The Perpetual Tourist

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Maybe it’s just the excessive heat, but this summer has felt longer than most.  Nothing against summer, but I’m ready for autumn.  Football and fall foliage are some of my favorite things, but I’m especially looking forward to my annual apple-picking trips.

It’s not quite apple season here in Virginia, but farms all across the country are geared up for the start of pick-your-own season.  As the crops come in, farms will open their gates to visitors who will come from near and far to pick their favorite fruits fresh off trees and vines.  It’s a great excursion for families, groups of friends, and culinary artists looking to get a deal on their jam-making supplies.

I usually make a weekend out of it with friends.  We go down to Nelson County, Virginia, to pick apples at my family farm, which is also open to the general public for pick-your-own apple days throughout the season.  We then pitch our tents on the farm and spend the night eating apples and drinking spiked cider by the campfire.  The next day, the more skilled among us (not me - I’m an eater, not a cook) take their remaining apples home and create delicious things like apple butter and apple pie to share with those of us who wish we were talented enough to make these things ourselves.

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Apple season is coming soon, but right now there are blueberries, peaches, and blackberries (in the northern US).  Pick-your-own excursions are great fun for kids, and then you can take your load home with you for cooking projects with your family.  Then later in the fall will be pumpkin season — get your Halloween jack-o-lanterns direct from the patch.

In addition to having a fun day outdoors with your friends and/or family, you can save a lot of money on fresh produce when you buy directly from a farm.  To find a pick-your-own site near you, visit this website.  You’ll also find great recipes for what to do with all the fruit you’re going to bring home.

If you find you can’t possibly eat all the goodies you picked (that’s often my problem), be a hero and bring them into your office to share, or have your kids take them to their friends at school.

With the way all of our cities are rapidly morphing into concrete jungles, I think time on a farm is valuable for everyone, but especially kids.  A pick-your-own farm trip is a great excuse to get some of your extended family together for some fun on the farm and a celebratory feast.

National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD

I have to admit that I don’t love Baltimore, Maryland.  It’s only a few hours away from my hometown, and I’ve visited many times, but it will never be my favorite place to go.  It’s difficult to get around, really expensive, and generally intimidating.  But there are redeeming qualities — reasons to go in spite of all this.  Number one is the National Aquarium.

When you visit the aquarium, you’ll want to leave the whole day open, because it will take hours to see everything, including special shows and various exhibits.  The exhibits at the aquarium are home to more than 16,500 animals.  I used to go on school field trips here as a kid, and I still love the place as an adult — it’s ideal for an educational family excursion.

The aquarium isn’t all fish, all the time.  There are reptile, bird, amphibian, and mammal exhibits to check out, along with the thousands of fish you’ll see.

Australian Frilled Lizard

One of the featured exhibits right now is Animal Planet Australia:  Wild Extremes.  Many Australian species evolved on the island continent isolated from other similar species, and represent the closest living connection to prehistoric animals on Earth.

Another exhibit your family will love is Frogs! A Chorus Of Colors.  You’ll get up close with all different shapes, sizes, and colors of frog, and experience their music in the making.  Check out frog mp3s here.

Some exhibits are hands-on, allowing you to touch animals that you’d never get close to in the wild.  Kids especially love this experience.

As with all good museums, the National Aquarium has a large theater called the 4D Immersion Theater.  Currently showing is Planet Earth: Shallow Seas™ 4-D Experience, a film that explores life in coastal waters and coral reefs.  The film is 3D, while smells and other sensory special effects combine for the fourth “D.”

My favorite part of the aquarium experience, both as a child and now as an adult, is always the dolphin show.  You have to purchase a separate ticket for this, but it’s a must see.  Dolphins are fascinating animals, and I always leave the show wishing I’d worked harder toward a dolphin-training career path.

Dolphins Perform at the National Aquarium

As I mentioned before, Baltimore is pricey — tickets to the aquarium start at $21.95 for adults, but a day here is well worth the price of admission.

Stonehenge is probably one of the coolest things on Earth. It’s simply a formation of big rocks, so that in itself is nothing spectacular, but the fact that it’s been there for several thousand years is just mind boggling. Which is why it’s also one of the most annoying things on Earth. The unanswered questions — the how, the why — are enough to drive a curious person insane.

Stonehenge as seen from the heelstone

Even with modern technology, such a building project would be no easy task. Those stones weigh many tons apiece — just thinking about how they got there is enough to make me strongly consider belief in aliens.

Located in Wiltshire, England, construction began on Stonehenge an estimated 5,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that Stonehenge was used as a burial ground in its earliest days, before the stones were placed.

Historians estimate that Stonehenge was created in phases, and was used for a period of up to 6,500 years — but what is was used for is one of the world’s greatest mysteries. Most leading theories suggest that the site was of religious importance, either as a worship site or altar for human sacrifice. Others suggest that Stonehenge was built for astronomical purposes. Some of the more colorful theories, based on the assumption that moving stones that size would have been impossible for humans at that time, assume that Stonehenge is a supernatural creation, or that it was built by extraterrestrials.

Archaeologists have discovered holes where stones once stood but are now fallen or gone. Restoration efforts began in 1901, and several stones have since been re-erected or repositioned in accordance with how we know they once were. Digs are ongoing to find more clues to the erection and use of Stonehenge. Volunteers are welcome at the site to help with conservation efforts as well as management and education.

1877 photograph of Stonehenge, prior to any restoration work

If you’d like to see Stonehenge, but a trip to England isn’t in the cards for you, there are replicas (of varying accuracy) all over the world.

In the US, you can visit a full-sized, astronomically-aligned replica of Stonehenge, as it would have originally been built, in Maryhill, Washington. Dedicated in 1918, this monument was built as a memorial to soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. Another American replica, this one half-scale, can be found at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, MO.

Maryhill, WA Stonehenge Replica

Whenever I visit Vegas, I feel like my trip ends too abruptly. There’s just so much to see and do, and for all that I get to experience, there’s so much more that I feel like I’ve missed. Oh well. Vegas will still be there when I go back, hopefully soon.

I do enjoy the casino scene, and on my last visit, I got to check out some new (to me) casinos and games. I am not by any means a high roller, so my definition of best casino is one that has low-limit games, a nice variety, good comps, and a fun atmosphere. On my latest visit, I spent most of my time at the following casinos: The Las Vegas Hilton, The Riviera, Circus Circus, Slots-A-Fun, The Sahara, and Planet Hollywood. None of these are really A-list locations on the strip, but like I said, I didn’t have the bankroll for the A-list.

Consensus among my wealthier companions is that the Bellagio is the best casino for high rollers in Las Vegas. I did not check it out for myself, but I also recently finished a great blackjack book that mentioned that the best blackjack tables in Vegas (as far as the player’s advantage) at also at this casino. But getting back to what I know…

I don’t really mess around with slot machines. The house edge is so high it just feels like paying taxes, and there’s no social interaction. One of my favorite things about casino gaming is meeting other players and dealers and enjoying the roller coaster with them. I like blackjack because it’s got the best odds in Vegas (when you know what you’re doing) and craps, because it’s a really exciting game with decent enough odds that you probably won’t lose the farm.

Of the casinos I visited last week, Slots-A-Fun is one of the most popular. Owned by Circus Circus and located at the far north end of the Vegas strip, Slots-A-Fun is one of the few casinos in town with $1 tables. Most casinos have a table minimum starting at $5 during slower times and $10 in the busier times, so cheap tables like this are few and far between. That’s pretty much the only thing Slots-A-Fun has going for it — it’s an otherwise dumpy place, and the crowds can be overwhelming. You can also get a half pound hot dog for 99 cents, but that doesn’t excite this vegetarian very much. The soy burgers there are nine bucks.

The Hilton is nicer than the Riv, but both have about the same offerings as far as games and minimums. I only saw a few $5 tables at either place, and they were always full when I walked by. One thing I noticed about the fancier casinos is that there was less smoking inside.

My favorite casino of this visit was Planet Hollywood. It was here that I learned to play craps, thanks to some friendly dealers and helpful fellow gamblers. The PH casino had lots of variety and nice, low table minimums during the daylight hours when I was there. It was clean and attractive, the free cocktails were tasty, and best of all, the dealers made it tons of fun.

Having a good dealer can make or break a gambling experience. The guys at my craps table at Planet Hollywood helped me with the rules, chatted with us while we played, and definitely earned the tips I threw their way. Carlos from Pitney, a particularly animated dealer at PH, was a blast — try to find his table when you visit, and win or lose, you’ll have a good time.

No one paid me off to say that — in fact, I lost $200 in my afternoon at Planet Hollywood, and I didn’t even sign up for their comp card to earn anything back. (That was my mistake. You should always sign up for the comp cards.) But I did drink two and a half free (or very expensive, depending on whether you win or lose…) margaritas, and I had a good time, so I’m considering it $200 well spent on an afternoon of solid entertainment.

I’m eagerly anticipating my next Vegas trip to continue my research into the best casino on the strip. But while I’ll definitely try some new places, I really look forward to poking my head back inside Planet Hollywood and trying to get some of my money back from Carlos. If you see him there, tell him Meg from Virginia says hi.

Don’t forget to tip your dealers!

Among other nicknames, Virginia is called “The Mother of Presidents,” as eight former U.S. Presidents have been born here. Charlottesville, home to Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, makes a great home base from which to take your tour of these historic homes.

Monticello - You may recognize Thomas Jefferson’s Charlottesville homestead from the back of the US nickel. Tours of Jefferson’s home and extensive grounds run seven days a week. Architecture was one of Jefferson’s many passions, and you’ll get a firsthand feel of his unique style as you tour the home he designed himself. Since TJ thought wide staircases were a waste of space, fire code prohibits large tour groups from going upstairs to the home’s most recognized feature, the Dome Room. You can purchase tickets for Evening Signature Tours that will take you to the restricted areas. Visit Monticello in the summertime to avoid school crowds and see the gardens in full bloom.

Ash Lawn-Highland - Don’t spend ALL day at Monticello, because just down the road is Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe. At Ash Lawn, historical interpreters give house tours and teach educational workshops covering several aspects of 18th century life. You can participate in hands-on lessons about cooking, crafting, games, and more. Each summer, the grounds are host to the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, with several outdoor theater productions. Playing this year are My Fair Lady and Carmen, with several other special productions. Visitors to Charlottesville often overlook Monroe’s home in favor of Monticello, but I highly recommend visits to both!

Montpelier - James Madison was born, raised, and died in this Orange, Virginia home. Since 2004, the home has been undergoing massive restoration to return it to its 18th century state. In addition to regular tours of the home and grounds, theme tours are available. Running April through October are special Grounds and Gardens tours, as well as the Enslaved Community tour, which focuses on the lives of Madison’s 100 slaves and the former president’s attitudes about slavery.

Mount Vernon - Just south of Washington, DC in northern Virginia, George Washington’s plantation is the most popular historic estate in the United States. It’s not really in central Virginia, but it’s worth an extra hour or two of driving. George and Martha Washington lived in Mount Vernon from their marriage in 1759 until George’s death in 1799. In that time, Washington worked to expand the grounds from 2,000 acres to 8,000, and the house from six to twenty-one rooms. Filled with artifacts, videos, and activities, Mount Vernon is an all-day (or more) experience. Visit Mount Vernon’s calendar of events for a detailed list of all the special events offered for your visit.

You can easily make a whole week of these historic tours. Even if you’ve visited once before, there’s always something new to discover your next time around. As a child in school in central Virginia, I visited each of these homes many times, and continue to go back from time to time as an adult. It’s amazing how over two hundred years later, the history is still unfolding — research yields new details and insights all the time, and the visits are never the same.

In addition to the homes listed above, you may be interested in Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace in Staunton. Though he only lived in Virginia as a baby, we still claim him, and you’ll find that many things in Staunton bear Wilson’s name. To the south, you can find Jefferson’s retreat at Poplar Forest in Bedford, Virginia.

I love flying in and out of Portland International Airport. The airport itself is very cool, but the real appeal is getting a bird’s eye view of all the major peaks of the Cascade Range. Even though it’s a few hundred miles away from Portland, Mount Rainier in Washington is one of the most imposing sights on the skyline.

Whenever I see people with window seats on the plane not staring out at the mountains, I am convinced they have no soul. My husband says it’s just that they grew up in the area and the mountains are an everyday sight for them. Whatever — the mountains of the Pacific Northwest are just as stunning to me now as they were the first time I saw them, and if I could see them all the time, I’d never look at anything else.

If you think the view from the sky is stunning, just wait until you see Mount Rainier from its own slopes. Mount Rainier National Park is open all year, but the most popular time to visit is mid- to late summer, when more of the mountain is accessible. Summertime can be crowded at Rainier, so mid-week is the best time to visit if you come during this peak season.

In the spring, you’ll find waterfalls created by melting snow, or later in the year you can take in the vibrant colors of the fall, but remember that weather conditions will dictate how much of the mountain you’ll be able to visit. Don’t expect to get anywhere by car if you come in the winter!

Non-motorized boating and fishing are permitted in most of the park’s lakes, but keep in mind that they are only ice-free for a short window, usually from July to October.

As you might expect, there are plenty of hiking trails around Rainier. If you plan to camp overnight, you must obtain a permit, available at any of the park’s ranger stations. Never hike alone, and always inform someone else of your plans so that they can notify authorities if you do not return when expected. Check the latest wilderness alerts before leaving for a hike or climb.

Snow starts falling each year in late October, making Rainier a great place to enjoy snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, showshoeing, and sledding. Conditions can get hazardous, so stick to the designated areas for these activities, and never go out alone.

For accommodations at Mount Rainier, there’s no better place to be than Paradise, an appropriately named area on the south slope of the mountain. The historic Paradise Inn has just reopened following two years of renovations. Paradise is the park’s main winter-use area, and also home to its main visitor center, the Jackson Visitor Center. Roads in and out of Paradise are kept plowed throughout the winter.

For more information about accommodations and things to do at Mount Rainier, visit the national park website here.

Yellowstone National Park is one of those places everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. It was the first national park in the US, and it is certainly one of the grandest, surrounded by the towering Rocky Mountains and featuring more wildlife than most zoos and geysers unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. But there’s something you probably haven’t heard about this place: it smells horrible.

Trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas leak out through cracks in the ground, especially around the geysers in the park, which makes the place smell like rotten eggs. I’m not trying to sell timeshares in Wyoming, so I’ll be honest with you: the smell is damn near unbearable at times. I would have enjoyed my trip to Yellowstone much more if I’d had a decent sinus infection.

The odor is a definite bummer, but it is by no means a reason to avoid the park. Yellowstone is one of the most lovely places I’ve ever been, and I guess that unless you want to dress like Michael Jackson (a lot more acceptable in the 80’s), there’s no real way to prepare for the stench. Still, I think it’s only fair that visitors be warned so they can at least brace themselves…

The nearest major airport to Yellowstone is Salt Lake City, about five hours away, but I’d recommend flying into Jackson Hole if you can find a good deal. It’s more convenient to the park, and the drive to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole, Wyoming takes you through Grand Teton National Park. You might as well make it a twofer when you visit this area, because both parks are really gorgeous — and Grand Teton smells like regular fresh air!

The climate in this area (northwest Wyoming) is one of cold winters and mild summers, which makes it a popular summer vacation destination. Expect crowds if you come in the peak season. When you visit in winter, you can take advantage of better hotel prices and guided snowmobile tours. It sounds like a lot of fun, and it would be nice to avoid great masses of people, but I still think summer is the best time to see Yellowstone.

For one thing, the weather is pretty nice (as opposed to bitterly cold), and even though there won’t be any snowmobiling, you have many more options in the summer, like camping, hiking, boating, and fishing.

Of course you’ll have to visit Old Faithful. So named because it is one of the few geysers in the world that actually erupts on a predictable schedule, Old Faithful shoots boiling water up to 184 feet in the air approximately every 90 minutes. Be patient, though, because the schedule isn’t entirely precise. Sometimes smaller eruptions precede the real deal, and when I visited the geyser, it started gurgling a few minutes after a crowd started to assemble. It burped up some smelly water for a little while, maybe five or six feet high, then settled down. Everyone was pretty bummed. “That’s it?!” Most of the crowd left to explore other parts of the park, so my folks and I were some of the only witnesses of that hour’s real eruption, some fifteen minutes after the teaser.

Old Faithful is the most famous attraction, but Yellowstone has plenty of other charms. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was my favorite place when I visited. Several lookouts along the canyon offer incredible views of the Upper and Lower Falls, at 109 feet and 308 feet, respectively. Along some of the park’s hiking trails, you’ll come to petrified forests, which are really not forests but rather groups of petrified trunks. Still pretty cool.

And then there’s the wildlife. Yellowstone is home to dozens of endangered species, as well as animals that you just don’t see anywhere else. One memorable sighting on my trip was when my parents were talking about how they’d like to see a coyote.

“There’s one,” I said, pointing to the coyote that had just sauntered past our car. “And there’s a bear.” Remember to practice smart camping techniques if you pitch your tent in Yellowstone. The animals really are everywhere.

Even with threatening bears and that awful smell, I put Yellowstone in the top ten places I’d like to see again. It was worth the inconveniences the first time around, and knowing what I’d face on a return trip, I’d still love to do it all over again.

For the past two months, I’ve been on the road. I just got word that I’m wanted on the west coast again, so it looks like I’m flying back out there this weekend. For one short week, I get to enjoy being home. I may not be around here much, but of all the places I’ve been, I can’t think of a better place to call home than Charlottesville, Virginia.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Every year, Charlottesville is named on various top ten lists, mostly having to do with being the best place to live. It has its negative qualities just like anywhere else, but I feel like this big small town has enough charms to make up for any of its failings, the worst of which are the humidity and the pretentious UVA students.

I’d like to embark now on a virtual tour of my favorite part of good ol’ C-ville — the Downtown Mall. This is not some giant shopping complex where all the kids hang out after school. It is where the cool kids hang out, but it’s not known for the shopping. The Downtown Mall is an open-air pedestrian mall in the heart of the city, six blocks long from end to end, packed from first to last brick with great food, entertainment, and even shopping.

Summers are a great time to enjoy the mall, because the city hosts a weekly party called Fridays After Five. Every Friday, street vendors, activists, and entertainers fill the bricks of the Downtown Mall, and at the Pavilion on the east end, professional musicians put on free concerts lasting well into the evening. There’s beer, there’s wine, there’s dancing, and there are lots and lots of friendly people. It’s a great way to unwind after a long week at work or school, and you’re sure to bump into old friends and make new ones.

On top of the Fridays After Five festivities, if you come to the mall on the first Friday of the month, you can partake in the First Fridays celebrations as well. On the first Friday of every month, all the Charlottesville art galleries — many of which are right on the mall — open their doors to the public for free receptions. You can meet and mingle with the artists and chow down on free refreshments while taking in a rich variety of art.

It’s true that the best things in life — even the things that are usually quite expensive — are free, right here in C-ville.

Of all the storefronts and restaurants on the Downtown Mall, only one that I know of is a true chain (Five Guys) — so don’t go there. You have literally dozens of fantastic restaurants all within a 2-minute walk of anywhere you’re standing on the mall. For lunch, I recommend Himalayan Fusion, and Indian restaurant near the Pavilion end of the mall. They have an inexpensive all-you-can-eat buffet that changes daily, but always includes rice, naan, four vegetarian dishes, three meat dishes, and a dessert. I could eat there every day, and when my office was on the mall, I did. For dinner, Himalayan Fusion is still a fine choice, but my top pick is Zocalo. Featuring an eclectic Mediterranean menu, Zocalo has been consistently voted the best restaurant in Charlottesville since it opened a few years back.

Sticking with Best of C-ville winners, I like to spend my evenings at the Gravity Lounge. It’s an intimate music venue with a great wine and beer list, comfortable seating, and the best music that comes through town. Because of its size, Gravity doesn’t draw a lot of big names, but I’ve never had a bad experience there. The music may not be popular, but it’s excellent.

For the finest hotel in Charlottesville, you don’t even have to leave the mall. The Omni Hotel offers luxury accommodations at the west end of the mall. I’d argue that you could have a fantastic vacation week in Charlottesville without ever traveling more than six blocks away from your hotel room when you stay at the Omni. It’s true, but then you’d be missing out on all the other great things my home town has to offer. More on that another time.

A kid at the beach can be completely entertained with nothing more than a shovel and a bucket in the sand, but unless you want to come home with a fried child, you’re going to want to limit the time you spend at the ocean and mix up your activities a bit. At a place like Myrtle Beach, your choices are endless.

My nieces are 2 months old and 4 years old, and they are here with us this week. Our schedule most days has been to go to the beach as soon as the girls wake up, and stay until 11am or so. This gives the girls — well, the oldest one, anyway — plenty of play time in the sand and water before the sun gets too strong. After lunch and a nap, our afternoons are reserved for other activities.

Our first priority was to try out one of the many miniature golf courses here. My niece couldn’t have cared less that we were playing golf, but she loved the pirates and the bright green water. All the mini golf places here have unnaturally bright water. They have names and themes, too, but we identify them as the place with the pink water, the place with the green water, and the one with the blue water. My niece picked green, which was also the place with the pirates and the ice cream when we were done. Most towns have a mini golf course or two, but if you want the courses with wild obstacles and crazy decorations, then you want to play mini golf at the beach. There are lots of courses both indoors and outdoors. I think playing outdoors on a warm evening is the best.

If the ocean doesn’t provide enough water fun for you, Myrtle Waves is South Carolina’s largest water park, with rides, slides, and hours of aquatic enjoyment for all ages. Ticket prices are completely reasonable, compared to other water parks I’ve visited. Park officials suggest coming on Sundays to avoid big crowds, as these are “by far” their slowest time of the week.

If you’re a family of sports fans, then you should definitely check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans while you’re in town. This Single-A Braves affiliate baseball team draws a big crowd for its Carolina League games, no doubt thanks in part to all the entertainment at the games. There’s the standard between-innings promotional dizzy bat races and the like, but also a large kids’ area and a really cute tradition after each game where they let kids onto the field to run the bases.

Of course there’s lots more to do here, but we try not to push ourselves too much. Going out every day would be a little excessive with two little ones and a large, expensive family. For a more low-key activity, a walk around the fishing piers can be a nice way to spend a couple of hours. The one nearest our vacation house — on 37th Avenue — costs $1.50 per person to enter. The guys went fishing and caught some sharks (just eight inches long or so — not terribly fearsome) while my niece had her hair done in braids yesterday afternoon. The braids are a nice beach tradition — they’re festive and they keep the hair out of her eyes while she swims.

I’ve loved coming here ever since I was a tiny tot, and now that I’m older, it’s great fun for me to spend this time with my nieces. It’s also perfect being here with the whole family, because while the kids can just go and go, I like to have some down time in my day. Having lots of adults willing to take kid shifts will keep you from getting worn out.

For more ideas of things to do with your family at Myrtle Beach, the Sunny Day Guide has a very long list here.

When I was a junior in college, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia with my interterm class. Interterm is the three-week session in January at my alma mater where students can either get a dreaded requirement out of the way quickly, or go on trips or take a class that can’t be offered for a full semester (I got to take a swordfighting class my freshman year). One of my history professors took a group of kids to Australia each year, and I was lucky enough to be one of those kids.

If you want to get to Australia, this is a great way to do it. Traveling in a group made it much cheaper than going on my own, and going with a prof who’d been twenty times already was great, because he pointed out all the little things we might never have noticed as novice tourists of Oz. Our group spent time in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, and we packed more into our time there than the Travel Channel could fit in a six-hour miniseries. For now I’m just going to focus on a few of the little things that you may not think about seeing or doing that made my time in Sydney spectacular.

Paddy’s Markets

People who like to shop will want to set aside a whole day to spend at Paddy’s Markets. If you’re not a real shopper, maybe four or five hours will be enough for you. Paddy’s is part mega-mall, part flea market, and it’s HUGE. I literally spent a whole day there and saw maybe 50% of it all. In the lower area, vendors set up booths and tables just like a flea market, and sell everything you can think of — food, clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, and so much more — all at very reasonable prices. When I was there, the US dollar was worth two Australian dollars, but now the currencies are trading almost one for one. Still, the prices are low and you’ll be able to stretch your spending money at a place like this.

Opals

Australia is famous for its opals, and once you get there, it will be impossible to miss all the stores selling the gorgeous gems. These make a great gift for loved ones who don’t get to make the trip with you, so keep that in mind. When you buy any high-dollar item in Australia, you will be charged the local taxes, but you can get a special receipt from the stores that allow you to recover this tax money when you leave the country (if you are not an Australian citizen, that is). Remember when traveling with opals that they are very fragile gems — pack them carefully.

Boulder opals and black opals are the deeply colored, dark stones you’ll find. These are much more rare than the white or milky opals typically seen in jewelry. They will be more expensive, but they’re cheaper in Australia than anywhere else, so if you want them, this is the place to buy. I had a very good experience shopping at Flame Opals in Sydney, but there are plenty of other opal vendors all around. Do some comparison shopping before settling on the first thing you see, because there are so many choices!

Indian Food

Australia has a large population of Indian people, and there are lots of Indian restaurants all over Sydney. The food isn’t Americanized like it is in the Western hemisphere, and I’ve had few meals in my lifetime as delicious as the Indian food I ate in Sydney.

Keep in mind when you dine out anywhere in Australia that tipping is not expected like it is in the US. Tips are always appreciated, of course, but servers are actually paid real wages and restaurants do not put this burden on their customers. A 10% tip is very gracious, and is about the most that would be appropriate for good service. If you are dining with large groups, tips are somewhat more expected, however.

Wine

Australian wine isn’t exactly world famous like French wine or Napa Valley wine, but Australia is the world’s 4th leading wine exporter. According to a coach (not “bus”) driver I had on a tour, Australia only exports the worst of its products — Foster’s, Kylie Minogue, and its bad wines. (His words, not mine.) In other words, just because you haven’t found good Australian wine elsewhere in the world, that doesn’t mean you won’t find it in Australia. I definitely recommend sampling the local wines when you dine out.

Sydney is one of my favorite cities in the world, and I hope one day I can afford another trip back. Maybe I should get in touch with my old professor and see if he’s accepting applications for chaperons. I’d recommend it to anyone who has the chance to visit. Of course you’ll want to see all the things the city is famous for, like the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, and all the beaches, but you’ll be shortchanging yourself if you skip over all the little things that give the city so much flavor.

Enjoy your trip down under, and please bring me back some opals:)