Things to Do Archives - Page 2 of 2

Palm Springs, CA: Things to Do

For such a “quiet” community, there is plenty of history to see in Palm Springs and the surrounding areas:

Concert Venues/Live Music

- Agua Caliente Casino (Several locations)
- Castelli’s (Palm Desert Piano Bar)
- Fantasy Springs Resort Casino (Indio)
- Melvyn’s (Palm Springs Piano Bar)
- Morongo Casino Resort (Cabazon)
- The Nest (Indian Wells Live Entertainment)
- Pechanga Resort Casino (Temecula)
- Purple Room (@ Club Trinidad, Palm Springs)
- Retro Room Lounge (Palm Springs)
- Spotlight 29 Casino (Coachella)
- Toucans Tiki Lounge (Palm Springs Drag Shows)
- Vicky’s of Sante Fe (Indian Wells Live Entertainment)

Museums

- Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (Palm Springs)
- Echo Furnishings Store (Palm Springs)
- La Quinta Museum (La Quinta)
- Palm Springs Air Museum (Palm Springs)
- Ruddy’s General Store (Palm Springs)

Tours

- Desert Memorial Park (Sinatra & friends are here)
- Elvis Presley Estate (call 760-322-3211 for tours)
- Living Desert Zoo Gardens
- Modern Tour
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- PS Architecture Tours
- Palm Springs Celebrity Tours
- Palm Springs Historical Society Walking Tours
- Palm Springs Mod Squad (architecture tour)
- Sunnylands Center & Gardens

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Nashville, TN: Things to Do

SO MANY! The roots of music is very strong, as is their appreciation for those behind the music scene. You will need at least a week:

Museums

- Carter Vintage Guitars (vintage store)
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Glen Campbell Museum
- George Jones Museum (live music, food & drink)
- Hatch Show Print
- Johnny Cash Museum (live music, food & drink)
- Musician’s Hall of Fame
- Patsy Cline Museum
- Parthenon Museum
- Willie Nelson Museum

Tours

Live Music Venues

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Key West, FL: Things to do

Things to do year-round – Yes, it’s an island, but it’s full of life and history… lots of history:

- Dry Tortugas National Park (day trip by water)
- Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
- Graffitti Menswear (Pan Am Memorabilia)
- Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum
- Hemingway Rum Company
- Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
- Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
- Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden
- Key West Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters Museum
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
- Key West Theater (Live performances year round)
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
- Old Town Fitness (Old school neighborhood gym to stay fit)
- Robert the Doll Experience
- Sebago Watersports (Sailing water tours!)
- USCGC Ingham Memorial Museum

Things to do seasonally – Two amazing music festivals each year, celebrating singer/songwriters are an excellent reason to visit:

- Key West Songwriters Festival (May)
- Trop Rock’N Duval (November)

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Memphis, TN: Things to do

Things to do – SO MANY! There is a rich history of civil rights and the roots of rock-n-roll! You will need at least 3-4 days:

Chicago, IL: Things to do

So much to see and do! Do these!

- Blues Heaven Foundation (Original Chess Records)
- Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
- Chicago Crime Tour (Criminals, landmarks, crime scenes)
- Chicago Detours (Food, drink and architecture tours)
- Chicago Prohibition Tour (Speakeasy and cocktail tours)
- Green Mill Cocktail Lounge (Sophisticated live Jazz!)
- Inside Chicago Walking Tours (Loop & art deco tours)
- Macy’s History Tour (Learn the origins of Macy’s)
- Redhead Piano Bar (Live piano sing-a-longs of yesteryear)
- Untouchable Tours (Chicago’s Original Gangster tour)

See these!

- 360 Chicago Observation Deck at John Hancock Building (Great views!)
- Chicago Architecture Center (City models, Chicago building history)
- Field Museum (Mummies, dinosaurs, pyramids, oh my!)
- House of Glunz (Wine & Liquor Shop since 1988 – also a yummy Pub)
- Museum of Broadcast Communications (Radio Hall of Fame)
- Navy Pier (Gardens, Ferris Wheel, statues, fireworks!)
- Signature Room/Lounge at John Hancock Building (Great views!)
- Skydeck/Ledge at Willis (Sears) Tower (Great views!)
- Soldier Field (Football)
- Wrigley Field (Baseball) & Wrigley Field Tours

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Independence, CA: Things to Do

Things to do – It’s all about history here. Especially at Manzanar. Just allow yourself to feel everything that comes up as you transport yourself back to WWII:

- Manzanar National Historic Site is the current site of the Manzanar War Relocation Center, which was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were incarcerated during WWII.
- Manzanar Pilgrimage during the last weekend in April each year is quite a powerful and amazing experience, especially if you are a history buff. People from all over the country attend the pilgrimage each year.
- Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine is great if you are a western movie buff. Really fun and informative. There were hundreds of movies and TV shows filmed in this area. Fun trip down memory lane!
- Lots of hiking in this area. Mount Whitney is spectacular.

Seattle, WA: Things to Do

Lots of fun stuff to do in Seattle!

- Argosy Cruises – A water-based background for another look at Seattle
- Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour – The best to learn Seattle’s history
- Boeing Factory Tour (Everett) – Spectacular history of Boeing!
- Copperworks Distillery Tour – Whiskey, Gin & Vodka tours & tastings
- Historic Walking Tour – A free tour with walking view of Seattle’s history
- Museum of Pop Culture – Haven’t been yet, but on my next trip!
- Olympic Sculpture Park – Take a free tours to learn about the park!
- Savor Seattle Food Tours – Food, chocolate and adult beverages!
- Seattle Central Library – Architecture at it’s finest!
- Seattle Great Wheel – Spectacular views of the city!
- Beneath the Streets Underground Tour – Another underground option!
- Space Needle – MORE spectacular views of the city!
- Viator – One of my favorite GO TO websites for all sorts of tours!

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Las Vegas, NV: Things to Do

Great Museums here! Who knew?

- Haunted Museum – 1938 Haunted property!
- Nevada National Security Site Tours – NOT TO BE MISSED!
- National Atomic Testing Museum – Best museum in town!
- Neon Museum – SO MUCH FUN (outdoors)!
- Mob Museum – Great history of Cosa Nostra
- Mob Museum Speakeasy – Grab a cocktail learn about the Roaring 20’s
- Hollywood Car Museum – Vehicles from movie and TV history
- Natural History Museum – Egypt, Prehistoric Mammals, Marine Life
- Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort – First settlement from 1955
- Pinball Hall of Fame – World’s largest Pinball collection

Other Super Fun Places to Visit and Participate!

- Arts District – Independent businesses and creatives
- Elevated Spirits Cocktail Series – Learn to make Craft cocktails!
- Flamingo Wildlife Habitat – Flamingos, swans, ducks, Koi fish & turtles
- Gamblers General Store – Fun supplies for any gambler – vintage, too
- High Roller Observation Wheel @ Linq – Party 550 feet above the Strip
- Lied Library at UNLV – Special collections section by special request
- Lost Spirits Distillery Experience – An immersive world to explore
- Marvel Avengers Station – Really fun for us superhero fans!
- Shark Reef Aquarium – Over 100 species in total sensory experience
- Springs Preserve – Train or trails through Las Vegas beginnings
- Titanic – The Artifact Exhibition – Over 250 authentic artifacts
- Vegas Mob Tour – Most authentic Mob tour in Vegas

Outside Vegas Fun Places to Visit!

- Kiel Ranch Historic Park – Early Las Vegas Settlement Site
- Lion Habitat Ranch – Book the tour; SO worth it
- Lost City Museum – Boulder Dam Park Museum
- Mount Charleston – Hiking trails, camping and biking
- Nevada Southern Railway Museum – Ride the rails form 1930’s
- Nevada State Museum – Natural & cultural heritage

Entertainment

I’m more into the musical performances, but those change constantly, so check websites like Vegas.com for a current list of shows.

I highly recommend seeing as many tributes and traditional performers while they are still with us. Don’t miss Rich Little at the Tropicana and The Rat Pack is Back at the Tuscany.

Conventions

There are a LOT of conventions here each year. My personal favorites are:

- Barbershop Harmony Society Convention (not every year)
- Star Trek Convention
- Tea Expo (not every year)

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New Orleans, LA: Things To Do

Walking Tours – This is a great city for walking. I’ve done many walking tours – the ones that stand out are cemetery and French Quarter tours

- Abel Tours does a great Music & Heritage Tour.
- Civil War Tours of New Orleans
- French Quarter Phantoms
- Haunted History Tours
- JFK Assassination Tour through Historic New Orleans Tours was one of the most interesting tours I’ve taken!
- Many options on Viator.com, Yelp.com or Tripadvisor.com.

Walking Ghost Tours – Since New Orleans is one of the most haunted cities in the US, definitely do a walking ghost tour – Yelp.com has many excellent reviews for ghost tours.

Other Tours:

- Especially if you’ve never been to New Orleans, the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen is a great way to learn about the city, feel the power of the Mississippi River, while having your favorite cocktail and possibly a meal.
- Another option is the Harbor Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez.
- Experience local distilleries at it’s best with a tour at Celebration Distillery.

Music Memories:

Live Music – Here’s my favorites with the styles of music they usually provide:

- BB King’s Blues Club (Blues, baby!)
- Maison (Django style)
- Maple Leaf Bar (Blues, funk, R&B, rock, Zydeco, Jazz, etc.)
- Mulate’s Original Cajun Restaurant (Cajun, what else?)
- Rock ‘n’ Bowl (especially on Zydeco Thursdays)
- Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (New Orleans Modern Jazz)
- Spotted Cat Music Club (traditional Jazz)
- Tipitina’s Uptown (great roots music)
- Tropical Isle Bayou Club & Music Bar (Trop Rock)

History – Several of my favorites:

- Civil War Walking Tours
- Confederate Memorial Hall Museum
- Milton H. Latter Memorial Library
- National WWII Museum
- New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
- Old US Mint (museum and music)
- Sazerac Bar (at Roosevelt Hotel)
- Southern Food & Beverage Museum
- St. Louis Cathedral

Special Events – Hands down, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival one of the best musical festivals in the USA!

Architecture – I haven’t taken one of these tours here yet, but if anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears!