Sydney is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. The city is home to the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the host of the first Olympics of the new millennium. The city is surrounded by nature and national parks, which extend into the suburbs and right to the shores of the harbour. For this installment of 1-day itinerary, we’ll explore The Rocks suburb, located in the historical precinct of central Sydney.
For accommodation, stay at the 
Harbour Rocks Hotel. This 4-star hotel is in close proximity to other attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbour. Wotif.com showed rates as low as A$149/night.
Let’s start the day by perusing the stalls at an open air market for art and souvenirs. 
The Rocks Market which occupies a closed-off portion of George St from Dawes Point Park down to Hickson Rd. Over 150 stalls can be found under the distinctive yellow sails every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
Next we’ll head to Australia’s oldest Observatory. Built in 1858,
Sydney Observatory was essential to ship navigation, meteorology, timekeeping and for studying the southern hemisphere. The Observatory became a museum in 1982. The historic lens telescope in the south dome dates from 1874 and is the oldest regularly used telescope in Australia. In contrast, the mirror telescope in the north dome is fully computer controlled and incorporates the latest technology. The observatory is open daily from 10a to 5p and admission costs A$7. read more…
Brisbane, affectionately dubbed BrisVegas, is the center of the South-East Queensland corridor that runs from the Sunshine Coast to the New South Wales border of Australia. Brisbane feels young and laid back, with a growing live music scene.
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The home base of this itinerary is situated in two of the oldest and grandest buildings in Brisbane. Formerly the Treasury Building and the Lands Administration Building, these historical structures have been restored and converted into read more…
San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, well-known for its liberal community, hilly terrain, Victorian architecture, scenic beauty, summer fog, and great ethnic and cultural diversity. Living in San Francisco makes it somewhat challenging to organize a 1-day itinerary. There are simply so many places to see! For the first installation of 1-day San Francisco, I will focus on the areas around downtown.
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A business trip took me 125 miles southwest of Chicago to Bloomington, Il. Here are a couple dining recommendations should you find yourself in Bloomington, or its twin city: Normal, Il.
Located in downtown Bloomington, Reality Bites is a great joint to meet friends and coworkers after a day in the office. The establishment offers small plates, wine flights, and local beers on tap.
DESTIHL is a restaurant and brewery located in the Shoppes at College Hills. A casual spot with an urban feel to it. You’ll find a variety of American dishes from Meatloaf to Jambalaya to Porkchops. Make sure that you sample the beer selection brewed on site.
Despite being a chain, head to Biaggi’s for an authentic Italian cuisine. The establishment’s ambiance is upscale and appropriate for business meals. Prices on dishes & wines are quite reasonable. Make sure you try their signature tomato soup.
A modern metropolis set in the north of the island nation of Taiwan, Taipei serves as the nation’s major center for politics, commerce, mass media, education, and pop culture. Since the 1970s, the city’s eastern area has emerged as a bustling center of finance and commerce, and now features skyscrapers, wide boulevards and the Taipei World Trade Center. While the city embraces modernity, cultural traditions and arts continue to thrive and color daily life in Taipei, where concerts, festivals and other events are celebrated in full splendor throughout the year.
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