SpotLight: New York State - Niagara Falls

Spotlight: Moving up the Erie Canal, you eventually get to the Niagara River. If you turn south, you arrive at Buffalo. If you turn north, you arrive at Niagara Falls - the largest waterfall in North America. Niagara Falls actually consists of 3 waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. About 90% of the water goes over Horseshoe Falls. During the 1800's business and industry controlled the Falls for commercial pursuits. Tourism was limited to a privileged few due to accessibility and cost. Through the efforts of the Hudson River School, Frederic Church, Frederick Olmsted, and Henry Richardson, a conservation movement known as Free Niagara eventually led to purchase of the area by the State of New York. The Niagara Reservation State Park became New York's first State Park, providing access to this international treasure. A similar movement in Canada created the Niagara Parks commission to govern usage on that side of the border.

Location: Niagara Falls is located along the Niagara River, which not only forms the international border between Canada and the United States, but also connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario: Map

Time: You should plan on spending a full day (or more) here, enjoying the beautiful scenery and activities.

Cost: - Vehicle parking fee - $10/vehicle
- Maid of the Mist cruises - $17/adult and $9.90/child (6-12)
- Cave of the Winds tour - $14/adult and $11/child (6-12)
- The Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass - $38/adult and $31/child (6-12)
- Rainbow Bridge is a toll bridge: 50 cents/pedestrian or cyclist (each way); $3.50/car (round trip)

Description: Among all the fun and exciting things we did on our New York/New England trip, Niagara Falls was voted the most fun activity by a majority of the participants.

     There are multiple ways to see the Falls. The oldest and best known tourist attraction is the Maid of the Mist boat tours. Since 1846, these cruise boats take passengers through the rapids to the base of the Falls for spectacular views of all three waterfalls. The boats can be accessed from boat docks on both sides of the border.

     The least expensive way to see the Falls is along the various walkways along Prospect Point Park and Goat Island. Or you can see the view from the Prospect Point Observation Tower or Rainbow Bridge.
     If you prefer to ride, the Niagara Scenic Trolley offers guided trips along the American Falls and Goat Island. You can also purchase aerial tours via the Flight of Angels helium balloon ride or helicopter.
     Perhaps the most unique and fun view of the Falls is by taking the Cave of the Winds Tour. After purchasing tickets, you can take the elevator down from Goat Island, then hike along the boardwalks to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. The boardwalk leads you to the Hurricane Deck, where visitors are sprayed by the Falls as they ricochet off the giant boulders at their base.

     On the Canadian side, you can enjoy the beautiful manicured gardens and viewing platforms of Queen Victoria Park. Underground walkways lead to observation rooms that provide the illusion of being among the Falls. The Skylon Tower's observation deck provides the highest view of the Falls.
     The Whirlpool Aero Car is a cable car that takes passengers over the Niagara Whirlpool on the Canadian side. The Journey Behind the Falls is a tour that takes visitors down an elevator to an observation platform and a series of tunnels at the base of Horseshoe Falls.
     It is spectacular to see the Falls by day, but it is just as fascinating to see them by night. During the summer months, giant floodlights illuminate the Falls until midnight.

     The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center allows visitors to learn about the geology and history of the Falls and Gorge through film and interactive displays. It is also home to the Niagara Gorge Trailhead Center - gateway to a variety of spectacular hiking and biking trails.

     The Aquarium of Niagara has a variety of interesting animals to view. They also post penguin and shark feeding times, and present a couple of shows featuring sea lions.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: The Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass allows you to see five popular attractions on the US side of the border at a discounted price. It includes: the Niagara Adventure Theater, the Aquarium of Niagara, the Cave of the Winds tour, the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, and a Maid of the Mist boat ride. It also allows one day unlimited trips on the Niagara Scenic Trolley. Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds are musts. If you only wish to do those, then the pass isn't worth it. Since we also wanted to see the film, it was cheaper to buy the pass which also allowed us to go to the Discovery Center and the Aquarium for no extra cost. We thought it was worth it. Tourists to the Canadian side have a similar deal if they purchase the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass.
- Tourists for the Cave of the Winds tour receive rain slickers and cheap water sandals to wear while they explore the views from below the Falls. You still get wet, especially if you go on the Hurricane Deck, but at least you don't have to worry about your shoes. The Maid of the Mist tours also provide rain slickers.

- Much of the water that flows from Lake Erie is diverted to hydroelectric facilities by employing a weir with movable gates upstream from the Falls. To appease the tourist industry, the amount of water going over the Falls is increased during the summer tourist season (100,000 cubic feet/second), but halved at night and during the winter months (50,000 cubic feet/second). So if someone says, "They turn off the Falls at night," they are only partly joking.
- The Falls have historically eroded at a rate of 3 feet/year. By diverting much of the water, that rate has been slowed to 1 foot/year. At the current rate, it is estimated that the Falls will disappear in approximately 50,000 years.
- Although it rarely happens, one or more of the 3 falls have frozen over, or been reduced to a trickle due to ice blockage upstream. The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 2015.
- Niagara Falls is part of the international border between the United States and Canada. To get a more complete view of the Falls (particularly American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls), you might want to cross over to the Canadian side via Rainbow Bridge. However, to do so, a passport is now required.
- Goat Island divides Horseshoe Falls from the other two. Visitors may walk across bridges to Goat Island and the accompanying 3 Sisters Islands.
- In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor (a 63-year old school teacher from Michigan) went over the Falls in a barrel as a publicity stunt. She came out bleeding but alive. Since then, 14 people have intentionally gone over the Falls. Some have survived, others have drowned or been severely injured. Since it is now illegal to intentionally go over the Falls, survivors face stiff charges and fines.
- The Falls have been featured in several movies and TV shows including: Niagara, Superman II, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Nearby: Buffalo, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal

Travel Tip #12 - Things to consider when traveling with family or friends

     A couple of weeks ago, I came across a blog that had some very sage advice about travelling with other families. Since it relates to my own travel tip for the week, here is the link: Rule #6: Not All Friends Are Travel Friends
    The basic premise is that certain friends are more compatible travelling companions than others. This isn't to say that not all your friends are great people; rather that your idea of what constitutes a great vacation may be very different. Travel can bring out both the best or the worst in you and others, so travelling with friends who have very different preferences regarding vacations can actually damage a friendship rather than strengthen it. Here are some things to consider before committing yourself to a joint vacation:
1. Where do my friends/family like to travel?
2. What do my friends typically do on vacation?
3. Do my friends prefer to get out of the hotel/condo to see things, or do they prefer to spend their vacation relaxing?
4. How much money do my friends typically spend on vacation?
5. What kind of accommodations do they prefer to use? (tent, motor home, stay with family in area, motel, hotel, condo, cruise ship, etc.)
6. What do they do for meals? (fix simple meals & snacks, fix elaborate meals, eat fast food, fine dining)
If you have kids...
7. Do our kids' ages match up?
8. Do our kids get along for extended periods of time?
9. Do our kids have similar interests?
10. Do we have similar disciplinary styles?

     After reviewing these questions, you will have a much better idea of whether or not your friends/family will be compatible travelling companions. Personally, I usually enjoy travelling with others - particularly family. For our New York/New England trip, we traveled with my parents and my sister's family and had a blast. Since our kids are similar ages, it gave our daughters a chance to do a variety of fun and interesting activities with their cousins. One of my favorite memories was listening to my dad sing the Erie Canal song as we cruised along the Erie Canal. I realize that travelling with family might seem like a nightmare to some people, but it has almost always worked out great for us.
     Have fun planning your next vacation!

Spotlight: New York State - Erie Canal (Lockport)

Spotlight: The Erie Canal was built during the early 1800's with the goal to connect New York City Harbor to the Great Lakes with a navigable water route. Construction of the canal commenced in 1817 and continued until it opened on Oct. 26, 1825. The canal needed 36 locks to allow ships to smoothly drop 565 feet over the course of its 363 mile route from Buffalo, New York (on the shores of Lake Erie) to Albany, New York on the shores of the Hudson River. Since water routes were the most cost effective means of transportation during this time period, the canal dropped shipping costs by approximately 95%. Completion of the canal provided a lot more commerce to pass through New York City, helping it surpass Philadelphia as the largest city in the U.S. In the year 2000, Congress designated the canal system as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to commemorate its importance as the most influential human-built waterway in North America.

Location: The Erie Canal runs from Buffalo, New York to Albany, New York, with 36 locks along the way. Several cities along the way offer canal boat rides, but we went to Lockport - a city that was built up as a result of its key location along the canal. The Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises company is located at 210 Market Street, Lockport, NY.

Time: Cruises are approximately 2 hours long. There are usually 2 cruises a day (12:30 & 2:00); but Saturdays a third cruise is available at 10:00 am.

Cost: Different cruise lines will have different rates, but the Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises cost: $17.50/adult, $9.00/children (4-10), free/children under four

Description: Boat rides are always fun, but if you've never been on a canal boat, you are in for a unique experience. Since canals are man-made, the ride tends to be smoother since you don't have to worry about waves, tides, or bends in the river. Instead, you get to travel through locks. Locks allow canals to rise up or drop in elevation to stay even with the lay of the land. They work kind of like an elevator, but with water. Each lock has two sets of gates. You enter through one gate, which then closes behind the boat. If you are going up, then water is released into the lock until the boat rises (49 feet at the Lockport locks) to be even with the level of the water on the other side of the gate. At that point, the second gate opens, and you continue your cruise. If you are going down, then water is drained from the lock until you are once again even with the water level in the canal. It is fascinating to watch the process from start to finish.

water pouring in through lock gates

     Another unique aspect of traveling by canal are the bridges. As you approach a bridge, it often appears that the boat is going to crash into the bridge - until the bridge starts to rise to let the boat through.

Bridge going back down

     The coast guard licensed boat captains are well informed, telling you about the impressive history of the Erie Canal, the unique architecture, and many folk tales about canal life as you leisurely float along admiring the beautiful scenery.

Canal Cruise

     Before or after your cruise, you can explore the Erie Canal Heritage Museum at 228 Market Street. Admission is free. The building was built in the 1840's, and used to be a flour mill. The spillway accompanying the building was used by escaped slaves as they made their way along the Underground Railroad.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: Cruises depart daily from May to October.
- The Lockport Canalside building has free parking for its clients.
- Lockport is home to the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal.
- The double locks (Locks 34 & 35) replaced the famous "Flight of Five" (5 locks that boats used to pass through). Cruisers can still see the remnants of these famous locks.

Flight of Five

- Lockport canal boats pass under what used to be the "widest bridge in the U.S." until it was surpassed in 2013.
- The canal boats can be reserved for special events and parties at discount rates for groups of 25 or more.
- AAA members can get a discount.
- For more information, or to book a trip, visit http://lockportlocks.com/ or call 1-800-378-0352.

Nearby: Niagara Falls, Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride, Erie Canal Discovery Center, Lake Ontario, Palmyra

Travel Tip #11 - When traveling as a large group, have Option A & Option B

     Occasionally we like to travel with family or friends. Unfortunately, when you travel with a large group, it is sometimes hard to meet everyone's needs. In fact, the larger the group, the harder it will be to satisfy everyone. One option is to do some activities as a whole group, and other activities separately. Usually this will mean one family does one activity while the other family does something totally different. However, sometimes you have diverse interests within the same family. When this happens, you might want to consider offering Option A and Option B.

Option A - Baseball Hall of Fame

Option B - The Famers' Museum

     For example, when we went to Cooperstown, NY, we were traveling with my sister's family and my parents. Some of us really wanted to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, others were mildly interested, and others would have been bored silly. If we had forced everyone to go, some of the group would have been miserable and might have complained so much that it would have ruined the excursion for those who really wanted to be there because we would have felt compelled to leave much earlier than planned. Instead, my sister went online and discovered that Cooperstown was also home to the Farmers' Museum. Since her son really wanted to go to the Hall of Fame, and my youngest really wanted to go to the Farmers' Museum, we offered Option A & Option B. Since everyone got to choose one or the other, everyone was satisfied with their excursion that day. It turned what could have been a disappointing day into a smashing success!
     Have fun, or not, the choice is yours.

Spotlight: New York State - Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame)

Spotlight: Cooperstown is famous as the birthplace of baseball. That is why the Baseball Hall of Fame was built here - a shrine to the greatest baseball players of all-time. This tiny village of about 2,000 inhabitants has embraced this endowment, catering to the hundreds of thousands of baseball fans who make the pilgrimage here every year. According to legend, Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball in a cow pasture within the town limits in 1839. Based purely on the merits of this account, the National Baseball Hall of Fame was opened here in 1939 in an effort to increase tourism to the area. It worked. Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame have become synonymous with each other despite the fact that most baseball historians strongly dispute the veracity of the story. Regardless of whether or not it is true, the town is a beautiful jewel located along the path less trodden.

Location: Cooperstown is located at the southern end of Otsega Lake. Despite being located somewhere near the geographical center of New York State, it has the feel of a small town smack dab in the middle of nowhere. The Hall of Fame is easy to find since it is located on Main St. in the middle of town: 25 Main St.; Cooperstown, New York

Time: Some people spend a few hours, others can spend all day; depending on how big of a baseball fan you are. Normal operating hours are from 9am - 5 pm. Summer hours are from 9am - 9pm.

Cost: Adults (13-64) - $23.00; Seniors (65+) - $15; children (7-12) - $12; veterans - $12; active/career retired military - free; children under seven - free

Description: The Baseball Hall of Fame is a museum dedicated to promoting and preserving the history of baseball, while honoring its greatest heroes. The Hall features exhibits that show how the game has evolved over the years, from its disputed beginnings as an offshoot of Town Ball or Rounders to its current form.

     Other exhibits honor pioneers from different races and nationalities around the world, as well as women players (remember the movie A League of Their Own). The Hall displays a plethora of jerseys, hats, bats, and balls used by baseball's greatest heroes (as well as its relatively unknown journeymen) to accomplish the game's greatest feats. Memorabilia from previous eras, old stadiums, no-hitters, milestones, record breakers, and World Series championships are prominently displayed throughout the Hall with plaques explaining the significance of each item. One of our favorite exhibits was "The Ultimate Collection" - a baseball card collection including a copy of the ultra-rare T206 Honus Wagner card (considered the most valuable baseball card ever made, often selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars).

No-hitter balls from the 1970's

Bats and balls used by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth's record

Honus Wagner

     In addition to the display cases, the Hall has a wide selection of photographs, videos and audio recordings of many of its historic moments. There are also many hands-on interactive computer displays that allow fans to experience various aspects of the game, as well as test their skills or knowledge of the game.

     The most prominent exhibit at the Hall of Fame is the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery, featuring plaques listing the accomplishments, career highlights, and stats of every inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. You can look for your favorite stars among baseball's legends, or try to choose your all-time Dream Team from among baseball's greatest stars.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: Cooperstown hosts its annual Hall of Fame Weekend the final weekend of July. The ceremonies attract baseball fans from around the country, including most living Hall of Famers, as it inducts that year's crop of Hall of Famers. The Parade of Legends, featuring MLB's living Hall of Famers, takes place on Saturday. The Induction Ceremony takes place on the Sunday, wrapping up the weekend's events.
- Fans are encouraged to start their tour of the museum on the second floor (which highlights baseball's chronological development), move on to the third floor, and finish in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery on the first floor.
- You can leave the museum and return the same day at no additional cost.
- Flash photography and video recordings are encouraged throughout the museum.
- Strollers are permitted, and free wheelchairs are provided for visitors who need them.
- The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
- Up and down Main Street you can browse shops with memorabilia that you can buy - including hats, jerseys, baseball cards, bats, magazines, books and autographed balls.
- For additional information, check out the official Baseball Hall of Fame website.
- Cooperstown hosts the Glimmerglass Opera every July and August.

Nearby: The Farmers Museum; Fenimore Art Museum; Glimmerglass Opera; Palmyra; Erie Canal

Travel Tip #10 - When planning a trip, check for special events.

     When you are planning an itinerary for a trip, it is always a good idea to take a look at what special events are taking place in the area. There are several reasons for this: 1) If an event interests you, you can fit it into your schedule; 2) If an event doesn't interest you, you might want to avoid the area during that time frame because of the extra crowds; 3) Regardless of whether you want to attend the event or not, it will affect the availability of hotel rooms.
     A few years ago we were in Baltimore, and wanted to see Fort McHenry - where an important battle took place during the the war of 1812. Francis Scott Key was present during the British attack on the fort and was so inspired by the bravery of the defenders that he wrote The Star-spangled Banner to immortalize the event. It just so happened that the day we were in Baltimore was June 14, 2012 - Flag Day. Although the battle took place in September, the city decided to hold a big bicentennial celebration that day, but since we didn't bother to research special events for that day, we had no clue until we were stopped at a roadblock approaching the fort. We were told that only VIPs could continue on to the fort, and for some reason we weren't on their VIP list. We were told where we could park to take a shuttle to the fort for the program, and considered doing it, but it would have taken much longer than we had slotted for the tour of the fort. If we had done our homework, we could have worked it in, or come another day. As it turned out, we had to scrap it and move on to Plan B.
     Although somewhere like Baltimore is well suited to handle extra guests for special events, small towns like Palmyra or Cooperstown are not. Yet they each host annual special events that bring in thousands of extra tourists during the time frame of the event. If you are going to be in the area during those special events, you better book your hotel room months ahead of time. If you don't, all the decent rooms will be reserved. If you do manage to find one, it will probably cost double the normal rate, or be miles out of the way. In any case, it pays to check ahead of time.
     Good luck in all your travels!

Spotlight: New York State - Palmyra

Spotlight: From New York City, we travel upstate to the city of Palmyra in the Finger Lakes region. Palmyra appears to be your typical little country town along the Erie Canal - until thousands of tourists descend upon the city every July. The reason? Palmyra is where the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith grew up. Not only are there many historical sites here depicting the origins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; there is also a major pageant held here every year at the Hill Cumorah.

Location: Palmyra is located about 15 miles east of Rochester: google map
The Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center is located at 603 State Rt. 21, Palmyra, NY.
The Joseph Smith Farm Welcome Center is located at 843 Stafford Rd., Palmyra, NY.

Time: You can spend a couple of hours, a day, or a couple of days here; depending on your interest in the historical sites.

Cost: The historical sites and pageant are free.

Description: Palmyra is a typical small New York town, with an atypical history. Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was raised here. As a result, many historical sites surrounding the establishment of the Mormon church are here. Most are currently owned and operated by the LDS Church and are free to the public. Most of these sites give free tours that explain the history of the site and its importance to members of the Mormon faith. These sites include:
- The Smith family homestead. The Smith family plot includes the frame house and the log cabin, as well as auxiliary buildings. All the buildings are displayed as they would have been during the early 1800's when the Smith family lived here.

- The Sacred Grove. The copse of trees near the homestead is where Joseph went to pray about which church to join. In his personal history, he describes how during his prayer he was visited by God the father and his son, Jesus Christ. He was told not to join any church, but rather was called to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth once again.

- The Palmyra temple was constructed on the grounds. It was dedicated in April, 2000 - the 100th temple built by the LDS Church.

- The Hill Cumorah is the site of the annual Hill Cumorah Pageant. The pageant recreates scenes from the Book of Mormon - a book of scripture that works as a companion to the Bible for members of the Mormon faith. According to Joseph Smith's history, he received a set of gold plates here from the Angel Moroni (the angel placed on the top of most LDS temples). The plates contained a history of the inhabitants of the American continent, and Joseph was given the charge to translate them into English.

- The Grandin Building. This is the location of the printing press that was used to publish the Book of Mormon. It has been restored to appear as it did when the Book of Mormon was published. Volunteers show visitors the process that was used to publish books at this time, and have facsimiles of the manuscript and the final copy of the book.

- The Martin Harris Farm. Martin Harris was one of the 3 witnesses of the Book of Mormon. In addition to handling the gold plates, Martin originally worked as a scribe for the translation. He also mortgaged his farm to pay for its publication.
- The Peter Whitmer Farm in nearby Fayette, New York. David Whitmer was another of the 3 witnesses of the Book of Mormon. His father, Peter, allowed Joseph and Oliver Cowdery (the third witness and primary scribe) to stay here while they transcribed the majority of the Book of Mormon. Later, the home was the location of the first official meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was here that the LDS Church was organized on April 6, 1830.

Rating: 5 stars (particularly if you are able to see the pageant)

Things You Should Know: There are Visitor's Centers located at the Smith Farm and the Hill Cumorah with guides who offer free tours and can answer any questions you may have.
- The Hill Cumorah Pageant is presented for seven nights every July. The pageant and parking are both free. A cast of more than 650 performs the pageant on the giant 10-level stage with state-of-the-art sound system, lighting and special effects. For information and dates, go to http://hillcumorah.org/index.php
- Several of the original structures at these sites no longer exist, but the buildings on display have been recreated to appear as they would have in the early 1800's.
- The Martin Harris Farm is privately owned. No tours are given at this site.
- The Museums of Historic Palmyra is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and architecture of Historic Palmyra "The Queen of Erie Canal Towns." They primarily care for four museums that preserve these Victorian Era homes.
- You can take a cruise on the Erie Canal at Canal Lock 29 near Palmyra. For more info, call 1-800-4CANAL4 ext. 300.

Nearby: Erie Canal, the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls

Travel Tip #9 - Protecting your Valuables

     We've all seen movies or TV shows in which the protagonist gets robbed. This usually takes place in an urban area, late at night, at the mouth of some abandoned alley. And while most of us probably haven't been robbed personally, most of us know someone who has. It only makes sense to avoid walking along abandoned alleys in urban areas late at night; but that isn't the only time to be cautious. I would imagine that more people are robbed in broad daylight in the middle of large crowds by pickpockets than the typical Hollywood robbery scene. In any case, there are several things you can do to protect your valuables.
     1. Carry your wallet and valuables in front pockets rather than back pockets. A popular technique of pickpockets is to gently bump into you in a crowd while simultaneously slipping your wallet out of your back pocket. You don't notice it because you are distracted by the nudge. Even if you do check your pocket, they have already slipped away in the crowd. Front pockets are harder to get to.
     2. If you have zippered pockets on clothing or bags, use them. Pickpockets are looking for a smooth, easy pick. Rather than risk unzipping a pocket, they are more likely to go after an easier pick.
     3. If you are carrying a purse or bag, keep a hand on the strap. As an added protection, you can pull the strap over your head so that no one can just slip it off your shoulder. Also, never set your bag down; even if it is just to take a picture.
     4. When leaving items in your car, make sure all valuables are out of sight. Some thieves patrol parking lots looking for easy pickings - particularly things like laptops. I've had this happen to two cousins in the past year.
     5. Hotel rooms are usually safe, but I wouldn't leave small valuables lying around.
     6. Don't carry around a lot of cash. If cash gets stolen, it's gone. If a credit card gets taken, you can call to have the card cancelled. You do need some cash, however, because there are some places that still don't take plastic - particularly for small transactions.
     7. Don't keep all your credit cards together. If your wallet does get picked, you don't want to be stuck away from home without money. I usually carry one card and some cash in my wallet. I then have my other card and some emergency cash hidden somewhere else - like a money belt that can be worn under your clothing.
     8. Don't make yourself a target. If you wear a lot of expensive jewelry, or even "dress like a tourist," it is like painting a target on your back. It is much safer to try to blend in.
     9. Be vigilant. Thieves are looking for easy targets - people who aren't paying attention. You don't need to be paranoid, just observant of what's going on around you.
     Be safe, and have fun!