Whats the difference between Carlsbad CA and San Diego CA?|139471

Of course they_re 2 different cities, but a lot of my friends are telling me to go to Carlsbad, some to San Diego.

Anyone that has lived there wanna give me a hint?

You have to be more specific. Are you talking for one day or to live there? What do you like to do?
Carlsbad is a small-town atmosphere, at least by California standards, fairly wealthy, not a real homeless population. Great antique shops, independent stores, easy to park and walk around most of the whole thing. Good beaches, of course.
San Diego is a huge city with an amazing variety of stuff to see and do, I_ve lived here for 45 years, and they seem to invent things to do and places to see faster than you can experience them.
If you are driving from the North, C_bad is closer. Its harder to fly to. The San Diego airport is right in town. The weather will be nice at both places.
If you are going to live and work, then Carlsbad is fairly limited without a long commute. I trust you are doing research other than asking a question here...

carlsbad is beautiful but it costs alot to live there ....but in san diego there are cheaper places to live

What is good part of Arizona to live in and raise a family? Good school district?|120364

I live in Pennsylvania and can_t take another winter. I want out and need to live somewhere where it is warm all year. Arizona seems like a nice place with good schools and great house values, no earthquakes or hurricanes to worry about. Any comments about the area would be appreciated.

Chandler or Gilbert in the East side of town. Goodyear or Avondale in the West side of town.

I_ve heard the Kyrene elementary district is one of the best in the country. If you wanted your children to go there, you_d have to live in Ahwatukee or Tempe. Mesquite is a good high school, but that_s in the Gilbert school district.

Vail is pretty nice and is growing very fast. Its nice houses and upper class compared to in town tucson. Best school district in tucson.

scotsdale
fountain hills
paradise valley
chandler
tempe

up towards the north west side of Tucson is the small-ish town of Oro Valley. It_s filled with middle to upper class families, with grade a schools. absolute perfect place to raise a family. Virtually crime-free, but there are a lot of older folks, so Sunday driving is a mess =). It was named one of Nick Jr._s top ten playful towns, because of it_s schools, safety, and arts and recreation among other things. also, be sure to know that our summers are extremely hot- hotter than you may think. It_s common that temperatures reach 120 degrees, sometimes higher. And that can make a car seat burn you up.

Moon Valley (in Phoenix) has the best school district in the state (Washington School District). Very nice place, low crime, lots of families, huge park in the area, very neighborly (everybody knows everybody), etc. etc.

Well I live in Scottsdale not the cheapest place to be.... but I like it good schools and neighborhoods. If you decide to move I would recommend using a realtor it saved me so much hassle I told him what I could afford and what I was looking for and he took care of everything. He was so nice and very knowledgeable he has lived in AZ for over 20 years. You should contact him I think his office is up north but I remember him telling me that he had a lot of clients in other areas.

Edward Graziano

ejgraziano@cox.net

buynsellforu.com

Paradise Valley, Chandler, or Surprise.
Laveen, AZ is really developing too. =D
Good luck. Houses here are such a good deal, they give out loans so quick and easy! My child goes to Cesar Chavez and it_s going good, has a lot of AP classes. However, Surprise is a good quiet, city too.. Many will tell you though that the east side is better, but you should look around first.

i reccomend the foothills of tucson. actually, all the schools in arizona suck. it got rated 3rd worst in the country for schools, and the highschools here have the lowest SAT scores and in the nation. Private schools are the best, and there are some good ones, but generally all the public ones are horrible. House values here are extremly high. Where you could buy a 3 story home in the midwest, a house of the same price would only get you a one story 3 bedroom home here.

If you want good schools, do not move to Arizona. It has now been ranked 50th in the nation. There is a teacher shortage out here and many districts hire teachers that have emergency certification just to fill spots. Also legislature out here is trying to pass a bill that will make it even easier to get certified. (Basically all that you would need is a bachelors degree in any field and one education class/no student teaching is required) Az is an age appropriate state, which means students pass each year no matter what. You could miss two years of school and still get put in the _age appropriate_ grade.

There_s a lot of nice areas with good schools here. It depends on where you are going to work to. It_s a big city, so you don_t want long commutes to work.

The East Side is a little more expensive, especially around ASU (Tempe) and Scottsdale. Gilbert and Chandler are really family oriented communities. If you want to go farther out from the big city and get more house for your money, head out to Queen Creek or South Chandler. Those areas are still growing, especially with the new freeway out there.

If you consider the West Side, you should look into Surprise, Peoria, North Glendale, Goodyear or Litchfield. I live in Peoria, and people move here because of the good schools and safe communities. You still see ladies walking or jogging alone after dark. You don_t see that in Central Phoenix. Surprise, AZ is the hot spot for new home buyers.

It kind of depends on how much you want to spend on a house. Paradise valley and Scottsdale are expensive to live in but their schools are pretty good. Gilbert and Queen Creek are good places also on the east side of town. The crime is usually pretty low there and the housing is still farely cheap. Chandler has been having problems lately with rapists, so look out there. The west valley includes surprise and maybe Peoria probably for the safer/better areas to live. Hopefully this helps, good luck!

Chandler or Gilbert, Arizona!!! I live in Gilbert and it is a great place to raise a family. The crime rate is incredibly low, plenty of great public schools, lots of convenient shopping, tons of parks, and friendly people! What more could you ask for? =]]

Whats the cheapest way to travel between Orlando and Miami?|131064

I_m going to be in Orlando for 10 weeks and want to go to Miami for a few days. Whats the cheapest way to travel between them?

GMG transport or Miami Bus Service. Its a service for college students in Florida but anyone can use it just say you_re visiting girlfriend or boyfriend. Either one will drop you off in Orlando or Miami. Its about $45 for a roundtrip ticket and you can buy them online or over the phone.


http://gmgtrans.com/



http://miamibusservice.com/

Jet set buses are the cheapest i have come across.
$25 One way.

I think that Hitch ride would be the perfect idea.

oo i live in orlando lol.
id say rent a car.
its about 5 hours away so i wouldnt like hitchhike or anything lol

hitch ride

grey hound or amtrak

What is the best place to live in North Carolina?|131545

I_m from New England (Boston) and am sick of the high cost of living and the cold weather. I was thinking North Carolina might be a good place to move to. Ideally I_m looking for a place with reasonable costs of living, warm weather, nice/quiet neighborhoods, and employment opportunities.
Any suggestions in North Carolina?

The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is very nice, with tons of jobs. Also the coastal areas near New Bern or Wilmington. If you don_t like the cold, stay away from anything west of Winston-Salem, the winters get nippy in the hills!

I moved here from up north for the same reason.
Franklin Co. is beautiful. Great land available.Not far from anything. Great schools too.

How much time to see the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta?|129997

I_m traveling to Atlanta for business in a few weeks. I might be able to sneak away for a few hours to go check out the aquarium. How much time should I budget to be able to see the aquarium and enjoy the exhibits without having to rush through the place?

Thank you.

Take at least 2 - 3 hours in order to really enjoy it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/georgi��

First answer is right. 3 hours will give you time to really check everything out.

I would say 2-3 hours should be sufficient

How much money does it cost to live in a 1bedroomapartment in boston?|183416

1 bathroom also, and no balkonies,fireplaces,ect.

You can research it yourself on www.rent.com.

i was looking at places 2 day about Boston mass NH Raymond and they were all about the same between 6-7-14 hundred dollars

Why are mixed people hated by everyone in the Detroit metro area?|180153

They_re hated by Whites in the suburbs and, are not excepted by Blacks in the inner city limits.

I haven_t really seen many problems with this. People hate people, that_s what happens when people don_t get along. It really doesn_t matter the race. I work with several different diversities and if you were to ask if I had a certain friend then I would really have to think about it. They are all just people to me. I look at people based on their beliefs and attitude and that is what really counts.

Sadly it is those who are judge mental and rude to others that stand out the most. You have probably just had a period of time where those rude people have been around you recently and it has gotten you down. Just remember that not everyone things that way. We are all human and should love one another. Love thy enemy. Those haters seem to be the ones that need your friendship the most. To be taught that you are no different than them. Good luck.

I happen to think that the Detroit area is the most diverse area around. We have black, white, arabic, mexican...you name it. MANY of them are mixed due to the diversity of this area. They all seem accepted to me. Perhaps you_re a bit sensitive because your mixed? I always thought a mixed person was blessed because they belong to 2 different races.

It doesn_t matter if you_re Black, White or any other race, people get intimidated _ jealous, and they will talk about you for no reason. I_m mixed with Black _ Italian and I_ve dealt with this immature behavior all of my life! It_s hilarious actually how all women from all races look at me but it_s pretty sad when it comes from your own family. I have pretty nice long curly hair, my husband_s family is just the typical Black family, and his family members will actually stare at me like I don_t notice it. Ridiculous

I live Downriver and don_t see many problems myself but there are people that that are prejudice. They usually have family in the south.Southerns (back in the holler) don_t understand that all man is created equal. It_s sad really people need to grow up!

I don_t know; people are a bit insecure about who they are, maybe? Or they are ashamed of whatever they are.
It_s silly though: everyone should be proud of their heritage.

because they are not considered white and they are not considered black?





birds should fly with birds and fish should swim with fish
sentiments once said by muhammad ali

No they aren_t hated. Sometimes they can_t even tell that you_re mixed.

Because stupid people still believe in the one drop rule. But this time its not just applied to black and white, but to every race who is indeed mixed..

I always hear blacks talk about light-skinned people.

But I don_t see what you_re talking about at all.

It_s hard being stuck in the middle with no place to go.

I wish it was limited to mixed people. There_s just a sense of hatred everywhere. Its sad.

How long does it take for mail to get from Pennsylvania to Illinois and back?|116515

jus wonderin. oh yea...it_s to a modeling agency too, so i guess you have to consider that also.

First class mail NORMALLY takes two to three business days any where in the continental US, but the USPS does not guarantee anything. Especially to areas like NYC.

LMAO. My Significant Other sent me a letter the other day. He lives 20 miles south of me. It took 14 days to get here from there! So a letter all the way from PA to IL could take months, if not years!!!

Does anyone know any good promotion codes for airfare to vegas?|140197

My husband and I are looking for deals on airfare to vegas. Can anyone help me?

Really depends on from where. Typically Southwest and JetBlue will have the cheapest rates if you book a couple weeks in advance.

I wish I knew where you were flying from and when. But here is a pretty good link to start with.

Good Luck!

*

Go 30% below asking price and book with name your own price at priceline.com .

What is something productive to do in San Antonio in December-mid Jan?|169536

I_m going home to San Antonio after a semester away at college. I don_t want to spend my Winter vacation just partying all night and sleeping all day. What can I do to help out the community and are there events that are looking for volunteers? Thanks in advance.

Preparing for MLK Birthday march or volunteering for the next census year.

You can volunteer down town San Antonio in homeless shelters, visit hospitals, deliver gifts to shelters of domestic abused women and children.

Good Luck :)

Volunteer for Keep San Antonio Beautiful

Meals on Wheels is always looking for volunteers.

I_m sure Manpower is also hiring temp... extra money is a good thing.

Sleep

What is the difference between going to the University of Michigan or going to Wayne State?|167153

Ok. I have a 3.9 GPA and I want to go to U of M. My cousins have around the same GPA I had and they got full rides to Wayne. They said they don_t really like it there but the also say the only reason that U of M and Michigan State are so well-known is for their sport teams. They say all the Universities teach the same things. So what do you guys think would be better? Free Wayne State or going to U of M?

That_s a tough one - generally a degree is a degree, no matter where it came from but UofM does have a great academic reputation.

My son went on the website listed below to read what actual students said at the universities he wanted to go to. They rate many different aspects of the college. That_s how he decided where to go next year.

Good luck!

Are there any beaches on Cape Cod that are dog-friendly during the season, and have lifeguards?|151107

I mean, what is the fun of bringing your dog to the beach if you can_t swim?

Most beaches you can only take your dog between certain hours of the day, during the Summer, which is usually when the lifeguards are off-duty.

Definitely - you can check out http://www.oncape.com/beaches to start and search beaches by amenity. I do not know if they have a dog option, but I know you can search by lifeguards. Good luck!

yahh just search it upp.

Where in southern California can I find some old abandoned buildings?|176891

I live in Orange Country, so somewhere generally in that area, I don_t mind driving but closer would be better. I_m looking for someone places I could do photoshoots in and easily gain entry into.

Go to riverside county lot of empty streets empty homes. Businesses, go to LA as well. There are some shuttered business in Apple Valley in the high desert.

What city in Columbus, OH has the lowest crime rate and exceptional schools?|130659

I am looking into moving to Columbus, OH and want to find the best neighborhood to raise children in. I need it to be low crime rate and really good school system. I would prefer to be on the south end, but let me know what you suggest!

gahana is very nice, seems to be low crime and smaller town feel
sorry, dont know about the schools

I am actually in the same boat, not sure about the neighborhoods but check out greatschools.com to find the best schools in the area. Good luck.

How bad does it get in Fort Pierce, Florida during Hurricane season?|129592

Thinking about moving there and am worried about the hurricanes. Should I move or not? How bad does it get?

it depends if a hurricane hits ya, hurricanes are a lot easier to deal with than a tornado. you have like, days of notice. Should you move there. We just left, our homeowners insurance jumped from 1500 a year to almost 5000 in one year! No joke. Plus it_s swamped with Illegals that drive cost up and wages down. Public schools on the gulf coast are talking about building public housing for teachers cause they can_t get them to come to Fl. wages to low for cost of living. The illegals use the schools, infrastructure, medical, and get there welfare and put nothing into the system. It;s awful. I loved living there but we couldn_t make ends meet anymore and that Insurance was the final straw. Good Riddance!
I can go back on vacation and not have to deal with the ignorance or the traffic! LOL No don_t move there. The Hurricanes r the least of your worries

How long does it take to drive from Cleveland, Ohio, to New York City?|117178

Hi. I_m going to go to New York City in a few months, and I_m planning everything now. A few questions:
1. How long does it take to get there by car, from Cleveland OH?
2. What should I visit/see there?
Any other info would be great. Thanks!

Distance: 489.1 miles
Approximate Travel Time: 6 hours 58 mins

You should visit where the WTC towers were, walk through Cina Town and through Central Park. You should probably also go to the Statue of Liberty.

What you in, a Viper or an SUV. I_d take a Boeing.

mapquest stated that it should take about 7 hours 34 minutes. Not sure what to tell you to visit...just want to tell you to have fun!

only 1 question per person too much typing,the drive will be12 hours

Vacationing in Myrtle Beach SC, Any suggestions for fun places to go such as theme parks?|127209

We are planning to go the Myrtle Beach and was dissapointed the Pavillion closed down since we always used to go there.... Anyways we have heard of Freestyle Music Park or Family Kingdom Amusement Park.

I know Freestyle Music Park is really new but which is the best place to go to if you wanna have a lot of fun?

If there are any other nice parks or attractions that I have not said please suggest them.

freestyle music park is AMAZING and the ques are very short and its cheap i had alot of fun !

How Much Does It Cost To Fly From La Guardia To Hudson River?|166267

Just wondering how much it costs? And how close to the river you get off the plane? Cause i want to go fishing ASAP after I land?

Thanks In Advance.

It costs 1 cooked goose.

Where in San Diego can we ride horses on the beach and go whale watching?|152124

My caughter has always wanted to ride horses on the beach and I_ve always wanted to go on a whale watching tour. Where can we do that in San Diego? Preferably close to each other.

This is the only place I know of in San Diego where you can take the horses onto the beach:

Beach Horse Rentals
2060 Hollister St.
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154
619/559-2235

You can observe the whales migrating from Cabrillo National Monument in the Point Loma area of San Diego.

If you want to go out on a boat whale watching excursion, there are a number of boat tour companies that have whale watching tours. You will find a list of them with info and links to their web sites at:
http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/San-Di��

Whale watching is available almost everywhere in San Diego that has sport-fishing boats. In the whale migration season (two times a year), the sport-fishing boats double as whale-watcher boats. There is also San Diego Harbor Excursions that runs whale-watching trips out of the harbor in season, spring and fall.

Not too many places to ride a horse on the beach. They are all used by tourists and nobody like horse turds on the public beaches.

There are horse riding facilities in the area south of Imperial Beach and north of the border that may have beach riding areas, but it is also full of illegals and the beach there is sometimes closed because of pollution from the Tijuana River. Most of those facilities closed after the last flood of the area when the City said that they will no longer rescue stranded animals left behind by their owners.

you can go whale watching at the Harbor. Harbor is very close to airport.
I_ve never heard we can ride horses on the beach.

Is driving in New York City much different than other major cities, such as Chicago and San Francisco?|150011

If there are significant differences, what are they? Is NYC much more difficult to drive in, or is it comparable?

Thanks!

In LA, the streets are much wider esp. the main streets than they are in NYC. Also, in LA, cars stop if people step into the streets even when cars have the green light right of way. This does not happen in NYC. There is also no right on red within NYC limits (all 5 boroughs). Because of this during the day esp. the streets are clogged with cars, taxi_s, livery cabs, buses, bikes, pedestrians, dog walkers, nanny_s with strollers, ambulances roller bladers, skateboarders etc all trying to get to their destinations in a much more congested setting and all feeling they have the right of way.

San Francisco is probably more similar to NYC than LA if only because it is more of a congested urban city and LA is so spread out. But it is still mellower with regard to traffic.

Highways circle the city here and can get congested during rush hours but are not bad off hours.. the highways taking people back home to the suburbs are worse.

The streets in Manhattan can get very crowded with taxis, buses and other drivers. One thing that my be different is you also have to deal with a lot of pedestrians. New Yorkers tend to walk a lot and you must look out for them darting in front of a vehicle. The street signs are very small so if you are not aware of where you are going, you can get lost. Some streets are one-way and you must be observant of that. Parking on the street can be difficult as well.

Driving in the boroughs for the most part is not too bad, although there are areas that can be like downtown Brooklyn and the area around Flushing Main Street. However, driving in Manhattan is in general a horror show.

Part of the problem is just congestion. Part of it is people who are unfamiliar and think that _Oh, I_ll drive like a NY_er._ and attempt to do so by being overly aggressive. Anothe thing is that we have drivers from all over who merge here and all have the driving style that works where they are from since everyone else drives that way. Doesn_t work here.

AAA advises that driving here should be left to the natives. I agree.
But, if you must, assertive is a better description of what you need be, rather than agresiive. And be patient. Follow the rules, and no right turns on a red light.

I agree with babylon for the most part, and have to add that driving in Manhattan is a horror, and your pretty much guaranteed to get at least one ticket per day. either parking, or not following road signs that hang 21 feet in the air. I_ve tried and I_ve tried but I have not be able to drive ticket free in nyc for more than a week. I_ve given up my car and I use the metro, Much easier to get around,

once again i need to point out the parking horror, this is an absolute night mare, you will be hard pressed to find parking and when you can_t ( which will be most of the time, the average parking will cost you about 11 dollars Per Hour !!

Don_t drive in NYC, catch the metro

I_ve driven a lot in SF and a little in NYC...downtown SF was no picnic, but NYC is worse. Differences: Tons of pedestrians, including jaywalkers everywhere. Narrow streets in much of Manhattan. Lots of congestion. Extremely aggressive drivers, including but not limited to taxis and bumbling tourists. Confusing signage in many areas. No right on red. Expensive tolls, so that you really feel it if you mess up and accidentally drive to New Jersey. :)

Might be surprised.
NYC esp Manhattan is fairly well traffic controlled by lights.
Flow is not always fast but you get steady movement.
There are through roads _ major arteries all around the city but they are not speedways ( usually) _ entrance / exit traffic lanes slow things down.
Weekdays after rush hours ,its usually free sailing.
There are the legendary rush hour _ getaway weekend jams but New Yorkers have learned to ride them out.
Have not travelled that much but compared to Atlanta, NYC is a kiddie ride.
Scared the crap out of me _ hosts thought I was kidding.
Best regards

Nah, it_s not that different. I only drive a few times a year and don_t have any problem with it.

The underlying problem in Manhattan is that it_s an island - there are only a few ways on or off. Traffic at the bridges and tunnels is the biggest hassle and if something goes wrong (like a break down or accident) then it goes very bad very fast and ripples throughout the borough.

Pretty similar to Chicago, but as someone else said watch out for the pedestrians. Some drivers here seem to think they are playing bumper cars with real cars on our streets.
Watch out for street parking, some of our signs are confusing. In midtown there are muni meters for commercial vehicles. DO NOT park your passenger car in these areas unless the sign says mon - fri, you can park a passenger car in those spots and you do not have to feed the meter. If a parking sign says except sundays do not park there unless it_s a sunday

Good Luck, Have fun, then Go Home

For me, Boston is a roadway horror. In NYC, one needs to be aggressive, and in Manhattan, one needs to watchout for the taxis.

Its the same driving in New York as in any other city.

In my opinion, the worse two cities I have driven in are Washington DC and Boston.

It_s much worse than any other city.

And, you must be 21 years old to legally drive in New York City limits.

nope just the same.
be defensive and you will have no problem.

its not bad go to boston...theres a bad place

How do I go about finding out which weeks are spring breaks so I can avoid the crowds in Florida?|152388

We got caught up in that one year and ended up going out of our way to spend the night in Georgia on our way to Disney. We_d like to go in March, but really don_t want that to happen again.

most spring breaks are in march

also this site tells a lot of universities break schedules


http://www.tripsmarter.com/panamacity/sp��

You can go to a few college web sites or do a google search for _U Texas academic calendar_ or princeton or whatever. All of the colleges_ spring breaks are really only 1 of 3 possible weeks, so all it takes is a little research.

I know two of the popular ones for this year: It will be the second and third weeks of March.

The problem isn_t wholly local spring breaks. The problem is every school all over the country schedules their spring breaks independently. So they can do whatever they want, and they can change it every year. So there_s no way to answer your question, other than to tell you that historically, the first two weeks of March are usually still ok, but they last two weeks are busier.

Spring breaks are spread out across the country and some are even on the thee month on and a month off plan. Go to tripadvisor.com for a free site that will have experts to tell you the busiest times at WDW. Go to the Orlando forum and ask, someone there will be able to clue you in on the busiest days.

Just go to any high school web page and see when their spring break week is...college is always a week before that. I_d say avoid the college spring break for sure, but lots of high schoolers come too, so I_d just avoid both those weeks all together. Unfortunately, I can_t avoid it...I live in Orlando. Argh. Stinkin spring breakers...always trashing the beaches and driving like idiots.

Go to the Disney web site and look under calendar. They do have dates listed high and low attendance. The first two weeks of March should be fine.

My son_s college break starts 3/14 and my daughter_s high school break in one week later. Most breaks are the last two weeks in March

Check with Florida_s Visitor Buearu as they can tell you approximately when they have to be prepared for Spring Breakers. Since colleges and universities vary as to spring break dates it is ususally in March but can extend to April.

http://www.visitflorida.com/

As a general rule, the spring break crowds usually start arriving at the beginning of March (sometimes a week earlier if Easter is in March) and are here until the week after Easter.

If I_m not mistaken I alson think that Bike Week is in March in addition to spring break. I was going on a cruise in March 2005 and needed a room for one night. It was difficult to find because there was the Bike Week people there.

I don_t have the exact answer to your question, however, I did a little research and found the 23rd of March up to and including the 1st of April is a good time to go. The crowds will be moderate. The days before and after that time will be more crowded (especially so in April).

call the chamber of commerce or the office of tourism in the city that you are going to visit and ask them what their expectations are. They_ll know because of the number of advance bookings.

Perhaps you could contact the Chamber of Commerce of the town(s) you want to visit for suggestions.

It might be best to call a travel agent for that information. Since alot of schools go different times, they would probably know best. Have fun!

Well, im from florida, and if it_s warm, there will be tons of people.

Looks like you_re out of luck.

Are there any activities in Broken Bow Oklahoma that can be done in the winter?|163005

I will be there in late December and I_m looking for something fun to do.

hopefully you are over the age of 16 so you can drive! Browken bow is kinda out there but if you get someone to drive you or you drive you can find alot of things around that area!

Is it possible to get around Los Angeles using only public transportation?|137221

I don_t drive due to a medical condition. Eventually, I may be able to drive again, but not on the freeway or at night. I have the itch to move, and I love California, but I_m just not sure it would be realistic for me to move there if I can_t actually get around. What do you all think?

It is possible, but if you need to travel any distance it is a VERY time consuming way to get around. It is certainly not the way you want to travel if you_re lugging a half dozen bags of groceries with you.You are correct about Long Beach having the best public transportation system in So Cal.

Before moving here consider that California is one of the MOST expensive states to live in. Housing will be the most expensive. A small studio apartment starts in the $1100-1200 range. Almost everything you buy will be about 50% higher than where you presently live. This could be a real problem if you have to live on a fixed income. If you_re still a member of the work force know that unemployment in So Cal is among the highest in the country. It is now over 12% and not expected to get better until 2011.

Yes it is. I mainly commute via public transportation and I go everywhere everyone else goes to.

From the beach, to sporting events, to shopping to work, to playing tourist, I do it all.

All it requires is you to be flexible, patient, and you must allow for extra time in your travels. And you must understand how the transit system works. With these simple things you can do it

If you are short fused then you are gonna be stressed out there because sometimes a bus may be late or it may be full, or the weather may not be to your liking. Patience, patience, and patience..

Yes, but you would want to use it mostly before dark, and you_d want to choose where you live and work carefully, because our public transportation isn_t all that great. However, if you live and work in the right places, it can be very convenient, especially if you only have to take one bus or train. Most places in LA have everything you need close by, grocery stores, stores like Target, malls, restaurants, etc, so the bus/train would work well if you choose the right area. Taxis are super expensive.

Metro Info:
http://www.metro.net/


Good luck!

i think it is possible to find a way of transportation to your destinations. the only problem is that busses are very time consuming. you might end up with a tiresum whole day trip (depending where you are going). there are taxis, there are busses leading to almost all major attractions, there is a underground bussway from north hollywood to hollywood, and there is the metro. so yes its more than possible to find your way around.

It_s possible. But so is crawling from New York to LA. And personally, I_d rather crawl from NY than have to live in LA without a car. You can get around, but the busses are painfully slow.

Best public transit is achieved by living near a Metrolink station or Metro Red Line. Check out metro.net or www.metrolinktrains.com. LA is so spread out, public transit is very inefficieint. I hope I live long enough to see the _Subway to the Sea_.

You can but only if you live very close to work and restrict your life to a very small portion of greater LA. While LA is very large, if you live close to work, generally you can find everything you need within a 30 minute bus ride away. But then if you do that, its not a lot different than living in a much smaller community where housing would be a lot cheaper.

Yes! I_ve been taking public transit in Long Beach for more than 30 years. Long Beach not only has a good bus system of it_s own but light rail to downtown L.A. Also, metro buses, torrance, and Orange County buses come into Long Beach.

Plus, Long Beach is a pretty good place to live with a variety of neighborhoods, both upscale and modestly priced, to choose from.

You should move to a real city with functional mass transit. LA is a big suburb and the mass transit is weak.

it_s entirely possible.

of course! i live in the l.a. area.

What is the best place to live in New Hampshire?|147921

My girlfriend and I are looking for the best area to live in New Hampshire. We��re limiting it to New Hampshire because we want to live free or die! Though we��d prefer to live free. Any suggestions based on criteria such as public safety, cost of living, job opportunities, housing, outdoor activities, traffic or anything else would be welcome. Thanks to all!

West Leb.

i recomend somewhere that is close to boston. that way there are plenty of job opportunities and things to do. although it can get expensive. one good place is near Keene. Keene is very nice and it is just under 2 hours to boston.

The best place to live in New Hampshire is Massachusetts.

What are some good family vacation ideas besides the beach?|119353

I want somewhere with entertainment, malls, and pools.

maybe tropical

but good for the family!

Disney world-land , Six flags, the mountains or camping near a river or lake near a town--Dollyland

There not malls but try our National Parks.

What is the best towns or cities in the greater New Orleans to move in?|199954

My family is moving to New Orleans next winter. I want to find the best town/city to move in, the location has to be in the suburbs, with good schools for my kids, very family oriented town/city, I don_t mind the commute time, good house with a good price, low crime rate and it has to be within the New Orleans metro area. Which is the best city/town to move in.

Welcome!

Don_t completely ignore the City in your search for suburbia. Most of Algiers (which didn_t flood) has typical a USA suburban environment (housing _ schools) with no more and maybe fewer problems than you find in the actual suburbs.

Other desirable neighborhoods in New Orleans are in the French Quarter area, Warehouse District, most of _Uptown_, the Broadmoor area, around Bayou Saint John _ City Park, Lakeview, and the Lakefront. Lakeview flooded badly and is recovering, but it will be a while before that is complete. The other areas in the list either didn_t flood or have recovered.

New Orleans is geographically quite large and commuting times from the suburbs to the city center can be an issue, even though you say you don_t mind. I recommend you try to live reasonably close to work/school - and you tend to get what you pay for.

Note that the news media deliberately sensationalizes incidents of violent crime and does so in a way that makes the average citizen afraid. Reality is that almost 98% of shootings _ murders occur within the illegal drug community and the other 2% are _domestic_ incidents. That doesn_t make the crimes OK, but the average resident (or tourist) doesn_t have to worry about it. New Orleans is not even in the ��top 25 most dangerous cities��:


http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/30/real_est��

Metairie is very safe, clean, and close to the city. There are several great schools, malls, and parks. It is literally right next to New Orleans. The difference in safety levels between the city and Metairie is amazing (and well a bit depressing). Kenner is also good, but less family oriented. If you are looking even further out, you can get a really nice house for cheap in LaPlace (it is about a 40 minute drive from NOLA though).

Be sure to grab a snowball at Sal_s on Metairie Road, no matter where you eventually move to.

you can look this up on a website or speak to a realtor. there are hundreds of good areas to live in in New Orleans. but if you are not familiar with this city, or you have never been there, beware... it_s a little different and strange.

Well, I would say St. Tammany Parish, but it seems everybody has moved here since Katrina. But we do have excellent schools, low crime rate. It takes about 45 minutes to get to New Orleans. Metairie and Kenner are okay too.

Belle Chasse has good schools and that family oriented low crime environment you are looking for.

St.Tammany...

Lower 9th ward- I_ve heard great things...

Does anyone know of any good apartments for rent in Gainesville, FL and which ones have the least crime?|133959

I am trying to make up my mind of where to live in Florida. I have 3 options that I_ve come up with. Either Tallahassee, Destin, or Gainesville!! Anyone have any information on either or any suggestions. I_ve heard of one apartment complex in Gainesville called Tuscan Bend. They looked pretty nice by the pictures they showed online.

Google it. They should have all that info.

What is the best way to sell an orlando timeshare?|133561

This timeshare is located near walt disney world and goes by a point system (no specific weeks used)

It doesn_t hurt to try craigslist but it is not an effective selling tool for timeshares (doesn_t hurt to try though).

The most effective way to sell is research and working with a good company.

I made a successful sale of my Mystic Dunes timeshare (Orlando) using sellmytimesharenow.com

Here is the research I did before choosing a company

1. I checked the BBB report on the company
2. I made them provide traffic and offer reports
3. I acted like a buyer on search engines and only inquired with easy to find, top ranked companies
4. I searched online for complaints about the company.

All this took me a couple hours (the final decision took days!)
I also posted on free sites at the same time and recommend you do the same as well.

I wish you the best in your venture!

.:Gene:.

You can visit http://www.mytoursguide.com and find a good number of articles and very useful tips to learn timeshare options worldwide. One can even get a free timeshare as a promotional offers from travel companies.

We are in the same boat. Try redweek.com. Lots of good information on how to sell _ where. We are to the point where we want to give ours away!

If you don_t have a lot of money for advertising and you don_t want to pay a percentage to a realtor. You might want to try craigslist.com it is free.

Timeshares were an _80s phenomenon_ and can hardly be given away today. Most buyers finally realized that the hidden monthly costs are much more expensive that just renting a condo. Good luck. Try doing a Google search on _Condo Buyers._

Where are there nice condos in Myrtle Beach that are similar to the ones at Hilton Head?|113323

We usually stay in Palmetto Dunes when we go to Hilton Head. I haven_t been to Myrtle Beach in years and there is so much to pick from. Any suggestions?

Yes, i have an amazing condo i would like to show you. I review all upscale hotels/condominiums in MB, so i know my way around and this one is absolutely amazing! Here is the website because itwould take to long to write it all down. Hope that i can help!


http://www.seawatchplantationresort.com/

What do I do in miami to celebrate my 21st birthday?|110060

I was wondering of any nightlife in miami that is affordable and easy to get into. A place that there is not a line that is very long. Any suggestions.

You could:
a) go to South Beach and go clubbing. Nikki Beach, Mansion, Opium stuff like that
b) you could go to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel _Casino in Hollywood, FL. There are good clubs there. Spirits, Passions.etc

go on myspace and find club promoters. Most of the time all you gotta do is give them ur name and you are on the VIP list


EnJ0y ur 21st!

this is tim i cant tell wat to do in miami but if u were here in las vegas i sure could help u with ur 21st bday buy the way happy bday be safe and god bless

Get a tattoo for yourself...lol

How much money would you suggest I save up for a one week honeymoon in Disneyworld?|135938

I_ve got plenty of time I think, I_d just like to know how I could get a good deal and still feel like royalty that week! :-) Any suggestions?? Thanks!

It depends what you are wanting, when you are going ,etc. I suggest trying to plan a year in advance, or as soon as the dates become available for sale. This way you have the most choice. Find a good travel agent ( I use
http://mousetrips.com/WaltDisneyWorld.ht��
and they are absolutely wonderful with planning very magical trips) to help you, same price but tons of benefits. That way, as soon as a promotion comes out, they will have it changed over for you so that you can save some money.

Since you are saying that you want to be treated like royalty, I would definitely suggest a deluxe resorts. You will have a lot of choices. Yacht and Beach is one of my favorites as well as Polynesian and Grand Floridian is very luxurious. These are going to be costly, I would also suggest the dining plan, or even the premium or platinum plan if you are really wanting to go all out. And then I would suggest length of stay tickets, and/or the premium upgrades. Assuming you are planning to go for a week, with all of the stuff I mentioned in a deluxe hotel with concierge service, I would say about $5,000 would be a good amount to save up. Now, this isn_t including air, spending money once you arrive (if you have the dining plan you won_t need nearly as much) and then transfers or a rental car.

Now, you really could spend a lot less, but this is going with what you described and really having a royalty stay. You could probably get something nice for around $2,000.

I hope that this gives you a little better idea. If you have any other question, feel free to e-mail and I will try to help you out.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Two grand, at least.

Probably in the vicinity of $1,500.. the biggest expense will be getting intno Disney World.. what a rip off

about $5000 if you want to do it well.

For a decnt one at least $3,000
resort, plane tickets, and park tickets are roughly $2,000 or more but then theres the food and other necessities.

A lot.

Here are some ballpark figures for your trip (other than the expense of getting there since I don_t know where you are coming from).

Tickets into the park will cost you roughly $210 each for the week. Buy them at disneyworld.com or from a Disney Store. There are no places that will give you more than a few bucks off a ticket. Don_t fall for any site that is offering really cheap tickets. It is either a scam or a way to lure you into going to see a timeshare presentation or something like that.

The hotels onsite will run you somewhere between $100 and $300 a night depending on which resort you stay at. The $100 rooms are very basic but still offer you a Disney experience. The higher end resorts are great. Very nice with all of the ammenities you could want. You will be treated like royalty. There are also some perks that only onsite guests receive (eg. getting into a park an hour early). But, if you want luxury without paying that much, there are literally hundreds of hotels within a few mintures of DW in all different price ranges. I always use tripadvisor.com whenever I look for hotels anywhere. They will give you good prices and unbiased reviews of the hotels.

If you stay onsite, those are the only costs you will HAVE to pay other than food. Everything else is provided for you. But, you cannot possibly go to DW without spending money on stuff you want. Food there can run you anywhere from $6 a meal to $50+ depending on where you eat. You must eat at least one time at a nice restaurant. They have some really cool ones in EPCOT and all of the luxury resorts have one. And, if you like souveniers (who doesn_t?), you can spend $10 or $1000 on them. (Hint: Bring an extra suitcase to take them all home!) If you stay offsite, you will need a rental car (don_t rely on the hotel transportation) and $8 for parking per day. But, you can save a few $ by eating in your room.

So, overall, the cost can be as little as $1000 or you could spend well over $3000. And, you need to add in the cost of getting there. If you like, you an e-mail me if you have any specific questions. Motts1962@yahoo.com

Oh, one last thing - you don_t have as much time as you think. Do NOT wait to start planning. Start now!

I would say if you want to have a really good time five to ten thousand dollars would be a good amount so you can enjoy all of the luxuries that they have their. Why don_t you also try their website so you can price things and maybe start looking at discounts when you book things in advance you may have a chance at getting better discounts. You can also request that they send you some information and they will sometimes include brochures that will have discount packages.

Have you checked with any of the airlines flying to Orange County_s Anaheim Airport (John Wayne International)? Sometimes those airlines have packages that not only cover your motel stays (There are several inexpensive motels within walking distance of Disneyland), but also trips to Disneyland and other theme park areas.

You should also call the Anaheim Convention Center to find out what conventions it is hosting during the time you are going to be in that city. Then, when you have the information, call the association involved with any particular convention and find out which airlines are giving special deals for travel to Anaheim. I did that a few years ago and, by indicating to the airline that I was going to a convention of the California Dental Association, I not only got a lower fare, but also whatever additional packages came with it. My wife and I had a great time in Southern California.

You are going to have a GREAT time in Disney!

First off you are going to have to buy you twp matching Mickey hats, Bride and Groom of course! The Bride hat has a veil and is super cute. Cost is probably $50 total but when you wear these to the parks then cast members tend to pay extra special attention to you.

So you are up to $50.00!

For the rest you can easily look up the ticket prices so add that to the total and then for spending money....

If you are planning on a nice upscale dining experience to celebrate at least plan 100-150 per each upscale meal. Usually one is enough.

There are several mid end places to eat and if you don_t go to extravagant then you can plan on spending maybe $100 a day on food.

You need to shop, especially in Epcot. That is what half of Epcot is all about and there are such unique items to find there. I would budget at least $300 for Epcot shopping alone, and of course if you can afford it bring more.
I don_t want you to feel left out from that super shopping experience.

So many romantic things in Disney are free, like walking the boardwalk in the evening to the ferries that take you around.

Don_t forget to take at least a day to rest by the pool and enjoy your new marriage. Try this sometime in the middle of your vacation. Your footsies and energy level will need this. This will also help out your budget. A day to relax and enjoy each other will be fabulous.

All in all without including tickets or hotel $1500 to $2000 will get you a fab vacation at Disney.

Can anyone recommend family accommodation in New England with plenty on offer in surrounding area?|132885

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.

What are the best cruise lines for a group of family from ages 11 to 62?|123335

We are looking for a line with lots of things to do, but also quiet places on the boat and excellent service.

I definitly go with Disney. It is a moderate priced cruise, with a deluxe feel. The staff will cater to your every need. The shows are great, the food is delicious, activities are a lot of fun, rooms are a little bigger than other lines and cleaner and the staff is unlike any other. Disney will spoil you once you have been on board.

The reason I say Disney is because of the age range. The kids will have a blast with all the activities and the older members will have a great time relaxing and enjoying the shows. It really is great for everyone and it still makes adults feel like a kid again. It is one of my favorite cruise lines and I have been on a lot of cruise. Disney also has a great family reunion package you can add on.

Here is a link where you can get more info on the cruise:
http://mousetrips.com/DCL.html


As far as best cruise, it really depends on what you are looking for. One of my favorite lines is Disney. Reasoning: The cruise ship is always spotless and they do a wonderful job of keeping it clean. The rooms are slightly larger than other lines, and trust me , on a cruise it makes a big difference. The shows are wonderful. If you have kids they will absolutely love the boat, it is probably the best line for families. The food has always been good. Finally, the staff. I have never experience service while travelling like I have on Disney, they go out of their way to make you comfortable and it is great. I think that Disney is a great option even if you aren_t taking kids, it is just an all around great line. I feel, as do many others, that once you get off of a Disney cruise you will be spoiled. The price is very modest and affordable, but you feel more like you are on a luxury line. It is hard to top Disney. They have the benefit of lots of fun, onboard activity, but also the quiet spots for adults only. And the service, is some of the best you will find.

Other lines:

Carnival. Their prices are usually the lowest, but the quality of the cruise is a lot lower than other lines. In my experience the food hasn_t been very good, the ship needed cleaned up and renovated really bad and the service didn_t compare to other lines. If you read reviews of Carnival ships, you will see a lot of people have had the same experience. They advertise as being the fun ship. This is true if you are in to partying, gambling, drinking, etc. But I really don_t like this type of thing, so the atmosphere wasn_t very appealing to me. Plus, the age range on board is pretty young. You will find lots of young families and also college aged kids. So if you are wanting to stay away from kids this may not be a good line. This also tend to be a line for families, but I really am not sure that this is the most appropriate line to take kids.

Royal Caribbean is a pretty good line. It kind of runs in the middle as far as price goes. They have lots of on-board activities and it is a lot of fun. I think this is a better option to take kids on than Carnival, but that is just my opinion. The average age tends to be a little bit older, but still a lot of fun and less partying. I think it is a great line. If you have kids it might be a better option than Disney, simply because they offer more choices for destinations. But if I had to choose between Disney and Royal Caribbean and destination really wasn_t an option, I think I would go Disney hands down.

If you are wanting a little more sophisticated feel and a more luxurious line, than I would look into lines like Princess, Oceania, Crystal, Celebrity, etc. These are all really great lines. They cost more than some other lines, but the service and food and overall cruise is well worth it. But again, this is a little more sophisticated group of cruises. So the average age is going to be older.

It really just depends what your budget is, that will really change what line will be best for you.

Disney. They have the best program for kids of any ship I have been on and they have activities for all ages. Lots of grandparents take the grandchildren on a Disney cruise.

try disney

Disney Cruise Lines is a nice family-oriented cruise line...Carnival Cruises are among the top, Princess Cruises are really nice...truth...board the _fun ships_ of Carnival..their fleet of fine vessels would suit your needs quite well

First, all of the major cruise lines have activities for kids and most new ships have a seperate area for kids activities. These are staffed so kids don_t just go there and play on their own. You didn_t say how many kids are in your group so cannot advise more than to say that if you have a bunch of kids, the Disney cruise lines is the best. That line will have all the kids activities and all the Disney characters on ship to entertain them. I have never been on a Disney crusie, but I saw on the travel channel that their ships have areas that are reserved for adults only.

The other cruise line you may want to consider if you have young folks, like ages 20 to 35, in your group is Carnival. Carnival has the party ships that most young folks go on.

The cruise lines you want to consider if most of your group is over 35 or 40 are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines. These are all mid priced and generally have an older, more mature crowd and people who have cruised multiple times. These lines WILL have kids areas and staffs also, just not as much as Disney.

All of the big cruise ships are so large and have so many specialty areas, like casino, library, internet cafe, piano bar, movie theater, smoking room, board game room, etc., that its very easy, even with 2,000 people on ship, to find a spot to relax in quiet and read. Ships will have so many decks and spot to sit that you can find a sunny spot or a spot in shade.

If you really want privacy for yourself, consider a balcony stateroom. I love balcony rooms and never cruise anymore unless its a balcony room. You can always have all of the outdoor privacy you want.

If you have abunch of kids or young folks you can probably get a balcony room for yourself and an inside room across the hallway for the youngsters.

The service on ships is generally alwasy great. Occasionally there may be an isolated problem, but lines will make things better if you do have a problem.

The food is great on the lines I have been on, NCL, Royal Carribbean, Celebrity and Princess. I understand its a bit better than the Carnival and Disney food.

Go to this web site and read about cruises:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/

Carnival is family friendly and of course disney

Princess Cruises

What is the maximum clearance of the quot;Needles Eyequot; in the Black Hills of SD?|149119

We are planning a family trip to South Dakota later this year and I need to make sure we will be able to enjoy the same things I did when traveling there as a child. What are the heigth and width restrictions when traveling on the roads around Mt. Rushmore that have all the tunnels?

Several years ago we drove most of the roads in that area with a Chevy full size van, and had no problems with clearances. If you are driving a very large motor home, or pulling a big camping trailer, you may have a problem. Try the web site for the National Park Service, and click on that area. It might give you the info you are looking for. Have fun, it_s a beautiful area. Also, Devils Tower Wyoming is close.

Is there a comprehensive site listing all of California public beaches?|120073

There are a lot of them. I_d love to have a web site that lists each one, maybe has pictures, and discusses amenities and features.

Resources about California beaches. Links to the hundreds of public California beaches, including private California beaches and nude ones. You_ll also find reports about the water quality at California beaches and photos of California beaches, as well as the best guidebooks to California beaches.

Here are a couple of more sites for you.
If you go to the beach often, I would recommend that you get an annual state parks pass.
It makes dropping by the beach on your lunch hour or to watch a sunset that much easier.

http://www.goingtocalifornia.com/pages/s��


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ca��

How much money does it cost to live in a 1bedroomapartment in boston?|186068

1 bathroom also, and no balkonies,fireplaces,ect.

With access to the T, you do not need to focus on an apt. in Boston. There are hundreds of other living possibilities in the outlying areas, like Newton, Arlington, Concord, Medford, Somerville, East Cambridge, etc. That said, there are distinct advantages to living in the heart of Boston. Specifically, you don_t need a car because everything is within walking distance, or, the T is close by. So what you spend on an apt. is made up for what you save in transportation. However, there are also many beautiful things to see in the above cities mentioned. Have you ever considered living in a co-op? I lived in Newton for a couple years while in school and basically, lived in a mansion with my meals cooked every night. I had to cook 2Xs a month for my end of the deal (plus rent obviously). Good luck~

It completely depends on what part of town.

$1250

about 400 to 600$ a month

alot like 1400 or more

if you don_t mind the commute.. (taking the T).. you can live just outside the city..

before i got my condo.. i rented in Quincy for about $1100 2bedrooms, parking, etc..

Last year, it was $1700.

maby 1800.00

About 1.000

Depend on the quality of the place. =)

What is the best month to visit Alaska and see wildlife particularly bears.?|133150

I know when the salmon run, the bears are plentiful. I_ve been there in August and it was very good. What about early September?

We went September 8 - 15 , it was awesome!!

Bears, moose, and salmon galore!!!

when they are not hibernating i would guess

As a former resident, the best bear watching is in April.......just don_t mess with them

Yesterday. Ur welcome.

What are the best months to vist the National parks out in the western USA? And why?|145271

We would like to see Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Painted Dessert, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce, Grand Teton.
How much time will we need?

Spring (April, May or early June) or Fall (September, October). Summer is entirely too hot and Winter is rainy and cold.

And you_re going to need a lot of time. 4-6 weeks for a thorough visit to each one.

umm around early spring because its not too hot and well the wildlife is more active after the harsh winter

Which city in Arizona is better for a college student and more?|198559

Tucson or Glendale?

Which city is better? Which is more livable as in inexpensive? Which city has more to do outdoors?

So which one is nicer overall? What do you like more?

Well, I_m not exactly sure which college you would be going to in Glendale, but I would say Tucson, and this is coming from an ASU student. I would say Tucson is more college-based with U of A than Glendale. You will probably have more to do outdoors in Tucson as well. I_m not sure on pricing, however.

All in all, I think living on campus or very near campus offers you the most excitement. Commuting can get old fast, especially if you have breaks in between classes.

What else is there to do in Anaheim besides Disneyland?|182220

Im planning a trip to Disneyland and was wondering what else is there to do in the Anaheim area? Anything I must do when Im there?

_Jeannine_ _ _Kingsley_ actually listed things that are in the ANAHEIM area. May I add to their lists :

Fullerton Civic Light Opera
La Mirada Center for Performing Arts
_The City_ mall ( largest shopping mall in O.C.)
Fullerton Botanical Gardens (across from Cal State Fullerton)
Catalina Island Cruise (from Newport Harbor)

I recommend that you budget at least one day for Huntington Beach. Beautiful beach _ pier with lots of local shops to explore. Orange County is relatively clean _ safe, but you may want to avoid Santa Ana, a designated sanctuary city for illegal aliens. Enjoy your time in O.C.

You could see a concert at House of Blues in Downtown Disney and go see the Angels play.



Go Ducks!

Anaheim is really close to the beach - you should spend the day at Huntington Beach or Newport Beach. It_s a short drive and many of the bus routes through Anaheim go to the beach. There_s everyhing in the O.C., shopping, museums, parks, concert venues, sporting events.

you can visit ESPN ZONE in downtown Anaheim, Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park which is amusement park not far from Anaheim...check out Ripley_s Believe it or not museum located on Beach Blvd in Buena Park; the BLOCK which is huge shopping mall right off 22fwy...and on sunday check out Crystal Cathedral located on Lewis. Have a great time!

Lets see....Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Angels Baseball, Movie Land Wax Museum, Pirate Adventure, Medevel Times, all within a few miles of Anaheim.

Here_s my top ten list of things to do in the LA/Anaheim area:

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can��t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once). But you knew that already.

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Check out eBay. You can find some discounted tickets there. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.

Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann_s Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I have also added the Hollywood _ Highland complex to my top ten list�� it has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.

Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.

Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.
Here you_ll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.
Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it_s a short bike ride from:

Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and _Three_s Company_ come immediately to mind).
After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica_s shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world_s most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars_ posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the _Sunset Strip_ on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone_s for Fish.

Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she_s been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.

Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.
Farmer_s Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping _The Price is Right_. You might even get in.

Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.

Getty Museum - The Getty_s architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you_ll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It_s very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.

In Buena Park, Knott_s Berry Farm and Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament.
Places to eat:
In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.
Pink��s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. Might see a celebrity.
Tommy��s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. Original location at Beverly _ Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.
Canter��s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly _ Melrose. Near CBS, might spot a celebrity.
Phillippe��s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station, Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it��s hot.

How do you call a mobile phone in Ireland from a Landline in the USA?|180129

I looked it up and found it was 011353-then drop the _0_ from the mobile number and follow with the rest of the mobile number.

That doesnt seem to be working though, anyone have any suggestions?

You are in the US where? Why not borrow a cell and call cell to cell?

Cell phones in Ireland start with 8 followed by 8 more digits. Make sure you do not add any area codes (no area codes are used for cell phone numbers in this country). Your call should look like this: 011 353 8x xxx xxxx. If it doesn_t work there is a problem on your end - your line could be blocked for international calls.

pretty sure its 00353 then drop the 0 but you_d be better off with skype or sumthin. cuz a call like that would be like a fiver a minute.

try 00353 that_s what i usually use if that doesn_t try 003538

What are the advantages of living in Chicago compared to living in a big city in California?|129699

If you have a family and are middle class?

Chicago has culture, it_s cheaper, nicer, cleaner, and you get all four seasons here although winter always drags! Plus you don_t have to worry about 4 hour traffic jams...Chicago gets traffic but not as bad as California_s. Also you don_t have to worry about fires, mudslides, earthquakes...things like that.

You cannot buy a decent house in California unless you_re a millionaire. Right outside Chicago I think you could buy a reasonably priced house. Chicago is cold in the winter, California is wonderful all year round. In California the price of living is high, but you make more money there too. Traffic might be a tad better in Chicago. lol maybe not.

I hope I helped. :)

I used to live in a tiny suburb outside of LA, and even there, houses were really expensive. Prices have probably increased since I moved 4 years ago, but my family sold our small 1 story 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house for about 1 million dollars...then we moved to the Denver, CO area and currently live in a huge 3 story house that only cost 400,000.

Chicago is cheaper and, in my opinion, nicer. Southern California is a horrible mess.
Even the food is better here.

Housing would probably cost more in California and you would probably NEED a car, where in Chicago you can get by without one.

You get lots of exercise shoveling snow in Chicago not much of that in California.

In terms of house prices about $100 a square foot difference !

Both places are quite expensive to live in, have major gang problems and are flooded with illegals...... Seems pretty equal to me.

What is the largest or main public library in Sufflok County Long island New york?|170098

I_m looking for the library that would have a research section and microfilm of the local newspapers in archives for Long Island/Suffolk County.

hehre is the list:

http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/localList��

but i don_t know, which one be the best for you

You are probably better off with a university library--Stony Brook_s a good suggestion. I don_t know their policy about allowing non-students to use their collection. Here is a link for Suffolk County libraries.

http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/suffolklibs��

If you were not looking for local newspapers, I_d suggest asking a librarian about online subscription databases. Many libraries would have the New York Times historical database along with others, but local papers are another thing.
I_m a librarian, but I_m not in a public library. Definitely ask a public librarian about this. He/she will know how to help you get what you need if they don_t have it in their library. There are probably historical societies that might have this material as well, and, again, a reference librarian will know about that.

Erm...I would check the library at SUNY Stony Brook. They have several libraries with lots of microfilm.

Can you ride the rides at Disney World while having a cast becuase of a broken arm?|129218

We are going to Disney World in 5 weeks, my 15 year old just broke his arm, and will have a cast on up to just below his elbow. Is this going to restrict him from going on any rides?

Nah, he can still go on the rides. Just tell him to hang on tight on the speedy rides.

I can_t think of any reason he shouldn_t be able to go on if it_s just from his hand to his elbow. Even the thrill rides shouldn_t be a problem. The only thing they worry about is pregnancy, heart conditions, things like that.

Have fun!

Maybe some rollercoaster wont let him on it because he could injured even badly. I_m really sorry, but he still wacth shows and parades. There is more than roller coasters in disney world.

He could technically ride anything with a cast on, but I would suggest not going on some of the big roller coasters. Other than that, he should be fine. Have fun!!!

He will be able to go on all the rides. My brother broke his arm right before my family went to Disney world a few years back and he was able to go on all the rides.

He should be able to go on all the rides..a couple of years ago I hurt my arm pretty bad. I was able to do everything!

Not at all. Have fun!

Can you help me plan a vacation in the USA?|115339

Well,I live in Italy and am planning to visit the USA.Probably it will be in the late spring or early fall when the daytime is still long.I want to visit Los Angeles,San Francisco and New York.Obviously there are many more places I_d like to go to but I don_t want it to be too stressful.I think it will last almost 3 weeks and I_m gonna stay in cheap hotels,I just need a room on my own,I don_t need anything luxurious. . .To eat I guess i will go to some fast food,restaurants,cafes etc so I won_t spend a fortune.I_m also planning on not booking hotels from Italy but to do it once there.
Please,could you tell me approximately how much in dollars it might cost me?And do you think it_s a good idea to find a place where to sleep directly on the spot?Any recommendation would be highly appreciated,in particular if you come up with something I haven_t considered.
Thanks a lot and greetings from Italy.

Have you concidered a trip down Original Route 66? I don_t know if you_ve been to the USA before, but this is a GREAT way to see the country and learn (in a fun way), a little about our country_s history.

Route 66 dosen_t _offically_ exsist anymore and you won_t find it on any modern day map. You would have to serch the web for more info on it, (or just let me know and I_d be more than happy to give you more info on it and I_d be happy to give you a _step-by-step_ on everything to see and where to go, eat _ sleep). But also never worry... The U.S. Government has posted _Historic Route 66_ signs along the entire Route that point you in the right direction telling you where and when to turn and go.

So, if you have 3 or 4 weeks. I would HIGHLY recommend it. Rent a car in New York, (most places have a _One Way Trip_ deal), drive to California and then fly out of LA to go back home.

You_d get to see the 3 _Big Cities_ New York, Chicago _ LA. plus a TON of great small towns along the way. A LOT of cheap eats and cheap places to sleep. Reservations are really not required when on Route 66 as there is very little traffic, (great when you just want to stop the car on the side of the road to take a picture of something you like). To me, THIS is the way to travel and truly see the _real_ America.

You could drive Interstate 80 (I-80) from New York to Chicago. 790 miles or (1,159 km). This will let you see the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.

Then you get on Original Route 66 in Chicago, Illinois. You_ll then see the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California before ending at Los Angeles. 2,448 miles or (3,939 km).

You_d be looking at a grand total of 3,238 miles or (5,098 km) of driving, plus you_d be able to drive from coast to coast seeing 12 of our 50 states! You could EASILY do that in 3 weeks with PLENTY OF TIME to see all the sites, towns and cities. (Including MUST SEE things like The Grand Canyon).

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit to the USA. Take A LOT of pictures and above everything else... HAVE FUN!

You can stay in YMCA that offer overnight boarding for less money than any hotels. They have a common bathroom and kitchen.
BUT, beware that they are often frequented by men that like men. ESPECIALLY in San Fransisco. If that doesn_t bother you, ok. If not, then look at small hotels _ motels with private rooms. Rooms start at around $45 per night.

No you can_t sleep wherever you drop. There are campgrounds just about everywhere where you can sleep in a tent.
You can eat for around $20 per day on the cheap.

I have lived here my entire life and if I were to pick three cities to visit, those three wouldn_t be on my list! There are many other great places to see!

East coast Boston,MA, Charleston,South Carolina;Mid west, Chicago: West- Seattle, Washington,San Francisco,CA,San Diego,CA
Since you are here try to see some of our spectacular national parks at the top of the list The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, as for cheap sleeps search on the net for hostels they do exist here in the US. for eating. Try to stay out of the fast food places. you will be better off asking a local for a suggestion. You will eat better and cheaper. Hint If there is a line out the door probability a good place to eat.Good luck, Have fun, be safe.

it may costs around 8000 $, if you really are not going to waste and waste money

Three weeks for three cities is PERFECT. It_s better to see a LOT of less than a LITTLE of a lot!

What is the optimum time to see New England in the autumn/fall?|117659

I love autumnal colours, but I know you have to get your timing right to get the most colourful foliage. When would be the best time for this, and really good weather (sunny, warm, blue skies etc). I am thinking of going for about 2 weeks between mid-September and mid-October.

Which are some really good places to go to visit in this area. I quite like larger towns and cities, and have an inkling for Boston.

The farther north you go, the sooner the colors change. For central Mass, somewhere around the last week of Sept to first week of Oct is peak season. Farther north, it happens earlier. In Northern Vermont or Maine, you might be good the 2nd-3rd week of Sept.

There are not a whole lot of colors in Boston since not that many trees -- you are better off heading west from there and visiting Concord, Harvard, and other small towns.

Nice thing about Vermont and NH is that you can just kind of drive and browse and see what there is to see.

A lot of people do this around Columbus Day weekend (usually around October 10th or so). That_s about right for Vermont and New Hampshire, but probably a little too soon for further south.
I_d really recommend Vermont. There are lovely bed-and-breakfasts you can stay at, and a drive along Route 7 is beautiful, with lots of little shops and such.
It_s probably better to avoid going on Columbus Day weekend--things get really busy with the _leaf peepers_ up there at that time. A week before or after would probably work just fine.

definitely beginnng of october

Is Elizabeth New Jersey a nice place to live with kids?|118120

I am moving from Houston, Texas and won_t really get the chance to check it out in person. The rents look cheap, and overall the town looks nice. Plus, there is public pre-k and the schools look consistently good. Am I on target here? Is the whole town nice, or are there some parts that wouldn_t be so good for kids? I need to commute to NYC for work...Thanks!

I wouldn_t recommend Elizabeth, especially for someone bringing kids here.
To sum it up _you get what you pay for_.
Its one thing if you are a struggling young person and don_t mind a grungy higher-crime area until you can get on your feet and move out, but if you have kids - DON_T DO IT!

Elizabeth NJ is not the best place in North Jersey to move to. Yes there are some parts that are not all that good, but its not all bad. I mean its like that everywhere.

Are you out of your mind? Rents are cheap for a reason. Move to Long Island for good schools and neighborhoods.

What is the best beach in Southern California?|102339

I just moved to the San Diego area. So far I_ve been to Ocean Beach and Del Mar. I looove Del Mar! Any other good ones?

There are so many great beaches in San Diego...depending on what you want to do. Some are known for their great surfing. Others are perfect for families, beach volleyball, people-watching and so on. There_s even a non-sanctioned nude beach.

La Jolla is my favorite for watching the sunset. The light bounces off the cliffs and its spectacular.

Torrey Pines has hiking trails down to the beach that make for great coastal hiking.

Coronado has a nice clean beach and you can rent bikes or surreys and bike along the coast.

Pacific Beach has beach volleyball, lots of people in their 20s, with many bars and restaurants nearby.

You can get directions to these (and other) San Diego beaches and see pictures of them at this website:
http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/romant��

Pebble Beach

Coronado
La Jolla Shores
Torrey Pines

coronado in front of the hotel dell

South of the pier in Oceanside.

T-street, San Clemente State beach are my favs!! about an hour north of San Diego and these are our fav beaches for the most part around here!

How to find a great deal on SeaWorld San Diego? Are there any coupons out there right now?|113436

We are just 2 adults and a toddler. I was wondering if maybe they had any of those coupons at Ralph_s Supermarket like they used to. Or maybe somewhere online...? We wanted to go today but I can_t pay full price!

hey well we just got the a passport. It get_s taken out of our account every month for a year and we get free parking, discounts on food and stuff we buy, and reserved seats on shows!! We just paid 43 bucks that day!

You can use the code SWCMCDONALDSSD09 to get Single Day Admission tickets for $49.95 for adults 10+ years and $39.95 kids 3-9 years (regular price is $65 and $55!). You have to buy the tickets from the official Sea World San Diego website at

http://www.seaworld.com/sandiego


or go right to their purchasing page:

http://commerce.4adventure.com/eStore/


It will only work on the single day tickets, not on any deluxe admission packages or two days for the price of one tickets.

If you are staying in the area or think you_ll be back before the end of the year, you may opt to pay the regular one day price of $65 and then take advantage of the upgrade they offer for their _Fun Card_ - it gives you free admission for the rest of 2009. This might be a better idea for you, that way you can leave the park if your toddler gets fussy and do something else, then go back another day.

Here are discount coupons for $6 off admission to Seaworld.

http://www.socalthemeparks.com/special-d��

ThemeParkCodes.

What is the differance between valley and desert?|117904

I just moved to the desert. You see the awesome mountains and desert land here. Then you have valleys. But, why are some places valley? I have to drive to valley sometimes and dont see the differances other then close to mountain. Are they differant or lower?Any help understanding appreciated. Thanks..

Valley is a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river.

Desert is a landscape form or region that receives very little precipitation. And is characterized by having lots of sand and little vegitation.

A valley can be part of a desert sometimes.

Where is a good location for a recent college graduate to live in Austin, TX?|165950

I_m not from Texas and I really want to move to Austin. What locations would be ideal for a recent college graduate? Any information, including general apartment costs, would be great. Thanks.

Down town close to the state capitol is the area that is called _Austin_s Entertainment District_ It is in general a few blocks east or west of Congress Avenue. To live down town is only for the rich. Rent will lower in price the further you get from down town and the further you get from the massive University of Texas Campus which is just north of down town. A general rule of thumb, the higher the crime rate the lower the rent. I have been told that crime is worse in other places. Perhaps. I have lived in a place where I had a bag of trash stolen out of my truck bed and the passenger window was broken to steal a laundry bag. I have had black guys drive along side of me at my walking speed, demanding that I get into their car. It is much more humane on the west side where I now live because I do want to live. Austin is rich in entertainment, history and art museums, a large diverse live music scene, thousands of acres in the city park system, as well as lakes and state parks within short driving distances. In most neighborhoods, people will greet you in a very friendly matter on sight. That despite the fact there is probably over a million people living in the Austin metropolitan area. The rent for a one bedroom apartment will range from under $400 to over $2,000.

Apartment expenses vary so widely in the metropolitan area that any kind of estimate would be worthless. Things to consider - Are you employed? Where? How much? These are going to all figure in. And despite rumors to the contrary the bus system works pretty well.

Close to your work so you do not have to waste up to eighty minutes a day in a car to and from work.
Use the extra time to work out and or spend with your friends and family.
The traffic is terrible when the public schools and UT are in session.
The public transit is intentionally made not to work.
Other than that there are plenty of great things to do here in your spare time.

Where can i find affordable new york tour packages?|123049

my family is planning to visit new york for the weekend. (3 days 2 nights). do you guys know any affordable hotel/flight/tour package that will also let us able to see the sights without spending too much? we also need a hotel that picks us up and from the airport? ill really appreciate the help.

not sure about hotel, but there are tours here
http://www.citysightsny.com/


and shuttle service here
http://www.goairlinkshuttle.com/

New York Area Hotels with Shuttles

http://411newyork.org/guide/2008/01/27/n��


How big is your family? I ask as hotels limit to the number of people per room. Marriot can do 5 or 6 per room and I will try to find hotel link I had.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/n��
(parts w/ FLASH)

Unfortunately, that location does not have shuttle service but you could reserve a Shuttle from Go AirLink.

http://goairlinkshuttle.com


If you need something larger for 6 or more, you will need to book an apartment.

http://www.vrbo.com
/
http://www.homeaway.com


Steve

http://411newyork.org

http://www.be-an-online-travel-agent.com/best-flights.html

What are the blackout dates for Annual and Seasons passes for Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl?|120958

We want to go to Universal this Saturday, but we have an annual pass and my friend who is going with us has a seasons pass. Is it a blackout date because of the Grinchmas thing? Or is it okay to go?

Do you have a Power, Preferred, or Premier pass, because the Power has black out dates including next Sat. the 26th. Here is the link:
http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/��
You can see the different passes and details about each one there.

What is the location of your favorite vaction spot?|102332

Is it the beach? Or is it something else?

I_m doing homework right now and I have to draw a place where I like to vacation. I don_t have any ideas right now. My teacher drew a beach but I can_t think of anything. Can you help?

hawaii :]

I suggest this beautiful place with unbelievable attractions



http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_ir��


......................................��


http://www.worldisround.com/articles/730��


http://amix.dk/blog/viewEntry/19116


http://www.destinationiran.com/



http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_ir��


http://www.destinationiran.com/Iran_Phot��


(Isfahan)


http://www.oxfordpersian.com/PhotoGaller��


http://www.dejkam.com/iran/isfahan/


http://www.iranchamber.com/cities/esfaha��

I love two different spots in Florida. One is Kissammee, due to its proximity to EPCOT Center and the rest of Disney World, and then there is Saint Augustine, which has pretty beaches and lots of history, and quaint places to hang out and shop.

London is my favorite place- the most awesome city in the world! I_ll be going to Hawaii in Nov- to Waikiki beach and I_m expecting that to become a favorite spot!!!!

Well I_ve been going to the beaches of Northwest Florida (Emerald Coast,Panama City to Pensacola) since 1963.This is my favorite.

What part of Orlando Florida is the worst to live in and why?|111484

I have heard Orlando Florida outside the Resorts and Theme Parks is a bad place to live, but where and why?

You are severely mistaken, its actually the other way around, anywhere near the theme parks and tourist areas is generally not a good place to live, locals do not live near in the tourist areas. The best places to live in Orlando are either the northern suburbs like Winter Park, Maitland, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, and Oviedo, or certain parts of the city like Baldwin Park, Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, College Park, Hunters Creek, and Dr. Phillips.

These are the BAD areas of Orlando you should stay away from:
- Pine Hills
- Parramore/West Downtown
- Orange Blossom Trail
- Kissimee
- International Drive/Tourist Areas (Crowded, Fantasy World, Tourist Traps)

Good luck.

Shhhh.. everyone_s worried about their property values.
Orlando is rated #6 in the most dangerous US cities by Forbes based on violent crime statistics.
The worst ghetto areas are Parramore and Pine Hills, but there_s lots of pockets in Orlando that I_m sure you wouldn_t like.

We have no more _bad areas_ than any other metro area of this size. There are plenty of nice areas to live too.

I would say that Pine Hills is the worst of the larger neighborhoods though. It_s a poor minority area, it_s got all types of crime.

Pine Hills and Parramore are the worst parts of town to live in.

The reason people say to avoid the areas near the parks is because traffic and crime is worse in those areas.

Winter Garden, Windermere and Dr Phillips are nice areas not far from the theme parks.

Not true. I_d say at least half of Orlando is good. Look out for Pine Hills are aka Crime Hills though. lol

Hello, can anyone help me out to pick a nice weekend gateway around Chicago?|112153

I_m planning a short weekend vacation like a surprise for my wife, we live around Chicago and i would like some advices, a destination no more that 3 or 4 hours from Chicago, Thanks.

Even though I am a California girl, I was born in Chicago and lived there for 5 years. The Navy Pier is absolutely incredible. They have adorable little shops and interesting information on its history. If you want a classy hotel, the Raffaelo hotel is one of the finest. Tons of amenities, 4 and a half stars, beautiful classic architecture....it is just amazing. Plus, on hotels.com, you can get an incredible room for as little as $150 a night! The John Hancock Center is ddefinitelyworth seeing, and it has a free entry! Of course, Michigan Avenue and Rush Street are nice to see and shop on. Lastly, Grant Park is very pretty, and is fun just to stroll around in!

Try Galena, IL...cute trendy shops...creative activities! www.galena.com

Things to do while visiting Yosemite national park in Dec?|198004

I am visiting yosemite national park next month. I am planning to spend Dec27 and 28 in the park with my husband and two other friends. Weare staying at Curry village. I am looking for tips and suggestions for a wonderful experience of Yosemite for two days. Especially, things to take care since its winter in Yosemite, the information on shuttles (are they free?) and the most important points in yosemite to cover.

Thanks

Pictures don_t do justice for Yosemite in the Winter - it_s great that you_ll be visiting!

First and foremost - you should have tire snow chains for your car, even if your car generally does no need them. Weather can turn very quickly in Yosemite - quickly enough that 4-wheel drive with snow tires will need chains. Check the weather forecast just before you come, and call 209-372-0200 (NPS phone number) for park road information. Note that rental car companies will not give you chains, however you can rent chains at various towns just outside the park.

Since you are staying at Curry Village, be prepared for very chilly weather. Its location makes it the coldest lodging spot in Yosemite Valley. Also, although bears are less active in the winter, take steps to ensure that your scented items (food, trash, toiletries) are locked up in bear-resistant areas - there is the occasional black bear that likes to stroll through in the winter.

Once you are here - shuttle busses are the best way to get around in the valley. They visit most spots on the east end (near Yosemite Falls and Half Dome). They do not go out to the west end (Bridalveil and El Capitan) in the winter. They come every 20-30 min.

Download a park newspaper from the NPS Yosemite website (
http://www.nps.gov/yose)
just before you come to help with more planning - it will be released around Dec 14th for the time of your stay.

As your stay is between Christmas and New Years, be prepared for a number of people in the Valley. While it is not nearly as busy as summer, that time is probably the busiest of the winter.

As for things to do - plan for winter activities. Most trails will have snow and ice, so best to plan around that. Tioga Pass and the Glacier Point area have heavy snow and are not auto accessible. The Mariposa Grove road is also closed, but hikeable (sometimes snowshoes are needed) - definitely worth the 2 mile hike!

For Winter Sports - Head to the Curry Ice Rink. They have several sessions per day, generally after 12. You can rate both figure and hockey skates while you are there. Badger Pass Ski area should be open - head to the DNC Parks and Resorts @ Yosemite website (
http://www.yosemitepark.com)
to learn more about rates and information. There are free shuttles which head up to Badger about 2-3 times a day (and will take you back as well). While it limits how you travel, it does save the hassle of driving - particularly if the weather is bad. Note that BOTH the Ice Rink and Badger Pass can close if the weather is bad. You can talk to the Valley tour desks once you are here for the lastest information.

Above all - bring a camera. Some of the most spectacular photographs you will ever take can be found in the winter - anything ranging from the light of sunset, to the ice of the Yosemite Falls cliffs, to the unexpected wildlife that crosses your path.

Enjoy your visit and remember to keep up to date on weather conditions!

You can have fun in Yosemite in the winter. It_s like a winter wonderland with all the snow. You can still hike, drive, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There_s also cross-country skiing at ice skating at Curry Village. There are snowshoeing walks led by rangers in the park. They are fun and very informative. All shuttles within the park are free. El Capitan and Half Dome are _must see_ attractions in Yosemite. Focus on Yosemite Valley and Wawona, because Tioga Road is closed in the winter. In addition, visit Yosemite Valley Visitor Center as they have some interesting exhibits. The Yosemite Museum is next to the Visitor Center and is also very interesting. Tunnel View is one of the best viewpoints in Yosemite. From there, you can see El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. Also, you_ll probably need chains on your car_s tires.

Are there any cool places for young people to live half-way between Annapolis and DC?|134280

My bf is working in Annapolis and I_m looking for a job in DC. We both don_t want to deal with long commutes, and I know the commute into DC in the morning is rough.

If there are no good places to live in between, how bad is the commute from DC to Annapolis in the morning and afternoon?

Thank you!

Seriously, no!
I have driven that route many a time and trust me, you don_t want to live there. A lot of it is PG county, lots of crime.

All of these posters (besides me) ought to be reported for racism and racist attitudes. Bethesda and Georgetown are expensive because EVERYONE wants to live there but people have been murdered in those communities as well.

New Carrollton - BF has reverse commute to Annapolis and you hop on the Orange Line into DC - Metro Station is right there.

I_ve been to Annapolis(Anne arundel county yes?)and since you_re looking for a more urban, young surrounding, Annapolis won_t do it. As far as in between, that_s mostly Prince George_s county. I_ve been there but pretty much only Greenbelt, personally it sort of reminds me of Baltimore a bit.

Go to this website, it will point out for you important things like crime rates, average home price etc in whatever areas you choose.Hope this helps and goodluck on whatver you choose to do. :)


http://kw.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Compar��

why in between why not live in annapolis or dc itself!

What is the best hotel to stay at near the Staples Center?|119675

I_m not too concerned about the price, but I would like to be able to go to and from the hotel easily, either by taxi or public transportation. Thanks!

There_s a Holiday Inn accross from Staples Center. And of course there are other hotels (Hilton Checkers, Bonaventure etc)within the area, but holiday inn is the closest one and within walking distance.

http://bonaventurehotel.com

The Wilshire Grand is right up Figueroa from the Staples Center. It is an older hotel, very nice (4 star) and you could either walk or take a very short cab ride. It is less expensive than most others downtown. If you want a real treat, further up Fig is the Westin Bonaventure, which has a spinning restaurant/bar on the top floor. Pretty cool views.

See LateRooms.com from page below

If you_re going to the Staples Center for an event, the lightrail (aka: The blue line) runs right by the venue. So as long as you can take the red, blue, green lines, you can get to the downtown area

There_s a few hotels in the downtown area like Holiday Inn, Hilton, Westin, etc., but the only thing about downtown is the city sort of shuts down after business hours.

You can check tripadvisor.com for reviews on area hotels.

I would suggest staying in Long Beach, near Pine Avenue, off Ocean Blvd. You can catch the blue line from LB and its about 1/2 hr to downtown LA, right near Staples. At least Long Beach has places to eat, shop, and party.

Checkers hotel, which used to be a wyndham but now may be independent, is pretty good. They do a great breakfast and tea in the restaurant downstairs.

Cheesy, but used in a lot of movies, is the Westn Bonaventure. It_s a bit further north, but at least you get Starwood points.

If you_re hi, you should stay at the Standard. Best rooftop pool bar in all of downtown. And, a great scene at night!

ooh...I_d stay at the Standard in downtown (not the Hollywood one). On the roof of the hotel, they have a very hip bar with outdoor waterbeds you can lounge on and check out the view of the city. And the rooms are modern and cool! Plus, you_re a short taxi drive away from Staples.

What is the weather like in Pennsylvania in December?|196289

Does it snow alot in December? Would it be difficult to drive in? Would I need a four wheel drive or snow tires or something?

Kinda went off on a tangent there but....ah well :P
I_m planning on driving up there from a state where it never snows, and I need to know what to expect.

3 of the last 4 New Years days it_s been 60-70, but on average, Philly in December is about 45. Could be colder, could be warmer. It usually doesn_t snow in December though. On occasion, but rarely a real _storm_ worth fearing.

Because of a lot of reasons, Philadelphia weather can change from day to day. For the most part expect temp_s down to 10 degrees (and pray it stays around 28). Snow is another situation. Sometimes 2 inches, sometime 2 feet. Ask your tire store dealer if the tires you have now will work in snow. (He might be able to answer the question on the phone).

It barely ever snows in PA anymore.. unless your going up towards Penn State area.. Lock Haven, Williamsport, Bellefonte - all get a decent cap of snow. Closer to the Philly region you won_t see it as much. However the FA is calling for a bad storm this year, or at least predicting it.. so I wish you the best and PA back roads never get plowed so drive safe!!

Its typical central northeast(NJ,PA,DE..etc) weather....its FREEZING, but it doenst snow that much (at least the past couple years!), it usually actually turns into freezing rain or slush and that could be bad for driving....

however, its not that likeley for it to snow all the time and you might luck out and get totally dry roads.s

December is cold but the snow usually isnt too bad till January so i wouldn_t worry about that

It_s cold as hell! I think it snows like at an average rate unless it_s a blizzard or something like that._

How do I find a reasonable quot;snowbirdquot; community in Florida?|132190

Am looking for something for about 3 months every year. Would like to go to the same place. Rental or low purchase is fine. Mobile home fine also. Will be doing a lot of cruising so am not looking for anything but a clean safe and inexpensive area for a few weeks a year.

Try looking in Cape Coral or on the west coast of Florida. Nice beaches, city of Tampa, clean, virtually crimeless.