• Never look at great art for more than an hour at a time. After that, your eyes go numb. When that happens, take a lunch break.
• One museum a day is enough.
• Bring twice as many CDs and half as many books as you think you’ll need.
• Unless you’re driving an expensive car, don’t bother listening to classical music—the road noise will drown out the quiet parts.
• When staying at a bed-and-breakfast, don’t eat all of the first course, no matter how good it is. (If you do, you won’t be able to finish the entrée, which is usually even better.)
• Once you’ve spent three consecutive nights at B&Bs, spend the fourth at a roadside motel. You’ll appreciate the contrast—both ways.
• In Pennsylvania, all roads are under construction at all times.
• Anyone more than casually interested in Frank Lloyd Wright should invest in a copy of William Allin Storrer’s The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright: A Complete Catalog. This compact catalogue raisonné contains illustrated entries for all 433 pieces of “built work” by Wright, plus road maps showing how to find them. The maps are legible and accurate—I can vouch for them. In addition, they clearly indicate which buildings can be viewed from “publicly accessible property” (i.e., they can be seen from the street).
• When visiting a medium-sized city, make a point of dining at the museum café. Not only is the food good, but you can also eavesdrop on the staff—and the donors.
• If you’re driving, either wear a long-sleeved shirt or put sunscreen on your left arm.
• Bring your own pillow. You’ll sleep better.