened in 1997, took 14 years to construct and, on a clear day, offers city-to-ocean vistas. Come for its impressive grounds, high-concept garden and highlights from the Getty's permanent collection — including the van Gogh masterpiece Irises. Visitors can also enjoy a look at the Getty's recently acquired Gothic and Renaissance stained glass panels, a new medium for the permanent collection. Current exhibits include a focused collection of Cezanne works exploring the intersection of still life and watercolor (through Jan. 5, 2005). The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free; parking is $7 per car. 1200 Getty Center Dr.; 310-440-7300; www.getty.edu.

If you still haven't gotten your cultural fix, the Pacific Asia Museum is home to art from throughout the Pacific Rim. Upcoming events include an exhibit that presents wooden furniture from Tibet in both secular and religious contexts (through Nov. 13-Feb. 13, 2005). The museum, housed in a re-creation of a Northern Chinese palace in Pasadena — about 20 minutes northeast of downtown L.A. — is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (open until 8 p.m. Friday). Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for kids under 12; free every fourth Friday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave.; 626-449-2742, ext. 10; www.pacificasiamuseum.org.

If you're willing to take a drive, 40 minutes northeast of Los Angeles in San Marino lies the Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens, which displays European art and historic documents from colonial America. Their rotating exhibits are always worth a visit, since the Huntington's extraordinary library is reserved for visiting scholars — except for specially selected theme displays. Open noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 0:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8.50 for students 12 and older, $5 for kids 5-11, and free for kids under 5; also free to all the first Thursday of each month. 1151 Oxford Rd.; 626-405-2100; www.huntington.org.

Explore an ethnic neighborhood — Los Angeles has the largest Asian/Pacific Island population in the USA and boasts the largest Hispanic community outside Guadalajara and Mexico City.

Explore some of this diversity downtown in Little Tokyo, bordered by Alameda and Los Angeles streets and First and Third streets adjacent to downtown L.A.'s eastern edge. First, check out the Japanese American National Museum, which chronicles Japanese life in the USA in its architecturally acclaimed galleries. The surrounding blocks are rich with sushi and shabu-shabu restaurants, traditional Japanese candy stores and shops specializing in imported ceramics and other Asian goods. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (open until 8 p.m. Thursday). Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students and kids 6-17, and free for kids under 6. Admission is free for everyone after 5 p.m. on Thursday, and free to all the third Thursday each month. 369 E. First St.; 213-625-0414; www.janm.org.

Chinatown, at the corner of Broadway and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard (a continuation of Sunset Boulevard) directly north of downtown L.A., is undergoing a small revival as art galleries start to spring up near traditional restaurants. Visitors will find plenty of dim sum and chop suey eateries, Chinese bakeries and market, and kitschy import shops — all in a Hollywood-goes-to-Peking architectural style.

Just three blocks east of Chinatown is El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, commonly referred to as Olvera Street. Located across from Union Station at Alameda Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, the area was the Spanish cornerstone of the original Los Angeles settlement and is now a colorful shopping and dining district where you can find everything from huarache sandals and colorful serapes to traditional candies and zesty Mexican food. The visitors center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 622 N. Main St.; 213-628-1274; www.cityofla.org/elp.

Art and culture in Pasadena — Ten miles north of downtown lies Pasadena, which features a bounty of historic architecture. Fans of Arts and Crafts homes will want to tour the Gamble House, designed in 1908 by Charles and Henry Greene and now a National Landmark. Built for affluent Easterners, the home features handmade wood detailing and priceless stained glass, as well as distinctively California features such as sleeping porches. Guided tours are conducted Thursday through Sunday between noon and 3 p.m.; the cost is $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free to kids under 12. No advance reservations are accepted. 4 Westmoreland Place; 626-793-3334; www.gamblehouse.org.

You can also stroll by Pasadena's grandiose and baroque City Hall, located on Garfield Avenue, two blocks north of Colorado Boulevard. The centerpiece of a historic Civic Center that also includes the 1920s-era Library and Civic Auditorium, City Hall features a classic colonnaded courtyard, formal gardens and a spectacular tiled dome visible from miles away.

The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena showcases European pieces dating from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century, including works by Raphael, Rubens, Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso. It's open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday (open until 9 p.m. Friday). Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for students and kids under 18. 411 W. Colorado Blvd.; 626-449-6840; www.nortonsimon.org.

For tours of these and other historic structures, contact the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau. 171 S. Los Robles Ave.; 626-795-9311; www.pasadenacal.com/architecturaltours.htm.

See the Sunset Strip — This is the unofficial designation for a West Hollywood stretch of Sunset Boulevard 25 minutes northwest from downtown, between Doheny Drive at the west and where Laurel Canyon Boulevard becomes Crescent Heights Boulevard at the east. For decades, the Strip has been famous for celebrity-studded nightlife and high-profile hotels. Restaurants, sidewalk cafes and upscale boutiques abound here, including the flagship Tower Records, power-dining spot Le Dome, the faux-bayou House of Blues and Hustler Hollywood boutique. During the day, the Strip is populated with between-projects actors and visitors lounging and shopping. Nighttime is a frantic mix of celebs in limos, loud rock 'n' rollers, brown-nosing cruisers and plenty of paparazzi.

Stephanie Avnet Yates

Mexico City is an exciting combination of Aztec, Spanish colonial and modern art and architecture. It's also a huge, sprawling city, so try to focus on one area at a time. Start at the Plaza de la Constitucion, or Zocalo, the city's main square. The Presidential Palace, with its famous Diego Rivera murals, and the Metropolitan Cathedral flank two sides of it. The surrounding Centro Historico (Historic Center), a 500-block virtual museum of colonial architecture, was built on ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

The Templo Mayor, one block from the Zocalo, is the most important relic of that period. Artifacts unearthed at the site are displayed in the adjacent Museo del Templo Mayor. Alameda Central is a downtown oasis of greenery, fountains and statuary.

Explore Aztec civilization — If you have time to see only one museum in Mexico City, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, this world-renowned anthropology museum, is the one to choose. The exhibits include the Aztec calendar stone, giant stone Olmec heads from the jungles of Tabasco, treasures recovered from a sacred Maya well, a replica of a Maya ruler's tomb from Palenque and ethnological displays of rural Mexican life as it is still lived today. Daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. M$35, Sunday free. In Chapultepec Park at the corner of Reforma and Gandhi (Chapultepec Metro station); 52-55-5553-6266.

The National History Museum, Museo Nacional de Historia, is housed in Chapultepec Castle. It's filled with hundreds of paintings, murals, ceramics, furniture and carriages depicting the history of Mexico from the Aztecs to today, with an emphasis on the colonial era and military history. We recommend prearranging a guided tour of the castle: The rooms and exhibits are more interesting when viewed with some historical explanation. Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M$35, free on Sunday. In Chapultepec Park on the corner of Ghandi, with an entrance on Paseo de la Reforma; 52-55-5286-0700.

For those who dig history, the Museo de Templo Mayor houses walls of temples and giant sculptures of eagle knights, the goddess of the moon and the god of war, along with thousands of other artifactst found In 1978 by workmen laying a telephone cable discovered the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital. The excavation can be viewed from the street level and can be walked through with the purchase of a museum ticket. English-speaking guides are available at no charge when given a week's notice (call to make arrangements). Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M$35, free on Sunday. Seminario 8 (Zocalo Metro station) Centro Historico; 52-55-5542-4943.

Monumental attractions — Catedral Metropolitana is the largest cathedral in Latin America, begun in 1567 and constructed over 250 years. Built in a fanciful baroque style known as churrigueresque, it's filled with exquisite details and has many small, lavishly embellished chapels. It also boasts one of the largest organs in the world — concerts are given on special occasions. Restoration work is continually under way inside. The cathedral is sinking into the swampy soil beneath it and lists to one side, which is clearly visible from the outside. Daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. North side of the Zocalo, Centro Historico; 52-55-5522-3033.

Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe is one of the holiest places in the country. The shrine to Mexico's patron saint is built on the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a peasant in 1531. Her image was miraculously imprinted on his homespun cloak, which hangs behind the altar of the church. The original church was built in 1709. When it began to sink into the swampy subsoil, a new basilica was constructed in the same plaza and was consecrated in 1976. Visitors are welcome to visit the church at any time of the day. Free. Plaza Hidalgo 1 (near the La Villa Metro station), Col. Villa de Guadelupe; 52-55-5577-6022; www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx.

Museo de Franz Mayer is a 16th-century hospital beautifully restored to contain an extraordinary collection of religious art in gold and silver, as well as rare books and European antiques, which belonged to German collector Franz Mayer. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Wednesday until 7 p.m.). M$20 (convert currency), free on Tuesday. Ave. Hidalgo 45 (behind Alameda Central near the Bellas Artes Metro station), Col. Guerrero; 52-55-5518-2270. www.franzmayer.org.mx .

Take a regal tour — The National Palace, Palacio Nacional, commissioned by Hernan Cortez, contains the federal treasury and the national archives. Until recently, it also housed the offices of the Mexican president. The main reason to go inside is to see some of Diego Rivera's best-known murals, colorful depictions of Mexico City's long history from before the Spanish conquest to the 20th century. To do so, go to the main portal and show some form of picture ID to the guards. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Avenida Pino Suarez (facing the Zocalo), Centro Historico.

Bird's-eye view — Torre Latinoamericana, an Empire State Building look-alike, is an encroachment of the modern world on the Historic Center, but it's still worth visiting. It's 43 stories high with a restaurant and observation deck on top, affording a good view of the city on a clear day. Daily 8 a.m.-11 p.m. M$40 adults. Lazaro Cardenas 2 (at Madero, Bellas Artes Metro station), Centro Historico.

Natural serenity — Chapultepec Park is a huge expanse of wooded areas, lakes with paddleboats, hiking trails, playgrounds, botanical gardens, amusement parks, a zoo and excellent museums. There are often toy-and-balloon vendors, dancers in ancient costumes and voladores (men "flying" in circles on ropes attached to the top of a tall pole). The park, Bosque de Chapultepec, is divided into three sections: the first covers ground from the eastern edge of the park to Boulevard Mateos, the second extends west from there, followed by the third section. The park is bounded by Avenida Paseo de Reforma and Avenida Constituyents. Daily 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Main entrances are across from metro stops Chapultepec and Auditorio.

Park yourself among the art — A reason to visit Museo Nacional de Arte is to explore the ornate buildings, constructed at the turn of the 20th century in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace, temporary exhibitions in addition to its permanent, exhaustive collection of Mexican art. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. M$15, free on Sunday. Tacuba 8 (Allende Metro station), Centro Historico; 52-55-5130-3403 or 52-55-5512-0614.

A lovely green oasis in the heart of the city, Alameda Central's focal point is the marble monument honoring 19th-century president Benito Juarez. The gracious Palace of Fine Arts, Palacio de Bellas Artes, is a must-see whether you're attending a performance, seeing an art exhibition or simply taking in the spectacular architecture. The neoclassical building (with pre-Hispanic reliefs) was designed by renowned Italian architect Adamo Boari at the beginning of the 20th century. The interior is decorated with murals by Rivera, Tamayo, Siqueiros and Orozco, and the concert hall has a dazzling Tiffany beaded glass stage curtain depicting the Valley of Mexico. Open to visitors Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. M$30 adults. Free on Sunday Avenida Hidalgo 1 (at the eastern end of Alameda Central, Metro Bellas Artes), Centro Historico; 52-55-5512-2593.

Housed in a former convent, Museo Jose Luis Cuevas has a permanent exhibition of watercolors by iconoclastic painter and writer Jose Luis Cuevas as well as temporary exhibitions of contemporary art from Spain and Latin America. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M$10, free on Sunday. Academia 13, Centro Historico; 52-55-5542-8959.

Permanent exhibitions of Mexican contemporary art by Rivera, Siqueiros, O'Gorman and Cuevas, to name a few, can be found at Museo de Arte Moderno. This modern-art museum — a pleasant sculpture garden surrounds the museum — also hosts temporary exhibits from around the world. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. M$15 adults, free on Sunday. Chapultepec Park, at the corner of Reforma and Gandhi (Chapultepec Metro station); 52-55-5211-8331.

Frida and Diego — Museo Frida Kahlo is the artist's home in the years 1929-1954, where she lived at times with her husband, Diego Rivera. On display are some of Kahlo's paintings, her native costumes, Mexican folk art and works by other well-known artists, including Marcel Duchamp, Paul Klee and Jose Clemente Orozco. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M$30. Londres 247, Coyoacan; 52-55-5554-5999.

Diego Rivera masterpieces include the Museo Anahuacalli, made entirely of volcanic rock and was designed by Rivera himself. It's in the shape of a pyramid, a tribute to Maya and Aztec cultures. It is a permanent display of Diego Rivera's huge collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M$30 adults. Calle del Museo 150, Coyoacan; 52-55-5617-4310.

Pop culture — Museo Nacional de las Culturas Populares gives you a deeper understanding of Mexican popular culture, with temporary exhibits about subjects like the circus, wrestling and traditional nativity scenes. It is an excellent place to see native handicrafts from different areas of Mexico. Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.. Free. Ave. Hidalgo 289, Coyoacan; 52-55-5554-8968.

Cruising to Xochimilco — These famed floating gardens were created by the Xochimilco Indians. Within a network of canals, they constructed little islands on which fruits, vegetables and flowers were grown. Today, you can rent small, flat-bottomed barges (called trajineras, they're similar to gondolas) and drift along the canals for a delightful experience. Recommended: Book this or other tours to Xochimilco with a travel agent or tour company. If you're driving, take the Viaducto Tlalpan to the south and follow the signs to Xochimilco. A boat for 12 people costs M$110 per hour, M$130 for 18 people. The rate is per boat regardless of how many people are actually on it, and there are no smaller boats. These are officially sanctioned prices. Don't let operators charge you more.

Xochimilco is also home to the Dolores Olmedo Patino Museum, which is housed in a renovated 16th-century hacienda and contains some of the best-known works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as pre-Hispanic artifacts. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M$25 adults, free on Tuesday. Ave. Mexico 5843, Col. La Noria (in the far south of the city, about 12 miles from the Zocalo), Xochimilco; 52-55-5555-0891.

Mexico City Travel - Mexico City Travel - Cancun, Mexico Travel Info

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.

Built by oil and cattle barons, and run by big business such as Electronic Data Systems, Texas Instruments, 7-Eleven, Southwest Airlines and J.C. Penney today, Dallas grew up snootier than it's next-door neighbor, Fort Worth. For years, there was fierce competition between the two cities. Amon Carter, Sr., the late publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, brought along a sack lunch whenever he had to attend a meeting in Dallas: He wasn't about to spend a dime in Dallas. And, there's evidence the rivalry still exists. A new national home magazine called Dwell recently called up this Fort Worth humor: "What does Dallas have that Fort Worth doesn't? Answer: A nice city 30 miles away." Ouch!

While Amon Carter worried about nickels and dimes, today's business traveler to "Big D" is likely to spend more than a few dimes, but there's plenty to see and do on an extra day in this metropolis that is home to trade, transport, tech and cultural diversity. The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau says that of the 13.1 million visitors to Dallas in 2001, 3.5 million were business travelers.

The fatal shot — With only one extra day to spend in Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum of the old Texas School Book Depository is a must. People who are old enough to remember the events of Nov. 22, 1963, will be immediately transported back to the moment they heard that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. The official story is detailed here, where historians say an angry Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shot from a sixth-floor corner window of this building. Visitors can look down to Dealey Plaza (500 Main and Houston streets), which was built in the 1930s and was once considered the ceremonial gateway to Dallas. Exhibits in the museum explore Kennedy's life, details of his visit to Dallas that day, the political mood in the city, and other topics. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and children 6 to 18, and free for kids under 6. 411 Elm St.; 214-747-6660; www.jfk.org.

After the museum, walk two blocks east to the 50-foot-square, open-roofed "empty tomb" designed by Phillip Johnson that commemorates the JFK assassination. The memorial, built in 1969, is open 24 hours a day and is lit from underneath at night. Intersection of Main, Market and Commerce streets.

And if you still don't buy the official government line, visit the Conspiracy Museum a half-block south, where other theories about Kennedy's death are presented, along with allegations of conspiracies and cover-ups in high-profile cases such as the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., and the crash of Flight 007 off the coast of Korea. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and $3 for children 12 and under. 110 S. Market St.; 214-741-3040; www.conspiracymuseum.com.

Thoroughly modern — That's how Dallasites Raymond and the late Patsy Nasher preferred their artwork. Raymond D. Nasher was among the first real estate developers in the country to include public art, primarily sculpture, in commercial complexes. Along the way, he and his wife collected a few pieces for themselves. They shared all they could in their front yard in North Dallas and in a lot they purchased across the street. But that wasn't enough for Nasher, who opened the Nasher Sculpture Center in downtown Dallas in October 2003. The permanent collection contains works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore and others. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. Admission, which includes an audio tour, is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for young children. 2001 Flora St.; 214-242-5100; www.nashersculpturecenter.org.

On safari — The Dallas Zoo, located three miles south of downtown, uses a slow-moving monorail to transport zoo visitors through six African habitats. Visitors to the 95 acres of habitats glide through forests, mountains, deserts, bush, woodlands and riverbanks. The best time to visit is before those searing 100-degree temperatures make long summer days unfit for both man and beast. The more adventurous can take a nature hike through the 25-acre Wilds of Africa exhibit. Visit mock safari stations along the way and come a bit closer to the real experience. The zoo, founded in 1888, is also one of the country's top animal research facilities. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Christmas Day. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors and kids 3 to 11, and free to kids under 3. 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35 East) at Marsalis Avenue, exit; 214-670-5656; www.dallas-zoo.org.

Art in all its forms — The Dallas Museum of Art has played host to some impressive traveling exhibits over the years, and its permanent collection includes works by impressionists Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cezanne, paintings and sculptures by post-World War II American artists, pre-Colombian and Egyptian art, African, Asian, contemporary and Indonesian art, as well as impressive photo collections. Current and upcoming special exhibits include "Before Impressionism: French 19th-Century Art at the Dallas Museum of Art," masterworks from the museum's permanent collection including works by Courbet, Corot, Daubigny, Delacroix, Manet, Millet and Rousseau (through Jan. 2, 2005) and "Splendors of China's Forbidden City:The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong," which features 400 national treasures and artifacts from 18th-century imperial China (through May 29, 2005).

Located on the northern edge of downtown, it's open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (open until 9 p.m. Thursday). Admission is free the first Tuesday of each month. At all other times, it's $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for students and children under 12. 1717 N. Harwood St.; 214-922-1200; www.dm-art.org.

Head west — The most important art museums in the area can be found in Fort Worth, an hour west on Interstate 30. If you plan to visit, you need the better part of a day. There are three museums, and each one is worth the trip. The Kimbell Art Museum about two miles west of downtown Fort Worth is richly endowed with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet and Matisse, along with a fine collection of Asian, Pre-Columbian, African and Egyptian art. Designed by Louis Kahn, the building itself is thought by many to be a work of art. It is considered to be among the best small museums in the country. Upcoming special exhibits include "Stubbs the Horse," 40 paintings and 30 drawings by George Stubbs, British painter of animals and outdoor life (through Feb. 6, 2005). Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday through Thursday, from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, although there is a fee for special exhibits. 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd.; 817-332-8451; www.kimbellart.org.

Just down the street, the Amon Carter Museum houses one of the finest exhibits of photography in the country, including works by Richard Avedon and Laura Gilpin. There is much to see here, from Remington to O'Keefe. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (open until 8 p.m. Thursday) and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd.; 214-565-9026; www.cartermuseum.org.

Also nearby is the Museum of Modern Art, with an impressive holding of nearly 3,000 pieces of post-World War II artwork, including works by Picasso, Pollock and Rothko. The museum's new home, a modern concrete structure designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, opened last winter, allowing the museum to display its entire collection for the grand opening. Prowling the nooks and crannies of Ando's masterpiece, rubbing the various textures of concrete is almost a museum experience in and of itself. Upcoming exhibits include "Ruckus Rodeo," an exhibit of two-dimensional works (through Feb. 6, 2005). Now known simply as "The Modern," the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. 3200 Darnell St.; 817-738-9215; www.themodern.org.

Never forget — Troubling as it may be for some, the only way to enter the Dallas Holocaust Memorial Center is through a cattle car that was actually used to transport Jews to concentration camps in Europe during World War II. Videotaped testimonies of survivors are moving, and local Holocaust survivor Mike Jacobs, who was instrumental in bringing the rail car from Europe to Dallas, can often be found at the museum, talking about his experiences. The center, located at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center eight miles north of downtown, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (until 9 p.m. Thursday from September through May) and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The suggested donation is $3 for adults and $2 for children. 7900 Northaven Rd.; 214-750-4654; www.dallasholocaustmemorialcenter.org.

View from the top — For a bird's-eye view of Dallas, go to the top of the 50-story Reunion Tower, which looms over downtown with a giant ball-shaped top that houses an observation deck, Antares restaurant and a revolving lounge. The restaurant's New American cuisine is good, but the view is the main attraction. The observation tower is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The ride up the elevator costs $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are admitted free. 300 Reunion Blvd.; 214-651-1234.

Take the trolley — Jump aboard a restored old electric streetcar, the McKinney Avenue Trolley, which travels a three-mile route between the downtown Arts District and all the restaurants and shops in the McKinney Avenue area, making stops at various points such as McKinney Avenue Antique Market and McKinney Avenue Contemporary art gallery. The M-Line, as it is now called, operates in cooperation with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and is a Heritage Historical Trolley System. The 40-minute ride between the Dallas Museum of Art and the City Place Light Rail Station takes 40 minutes and is free. The trolley operates weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. 3153 Oak Grove Ave.; 214-855-000; www.mata.org.

Head to Southfork — No, J.R. doesn't live here any more. He's dead, remember? (Or is he?) The television show that spawned a million impressions about Dallas is long gone, but those who still remember the antics and attitudes of the moneyed, bad-tempered Ewings can still pay homage at the sprawling ranch house where the hit 1980s TV series' filming was based. In addition to being a tourist attraction, Southfork is also used as an event and conference center. It was spiffed up with a multimillion-dollar renovation several years ago, and today thousands of visitors pour through the gates every year. Inside you'll find a museum, a clothing/gift shop and a deli. The ranch is about 20 miles north of Dallas, off US-75 (Central Expressway) at the Parker Road exit. There are daily tours every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $7.95 for adults, $6.95 for seniors, $5.95 for kids 4-12 and free for kids under 4. 3700 Hogge Rd. at Parker Road; 972-442-7800; www.southfork.com.

For the kids — Located in Arlington, halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags Over Texas offers all the classic amusement park fare. It's a 205-acre park with more than 100 rides, shows and attractions. It's a roller-coaster lover's paradise, with seven coasters, including the 255-foot Titan which hurls you around at 85 mph. Pick the right night and see a big-name performer at the 10,000-seat Music Mill Amphitheatre. Days and hours of operation vary, so check before you go. Admission is $42.89 for adults; $26.80 for seniors and kids; free for kids under 2. 2201 Road to Six Flags East at I-30 and Highway 360; 817-640-8900; www.sixflags.com/parks/overtexas/home.asp.

Polka lovers — If polka's more your tune, don't miss the Czech community of Ennis' National Polka Festival. Located an hour south of Dallas, the town has welcomed polka lovers from around the country for 37 years. There will be dancing in three halls, a downtown parade, arts, crafts, family activities and plenty of Czech food. The event takes place the last weekend in May each year. Downtown attractions are free, while an event pass is $19. 972-878-4748; www.nationalpolkafestival.com.

By Binnie Fisher, USATODAY.com

Founded in the 17th century, Boston is steeped in history. From Faneuil Hall and Beacon Hill to Paul Revere's house and the site of the Boston Massacre, an intrepid sightseer can take in a huge chunk of the nation's heritage in one afternoon.

Visit Beacon Hill, located on the north side of the Boston Common, for a look at 19th-century row houses as well as the gold-domed Massachusetts State House. Stroll through the North End, on the northeastern part of town right near Faneuil Hall and the Haymarket subway station, where a variety of scrumptious Italian eateries won't leave you hungry. Walk through Back Bay, a bustling part of town just west of the Public Garden, and enjoy its many designer clothing shops, art galleries and sidewalk cafés. Check out South Boston, a waterfront area on the south side of the city, for a taste of the Irish. Head across the Charles River and explore the grounds of Harvard University, a quick subway ride northwest of the city.

Even with a population of nearly 600,000, Boston manages to maintain a small-town feel, partly because it is clean, relatively safe and easy to get around. To see the city the way it's supposed to be seen, put on your tennis shoes and tour the streets by foot.

Each year, about 13.4 million people visit Boston, where the key industries are education, finance, health care and high tech. As well, the city is considered a leader in the mutual-fund industry. Its hospitals, including Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's, are world-renowned. Its universities, such as Harvard and Boston University, attract some of the brightest students in the world to the area, and MIT graduates have helped the city's high-tech industry to flourish.

Boston's roads are notorious for their traffic, and the one-way streets can be confusing, making it tough to find your destination by car if you're not familiar with the city. So when your feet need a break, take the city's subway, called the T, to get around.

Sights worth seeing — Start where most visitors to Boston start: the Freedom Trail, the 2.5 mile walking trail through downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown. It's easy to follow, because a painted red line on the sidewalks and roads leads you to some of the city's most notable historic sites. The trail begins at Boston Common, America's oldest public park. The Common, on 50 acres of open land, was originally a pasture for grazing cattle. Later it became a training field for the militia, and it's where the British army set up camp during their occupation of the city. It is bordered by Tremont, Park, Boylston and Beacon streets. On the Common is Frog Pond, a huge wading pool in the summer and a giant outdoor ice rink in the winter.

Head out of the Common and onto the Freedom Trail, and among the sights you'll see are the nation's first public schoolhouse, John Hancock's grave, the Old Corner Bookstore building, the site of the Boston Massacre of 1770, Faneuil Hall (where Samuel Adams and his compatriots planned Boston's revolutionary activity), the Old North Church, the U.S.S. Constitution (or "Old Ironsides" as the old warship used in the battle of 1812 is known) and the Bunker Hill Monument. To reach the beginning of the trail and the Boston Common Visitor Center, take the red or green subway line to Park Street Station, exit the station and turn 180 degrees, and the center will be 100 yards in front of you. 617-357-8300; www.thefreedomtrail.org.

Retreat to an urban oasis — Bring your blood pressure down at the serene, 24-acre Public Garden, established in 1859 as America's first public botanical garden. Willow trees tickle the pond and flowerbeds change by the season. During the spring, you'll see a breathtaking rainbow of tulips and flowering trees. Don't miss the Make Way For Ducklings sculpture, located along the main path between the pond and the park entrance. The Public Garden is bordered by Arlington, Boylston, Charles and Beacon streets. 617-522-1966; www.swanboats.com.

Stroll the neighborhoods — Start at the corner of Dartmouth and Boylston streets, where you can check out the park at Copley Square, the ornate Boston Public Library and the grand Trinity Church. Then take Dartmouth a couple blocks north to Commonwealth Avenue, where you can stroll through a narrow park that serves as a median to divide a street lined with beautiful, classical-revival-style residential buildings. It's a peaceful walk with a view of true Boston architecture and monuments to study along the way. You'll wind up at Arlington Street, which borders the Public Garden.

Time to reflect — For a moving tribute to the victims of the Holocaust, visit the New England Holocaust Memorial. The memorial consists of six 54-foot tall luminous glass towers that are lit internally. Six million numbers are etched in the glass to represent the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. The numbers are symbolic of the grisly Nazi practice of tattooing victims. Dedicated in 1995, the towers are set on a granite path, and each one carries the name of one of the major Nazi concentration camps. Located in Carmen Park on Congress Street near Faneuil Hall; 617-457-8755; www.nehm.org.

Visit "Hah-vahd" — Located right across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is made up of "squares" — Harvard Square, Central Square, Porter Square, etc. — and each neighborhood is a charming collection of restaurants, eclectic shops, bookstores and music clubs. Harvard Square in particular is a must-see, home to Harvard University, a grand campus that was founded in 1636 and is the oldest university in the U.S. Follow the brick sidewalks to bookstores, music stores, performing arts theaters, movie theaters and museums. Street musicians perform on the sidewalks and in the parks, and there are live performances in many of the clubs. City of Cambridge Information Center: 795 Massachusetts Ave.; 617-349-4000; www.ci.cambridge.ma.us.

A market with history — You'll find more than 100 places to shop, including national and local stores, as well as the Bull Market, 38 pushcarts throughout the marketplace that feature the wares of local artisans. For more than 250 years, the first floor of Faneuil Hall has served as a marketplace and the second floor as an open forum meeting hall. Today the marketplace has 17 restaurants and pubs, plus 40 eateries set up food court-style inside the marketplace's Quincy Market Colonnade. While you shop, watch jugglers, magicians and musicians in action, not to mention all the Sam Adams and Ben Franklin look-a-likes. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is bordered by the waterfront, the North End, Government Center and Haymarket. 617-523-1300; www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

Grab the kids — The Children's Museum, located east of the Boston Common, is great for younger kids, who can dance in a video with children's book/cartoon character Arthur, pretend they're rock climbers and get messy with finger paints and arts and crafts. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and kids 2-15, $2 for 1-year-olds and free for kids under 1. On Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. admission is $1 per person. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open until 9 p.m. Friday). 300 Congress St.; 617-426-8855; www.bostonkids.org.

Creatures of the deep — The New England Aquarium offers hours of up-close encounters with penguins, sea turtles, tropical fish, sharks, eels and much more. Many can be seen inside the 187,000-gallon, six-story Giant Ocean Tank that spirals to the ceiling. Plus, there's an IMAX theater when you're ready to sit down. The best hours for creature viewing are early morning and late afternoon. The aquarium is on the waterfront at Central Wharf, near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. on weekends). Admission is $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors, $8.95 for children 3-11, and free for kids under 3. Central Wharf; 617-973-5200; www.neaq.org.

Remembering JFK — The John F. Kennedy Museum and Library, located on Columbia Point in the southern part of the city, is filled with exhibits and film clips about the nation's most charismatic president. There are 21 exhibits covering the life and work of JFK, his administration and his family from 1960 to today. Exhibits touch on the Peace Corps, President Kennedy's press conferences, civil rights, the Cuban missile crisis and the space program. Plus, there are personal items of the president and his wife, Jackie. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for kids 13-17 and free for kids 12 and under. Columbia Point; 617-514-1600; www.jfklibrary.org.

An homage to art — The biggest of Boston's many art museums, the Museum of Fine Arts first opened in 1876 and moved to its current location 2½ miles southwest of the Boston Common in 1909. There's a bit of everything in the museum, from its well-known Egyptian collection to big-time traveling exhibits. American artist John Singer Sargent's paintings, sculpture and architectural ornamentation in the rotunda and his murals and reliefs in the adjacent colonnade are perhaps the most striking in the museum. The MFA's collection of works by Impressionist artist Claude Monet, along with other Impressionists, is bested only in Paris.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for kids 7-17 on school days until 3 p.m. (free all other times), and free for kids under 7. Admission is free to everyone on Wednesday from 4 to 9:45 p.m. 465 Huntington Ave.; 617-267-9300; www.mfa.org.

Still in the museum mood? There are plenty in Boston, but the most popular include:

The Museum of Science: More than 170 years old, this museum features 400+ interactive exhibits, an Omni theater, planetarium and laser show, dinosaur exhibits, a virtual fish tank, plus plenty of science, health and hands-on experiments. Located on the O'Brien Highway (Route 28) near the Science Park subway stop in Science Park, 1½ miles north of the Boston Common. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 9 p.m. on Friday). Admission for the exhibit halls is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $11 for children 3-11. There are separate admission prices for packages including the Omni theater, planetarium and laser show. Science Park; 617-723-2500; www.mos.org.

Harvard Museum of Natural History: The public museum of three of Harvard University's natural history institutions, this facility offers high-minded exhibits on science and nature. Through April, the museum will host an exhibition about life's first 3 billion years. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens, $5 for kids 3-18 and free to kids under 3. Admission is free Sunday until noon and Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. during the school year. 26 Oxford St.; 617-495-3045; www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

By Dina Gerdeman, special for USATODAY.com

But there's a gap between the vacations people take and the vacations they want. Eighty-six percent of 4,000 families surveyed in a Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell poll earlier this year said vacations of five nights or more are ideal, and more than half said seven nights or more would be ideal.

So how do you realize your vacation dreams?

Make a New Year's resolution and start planning.

"The first thing you do is you put it on your calendar," said Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream (RLI Press, $17.95, www.roadtripdream.com). "It becomes as sacred as anything else you are forced to do in your life. It's an appointment with yourself. If someone asks you to do something that week, say, 'I'm already booked. Can we do it some other time?'"

Sign up for time off as soon as vacation schedules are posted at work — which happens in January in some workplaces. "Setting the date makes it a reality," added White, whose book chronicles how she and her husband Phil lived their dream of traveling the country for a year — for about what it would have cost to stay home.

Reinforce your plan with research about places to go and stay. "Think about making reservations," said White. "Bring your family into the planning."

Solve potential problems on the home front. Can a neighbor or friend collect mail, water plants, feed the cats, maybe even look in on your elderly mother? Can you offer to do those chores for someone else while they're away so they can return the favor when you're gone? If you have a dog, ask your veterinarian and other pet-owners to recommend a kennel. For pet-friendly accommodations on the road, visit www.petfriendlyhotelsandtravel.com.

At work, arrange your responsibilities so that clients, colleagues and your boss can function in your absence.

"Make contingency plans," said Phyllis Weiss Haserot, who consults on business development and organizational effectiveness as president of Practice Counsel Development in Manhattan (www.pdcounsel.com). "What if something goes wrong? Who's going to take care of it? Find someone to cover for you and make an arrangement that you're going to cover for them when they go away. Plan with your whole team so nobody feels they get an unexpected burden."

If you have clients — either external customers or workplace colleagues who depend on you — "prepare them so they expect you to be away. Try to anticipate," Haserot said.

If you must check your e-mail and voicemail while you're away, "be disciplined about it," said Haserot. "Set a regular time to check in — but not six times a day, and hopefully not even every day."

And if you leave a number where you can be reached in case of emergency, "define what you mean by urgent" beforehand to avoid being called about trivial matters, Haserot said.

If you're taking a domestic trip and you don't have a laptop or high-speed Internet access at your destination, try checking e-mail at the local public library. It might be easier and cheaper than Internet cafes or using a dial-up connection in your room.

Leave a detailed message on your office voicemail and an auto-reply e-mail explaining that you will be unavailable until after you return. Provide contact information for whoever is filling in while you're gone.

"It's all about managing expectations," Haserot said. "You don't want to disappoint people."

If money is your biggest impediment to taking longer trips, look for bargains in the offseason for your desired destination. Just after Labor Day is a great time for discounts in beach areas, and September weather can be gorgeous — just watch out for hurricanes. Buy cancellation insurance for plane or cruise tickets if you're worried about potential last-minute changes. If you're the cosmopolitan type, bundle up and head for New York or Chicago in January and February. That's when you'll find hotel discounts and other packages, along with fewer crowds at museums, restaurants and theaters.

Discounts for longer stays are a trend at hotels and other attractions. Disney World recently restructured its pricing so that $1,500 covers admission and lodging for a family of four for a week.

Disney president Al Weiss said the change was directly related to research on vacation aspirations for the average family.

"Their No. 1 wish," he said, "is that they would take a longer vacation."

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

"What is fueling this is a combination of pent-up demand for travel to the U.S. and phenomenal exchange rates," said Cathy Keefe, a spokeswoman with the travel association.

The U.S. dollar is near an all-time low against the euro, which began circulating in January 2002, and is close to a five-year low against the Japanese yen. The British pound is trading at nearly two to a dollar.

"It's a big bargain to come out here. If you get a decent airfare you can go shopping and still be ahead of the game," said Dieter Huckestein, president of hotel operations owned and managed at Hilton Hotels Corp.

He said business is up about 40% in Hawaii compared with a year ago, driven by Asian tourism, and hotel demand is also up substantially in New York and Florida as European visitors flock to the east coast.

After 2001, travel to the United States plummeted amid terrorism fears compounded by a worldwide economic slump, the build-up to the war in Iraq and the war itself.

The trade association projects that the nation will host 43.5 million international tourists this year, up 7.5% from last year. In 2000, the total of foreign visitors reached 51 million.

Visits up by double digits

Through September, U.S. inbound travel was up 12.5% compared with a year earlier, while travel from Western Europe was up 15.3% and visits from Asia rose 22.5%.

Attendance has grown by double digits this year at Universal Studios Hollywood, according to Don Skeoch, the theme park's senior vice president of marketing and sales. "Demand is strong from our key markets of the Pacific Rim — Japan, China, Korea and Australia — as well as Mexico and Canada. We also do strong business out of the U.K.," he said.

In addition to currency rates, Skeoch attributed the pick-up in international visits to waning terrorism fears and new movie-themed park attractions such as the Revenge of the Mummy ride.

Hilton's Huckestein said the absence of a big health scare, like SARS or the Avian flu, is also helping tourism to recover.

Marriott International is seeing a 30% uptick in European arrivals at its properties in San Francisco, and a 10% increase in New York, according to spokesman John Wolf.

"We're also allotting more rooms to overseas travel agents — the folks who book package deals," he said.

The Marriott Marquis in New York's Times Square has more than 1,600 employees who speak 70 languages and dialects.

"It's been a very long recovery in international travel, but people are more confident now," said the Travel Industry Association's Keefe. "Not only are there more tourists, but they are spending a lot more money — extending their trip, taking side trips and eating at more expensive restaurants."

But the biggest impact has been on shopping, which is always a big draw for international visitors, she said.

Get a bite — DIA has 48 restaurants and although none of them are particularly distinctive, airport workers recommend La Cantina in the main terminal for Mexican food, It's a Wrap on Concourse B for healthy sandwiches and the Coffee Pubs in the main terminal and Concourse A for made-to-order sandwiches and lattes. Pour La France in the main terminal serves good coffee, sandwiches and salads, and Wolfgang Puck's upstairs on Concourse B has appetizers, pastas and Puck's famed designer pizzas.

Last-minute shopping — There are 60 stores at the airport, including such ubiquitous chains as The Body Shop and the Tie Rack. If the airport's artistic design has inspired you, buy gifts, crafts and jewelry made by local craftspeople from the Colorado Collection on Concourse B. The Images of Nature Gallery on Concourse B offers prints, posters, calendars and art books. And if you need a gift for a pup or kitten, you can get gourmet treats, bath oils and toys from Pawsitively Pets on the Concourse B Mezzanine.

Doing business — The airport offers laptop accessible ports in all the phone banks.

Relax while you wait — The airport offers massage therapists in rooms in the main terminal and on Concourse B. You can get a neck and back rub or a full-body stress reducer from a trained professional massage therapist from $45 to $75.

Getting downtown — Taxis to downtown take about 25 minutes and cost about $45, but if you and another passenger are going to the same place, you can split the cost. Several shuttles run between DIA and various locations in Denver at about $20 per person. The cheapest deal, if you're not too loaded with baggage, is an RTD (Regional Transportation Department) bus at between $4 and $8 (303-299-6000; www.rtd-denver.com).

Most of the major rental car services, from Advantage to Thrifty, are available at DIA. It's a good idea to make arrangements ahead of time to ensure that a car is available. Denver has a reasonable bus system, including a free and frequent shuttle along the 16th Street Mall. If you've business beyond downtown, however, it's best to rent a car.

But the city fathers also prided themselves on their culture. A hundred years ago, Mayor Robert Speer vowed to make Denver into "Paris on the Platte," and current mayor John Hickenlooper is also known as a strong advocate for the arts, as well as for his work in preserving the city's historic buildings. Denver is home to several institutions of higher learning, and the population tends to be highly educated. Not many towns these days have two competing daily newspapers, as Denver does.

Denver was built on the search for gold, and agriculture followed soon after. Following World War II, oil and gas became the primary industry, but the energy boom crashed in the 1980s. A bleak period of stagnation ensued before Denver's economy diversified into aerospace, tourism, electronics and communication. The population continued to grow, and is now at 2.1 million, although much of it is dispersed in neighboring counties, with roughly half a million people calling the city proper their home. Denver sees 1.9 million overnight stays by business travelers annually.

Enjoy the trendy downtown scene, stroll among the dignified civic structures surrounding the capitol building, explore Denver's diversified neighborhoods and feel the pulse of the city's history beneath the brick.

Best neighborhood stroll — The 16th Street Mall, designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, was built in 1982 to revitalize the city after the bust of the late 1970s. It is a mile and 16 blocks long and links the lively galleries and coffee shops of LoDo (Lower Downtown) to the north with Civic Center Park and the gold-domed Capitol Building just beyond the south end. When you stroll along it, you're bridging history. Victorian buildings edge contemporary structures. The 325-foot May D&F tower at Arapahoe Street was constructed in 1911 as a replica of the bell tower of St. Mark's in Venice. It was at that time the tallest building in Denver and part of the town's first department store. The store was torn down in the 1970s, but the tower still exists and houses offices and the Rattlebrain comedy club in its basement.

This is Beat territory. Allen Ginsberg and the man he loved, Neal Cassady, both worked at the May department store in 1947 and spent hours strolling this street, no doubt talking poetry. In his most famous poem, Howl, Ginsberg immortalized "those who journeyed to Denver, who died in Denver, who came back to Denver and waited in vain, who watched over Denver & brooded & loned in Denver and finally went away to find out the Time, & now Denver is lonesome for her heroes..."

These days you'll see a beautifully designed pedestrian strip, in warm red and gray granite, lined with trees. The humorous cut-out cows that used to walk its length — a wry reference to Denver's one-time self-image as a cow town — are gone, replaced by planters, fountains and a chess table. The mall is lined with galleries, gift shops, clothing and jewelry stores and anchored by shopping centers at both ends. If you don't feel like walking, you can catch the free shuttle that traverses from end to end every five minutes. Then stop in at one of the numerous coffee shops for a sip of something warm.

Take a detour onto nearby Larimer Square, one block west of the mall and cruise the eclectic collection of galleries and clothing stores. In particular, check out Z Gallerie, a kind of upscale Pier One (1465 Larimer St.; 303-615-9646; www.zgallerie.com) and Earthzone Mineral and Fossil Gallery (1411 Larimer St.; 303-572-8198), which carries jewelry, vases and lamps. The Market (1445 Larimer St.; 303-534-5140) features salads, sandwiches and a glistening, heart-stopping array of baked goods, but it's far more than just a cafe; it's the kind of place that makes a city a city. Denverites hang out there to talk books, people watch, argue politics.

For more strolling ideas, pick up the Mile High Trail map, a series of six free unguided walking tours through downtown, at the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center. 16th and Larimer streets; 303-892-1505; www.denver.org.

Step into the past — Take afternoon tea at the Brown Palace Hotel, built in 1892 and patronized in the past by Elvis Presley as well as several presidents. It's just toward the south end of the 16th Street Mall and to the east at Tremont Place. You can choose from a variety of teas and sample sweet and savory delicacies, including sandwiches, cakes and scones, while a harpist serenades you. It's pure Victoriana and a flashback to dignified old Denver. Legend has it that hotel guests once used an underground tunnel in the hotel to visit a well-known brothel across the street. Tea is served between noon and 4 p.m. every day and costs $20.95. For $26.50, you get the Royal Palace tea, which includes scones, Devonshire cream, strawberry preserves, sandwiches, pastries and Kir Royale, but, no, her Majesty won't be dropping by. Reservations recommended. 321 17th St.; 303-297-3111; www.brownpalace.com.

Yippie-ey-oh — The National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show (Jan. 8-23, 2005) is a showcase for the agricultural industry, and includes barrel racing, bull riding, livestock judging, steer wrestling, quarter horse shows, an antique tractor exhibition and a fiddle contest. It all takes place at the National Western Complex, where I-25 and I-70 intersect, and just a few minutes north of downtown. Entrance fee is $7, and $9 on Saturday and Sunday. Prices for specific events cost between $12 and $15, which also covers the entrance fee. 303-297-1166; www.nationalwestern.com.

Classic American works — The Denver Art Museum, located a few blocks south of 16th Street just off Broadway, offers one of the best collections of American Indian artwork in the country, in addition to works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Edouard Manet. Two floors of the unique 28-sided, 10-story building feature European, American and Western painting, sculpture and artifacts.

Until Jan. 23, the DAM will present "Tiwanaku: Ancestors of the Inca," which draws from collections in Europe, South America and the United States. The Tiwanaku lived in what is now Bolivia from A.D. 300-1000, 500 to 1000 years before the Inca Empire.

Construction on a major addition to the museum — originally designed by Gio Ponti — began in July and will be finished in 2006. Visionary architect Daniel Libeskind designed the addition, a 146,000-square-foot building of titanium, glass and Colorado granite that will double the size of the museum. In addition to increased gallery space, the addition will boast a theater, a restaurant and a rooftop sculpture garden. (Libeskind is also designing the World Trade Center memorial in New York.)

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (open until 9 p.m. Wednesday), and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $4.50 for seniors and kids 13-18, and free for kids 12 and under. 13th and Acoma streets; 720-865-5000; www.denverartmuseum.org.

A contemporary view too — The eight-year-old Museum of Contemporary Art, which is situated in Sekura Square, a few blocks east of the mall, specializes in innovative and challenging work. There is no permanent collection; the museum offers a roster of exhibits and curated shows in all media. The current exhibit is "PILLish: Harsh Realities and Gorgeous Destinations," prints, paintings, etchings, videos and constructions that explore the horrors and seductions of the drug culture and of drugs both legal — such as alcohol — and illegal. Like its older cousin, the Denver Art Museum, MCART is about to embark on a major addition, with hot, young, English designer David Adjaye at the helm. He envisions a building that holds "frozen light." Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5:30 p.m. Admission: $5. 1275 19th St.; 303-298-7554; www.mcartdenver.org.

Tiny Tokyo — If you visit the contemporary art museum, take time to explore the area where it is situated. Sekura Square, between 19th and 20th streets and Lawrence and Larimer streets, may be one square block, but it is the center for Denver's small but vital Japanese community. It contains a restaurant, newspaper office, book store and Buddhist temple, as well as the Pacific Mercantile Company, which was founded in 1944 and carries Asian foods and gifts of all kinds (1925 Lawrence St.; 303-295-0293; www.pacificmercantile.com).

Explore Colorado's history ... The Colorado History Museum has a variety of exhibits that tell the story of the Native Americans, explorers, gold miners and cowboys of Colorado. Exhibits include dioramas illustrating buffalo hunts and early gold-mining techniques. The museum, a 15-minute walk southeast of downtown, is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5. 13th Street and Broadway; 303-866-3682; www.coloradohistory.org.

And the ancient world — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is in City Park, located 10 minutes east of downtown. While there, you can see two 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummies, walk through a diamond mine replica and stare into a cave shining with crystals. Until Jan. 23, the museum is showing "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt, an extraordinary collection of artifacts that include stone carvings, intricately painted coffins, gold death masks and a sculpture of the god Osiris at the moment of rebirth. The museum also boasts a fascinating dinosaur collection, a planetarium and an Imax theater. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for seniors and kids 3-18. 2001 Colorado Blvd.; 800-925-2250; www.dmns.org/main/en.

The best view — Though it's called the "Mile High City," Denver isn't actually in the mountains. But you can see the snowy peaks of the Continental Divide from several parts of the city. For one of the best views, take a 10-minute walk south and east of the Mall from downtown to the Colorado State Capitol — you can't miss the gold-plated dome. From the rotunda, you can see the entire Front Range of the Continental Divide, from Pikes Peak north to the Wyoming border. While you're there, take advantage of the free weekday tours of the building, which features a dome covered with 200 ounces of gold. Free tours are given daily at 9:15 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. 200 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-866-2604; www.milehighcity.com.

Quaff a brew — With Anheuser-Busch in Fort Collins and the Coors Brewery in Golden, it's no wonder that Colorado produces more beer than any other state. Denver boasts myriad microbreweries and brewpubs, each producing its own original potable. Most breweries are in Lower Downtown (LoDo), a 26-square-block area bounded by Speer Boulevard and 20th Street and Wynkoop and Larimer streets. One of the best-known — and oldest — brewpubs in the area is the mayor's own Wynkoop Brewing Co., which carries many brands of artisan beer and serves pub food, including fish and chips, elk medallions and shepherds pie. There's a lively billiard hall on the second floor. Impulse Theatre, one of the funniest improv groups in town, works the Wynkoop's basement Thursday nights at 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. It's a young, crowded and feverishly funny scene (303-297-2111). 1634 18th St.; 303-297-2700; www.wynkoop.com.

Take a cooking class — Cook Street, in downtown Denver, offers a number of classes for the passionate cook. Single classes cost $79. If you're looking for a cooking mini-vacation, there are four-session techniques classes for $389. Or just drop in for a wine tasting, and meet some interesting Denverites. The kitchen is large, welcoming and beautifully appointed, the food is great and the cooking tips invaluable. 1937 Market St.; 303-308-9300; www.cookstreet.com.

Deciding where to sleep in Madrid, Spain can be a difficult task. There are hundreds and hundreds of places to spend a night and many are very competitive in location and price. Should you stay in a hotel, hostel, or youth-hostel? Madrid Spain Hotel Europa

Madrid Spain Hotel Europa
Calle del Carmen, 4
28013 Madrid SPAIN
Tel: +34 915 212 900
Fax: +34 915 214 696

Madrid Photos by MadridMan - "Fotos de Madrid España"

Franchising is a business method and relationship, not an industry. Franchising is the predominant business relationship in many industries and business segments and is becoming more common in others. The industries and types of businesses utilizing franchising as a method of distribution are listed in IFA's Franchise Opportunities Guide. Franchising is a comprehensive business relationship, not just a buyer-seller relationship. There is considerable interdependence between the franchisor and the franchisee.

Origins of Modern Franchising
Modern franchising began with the development after the First World War of gasoline service stations and automobile dealerships. The growth of franchising into the economic force it has become began after the Second World War and has paralleled growth in service industries since 1945.

Importance of Franchising
In the United States, franchising constitutes more than 1/3 of retail sales; there are more than 2000 franchising companies and more than 500,000 franchisee and franchisor operated outlets. Franchising companies and their franchisees employ more than 8,000,000 persons. Working in a franchised business is the first job for many young people.

Franchising is growing in significance in other countries. Franchising is already a strong economic force in Canada, Japan, Western Europe, Pacific basin countries and Australia. Franchising is developing in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. It is likely that franchising will develop in the next century in China, India, Pakistan, Russia, other countries of Asia, South America and East Europe, and Africa.

Types of Franchise Relationships
In the product distribution franchise, the franchisor typically is a manufacturer selling a finished or semi-finished product to a franchised dealer. The franchised dealers are willing to furnish presale and post-sale service to customers, concentrate on the sale of the franchisor's products and refrain from selling competitive products. There is substantial interdependence between the franchisor and its franchised dealers.

In the business format franchise, the franchisor licenses a business format, operating system and trademark to its franchisees and may or may not sell tangible products to them. Examples of business format franchising are found in food service, lodging services, automobile maintenance (e.g., muffler and brake replacement, tune-up, oil change, cleaning and waxing), convenience stores, automobile and truck rental, business services (e.g., bookkeeping, accounting, temporary and permanent employment) and consumer services (e.g., home cleaning and repair, lawn care, day care and educational services for children, tax return preparation and real estate brokerage).

Conversion franchising is considered a separate type of franchising because it involves the conversion of independent dealers or unaffiliated businesses to franchises. Existing businesses are willing to surrender some degree of independence and agree to pay fees in order to gain a stronger trade identity, regional and national marketing and the economic advantage of combined purchases of goods and services. The best examples of conversion franchising are the real estate brokerage networks (e.g., Century 21, Re/Max and Coldwell Banker).

Components of a Franchise Network
A franchise network consists of a franchisor (the grantor of the franchise) and one or more types of franchisees (the operator of the franchised business). The most common type of franchisee, usually called a "single unit franchisee", owns and operates from one to three franchised businesses. Typically, the franchises for these businesses were acquired at different times.

The second type of franchisee is called an "area franchisee." There are two general types of area franchises, a "development franchise" and a "master franchise." The development franchise grants to the area franchisee the right to develop and operate a specific number (or an unlimited number) of franchised businesses located within an exclusive territory. The franchisee typically commits to develop a minimum number of businesses during each development period (usually a one year period), referred to as a development quota. The development franchisee signs a separate unit franchise agreement for each such business.

The master franchise differs from a development franchise primarily with respect to the rights granted by the franchisor to the master franchisee to grant subfranchises to third parties to develop and operate the franchised business within the master franchisee's exclusive territory. In some master franchise relationships, the unit franchise agreement is signed by all three parties - the franchisor, the master franchisee and the subfranchisee. However, in most networks, the subfranchise agreement is between the master franchisee and the subfranchisee and the franchisor has no direct contractual relationship with the subfranchisee and only such rights vis-à-vis the subfranchisee as are reserved in the master franchise and subfranchise agreements. The master franchisee charges fees to the subfranchisees and pays a portion of those fees to the franchisor. Though master franchising has been used effectively by several franchisors to develop franchise networks in the United States, the master franchise relationship is more common in international franchising.

Several franchisors have developed a category of franchise relationship, sometimes referred to as an area director, in which a person is granted rights to develop a territory by soliciting the sale of franchises on behalf of the franchisor and locating sites for the establishment of franchised businesses. The area director may also have responsibility for training, continuing assistance and quality control supervision of the franchisees in his area. The area director has a contractual relationship with the franchisor, but not with the franchisees. The area director generally receives a portion (1/4 to 1/3) of the initial franchisee fee paid by the franchisee and a similar share of the continuing fees paid by the franchisee. The area director structure has elements of single unit franchising, development franchising and master franchising. It has been used effectively by several franchising companies (e.g., Subway) to rapidly expand their networks.

Other Relationships of Franchisors and Franchisees
The franchise relationship is actually a composite of several relationships. The franchisor is a supplier of intellectual property, granting to the franchisee the right to use trademarks, trade dress, confidential information, a business format and an operating system. The franchisor is a trainer of and an advisor to the franchisee. Generally, the franchisor furnishes marketing services to its franchisees by collecting and pooling advertising contributions and administering a marketing program that develops advertising and marketing programs and materials and conducts market research and public relations. Finally, franchisors supply research and development services to their franchisees.

In addition to these typical relationships, franchisors and their franchisees frequently have additional relationships. In some franchise networks, the franchisor will be the franchisee's landlord, either leasing to the franchisee a site owned by the franchisor or subleasing to the franchisee a site that the franchisor has leased. Generally, only large, well financed franchisors are able to act as landlords to their franchisees and this relationship is most common in food service and in franchise networks that lease sites in regional malls (where the franchisor will usually be a more acceptable tenant).

Some franchisors, as manufacturers or wholesalers, supply equipment to their franchisees. Franchisors also sell finished products to their franchisees for resale (e.g., automobiles, computers, gasoline, and inventory carried by convenience stores) or supply components and ingredients that the franchisee uses to make a product and/or perform a service (e.g., food products for a food service business and parts for an automotive repair business). The franchisor may be the exclusive supplier of certain equipment and products or merely an approved supplier along with other suppliers from whom franchisees may purchase. The franchisor may serve or act as a supplier entirely for quality control or trade secret protection purposes, or to establish a convenient and low cost supply source for its franchisees (charging only small mark-ups on goods sold to franchisees and relying on fees for its franchising revenue) or may structure its supply program as a profit center (in lieu of or in addition to fee revenue).

It has become more common in recent years for franchisors to be a direct or indirect source of financing for their franchisees. Financing may be provided directly, indirectly through general or limited guarantees or inventory buy-back arrangements with third party lenders, by leasing a business facility to the franchisee or by other means. In some cases, the franchisor will receive rights to buy equity interests in the franchisee's business as part of the consideration for loans made to the franchisee. Generally, only larger franchised networks are able to develop financing programs for their franchisees. Such networks use franchising primarily to put in place highly motivated owner-managers in their retail outlets and only secondarily for the capital contributions that franchisees make to network expansion.

Alternative Methods to Expand a Business
Franchising is certainly not the only method for expanding a business. Though franchising offers some unique advantages over other methods, no company should decide to develop a franchise expansion program without first considering other methods.

Company-owned outlets
The most commonly used alternative is the development of additional outlets owned and operated by the company. This form of expansion gives a company somewhat greater control over the development of its network and higher revenues from each outlet that it opens (assuming they are profitable), but it has several disadvantages. First, the company will need to raise substantial capital to expand its network. For example, if each outlet requires capital of $100,000, 100 outlets will require a capital investment of $10 million. A small company is able to acquire that amount of capital only over an extended period and frequently is required to sell a substantial part of its ownership to acquire a sufficient capital base.

Second, a company growing its network with owned outlets will face two distinct manpower problems: finding sufficient outlet managers and field service staff to supervise its outlets and devising compensation programs to motivate managers. A number of companies require outlet managers to make an investment to secure an outlet managerial position and compensate them with both a base salary and a share of outlet profits or cash flow. Such compensation structures undoubtedly enhance the motivation of managers, but it is doubtful that they equal the motivation enhancement inherent in the risk and reward characteristics of ownership of a business as a franchisee.

Joint ventures
A business may also be expanded by developing joint venture relationships. Two types of joint ventures can be used. In one type, the sponsoring company manages each outlet and the joint venture partner is a passive investor that contributes capital. Many such relationships are found in the lodging industry. The hotel management company contributes know-how, development plans, its reservation system, its trademark and management services, and its joint venture partner(s) contributes capital to develop, equip and staff the hotel and operate it until it produces a positive cash flow. The hotel management company will generally receive a base fee and will share profits with the joint venture partner(s).

In a less common form of joint venture, the sponsoring company acts as a passive investor, furnishing capital for outlet development, along with its joint venture partner. The latter has responsibility for the management of the outlet. This relationship differs from a company-owned outlet whose manager shares in profit or cash flow only in that the joint venture manager will have an actual ownership interest in the outlet he manages, not just a compensation package that includes a share of profits.

Independent dealerships
Some companies can effectively expand their distribution network with nonexclusive, independent dealerships (or distributorships). Such dealerships may carry other, including competitive, products and the network will not have the degree of interdependence found in a franchise network. This type of distribution network is suitable for a manufacturer, particularly a producer of a relatively low cost product with minimum pre-sale and post-sale services, or a product that consumers are used to buying at a retail outlet that carries multiple brands of the same product (e.g., appliances). For such products, a wide range of distribution outlets may be the best marketing strategy. Non-exclusive, independent dealers are rarely utilized for the distribution of a service.

Member-owned cooperative associations
Member-owned cooperative associations are found in the grocery and hardware store industry and in bedding products manufacturing. A member-owned cooperative would be an alternative structure to a conversion franchise. Cooperatives are difficult organizations to manage because members of the board of directors have potentially conflicting interests: the interests of the cooperative and its members and the interests of their individual businesses. Cooperatives are also subject to more stringent antitrust rules than are franchised networks.

Buy at Amazon Pet Friendly Lodging: Eileen's Directory of Pet Friendly Lodging : United States & Canada (3rd Edition)

Most pet lovers will buy this book for the extensive listings of more than 23,000 pet-friendly accommodations in the United States and Canada. As a bonus, however, they'll be getting nearly 100 pages of terrific advice on everything from training your cat to walk on a leash to packing for your dog to determining which common plants are toxic to animals. There's even a recipe for homemade dog biscuits at the end! Filled with helpful hints guaranteed to make traveling with your pet a relaxing and positive experience for both of you, Vacationing With Your Pet is an indispensable guide for anyone planning on hitting the road in the company of a four-footed pal.

Paperback: 720 pages
Publisher: Pet Friendly Publications Inc; 3rd edition (March 1, 1997)
ISBN: 1884465072
Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 5.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds.

Average Customer Review: based on 20 reviews. (Write a review)
Amazon.com Sales Rank in Books: #995,893
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In-Print Editions: Paperback (5th) | All Editions