Study Tour

Some of the Best Shopping Areas in Chicago

People love to go to Chicago and go shopping, where there is a variety of stores and areas to go shopping. Visiting these areas can give you one of the best shopping experiences around. Chicago is a great place to visit during the holiday because of larger than life decorations that decorate the various storefronts. In Chicago you can find chic boutiques and brand name stores.

Magnificent Mile--this is a part of North Michigan Ave. where you can find 3 shopping centers with over two hundred stores. The most famous of these shopping malls is the Water Tower Place where you will find Banana Republic, Macy's, and Abercrombie and Fitch. The North Bridge covers six blocks and is four stories high and has over fifty stores.

Oak Street--the stores on this street are notorious for being designer quality and expensive. It is located on the north side of Michigan Avenue and is about one block long. Here you will find smaller shops, but the shops are not for shoppers that are budget conscious.

Wicker Park--this is becoming one of the most artsy neighborhoods in Chicago where you will find great restaurants and boutiques. This area is a mixture of the new with the old and some of the businesses there have been around for quite some time. This is the place for tourists to feel like they have really seen the city of Chicago and not just the tourist part of the city.

Visiting Beaches in Hawaii on a Budget

One of the main attractions that draw visitors to Hawaii is all their beautiful beaches. Many think that when you go to Hawaii you are going to be spending quite a bit of money not only on airfare, but also on the hotels, especially if they are right on the beach area. This is not true if you know where to look.

There is one resort in Hawaii that is ten years old named Aqua Hotels and Resorts manage thirteen hotels in Waikiki. They offer rates that range around one hundred dollars a might with rooms from shabby to chic. Other hotels that have rooms in the ranger of one hundred twenty dollars a night include the Ilikai Hotel and Suites. This hotel was once the grande dame of the skyline of Waikiki. This hotel caters to vacationers that have a budget and long-term guests. There are not a lot of frills, but their balconies are big and you will have plenty of room.

One of the drawbacks to vacationing at this hotel is that it is a long walk from central Waikiki Beach ,but it is close to a beach. You are just a short walk from the Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Lagoon. When you vacation in Hawaii, you do not have to splurge on expensive entertainment you can catch quality island musicians and hula shows by the Waikiki Beach Walk's lawn area. You can visit Hawaii on a budget and still have a great time and stay by the beach.

Places to Visit for American Indian Lore and Legends

If you love history, especially the American Indian lore and legends, there are several places in the United States that you can visit to get your fill of American history.

Indian Canyons, Palm Springs, CA--here you can hike to your hearts content through a series of canyons on trails that wind past weird rock formations and fan palms. The Indians that settled in this desert oasis were the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla people. They still own this land today. You can see remains of house pits, grinding rocks, and rock art.

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, Chandler, AZ--here you can gather around the fire and listen to elders of the tribe tell a story or more. There are also approximately five hundred wild horses roaming on the land. It is owned by the Maricopa and Puma tribes.

Tulalip Resort, Tulalip, Wash.--the symbol of the Tulalip Tribes is the orca, which can be seen leaping from the fountain in the courtyard. This is just one of the many custom crafted artworks that decorate the hotel. Legend has it that the orca saved the tribe from starving by driving the salmon to them to catch. When you spend the night, you will find on your turned down bed a cedar bark rose on your pillow.

Anchorage Museum, Alaska--during the last Ice Age the Athabascan Indians survived in the area by fishing and hunting. Here you can see their elaborate costumes and hear the drumbeats of their festive dance and song.