This summer and fall, as you travel about the US, include a visit to a city market, community garden, greenmarket, farmers’ markets, tailgate market, and seek out restaurants whose menus feature fresh, regionally grown vegetables and sustainable cuisine.  You’ll love this new tourism twist!Enjoy make-shift stalls and shaded lots filled with bins and buckets exploding with color.  Smell, pinch and snap, sample. Indulge in something delicious, freshly baked or locally canned.  Take in the regional flavor, the fresh air, the bustling sounds, the camaraderie.  Mingle with locals.

Get used to the term community garden as it’s making a comeback. They’ve been around since man began farming, and in the US became popular and patriotic during WWII when they were known as Victory Gardens.  In urban centers, blighted areas have long been greened by window boxes, roof gardens, green sproutings carefully tended in tiny plots, or in abandoned lots tucked between concrete walls.

The most recent urban community garden to make a big splash is the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden on the lawn of San Francisco’s City Hall, part of the Victory Gardens 2008+ project that is sweeping the city!  The food from the garden will be donated to local food banks and meal programs, and the overall message is to show urban residents that they, too, can grow their own, even in a limited space.   If you’re visiting San Francisco between July and September 2008, stop by City Hall in the Civic Center area.  You can get there several ways, but why not take the San Francisco Trolley Hop, get off at its Union Square stop, walk a couple of blocks to the BART stop at Market & Powell.  Get on the BART to the Civic Center stop.  You can’t miss the domed City Hall.  Or, if you’re just walking about, find one of San Francisco’s 40 community gardens on city-owned property.

Visiting Boston?  Hop on the Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston (a great tour with the added perk of being able to hop off at any one of the convenient stops to see the sights), get off at Stop # 11, walk down to the light, cross the street and Fenway Victory Gardens, the last of the WWII Victory Gardens, is right in front.   Or, get off at trolley Stop # 8, walk past the John Hancock Building, turn right onto Berkeley Street and walk 4 blocks to Berkeley Gardens, where Asian families carry on centuries-old tradition of farming garden plots.

Whether in a big city or small town, greenmarkets and farmers’ markets are no longer off the beaten path.  They’re sprouting up everywhere.  Greenmarket is a term more frequently associated with urban areas, while farmers’ markets can be large and urban, or small-town and colloquial.  Both can sell not only produce, but meat, seafood, baked goods, arrays of cheeses and other dairy products, preserves, honey, flowers and even crafts.  The produce can be organic, or not.

In big cities, while greenmarkets are becoming increasingly popular, some have been around forever. New York City, the penultimate urban community, has over 40, the biggest of which is Union Square Greenmarket, a must see!  Be sure to get there early as this is where the city’s famous chefs go shortly after dawn in search of the freshest ingredients for the day’s menu.  Washington’s beloved Eastern Market, a neighborhood market in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for over a century, was badly burned in a fire in April 2007, but vendors have kept the market open by setting up outside or across the street!  In Philadelphia, the year-round Reading Terminal Market has been a city fixture since William Penn’s time, and in historic Boston, the Copely Square Farmer’s Market sets up from mid-May to mid-November on Tuesdays and Fridays right in front of glorious Trinity Church on the famous square.

And the list goes on … Chicago has its Green City Market, a year-round market set up at the center of Lincoln Park in the summer, and inside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Center in the winter, which encourages sustainable practices from farmers selling there.  In New Orleans, be sure to stop by the Mid-City Green Market, which, to the delight of locals and visitors, just re-opened in May after having been closed since Katrina.  Glittery Las Vegas is more than nighttime neon - stop by Garden Park Farmers’ Market for a breath of fresh air.  On Saturdays in trendy Miami, walk through the venerable Coconut Grove Organic Farmers Market for a change of pace.

Smaller farmers’ markets, more regional in flavor, tend to have a real neighborly feel.  In Washington DC, within the beltway residents love their year-round Farm Fresh Market, open Sundays in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, and seasonally in Foggy Bottom and in up and coming Penn Quarter.  In the Los Angeles area, surrounded by miles and miles of fertile fields, farmers’ markets are everywhere, many featuring Asian and Hispanic specialties. San Diego has so many that the Farm Bureau of San Diego County pulishes a Farmer’s Market Schedule!

Likewise in small communities and towns across the country, small farmers’ markets and even smaller tailgate markets are everywhere. Traveling about by car this summer? If you see a farmers’ market along the way, stop. Get out to stretch your legs and pick up fresh ingredients for a spontaneous picnic lunch.  Sure beats the packaged, fast-food alternative!

For a change in restaurant fare, become a  “Locavore!” Designated as the word of the year in November 2007 by the New Oxford American Dictionary, it means one who is passionate about eating local ingredients.  In many cities, chefs are creating market-driven menus with selections prepared with regionally produced and available ingredients. In San Diego, locavores go to JSix in the Gaslamp District, just a couple of blocks from Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego’s Stop #5A for innovative lunch and dinner menus featuring fresh, seasonal regional produce and sustainable seafood.  In New York City, many restaurants are following the market-driven menu trend, and do so with creativity and flair.  For example, Tribeca Grill, owned by Robert DiNiro, is fabulous and reflects the artistic character of the surrounding Tribeca neighborhood; BLT Market in the Ritz Carleton reflects its upscale Midtown East neighborhood.  In Washington, D.C., Nora’s became America’s first certified organic restaurant in 1999; 15 ria’s new American cuisine is fabulously created with market-fresh ingredients that change with the season; and, Hook in Georgetown offers a wonderful dining experience with a menu that changes daily to reflect whatever sustainable fish are in season and available.

Get out; get in touch.  See America as you have never before see it!

First in the mind of anyone connected to the military are the Navy SEALs, the elite operational forces of the Naval Special Warfare Command, whose Pacific Fleet teams are based in San Diego.  These SEALs are highly regarded, highly skilled teams of warriors who undergo the toughest training in the world.  Their name, Sea, Air and Land Forces, comes from the elements in and from which they operate; their mystique comes from the fact that they operate in a clandestine manner, conducting dangerous operations. They are often seen on training excercises on San Diego Bay.

The second seal that comes to mind is the one whose antics draw visitors from around the world, the California Sea Lion, the big, chocolate brown sea mammal whose big round eyes, pointed, whiskered muzzle and barking voice make it appear dog-like.  These sea mammals are sleek and fast in the water, can swim up to 25 mph, dive to a depth of 1000 feet, but are somewhat awkward-looking on land.  Because of their aquatic skills, their ability to swim silently and their high intelligence, some are trained by the U. S. Navy Marine Mammal Program to detect underwater mines and to recover equipment from places inaccessible to human divers.  In their natural coastal habitat, these highly social mammals congregate on shoreline rocks or hang out on their favorite piers. 

Can you name the third San Diego seal?  Here are some clues: it operates equally well on land and sea; it looks a bit like a bus, a bit like a boat; it has a motor; it’s lots of fun!

This seal is the big, glossy, bright blue and yellow amphibious tour vehicle, seen on the streets of San Diego and in the bay.  It’s hard to miss, with a whimsical dive mask-wearing, snorkel-bearing seal lolling on its back painted on its side.  It’s a member of the fleet of the SEAL Tours of San Diego and it takes people on the ride of a lifetime.  

This seal, too, has special features:

1. It morphs from a land creature to a sea creature with you on board!
2. It gets you out on the water – right on the big bay.
3. It’s a great narrated tour, by land and by sea.
4. On the road, you’re seated way up high, with great views of San Diego, and the big canvas roof is a great sunshade. 
5. You’ll glide effortlessly down into San Diego Bay from a boat ramp on Shelter Island, leaving the rumbly road noise behind to motor quietly in the bay! The feeling is exhilarating!
6. You’ll see a lot of action out on the bay: Navy jets and helicopters buzzing about overhead; perhaps a destroyer, a cruise ship, even an aircraft carrier underway. 
7. You’ll see sea lions up close, if you’re lucky, hanging out on bait cages anchored in the bay.  As your SEAL circles around the bait cages, the seal lions might be around, popping up to the surface, swiftly and effortlessly propelling themselves out of the water, landing with a flop on top of the bait cages.  Once out of the water, they waddle awkwardly on their bellies over to their spot in the sun.  Keep in mind they are free spirits, and while they are almost always there looking for an easy meal, every now and then they’ll go off on an adventure.
8. You’ll see opportunistic sea birds - seagulls, herons, pelicans, cormerants - hanging out on top of the bait cages, hoping for an easy dinner.
9. From a restricted distance, you might see the conning tower of a submarine or spot a Navy dolphin in training.
10. You’ll see floating kelp, which grows at an unbelievable 18″ per day!  Pieces are constantly breaking off from nearby kelp beds and floating to the surface, often getting hung up on the SEAL’s truck wheels (they don’t retract during the splashdown).  The kelp has to be removed before hitting the road again!

Kids love the SEAL Tour!  Big people do too. 

She’s a newcomer to San Diego, making appearances at special wedding venues all over town. She causes quite a stir as she arrives for the ceremony at such spectacular locations as the Wedding Bowl in La Jolla or Coronado South Beach in front of the magnificent Hotel Del on a glorious San Diego day.  She’s really noticed when she pulls up for the reception at the brand new, very trendy Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter, or the elegant Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park.

Who is this mystery wedding guest?  She’s Felicity, the star, and only girl, in Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego’s proud fleet of Victorian trolleys, and she’s a favorite of brides.  In the trolley barn, where she resides waiting for her turn in the spotlight, Felicity has a corner room of her own, well away from all the orange and green clad boys.

Although Felicity loves attention, she knows just how to do her part to make the day really special.  Weddings are all about the bride, and Felicity knows it.  It’s just a girl thing.  Girls have an exact mental picture of just the way they want everything to be: a picture-perfect dream wedding straight from the pages of bridal magazines.    

On the day of the wedding, Felicity glows.  Elegantly understated, her brass is polished, her mahogany trim shines, her candlelight-hued, cord-trimmed seats fluffed.  Her conductor is dressed in a tuxedo, just to her liking, and the red carpet is ready to be unfurled for her bride.

At the appointed hour, Felicity picks up the bridal party and they’re off to the ceremony, through the streets of San Diego, turning heads along the way.  Following proper wedding decorum, Felicity makes sure her bride is the last person to exit, just in time to make her entrance.

Walking down the red carpet, it’s just as the bride imagined it would be — all eyes are on her!

San Diego, California averages only 10 inches of rain each year. The average daytime temperature is around 70 degrees. For you, that means great weather for sightseeing and tours.  Here are 12 sites you need to experience there.

Old town

Fresh tortillas and the Birthplace of California wait for you in Old Town. This is also the place to catch the Old Town Trolley Tour for an overview of the city. Historic buildings, cemeteries and sites are sprinkled around this area and worth the search. It’s easy to walk around and discover and easy to stop and people watch at one of the many cafes. The State Historic Park is a more concentrated area to explore with authentic buildings, shops and demonstrations for free. Don’t miss the Old Town Market for shopping. You might want to explore the tequila museum with over 1700 tequilas at El Agave. You’ll also have fun eating at Fred’s, breakfast at Café Coyote is delicious and Café Pacifica makes a great Salmon. This is a wonderful place to walk, shop and eat.

The Beaches

Over 70 miles of beaches are yours to explore. From La Jolla’s beautiful views to carnival atmosphere of Mission Beach’s Boardwalk, the beaches are a place to see and be seen. So much to do here that it’s hard to choose. Many head for Mission Beach but parents should consider the free spirited nature of this strip before deciding. The Mission Bay side is more family friendly. Coronado beach was voted best by the Travel Channel and in the top ten by Dr. Beach. They even have a leash free area called Dog Beach. Wherever you choose to dip your toes in the sand, enjoy, and remember that the water runs a little cool here.

The Whaley House Museum

Built in1857, the Whaley House in Old Town is considered by many to be the most haunted house in the country. The U.S. Department of Commerce even declared it haunted. While many have reported experiences here that are hard to explain the most active spirit seems to be that of “Yankee Jim”. He was hanged at the site after trying to steal a rowboat. If you’re into all things ghosty, then the Whaley House is a must visit. Make sure to stop by the El Campo Santo historic Cemetery next door for even more thrills. Still not enough? Grab the Ghost Bus or take a walking ghost tour and hear the haunted tales of San Diego up close and personal.

The Gaslamp Quarter

16 square blocks of awesome food, vivid history, day and night entertainment and urban shopping make the Gaslamp Quarter a favorite with visitors and locals alike. The former “Stingaree” district known for it’s brothels and saloons in the 1800’s has been restored and transformed into an exciting hub of downtown social activity. From Horton Plaza shopping to the 150 handles of beer at the Yard House Restaurant there is something for everyone. So enjoy yourself in Wyatt Earp style at the Gaslamp Quarter. Try the Hawaiian Poke Stack at The Yard House. Yummy.

Hotel del Coronado

“Impressive” best describes this seaside Victorian resort which opened its doors in 1888.  It was a time of unlimited wealth and power when names like Rockefeller, Carnegie, Flagler and Vanderbilt took center stage. Grand Hotels were all the rage and Hotel del Coronado was special. Guests have included 10 U.S. Presidents, Legendary figures like Babe Ruth, Thomas Edison and Charles Lindbergh and celebrities from Charlie Chaplin to Brad Pitt. It even served as the backdrop for the movie “Some like it Hot” with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. Beautiful architecture, posh history and legendary stories are waiting for you at The Del.

San Diego Zoo

Billed as one of the largest, most progressive zoos in the World, The San Diego Zoo attracts millions of visitors annually. Almost all of the exhibits are “open-air” which offers a better guest experience. Over 4000 animals make a day at the zoo unforgettable. If that weren’t enough, they also operate the Wild Animal Park with over 3,000 species in an even more open environment. Of course, the pandas are a big hit and animal births of all kinds get top billing. If you can’t get enough of animals, look no further.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park could be called “Museum Central”. It’s the nation’s largest cultural park and home to 15 major museums. Concerts, plays, musicals, classes and exhibits are constantly being offered here. One of the funny stories I heard involved commercial planes flying overhead to land at the airport during the outdoor show’s performances. It seems the cast learned how to time the songs and pause during the loud flyovers! The audience didn’t seem to mind.

SeaWorld

I really enjoy visiting SeaWorld. It’s fun, educational and exciting. You can navigate the park easily doing as much or as little as you want. Feeding the animals is a highlight, which is offered at select times during the day. This is a place you will probably get wet. If not at the fantastic Shamu show then a sting ray will likely splash you during feeding.

Come here to have fun, relax and enjoy some of the best animal shows on the planet.

Legoland

When you think of Legoland, you might just think of toys. That is just the beginning here with over 50 rides, shows and attractions to enjoy. This is a very hands on place where everyone is encouraged to join in so don’t be bashful. Sure you’ll meet raving Lego fans but you don’t have to be one to enjoy this park. This is good old-fashioned fun at its best. By the way…don’t miss the incredible Lego sculptures there. Wow.

Grey Whales

What attracts us to these behemoths, I do not know. Is it their size? Their gentle nature? The songs? From late December to March you can decide for yourself when the Grey Whales migrate past San Diego. Their journey begins at the Artic Sea traveling down to Baja California where they give birth and then migrate back up again. It is one of nature’s greatest spectacles and not to be missed. You can spot them from shore at places like Point Loma but a whale excursion by boat is the best view. Getting close to these huge animals is really thrilling and watching them breech is astonishing. So bring a good camera and join the adventure.

Point Loma

Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma has a spectacular view of the City, the harbor and the Pacific coast. On clear days you can see all the way to Mexico. In winter, the grey whale migration draws big crowds. This monument commemorates the landing here of Spanish Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Here you can see the old and the new lighthouses and enjoy wonderful tide pools. It is a place to explore and offers the best views in town.

San Diego Bay

What a busy place! Since this is an active military area the helicopters, planes and boats are constant. You can even see Navy Seal Special Forces doing dolphin and seal training. One of the best ways to take it all in is on a SEAL tour Hydra terra vehicle at Seaport Village. You cruise out on an amphibious vehicle to see pelicans, sea lions, planes and ships in this exciting harbor. Cool.

San Diego, California is a perfect playground for lovers of history, mystery, sun, fun, food, shopping and unique tourist attractions. The people, weather and choices all blend together for a beautiful experience. I’ll see you there.

1. 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
    
    

 

2. Glore Psychiatric Museum – Housed in the building that was originally called the “State Lunatic Asylum No. 2”, the Glore Psychiatric Museum takes a look at the history of psychiatric institutions and techniques for administering “care” for the mentally disabled. Earliest diagnoses for treatment of the mentally ill started with a sharp stick or perhaps a club. Human progress and compassion through history introduced humiliation, dunking, burnings at the stake and bleeding as “treatment”. Fortunately, modern 20th century medicine has made significant breakthroughs in psychiatric care including icy baths, shock therapy, tranquilizers, and vibrating chairs (just a hint of sarcasm here). The museum has an exhibit entitled “1,446 Objects Swallowed by a Patient” (see picture… includes 453 nails, 409 pins, 63 buttons, 42 screws, 5 thimbles, and 3 salt shaker tops). Other artifacts and exhibits include a tranquilizer chair, a giant “hamster wheel” for energetic patients, electroshock devices, and hydrotherapy devices (ice bath) www.stjosephmuseum.org/glore.php Glore Psychiatric Museum, 3408 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO, Telephone: 1- 816-364-1209
   

3. Fall River Historical Society – If you ever find your way up through the New England countryside and the quaint town of Fall River, be sure to stop in to visit this little museum of history. Amongst its collection of 19^th century decorative arts, costumes, steamship history and other mild-mannered-exhibits will you find an exhibit of one of the most horrific murder s of the late 19^th century. Lizzie Borden (as in “Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks….”) was charged in 1892 of murdering her mother and father with an axe (and giving them both 40 whacks). Later acquitted, this was considered to be the trial of the century. The Fall River Historical Society boasts the largest collection of memorabilia from the crime and trial including the hatchet used, photographs of the crime scene, pillow cases with blood on them, pictures of Lizzie’s mom and dad skull’s, and other REALLY macomb artifacts. If you haven’t had enough of Lizzie Borden, you can visit the crime scene. In fact you can even stay at the place. The home where the crime was committed is now open as a bed and breakfast. www.lizzieborden.org, Fall River Historical Society, 451 Rock St, Fall River, MA Telephone 1-508-679-1071
    

4. Liberace Museum – While in Las Vegas be sure to pay your respects to a very famous Vegas showman – Wladziu Valentino Liberace (you may call him Liberace). Famous for his outrageous costumes, incredible piano skills and performances, and a Baldwin piano encrusted in with thousands of rhinestones, Liberace deserves his museum in Sin City. The Liberace Museum has on display (including the Baldwin piano) Liberace’s legendary wardrobes, elaborately ornate cars (check out the Rolls Royce), and his jewelry. www.liberace.org/liberace_museum/ Liberace Museum, 1775 East Tropicana Avenue (at Spencer) Las Vegas, NV Telephone: 1-702-798-5595
    
    

5. National Museum of Funeral History – dedicated to the history of the coffin building industry and the funeral business, the National Museum of Funeral History is located in the reproduction of an early 1900’s coffin factory. Visitors will experience and learn how coffins were constructed over the years and how coffins are made today. Other exhibits include Civil War embalming, fantasy coffins (how about a coffin made in the shape of a fish, or an airplane, or how about a chicken?), and the funeral industry Hall of Fame. www.nmfh.org The National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Drive , Houston, TX Telephone: 1-281-876-3063
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

6. The Mütter Museum – M, m, m, m…. museum of horrors! The Mutter Museum is a medical museum located at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. It was originally created in 1858 from the collection that was donated by Thomas Dent Mutter. The museum displays medical oddities, instruments, and preserved human specimens. Highlights of the Mutter Museum include the skeleton of the tallest human being in North America, a preserved 5’ long colon, preserved human organs and body parts, President Grover Cleveland’s tumor, the conjoined liver of Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, a growth removed from Lincoln’s assassin John Wilkes Booth, and mummified corpse of the Soap Lady… all here and preserved for your viewing pleasure. www.collphyphil.org/mutter.asp The Mutter Museum , 19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, Telephone: 1-215-563-3737
    

7. Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum - Coined as the only museum dedicated to the art ventriloquism, the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum will delight visitors of all ages. The museum showcases over 700 figures and thousands of books, playbills and photographs that are related to ventriloquism. www.venthavenmuseum.net Vent Haven Museum, 33 West Maple Avenue, Fort Mitchell, KY, 1-859-341-0461
    
    
   

   
    
   

8. National Museum of Health and Medicine – Haven’t had enough of seeing preserved body parts? Well, you’re in luck! Skip on over to Washington DC for fun filled day of people watching (dead people watching that is). John Wilkes Booth sure does get around! At the National Museum of Health and Medicine you can find even more preserved parts of the assassin. Other exhibits include Civil War skeletons and pictures and illustrations of wounds, Korean War artifacts, live leeche display, and largest collection of microscopes dating to the 1600’s. The National Museum of Health and Medicine claims to have more than 10,000 preserved organs and 5,000 skeletal specimens that explore medical cases of disease and injury. Be sure to visit the “Anatifacts” exhibit featuring the preserved giant tumor, a human hair ball, and body parts of famous Americans – vetebraes of John Wilkes Booth and James Garfield. The National Museum of Health and Medicine also has on display the bullet that killed Lincoln. www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/medtour/nmhm.html National Museum of Health and Medicine, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC
    

9. American Sanitary Plumbing Museum - Located just outside of Boston in Worcester, MA, you will find the official museum dedicated to the history of the commode. Why shouldn’t there be a museum dedicated to such an important household fixture? The museum tells the history of the toilet and other sanitary fixtures as well provides visitors with a number of “artifacts”. Visitors will learn interesting facts such as how we went from corncobs to toilet paper (ouch!)… now that is something to be grateful for! 39 Piedmont Street, Worcester, MA Telephone: 1-508-754-9453
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

10. BODIES…The Exhibition - I guess Americans have a fascination (obsession) with seeing dead people preserved. Now if you’ve visited the Muller in Philadelphia and the National museum of Health and Medicine in Washington D.C. and you want more… Bodies… The Exhibition is your next stop. You can find Bodies in a city nearest you as they have exhibitions in New York City, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Framingham, Columbus, Las Vegas (now that’s a big surprise) and Pittsburgh. Utilizing a patented preservation process, curators of Bodies display real human cadavers in everyday positions (minus skin tissue of course) www.bodiestheexhibition.com
     

11. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum – Believed to be the only museum dedicated to the practice of Voodoo, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum tells visitors about the traditional practices of the Voodoo religion in New Orleans. The Voodoo Museum houses artifacts of the Great Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. Walking tours are provided daily and during the evening. www.voodoomuseum.com New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, 724 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA, Telephone: 1-504-680-0128

Here it is: Disney’s 2008 Dream Catalog. The new, extended Year of a Million Dreams includes “dreams money can’t buy.” These special events will be given away to lucky recipients visiting Disney Parks.

How about attending the premier of High School Musical 3 or being the guest of honor at the largest character breakfast…ever? Sounds fantastic.

I’ll be in Orlando, Florida soon for the International Food and Wine Festival but now I need to read my catalog and Dream…

Our SEAL Tour crew at Old Town Trolley in San Diego, California is all a twitter about the Red Bull Air Races this past weekend. Here is a great Youtube video from Between Random Planets showing an earlier practice takeoff from the USS Midway which is now a tourist attraction in San Diego.

The interesting thing for me is how events are becoming more like attractions in some places. The draw is often excellent and folks follow these types of events like concerts by their favorite band. It’s an interesting, reborn model for tourism.

My first question would be, does it help the local economy?

Experience from the Superbowl would suggest that not every type of business benefits from big draw events in their community.

Can local repetitive events compete with standing tourist attractions? Are they an enhancement or a distraction?

With so many activities competing for our limited time and attention, perhaps these types of events are the wave of the future for some tourism businesses. Museums have great success with traveling exhibits like Tutankhamun. Then again, Cirque du Soleil reinvented the traveling circus and eventually developed permanent locations. Now they are sending out traveling shows again!

We sure need to be flexible these days don’t we? I guess everything old is new again. See you in San Diego.