Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was pivotal in creating our new United States. Visiting the places where Franklin, Jefferson and other founders met is awe-inspiring. No visit would be complete without seeing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. But be prepared. To protect these National treasures the security is high. It’s very similar to Airport security measures so factor this into your visit.

A good place to start, of course, is the visitor’s center to get oriented and a timed entrance ticket for the Independence Hall tour. Although these attractions are free they are organized from this location.

Do spend some time reading panels and plaques for a complete story and don’t miss Benjamin Franklin’s Burial Plot just down the street and the site where Thomas Jefferson completed the Declaration of Independence. Everywhere you turn in Philadelphia, History winks back!

I voted today. Early voted.  When I walked in the little eight-booth voting place, the air was tinged with a quiet excitement.  The elderly poll worker in a sweater vest looked pleased, and was helpful.  There was a line, but it was short, and it moved quickly.  The energy was palatable – a sense of purpose mixed with respect.

I was excited to be there, puffed up a bit, I admit, with a hushed pride. After 46 years, you’d think I’d be used to it.  But, as I inked up the ovals, I felt it once again – goose-bumps that come with doing something important.  It never fails. Each time, no matter how unsettled I feel about the nastiness of an election, I feel this way. Here’s why. 

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The history behind Halloween is long and spans almost 3,000 years! There are some remarkable associations which, over millenniums of practice, survive in some form today.

Here are some tidbits and lore on the interesting origins of Halloween which are not widely known. This can help you start a conversation with a Halloween party guest you’ve been dying to meet.  If you’re hosting a party, you can make a booklet on your PC to hand out as party favors. Illustrated with Halloween icons, Gothic fonts or scary photos, adds to its value as an unusual memento and trivia collectible.

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As the end of this contentious, seemingly never-ending, presidential election year nears, one wonders what drives these particular Americans to seek the presidency. Who are they, and why do they run? They are, after all, Everyman. 

For insight, look no further than to those who have come before them.  Visit a Presidential Historic Site.  What you’ll find depends on the era, and the president. All former presidents have at least one, with the exception of Zachary Taylor, who has none. Abraham Lincoln has six, the most by far.

A presidential site can be a birthplace, homestead, residence, museum, or library.  Some are thought-provoking in their sheer simplicity; others are Disney-esque complexes designed to dazzle and engage through multimedia presentations, interactive displays, and full-size replicas of Oval Offices. One even has a real Air Force One! Some are cold; others vibrant. Regardless of style, they are a snapshot of the American presidency at a moment in time and provide a sense of the individuals who aspired to, and reached, the pinnacle of power. 

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Living in the Florida Keys is paradise, but during hurricane season it’s a game of roulette.  During August and September particularly, everyone living here watches for the distinctive comma-shaped weather systems that catapult off the west coast of Africa, one after the other, hurling towards us like clay pigeons at a skeet shoot.

As they tumble their way across the Atlantic, if they hold together they are given names, personified so that the mere mention of a single name begins to shape our lives.  Everyone, save for old-timers, seems to forget that hurricanes have been coming down this path from Africa forever, doing what they always do.  Once one is named, everyone, not just in the Florida Keys, but anywhere along the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, assumes it’s coming right at them, whether it is or not.  Everyone sees themselves in the center of the dreaded “cone.”

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Tour guides in America’s destination cities hear some very funny things as they show tourists around. Enjoy these, courtesy of the wonderful tour conductors of Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston, Washington, D.C., Savannah, St. Augustine, Key West, and San Diego.

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Intelligent Travel reminds us that the deadline for submitting sites to the National Geographic sponsored GeoTourism Challenge is April 16th.

They have quite a list so far and the goal is to identify sites that “sustain, enhance, and preserve a sense of culture and place.”

If you are interested in Green Travel this is a great place to start.

Seth Godin has another great post about customer service.

I visit many tourist sites and it’s not uncommon for the front line staff, the people closest to the guests, having the least ability to please them. Too often we hear a scripted response to an important question. I cringe when I hear someone say,”I’m just doing my job.”

Seth’s point is clear. Your ambassadors, the folks talking and interacting the most with the customer, must have the power to delight.

It’s simple, but it’s not easy.

Here are 9 Valentine’s Day Surprises from Trusted Tours. Your Sweetie will be overjoyed!

Honolulu Volcano Adventure on the Big Island

Explore Volcanoes National Park, Jagger Museum, Thurston Lava Tube, Kilauea Iki Crater and Rainbow Falls. This narrated volcano excursion features a hike over the lava flow that covered the village of Kalapana and famous Kaimu black sand beach in the 1980’s.

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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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