Rhode Island

Posted on October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Rhode Island is a definite yes in my count down. Its my neighbor state to the south. I’m closer to Providence than I am to Boston. I may not have “vacationed” there but I think the new rage of “Stay-cations” would count my many visits to this state.

Rhode Island is the smallest in area, the eighth least populous , but the second most densely populated of the 50 US states behind New Jersey. Rhode Island was the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony. The State was also the last of the thirteen original colonies to ratify the United States Constitution.

It’s little wonder that Rhode Island should have such a feisty attitude for a little state. It was founded by Roger Williams after he was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views.

Today the Ocean State has a lot to offer the curious visitor. Some of my favorites are Newport and Narragansett. I first “discovered” Newport when my brother was stationed there at the Naval War College. That was an experience in itself! I also was invited to experience the America Cup Races. I was excited and climbed aboard one of the privately owned boats to watch the race. Unfortunately that was the day I learned that I was prone to sea sickness, having the worse bouts with that nasty feeling that I’ve ever had the misfortune to endure.

Better times were coming for Newport and me. I spent many weekends at the Viking Hotel for Arthur Murray Competitions before moving on to the mansions and the cliff walk.

Newport Mansions and Cliff Walk. In the 19th century socially prominent families like the Vanderbilts and Astors built seaside “cottages” to escape the summer heat of the cities.

Of course , their idea of a cottage and mine (and probably yours unless you are an aristocrat) are miles apart.

Today these grand mansions are open for tours and events. The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile national historic trail that hugs Newport’s Atlantic Shoreline. No gentle beaches here, the trail is rocky and wild but offers some great views of many of the Mansions and gardens along it’s path.

The Newport Tower. The Newport Tower is located in Touro Park just a couple of streets from the heart of Newport. Newport Tower has been the subject of much speculation and lately made the reality series, America Unearthed. It’s really an interesting bit of architecture and worth a stop to visit.

Narragansett. I like Narragansett, RI. A few years ago I took a drive down and they had a glass bottom boat that did evening tours. You could watch the phosphorescence pass under the boat and see a lot more lobsters and crabs than are active during the day. Narragansett is also home to Rose Island Lighthouse. There’s a museum and you can actually stay in the lighthouse. You pay to be a keeper for a day or week. Interested?The link is www.roseislandlighthouse.org.

Roger Williams Park and Zoo.

A very active zoo set in a beautiful park, Roger Williams has events like the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular which winds through the zoo, to swan boats on the lagoon and a carousel park.

Sorry, I’ve run-over but I have to mention Waterfire, a series of bonfires on the rivers that run through Providence. I’ve never seen it but I want to. Friends give it a big thumbs up. And Block Island, a wonderful, quaint village on an island off the Rhode Island Coast…2 light houses!

Well, that’s all for this post. The tally now stands at 14/ 25 and still counting. 🙂

Pennsylvania

Posted on October 14, 2013October 14, 2013 by Dusty Roads

I’m going to put Pennsylvania on the Yes side of the ledger but with that little asterisk for “repeat visit needed”. The reason is that my two visits to the state barely scratched the surface. I spent one vacation in Allentown, PA for the Drum and Bugle Corp championships. It rained and the tent leaked. I spent most of the time wet and cold!

The other time was to see the Army VS Navy football game in Philadelphia. Aside from sitting in the stands and admiring the sea of Navy Uniforms, I remember the traffic. At the time I was much younger and not yet used to the brutal traffic you can get in cities. (After 30+ years in Boston I expect it would be much easier this time).

So what have I missed that calls for a return trip? There’s a lot so let’s see how many reasons I can name before I run out of room in this post. (I have a self imposed limit of 500 words per post)

#1. Ricketts Glen State Park. If you like waterfalls, this park has an abundance. In a single day you could visit 22 waterfalls, most with easy access surrounded by outstanding scenic beauty. The Falls Trail is 7.2 miles and will pass 21 of the 22 waterfalls.

#2. Gettysburg National Military Park. No one should be able to cross Pennsylvania off their must see list without visiting Gettysburg. Next to the battlefields of Lexington and Concord that started the Revolutionary War, this is almost certainly one of America’s most important battlefields. You don’t have to be a student of history to appreciate the importance of this battle.

#3. Hershey. The Milk Chocolate capital of the world…well in my opinion. Home of the Hersey Bar and Candy Kisses, the Hershey Candy factory stopped their tours in 1973 but you can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World, and the Hershey Museum. The nearby Hershey Park is one of the best know amusement parks in the Northeast with over 60 rides and attractions including a 1919 carousel.

#4. Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Since 1720 Pennsylvania’s Amish and Mennonite communities have lived and worked and followed James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up.” Lancaster, Berks and adjacent counties are home to 70,000 of the “Plain People” including members of the strict Old Order Amish. Horse-drawn buggies, Amish quilts and food and hex signs, those lovely colorful bits of folk art, are a trade mark of the area.

#5. Fallingwater. According to a poll of the American Institute of Architects this is the most architecturally significant building in the U.S. This is the vacation home of Pittsburgh businessman Edgar Kaufmann and his wife, Liliane designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

#6. Valley Forge. From the Civil War back to the Revolution, Pennsylvania was in the middle of history. Everyone knows the story of Valley Forge. The American army was in tatters, hunkered down and trying to survive the long, cold winter. Starvation loomed. But change came in the form of aid from abroad and by the time the rag-tag army marched out of Valley Forge they had been transformed. Although the war dragged on for another 5 years, this was the turning point.

I’m out of space and we haven’t even talked about Pittsburgh and it’s Steel Heritage, the museums of Philadelphia and the Liberty Bell or even the Rocky Statue; Franklin Court and the Betsey Ross House. So much to see and do.

New tally..13/ 25

Oklahoma!

Posted on October 11, 2013October 11, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain
And the wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain…

Oklahoma is closely tied to the relocation of Native Americans to “Indian Country”. Tribes like the Cherokee and Choctaw were forcibly moved from their traditional homes to new lands in the Oklahoma territory so naturally any visit to Oklahoma would involve an exploration of Native American History.

From early history, the fates of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations have been closely bound. The Chickasaw homelands in western Tennessee, Kentucky and northern Mississippi brought them into close contact with the Choctaw in central Mississippi.
With removal to new homes in Indian Territory, the nations remained neighbors sharing the struggles of rebuilding their lives in present-day Oklahoma.

Take a road trip through southeastern Oklahoma and trace the Choctaw and Chickasaw Heritage Corridor as you stop at points of interest that were significant to the tribes’ history along the way.

Head to Oklahoma for an authentic look into the Old West. If Oklahoma had “Indians” it also had cowboys. From nationally acclaimed Western Heritage museums to relaxing guest ranches, the Sooner State has a rich history for you to explore. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed getaway complete with mock shootouts or want to mosey through a frontier prairie town on the hunt for some ice cold sarsaparilla, you’re sure to find your Western adventure here.

Cheer on skilled cowboys and cowgirls at an exciting Oklahoma rodeo like the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo or the Freedom Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion, or learn about the American cowboy experience during cattle drive events at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan. After a full day of riding and roping, savor a tasty meal cooked over the campfire at one of Oklahoma’s guest ranches, where you’ll be treated to the ultimate Western experience complete with horseback rides and chuckwagon dinners.

Learn how the West was won with a trip to the Fort Washita Historic Site or Historic Fort Reno where living history events are held throughout the year.

Visit the the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, where you’ll see vast displays of internationally renowned Western art by masters like Remington, Russell and Bierstadt and browse top notch exhibits on everything from life as a ranch hand to singing cowboys of the silver screen. Come celebrate Oklahoma’s Western heritage and unleash your inner cowboy.

Oklahoma! Added another state to the “must see” side of the ledger. The count now stands at 12 / 24.

An Iowa Marvel

Posted on October 10, 2013October 10, 2013 by Dusty Roads

When we covered the “I” states I wimped out on Iowa. I bumped into so many options for searching that I gave up. But today I ran into a really worthwhile attraction that I know I will put on my “Must See” list when I visit Iowa.

Located in Gladbrook, Iowa is a museum dedicated to matchbook art.

Iowa artist Patrick Acton has glued over 4 million ordinary wooden matchsticks into 65 incredibly detailed scale models of life-like sculptures, complex machines, and world renown architecture with more in the works.

http://www.matchstickmarvels.com/

Plan your visit at the right time of year and you can enjoy the simply a-maizing Corn Carnival of Gladbrook.

The Gladbrook Corn Carnival is an annual event well known for its Friday evening Grand Parade and free nightly entertainment.

As long as I’m revisiting Iowa, did you know that the Iowa State Fair was the inspiration for the 1931 Phil Stong novel State Fair that eventually caught the attention of Rogers and Hammerstein? It became a Broadway musical and 3 motion pictures and it continues to run today for 11 days in August.

Another story set in Iowa that gained fame on the big Screen is The Bridges of Madison County. The movie itself was shot on location in Winterest, Iowa. Madison County had 19 covered bridges but floods , arson and old age have taken their toll. There are just 5 left so if you have a hankering to photograph an original Madison County Covered Bridge, well you’d best not delay.

One last thing to mention are the “bear mounds” or Effigy Mounds.

It is located in Allamakee County and Clayton County, Iowa. According to the literature these mounds are best viewed from above if you want to see them as bears.

Information about the park, a National Monument is limited because of the government shutdown.

So there Iowa, I hope I have made it up to you for cutting corners on my first post. Wait until I actually get out to visit!

Ohio, The Buckeye State

Posted on October 7, 2013October 7, 2013 by Dusty Roads

We’ve reached the “O” states. The first of which is Ohio and another No for the count.

Ohio is called the Buckeye State after the Buckeye tree, one of the first to leaf in the spring and the official state tree. But I rather like the Buckeye Cookie, a peanut butter and chocolate delicacy.

Without even doing any research I know one place I want to go….The Columbus Zoo.

Why you ask? Well besides liking zoos I especially want to see this zoo. This is Jack Hanna’s zoo. Recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper, Jack has made countless television appearances since 1983 on shows such as Good Morning America, CNN’s Larry King Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Talk, Fox News Programs, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Jungle Jack is Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo.

Columbus , Ohio also hosts one of the Premier Ballroom Dance Competitions, The Ohio Star Ball. This was very big when I was involved with Arthur Murray Dance Studios and although people went from the studios where I was either a student or working, I never managed to go. Sometimes it would be broadcast on PBS. This was long before “Dancing with the Stars”.

When I think of Amish Country I think of Pennsylvania but Ohio boasts a one of the largest concentration of Amish settlements in the US. Travelers can follow a 76 mile Amish Country Scenic Byway. On the eastern edge of Amish country is the picturesque village of Zoar. Many of the fine historic homes have been preserved as Zoar Village State Memorial, where visitors can take guided tours and costumed interpreters give craft and cooking demonstrations.

Not of interest to me but possibly to others is the Pro Football Hall of Fame located in Canton, Ohio. So plan to divert there for the football fans in your entourage or you’ll never hear the end of it!

Between Columbus and the Ohio River to the southeast is a scenic area that is not well known except in the Midwest. Known as Hocking Hills the area is made up of several state parks and reserves. Cliffs, gorges and caves were created here as glaciers retreated and water scoured the sandstone laid down on an ancient river delta. At the northern end is Rock House, a 300 foot tunnel along a sandstone cliff face with enormous window like openings carved out overtime by water erosion. And just outside the park is the 100 foot natural bridge at Rockbridge State Nature Reserve, a stunning 50 feet above the bottom of the gorge.

If you want to think you are seeing double, Twinsburg, Ohio is host to “Twin Days”. Started in 1976 this gathering of twins, triples and even Quads and Quints , has grown to attract the multiples from around the world. Over 3000 sets converge annually on this little town of 17,000! The festival is held the first full weekend in August.

Other notable attractions are the Lake Erie Islands in northern Ohio, an archipelago that stretches north from Marblehead Peninsula across the placid water of Lake Erie and the Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio; a remnant from the ancient mound -building cultures. This mound has been estimated to have been constructed around 1070.