From soaring skyscrapers to rumbling subways, power shopping to bargain-hunting, world-renowned restaurants to neighborhood delis and pizzerias, majestic cathedrals to Times Square—New York has it all. Chances are you can't do it all, but this friendly guide helps you take a big bite out of the Big Apple with:

    * Maps and tips for getting around by public transit, plus sights best seen on foot
    * A calendar of events for every season
    * A shopper's guide, including trendy areas like SoHo, NoHo, and NoLita
    * Information about great free attractions, including the Staten Island Ferry
    * Sample itineraries to help you make the most of your trip

With information on "must see" attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park, places to take the kids, an insider's look at the nightlife, tips on getting discount tickets to popular shows, and a Quick Concierge with all kinds of info, this guide will have you saying, "I love New York."

Years ago, when Frank Sinatra sang the praises of "my kind of town," he was saluting Chicago. Chicago is still a truly vibrant and eclectic city that constantly reinvents itself. Cosmopolitan yet not elitist, sophisticated in some ways yet refreshingly brash in others, Chicago is wonderfully entertaining and welcoming. There’s plenty to do and this guide clues you in with the latest info on:

    * Four options for exploring the city
    * Five day trips to nearby attractions
    * Accommodations, ranging from three of the world’s best luxury hotels to wonderful historic getaways with modern amenities
    * A shopping guide that covers power shopping along the Magnificent Mile and bargain hunting in unique shops
    * The action and attractions, ranging from Soldier Field or Wrigley Field to the Hancock Observatory to Navy Pier
    * Restaurants, including everything from elegant to family-style, and from Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza to all kinds of ethnic cuisine
    * Intriguing architecture and incredible museums, including the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Art Institute of Chicago
    * Fantastic outdoor attractions, including Millenium Park, Grant Park, North Avenue Beach, two great zoos, and more
    * What to do when the sun goes down, whether you like the blues, ska, or hip-hop… the hot night spots or great theater
    * Culture, ranging from Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to The Second City and Improv Olympics
    * Sports—baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and more—in a city of notoriously passionate fans

With two of the nation’s largest megalopolises — Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area—California has the largest, wealthiest, and most urbanized population of any state in the nation. Yet it’s also an agricultural wonderland, a nature-lovers paradise, a wine-lover’s dream, an outdoor enthusiast’s ideal playground, and more. In fact, there’s so much to see and do in California that you’ll probably have to choose.  With this guide, you can’t lose. It gives you the scoop on:

    * Northern California, including San Francisco, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Redwood Country, Yosemite National Park, and more
    * The central coast, including the Monterey Peninsula and the spectacular Big Sur Coast
    * The Southland cities, including L.A., San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach, ritzy Palm Springs, and San Diego
    * Major attractions like Hearst Castle, Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, and Alcatraz
    * Activities like hiking in the Yosemite Valley, biking along the Monterey coastline, cruising Sunset Boulevard, taking in the scenery on the Pacific Coast Highway, and more
    * All kinds of dining options, ranging from foodie favorites like the French Laundry in Yountville and Campanile, Patina, and Providence in L. A. to good restaurants for picky eaters, and great places to enjoy a vegetarian meal or incredible Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican, or Thai specialties
    * Can’t miss family destinations in various parts of the state, including Humboldt Redwood State Park, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the California Science Center, in L.A., and more
    * All sorts of accommodations, from new Treebones Resort in Big Sur that houses you in a gorgeous yurt, L. A.’s Chateau Marmont, with its Art Deco and Beaux Arts castle-style main building and individual bungalows, the Grand View and Seven Gables inns in Monterey/Pacific Grove with their spectacular ocean views, Chateau du Sureau in Oakhurst for pure pampering and four-star dining, and more.

Thirty simple activities designed to inform and give practice in discussing cultural topics with classes between elementary and intermediate level. The activities are quick and easy to prepare and require few, or no, additional resources. An introduction provides guidance for teachers unfamiliar with the communicative approach.

• A wide variety of activity types to practise the four skills
• Accessible topics covering a wide range of cultures and countries
• Pictures that are easy to copy
• Step-by-step lessons with clear instructions