Pan Am Experience
Step into any economy class cabin, and it's clear that the Golden Age of flying is long gone. Or is it? The Pan Am Experience lets you relive what it was like. Your ticket includes a gourmet meal, served in a recreation of a Pan Am 747 jumbo jet from the '70s. Every detail is authentic, from the seats to the uniforms to the china to the price: expect to pay about $300 a head for your "flight."
Mistura
If you like Peruvian cuisine — or even if you simply want to learn more about it — there's no better place to head than Mistura. Stretching across ten days, this event is organized by the Peruvian Gastronomy Society and brings together all the country's ethnic groups and diverse cuisines together in a single celebration that ranks as the most popular food fair in Latin America, complete with a grand market, cooking demonstrations, and more, all set on the shores of the Pacific.
Electronic Sriracha Festival
Yes, you read that correctly. Labor Day weekend — Saturday August 30 from Noon to 8pm, to be more precise — St. James Park will play host to one of the most interesting culinary/musical mashups of the year. The Inaugural Electronic Sriracha Festival will occupy two city blocks, and feature three stages of electronic music from some of the Bay Area's best, four bars, over 40 food trucks and tents with all dishes priced at $6 or less, and reasonable tickets that likewise won't break the bank.
Zippo/Case Museum
You don't need to be a smoker — or even ex-smoker, for that matter — to appreciate the simple reliability of the iconic Zippo lighter. And the same applies to the Zippo/Case Museum. Located off the beaten path just off Route 219, this unique attraction celebrates the heritage and history of both Zippo lighters and Case knives, with exhibits like Old "Glow"ry, a 7x11-foot American flag made from red, white, and blue lighters, interactive kiosks, and the Zippo Clinic, where workers fix broken lighters. As you might expect, there's also a company store on the grounds, offering such a huge selection that it's nearly worth the trip itself.
Mad Max Museum
It's one thing to be a fan of a movie. It's another thing to start up a museum dedicated to it. The Mad Max Museum is the latter. Opened in September 2010 by diehard fan Adrian Bennett — he moved from England just to be closer to the filming locations — the museum houses a large collection of photos, many provided by locals that we around the set during filming, life-sized characters in costume, both original and replica vehicles, some built by Bennett himself, and other memorabilia. As you expect, there's also souvenirs available — and yes, it's technically the "Mad Max 2 Museum", but we doubt anyone back home will care if it's a sequel or not.
The Murray Affair
There are few actors we respect and admire more than Bill Murray, so it's only right that we're pumped about The Murray Affair. This unique art exhibition, put together by Ezra Croft and scheduled for August 8th at the SF Public Works is a one-night extravaganza filled with artwork dedicated the man/myth/legend and his myriad iconic roles. In addition to all the artwork, there will also be musical entertainment, and the ability to buy select pieces — assuming the artist wants to sell.
Northwest Passage Cruise
In case you've forgotten your middle school geography, the Northwest Passage is a route through the Arctic Ocean that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — and now, over 100 years after it was first navigated, you can live the excitement of this trip on a Northwest Passage Cruise. This 32-day excursion will see you sailing past fjords, glaciers, and rare wildlife, while stopping at ports-of-call that include Kodiak, Alaska, Nuuk, Greenland, Bar Harbor, Maine, and New York City. It's certainly not cheap at $20,000 per person, but that's a small price to pay to be among the first to make the trip.
Columbus Food Truck Festival
Forget trying to chase down your favorite Ohio food trucks — they'll more than likely be gathered in one spot at the Columbus Food Truck Festival. Scheduled for August 15th & 16th at the Columbus Commons in downtown, this tasty event will feature over 40 food trucks and carts — including favorites like Sweet Carrot, The Angry Wiener, and Tortilla Street Food — as well as live music, arts and crafts, and plenty of refreshments. Or you could spend the next two months driving around to try them all. Totally up to you.
Baker Thermometer
It's been a familiar face on the drive up I-15 from LA to Vegas since it was first switched on in 1992, but for the first time in years, the Baker Thermometer is ready to spring back into action. Standing 134 feet tall — in honor of the record temperature in Death Valley on July 10, 1913 — this landmark has just hit with a $150,000 restoration, allowing it to once again report the accurate temperature, which is good, since it's a real shame to have the World's Tallest Thermometer turned off.
Ala Moana Fireworks
It really doesn't matter what you're doing — the beaches of Hawaii make a great backdrop for almost anything. So it only stands to reason that they'd be a great place to put on a fireworks show. Indeed, the Ala Moana Fireworks display is one of the best Independence Day spectacles around. Unlike most barge-based shows, the shells for this celebration are launched from the tip of Magic Island so as to not harm the offshore reefs, and can be seen from all over Waikiki and Honolulu, making it one of the most accessible shows around.
Lights on the Lake
When it comes to 4th of July fireworks shows, there are plenty of obvious destinations, like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and DC — so we're guessing you probably didn't have Lake Tahoe on your must-see list. And that's a shame, because Lights on the Lake is one of the country's premier Independence Day shows. Scheduled to begin at 9:45, the show is visible from all around South Lake Tahoe, with special viewing opportunities available via boat, clubhouse, and — for a really unique view — helicopter.
Iguazu Falls
With so much happening in Brazil over the next couple of years, there will be plenty of reasons to go visit — and should you find yourself there for whatever reason, be sure to move away from the coast and explore the natural beauty of Iguazu Falls. Set on the border of Brazil and Argentina, this huge collection of waterfalls (between 150 and 300, depending on the water level) can be seen from either side, with most of the falls residing in Argentina and the best views belonging to Brazil. It might be a bit of a jaunt from Sao Paulo or Rio, but it's totally worth it.
