London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals. © LOCOG

So you have a day in London with no Olympic event tickets.  How about taking a look at the art of the Olympic games rather than the sport? These great exhibits are on display now for a limited time only.

HowDoYouDo.com is your source for great tips on enjoying the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

At the 2012 London Olympics, the houses are located all over the city for your enjoyment.  Those that are open to the general public will host activities that include TV coverage of the medal ceremonies (or even have their own ceremony), cultural exhibitions, concerts, food, and evening parties.  Each house will have their own requirements for entry, such as  an entry fee, photo id/passport proof of residency, and/or specific times for general public visits.

Take a trip around the world on the streets of London at these Olympic Hospitality Houses.  Unless otherwise stated, most of the houses are open July 28 – August 12.

And remember…

• Cadbury is an Olympic sponsor and they will erect a purple inflatable structure in Hyde Park as its base for the London 2012 Games.  Cadbury House is comprised of three inflatable domes, each housing a different Cadbury experience. Also enjoy a garden, hospitality area, and bandstand.
• The House of Chocolate is part of  the BT London Live experience.   Chocolate will be in abundance!

HowDoYouDo.com is your source for great tips on enjoying the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

(c) LOCOG media gallery

Most of us think of high ticket prices when talking about the Olympic games. But did you know there are actually a handful of FREE EVENTS that will get you a glimpse of competition without paying a penny? It’s true – just check out the list below! For more great tips on enjoying the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in person, click here.

• Triathlon: 

The triathlon takes place in Hyde Park.  While tickets do exist for viewing the swimming and running portions, most of the cycling (the second of the three events) can be seen from outside the gated area.  The cyclist route follows South Carriage Drive, Constitution Hill, and Serpentine Road, winding its way past two major symbols of London – Buckingham Palace and Wellington Arch.

• Marathon:

The marathon starts and finishes at The Mall.  Athletes complete a first loop of 2.2 miles along the River Thames, south to the Houses of Parliament, and back up to The Mall past Buckingham Palace. They then run back to the river and this time head east towards the City of London and beyond to the Tower of London in an eight-mile loop that is repeated three times before crossing the finishing line.   Tickets are required at The Mall, but the remainder of the course in non-ticketed.

Suggested Viewing Spots:  St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, along the River Thames, and Victoria embankment near Waterloo Bridge.  The finish is at The Mall, so if want to see the final kick, position yourself near Buckingham Palace. Download a full course map here.

• Race Walk:

The Race Walk starts/finishes at The Mall. Athletes race over a 2km loop, taking them up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, around the Victoria Memorial and up Constitution Hill towards Hyde Park Corner before returning to complete the loop.  The loop will be repeated 10 times for the 20km events and 25 times for the 50km event.  There are certain areas of the route where tickets are not required, such as near Buckingham Palace and Constitution Hill after the Queen Victoria Memorial.

• Cycling: 

The cycling road race starts/finishes at The Mall.  The route passes a number of famous spots, including Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace and the beautiful town centre of Kingston upon Thames.

There are viewing seats at Box Hill (a summit of the North Downs in Surrey, around 30 km south west of London), but there is a charge of £5-15 for those tickets.  There is also ticketed viewing on The Mall.  For free viewing, place yourself near Buckingham Palace, Constitution Hill, or Brampton Road (use the South Kensington Tube).

The cycling time trials are in southwest London and start/finish at Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace is a ticketed area, but the remainder of the route is non-ticketed.

Suggested Viewing Spots:  A good place to watch the women’s individual time trial is on Hampton Court Road (Knightsbridge Rail Line). A good place to watch the men’s individual time trial  is on Upper Teddington Road  (Hampton Wick Rail Line).

And remember…

• Since these events are free, there will be many people thinking the same way you do.  Show up early for the best view.
• Don’t forget the camera! The backdrop of the London games are the city’s most iconic sights, so you’ll get some great photos to remember your trip. Why not snap pictures of the guards at Buckingham Palace while you cheer on a marathoner going by?
• All finishing times are estimated.

HowDoYouDo.com is your source for great tips on enjoying the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Copyright: Flickr user Martineric

If you’ve never done so, watching a marathon in person can be a fun experience.  Some of the benefits are that it doesn’t cost a thing, you aren’t restricted to a seat (so you can roam around and view from different angles), and the action changes every second.  But how can you be the best spectator possible?

The key to being a great fan at any road race is to keep the spirit of the runner up while also keeping their mind off of how much farther they have to go.  Here are some tips that will help you be the best fan you can be:

Signs or Voices. Both are great cheering mechanisms!

Signs are an excellent way to cheer on any athlete, especially one running a long distance.  They don’t have to be fancy.  Simple is sometimes best. There are numerous approaches you can take.

• Try an easy phrase, like: Go, Go, Go!
• Or even a fact: There’s no counting calories today!
• You can make the runner laugh:  You look like a Kenyan!
• Or just remind the runners of their achievement:  You R running a MARATHON!

If you don’t feel artistic, use your voice for encouragement.  Runners wear their names on their shirts for this reason. Yell their name and tell them they’re looking “mah-velous.”  If you don’t see a name, look for a distinguishing feature about them.  For example, maybe they’re wearing their country’s flag.  Try to be creative with your cheer because it just might help that runner break through their wall!

A shot of Vitamin C, anyone?  

Runners usually carry something with them to replenish their energy – goo and gummy treats are the most popular choices.  Some spectators carry orange slices to hand out as a tasty alternative.  These can be just the motivation that some runners are looking for to keep going.
Tip: Store the orange slices in plastic bags and wear plastic gloves while handing them out.    

Just Show Up 

Weather is an unpredictable thing.  It might be cold outside or even rainy, but you can always bundle up or carry an umbrella.  The athletes will be out in all sorts of elements for at least four hours.  They’ll be sweaty, wearing a lot less clothing than you, and challenging their bodies.  Having encouraging supporters on the sidelines – even if they don’t know you personally – is a always a welcomed energy booster.

The 2012 spring marathon season kicks off with the Boston Marathon on April 16 and the London Marathon on April 22.  If you’re nearby, why don’t you give these tips a try?

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It’s time that we introduce you to our site’s official mascot, a three-year-old dachshund named Moose.  Like us, he’s traveled the country and has visited many top cities.  He’s been welcomed in some of them with a hearty belly rub and a tasty treat, while in others, he’s pretty much been shown the doggy door.  So we asked Moose to compile a list of 4 cities where he’s experienced the utmost celebrity treatment and he personally paw-picked the following (in no particular order).

1.  Chicago, IL:

It’s no surprise that Chicago made DogFriendly.com’s list of top dog-friendly destinations in 2011.  We found several Windy City hotels that pride themselves on being accommodating to furry companions.  Kimpton properties always shine with this amenity and their Allegro Hotel is no exception. They don’t discriminate by size or weight and they also don’t charge extra fees for the service!  Moose’s favorite activities in the city include walking around Millennium Park and taking Mercury Chicago’s Canine Cruise.  Plus, many restaurants allow dogs to dine on outdoor patios.  Be sure to call ahead of time since access may be limited on busy nights. Even the suburb of Naperville is a standout with shops leaving water bowls outside on warm days.

2. Portland, ME:

Portland is a hip and intimate city on the southern coast of Maine.  Flying relatively under the radar, it’s been stacking up awards lately from the likes of Forbes.com, US News & World Report, and Men’s Health Magazine.  But its accolades aren’t just for humankind. Many of the stores in the downtown shopping district known as Old Port welcome leashed dogs and have treats at the ready. Off-leash dog parks abound and beaches allow dogs in the off-season. Our favorite hotel choice is the Inn By The Sea. This four-star hotel (with a price tag to match) allows dogs to dine with you in the bar area and the gourmet doggy menu pleases even the pickiest eater. The hotel sits on a gorgeous beach where pets are welcome in the off-season.

3. Asheville, NC:

Located in the heart of Blue Ridge country, the artsy city of Asheville is positioning itself as a top dog-friendly destination.  The Convention & Visitors Bureau takes pride in this fact and has a section of their site dedicated to info about travelling with your pet through the area.  The site offers a complete list of pet-friendly hotels, but if you want to know our favorite, it’s The Residences at Biltmore.  The accommodations are more akin to a home than a hotel.  This region is jam-packed with outdoor areas to wear you and your companion out.  Our top picks include strolling the vast grounds of Biltmore Estate, hiking the terrain at Chimney Rock State Park,  and window shopping in the Downtown District.

4.  Charleston, SC:

Charleston is the epitome of southern hospitality, which extends to four-legged friends as well. We found numerous restaurants that allow well-behaved dogs to dine with you outside, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.  There’s also no shortage of welcoming hotels. We got a great deal at the trendy aLoft Hotel, but there are plenty of accommodations more centrally located that receive outstanding reviews.  Don’t miss touring Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. The nature trails and wildlife are so immense that you could easily spend a whole day there. Folly Beach is a nice evening cool-down spot and the James Island Dog Park wins our “Best Dog Park” award, paws down.  Not only are the grounds well-kept, but dogs love to frolic in the adjacent lake.

Of course, there are cities across the country that are rolling out the red carpet to our furry family members. We’ve named just a few that we consider to be standouts.  Tell us – what city do you love to visit with your best friend?