Viewing the Grand Canyon on four feet

So I figure most folks have seen the Hoover Dam in person or on TV at length so I’ll only include the obligatory cool picture of the “Great Engineering Feat.” The new addition is the start on a new road through the Canyon that might also be an engineering miracle.


The Dam visit did make for an amazing contrast as we drove across the desert to the Grand Canyon. It made me think how hard life in this dry and isolated environment must be as we came across the occasional “settlement.” No surprise I thought as I saw a number of hand painted road signs offering plots of property for sale. I couldn’t resist calling on the cell as we drove and found we could lay claim to an acre for two thousand (pre-housing/land crash) dollars!


But I saved my Visa card limit for the mule ride in Grand Canyon…so on we went. The ride started off with a one hour stand up instruction talk/dry wit comedy bit by our guide who I am pretty sure was the model for the trail leader in city slickers. If you heard the recent piece on the Grand Canyon on NPR you heard his voice.

From there it was all down hill…literally! They had explained that while mules love to walk near the very edge of the canyon drop off they are very sure-footed….What they didn’t explain was they mean they will always have at least one or two feet securely on the ground. My heart leapt every time even one of the four fumbled over a rock. That is why this picture of the drop is a view down my husband’s leg. I didn’t unglue my hands from the saddle to take pictures to the last five miles of the return I think.

Fear factor aside, the 22-mile mule back trip was so amazing I would do it again…I think. Box lunches on a cliff with a view, the Indian garden alive with a rainbow of cactus flowers, and canyon views just like in the movies are worth the stiff walk afterwards. And yes people do line up to watch your first steps off the mules when you return ☺.

Pam and Nguyen’s tips of the Canyon…

*Book early they do fill up months in advance

*Do stay at the Red Feather Lodge…when I told them of “the ride” they
immediately booked me on the ground floor to avoid steps.

*Do try fried rattlesnake, rattle snake beer, and prickly pear jelly at the local
food establishments (there are about four places to eat in the “town”--take
your pick).

*Do get some desert tea to take back…if you like sweet teas you’ll be
hooked and I can’t find it outside the Canyon area.

*Do dress in layers (I wore five)…temperatures on our trip down and back
changed from 40 to 65.

*Carabineers! I used them to hang all my creature comforts on me including
sun-screen. I looked like Mr. Brady’s store on Green Acres (think Wal-
mart on a truck), but it was convenient!

*A hat is required but don’t buy a sophisticated one in advance…look how
cool the hat is they provide for seven dollars!

Here’s wishing you happy (and mostly flat) trails!

Pam and Nguyen

If you only get on a plane once...

...take it to Washington DC.

Washington DC - the Nation's capitol, has history on every corner. I say this seriously - you could turn a corner and literally run into the White House, or the National Cathedral , or the National Portrait Gallery there's so much history. The best perk about the city is that 98% of the things in the city to see are totally free of charge (yes!) , but be prepared to spend a little on a hotel and food. This is a small price to pay for a city that is just brimming with culture.

If you only have one day to see the city, see the National Mall . Start with the Lincoln Memorial and continue walking north until you run into the Capitol.


You will pass the Vietnam War Memorial first, where the famed Wall of Names can be found, as well as the special statue dedicatd to the women of the Vietnam War. Books that list the names of those on the wall are next to the granite slabs. The Korean War Memorial is a very vivid recreation of 19 soldiers marching into battle, as well as a granite slab with images sandblasted next to the men. The WWII Memorial, my personal favorite, is the youngest memorial, dedicated in 2004. With its fountains and delicate lighting, this one is best viewed at night. The Washington Monument is next,(come early if you want the opportuntity to go up in the elevator to the top) and then the Capitol.



A personal tour of the Capitol can be given by an intern if you contact your local Congressman ahead of time. Make sure to stop by your Congressman's office anyhow to see business in action!

If you have more than a day, take the not for tourist's approach and delve into the city. Take a walk down M Street, located in Georgetown, and visit the Shops at Georgetown Park for several department and speciality stores. Walk to the end of M Street and view the famed stairs used in the movie The Exorcist! If you get hungry, have a sit down at Old Glory Bar B Que for great ribs or Tackle Box for the best catfish you will ever taste. Take the Metro down to Dupont Circle and visit Kramerbooks and Afterwords, an establishment that features a full bookstore in the front and a restaurant in the back.

U Street is rich in the history's African American culture. Take time to visit the African American Civil War Memorial and stop by the Anthony Bowen YMCA to pick up a map for a walking tour of the area. If you are staying through the weekend, head to Capitol Hill and hit up Eastern Market for a flea market atmosphere and brunch, and walk around the neighborhood to Trover Books (books are the ultimate accessory to be seen with in DC - EVERYONE is a reader.) to take a gander at the bestsellers and the classics, as well as their specialized stationery section. Fulfill your sweet tooth right next door at Firehook Bakery with their larger-than-life cookies and deli.

Stroll on down to the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court building for photo ops, and then trek down to (last, but definitely not least) Pennsylvania Avenue, where you'll see the most famous house in the country. An added perk is the White House Visitor Center, which serves as a museum of all Presidential history (and frankly, is much more interesting than the tour of the White House itself.) To arrange for a tour, you will have to go through your Congressman. Tickets are free, but they go fast, so call as far in advance as possible.







DC is best enjoyed when you are not in a rush - take it all in, and enjoy just being in the hub of our Nation's culture. The city is there for your enjoyment. For help on planning your trip and getting the best out of the city in your visit, click here.

(For more pictures of my summer in DC, click here!)

Yea Alabama! Tailgating with the Tide

From now until November 29, when the Tide bears all against Auburn, just about every other weekend will be filled with a home game here in Tuscaloosa. The city becomes a small colony, holding several fans in its midst during the weekend who have come to watch the game, tailgate, or just take in the ambience. Here, we present the best places to watch the game, pick up Tide gear, and have a bite to eat during your stay in T-Town.

Come down early Saturday morning - parking is first come, first serve. There are nearby lots and businesses that charge patrons for parking in the upwards of $20 or more. The city of Tuscaloosa has a free open lot located at the end of University Boulevard.


Have a hearty meal at Dreamland BBQ where you can find everything in the name of smoked food, slatered with that signature sauce or opt for chicken wings, fingers and fries at Buffalo Phil's. Downtown there are many options to choose from, including Mugshots Grill and Bar, which serves a great Rajun Cajun Salad. Cool off with some ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, known for their do it yourself creations and ready made ice cream cakes. If you are tailgating and forgot to bring an incidental (paper plates, napkins, the grill) Publix can provide you with all of your needs and can also provide catering.

For those of us who were unable to get tickets in time to watch kickoff, there are several places in the area where the game can be viewed. The newly rebuilt Houndstooth Sports Bar is located on The Strip and has been outfitted with a new porch and plenty of room for you and your closest friends. Directly across the street, the Crimson Café has become a UA institution, known for its salads, flatbread pizzas, and most importantly, Guatemalan coffee. Alcoholic beverages are served on the weekends, and there is a big screen TV parked in the dining room for your viewing pleasure. Egan’s Bar, located downtown is, according to APR producer Brett Tannehill, a “hilarious place” to watch the game. Be sure to rack up points on their classic pinball machine while you’re there.

Naturally, you can’t leave without picking up some authentic Gameday gear to take home. The Alabama Express Downtown store The Shirt Shop is the place to go to find trendy polos, colorful dresses, and sophisticated Alabama wear. The Supe Store also has a tent on the quad, where you can find University of Alabama gear, as well as vendors from all over the area who set up tents around the stadium.

Gamedays are full of spectator action - pitch an outdoor tent on the Quad, have a seat, and take in the festivities. There are always market researchers out giving away various samples - towels, bottled water, ice cream - you name it! You can pick up everything from boiled peanuts to sunglasses to $5 commemorative Gameday tees from vendors set up in front of and around Tutwiler Hall - directly across from the stadium on Bryant Drive. The game can be seen on TV and heard on the radio voiced by the ever recognizable Eli Gold.

So roll on to victory, hit your stride, you're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide - Roll Tide, ROLL TIDE!

Learn the University Fight Song here.

San Francisco

Pam and Nguyen Tran’s trip to San Fran


We may have left our hearts in San Francisco but we certainly didn’t leave our wallets. We like bargains so here are my tips for you—

Double-decker tour bus—we did all three loops as they have a hop on hop off feature and allow a 48-hour ticket so we got a lot out of it. The London tour guide was the most fun by far! (if you have a choice). Do bundle up for the Golden Gate journey!


Fortune Cookie Factory—Warm cookies straight off the

line says it all. And yes it is in the Alley

(Ross Alley - between Jackson
and Washington). The locals will point

you there but you won’t believe it.

Dim Sum (as in I want somma dem and somma dem, etc) restaurants— The good point is you can try lots of the local favorites at local prices 3/1.50 on many items. Get started early on Broadway, Stockton, and Kearney or Washington streets as many close after lunch traffic. My advice is don’t miss the pork buns and anything wrapped in a banana leaf

(sticky rice, pork, and other stuff like peanuts usually).

Alcatraz—Surprised me—the audio tour made if for me. Not too over
dramatic. As an APR producer of course I could
suggest some edits but as an NPR listener who
focuses on sound it was pretty good. We watched
the B/W version of Bird Man before going and it was fun to hear the Alcatraz guard take on him for
contrast. And the bite from one prisoner saying how weird it was as they could hear the sounds of New Year’s parties in San Francisco across the water was chilling (“Everything we wanted—freedom--was over there so close and we couldn’t have it”)

Muir woods—Red wood trees (skinny but tall)—

majestic to say the least. The bus/shuttle ride and

entrance fees total under $10.00 per person.

Executive Hotel Vintage Court--A city bargain that plays Jazz standards in the elevator and offers wine tastings 5-6. The best part is that they offer more than one glass so guests hang out in the very cool lobby and talk about other travels and city sights. Another good point is that if you miss the wine time just go out the front door and diagonally left is a non-chain tiny grocery with an amazing amount of wines at great prices. The hotel is
on the edge of Union square and you can take the steps under this street to shoot out right in China town.


And Finally—can anyone explain this street to us….(see view left and right?). This is the same street somehow.