Things to Do in North America

For what it lacks in a sandy beach, Puako Bay more than makes up for with its pristine waters for snorkeling. Tucked away on the Kohala Coast at the end of a residential road, Puako Bay is a favorite spot of local snorkelers and divers. Mornings offer the best conditions before the wind comes up, and while the rocky entry might be a difficult for beginning snorkelers or children, the reward that competent snorkelers will find is a vertical wall in crystal water that's covered in vibrant marine life. When conditions are calm in Puako Bay, visibility can often extend to 60 or 70 feet, and during the winter months on the Big Island, it's possible to hear the distant song of migrating humpback whales. On shore, at the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve, visitors will find nearly 3,000 rock drawings that date to Ancient Hawaii"”which is the largest collection of petroglyphs found anywhere in the state. 

Part of the Smithsonian, this intimate museum is dedicated to crafts and decorative art created in America from the 19th to 21st centuries. Originally built in 1859 to house D.C.'s first art museum, the Corcoran Gallery - which soon outgrew these digs and moved down the street - this ornate Second Empire building had become a moldering, almost-lost cause by the mid-1960s, when it was saved from demolition by President Lyndon Johnson and declared a National Historic Landmark.

In 1972, the museum was spruced up, re-named for its famous architect, James Renwick (designer of the nearby Smithsonian Castle), and re-opened as the home of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's craft collection. The Renwick has since become renowned for its rotating exhibits of inventive, detailed and even whimsical works of American art.

Docent-led tours of the Renwick's highlights meet at the Information Desk in the lobby, offered
Monday - Friday at 12 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday at 1 p.m. Scavenger hunt materials for children are also available free of charge at the Information Desk. Set across the street from the Old Executive Office Building and the White House, the Renwick attracts a great deal of foot traffic; it's advisable to arrive early or late in order to have the most elbow room.

It's been said that hands-on, experiential learning enhances education, and if that's the case, then the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is helping to educate every person who walks in the building's door. Especially enjoyable for families with children, this interactive science center has permanent exhibits on everything from energy to California's water to the journey of cells in our body. Work with your hands at the "Tinkering Studio" inspired by famous inventors, or watch one of the live experiments conducted by the center's staff. Learn about genetics and DNA and what's inside of an atom, or channel your inner architect with the collection of 15,000 building blocks. The biggest treat, however, is the enormous IMAX domed theater with movies on everything from Humpback whales to the most mysterious corners of our Universe. This is the only domed IMAX theater in Southern California, and the movies displayed provide visitors of all ages with an enthralling visual feast.

One of Hawaii's most popular luaus is held beside swaying palms and a stunning sunset at Paradise Cove.

A Hawaiian village at Paradise Cove highlights island arts and crafts, and cultural activities include net fishing, the Imu underground oven ceremony and of course the hula.

After being greeted with a traditional floral lei and tropical mai tai, relax into the evening with a full Hawaiian buffet and tropical drinks. Transportation can be included as a package, along with souvenirs, deluxe seating and drinks.

The culture of the plaza, or town square, is central to Mexican life: the plaza is a community gathering place where school kids flirt, couples promenade, and everyone catches up on the latest gossip. Guadalajara contains many plazas, but the heart of Guadalajara's historic downtown is the Plaza de Armas. The Plaza de Armas has all the trappings of a classic Mexican jardin: wrought iron benches, prim topiary, strolling vendors, and the requisite Sunday social scene.

Classical statues that represent the seasons of the year preside over the four corners of the square, which is ringed with historic buildings, including the Palacio de Gobierno, a baroque monster that houses two famous murals by the social realist artist Jose Clemente Orozco.

The centerpiece of the scene is a belle epoque bandstand. A gift to the city from the dictator Porfirio Diaz, the gazebo was built in Paris in 1909, and features a hardwood ceiling that enhances sound quality. The wrought iron roof is held aloft by eight columns that depict curvaceous beauties with musical instruments. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights, the gazebo is the focal point of free concerts from the state band and other traditional Jaliscan groups.

Since 2013 this stunning glass structure with Miami coastal views has been showcasing contemporary and modern art to the masses. With one of the most impressive collections south of the Mason Dixon Line, the Perez Art Museum (known as PAMM to locals) drives to display works created in the 20 and 21st century from artists around the world. With colorful exhibits that reign from the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Australia, there's a world of wonder inside PAMM's doors. Museum educators host interesting talks and tours that unlock stories about the art and artists that line the halls of PAMM and a unique community-based program brings speakers, thinkers and creators to the community for informative lectures and roundtables.