<p>For Oahu: Bishop Museum, Queen Emma’s House…My parents and I visited the Foster Botanical Gardens and an art museum which had a Cassatt MANY years ago. And yes, the obvious…Pearl Harbor…</p>
<p>BigAppleDaddy, great list of gems! I would love to try a Korean water park – can you recommend a specific place?</p>
<p>I second the kayaking on the Hudson. Just remember you will get wet, so dress appropriately. Another great gem, especially in combination with the kayaking, is to bike the entire west side of Manhattan on the bike path. One of the best ways to see everything from the little red lighthouse to the Statue of Liberty. Breathtaking views!</p>
<p>Oahu (former resident) adding Aquarium, Drive around Tantalus/Round Top, Surf Lessons (I recommend Hawaiian Fire) Shave Ice: Jung’s 1738 S. King St. (real local–price is right)</p>
<p>Add to Charlottesville-</p>
<p>After Michie Tavern keep going up the mountain to Carter Mountain Orchard and pick peaches and/or apples while enjoying the view.</p>
<p>I am obviously going to have to start going somewhere at least once a month to get this all in. Wheee!</p>
<p>Since DH needs a few extra miles to maintain his Gold status with his favorite airline, we are going to explore the Joshua Tree park (last time we were there we froze our behinds!) followed by a trip to Colorado :)</p>
<p>Anything good to see in Denver?</p>
<p>Halifax is a delightful small city which our family fell in love with years ago. We went in summer, but I imagine late spring and early fall would be equally delightful.</p>
<p>Highlights for us were:</p>
<p>Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which includes a fascinating exhibit on the Halifax Explosion, as well as one on the Titanic. (Many of the victims of the sinking, some who were recovered but never identified, found their final resting place in Halifax. Numerous artifacts recovered from the ship, including a rare deck chair, are on display.)</p>
<p>A guided tour of the Citadel.</p>
<p>A gem was the **Public Gardens **, the “finest original formal Victorian Public garden in North America.” It is right in the middle of town, and there are Sunday afternoon band concerts in the summer.</p>
<p>A more hidden gem would be the Irish dancing sessions (ceili) that take place at some Irish pubs on certain days (try Old Triangle or Lion’s Head). </p>
<p>The waterfront is lots of fun, with buskers and other entertainment</p>
<p>mousegray: </p>
<p>the place I know recently changed its name to Inspa World, and its in Flushing. Its a blast and highly recommended</p>
<p>Nantucket, Massachusetts–not a city, but one of the great spots in the US. Nantucket is an island 30 miles south of Cape Cod; it’s 50 square miles of mostly conservation land (half of the island is protected open space). The entire island is a National Historic District with one of the highest concentrations of pre-Civil War structures in the US. There are no high rises on the beach or anywhere for that matter, no fast food places, no traffic lights, and no chain stores or restaurants. </p>
<p>What you’ll find is a quaint village (cobblestone streets and walks) with all kinds of great restaurants and fun shops. Amazing beaches, dunes, ponds, historic lighthouses, and walking trails. It’s a wonderful place for birders and nature lovers. Bike paths criss-cross the island so you really don’t need to bring a car for a weekend visit. There is bus transportation (in season) and taxis are readily available. There are walking tours of the island, bus tours, ghost tours. Several interesting museums–Whaling Museum, Maria Mitchell Association (observatory/natural history), Lightship Basket Museum, Lifesaving Museum, and Afro-American History Museum. Great fishing for blues, bonita, striped bass, and fluke. One of my all-time favorite outings is to the Coatue Wildlife Refuge (Trustees of Reservations property). You can take a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon on the beach. I read and walk the beach–H fishes. </p>
<p>Other activities–Nantucket has been an artist’s colony (great light/scenery) for years so there are many galleries. You can spend several hours just browsing galleries. There’s also Cisco brewery/winery/distillery where you can go and taste the local beer (Whale’s Tale), wine, and vodka (Triple 8). Couple of local farms with great produce (Moor’s End, Bartlett’s, and a new organic farm–Pumpkin Pond. One public golf course that my H says is quite nice. Plus, lots of opportunities for sailing.</p>
<p>During the season (May to August) there’s the daffodil festival, wine festival, a film festival (Ben Stiller is always there because his folks have a house on island), and a comedy festival. There’s live community theater, a movie house, and regular concerts (the Boston Pops comes once each year and it’s a fundraiser for the local hospital) throughout the summer. </p>
<p>You can do nothing or you can always find something that will entertain you. Accommodations range from a really nice hostel (one of the island’s best kept secrets) that’s $35 a night to a high-end Chateau and Relais property (Wauwinet). If you want to see one of the best spots on the Cape, come to Nantucket.</p>
<p>I second Bromfield’s Nantucket recommendation. We were there a week ago for an anniversary getaway. Its one of my favorite places and although we haven’t been there since the kids were little, it did not disappoint. It was a weekend of perfect weather, perfect food, perfect music (we were there for the Pops concert on the beach), and perfect memories.</p>
<p>My Los Angeles:
Randy’s Donuts at Manchester & La Cienega near LAX (you can’t miss it!)
Watts Towers (not always “open”, but worth seeing even if you have to peek through the fence)
La Brea Tar Pits (bonus: it’s right next door to LA County Museum of Art)
Hike to the MASH set at Malibu Creek State Park
Hidden Gem: [About</a> Us! | machine project](<a href=“http://machineproject.com/about/]About”>http://machineproject.com/about/)</p>
<p>Come on, Colorado residents! There *must be *something nice about your state and Denver that you would want us to see ;)</p>
<p>Bromfield and Mansfield: thank you for the nice description that put Nantucket on the Bunsens’ Bucket List :)</p>
<p>Suggestions for Denver, please? We’re going there for a long weekend soon.</p>
<p>Denver: Redrocks Ampitheatre</p>
<p>Another for Santa Fe NM:
Ten Thousand Waves- any massage by Pascal followed by a hot bath under the pinons.</p>
<p>Two places just outside of Santa Fe that I really enjoyed: Shidoni Sculpture Garden and the town of Chimayo. Both were great. Some of the best food I’ve had in the southwest was at the Rancho de Chimayo. I also like all of the art galleries on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.</p>
<p>San Antonio:</p>
<p>The Riverwalk
The Japanese Tea Gardens
Mission Trail & The Alamo
Show at the Majestic
Dinner at Bohanan’s</p>
<p>Austin:
6th Street at Night
Ester’s Follies
Bat Bridge
Driskill Hotel
City Segway Tour</p>