Last weekend my sister stopped by and the weather was so nice that we decided to pay a visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It’s very easy to reach from Manhattan and such a great escape from the city. I especially love the rose and bonsai tree gardens and had fun spotting tons of birds, including a hawk! Also in the area are the small but very fun Prospect Park Zoo and the fantastic Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

As I posted last year on my listing of Airline Mile Alliances, Continental Airlines is leaving the SkyTeam Alliance this year. The official date of the departure will be October 24, 2009. This means that SkyTeam members can continue to earn and redeem miles on Continental through this date. Award tickets must be booked and ticketed by October 24th but can be for travel up to one year later. SkyTeam Elite Status and lounge access will also be recognized on Continental through this date.

Although Continental plans to join the Star Alliance program at the end of the year, an exact date for that has yet to be announced.

This is one of the coolest travel accessories I’ve seen in a while and it’s perfect for a summer camping or hiking trip. Just screw this bottle cap onto a standard wide-mouth water bottle (it fits most brands including Nalgene, Camelbak and GSI) and it will collect solar power while you enjoy a day in the sun. At night, hit the button on top and a super bright, LED light will turn your bottle into a lantern that will shine for at least 4 hours!

$19.99 ThinkGeek

Now that summer is approaching and many of you are planning sunny vacations, I hope I don’t have to tell you to stock up on sunscreen. If you have any doubt about the dangers of UV rays, head to a Coppertone DermaPhoto Booth for a free UV photo which will assess the sun damage your skin has sustained to date. The booths will be popping up at participating Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, CVS and Walgreen’s stores across the U.S. through August. Check out Coppertone’s website to find one close to you.

Coppertone DermaPhoto Booth on Tour

Next month Will and I will head to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks where we’ll see geysers, hot springs, bison, and maybe even bears. Hopefully all will be a safe distance away!

Will and I went to Philadelphia over the weekend to check out Cezanne and Beyond, currently in its final weeks at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibit effectively presents Paul Cezanne as the father of modern art by showcasing a collection of his works alongside interpretations of them done by other famous artists. The exhibition is one of the most impressive ever assembled including artwork by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jasper Johns and Elsworth Kelly. Outside of this event, the average person would be unlikely to connect many of these pieces to those of Cezanne but, when viewed side by side, the influence is remarkable and undeniable.

That said, I found my visit extremely frustrating due to the enormous crowds of people at the exhibit. Although tickets are timed, the museum is allowing an oppressive amount of people into the event at once. Not only did we have to wait in a Disneyesque line for 20 minutes before entering, but once inside it was hardly possible to move without bumping into someone. Although I understand the museum has to make money, art is definitely not meant to be seen this way. I saw many people complaining and leaving after giving up trying to see pieces over heads. It’s unfortunate and sad that a museum would take the time and money to put together such a fantastic collection only to present it in a way that no one can really enjoy it.

The exhibition runs through May 31st. If you plan to visit I recommend going on a weekday if possible. Otherwise, be prepared to do some Rocky-style bobbing and weaving!

Cezanne and Beyond at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

You can read my post about our trip to Independence Park in Philadelphia here.

Most people take a vacation to get away from work, but Vocation Vacations lets you use the time to try out your dream job. Just choose from a list of over 125 vocations and book a trip to try the job for two days under the supervisor of a mentor in the field. Some of the many interesting options are Alpaca Rancher, Custom Neon Sign Maker and Wrestling Ring Announcer.

The company also recently partnered with Hilton HHonors so if you are a member, you can even pay for your trip using HHonors points.

Vocation Vacations

According to this month’s National Geographic Traveler, the most exclusive place to sell hotdogs in the United States is outside of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cart owner pays the city over $600,000 a year to operate in the location!

I’ve definitely seen that cart and there is always a line for it. I can’t even imagine how much the owner earns in a year but I’m sure it’s in the millions!

Visit My Adventures to read about our trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and check out my pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.