Today is the Ides of March. If a fortune teller has predicted gloom and doom for you on this day, then do what Caesar should have done and get the rock out of town. The mob can’t follow you on the plane and if they try, the TSA is sure to confiscate their sharp objects and large toiletries. In honor of history’s most dramatic assassinations, here are a few places that pay homage to figures whose lives were cut short by an assassin’s hand.

Rome flights | hotels | cars | forums

Sure, you can get a taste of Roman life (at least the salacious parts) by turning on HBO’s ROME, but Kayak members aren’t armchair travelers, so walk among the ruins of buildings where Julius Caesar lived, loved and worked. Visit the Roman Forum, the political and economic center of Rome where Caesar was ultimately cremated. Head over to the Colosseum where Caesar might have watched Russell Crowe battle lions, tigers and hotel employees, oh my! Finish the day by dining at Ristorante di Pancrazio a wonderful Italian restaurant situated close to the spot Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C. Order the Caesar salad.

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Unlike Julius Caesar, the assassination of John F. Kennedy isn’t just a page in a history book but a day anyone over 45 will never forget. Visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza which outlines the life, times, death, and legacy of our 35th president and see the window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Leave the museum and follow the motorcade’s fateful route along Elm Street. For you conspiracy theorists (and most likely fans of the X-Files), the grassy knoll is on the north side of Elm Street between the parking lots for the museum and the triple underpass. Finally, spend some time reflecting at the recently restored John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza.

Washington  flights | hotels | cars | forums

Another three-named assassin ended the life of a great American president when John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre. On that fateful evening, President Lincoln, his wife and two guests attended a performance of “Our American Cousin”. Today, you too can see a play at this historical theatre. “Meet John Doe”, a musical based on the film by Frank Capra, is running through April 29. For more Lincoln history, visit the actual .44 caliber bullet which was removed from Lincoln’s skull, along with fragments of his skull (ick) at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. After that trip, you’ll need a pick-me-up so stroll along the National Mall and spend some time at the inspiring Lincoln Memorial.

New York  flights | hotels | cars | forums

And to sum up our lesson on why you shouldn’t give your kid three names, Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon in front of The Dakota, his apartment building on New York’s Upper West Side on December 8, 1980. Stop and chat with the building’s doormen who are extremely friendly and if you chat long enough, you might get a glimpse of Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, who still lives in the building. Next, walk across the street to Central Park and visit Strawberry Fields, a memorial garden dedicated to the Beatles founder. No matter the day or time, you’ll see fans with guitars playing Beatles songs or if you’re (un)lucky, performing an original piece. Drop flowers or other memorabilia on the black and white “Imagine” mosaic.

Deals:

• Rome
    4 Nights + Airfare from $850
• Washington, DC
    Weekend Hotel Deals from $139/night
• New York
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Giving peace a chance,

Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Did you know?

New Fare Buzz features make it even easier to track fares and plan a getaway. Fare Alerts can be targeted for trips during upcoming weekends (check out the “uncoming weekends” feature when selecting your departure). Fare Buzz results now include Kayak filters, so you can easily sort through destination options. The results also “show fares” allowing you to look at the lowest price for any departure date. It’s to die for.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2007 at 6:45 am and is filed under Newsletters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.