Vacation in Your Own State

How much do you know about Woodrow Wilson?  For someone that did not major in history, I thought I knew a lot.  As a card carrying Jersey girl, I know him as a NJ Governor and president of Princeton University that became the only US President for the great Garden State.  I know that he pushed a very progressive agenda for the the time (well, progressive for working conditions).  I know that he hated war and kept the US out of WWI for as long as possible, and when it was over he developed the idea and construct for the League of Nations (to which the Senate never ratified but for which he won the Nobel Peace prize).  Wilson was a champion of child labor laws, workplace health, labor, anti-trust and the farmer.  He was conflicted on the woman's suffrage movement, coming around to support it only in his second term.  And I know he did little for civil rights.   I must say thanks to all of my fabulous history teachers in junior high and high school that installed all that knowledge.  But for all of this knowledge, why did I not realize that Woodrow Wilson's birthplace and presidential library was only 2 1/2 hours from DC in Staunton, VA?  What a great surprise.

The tour of the home and museum armed me with so many more Wilson facts. The very first thing I learned that Woodrow was not his first name... it was, in fact, his mother's maiden name.  He changed it in law school because he did not want the nickname Tommy following him.  Law school was not his last academic stop; he received his doctorate in history from Johns Hopkins (and as of today, he remains the only US President with a doctorate degree). I learned that his father was a minister with a deep southern routed history in the Civil War; that history and his stories certainly impacted Pres Wilson's views on war and explain his unwillingness to join WWI.  Despite his southern views on women's roles in society, his second wife is believed to have managed his presidency following his third stroke. (fun fact about his second wife - also a widow and related to Pocahontas!)   He created the federal reserve system that is credited with saving banking and the government's financial credibility... and to honor that, he was placed on the $100,000 bill (that is no longer made.)

I originally planned this quick weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains to attend the Sugar Maple  festival.  Sadly, I missed the festival - I was away in Seattle and read my calendar incorrectly.  Instead of cancelling, I went to the Highlands anyway, hoping that I could at least soak up some of the flavor (haha).  The Sugar Tree Country Store in McDowell was closest to Staunton and the perfect place to pick up some authentic VA Maple Syrup.  Syrup, jam, barbecue sauce, tea, candy coated pecans - all great purchases from the local agri-business.  The store owner was more than happy to talk about the store's wares, and when I told him that I missed the festival (and had looked forward to learning about the process), he walked me through the facility.  On that tour, I learned about tapping the maples during the "perfect" weather window to have the sugar water run.  I saw firsthand the damage that wildlife did to the lines each year, chewing through the hoses.  He showed me a cut of tree to demonstrate  the depth of the spicket and how the tree heals itself with the nutrient rich sugar water.  Once the water is carted back to the farm, it is processed through a reverse osmosis contraption to speed evaporation.  Since it takes roughly 40 gallons of sugar water to make one gallon of syrup, this initial speedy evaporation reduces the volume for the broilers to boil off the rest.  After all that steaming and thickening, the liquid moves through the filters to get out the maple grit.  Finally, following all of that work, the syrup is graded from light to dark amber.  It was a fine lesson in tree tapping and syrup making... and with that and my purchases I headed back to Staunton.

Downtown Staunton is the epitome of that old bustling town of yesteryear.  With fabulous architecture and

stone masonry, main business street perfectly shows that this was a bustling town at the crossroads of the
railroads.  A local historian was quick to boast that back in the day, 85 businesses operated successfully on that main street.  The town is filled with the giant Victorian homes from those past business owners.  And with its fabulous city park lining the river, the town makes for a picturesque get-away.

Downtown today is still busy.  Filled with restaurants, cafes, artists co-ops and antiquing havens, there is something for everyone there.  I was immediately attracted to the artist made jewelry store, Pretty Pretty, filled with colorful and unique baubles for a variety of tastes. Filled with beads, minerals and other shiny trinkets, I found a wonderfully unique long necklace in spring colors that reminded me of the eventual flower bloom... I gave the piece a new home!   The gourmet chocolate from the choculatier, Cocoa Mills,  is highly recommended (amazing truffles); the smells of the shop are enough to make even the strongest willed salivate.   The shop gives you a kick a energy to continue through all the shops on the

street.  Walking around the main street took me past the camera museum and shop; it is a sad day when Staunton has a place to take the cameras yet in the DC area, they are a dying breed.  A great shoe boutique, Design @ Nine, packed a lot of style into a small space and made me wish for smaller feet... a kids clothing store called Grandma's Bait that made wish I knew my youngest niece's size... a garden and home accessory shop that screamed for a yard instead of a condo balcony...Every shop had friendly owners that greeted you with warmth and enthusiasm - exactly what you would expect in a small tourist town.  And exactly what I miss from similar boutiques in other locales.

The grand daddy of Staunton cultural sites in the American Shakespeare Theatre Friars Club.  At least six locals suggested it when I asked about things to see in town.    Sadly I had not bought tickets nor had appropriate clothing for the theatre.  Other "hot" spots around town included the local brewery, the park and of course the Woodrow Wilson house... all in all, it was a quick and worthwhile visit to Staunton - a gem in Virginia.

Time to Start Blogging Again (2012 review)

Hello friends, family and neighbors.  It has been almost a year since I have posted here.  I must apologize for the delay, but I have a valid excuse… my home was flooded last year.  I lost much (and among the damaged items was my computer).  With no real time, home or technology to use, I lost track of my new hobby.  I have a year of pictures still to download off my cameras!!! Somehow my insurance company thinks that all of this was perfectly acceptable (I will save that rant for later).

 That is not to say that I did not travel – oh, I traveled last year.  Now, I am stuck with where to begin.  Do I start with the past and then get to recent trips, or do I act like the airlines and cover the current stuff and fill in the past when I get a chance?  Anyone have ideas? 

Because there is really much to write about, I will start with a basic year summary for 2012:

• New States – I only got to one new state in 2012 – Arkansas (and finished the “A” states).  I was pleasantly surprised by my stay and will definitely plan another visit to areas I missed
• All States Visited – AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, LA, MD, NC, NJ, NM, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA
• New Cities – Memphis, TN; Flagstaff, Arizona; Lake Charles, LA (technically I was there before for 4 hours)
• Art Towns – Flagstaff and Tubek Arizona
• New Aquariums – Moody Gardens (Galveston, TX)
• New Art Museums – Albuquerque Art Museum (for a show on Goya), Seattle Art Museum
• New Parks/Monuments – Chiricahua National Monument (AZ), Petrified Forest National Park (AZ), Pipe Organ Cactus National Monument (AZ), Big Thicket National Preserve (TX), Flight 93 National Memorial (PA), President Clinton Birthplace Home (AR), Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
• Funky Features/Events – Alaska State Fair (the world record cabbage), Diamond State Park, Arkansas (sadly I did not find a diamond), Chihuly Garden and Glass (Seattle), Gas Plant Park in Seattle, Meteor Crater (AZ)
• Paranormal Adventures – ghost tour on the Queen Mary (California)
• Iconic Structures – Queen Mary, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Disney World, Disney Land, Graceland, Golden Gate Bridge
• Bowl Game – Russell Athletic Bowl (Orlando, FL)

There were several truly notable trips last year that struck a chord, places that I have wanted to visit for a while.  First and foremost, I must say that Arkansas is not what I had imagined.  It was much greener and lusher.  In my mind, I had created a landscape similar to that of Texas.  It is not!!! In fact, its features reminded me of northern New Jersey with the rolling mountains, meandering streams and woodland areas.  I was only able to visit 3 southwestern areas of the state – Texarkana, Hope and Murfersboro.  I already know that I need to go back and visit Hot Springs.  While in Arkansas this trip, I stopped in Hope to visit the Clinton home.  In order to get a picture, you literally have to walk across the street to get a good view.  From that “little town called Hope,” I traveled north to the infamous Diamond State Park.  Yes, you can keep what you find.  And NO, it is not easy.  Diamond pit mining is not for the faint of heart.  And going in June is not a good idea.  I went to say I tried and tip my hat to all the die-hards/regulars that make a go at the search.  I must say that the park offers plenty of enticement, with bronzed shovels where the real big finds were uncovered.   What amazed me most was the willingness of so many to dig through the cracked earth for hours, the excitement at their find and then the sad let down when appraisers tell them their find was just a piece of quartz.  It was interesting… and I can say I tried (for a few hours).  It was good to see they had a waterpark attached – you need it to cool down.  So, if this park interests you – don’t go in the summer, aim for the fall or spring!

Yes, that is a mouse on the wheel!

Cabbage = 136 lbs.

I had a huge Alaska let-down in 2012.  For years, I have wanted to visit Katmai National Park – not exactly  This time, I thought I had a plan – heck, I even had reservations.  Alas, it was not to be, as work pulled out at the very last minute, as in the day before I was to leave.  This left me with time to fill and with no place to stay in King Salmon; I had to scrap my plans.  The newfound time allowed me to head to the Alaska State Fair for the first time.  If you have never heard of this fair, you must look it up!  Here, Alaska farmers really shine with gigantic vegetables (the world record was cabbage was shattered last year).  Typically you see huge pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage – those harder skinned veggies and leafy heads.  Of course, the fair is more than veggies – you get all the fun of a boardwalk for 3x the price.  Games I grew up playing at Seaside were $5 a pop here.  There were rides, food, musicians, shows 4-H animal exhibits and even a magician. 

Failure to Post

Dear 6 followers of my adventures -

I know I have failed to post new and exciting stories from my recent trips... my problem is that I have not stopped to breath in a few months.  Since I last visited my site, I have been keeping busy visiting:

• San Francisco - for a whopping 2 days
• Albuquerque - for a whopping 2 days
• Petrified Forest National Park
• New Jersey
• Annapolis, MD
• New Orleans
• Lafayette
• Houma
• Lake Jackson/Clute Texas
• Galveston, TX
• Lake Charles, LA
• Houston, TX
• Big Thicket National Preserve
• Shanksville, PA
• Pittsburgh

And now, I am off to Flagstff (for 2 days) before I return to New Orleans.

I have lots to share.  I have some fantastic pictures from my trips.  I have some fun stories.  I will get to them.  Until then, please sleep for me!

Killing Time in the Mile High City

Wandering around downtown Denver... waiting to see if I get called to court... and you really can't sit around waiting for nothing for days, in a hotel room.  It gets boring (even with a great 22nd story window view).  Stayed right on the 16th Street Mall, and I have a new perspective of it.  Sure, I have given Denver a lot of flack over the years.  It is small; it is empty; is lacks people; it is quiet... but after visiting a few small mid-western cities, and not having been back here in months, I will admit, that maybe, it is not soooo bad.  Sure, I still have those strong views on Denver - that it really is like a big town with tall buildings, but still, there is a downtown, and there are places to go. 

This main street in downtown Denver is filled with tourist shops, mall-like stores (Forever 21, Banana republic, Victoria Secret), suburb staples (TJ Maxx and Ross), a mix of high end and simple eateries and simple shopping carts.  I stopped in TJ Maxx for a light weight jacket - since when do I wear a simple cotton jacket in January, in Denver?  This year apparently.  It is crazy weather.  I lunched at a great soup stop - "Zoup!", that had at least 12 different varieties that you could sample.  I stopped by the Hard Rock, and had a great conversation with staff about the awesomeness of New Kids on the Block (not a joke); the place was slow mid-day, so the staff let me pick videos to play!  And because my hotel room got dreadfully boring after a day of waiting for a call, I walked the mile strip to stretch my legs... and instead of speeding through the blocks, I took not of all the public art that is on display for that mile.  Some of it is whimsical, some of it is comtemporary, some typical, some accessible and some is western... but hey, that is Denver... a mix of a lot with the cowboys thrown in.

Comparing 16th Street Mall to South Main in Memphis is like looking at polar opposites. And to put an exclamation point on that difference, Larimer Square (the one whole block of it) has more shops then the whole South Main District.  Is that a testiment to Denver or is it a sad fact for Memphis?  I don't know... but after seeing so many economically depressed cities, one has to realize that high end shopping can't exist in area where unemployment is so high and tourists are few(er to larger cities).  For all of its faults, Denver is one of the largest cities in the West; it is considered the federal capital of the west, with a mixed economic and employment base.  A local in Memphis told my mom and I that the only thing that the city had going for it was Elvis; Denver really has multiple draws - nothing as cool as Elvis, but that is really only for Memphis.

Like I said, Larimer is small.  Very small.  And as native to large cities, you have to chuckle at it's innate "cutiness".  And that cutiness extends to its everything there, from the lights strung across the street to the store fronts.  That block has some of my favorite shops in Denver.  I have seen some favorites die off (I still miss Blu Zebra), and others have stayed.  One of the best furniture/accessory stores you can find in the area - Element.  Every time I go in there, I want to buy a new light, a new rug, and some floor acccessories for my condo.  Then there is the coolest large mineral/fossil jewelry store/funky clothing shop I have found in a long time - Eve; you could not ask for a nicer, more personal store owner, who not only lets you wander the merchandise without pressure or guilt, but she always offers things that fit your style and still does not try to pawn stuff that has been around a while or that is in your size.  Two years ago, I purchased an amethyst necklace from her, and today I went back for the first time, and she remembered me (and my purchase) - that speaks for itself in a time of crappy customer service!

I am not ready to change my tune on Denver.  I really do not regret turning down the job here... but still, there is plenty to like... after seeing other options, maybe Denver is not soooo bad?!??!?!  Maybe. (or maybe I am loony from waiting for days for a call that never came).

Shopping in Memphis - South Main Arts District

Back from Memphis … the home of Elvis… River City … birthplace of Rock and Roll… and it was quite a trip.  Only a weekend really, for my mom’s birthday. Had plans to see many of the sites, not really thinking that I could not get most of it done in a few days.  Well – I was not counting on the twists and turns thrown my way.  Between travel issues (weather and non-weather), the freezing temps (for someone coming from Southern Florida), the tornado warnings, time spent at some attractions, the distance to others and the fact that Memphis closes up on Sunday early… we failed to see everything that we set out to explore.  So … I have a few things to admit about my trip to Memphis :  (1) it was not at all what I was expecting.  (2) You can’t see everything in one weekend.  (3) Graceland was not as strange as I thought it would be. 

I thought I would get a good helping of New Orleans (music, art and food) with a bit of a Savannah pacing; instead, I got more of a Cleveland feel.  There was stuff to see and do, but the city itself was struggling.  So many empty store fronts - closed shops, hotels, restaurants.  Down in the West End Shopping District, there were a few buildings that popped with color and effort... industrial space condos, new boutiques, and even a few new cafes and bars.  The problem was that in between the small clusters of retail store front were large stretches of abandoned buildings.  The street, Main Street,  looked dead; yes, the Trolley rolled up and down the street, but no one got out.  While we walked (quickly) down the street, we never saw a soul outside of the shop-keepers.  They were all very sweet, and even gave us a history of the area; you had to wonder if we were the only people that they saw those days.  Some recommended other shops, some recommended restaurants, some  local sites.  Most notably, the shop "mom" at EverLeah gave us great advise on other Memphis sites and shared the scoop on other shops and local eateries (including Earnestine & Hazel's hamburgers and Arcade's breakfast).   The shop itself, had the most adorable purses and some equally adorable shirts and jackets; this store gets special mention since it was the only shop open on Sunday early evening when, surprisingly, all shops had long since closed their doors (or not opened them at all).  I only wish my opinion of the shop stayed as positive as its initial impression... alas, not!  Monday, after a quick morning visiting the Peabody ducks and riding the trolley, we jumped off in the South End to revisit a few shops we were interested in (that were closed on Sunday) and that friendly shop mom stopped us in the street to tell us that our transaction the previous evening did not work due to a glitch in the system.  We re-entered the store and showed the unhooked credit card reader.  Problem - how were we to know that it was unhooked the day before.  They had a receipt that I signed, and I had a copy...  there was nothing noted that said transaction cancelled or failed.  I am usually a trusting person, but this was ridiculous.  I promised to check my accounts and send a check if nothing hit my account...

That little stretch of  South Main kept us busy; we picked out a few things to covet, a few things to purchase and ate breakfast at the famous Arcade Cafe.   We found a great spring coat at "Muse" (a boutique that I recognized from New Orleans); in fact, there were many great treasures there - including Knut jeans.   We searched the racks at "Shop Girl New York City" and found adorable sweaters, and a perfect pair of casual pants for Mom.    We ohhed and ahhed at the interchangeable jewelry store - Charolette Memphis.   We stopped in the Blues Foundation for a short education on the group, its events and strolled around the building looking at their folk art collection; my mom's love of blue glass was answered by their interesting blue glass bottle tree and drinking-bottle collection.  And we spent hours in the National Civil Rights Museum, housed at the very hotel where Martin Luther King was shot.

The weather was so cold and the shops on South Main ran lean... but that museum can keep you busy for hours.  It begins as a very comprehensive overview of civil rights - with time lines, keypoints in history.  The true story of the museum comes later as it breaks down that infamous acts... the soda shoppe protests, the marchs, the voter registration drives, the bus boycotts, the story of the Little Rock 9...full of pictures, quotes, artifacts, sets (like a bus, a counter) and, at times, audio/visual content.  It brings you right through MLK's last acts and that final moment of his life, leaving to go to dinner - shot right outside the front door of his hotel room at the Lorraine.  And I was an idiot, not realizing how emotional my mother was getting in the museum... when I called for her to read a section about the Birmingham bus boycott, my mom reminded me that she grew up during this time and lived this... of course, mathematically that made sense, but I never really thought about it in terms that my own mother had her own learning experiences and memories... sometimes it is easy to forget the history that our own families laid witness too - my grandparents did not like talking about the Depression or WWII, extended family did not like to discuss Vietnam, and now my mom surprised me with her connection to this movement.  It seems so long ago, and yet, we all know that it really wasn't.  

We needed happier and more light-hearted fare... so we headed back to our hotel and caught the shuttle to Sun Studios....

The Mad Journey of a Postcard

When I go on trips, especially to new locations, I like to send friends and family postcards.  I do this because I think everyone deserves some "happy" mail every once and a while.  And, I like to think that I help to keep the post office in business.  There is a real difference between getting an email from the Top of the World and getting a postcard!

But how long does it take for mail to make it from Barrow to the East Coast... well, today I can report that it takes A WHOLE MONTH to mail a postcard from the small town of Barrow to Freehold, NJ; New Orleans, LA, Boca Raton, FL...   a whole month.

I had given up on my mail.  My friends thought that I did not really send them out.  I did, and they arrived today!  Crazy right?  For perspective, I mailed my holiday cards from Anchorage, and they arrived to their respective locations in less than a week.  So, why did it take so long?  Yes, it is remote.  Yes, it is winter.  And yes, it was the holidays.  And no, postcards don't fly priority - but really, a whole month!?!?!?

So, to my friends, you all have heard the stories already.  You have seen the pictures, and I hope you read the blog story.... now you have your card with the Barrow postmark.  (I am sure the Memphis postcards will not take 30 days).

Ready to Visit Beale St

I am planning a short weekend away for with my mom to celebrate her birthday... neither of us has ever visited Memphis, so away we go.  I don't know why, but I always thought that she wanted to visit Graceland.  It just made sense; and honestly, I am not against the idea either.  I am curious about the Graceland experience.  I really don't have expectations, but imagine I am in for a tour that is a cross between a historical mansion tour (like you get in Newport Rhode Island) and the White House.

Of course, you can't make an entire weekend about just Graceland... and there seems to be plenty to do that will occupy a few days.  A little over a year ago, I took a date to see the musical "Million Dollar Quartet."  It was the last night at Sun Records Studio.... before my time, but that doesn't mean that I don't love that music... and you can go on a tour of Sun Records while in Memphis.  Add that to my list!!!

Of course we will be heading to Beale Street.  I think that is a Memphis requirement.  One of the most famous streets in the US, Beale is full of music and BBQ.   Have been to many famous strips - Vegas's Strip/Las Vegas Blvd, NOLA's Bourbon, Key West's Duval, Chicago's Miracle Mile, NYC's 5th Ave & Broadway, Philly's South St, LA's Mulholland Dr & Sunset Blvd, Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas, Miami's Ocean Dr.... I could go on.  So, you have to wonder, do most cities have a strip, a street where it is "the" place to see?  Just from this small list, I can tell you that not all famous streets are the same.  Some have music, some theatre, some shopping, some entertainment, scenery, business/office space... Famous streets are iconic for those cities and tend to represent what those cities have to offer.  I imagine that Beale's character is similar to Bourbon's in that it is filled with bars, music and food; mixed with a bit of  tourist shopping that you might find on Denver's 16th Street Mall.  If that street ramble made you curious about other famous streets, you can test this neat quiz I found.  (I missed 3!)


We will try to visit many of the city's sites in the few days we have there.  Unfortunately, there are no shows or festivals , shows or concerts that weekend.  I imagine that there will be plenty of music all around.  and I did find that a local folk rock group is playing at the a folkart center.  I listened to Star & Micey enough to possibly go to this show... I just have to see if my mom would be interested.  The have an upbeat folk rock feel - they kinda remind me of a mello CarbonLeaf.

Looks like we should head to the Memphis Zoo (since the zoo and aquarium are co-located).  The art museum (with a special exhibit on their McCall Purchase scandal), civil rights history museum, the pyramid in the middle of the city... looks like we have a full weekend ahead of us.

If anyone has recommendations, please let me know!