The Lesser Known National Parks

America has some incredible national parks within its borders. In total America’s national parks cover 52 million acres of land and attracted 63 million visitors last year. However, they’re not all created equal. For every well known and well visited park Grand Canyon or Yellowstone there are several other lesser known parks like Acadia or Isle Royale. CNN has put together a list of four of these parks that are incredibly beautiful but far less popular. The next time you’re considering traveling to one of our country’s 59 National Parks, consider some of these less traveled parks:

1. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
2. Glacier National Park, Montana
3. Redwood National Park, California
4. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Crater Lake, the world’s second deepest lake and one of the National Park Service’s best kept secrets.

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

The Empire State Building Turns 82

Next to the Statue of Liberty the Empire State Building is the most iconic structure of New York City. The historic office building, which was the world’s tallest building for forty-two years is now celebrating it’s eighty-second birthday amid a battle to make it public. TIME has noted the occasion with a great collection of old photos of the Queen of the Manhattan skyline. Depending on how the legal battle goes to make it public, the day may be coming soon where you can own a share of New York’s most iconic building!

The Empire State Building in 1955

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available in New York City and other cities Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or NewYork@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Ten Best Cities For Young Entrepreneurs

Here is the flip side to our recent post about the best cities for finding a job. Forbes.com and NerdWallet tallied up the ten best cities for a young person to start their own business. They compiled this list by using an equal weighting of loan data, cost of living, business activity, education and income for 42 of America’s largest cities and narrowing the list down to the top ten. If you’d rather be your own boss, here is their list of the best cities to start your own business:

10. Houston, TX
9. Omaha, NE
8. Austin, TX
7. Minneapolis, MN
6. Seattle, WA
5. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Raleigh, NC
3. Atlanta, GA
2. Tampa, FL
1. Tulsa, OK

Tulsa, OK

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

10 Best Cities for Finding Employment

In need of a new job? Forbes.com has listed the 10 Best Cities for Employment. These cities were chosen by Adecco Staffing US, a Human Resources firm. They have the fullest employment, according to the Department of Labor, as well as internal data around job growth and demand. They then determined which areas in the US are the best for finding a job.

1. Bethesda, MD
2. Austin, TX
3. Jacksonville, FL.
4. Grand Rapids, MI
5. Columbus, OH
6. Seattle, WA.
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. New York, NY
9. Richmond, VA
10. Oklahoma City, OK

Bethesda, MD

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information

10 Pick from Across the US to Eat Like a Local

Travel & Leisure teamed up with CNN to create a list of 100 places to eat like a local. They asked for recommendations of the best, most authentic spots for visitors to feel like locals when they’re on the road. From all of the responses, they picked their favorites below. To view the entire list of 100 locations, click here.

1. Taqueria del Sol in Atlanta, Georgia
2. Elizabeth Street Café in Austin, Texas
3. Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen in Barre, Vermont
4. Grits & Groceries in Belton, South Carolina
5. Seafood Express in Hyder, Alaska
6. Coconut’s Fish Café in Kihei, Hawaii
7. Phil’s Fish Market in Moss Landing, California
8. Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco
9. Neon Grill in St. Joseph, Michigan
10.  Tecolote in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

The Best Places to Visit in 2013

LonelyPlanet.com compiled their list of the ten best places to visit in 2013. If you’re looking into planning your next vacation, check out these places and see what all the fuss is about!

1. Louisville, Kentucky- Considered a “lively, offbeat cultural mecca on the Ohio River.”
2. Fairbanks, Alaska-The place to be to see the unique & exquisite Northern Lights.
3. San Juan Islands, Washington- Home to 250 days of sunshine each year plus tons of fresh food and locally grown produce, seafood, and more.
4. Philadelphia, PA- Philly is quickly becoming the art capital of the world with the renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art and amazing galleries.
5. American Samoa- Has some of the most stunning & untouched beaches of the Pacific and an awesome national park. It’s US territory too!
6. Eastern Sierra, CA- An overlooked part of the Sierra Nevada range with other great natural attractions like the Travertine hot spring, the Gold Rush ghost town of Bodie, and more.
7. Northern Maine-Besides lobster, lighthouses, and a rocky shoreline, Maine’s top half which reaches to the Canada border makes for a true wilderness adventure with moose, white water rafting, and hiking.
8. Twin Cities, Minnesota-Minneapolis is often called the country’s best bike city. St. Paul is quitter but has an awesome must-see marketplace and the Fitzgerald Theater.
9. Verde Valley, Arizona-Located between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon, Verde Valley is taking off as Arizona’s go-top location. Food, art, and mining lore combine with beautiful green canyons rimmed by red rocks.
10. Glacier National Park, Montana- One of the country’s wildest, most remote and pristine national parks. Jagged, snow-topped ridges and glacier sculpted horns loom over aquamarine lakes and meadows that are blanketed with wildflowers.

Which one of these places are you most likely to visit? They all sound fantastic to us!

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

Washington DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off last Wednesday. The festival will run through April 14th and is the Nation’s greatest springtime celebration.

The festival celebrates springtime in DC, the gift of the beautiful cherry blossom tree, and the enduring friendship between people of the United States and Japan. It commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukiki Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC.  Throughout the festival, various daily events will feature diverse and creative programming to promote traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Most of the events are free and open to the public. More than 1.5 million people visit Washington, DC during the festival to admire the trees and participate in the event.

The festival parade will take place on Saturday, April 13th from 10am to noon. The parade runs along Constitution Avenue (from 7th to 17th streets N.W.) and features celebrity performances, giant helium balloons, colorful floats, marching bands from across the nation, and more. Grandstand seating can be purchased for $20, and there is no cost for viewing along the parade route.

For a full list of the events by date, please click here.

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available throughout Washington D.C.and  Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 for more information.

South Boston’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 17th

The country’s second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place this weekend in South Boston. Viewed by over 600,000 people and broadcasted on live TV, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade is sure to be a memorable day!

The parade kicks off at 1pm on Sunday, March 17. It starts on West Broadway heading East and ends on Dorchester Avenue. You can view the parade route on a map located here. A list of participating restaurants and bars can also be found on the event’s official website.

Below is a list of other major St. Patrick’s Day events going on this weekend:

1. NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

2. St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Washington DC

3. Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

4. Newport Rhode Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade

5. California St. Patrick’s Day Events

“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year-long.” Have a fun, safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Best French Fries in the United States

Come on admit it, there is nothing better than a crispy, golden brown, salted French fry. Right?

CNN Travel‘s article, lists where to get the “Best French fries in the United States.”

1. Boise Fry Company, Idaho: Their slogan is “Burgers on the Side” and with Idaho being known for their potatoes, this place was destined to have killer fries. Customers can choose from six varieties of potato, then the cut, then the dressing. What could be better than a fry customized to your craving?!

2. The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, NYC:This hip place is known for their thrice-cooked chips. Long, medium-thick slices of Idaho russet potatoes are first boiled, then fried twice in a sunflower/canola oil blend. Then they get a pinch of salt. Try them with the restaurant’s Cuban mayo.

3. The Original Hot Dog Shop, Pittsburgh:Known for dishing out fries piled a mile high, The Original Hot Dog Shop makes their fries using hand-cut, and peeled Idaho potatoes which are friend twice in peanut oil. Served perfectly golden and crunch on a cafeteria tray, this place will bring back the nostalgia of the good old days.

4. Duckfat, Maine:Duckfat uses locally grown potatoes for their famous fries which are fried twice in duck fat allowing the outside to get super crisp while the inside remains tender. Served in a paper cone alongside specially made dips like mussel mayo and chopped egg and caper mayo, these fries are unusually made but delicious.

5. Jasper’s Corner Tap, San Francisco: With a menu devoted specifically to fries, this place has to be a winner! Choose your fry, thin, thick, or sweet potato, then your seasoning. Folks say that the smoked cheese fondue that is served as a side for dipping is “to die for.”

6. Pike Street Fish, Seattle: Known for Seattle’s best fish and chips, this place serves hand-sliced fries that are fried to “perfection,” along with delectable dipping sauces. The tangy chili mayo is a favorite. Even better, fries are FREE every third Friday of the month from 5PM to 7PM.

7. The Green Room, South Carolina: The Chef here, Patrick Long, specializes in Parmesan truffle fries, shoestring cut, and immediately tossed in truffle oil after being taken from the fryer. He then finishes them with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

8. Bourbon Steak, Miami: Celeb chef Michael Mina offers mid-thick cuts of potato that are dunked in duck fat for the ultimate flavor and crispiness. An order covers three seasonings and sauce combos including rosemary herb with spicy ketchup, onion-dusted with sour cream sauce, and smoked paprika with smoked BBQ sauce. YUM!

9. Jonesy’s EatBar, Denver: Continually voted as Denver’s best fries, these thick-cut, extra crispy spuds are out of this world. They also come in four “World Famous” and original varieties like Buffalo (loaded in wing sauve and blue cheese crumbles with a side of dressing) and Bacon Mac & Cheese.

10. Thrasher’s, Maryland: Simply put, these are the ultimate “Boardwalk Fry.” These hand-cut fries are freid in peanut oil with the skins still on and served with salk & vineagar in a big bucket. The smallest bucket is 16oz and the largest weighs in at 53oz!

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC

The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the city’s greatest traditions, marching for the first time on March 17, 1762 – fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Today it is the largest parade in the world. To this day, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade remains true to its roots as a traditional marchers’ parade by not allowing floats, automobiles and other commercial aspects to participate. Every year, the Parade Committee hosts 150,000- 250,000 marchers in front of approximately two million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. The Parade is also televised for four hours on New York’s WNBC Channel 4 to over half a million households and was web-streamed for the first time in 2008.

The Parade starts at 44th Street at 11 am and marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street all the way up past the Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Irish Historical Society at 83rd Street to 86th Street, where the parade finishes around 4:30 – 5:00 pm.

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available in New York City and other cities Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 orNewYork@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.