Can anyone recommend family accommodation in New England with plenty on offer in surrounding area?|153016

My husband _ I have visted Boston, Marthas Vineyard, Kennebunkport etc pre children and really want to take our kids there, 9, 7 _ 5 years of age. It_s important to get the right accommodation for 5 of us and that there is stuff to keep kids interested. Bike riding, boat trips, parks, beach etc.

Consider Rhode Island. Our small state has many of the things you_re looking for... here in Newport we have beaches, a beautiful big harbor with a wide range of boat trips, gilded-age mansions, many colonial era buildings, a fort, nature reserves, excellent shopping, world-class events etc. Within a short drive, you_ll find much more - a great zoo in Providence, more beautiful scenery and beaches, woods, off-road cycle paths etc. It_s also a great base for exploring further afield - you can get a fast ferry to Martha_s Vineyard, and Boston is only 1.5 hours away by road. Cheaper family accommodation may be found just outside Newport in Middletown, Jamestown or Portsmouth.

Thank you Marj, great reply. Sorry it_s taken me so long to appreciate your email. I will certainly look into the useful links you sent. Thanks again.

How do i go about about getting a host family in california?|191196

Im 16 and just finnishing my last year at school and taking my GCSE_s in England. Next year i really want to move to america and go to high school there, and someone suggested to me host families. How would i go about getting a host family, ideally in California?
Thankyou x x

You may want to look into a school exchange program. Generally, if you_re under 18, you need to travel on your own and live in another country for an exchange program that involves some sort of education. I_ve provided links below in sources to exchange program sites. You should also look into this at your school as they may have information on this.

Your other option is to wait until you are 18 and you could apply to a college/university in the U.S. to study there on a student visa.

What is a good but economic hotel to receive the new year with my three teens in Los Angeles?|101226

I would like to go a place with my wife and our three teens to receive the new year but I do not have a lot of money. I know sounds cheaper but I would like to have an idea how much money I will spend for that night. Thanks for your help.

You can try hotelbooklet.com (
http://www.hotelbooklet.com)
which compares more than 30 popular hotel reservations sites and shows all available deals! It takes just a few clicks to find out which site gives the best room rate.

If you_re talking about the new year celebration in L.A., then you definitely have to take your family to the world famous _Rose Parade_ in Pasadena.
You can find motels w/ reasonable prices along the Colorado Blvd. Rose parade is free and the accomodiation will cost you about $100/night or so. You should give it a try.


Happy New Year!

What is the best place that you ate at when you were in Waikiki?|152325

What restaurant did you love the most while in Waikiki and what impressed you about it? I am planning a trip to Hawaii and I want to know your opinion. Thank you.

Duke_s at the Outrigger Waikiki - great atmosphere (particularly at night), good food, live music
Ruth_s Chris Steakhouse - unbelievable steaks, very upscale
Yard House - fun, loud, good music, good menu
Cheesecake Factory - excellent menu and service, busy
Zippy_s - good local fast food
Kua _Aina - great burgers
Cheeseburger in Paradise - good food and music, fun decor

I would say the fancy bufet at the Pacific Beach Hotel on Kalakaua ave
in waikiki. It has a large indoor Oceanarium Restaurant, and they dive in and feed the fish while you are eating. If you make reservations the day before, make them for about 6:15pm. I think they feed the fish at about 6:30pm, and if you realy want to surprise your family or guests. When you make your reservations the day before, ask about having a sign made. For about an extra 25 dollars they will make a sign that says for example Aloha welcome ________ whoever or happy birthday______ and you will be seated close to the tank, and your sign will be displayed by the diver when he/she comes by your table. I did for my grand kids when they came to visit and they got akick out of it. I didn_t tell them about and they were so happy and surprised.


http://www.pacificbeachhotel.com/Content��
Oceanarium Restaurant

Like another person said. The Pacific Beach Hotel Buffet. It was good. There_s a multiple variety of food. We went on a Sunday dinner and there was king crab and a full roasted pig. they also have a pasta station and A LOT of dessert. And the aquarium is an added bonus!

Why is it illegal for the people in new york to sell knock of purses?|166185

My daughter and i went to new york and bought knock of purses in their underground rooms, or back rooms! Why is it illegal and such a big secret? Plus why are some purses out in the open but others have to be SO SECRET?

Because they are stealing the profits from the original manufacturers.

Yes, bags at a Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dolce _ Gabana (just to name a few) are expensive as heck! But you get a quality bag. And even though these knockoffs are remarkably close to the main manufacturers, you_re getting a cheaper quality counterfeit. Also add to the fact that if your bag ever broke, the main manufacturers would replace them....not in the case of a knockoff. If anything just TRY to bring in a knockoff into these stores and you may be arrested for owning counterfeit goods.

You took a BIG chance by going in a back room. Some of these places rob you...literally.

the only real reason is they pay no tax remember its all about the money...
some vendors pay a license to sell knock offs
some dont and those are consider illegal.. its a shame because the rich is trying to get richer
P.S
believed or not some of these guys are selling the real purse
it came out in the news some of these purses are real and no one know lol...

There are several reasons why it_s illegal -- typically, they are smuggled into the country without the sellers having paid import duties. The sellers are also less likely to report their income or pay taxes on it.

There_s also the issue of copyright violations that are being perpetuated by the manufacturers.

they are knockoffs, not the real thing. losing the maker of the REAL thing millions if not billions of dollars, plus to taxes have been paid on the imported good. Others are similar but not knock offs. but might have similar patterns without the REAL purse makers name on it.

For the same reason that it_s illegal to sell boot-legged movies and CDs....

Give the designer and artists some credit....

Because the profits do not go to Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Dolce _ Gabana..
And some of the profits actually fund terrorism.

Copyright/design infringement, no sales tax paid, no vendor license,...etc....It is essentially black market goods.

Where is the best place to live for serious solo work?|175337

...secluded inexpensive housing near a lake? I have lived the Urban Life and it is beautiful. I need a change for the next two years. I need the lush green and the singing birds and all that. I am open to living anywhere in the United States, but would prefer to at least be 2 hours from some kind of life.

Lake Guntersville in Alabama is a great place to be, and the real estate prices are amazingly low. For more info, go to
http://www.guntersvillelakeinfo.com/

West Tulsa, Southwest Santa Fe, North Miami (Actually north OF Miami), or Southeast Alabama (yes, the state.).

West Tulsa still has some people in it, but theres a lake nearby, and there are indeed birds, but its really just small flowers, trees, and patches of grass.

Southwest Santa Fe is for _winter wonderlanders_.

Country north of Miami is a good choice if you like the stuff like living around snakes and other biotic factors like such. If you can avoid using sudden movements, you don_t have anger or fear problems, and you don_t mind going outdoors around snakes once a week, then this is the #1 choice, all across the country.

Finally Southeast Alabama is the simplest, and it is like a second resort to the Northern country in Miami. Its not in the tropical area, and its nowhere near any amusement parks or serious life, but it does have that same pretty green grass. It has birds, trees, grass, and lakes. However, it does have a lot of bugs. No snakes though.

My niece did the same between undergrad and grad school. Escaped it all at Crested Butte for two years. check it out.