America - October / November 2006

Our very dear friend Ruth King (from Southport, Lancs, UK) is marrying Doug Hutchins (from Asheville, North Carolina, USA) in America on Friday 27th October 2006. So, we're off to Asheville for the wedding of the year - we wouldn't miss this special day! As we are flying all the way to America we thought we would do a bit of whilst we are there. So this webpage tells you what we will be up to throughout our travels! A map of all our locations that we will be at can be found here.

Tuesday 24^th October

We fly from Manchester at 09:25 on Tuesday 24^th October, landing at Charlotte in North Carolina at 16:05 (local time). We couldn't get a direct flight to Charlotte, so we will have short stop off at Newark Airport, New York between 12:10 and 14:15 for a connecting flight. Local time is 5 hours behind the UK. Our flight number from Manchester to New York is Continental Airlines CO 0021 and will be showing on here on the day of departure. Our connecting flight from Newark to Charlotte is Continental Airlines CO 3064 and will be showing on here on the day. The arrival in Charlotte should show up here on the day.

Julia's friend Katie, who lives in Charlotte, is meeting us at the airport. She is going to help us locate the car hire firm and guide us to the hotel we are stopping in over night. We really grateful for her help! We're having a meal with Katie and catching up on all the news before heading back to the hotel for some much needed sleep!

Wednesday 25^th October

On Wednesday morning we're driving approximately 130 miles NWW to Asheville, arriving around lunchtime. We'll be staying at an amazing B&B called Hill House (pictured left) for the duration of our time in Asheville (make sure you visit the website!), which happens to be only a five minute walk from Doug's house! During the day we're just finding our way around Asheville, then we are meeting Ruth, Doug, their friends and families at a the Apollo Flame Bistro for dinner at 17:00. At 19:00 we're going along to Ruth and Doug's Church (The Rock Church) for their Wednesday night meeting. Afterwards everyone is heading back to Doug's house (soon to be Ruth and Doug's house!) for coffee and dessert. Yummy!

Thursday 26^th October

We've got nothing planned! (Hooray!) We'll have a lazy time just mooching around Asheville during the day. If you want to find out what's in Asheville click here or here.

In the evening we're going to Ruth and Doug's rehearsal dinner which is said to include Sweet Tea, Bar-B-Que and Peach Cobbler. We are intrigued!!

Friday 27^th October

It's the day of the wedding. The wedding is at 15:00 at the Rock Church and the reception is taking place at 17:30 at The Orchard at Broadmoor.

Saturday 28^th October

Today we're setting off bright and early towards Washington DC, driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains (shown right). This drive is about 470 miles, so we will be stopping overnight and completing the journey on Sunday morning. We haven't decided where we are stopping yet, we're just going to see where we end up - and see how tired we are on the day!!

Sunday 29^th and Monday 30^th October

Sunday morning, it's another fairly early start(!) making the rest of the drive to Washington. We're staying at The Washington Plaza for Sunday and Monday night. Whilst we are in Washington, we hope to do some or all of these things:

Place to visit	Details	Who bought it for us
US Capitol	The United States Capitol housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. We will be going on one of their guided tours.	Free
The White House	Does the White House really need any introduction?! Tours aren't available whilst we are in Washington, but we'll go and look at the outside and have our photo taken.	Free
National Air and Space Museum	The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It is also a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. We will be visiting the free museum, the planetarium, the IMAX theatre and the Skylab workshop.	$18.00
National Gallery of Art	The National Gallery of Art, Washington houses one of the finest collections in the world illustrating major achievements in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present. No plans here, just going to wander around.	Free
Library of Congress	The Library of Congress is America's oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 120 million items. The collections include books, sound recordings, motion pictures, photographs, maps, and manuscripts. We will probably go on a tour here.	Free
National Cathedral	The Washington National Cathedral is the 6th largest Cathedral in the world. It was completed in 1990, with a 10-story-high nave and a central tower 676' (206m) above sea level.	Donation
Arlington Cemetery	This is possibly America's best-known military cemetery, with white tomb stones, the Tomb of the Unknowns and the grave of John F. Kennedy.	Free
Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potomac River is the most visited historic American home (second to the White House of course!). George Washington spent part of his childhood here, returning here after his Presidency. Another tour for us here!	$18
Washington Monument	"The pencil" is 555' (170m) high and is one of the tallest freestanding masonry constructions in the world. Build between 1848 and 1884, offers stunning views from the observation platform. Up to the top for some spectacular views (and we wont leave our purse at the top - Ruth!)	Free
FBI Building	We're going on the FBI tour to find out about the history of the bureau, seeing working labs analysing forensic evidence.	Free

Tuesday 31^st October

Today we leave Washington (very early) and make our way 135 miles NE to Philadelphia. We are only in Philadelphia for one day and night, staying at the Crowne Plaza. We're only in Philadelphia for the day and we'd like to do some of the following:

Place to visit	Details	Who bought it for us
Independence Hall	Independence Hall is the site of the drafting and signing of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. This is another tour for us to go on.	Free
Liberty Bell Center	The Liberty Bell is the symbol of freedom bearing the inscription "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof". It is famous for its irreparable crack. We'll look around the Liberty Bell Center seeing displays of old newspaper reports, videos and photographs of people who have fought for liberty.	Free
US Mint	The Philadelphia Mint is the oldest in the US producing gold bullion coins and meddles and the coins that Americans use every day.	Free
Betsy Ross House	Betsy Ross House is the home of Betsy Ross (Doh!) who is said to have sewn the first American flag. Lots to see and do here - apparently!	Free
Franklin Court and B.Free Franklin Post Office	This is where Benjamin Franklin's home once stood. The B.Free Franklin Post Office is an active Post Office and museum.	Free
City Hall	Centered in the heart of downtown Philadelphia stands the nation’s largest municipal building, serving the city’s government and politics for over 100 years. It is situated in the exact geographical center of William Penn's original 1682 plans for the city, now known as the intersections of Broad and Market Streets, Center Square.	Free

Wednesday 1^st - Saturday 4^thNovember

Today we leave Philadelphia (very early - again!) by Greyhound (bus, not dog!) and make our way 95 miles NE to New York. We are staying here for four nights in Milford Plaza. This is our final destination and we're hoping to do some of the following:

Place to visit	Details	Who bought it for us
New York TV & Movie tour	New York Location Tours take you to the doorsteps of your favourite television and film characters and real-life celebrities. Straddle fiction and reality while you shop, eat, drink and dance at the sites you’ve only ever seen on screen. Get a piece of the lights, camera, action! The Manhattan TV and Movie Tour takes you to over 60 of the most famous places seen on screen. It showcases five Friends-related locations, including their Greenwich Village apartment building. Other locations include Coyote Ugly, Home Alone 2, Big Daddy, Three Men and a Baby, The Hours and When Harry Met Sally. The bus also takes you by Grace’s design studio seen on Will & Grace and the diner from Spiderman. There is even time to stop at the Shop Around the Corner from You’ve Got Mail and to sample some rice pudding at Rice to Riches as seen in Hitch.	£40
Rockefeller Centre	After years of renovation the 70th Floor of the Rockefeller Centre has reopened to rave reviews and magnificent views. Top of the Rock is a sylish open air platform in the sky built in the 1930's and inspired by the great cruise liners of the time, and yes it offers a better view than the Empire State Building! The main factor is that from here you can actually see the Empire State Building, whilst on the other side, the vast green space that is Central Park unravels before you.	*
The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway	Based on Gaston Leroux's famous novel, the musical's tale begins as unexplained accidents have been occurring throughout the Paris Opera, and the stuck-up diva, Carlotta, refuses to go on. Christine takes her place and is a triumph. Alone in her dressing room, she finally meets the Phantom who has taught her to sing so beautifully. Taking her to his lair in the misty catacombs beneath the Opera House, the Phantom declares his love for Christine, but she soon learns his terrible secret. The story moves from the Phantom's underground hideaway to the dizzying roof of the Opera House, as the Phantom and Raoul battle for Christine's love.	£118
Empire State Building	There is nothing else like the 86th floor observatory! At, 1,050 feet (320 meters), reached by high speed, automatic elevators, it has both a glass-enclosed area, which is heated in winter and cooled in summer, and spacious outdoor promenades on all four sides of the Building. High powered binoculars are available on the promenades for the convenience of visitors at a minimal cost. Souvenir counters are also located in the 86th floor observatory.	*
Central Park Zoo	The Central Park Zoo is located in Central Park in New York City. A redesign of the zoo in 1983–88, executed by the architectural firm of Kevin Roche, Dinkeloo abandoned the old-fashioned menagerie cages for more natural exhibits. The central feature of the original zoo, ranged round the sea lion pool, was retained and the pool redesigned. Trellised, vine-clad, glass-roofed pergolas link the three major exhibit areas—tropic, temperate and arctic— housed in discreet new buildings, of brick trimmed with granite, masked by vines. Now the Central Park Zoo is home to an indoor rainforest, a leafcutter ant colony, a chilled penguin house and Polar Bear pool. The Central Park Zoo houses breeding programs for some endangered species: tamarin monkeys, Wyoming toads, Thick-billed Parrots and Red Pandas. Most of the large animals were rehoused in larger, more natural spaces at the Bronx Zoo.	*
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises	You'll enjoy magnificent views of the world's premier skyline and a close-up view of Lady Liberty. Sail down the Hudson, cruise around the Battery, up the East River, and under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges to the United Nations and back.	*
Madison Square Garden All Access Tour	Enjoy a one-hour behind-the-scenes guided walking tour of the World's Most Famous Arena. With over 600 events each year, you never know what you'll see! Visit the team locker rooms and experience the world of pro athletes and sports journalists. Learn how a basketball court becomes a sheet of ice, and tour the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Explore the 125-year history of the Garden where legends have been made - from athletes to artists to politicians. You'll never know what you'll see on the All Access Tour.	*
NBC Studio Tour	Ever wonder what happens on the other side of the tube? Since 1933, NBC guides have been guiding visitors on a behind the scenes look at NBC's New York operations. The hour-long tour takes in some of the world's most famous studios.	*

Coming Home

Our last day in New York is Saturday 4^th November. Our flight isn't until 19:35, so that give us the rest of the day to enjoy a bit more of New York.

Our flight is from Newark Airport on Continental Airlines flight CO 0020, which should show up here on the day of departure. This will get us back to Manchester Airport at 07:30 on Sunday 5^th November, with the arrival showing up here

When we are home it will mean we have flown approximately 10,000 miles, and driven nearly 900 miles! We think we will need a holiday to get over this one!

We look forward to showing you our photos and telling you all about our travels.