2011 - Year in Review

Looking back on 2011 I can honestly say that it has been a busy travel year.  I went on at least one trip every month - some for work, some for fun, some to visit friends and some as social calls... no matter how I look at it, it simply was an exhausting year.  All told, I visited 20 states and almost as many major cities.  In fact, I went on at least 2 trips each month* (I can't keep that pace up).   I hiked in several "new to me" national parks; meandered through art museums; took in several Broadway shows; cheered at  sporting events; danced, sang and shopped at several festivals, and learned about sea life at several "new" aquariums.  It was a year of unique experiences, beautiful vistas, new learnings ... and yes, a few new states.

• New States - I finished the "O" States by visiting Cleveland, Ohio and several places in Oklahoma (and I revisited Oregon this year too).
• New Cities - Fairbanks Alaska (the 2nd biggest city in Alaska, yet the smallest I will list); Tulsa and Oklahoma City; Cleveland; Pittsburgh
• Art Towns - NONE =-(  but I did get to quite a few arts festivals- West Palm Beach, Boulder, Alexandria
• New Aquariums - Pacific Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon offered me (and a friend) the most incredible one on one octopus experience; Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois was so big that I spent over 6 hours exploring its nooks; Oklahoma Aquarium in Tulsa offered fishing tips!
• New Parks - Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon - South Rim (finally), Cedar Breaks NM, Chickasaw NRA, Cuyahoga Valley; Valley of Fire (Nevada State Park)
• Funky Features - Whalebone Arch in Barrow; the official Arctic Circle line; Oklahoma Rt 66 Sites (POPS, Red Round Barn, Braums Ice Cream sign); Santa Claus's House in North Pole, AK; the Christmas Story House and Free Stamp in Ohio; Lincoln's Head looking south of I-80 in WY
• Iconic Structures - Grand Canyon, The Vegas Strip was visited several times in 2011, NYC Times Square and Yankee Stadium for the holidays; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Oklahoma City Memorial; Disney; Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower); Mount St Helens

Even some of my old favorites offered me new experiences.  I took my mom to New Orleans for her first visit and we danced and shopped our way through the French Quarter Festival.  I have always heard great things French Quarter Fest and I can tell you that they are all true.  It brings all the fun of the larger parties, but the ease of it being all in once location... there is endless music, art, parades, hundreds of booths of local food.  The streets are filled, the shops are open, and city pride is out in full force.

My sister got married in NYC this year - in Central Park.  Now, I have been there plenty of times, but never for a wedding.  In a city where you see everything and anything - groups walking around all dressed up in the park while people are sunbathing in bathing suits was quite the sight.  And contrary to popular belief, everyone was perfectly nice when asked to shift out of pictures.

Ohio Brings My List Down to 9!!!

Ohio.  The Buckeye State. Yeah - people laughed when I told them that I wanted to go... but I had my reasons.  It was on my list of state I had yet to see; it had the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; it is home to one of the best amusement parks in the world (yep, the world)...  so, my friend, Lesley, and I went ...  to Cleveland ... for an extended weekend.

The first stop on our trip was Sandusky, Ohio - home of Cedar Point, the roller coaster capital... and apparently home to the Charlie Brown characters.  Going in the park in October meant that we had great weather and crazy crowds - lots of people celebrating Halloween.  In fact, while we got there before the park opened, we only were able to ride a handful of the coasters... we were in lines that lasted 2hours or more!  The ones that we did ride were "insane" with speed, loops, turns and corkscrews.  When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a coaster rater... one of those people that told other where the best stomach turning tracks could be found... and this is definitely one of those places I dreamed of; it made the Great Adventures coasters I grew up look like a warm up act.  For a fun added bonus, we were treated to holiday entertainment - spooky characters, Halloween music and themed acts and of course, the obligatory haunted rides.

A full day at the park and an hour ride back to Cleveland meant we were sleeping in the next day... When we were finally ready we headed out to the Cleveland Art Museum for a great treat... the museum was fantastic with full collections that you could spend days exploring; most surprisingly, the museum did not have an entrance fee (just requested a donation) - wow, that is not typical outside DC.  Of note in the museum, the optical illusion room!  Similar to to those illusions on Yahoo or that eye exercise book, these were larger, so a few actually made you dizzy.  The contemporary collection had the 50 Marilyn Warhol (which is copied annually in a parade, perfectly), 2 Pollocks (one drip, one pre-drip) and Pollock's wife, Lee Krasner.  In a bit of cruel placement - the wife and husband stared each other down across the room.  The Egyptian Room housed a few relics that I had never seen before, like funeral paintings (not a mask, but a picture of the face of the deceased).

Okay, I Have Slacked! I Have Been On the Road!

I really do not know where the time has gone... if you find the summer, the month of September or October, please let me know.  How is it snowing already?  How come my cold weather jackets are already in circulation?  What happened to the time?

I must apologize, I slacked writing here after Columbus Day weekend.  I have started writing about Ohio - and I do have a lot to write about; I started a post and have it saved in "draft" form.  Before I could get a handle on that, I had a few events around Virginia that took my attention and then I headed to Florida.  I am writing tonight rfom New Orleans, a week after I left for Florida and less than a few days since I returned from the Sunshine State... yep - in one week, I have been in 11 airports (damn connections).  Honestly, I am exhausted... and I have a few more weeks like this ahead of me.  I have a weekend visiting a friend in Pittsburgh and the holiday weekend with family planned in November. 

My year has really been like this the whole time.  People often ask me if I like traveling this much... and yes, I do.  It is the beauty of being single, I can just go.  This year has been full of friends and new experiences.  While it is enough to make you pass-out (at times), it also keeps me plugged into so many areas across the country - it gives me ties to other regions, it allows me to visit friends in various corners.  Yes, my condo would love my attention (and maybe a maid), but in all honestly, I do not sit still very well.  If I am idle for more than a few weeks, I get antsy.  Yet, I don't love travel like I have done in recent weeks, where I am home for one day... so maybe, there is a way to strike a balance.  All I need to do it is hit the lotto to fuel my wallet for all of these excursions and to give me some flexibility in planning ... Disney, the French Quarter all in one week is enough to make a girl cry from all the sought after art and jewelry. 

Finished the "O" States

This Columbus Day Weekend a friend and I road-tripped to Ohio.  That was it... my last "O" state.  A new state, a new city, a new national park. . .  perfect weather.  The leaves painted a brilliant autumn picture for us on our 6 hour odyssey; the hues were fall classics - red, orange, yellow.  We drove through river valleys, over the mountains, and just ohhhed and ahhhed over the show.

In Ohio, we crammed in exactly what we wanted to see and do - Cedar Point, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Christmas Story Museum, the Art Museum, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.   Lots for three days... but we did it... and I am another state down.  =-)

Countdown to Cleveland

The Cleveland weekend is almost here... but before I can scratch another state off my list, I must fly to Denver and then head to Wyoming.  I am headed back to Cheyenne and Rawlins.  I have my fingers crossed that the weather is better this trip, so I can enjoy the rangeland.  I do feel pretty confident, however, that I have seen what there is to see in Cheyenne short of Frontier Days.

My trip is hectic.  There is really no good way to get to Wyoming.  I will fly into Denver (but to time to see friends), and drive to Cheyenne.  It is a short drive, doable in about 2-2 1/2 hours if you leave from the airport.  There is not much to see on that drive - lots of exits to places I have visited... Boulder, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Fort Collins... and then you get to Cheyenne.  What can I say really?  Years ago, I made a road trip there to check it out.  I visited the Boots (public art displays), I did a Capital Dome tour, I walked through the downtown area.  Nothing exciting.

This trip I have one night there and I will make the trip back down to Denver....

Once home, I have one night before I get to play in Cleveland.  I don't know why, but I am looking forward to my trip.  I am excited to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I am anxious to be cheesy at the Christmas Story Museum, and I am itching for a roller coaster... I have not rode a coaster in a few years, so I am long overdue.  The best part, I have a good friend going with me, so we can be cheesy together!

Finishing Off the "O" States

Time keeps on slipping (slipping, slipping - into the future)... sorry, I can't help it... in 2 weeks a friend and I are headed to Cleveland, OH.  Yeah, go ahead and laugh... I am excited. I have wanted to go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a while.  In fact, I have wanted to visit Ohio for a while.  It is the closest state I have left on my map.  I can't believe that I have not made it there yet.  Just a 6 hour car ride.  I have driven double that to Florida for years.  I sit in traffic for longer than that going home to Jersey (and DC snow storms).

So, the trip is essentially Cleveland area highlights stuffed into 3 days with some extra time to travel.  There is more to do there then 3 days allows, so some choices were in order.   To satisfy our roaming desires, we wanted to sample as much as possible:

• Cedar Point - considered the capital of US amusement parks (for roller coasters), this was an absolute must.  Growing up, I thought I could be a roller coaster rater... I loved them.  I had heard of the craziness there - being from NJ, Great Adventure was our hang out.  We never got to this park.  Now, we are dedicating a day of our short trip for this adventure.  Loops, drops, corkscrews, twists and turns - bring it on!!!
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - I cannot wait.  I have seen that they have a special exhibit on women rockers and that is fantastic.  Since I have never been  there, it will all be new.  I have heard that you can spend a day here listening to music and getting lost in the history... but I can't
• A Christmas Story House - "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"; "I can't put my arms down;""Daddy's going to kill Ralphie;" "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine;" " Ohhhh Fuudge."  I could keep going.  I love this movie, and the home is there in Cleveland.  Yep, the home of the leg lamp, where the neighbors damn dogs ate the holiday turkey, where Frankie hid under the sink home... and it is a must.  
• The Cleveland Art Museum - Heard that it has a solid collection of Warhols in their Contemporary Collection.  They are known for their decorative arts collection, full of sculpture of various materials like silver, ceramic, stone.  They are most famous for their Ancient Egyptian collection full of sculptures, vessels and other objects.
• The Cuyahoga Valley National Park - The only national park in Ohio, it is not too far to make the journey.  I understand it has old settlement ruins, a railroad that can take you on a tour, a working farm area, good trails and WATERFALLS!  We need time outside and this is just the ticket.

Lots to plan before the big weekend, but before we get there, I have to head back to Wyoming.  More specifically, I am headed back to Rawlins.  Maybe this time the weather will cooperate and I can better see those amazing sites I spoke about - Lincoln's head, and the granite rock formations.  

I will keep you posted!