(T. Jones - Trusted Tours and Attractions) - Whoever said you can’t get anything for free anymore hasn’t been to New York City! New York City offers some of the best museums, zoos, galleries and attractions in the world and if you’ve got the time you can visit 40 of them for free! Though most of the following attractions typically have an admission fee, they open their doors free of charge during certain days of the week (and certain hours). Please note however, donations or ‘Pay as you wish’ policies are usually in effect during these free times. Though you are not obligated to pay, a donation of a few dollars is a few dollars well spent and will help insure that future generations will enjoy these fine establishments.

Free Everyday!

1. Castle Clinton
   The jumping off point for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Castle Island explores early New York City military defense. As it is part of the National Park System, it is always free (well sort of… you still have to pay your taxes)www.nps.gov/cacl/
   Battery Park
   Phone: 212-344-7220
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Punxsutawney Phil is a legend. They claim he is over 120 years old and predicts the weather with 100% accuracy. According to legend, if Groundhog Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887 although the celebration itself is much older. Since then, the official spectacle of all spectacles takes place each February 2^nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Here are 5 reasons I love Groundhog Day.

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Planning your next vacation? Looking for something on the stranger side? The United States has some really strange museums. Here are some of the strangest.

1. 
   Museum of Bad Art (MoBA)
   Museum of Bad Art (MoBA) – Not sure how else to describe this museum… the title sums it up pretty well. The Museum of Bad Art describes its mission perfectly – “dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms.” Artists that are featured at the MoBA are talented, esteemed artists that have created works that cause fans to say “what was he thinking?”. Founded by Scott Wilson who began the museum with its first masterpiece in 1993, “Lucy in the Field of Flowers”, apparently discovered in a trash pile in Boston. Museum Of Bad Art, Basement of Dedham Communitiy Theatre, 580 High Street, Dedham MA, Telephone: 1-781-444-6757 www.museumofbadart.org
    
    

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The excitement and anxiety wash over you. Finally! That long overdue trip. It’s a place you have always wanted to go but have never been. Adventure awaits, but what next? Here are a dozen tips to make your trip more memorable.

Pack light then cut it by a third

“I have to pack this pair of shoes. I can’t live without four hats. How will I manage with one coat?” Stop! Whenever traveling to a new place the temptation is to over pack. Unless you are going to a remote area- don’t do it! You can always add to your suitcase, if needed, and a way to clean your clothes is usually available. Toting heavy luggage to the train station is awful as I found out in Paris recently. Pack the bare minimum and learn to work with it. Your back will thank you. Continue Reading »

TTA - Making your office “green” or starting a environmental policy for company is easy! In fact you can get started and have a significant change in your office environmental thinking in less than 10 minutes. These are 10 extremely simple steps that you can implement immediately without much effort.

1. Purchasing Power - Purchase office supplies that are recycled and/or compostable but
   
   recycle paper
   also items that come from renewable resources. There are many web sites and even “brick and mortar” stores that carry a huge line and selection of these products. Not only that, but eco-friendly products cost just about the same as regular products. An easy way to make a huge difference without really do much… you’re just buying differently. Check out www.thegreenoffice.comfor a great selection of eco-friendly products.
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Trusted Tours and Attractions (www.trustedtours.com) is turning green!

Trusted Tours and Attractions has formalized an office policy of conducting our habits and purchasing that is environmentally sensitive and friendly. Though we are small in size, we believe that in order to “act globally”, everyone must make an effort to “act locally”… no matter how small. We have adopted a number of environmental “best practice” procedures and policies that are based upon our core environmental philosophy - Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse. We are committed to purchasing recycled and/or compostable items that come from renewable resources (e.g. printer paper, coffee cups, etc.). We are continuing to recycle paper and cans and have committed ourselves to recycling other items like print cartridges and plastic items. We will properly recycle and dispose of all computer hardware with certified programs. We are committed to lessen our energy consumption by adjusting thermostats and turning electronic items and hardware off when not needed. These are just a few of the examples that we will be practicing now and into the future. We are proud to be part of the solution and hope that other businesses and offices will take it upon themselves to do the same.

Another great post by Seth Godin here.

He talks about being very good at what you do. The problem with being perfect though, he says, is how easy it is for most of us to overlook the excellence and find only the faults. We grow used to certain standards, become desensitized to great experiences and really do take the good stuff for granted all too often.

I can’t tell you how many times I hear folks complain about minor service issues while ignoring the wonderful experience they got. When was the last time you really immersed yourself in a good meal? When was the last time you really spoke with the checkout clerk at the store or the mail carrier? Do you take your time to notice the efforts of those around you?

Appreciating what we get is as much an art as finding the fault in it. Try it today by leaving yourself open to the good stuff without looking so hard for the bad. You might be surprised.

 

The Conch Tour Train in Key West, Florida rolled out in 1958. Today, it’s still going strong and for many is an icon of the Key West vibe. What started out 50 years ago with one train and two people has grown to 14 trains and over 33 cast members now. People from all over the world enjoy and remember a ride on this great tour. So, raise a toast today to 50 years of fun, education and entertainment Key West , Florida style.

Happy Birthday, Conch Tour Train!

Whether you’re Irish or a leprachuan wanna-be… everyone loves a good St. Patrick’s Day Parade! You may have heard the expression “Everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Though St. Patrick’s Day is the national holiday of Ireland, it is celebrated world wide… from North America to Argentina, Germany to Montserat, Mexico to Russia. Originally a religious celebration in observance of the death of Saint Patrick (circa 385 - 461), one of the Irish patron saints, it has now become more of a holiday to celebrate the Irish culture and it’s influences worldwide.

The United States has celebrated St. Patrick’s Day well before it’s independence from Great Britain. The first St. Patrick’s Day and parade in North America was held in Boston in 1737 followed by New York City in 1756. While St. Patrick’s Day originated in Ireland, the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in Chicago with over 2 million spectators and participants. The US, with it’s large Irish ancestory, has parties, parades and events throughout the country. Are you planning to “Go Green” in March? The largest St. Patrick’s Day Parades are:

1. Chicago, Illinois, since 1843 - Over 2 Million Spectators
2. New York City, Since 1756 - Tied with Chicago
3. Savannah, Georgia - Over 400,000
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Another pre-Declaration of Independence aged St. Patrick’s Day
5. Kansas City, Missouri - 200,00 spectators
6. Boston, Massachusetts
7. San Francisco, California - Oldest and biggest west of the Mississippi
8. Houston, Texas
9. Cleveland, Ohio
10. New London, Wisconsin

Okay, I’ll admit it…I drove past the Florida Aquarium four times before I saw it over my left shoulder. Sheesh! I was so annoyed that I had to sit down and breathe deeply. Once inside my tension melted away. Soon I was floating amongst the fish. Gliding along while filtered sunlight washed over me and cool blue light calmed my senses….no…really. The interior was so tranquil that I could have fallen asleep. It was wonderful.

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida is part of the “Tampa Bay’s Triplet”package. I enjoyed the tropical rainforest area, the coral reef viewing window and the penguin promenade show is fun.

You can swim with the fishes and dive with the sharks here but one of the most popular features is the ”Explore a Shore,” 2 acre, outdoor waterpark geared towards young children. Parents can enjoy the Cantina while watching the kids have a blast. Everyone wins.

So…get excellent directions to the parking lot, buy your Tampa Bay’s Triplet ticket and enjoy the Florida Aquarium. More photos here.