Local information:

October is a beautiful time of year in Boston, as the leaves change colors ranging from yellow, orange and red throughout autumn. Weather in this season will be cool, generally with temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit during the day and down to the 50s Fahrenheit in the evenings. For Boston weather forecasts on the web, go to www.massport.com/logan/weath.asp.

Foreign exchange service is available at the Logan International Airport at Terminal E, where all international flights arrive. Hours for the airport Travelex Foreign Exchange Booth are from 6am to 11pm EST Monday through Friday and 11:30am to 11pm EST weekends.

The Park Plaza Hotel provides foreign exchange services up to $100/day. Banks offering foreign exchange services are available throughout the city, such as Thomas Cook Exchange at 399 Boylston Street, which is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm (267-5433).

Up-to-date foreign exchange rate information can be found at the following website: www.us.thomascook.com/convert.htm.

Logan International Airport offers cabs approximately US$15 and van shuttle service approximately US$8 to the Boston Park Plaza hotel. A cab ride from the airport to the conference hotel will take approximately 15 minutes. The MBTA subway transit system is also available at the airport (on the Blue line), and is convenient transportation throughout the city. The Boston Park Plaza Hotel is located on the Green line at Arlington Station (transfer at Government Center). Car rentals in the city are not recommended due to the heavy road construction known as "The Big Dig".

From the West: Take Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90 West) into the city to Exit 22 at Copley Square. Follow straight onto Stuart Street. Follow for 3 blocks until the intersection of Arlington Street. Hotel is on the left.

From the North: Take Rte. 93 South into the city to Exit 26 at Cambridge/Storrow Drive. Follow Storrow Drive towards the Back Bay. Take Copley Square exit on the left. Take left onto Beacon Street, then immediate right onto Arlington Street. Follow 5 blocks until the intersection of Stuart Street. Hotel is on the left.

From the South: Take Rte. 93 North into the city to Exit 20 at Kneeland Street/Chinatown. Follow signs for Downtown Boston. At lights, take left onto Kneeland Street. Follow for 6 blocks, then take a right onto Charles Street. Take left onto Park Plaza. Hotel is on the right.

From Logan Airport: Follow signs to Sumner Tunnel/Boston. After exiting the tunnel, follow Rte. 93 North. Exit at Cambridge/Storrow Drive and follow Storrow Drive towards the Back Bay. Take Copley Square exit on the left. At lights, take left onto Beacon Street. Take first right onto Arlington Street. Follow for 5 blocks until the intersection of Stuart Street. Hotel is on the left.

The Boston Park Plaza Hotel offers valet parking for $27/overnight and varying rates from $10 to $20/length of stay. Motor Mart Garage (located across the street from the hotel) is $14 to park from 2 to 10 hours, or $24/overnight. Metered parking runs every 2 hours and is limited.

There are many sites to see in Boston, a modern cultural city that maintains its history, and promotes teaching and learning in its top hospitals and universities. A tour of the city is an excellent choice for first-timers. One may decide to take the Old Trolley Tour at the Boston Common (Red line at Park Street), the Duck Tour that starts at the Prudential Center (on the Green line), or, weather permitting, a harbor cruise from the Long Wharf area. See a bird’s eye view of the city from the Top of the Hub (Prudential on Boylston Street, Green line), or a panoramic view from the famous Bay Tower Room (State Street, Faneuil Hall) or the top of the John Hancock Building off Copley Plaza.

Boston’s colonial history unfolds throughout the city. The North End, where the famous ride of Paul Revere began, is also known as the Italian section of Boston, where the aromas from popular restaurants and cafes fill the streets. Also visit the Old North Church (Green line, North Station), Paul Revere’s House (Green line: Haymarket), and the nearby Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Faneuil Hall (Green line, Government Center) bustles with rows of food shops, restaurants and boutiques, and is nearby Beacon Hill, Boston Commons and Public Gardens (the latter one block from the Boston Park Plaza Hotel), home of the swan boats and the ducklings from the famous children’s story, "Make Way for the Ducklings".

Stop by the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in Boston and known for its famous cup of clam chowder. Located behind the Boston City Hall and near the Bay Tower Room, a great location for twilight cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Entertain your evening in the city with Irish, Folk, Blues and Jazz music, or a Gospel Sunday Brunch at the House of Blues.

The Theatre District and China Town are located near the conference hotel, known for Chinese culture, herb pharmacies, and great Chinese restaurants. Also near the Boston Park Plaza Hotel is Newbury Street, with designer boutiques and trendy fashion shops, art galleries that exhibit classical and modern works; interesting restaurants and cafes, beauty and skin salons, and unusual gift and jewelry shops.

Other sites include The Aquarium (Blue line), the Museum of Fine Arts, The Isabella Gardner Museum, Copley Square (Green line), the Museum of Science and the Mugar Omni Theatre, Harvard Square (Red line).