Ten great songs about places

Whether you're a resident or a visitor, nothing can bring back memories of a place the way music can. With this in mind, the members and editors of travel website VirtualTourist.com have compiled this list of great songs about places. Some have become inadvertent anthems while others actually paint quite a dismal picture. Regardless they've become inextricably linked to their respective places.

1. "AUTUMN IN NEW YORK," BILLIE HOLIDAY

Almost nothing can ignite the sentimental side of hardened New Yorkers like this tribute to the city, and while there have been countless recordings, it is arguably Billie Holiday's restrained and languid interpretation with which most fans are familiar. The song is so evocative you can almost smell leaves when you listen to it.

2. "CALIFORNIA," MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND

Groovy, bittersweet, and made for driving the open highway, this song may not necessarily be about California directly, but it certainly evokes the feeling of it. For music aficionados the long and incredibly impressive guitar solo right in the middle of it is one for the record books.

3. "LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER," THE STANDELLS

In spite of being somewhat dark in theme (some of the lyrics revolve around a mugging experienced by the band's producer), this is a song that Bostonians consider an anthem. In fact, it was actually chosen as the official victory anthem at Fenway Park.

4. "MARRAKESH EXPRESS," CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH

If ever there were a song that made you want to get out there and see exotic lands, this is it! Although melodically laid back and mellow, lyrically this song perfectly describes the chaos of this famous ride from Casablanca to what is now Marrakech.

5. "I LOVE PARIS," ELLA FITZGERALD

For Francophiles no song could say it better. A love song to the City of Light if ever there was one, the simple lyrics reflect the deep affection admirers feel toward the world's most glorious and romantic town.

6. "TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS," JOHN DENVER

The ultimate '70s classic, this song is the official anthem of West Virginia University. Interestingly, those who've taken apart the song's lyrics say it's actually about the western part of the state of Virginia, rather than West Virginia proper.

7. "GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE," "HAIRSPRAY"

A tribute to "Hairspray" creator John Waters' hometown, this sunny and stirring hymn to the Maryland city opens the show and why wouldn't it? With lyrics like "Every night is a fantasy" it makes Baltimore seem more like Hollywood.

8. "IT HAPPENED IN SUN VALLEY," GLENN MILLER

If this charming and uber-nostalgic song doesn't make you want to visit Sun Valley, nothing will. With lyrics like "There were sunbeams in the snow/And a twinkle in your eyes" you may end up on the slopes by sunset.

9. "AMSTERDAM," JACQUES BREL

Although it may not create the rosiest picture of this exceptionally beautiful city, it's still a favourite among those who live and travel there. While purists may argue that Brel's version is definitive, there are those who say that David Bowie's version is better.

10. "A FOGGY DAY (IN LONDON TOWN)"

Performed by everyone from Fred Astaire to Rufus Wainwright this classic written by the Gershwin brothers makes you feel as if you're walking down Regent Street, regardless of who happens to be singing it. First introduced to the public in the 1930s it continues to be a favourite of recording artists.

(c) 2011  VirtualTourist.com , Distributed by Tribune Media Services Inc.

Top 10 museum destinations

NEW YORK - If you're heading to Paris, you'll stop in at the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, in Washington the Smithsonian is a must-see and the Vatican in Rome should be on every museum-lover's bucket list. With that in mind, online travel adviser Cheapflights (Cheapflights.com) offers its top 10 museum destinations. Reuters has not endorsed this list:

1. Washington, D.C., United States

If you're interested in history, architecture, art, religion, aerospace, or even wax, Washington D.C. has a museum - or 12 - that will pique your interest. The 19 Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum, may appear to eclipse other institutions in the mid-Atlantic city, but other niche museums do just fine holding their own. Spend a morning reflecting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and an early afternoon at Ford's Theater - where Lincoln was shot - before strolling the National Mall and other outdoor hotspots like the spectacular National Arboretum.

2. Cairo, Egypt

It goes without saying that if you're heading to museums in Cairo, you're into history. And you'll get plenty of it at the renowned Egyptian Antiquities Museum, which properly holds the world's largest collection of Egyptian antiquities. The most popular exhibit is the Tutankhamen collection, but be sure to make time for the Mummy Room. The breathtaking spectacle is one-of-a-kind, though you'll have to join the crowd - and turn your camera flash off. Other museums are lesser known, but stand out nonetheless. The Egyptian Ethnological Museum beautifully details daily Cairo life through the city's long history, while the Military Museum is a trip back in time to study ancient warfare in the region.

3. Barcelona, Spain

It's almost unfair how much amazing art is housed in Barcelona's museums - the works of Picasso and Miró, not to mention the largest collection of Catalan art in Spain. Any trip to Barcelona requires paying homage to the strange architectural genius of Antoni Gaudi. Start with La Pedrera. One part apartment building, one part Gaudi museum, La Pedrera is a good primer on the naturalistic forms he preferred. Finish with La Sagrada Familia. The unfinished masterpiece church, under construction since 1882, resembles a drizzled sand castle and embodies the brilliant eye of the great Gaudi. Speaking of paying tribute to offbeat Spanish geniuses, the Dali Museum in Figueres is worth the 90-minute car ride from Barcelona. The museum houses one of the largest collections of surrealist painter Salvador Dali's work - and is a work of art itself.

4. New York, United States

Even New Yorkers who live downtown are willing to venture above 14th Street when the long haul means a visit to the finest mile of museums in the world. Along Fifth Avenue and Central Park's east side, ten museums are densely packed into 22 city blocks, creating the infamous Museum Mile, home to powerhouses like the Frick, the Guggenheim, and grandfather to them all, the Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art contains more than 2 million works of art, from ancient sculptures to 19th century portraits like Washington Crossing the Delaware. Work your way to the other side of the park if dinosaurs and science are more your speed: the American Museum of Natural History is a guaranteed favorite for museum-goers of all ages.

5. Vatican City, Italy

Italy's holiest of cities houses wonderfully extensive collections of the Catholic Church in some of the greatest museums in the world - the Vatican Museums. Open to the public for free on the last Sunday of each month, the museums feature works by prolific Italian artists like Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio and - of course - Michelangelo. Spend time admiring papal thrones, sculptures, and paintings before immersing yourself in the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel. Art critics today revere Michelangelo's four-year project, including The Last Judgment, as his finest life's work.

6. Paris, France

The Musée du Louvre is the world's most visited art museum and The City of Light's pride and joy. Visitors to Paris's paragon, which houses nearly 35,000 works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, can spend hours, days - even weeks - exploring the beloved trove. After winding your way through the Louvre, cross the Seine to the intoxicating Musée d'Orsay, which boasts 19th and 20th century art by impressionist masters like Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne. Perhaps your passion lies with modern art? The Center Pompidou - commonly referred to as the Beaubourg - is Europe's largest modern art museum and hosts consistently spectacular exhibitions.

7. Toronto, Canada

Begin a weekend in Toronto by finding half-priced inspiration at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), a fabulous hodgepodge of thousands of artifacts featured in more than 20 exhibits. Friday nights are half off, and the museum welcomes visitors, from students to seniors, to admire its dinosaur, Indian and textile exhibits - and, of course, the magnificent Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, a spectacular entrance constructed of glass and aluminum to resemble an intricate crystal. For visitors with foot fetishes, or just a love of history, consider the Bata Shoe Museum. The downright fascinating museum is committed solely (get it?) to shoes, footwear, socks and all things feet. Pay what you can get to get in, and learn all that you'll ever need to know about the history of footwear. The ultimate destination to celebrate Canadian art, though, is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Housing the largest collection of Canadian art in the world, AGO underwent a $250 million-plus renovation in 2004, developed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.

8. Berlin, Germany

Berlin's dynamic history and the preserved monuments to wars, political strife and cultural relief leads visitors to sometimes feel like they're walking through a museum just by strolling the German capital's streets. Twenty-seven museums have opened - and re-opened - in the past decade, helping to establish the city's Museum Island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pave the way for international artistic respect. The Anti-Kriegs-Museum is the world's first anti-war museum and - after a temporary relocation to Belgium - re-opened proudly in 1982. For something a tad spicier, check out the Beathe Uhse Erotik-Museum and take a 2,000-year exploration of eroticism and sex through pictures, painting, illustrations and figures in over 5,000 exhibits.

9. London, England

London has every type of museum you'd expect - art, science, history - but it's the quality of these museums that makes them stand out. Start with the Museum of London and learn about the city itself from prehistoric times through Roman conquests, medieval London and present day. Or, if you want another type of look at the city's evolution, head over to the London Transport Museum where you'll find vehicles and artwork representative of 200 years' worth of London commuting - including the world's first underground steam-powered train. But if it's the cutting edge of modernity that you want, look no further than the Design Museum. Located on the River Thames, the world-class exhibits here illustrate the bravura of 20th and 21st century designers of all mediums, from fashion furniture, to graphics and architecture.

10. Vienna, Austria

The Habsburgs single-handedly positioned Vienna as an art mecca for eternity after ruling over Austria - and its art production - for more than 600 years until the beginning of the 20th century. Visit Wien's Museum of Fine Arts and admire the vast majority of the ruling family's collections, from Ancient Greek preservations to pieces by Rembrandt. For a more contemporary vibe, pay admission to the Kunsthalle Wien, which features contemporary international art and works by Klee and Picasso, or the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (MUMOK), which focuses more on Austrian art and revolutionary artists like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

A howling good time in Algonquin

Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? Quite a lot of people it seems if you believe the popular myths about these predators.

Even those in charge of protecting our provincial parks held massive wolf culls in the early 1900s to drive the species out of existence. But despite all the past huffing and puffing about wolves as evil incarnate, it turns out they were greatly misunderstood and park naturalists have been working hard ever since to blow down the inaccurate stereotypes.

At Ontario's Algonquin Park, visitors can get a chance to communicate directly with these fascinating animals by joining a Public Wolf Howl on Thursday nights in August.

"The Public Wolf Howl program started back in 1963 as part of a research tool to find packs of wolves," Rick Stronks, Algonquin's chief park naturalist, explains. "You have to remember that in the 1960s wolves were still considered to be vermin, so it was not something that we thought would be successful."

But it turned out to be a huge success and today up to 2,000 people take part in the nocturnal howlings and most come away with a new appreciation of wolves.

"This program I think has really done a lot to educate the public about wolves," Stronks says. "It's an animal that was hated by so many people and I really think that over the last 50 plus years we've really been able to change the attitude towards wolves."

The Wolf Howls start with an evening talk at Algonquin's outdoor theatre. If park staff have managed to locate a wolf pack the night before, the hundreds of assembled vehicles play follow-the-leader while park staff direct everyone to a spot along Hwy. 60, where they hope to hear the call of the wild.

The line of cars can stretch up to 6 km, so half park along the north shoulder of the highway while the rest park on the south side. All engines and lights are shut off while the participants exit their vehicles and listen in silence as park staff howl into the darkness and wait for a response.

Algonquin has about 20 to 30 wolf packs within its 7,600 sq km of wilderness and as many as five different packs regularly come up to or cross Hwy. 60.

Stronks says August is the best time for public howlings because that is when the wolves are most likely to answer their human protectors.

"The key thing about August is that the wolf pups are big enough to be running around but they can't stay with the pack and hunt, so the adults leave them at a site that we call a rendezvous site, which is kind of like a playpen area. The adults might leave them there for days or weeks at a time, so we know that there is a very good chance that the pups and the adults will be there night after night and that's really the key to our success."

Of course, there's no guarantee the wolves will cooperate, but even if they don't howl back, Stronks says it's still a wonderful experience.

"While you are waiting you may be lucky enough to see the Northern lights, hear the call of an owl or listen to migrating birds," Stronks says.

And because Algonquin has so little light pollution, he says, "just seeing the stars is in itself an incredible experience."

The Algonquin Park Wolf Howls program is free for park visitors and lasts for three hours. For more information, contact algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/programs/wolf-howls.php or 705-633-5572.

For more family travel ideas, check out tripswithkids.ca and @tripswithkids

World's top 24-hour cities

So New York is the city that never sleeps? Tick that off as just another urban myth.

A new study about the world's most 24-hour cities ranks New York 32nd on the list, well behind Cairo, Montevideo, Beirut and Malaga and Zaragoza, both in Spain, which captured the top five spots.

Almost every European capital came ahead of New York, with London ranking 17th, Paris 18th, Rome 27th, Lisbon 15th, and even Brussels, commonly thought of as being a sleepy bureaucratic town, came in 11th place in the ranking by the social networking site Badoo.com.

"This will confirm the fears of those who say that New York has grown sterile and sleepy," said Lloyd Price, Badoo's director of marketing. "Some will call it a humiliation."

The ranking is based on an analysis of 120 million online chats spanning 122 million people in 180 countries, which showed activity peaked in Cairo at nearly 1 a.m., which is much later than New York.

"Our studies suggest that New Yorkers are climbing into bed around the same time that their Cairo counterparts are preparing to go out," said Price. "There are seismic changes going on there. They are happy to be alive."

New York tied for 32nd place with Marseilles in France, the Sicilian capital of Palermo, and Montreal, Quebec.

"It may be an indication of people not spending as much money late," Price added. "Not as many people seem to be going out, staying out late, partying, drinking."

Of the top ten most nocturnal cities in the world, six of the top 10 were in Spain -- Malaga, Zaragoza, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. The Argentine capital of Buenos Aires came in 10th place.

"Spain is on a high right now, after having won the World Cup," Price said. "And their economy is doing much better than that of Greece, for example."

Price also noted that the Spanish version of a day is much longer.

"We see a job as an 8-hour working day, but in Spain it's longer, as many people go rest for a few hours," he explained.

 

Colourful start to Toronto Caribbean Carnival

It’s going to be a hot, humid and spicy long weekend.

The Caribbean Carnival Toronto will sizzle all weekend with the Grand Parade running all day Saturday along Lake Shore Blvd. along Exhibition Place, followed by the carnival lime at Ontario Place on Sunday and rugby matches Sunday and holiday Monday.

"This year’s festival is definitely bigger and better," Christopher Alexander, Caribbean Carnival Toronto’s Chief Administrative Officer said. "We have 27 mas bands taking part with close to 2,600 participants in the parade, so we want everyone to come down and jump up,"

The TD Irie Music Festival hosts a wide array of performers at Yonge-Dundas Square, Queen’s Park and Nathan Phillips Square all weekend through until Monday.

"Toronto offers up this cultural explosion of activities and events and the TD Irie Music Festival has become very much a signature piece of this Caribbean Carnival in Toronto," Irie Music Festival co-founder Phil Vassell, said. "We get calls from out of town tourists wanting to know to plan their itinerary."

Environment Canada is forecasting a mainly sunny and hot and humid long weekend.

Saturday will be sunny and reach a high of 28C with a low of 20C.

Sunday is calling for a 60% chance of rain with a high of 30C and low of 18C. Monday will host a sunny day with a high of 29C and a low of 18C.

Those looking to cool down, can head to Splashworks at Canada’s Wonderland or hit the beach.

"Our 20-acre waterpark with great slides, pools and water fun is a good way to cool down in this heat," Canada’s Wonderland spokesman Dineen Beavan said.

All of Toronto’s beaches received the blue flag and are safe to swim. Only one beach in Durham — Frenchman’s Bay West in Pickering — is safe to swim.

Unfortunately, 13 of Durham region’s beaches were deemed unsafe by the health department. The bacteria levels were above the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s standard of 100 E. coli per 100 millilitres of water.

If you’re heading up to the cottage or out-of-town, OPP warn drivers to slow down and drive carefully.

The OPP say they will be out in force.

And if you’re driving south of the border, be prepared for long waits at the border and make sure your passport is valid. Canada’s Border Services Agency has beefed up staff to help meet the expected increase in traffic entering the country.

 

Everyone loves Ontario's Marineland

"There's a place I know in Ontario, where the sea lions kiss, so the story goes.

"Its amazing shows and Friendship Cove . . . everyone loves Marineland."

Wait, there’s more:

"You'll be spinning, diving and soaring high. Our roller-coaster ride will fly you to the sky. Now you know what you'll say when you leave here today . . . everyone loves Marineland."

Love or hate that commercial, it’s a sure sign of summer and sure catches the attention of kids.

The "love-in" seemed apparent during a recent visit to the iconic theme park in Niagara Falls.

It’s been some years since we took the kids to Marineland and now that we have kids again (grandkids), it was time to return.

On a recent visit with Adam, five, and Nathan, 10 months, they were captivated by the kissing and frolicking dolphins and sea lions as well as seeing all that marine life up close.

Marking its 50th year, Marineland has expanded with many rides, including Sky Screamer, called the "world’s highest triple-tower ride" with views of the falls, Dragon Mountain coaster, the "dipping, spinning" Topple Tower and rides for younger children.

But, the main attraction remains the high-flying dolphins, adorable walruses, comical sea lions, friendly white belugas and orca "killer" whales all putting on a show.

 

Two tanks, three sea lions

Marineland, one of North America’s most successful theme parks, began in 1961 with "one determined owner (John Holer), one small plot of land, two water tanks and three sea lions."

Expansion by 1970 included a 4,500-seat outdoor stadium, gift shops, restaurants and wildlife, followed by the first killer whales that put Marineland on the map.

Holer’s dream has been to share his "enjoyment and appreciation for animals with others," said Marineland manager Ann Marie Rondinelli.

"Animal displays are designed so that guests can, as often as possible, touch, feed or walk among the animals," she said.

 

Flip, flop and fly

The marine animals put on quite a show as they flip, flop and fly to the delight of onlookers.

King Waldorf Stadium’s dolphin, walrus and sea lion shows have these critters performing "amazing flips and other awesome feats."

Along with upbeat music and comedy, visitors see the speedy and high-flying aerials of the dolphins and the antics of the walruses and agility and energy of the California sea lions.

Over at Arctic Cove, the beluga whale habitat, visitors can touch and feed these marine mammals while Friendship Cove is the orca whale habitat, where they jump and splash to amazing heights.

Both habitats are designed to reflect the ocean environment and have expansive viewing areas to observe the underwater world of these ocean creatures.

There are also wildlife areas where visitors can pet and feed deer, view majestic elk, bison and black bears, and feed fish in a lake.

 

Sheraton oohs and aahs

That night, we had a front-row seat for the fireworks over the falls from a 14th-floor room at the Sheraton on the Falls hotel.

The kids loved the floor-to-ceiling room windows with views of the Horseshoe and American falls, the Maid of the Mist tourist boats and all the activity below.

In the heart of the fall’s entertainment district, the Sheraton is connected to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark and Casino Niagara.

The 670-room hotel has some off-weekend room rates from $129 a night. There are also packages through Sept. 4 with the "Ultimate Family Bonus" including $300 in dining, show and attraction passes.

This includes tickets for four to Adventure City attractions and the Danny Zzzz Master Hypnotist show, a $40 Fallsview dining card and Kids Eat Free Breakfast at the Fallsview Restaurant. www.niagarafallshotels.com/sheraton; (905) 374-4445.

 

 

If you go:

Marineland, 7657 Portage Rd, Niagara Falls, Ont., is open daily through Oct. 9 with admission from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., September and October), with activities continuing until nightfall.

Admission is $41.95 plus tax for ages 10 to 59 and $34.95, five to nine and 60 and older (children to age five, free). An additional $5 will buy a season pass and parking is free.

There are numerous food outlets and picnic facilities, along with Marineland’s nearby King Waldorf’s Tent and Trailer Park.

Details: www.marineland.ca; (905) 356-9565.

 

 

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

 

Central Park ready for its close-up

NEW YORK CITY -- With 341 hectares of ponds, fountains, statues and even a castle, Central Park doubles as New York City's busiest film set.

It's big, it's green and it's free for the movie and TV industries, which have been taking advantage since 1908 when a silent version of Romeo and Juliet utilized what is called the largest man-made work of art in the city.

Visitors spending just a few minutes at the park's most popular entry point at 5th Ave. and 59th St., at the Plaza Hotel, will recognize scenes from The Way We Were, Sex In The City, Splash and Barefoot In The Park. Seven pictures that used the park won Academy Awards: Annie Hall, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Fisher King, Kramer vs. Kramer, Love Story, the first version of The Producers and On The Town.

For cinefiles wanting the whole story of the park's screen lore, On Location Tours operates a two-hour, family friendly walkabout of landmarks, detailing their place in some 200 films.

Guided by aspiring actors who re-create the camera angles at each shoot -- and add some dialogue or song lyrics on request -- there is also great people watching along the way. There is an amusement park with a turn of the century carousel (The Producers), the wintertime Wollman Skating Rink (Love Story, Home Alone) and The Mall (Maid In Manhattan, Vanilla Sky).

Busking musicians are everywhere, though they don't follow you around en masse as they did fairy princess Amy Adams in Enchanted.

The rich history of the 154-year-old park enhances the tour as well.

The first urban landscape in the U.S. was conceived when affluent New Yorkers became fed up with Europeans nagging them about valuing personal wealth ahead of civic endowments. City fathers in the mid-19th century evicted 1,600 renters and squatters from a rocky swamp and spent 10 years digging and planting a gigantic English-style garden. It gave the well-heeled a place for a carraige ride and the poor some badly needed green space and recreation.

Another company, Big Onion Walking Tours, covers the park's past exclusively in its tour, but also offers two hours of sites along the under-rated Upper West Side near Central Park West. Beginning at the upscale shops of Columbus Circle and ending at the Dakota apartments, the tour hop-scotches the park, Lincoln Centre and the "gilded ghetto," where dock workers once thrived.

Slower to develop its character than the East Side, this area caught up in recent decades. There are street glimpses of the giant lofts and luxury apartments that once housed Norman Rockwell, Rudolph Valentino, Fred Astaire, Isadora Duncan and gangster Luck Luciano.

TOUR BASICS

On Location Tours (212-209-3370 and screentours.com) also offers bus trips of general New York film sites, as well as The Sopranos, Gossip Girls, and Sex And The City. Big Onion Walking Tours spans the entire island of Manhattan, including themes on the Gangs of New York, Wall St., Immigrant New York and Harlem. Call 212-439-1090 or bigonion.com. Most tours cost between $15 to $20 US.