The Kennedy Compound is on Cape Cod (about an hour south of Boston). If you do that, you can drive back to NYC and see Mystic Seaport (another great village restoration - showing the whaling industry years) and then stop off for a night's gambling in the Indian owned hotel/casino in Connecticut.

I like Williamsburg. If you guys ever go there again, look up Becky and Frank. She lives about 15 miles from Williamsburg.

Sites to see: Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Blvd. which has the Chinese theater and the star footprints. Rodeo Drive is fun to walk down and you may see some stars if you're lucky.

There are of course the NBC studios where they tape shows. You may be able to get tickets to see them film. I once saw Murphy Brown being filmed. It was fun. Hollywood, L.A. have tons of things to do if you like into that. I always enjoy going there every few years.

California has a beautiful Coast line. Venice Beach is very famous for it's uniqueness. You'll see all kinds of people. It's fun to walk around. I am most familair with OC beaches although I haven't been to the beach in years. Dana Point is lovely. My daughter went to an Angel's game with some friends just yessterday who rented a beach house through some connections. It turns out that it was next door to Magic Johnson's which she said looked beautiful.

Oh and there is always the Queen Mary in Long Beach, which I've never been to but hear is nice. Also the Hearst Castle.

Don't forget Northern California too. I am not as familiar with it but can tell you San Francisco is one heck of a neat city with a feel all it's own. There's Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square is neat and they have Alacatrz tours along with fun cable car rides an Italian area with great food. The hills alone will blow your mind (phrase from the past) Do NOT drive there. Oh and the "Crookedest Street In The World", Lombard St.

Oh, and although I couldn't give you directions (Saladbar could)what would a NoCal trip be without seeing FFC's Winery It's got a different name now though. I can't remember what it was. As a matter of fact NoCal is noted for their wine. Saladbar and I went to a wine tasting and it was quite fun. I exited feeling pretty darn good.



TIS

if i ever go to hollywood i would visit the roosevelt hotel, hollywood sign, and other sites at night since they are haunted.

The Queen Mary is also haunted they say. They've had tv documentaries on it with people who swear that there are ghosts in certain area of the ship. I'd like to see it someday myself. I find that sort of thing fun.



TIS

If you're driving from L.A. to San Francisco, you MUST stop off at the Madonna Inn. It's a totally garish motel but so much fun. Do a Google search on it.

i heard that as well...if i remember right marilyn monroe haunts a mirror in the roosevelt hotel, and if anybody seen "from here to enternity" montgomery clift is said to be heard practicing his buegual for the the part.

Next time I go back to Cali I want to go to Sanfran and take a tour of Alkatraz. Last time I was there I didn't have time.

Mig, if you do book way ahead. Last time I went I tried to book on-line a few months early and it was already sold out for the days I was gonna be there.


TIS

hey TIS did they say that they might tear down alkatraz?

You know Bam, it seems a couple years ago I did hear something to about that. I'm not sure if it was they were gonna tear it down or use it as something else. I don't think any decision has been made, but I suppose it's possible they ended the tours. It might be worth checking before any goes there.
I'll see if I can find out. Or, Blib might know he's from NoCal.


TIS

I love San Francisco. It was one of the few vacation where I ate as much as I wanted and still lost weight from walking up and down those hills! I loved Grace Cathedral and Muir Woods and walking along Fisherman's Wharf and having a sundae at the Ghirardelli store. The restaurants are fantastic. We did Alcatraz, but went at the last minute and bought tickets with no problem.

Our hotel was right on Union Square and I loved sitting out there and having my coffee in the morning, reading and people-watching. Jumping on a streetcar was fun, walking around the city and looking in all the beautiful art galleries, it's just a lovely place.

I also enjoyed San Diego. Very pretty, with tons to do.

San Francisco was a fun town.... I stayed at the PSA San Franciscan, one of the few big buildings left standing after the big earthquake in 1906. It had been magnificently re-furbished shortly before I visited in 1980 (or so).

Yes, SB, Muir Woods was amazing! A humbling experience to stand under those giant trees.

My wife and I spent a few days at Cape Cod in late Nov., 1991 when it was very quiet, and we ended up at the Kennedy Compound and were allowed to stroll the grounds. Other tourists approached us and asked if they could have their picture taken with me. I was dumbfounded, but obliged.

A groundsman later told me that I was a dead ringer for one of Rose Kennedy's grandsons.

We laugh now and then when we think of a family showing their picture with one of the Kennedy kids.

By the way, if you spend any time in Boston, do the Freedom Trail, especially in the Fall.

That's exactly what I thought when I first saw a picture of you (in which you and your kids were outside of a ballpark).

How do we know you're NOT one of the Kennedy's? I've never seen you and Robert, Jr. in the same place!!!

Cool story Kly. That must have made your day. Now, if you're a Kennedy, how about some cash?

I don't remember the picture you posted very well though.




TIS

In my original list I forgot to add New Mexico I went to the NRA shooting range which is just outside of Raton and I've seen the grave of Billy the kid. I'm so ashamed of myself for forgeting to mention NM as Billy the kid is my fave outlaw from the old west.

Later that night my wife and I stopped at a quaint Italian restaurant in Hyannisport. We were the only patrons there because of the time of year, and as I entered, the owner, a little old white haired guy, walked past my wife and hugged me before taking us to our table. My wife thinks that he confused me for a Kennedy.

For the rest of the trip I was just a commoner.

Either that or he was a Phillies fan.

Wow Kly. Think how you could mess with people's minds if you wanted to. Post that picture again, will you?


TIS

TIS, I "borrowed" klyd's picture from our gallery here. That's our klydon in the back middle (red shirt, no hat):

A closeup before klyd pahked the cah in the Hahvad yad: