Best sites of Mount Shasta & Crater Lake – Trip Report

Early in August 2009, we set forth to explore Northern California and beyond. Our goal was to make it all the way to the Crater Lake in Oregon. With grandparents and kids in tow we did this with stopovers in Mount Shasta and Klamath Falls. Crater Lake is more than 8 hours drive from the Bay Area and the Shasta area provides a convenient stopover location with its own set of unique attractions. Shasta Caverns, located about 20 minutes from Redding (Exit 695 from I-5 North and follow directions) is about 4 hours from the Bay Area and is entertaining for all ages in good health – the caverns have around 600-odd steps inside not to mention trudging up and down a steep dirt road to get to the boat ride.

Shasta Caverns is touted as “three adventures in one” and that is an exaggeration – unless one can find adventure in the boat-ride and the bus-ride required in getting to the entrance of the caverns. The tour takes about two hours. Pricing was as follows: Adults - $22, Junior - $13 (no discount for seniors). It is hard to miss the distinctly beautiful landscape comprising of the red sandy terrain downhill and the dark towering Cascade Range on the walk to the lake (partly dirt road). The wait is minimal as the boat departs every half-hour. Even so it is advised to stay in the visitor center in the shade until 10-minutes before the scheduled time as waiting by the lake can get extremely hot during the summer months. The downhill trek to the boat-dock is relatively easy although about one-third of that walk is through a dirt-road. The hardest part is the upward climb after the tour and it can be too strenuous for a small percentage of the people in spite of their good intentions while getting the tickets. Even though it is not encouraged or promised, a shuttle comes around to ease the strain of the exhausted guests on the way back. The cavern tours have two segments - the first is less demanding while the second segment is indeed taxing as it involves climbing a very steep stairway of some 200-odd steps. It is possible to skip the second part and wait at the visitor center, if so inclined. The boat-ride takes between 10 to 15 minutes and a short commentary is provided on the history of Lake Shasta - the mining town of Kennett founded in 1850s during the gold rush lies about 400-feet under water and is still about 80% intact. The boat-ride is followed by a 5-10 minute bus ride to the top of the hill where the entrance to the cave is located. Another short commentary is provided, this time on the local flora and the fauna and on the story of how the cave was accidentally discovered by two hunters. There is a wait of 10-15 minutes at the visitor center – two groups are allowed inside at a time. The guided tour inside the cave takes about 40-minutes. The tour guides are a mine of information and if you have an interest in geology, you get a field day. Others get to appreciate and ponder on the wonders nature creates.

Our next stop was at Mount Shasta. The grandmother in our group was aching to see snow up-close. The staff at Mount Shasta visitor center said our best chances were after 15 miles on Everitt Memorial Highway to the base of the Mount. We did see snow once we got there and it seemed proximate enough for us to hike and touch snow and 45-minutes into the hike we truly realized the meaning of the expression "as a crow flies". Nevertheless, it was a worthy detour for pristine beauty is all around. Our hotel reservation was at Klamath Falls, about two more hours from Mount Shasta and around 20 miles north of the Oregon border. It is easy to sense the laid back image of Oregonians for the roads are devoid of aggressive drivers. The grandeur of Mount Shasta in the background along with the waterways and farmland calls for a totally calming influence.

Crater Lake is about 2 hours North of Klamath falls through Highways 97 and 62 (entrance $10 per vehicle). This is yet another wonderfully scenic drive with the first half along the banks of Upper Klamath Lake and farmlands and the latter half through the Sun Pass State Forest. The visitor center at Crater Lake is well-appointed and has a small cafeteria as well. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States of volcanic origin formed around 8000 years ago – it is a Caldera lake formed due to the collapse of land after a volcanic eruption. The lake is 5x6 miles across with an average depth of around 1150 feet. The deepest point is measured at just under 2000 feet which makes it the seventh deepest lake in the world. The rim has an elevation between 7000 and 8000 feet and the basin is well above sea level. The lake has a striking deep blue color and the water is remarkably pure (devoid of pollutants as there are no inlets). Rim drive is a 33-mile scenic drive around the Caldera Rim – attractions include the pinnacles (volcanic spires), scenic lake views, and several trails including a mile-long one that has access to the lake.

Last Updated: 02/2011.

Best sites of Washington D.C. - Trip Report

Our fourth break while on the East Coast road-trip over the Fall of 2009 was at Washington D.C. for a day. Three days is a minimum to breathe in what DC has to offer. A day only gives a sniff and needless to say, ours was a whirl-wind tour of the major sites.

Finding parking is a trick in itself as there is strict enforcement around the tourist spots – we saw several cars getting towed. For our part, we drove in from Philadelphia and chose to park at the Union Station parking lot (50 Massachusetts Ave) – extremely convenient with rates on par with other downtown areas (Rates - Cars 1 hr - $6; 2 hrs - $9; 3 hrs - $12; 3-4 hrs - $13; 4-5 hrs - $15; 5-12 hrs - $17; 12-24 hrs - $19). Many tours start from Union Station and the tickets can be purchased from the counters at the station.



A number of tour operators serve the area and given the traffic and parking problems, going with one of them definitely has many advantages. The DC metro system is excellent as well. The most popular tour options are:

1. Hop-on Hop-off open-top Double-Decker bus tours by Les Cars Rouge, a European tour operator that pioneered such tours in the early 80’s in European cities: The standard tour marketed in most brochures was a ticket valid for 48-hours (online pricing: Adults - $31, Children - $16). The 24-hour version was priced around 20% cheaper. A combo ticket that includes a cruise on the Potomac and a night-ticket were also available for higher pricing. Counter pricing was slightly higher. Below are some details about the double-decker tours:

• The lower level is Air Conditioned and can be a refuge in inclement weather, but then the view is compromised.
• Stops along Georgetown (Washington’s oldest neighborhood - river cruise access, shopping, and dining) and the National Cathedral.
• Hours of Operation – Service is from 9 AM to 7 PM during the summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day) otherwise till 5 PM.
• The tour extends only as far as the Visitor Center at the Arlington Cemetery. To visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Changing of the Guards) and other sites, the best bet is to also purchase the Arlington Cemetery only Tourmobile tickets.

2. Hop-on Hop-off Tourmobile sightseeing trolleys by Landmark Services, a subsidiary of Universal Studios: This tour is authorized by the National Park Service and has been in operation since 1969. The standard tour is the “American Heritage Tour of Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery” with a one-day or two-day option. Pricing for the one-day option was Adults - $27, Children (3-11) - $13 and for the two day option, it was Adults - $35, Children (3-11) - $17. They also offered an Arlington Cemetery only tour (Adults - $7.50, Children 3-11 - $3.75), a 3.5 hour twilight tour (7 PM) Washington By Night tour (Adults - $30, Children - $15), a 5 hour Mount Vernon tour (Adults - $32, Children - $16), and a 2.5 hour Frederick Douglas tour (Adults - $7, Children - $3.50). Below are some of their noteworthy details:

• They have the only riding tour available for the Arlington National Cemetery. Changing of the Guard’s ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a “not to be missed” event for most people and this tour offers the most convenient way to experience it.
• Tour hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM with the recommendation that customers board their last bus of the day at-least by 3:30 PM. These hours can be too restrictive especially for people holding the one-day ticket option.

3. A/C Coach Tours by Gray Line: These tour offer more of a traditional organized bus tour experience with pick up from select hotels. The most popular is the day tour (8 hours) that include visits to the Capitol Building, White House South Lawn, Smithsonian Museums, and the World War II Memorial. The tour also goes by most other attractions in the area. Pricing is $55 Adults and $30 kids 3-12. They also have a 4-hour version and a very affordable 2-hour version (Adults $22 and Kids $11 with occasional two for one promotions!). Gray Line also offers several other tours that cover the Washington D.C. area and a 20-minute cruise on the Potomac. Below are some of their highlights:

• Traditional organized tour experience as compared to hop-on hop-off.
• Visits to White House South Lawn and Capitol Building included.

4. Old Town Trolley Tours by Historic Tours of America: They offer a two-day (2nd day free promotion) tour that includes hop-on hop-off privileges and offer three different color-coded loops – the orange loop covers all the sites along the national mall (most of the Monuments, Memorials, and Smithsonians), the green loop covers the National Cathedral, Uptown, and Georgetown areas, and the red loop is a shuttle to the Arlington Cemetery. The tour costs $31.50 for Adults and $16.20 for kids 4-12 (online price, counter pricing about 10% higher). Below are some of their specifics:

• Live commentary.
• Stops along Georgetown and the National Cathedral.
• Hours – Buses run from 9 AM to 5:30 PM in the summer months (Daylight savings schedule, otherwise 4:30 PM).
• The tour only operates till the Visitor Center at the Arlington Cemetery. Again, for visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Changing of the Guards) and other sites, the best bet is to also purchase the Arlington Cemetery only Tourmobile tickets.

5. Duck Tours by Historic Tours of America: This is a non-stop 90-minute unique amphibian tour that is geared towards families with little kids. Live entertaining commentary where sometimes facts are improved upon and a delightful river ride not intending to take you anywhere are its highlights. Ticket pricing is $28.80 Adults, $14.40 Kids 4-12 (online price, counter pricing about 10% higher). Below are some notable things about this tour:

• Short 90-minute tour that goes by the major sites and includes a short cruise in the Potomac in the same vehicle.
• Entertaining live commentary.
• The tour departs hourly from Union station but can sell out.

Walking tours and Segway tours are both fairly popular among the healthy adults. We chose the Tourmobile one-day “American Heritage Tour of Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery” as ‘Changing of the Guards’, some Smithsonians and the major national monuments were in our priority list.

Washington D.C. is indeed a frugal traveler’s paradise, for admission fee is nonexistent at practically all of the attractions. What makes it even better is that entrance to the sites are available on a walk-in basis, except for the following:

1. Washington Memorial: Free tickets are distributed for that days visit at the counter at 15th Street and Jefferson Drive starting at 8 AM. They run-out quickly and so remember to be waiting in line well before the opening. Reservation can be done online ($2) in advance.
2. Capitol: The Visitor Center, Exhibition Hall, Gift Shop, and the 530-seat restaurant are open to everyone but a reservation is required for tours of the Capitol. There are several options for a tour and advanced planning is required.
3. White House: Garden tours and White House tours are available but require advance planning. For the garden tours, tickets are distributed on the day of the tour on a first come first serve basis at 8 AM. For the White House tour, request for a reservation needs to be submitted through one’s member of congress, up to six months in advance. The visitor center is open to public at the corner of 15th and E streets 7:30 AM to 4 PM.

The rest of the attractions including the Smithsonians and the sites in Arlington Cemetery are walk-in admission (some sites have security check-points). For our part, we focused on three Smithsonians (National Gallery of Art, Air and Space Museum, and Natural History Museum), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & Changing of the Guards at the Arlington Cemetery, and the National Postal Museum (building adjacent to the Union Station main entrance building). Overall, the National Postal Museum was the only disappointment as our expectation was set for a huge philatelic display while in reality there was only one gallery with a medium-sized global stamp collection and a smallish sheet collection display of US stamps. The Changing of the Guards ceremony and the Natural History Museum were our favorites. The Air and Space Museum followed closely but the planetarium shows (around $10) were only average at best.


Last Updated: 04/2013.

Best sites of Philadelphia - Trip Report

Our third halt of the East Coast Road Trip in the Fall of 2009 was at Philadelphia. We did consider giving Philly a miss in favor of additional time in the capital provided our cousin and family could join us in DC. Plan B worked better instead and we joined them for the evening in the city of Flourtown near Philadelphia. For visitors on a time crunch, Philadelphia scores as several inspiring attractions exist right around Market Street.

If time is on your side, tours offered by the Philadelphia Trolley Works and Carriage Company are good options. They offer a number of choices and the more popular options are:

1. 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour: The double-decker bus or trolley (your choice) tour takes 90-minutes for non hoppers. There are 21 stops starting with the Independence Hall in Market Street and includes most attractions of Philadelphia including Betsy Ross House (where American flag was designed), Chinatown, Eastern State Penitentiary (historic prison operational from 1829 until 1971), Museum of Modern Art, Zoo, and Society Hill (Center City neighborhood that features largest collection of original US 18th and early 19th century architecture). Internet Pricing: Adults - $25, Children (4-12) - $8, Senior - $23. Pricing at the ticket booths and Independence Visitor Center are higher.
2. 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour: The same tour as above but valid for 48 hours. Internet Pricing: Adults - $41, Children (4-12) - $16, Senior - $38. Pricing at the ticket booths and Independence Visitor Center are higher.
3. Carriage Tour (Medium – 30-35 minutes): A horse-drawn carriage tour that covers Independence National Historic Park and Society Hill. Pricing is $40, good for four people. There is a $5 discount when purchasing this ticket along with the bus tour tickets.

Another popular option suitable for families with young kids is the 70-minute ducks tour. Though on the expensive side (adults - $26, seniors - $24, kids 3 to 12 - $16) this amphibian tour is unique in that it includes the historic streets of Philadelphia as well as a short cruise in the Delaware!

We parked at the Bourse garage next to the Bourse building in downtown Philadelphia in 4th street and past Market. The covered parking lot is, typical to most US downtown areas, pricey (2-9 hours for $16.25) but with prime location. The historic Bourse Building adjacent to the garage is impressive with its dramatic skylight dome and pilaster columns. This is listed in the national register of historic places as the nation’s first commodity exchange (completed 1895) – currently it functions as a retail commercial complex complete with a food court and 50-odd businesses. We recommend the mouth-watering version of the famous Philly Cheesesteak at the Grand Olde Cheesesteak counter.

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are the top attractions of Philadelphia and admission to both are free. Liberty Bell is located at 6th and Market. There was practically no wait at the Liberty Bell – the open design of the Museum and the Liberty Bell display works well allowing the populace to set their pace without feeling rushed. The Liberty Bell is managed by the National Parks Service and their representatives on the premise are extremely friendly and helpful. Every so often, one parks personnel at the Bell’s display location gives a short lecture enlightening the visitors on the history of the Bell. The Visitor Center across the street sports a gift shop and is also the place to purchase tickets to area attractions. The Independence Hall is situated in the middle of a block of buildings called the Independence Square (few blocks from the visitor center) which include the Congress Hall, Old City Hall, Philosophical Hall, and the Independence Hall. Access to all the Halls except the Independence Hall is available on a walk-in basis. The Old City Hall and the Philosophical Hall tours are self guided. Congress Hall offers a guided tour and a 15-minute presentation, again very informative – the building hosts important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Articles of Confederation, and the Anti Slavery Record. For Independence Hall, no tickets are required if visiting between January 1st and March 1st. Between March 1st and December 31st you have two options:

• Get a reservation for a timed and dated ticket ($1.50 per person), or
• Try for a walk-up ticket at Independence Visitor Center. They sell-out quickly and being the early bird has its returns (booth opens at 8:30 AM).

The guided tour with a park ranger takes around 30 minutes. The highlight is of course the room where the declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.

Last Updated: 02/2011.

Best sites of Manhattan & Statue of Liberty - Trip Report

The second stop of our East Coast Trip was at Staten Island. The drive from Niagara Falls to Staten Island in New York took upwards of nine hours even though the distance was only four hundred and some odd miles. A series of lane closures that resulted in single-lane traffic slowed us down – though not bumper to bumper the speedometer never moved past 45 miles per hour.

The free Staten Island Ferry from St. George Ferry Terminal to Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan makes getting to Manhattan a breeze. Parking was available for $6 near the terminal private lot (Staten Island Yankees Ballpark lot) – parking entrances are to the left of the terminal – there is a shuttle back to the terminal (less than half a mile) but it was not reliable. The unattended municipal lots at the terminal and on Hyatt Street while a little cheaper involves purchasing NYC parking cards and/or feeding the meters. The ferry is regarded the best value for money for New York tourists and we concur – the terminals and the ferry are state of the art and the views simply outstanding (Statue of Liberty, skyscrapers of Manhattan, etc.). It operates year round 24 hours a day, with frequencies varying between 15 minutes to an hour – travel time is around 25 minutes. Both terminals had extensive renovations done in the 2005-2010 timeframe and it showed – the glass and steel Whitehall terminal was especially impressive and the $200M renovation included several green design decisions and providing a natural setting – rooftop solar panels provide part of the electricity, warming the floor using hydronic radiant floors (water from a boiler is passed through tubing underneath the terrazzo flooring), and natural lighting from the glass design make for a unique yet functional structure.

Next to the Whitehall terminal building is the historical Battery Park – 25 acres of greenery pampered by the Ocean on one side and by the skyscrapers of Manhattan on the other side. Located a short walk away across the Battery Park are the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ticket counters (Statue Cruises, LLC – authorized by the National Park Service). Three types of tickets can be purchased online ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $ 5 kids 4-12, audio tour option additional) - they were all the same price but availability varies as follows:

1. Crown Ticket: This is the superlative of the choices - it allows priority entry to the security screening facility, access to the Pedestal/Museum at the Statue of Liberty, and access to the Crown. Access to the crown was closed following September 11 and reopened July 4, 2009. This crown access is allowed in groups of 10 at a time and hence limited numbers of tickets are available any given day. As such, they need to be reserved online three or more months in advance. Crown access was set to be available for another couple of years after which an extended closure for renovation is planned.
2. Pedestal/Museum Ticket: This allows priority entry to the security screening facility and access to the Pedestal/Museum, but NOT to the crown. These tickets can be reserved online usually a week or so earlier.
3. Grounds Only Ticket or a 3-day Flex Pass Grounds Only Ticket: The Grounds Only Ticket lets you ride the boat to the islands and allows for walking around it. It is issued for a particular day and time and allows priority entry at the security screening facility if reserved in advance. The 3-day Flex Pass Grounds Only Ticket is issued for a particular day but allows the flexibility to go at any time in the next 3-days starting that day. The other Flex Ticket does not allow for priority entry at the security screening facility. Security screening can add upwards of an hour at peak times.

Then there is the option of going directly to the ticket counter and purchasing what is available for that day. Waiting in line is the order of the day for this category - first there is the line for the tickets followed by the security screening facility entrance line (much longer usually). Unfortunately, we were in this situation for reasons beyond control – after about 20 minutes in the tickets line we purchased the Grounds Only Tickets and the Security line took another hour.The trip itself was great and as our cousins accompanied us in New York time was not lost in any way, although access to the pedestal and crown would have made the experience even more so for all of us. All told, out of the five hours we spent around two hours at the Liberty Island and skipped Ellis Island. Our first trip to the Statue of Liberty was 12 years earlier and it was indeed a wonderful experience getting to the crown with hundreds of others from all walks of life and that too from all over the world.

Grayline and CitySights are the two major hop-on hop-off tour operators in Manhattan. We chose the one by Grayline (Red Double Decker Open Roof Bus) for they were the first tour operators we ran into from Battery Park. Different tour options are available and we took the all encompassing All Loops Tour valid for 48 hours ($54 Adults, $44 Children 3-11). Looking back, given our limited time we would have been better off with the Downtown Loop Tour valid for 24 hours ($44 Adults, $34 Children 3-11) which does not include the Uptown Loop as the tours operate from 8 AM to 6 PM.

The hop-on hop-off tours are a great value if two full days are at your disposal to spend in Manhattan – for $54 one gets to experience Manhattan without having to worry about transportation, arguably the hardest part. Live commentary is part of the deal – the quality though varies by personnel, but to be fair they provide good information. The bus has 24 stops on the downtown loop and another 21 stops in the uptown loop. The route goes in front of the major landmarks with couple of exceptions – the route only crosses the streets to Ground Zero site and Wall Street but doesn’t go through them hence plan ahead on the stops to hop off. It was a truly memorable tour as we got to see: a) United Nations Building, b) Rockefeller Center, c) Times Square, d) Empire State Building, e) Madison Square Garden, and f) Central Park. Time Square lived up to its reputation as “out of this world” and the lit buildings and the crowds combined to provide a unique visual experience – the movies and pictures that attempt to capture the spirit of Time Square fall way too short compared to the real thing…

Last Updated: 02/2011.