Just across the river from Louisville in Ohio there is a very interesting park. In this park there is a massive fossil bed from where the river has receeded. Fossil collecting here is illeagal, so there are lots of fossils to be seen.
There is a museum on site that tells you what all the different fossils used to be and why there are fossils there, but I never really payed much attention. I was far more interested in going exploring to find fossils. At that point in my life I wanted to be an archeologist so I was so excited to be there.
What I do remember is that there are fossils there that date back to the times when the earth was covered by ocean. There was also some giant fish fossils there. I remember thinking that the fish was large enough to eat me (I was proably 8 at the time).
Looking back, it's interesting to think that the whole area might have been built over had Louisville been built on the Ohio side of the river. The city of Louisville stretches right to the edge of the river. About ten years back they built a boardwalk right along the river so giant paddle boats could dock. Had this occured across the river, all those fossils may have never been found.
It makes me wonder what might be underneath Louisville.
North Carolina
One summer, my best girlfriends and I went to our friend's step-father's time-share in North Carolina. To get there you drive to a town called Duck where the road ends. From there you take have to take a 4x4 truck a few miles down the beach to get to the house.
The house is pretty secluded. The only people you see are others who live in surrounding beach houses. The house is on stilts to avoid flooding from hurricanes and has about 5 rooms and a loft. Besides that there isn't much, but we didn't need much else.
The beach there is gorgeous. On one night we had the perfect girly fantasy: it was sunset and wild horses were running down the beach while dolphins jumped 50ft out from the beach. No joke. I know it sounds sounds like a Paul Frank folder from first grade, but it really happened.
Most days were sunny and we layed out from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. periodically taking breaks to cool off in the water or re-apply sunscreen.
The water was very cold, but there were perfect waves for boogie boarding. A few times my friends had to force me to go back to the beach because I was starting to turn blue. However, even when we weren't in the water, the waves were the perfect kind that are really pretty to watch.
That trip was the last one all of my high school friends took before we went to college. I will always have very fond memories of North Carolina.
The house is pretty secluded. The only people you see are others who live in surrounding beach houses. The house is on stilts to avoid flooding from hurricanes and has about 5 rooms and a loft. Besides that there isn't much, but we didn't need much else.
The beach there is gorgeous. On one night we had the perfect girly fantasy: it was sunset and wild horses were running down the beach while dolphins jumped 50ft out from the beach. No joke. I know it sounds sounds like a Paul Frank folder from first grade, but it really happened.
Most days were sunny and we layed out from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. periodically taking breaks to cool off in the water or re-apply sunscreen.
The water was very cold, but there were perfect waves for boogie boarding. A few times my friends had to force me to go back to the beach because I was starting to turn blue. However, even when we weren't in the water, the waves were the perfect kind that are really pretty to watch.
That trip was the last one all of my high school friends took before we went to college. I will always have very fond memories of North Carolina.
New York
Near the art gallery PS 101 in New York there is a large outdoor grafetti gallery. Artists apply to paint a certain part of the building and the management approves their grants and they get about two weeks to put something up.
The gallery is set inside a courtyard between a few buildings. The art goes up 5 stories covering doorways, fire escapes, and every brick surface. There is even a loading dock that has been painted.
I think grafetti is a very underrated art form. I've watched similar legal grafetti be created in Venice Beach. It is incredible what some people can do with spray paint. Even though the medium is usually the same, spray paint on brick, it can take on so many forms.
Seeing so much grafetti in one place is very overwhelming. Each artist gets a space about 10 feet by 10 feet and they fill it all. Even though it was raining and cold when we visited, my friends and I spent about 45 minutes walking around.
I'm not sure it's exact location but any NYU hipster could tell you where to find it.
The gallery is set inside a courtyard between a few buildings. The art goes up 5 stories covering doorways, fire escapes, and every brick surface. There is even a loading dock that has been painted.
I think grafetti is a very underrated art form. I've watched similar legal grafetti be created in Venice Beach. It is incredible what some people can do with spray paint. Even though the medium is usually the same, spray paint on brick, it can take on so many forms.
Seeing so much grafetti in one place is very overwhelming. Each artist gets a space about 10 feet by 10 feet and they fill it all. Even though it was raining and cold when we visited, my friends and I spent about 45 minutes walking around.
I'm not sure it's exact location but any NYU hipster could tell you where to find it.
New Jersey
Last summer I took a trip to southern New Jersey. We stayed in a friend's beach house. There were plenty of beds and we were only a few blocks from the beach.
Unfortunately we went down during a heat wave. We would wake up at 9 a.m. to 90 degree temperatures and it only got hotter as the day went on. It was so hot that we couldn't stay inside and would sit out on the porch all day.
Most days would start out with a cold shower in the outdoor shower, make a drink, and sit wrapped in a towel until all the water evaporated from my skin and I got too hot. Then I would repeat. We took turns using the shower and making frozen drinks. It was almost to hot to walk down to the beach, we only made it their twice the whole week.
There is a restaurant in south Jersey called Dino's. Supposedly it is famous locally. We made a special trip to go there. Jersey subs are ridiculous. They are at least a foot and a half long. I watched people eat a whole one by themselves in amazement. And in case a person can't get to Dino's they deliver to the beach or anywhere else in the country you might be.
Before I visited I had always heard bad things about Jersey, but from my time spent there I don't think its so bad. I had fun. It is a little weird that you can't pump your own gas though.
Unfortunately we went down during a heat wave. We would wake up at 9 a.m. to 90 degree temperatures and it only got hotter as the day went on. It was so hot that we couldn't stay inside and would sit out on the porch all day.
Most days would start out with a cold shower in the outdoor shower, make a drink, and sit wrapped in a towel until all the water evaporated from my skin and I got too hot. Then I would repeat. We took turns using the shower and making frozen drinks. It was almost to hot to walk down to the beach, we only made it their twice the whole week.
There is a restaurant in south Jersey called Dino's. Supposedly it is famous locally. We made a special trip to go there. Jersey subs are ridiculous. They are at least a foot and a half long. I watched people eat a whole one by themselves in amazement. And in case a person can't get to Dino's they deliver to the beach or anywhere else in the country you might be.
Before I visited I had always heard bad things about Jersey, but from my time spent there I don't think its so bad. I had fun. It is a little weird that you can't pump your own gas though.
Missouri and New Hampshire
I've driven through both of these states but have never spent more than a hotel stay or meal in either of them. They seem like nice enough states. Maybe a special trip to each is in order.
Mississippi
I spent one or two Christmases in Mississippi when I was very young. My grandparents rented condos on the beach in the winter and we would go down and visit.
I remember thinking it was odd that there was no snow and my mother telling me that the white beaches were kind of like snow. Ever since, when ever I see that really white sand I think of snow and feel a little cold even if it is 90 degrees out.
I remember thinking it was odd that there was no snow and my mother telling me that the white beaches were kind of like snow. Ever since, when ever I see that really white sand I think of snow and feel a little cold even if it is 90 degrees out.
Michigan
There are three ways to get from Buffalo to Milwaukee:
1. Drive south around lake Erie, through Chicago, and north
2. Drive north into Canada, through Ontario, through Detroit, and up around Lake Michigan and south
3. Drive north into Canada, through Michigan, and take a ferry across Lake Michigan.
I've never tried #2 but it seems very long. #1 takes about 12 hours and #3 is hell if you get sea sick. This blog entry is about #3
There is a ferry that starts in Michigan and ends in Wisconsin. Its an old tank boat and it hasn't been spruced up in about 15 years. The trip takes about 3 hours and is pretty boring.
The last time I took the ferry I got very sick. I often get motion sickness and on this boat I got it the worst it has every been. So I tried to amuse myself with the entertainment provided.
On one deck they were showing the movie "Hope Floats." It stared a famous 90s actress like Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock or someone like that. I remember there was country dancing and that was about all that I remember.
On another deck they were having a game show where you heard the beginning of a song and had to identify it. I remember I got a question right by identifying Train's new single and I think that my sister got Eiffel 65. That is how long ago this trip was.
The ferry across Lake Michigan isn't horrible, but the drive is a lot more interesting. If you ever find yourself trying to make a decision between the two, I'd go with driving.
1. Drive south around lake Erie, through Chicago, and north
2. Drive north into Canada, through Ontario, through Detroit, and up around Lake Michigan and south
3. Drive north into Canada, through Michigan, and take a ferry across Lake Michigan.
I've never tried #2 but it seems very long. #1 takes about 12 hours and #3 is hell if you get sea sick. This blog entry is about #3
There is a ferry that starts in Michigan and ends in Wisconsin. Its an old tank boat and it hasn't been spruced up in about 15 years. The trip takes about 3 hours and is pretty boring.
The last time I took the ferry I got very sick. I often get motion sickness and on this boat I got it the worst it has every been. So I tried to amuse myself with the entertainment provided.
On one deck they were showing the movie "Hope Floats." It stared a famous 90s actress like Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock or someone like that. I remember there was country dancing and that was about all that I remember.
On another deck they were having a game show where you heard the beginning of a song and had to identify it. I remember I got a question right by identifying Train's new single and I think that my sister got Eiffel 65. That is how long ago this trip was.
The ferry across Lake Michigan isn't horrible, but the drive is a lot more interesting. If you ever find yourself trying to make a decision between the two, I'd go with driving.
Massachusetts
Allston, Massachusetts. Recently voted one of the 50 worst places to live in the country. I must disagree with this assessment. Allston has a charm all its own and that charm screams sleazy college student.
But what is really wrong with that? There is always something going on in Allston at all times of the day and night. It can be 5:30 in the morning and you will see groups of kids around. The walk of shame is an almost comical event because you will always run into someone you know doing the exact same thing and each of you will casually lie about the night before.
Houses are falling apart, rats are the size of cats, and someone is always walking around with a solo cup.
Considering the types of people I associate with Allston I always wonder who actually calls the police? Do real people actually live there? And for how long before they realize it is overrun with college students and move out?
There is also a slightly older population of kids who have graduated and are working their way up and the bar crowds that frequent Harvard Ave. But in the end, Allston is BU's playground and in my opinion a wonderful place to live and spend time.
But what is really wrong with that? There is always something going on in Allston at all times of the day and night. It can be 5:30 in the morning and you will see groups of kids around. The walk of shame is an almost comical event because you will always run into someone you know doing the exact same thing and each of you will casually lie about the night before.
Houses are falling apart, rats are the size of cats, and someone is always walking around with a solo cup.
Considering the types of people I associate with Allston I always wonder who actually calls the police? Do real people actually live there? And for how long before they realize it is overrun with college students and move out?
There is also a slightly older population of kids who have graduated and are working their way up and the bar crowds that frequent Harvard Ave. But in the end, Allston is BU's playground and in my opinion a wonderful place to live and spend time.
Maryland
My only experiences in Maryland have been the wharf on the waterfront in Baltimore and College Park.
College Park is the location of the University of Maryland. With 30,000+ students, College Park offers everything that a college student could want. One student who attends school there once affectionately called it, "Chucky Cheese for College Kids."
University of Maryland looks just like all colleges look in the movies. Large ivy-covered, brick buildings with stone pillars line a large mall where students are often seen throwing around a Frisbee or sitting in circles playing acoustic guitar with friends.
Frat row is 10 or so houses that are built identical to each other. All are small mansions with pillars and multiple floors. Oddly, I didn't see many kids outside those.
At night, gangs of drunk students can be seen everywhere. The houses nearby seem to all be rented to college students and there is a party in every other house. There is a liquor store on each block.
University of Maryland seems like a fun place, but it doesn't seem like there is much else to do there that doesn't revolve around the university. Washington D.C. and Baltimore are close but I think I might feel a little stifled, like I was in a bubble, if I lived there.
College Park is the location of the University of Maryland. With 30,000+ students, College Park offers everything that a college student could want. One student who attends school there once affectionately called it, "Chucky Cheese for College Kids."
University of Maryland looks just like all colleges look in the movies. Large ivy-covered, brick buildings with stone pillars line a large mall where students are often seen throwing around a Frisbee or sitting in circles playing acoustic guitar with friends.
Frat row is 10 or so houses that are built identical to each other. All are small mansions with pillars and multiple floors. Oddly, I didn't see many kids outside those.
At night, gangs of drunk students can be seen everywhere. The houses nearby seem to all be rented to college students and there is a party in every other house. There is a liquor store on each block.
University of Maryland seems like a fun place, but it doesn't seem like there is much else to do there that doesn't revolve around the university. Washington D.C. and Baltimore are close but I think I might feel a little stifled, like I was in a bubble, if I lived there.
Maine
One summer I spent a week in Maine in Acadia National Park. Maine is a gorgeous state and Acadia is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. While we were there we camped out and ate lobster at every opportunity. Unfortunately, ever since, I have not had a taste for lobster.
At Acadia, the mountains run right up against the Atlantic. The coast is rocky and full of wildlife. Some days we would boulder down to the ocean's edge and look in tide pools for crabs and other small aquatic animals during low tide.
At high tide, the waves would crash up against the rocks sending water high into the air. There are a few places along the coast where water has tunneled through the rock and at high tide, water fills the chambers sending water spewing up through holes in the rock 20 feet into the air. I could sit for hours and watch trying to figure out which waves were going to cause the highest spout.
Other days we would hike up mountains. I think the highest mountain in the area was Mount Cadillac. While there was a hike up, we opted to drive the curvy road up to the top. Arriving just at sunset, while extremely windy, it was a breathtaking site. It was one of those sunsets where there are all the colors perfectly glowing around a bright red sun. From our spot atop the mountain we could see the mountains all around for miles and watched the last rays of the day as they crept away from the ocean.
All the mountains in that area were made of granite so the hikes at times could be quite challenging. Most had some bouldering involved to get to the top of the mountain. I found one hike that you needed to climb up ladders to get to the top. The ambitious child I was I tried to get my family to take me on that one, but they were too chicken. Someday I will go back and do that hike.
For the amount of traffic that Acadia sees on an everyday basis, the park is relatively wild and well maintained. The forests are gorgeous and you can go hours in the wilderness without seeing other hikers . I would defiantly recommend making a trip up to Acadia.
At Acadia, the mountains run right up against the Atlantic. The coast is rocky and full of wildlife. Some days we would boulder down to the ocean's edge and look in tide pools for crabs and other small aquatic animals during low tide.
At high tide, the waves would crash up against the rocks sending water high into the air. There are a few places along the coast where water has tunneled through the rock and at high tide, water fills the chambers sending water spewing up through holes in the rock 20 feet into the air. I could sit for hours and watch trying to figure out which waves were going to cause the highest spout.
Other days we would hike up mountains. I think the highest mountain in the area was Mount Cadillac. While there was a hike up, we opted to drive the curvy road up to the top. Arriving just at sunset, while extremely windy, it was a breathtaking site. It was one of those sunsets where there are all the colors perfectly glowing around a bright red sun. From our spot atop the mountain we could see the mountains all around for miles and watched the last rays of the day as they crept away from the ocean.
All the mountains in that area were made of granite so the hikes at times could be quite challenging. Most had some bouldering involved to get to the top of the mountain. I found one hike that you needed to climb up ladders to get to the top. The ambitious child I was I tried to get my family to take me on that one, but they were too chicken. Someday I will go back and do that hike.
For the amount of traffic that Acadia sees on an everyday basis, the park is relatively wild and well maintained. The forests are gorgeous and you can go hours in the wilderness without seeing other hikers . I would defiantly recommend making a trip up to Acadia.
Kentucky
Kentucky doesn't have any professional sports teams. They make up with that for amazing college basketball teams (UK and U of L) and horse racing.
This entry is especially timely because one of my favorite sporting event of the year is coming up in two days, The Kentucky Derby. After I moved up north, people thought I was crazy when I would get excited for days straight just to sit down and watch a 2 minute horse race. But growing up down south ingrained a love for the derby.
Derby week was the most exciting time of the year. The family would wake up early and go watch the balloon race with all the funny shaped balloons: beer bottles, turkeys, and little men. Watching hundreds of brightly-colored, hot air balloons launch into the air within minutes of each other is one of my earliest memories.
Later that week there were fireworks over the Ohio River. Also very exciting to see as a child. But my favorite was always the race.
It was always a family affair. We never actually went to the race, but we would watch on TV. There were all the rich old men talking about their horses and pretty ladies in floral dresses and giant hats. Mint juleps in one hand and wager stubs in the other these collected people would start hollering at the top of their lungs (there is a lot of money and pride in horse racing) once the races started.
My sister and I made out bets too. We each put in a quarter and each of our parents put in a quarter. They each got to pick one horse and my sister and I got the rest of field. Only once did my mother actually win. Every other time my sister and I got to split the winnings.
Derby isn't as much fun living away from Kentucky. One day I hope to return and actually go to the derby, big hat and all.
This entry is especially timely because one of my favorite sporting event of the year is coming up in two days, The Kentucky Derby. After I moved up north, people thought I was crazy when I would get excited for days straight just to sit down and watch a 2 minute horse race. But growing up down south ingrained a love for the derby.
Derby week was the most exciting time of the year. The family would wake up early and go watch the balloon race with all the funny shaped balloons: beer bottles, turkeys, and little men. Watching hundreds of brightly-colored, hot air balloons launch into the air within minutes of each other is one of my earliest memories.
Later that week there were fireworks over the Ohio River. Also very exciting to see as a child. But my favorite was always the race.
It was always a family affair. We never actually went to the race, but we would watch on TV. There were all the rich old men talking about their horses and pretty ladies in floral dresses and giant hats. Mint juleps in one hand and wager stubs in the other these collected people would start hollering at the top of their lungs (there is a lot of money and pride in horse racing) once the races started.
My sister and I made out bets too. We each put in a quarter and each of our parents put in a quarter. They each got to pick one horse and my sister and I got the rest of field. Only once did my mother actually win. Every other time my sister and I got to split the winnings.
Derby isn't as much fun living away from Kentucky. One day I hope to return and actually go to the derby, big hat and all.
Indiana
Gary, Indiana is a very unpretty place.
I've driven through Indiana tons of times but nothing really sticks in my mind except for that.
I've driven through Indiana tons of times but nothing really sticks in my mind except for that.
Illinois
They call Chicago the windy city. I have always disagreed with that statement, I think Boston is much windier. Instead, I think they should call it the Parking Garage City because I was in total awe of the parking garage the last time I visited.
Millennium Park is situated right at the bottom of lake Michigan. Driving around it, I was impressed by its well manicured gardens, walkways, and outdoor amplitheaters. It seemed like a very nice place to have in the city during summer months.
So you can understand my shock when I realized that this well-maintained park was actually just there to cover up a giant parking garage that lurked underneath it. When my family went to park there to go to the art museum, I was amazed by how well the city of Chicago had hidden a monstrosity of a parking garage.
I think parking garages, while necessary are horribly ugly, and take space that could be put to better use. But this idea made sense. The parking structure was five stories at some places, more at others and it stretched for at least six city blocks and was four city blocks wide. We started driving around and after 10 minutes we still hadn't found the end.
But even though it was probably the biggest parking garage I had ever been in, at street level you wouldn't know it was there if there weren't signs. Somebody did so really good city planning.
The rest of my time in Chicago wasn't very memorable. I was tired and cranky that day from an early flight. The one thing I do remember was the parking garage. I'm not sure if that's what the city of Chicago wants to be known for, but I say keep up the good work.
Millennium Park is situated right at the bottom of lake Michigan. Driving around it, I was impressed by its well manicured gardens, walkways, and outdoor amplitheaters. It seemed like a very nice place to have in the city during summer months.
So you can understand my shock when I realized that this well-maintained park was actually just there to cover up a giant parking garage that lurked underneath it. When my family went to park there to go to the art museum, I was amazed by how well the city of Chicago had hidden a monstrosity of a parking garage.
I think parking garages, while necessary are horribly ugly, and take space that could be put to better use. But this idea made sense. The parking structure was five stories at some places, more at others and it stretched for at least six city blocks and was four city blocks wide. We started driving around and after 10 minutes we still hadn't found the end.
But even though it was probably the biggest parking garage I had ever been in, at street level you wouldn't know it was there if there weren't signs. Somebody did so really good city planning.
The rest of my time in Chicago wasn't very memorable. I was tired and cranky that day from an early flight. The one thing I do remember was the parking garage. I'm not sure if that's what the city of Chicago wants to be known for, but I say keep up the good work.
Hawaii 2
My favorite island by far is Kauai. While i'm sure I could talk about it for days, I'll only go into my favorite part, Na Pali. Na Pali is located at the end of a long highway that goes around the edge of the island. To get there you have to go across one-lane bridges, dirt roads, and even a few streams that run across the road. You can park at the end of the road and then there are three options.
One, walk 100 feet back towards civilization on the beach, and then 50 feet out into the ocean to Tunnels Beach. Once you get about 50 feet out in the reef, you hit the edge and it just drops off to 40 feet deep. While snorkling there I saw sea turtles and stingrays among tons of fish and coral.
Two, you can walk down to Key'ye (not sure the spelling) Beach right at the parking area. The water is kind of murky because of all the people and not great for snorkling, but it makes up for it in beauty. There is a sand bar 50 feet out that you can walk on at low-tide. The beach is edged by rainforrest. It's really just a little peice of heaven.
Three, (and my favorite option) you can put on your gear and start hiking the Na Pali trail. At this point, there is no more civilization for 12 miles. Only jungle and mountains that abut the ocean. The trail climbs to about 200 feet above the ocean and slinks through ravines with killer views. At points along the trail it dips down to beaches that are accessible only by the trail, boat, or plane.
I've only hiked out to the first beach, but while I was there we noticed an interesting guy. He lives on the beach. He goes naked until hikers start to pass through midday. He has really long dreads and is very tan. He uses buckets to collect rain water and eats cocoanuts. There were also 12 guant cats living there on the beach with him.
Its a very odd sight to walk 2 miles in a tropical forrest to find a man just living alone out on a beach.
Besides the odd, naked guy, Na Pali is the most beautiful place on earth. Totally untouched by civilization, it is just pristine wildreness as far as the eye can see. I can understand why that guy lives there. Out of all the places I will talk about in this blog, if you can get yourself to any of them, go to Kauai and hike Na Pali.
(For you to get an idea of how untouched by civilization it is, many of the scenes of Jurassic Park and Six Days Seven Nights were filmed there.)
Hawaii- Big Island
Hawaii is beautiful. I know that everyone says that about vacation spots, but Hawaii is just amazing. The colors are so vibrant, the ocean is warm, and the scenery is like no where else on earth. I have had the opprotunity to go there twice and both times were incredible.
The Big Island is the one with the active volcano called Kileaua. I stayed in an inn up in the state park. There was no tv, limited phones, and very few people. The hikes there were interesting. The ground smokes. All the hikes are into old volcano craters.
One of the best hikes was late one afternoon when we went over to the active lava flow. We drove out to the end of the road. Well it wasn't always the end of the road, but the lava flowed right across it and now its impassable. As night started to fall, far off you could see the glow of liquid magma flowing into the sea.
I might be a big geology nerd, but it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I watched an island grow.
On Maui we stayed at the Black Rock Sheraton Resort. It was named Black Rock because a 40 foot cliff jutted out of the beach about 75 feet into the ocean. People could cliff jump, at their own risk, and there was world-class snorkling at the base. While I got to take advantage of the snorkline, my parents wouldn't let me jump off the cliff. I guess I will just have to go back one day on my own and do it.
Oahu is where the capital Honolulu is located. The north end of the island is a windsurfer's paradise and we spent a day there watching guys do things I had only seen in the movies. The better know beach, Waikiki, is right in the Honolulu. Its very touristy. I prefered Diamond Head. It is an old military base on top of a small mountain a few miles down the beach. You can hike to the top and survey the entire town.
My favorite island is Kauai but I will save that for the next entry.
The Big Island is the one with the active volcano called Kileaua. I stayed in an inn up in the state park. There was no tv, limited phones, and very few people. The hikes there were interesting. The ground smokes. All the hikes are into old volcano craters.
One of the best hikes was late one afternoon when we went over to the active lava flow. We drove out to the end of the road. Well it wasn't always the end of the road, but the lava flowed right across it and now its impassable. As night started to fall, far off you could see the glow of liquid magma flowing into the sea.
I might be a big geology nerd, but it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I watched an island grow.
On Maui we stayed at the Black Rock Sheraton Resort. It was named Black Rock because a 40 foot cliff jutted out of the beach about 75 feet into the ocean. People could cliff jump, at their own risk, and there was world-class snorkling at the base. While I got to take advantage of the snorkline, my parents wouldn't let me jump off the cliff. I guess I will just have to go back one day on my own and do it.
Oahu is where the capital Honolulu is located. The north end of the island is a windsurfer's paradise and we spent a day there watching guys do things I had only seen in the movies. The better know beach, Waikiki, is right in the Honolulu. Its very touristy. I prefered Diamond Head. It is an old military base on top of a small mountain a few miles down the beach. You can hike to the top and survey the entire town.
My favorite island is Kauai but I will save that for the next entry.
Georgia
There is this really odd place in Georgia called Stone Mountain. It looks like a giant round stone was dropped there by a giant. There is a sky car that takes you to the top of the mountain and a train that goes around the base. They like to call themselves an amusement park but I think its just a waste of nature and a beautiful place.
Half way up the mountain, they carved a scene with cowboys riding horses that must be at least 100 feet tall. Every night they have a laser light show on the facade. They sell popcorn and glow sticks and play country music like "Great Balls of Fire."
It's all very...strange, but as a kid I found it quite enjoyable. Now I think I would be a little uncomfortable. Do they even have laser light shows anymore?
Half way up the mountain, they carved a scene with cowboys riding horses that must be at least 100 feet tall. Every night they have a laser light show on the facade. They sell popcorn and glow sticks and play country music like "Great Balls of Fire."
It's all very...strange, but as a kid I found it quite enjoyable. Now I think I would be a little uncomfortable. Do they even have laser light shows anymore?
Florida
Florida is one state that has always boggled my mind. In one small, flat peninsula there are so many different types of places. Orlando is nothing like Miami, Melbourne is nothing like Panama City Beach, and the Keys are in a league of their own.
My favorite part of Florida is the back country and the Everglades. The vegetation grows in thick and fierce and it looks like a jungle. On one visit, I took an air-boat out into the Everglades to look at alligators. To get to the outfitter, I drove five or six miles down a rutted dirt road, surrounded thickly on each side by vegetation. The outfitter hut had a wooden porch with rocking chairs and a building made with metal siding. It had that creepy Deliverance vibe.
The guy that took us out had a thick southern, back-country accent. While usually I love southern accents, this guy just sounded like he was taking us out to feed us to the alligators. As we got further into the marsh, if you focused real hard on the water, you could see eyes resting on the surface just looking at the boat. As we got closer you could see just how big they were. Some were easily 12 feet long. The way there bodies are constructed there is no doubt that they were descended from dinosaurs.
On the hour and a half long tour, we easily saw 50 gators and even some small foot long baby alligators. Once I got over the fear of one climbing up into the boat, I noticed and respected how majestic they are. They are huge and fierce but don't seem to fight unless provoked. As creepy as it is to know there is an animal that could kill you five feet away from you in the water, it really was interesting to see them in their natural environment.
Gator watching was better than Disney World by far.
My favorite part of Florida is the back country and the Everglades. The vegetation grows in thick and fierce and it looks like a jungle. On one visit, I took an air-boat out into the Everglades to look at alligators. To get to the outfitter, I drove five or six miles down a rutted dirt road, surrounded thickly on each side by vegetation. The outfitter hut had a wooden porch with rocking chairs and a building made with metal siding. It had that creepy Deliverance vibe.
The guy that took us out had a thick southern, back-country accent. While usually I love southern accents, this guy just sounded like he was taking us out to feed us to the alligators. As we got further into the marsh, if you focused real hard on the water, you could see eyes resting on the surface just looking at the boat. As we got closer you could see just how big they were. Some were easily 12 feet long. The way there bodies are constructed there is no doubt that they were descended from dinosaurs.
On the hour and a half long tour, we easily saw 50 gators and even some small foot long baby alligators. Once I got over the fear of one climbing up into the boat, I noticed and respected how majestic they are. They are huge and fierce but don't seem to fight unless provoked. As creepy as it is to know there is an animal that could kill you five feet away from you in the water, it really was interesting to see them in their natural environment.
Gator watching was better than Disney World by far.
Conneticut
In a line from the new Stepford wives movie (the one with Nicole Kidman) Glen Close explains, "Where better to hide a town of robots than Connecticut?" I have to say that I agree with this sentiment.
Though I have yet to spend a significant amount of time in Connecticut, I've driven through it a few times on the way to New York or to Boston. The drives to me were always bland. All the little towns looked alike. They had storefronts, a gas station, and a post office covering one block which composes the town center and small townhouses branch out from there. None of it is prarticularly interesting or attractive.
My father is a big naval buff, he loves tall ships and stories of pirates, so we took a day to visit Mystic Seaport. DO NOT GO unless you have a serious interest in ships and their inner-workings. Its a major tourist trap in my opinion. They have a lot of old boats and a lot of history but its just all very boring.
While I don't dislike Conneticut, I don't see it being the destination for my next vacation.
Though I have yet to spend a significant amount of time in Connecticut, I've driven through it a few times on the way to New York or to Boston. The drives to me were always bland. All the little towns looked alike. They had storefronts, a gas station, and a post office covering one block which composes the town center and small townhouses branch out from there. None of it is prarticularly interesting or attractive.
My father is a big naval buff, he loves tall ships and stories of pirates, so we took a day to visit Mystic Seaport. DO NOT GO unless you have a serious interest in ships and their inner-workings. Its a major tourist trap in my opinion. They have a lot of old boats and a lot of history but its just all very boring.
While I don't dislike Conneticut, I don't see it being the destination for my next vacation.
California 2
North of San Diego there are cliffs that abutt the sea. There is a hang-gliding facility at which you can jump off the cliffs and drift down to the beach or sea (if you aren't careful) 300 ft. below.
The day we were there was overcast so the colors of the gray sea and sky and sand colored cliffs against the brightly colored rigs were beautiful to watch. But, the most interesting thing there in my opinion was the lookout area. Long ago a "fence" had been erected with posts pushed dredged in cement and chain linking them together.
Years of rain and ocean mist had scoured the cliff and the posts leaving deep gouges where dirt once was. A few of the posts had come out of the cliff and were just hanging there ready to fall to the sea at any time. An old street sign, covered in bumper stickers, read "Unstable Cliffs, Stay Back". The sign was leaning back at a 60 degree angle to the cliff, truly proving its point. I'd be surprised if its still there today.
A few hundred feet down the way I could see surfers decending down the cliffs, seemingly unaware of the perils the sign told of.
This to me is California. The people do things that might seem harmful (traverse hazardous terrain or jump off cliffs) just to feel alive. And, no matter how much civilization tries to build her up, nature in California will always bring her back, just as nature was reclaiming that cliff from development.
The day we were there was overcast so the colors of the gray sea and sky and sand colored cliffs against the brightly colored rigs were beautiful to watch. But, the most interesting thing there in my opinion was the lookout area. Long ago a "fence" had been erected with posts pushed dredged in cement and chain linking them together.
Years of rain and ocean mist had scoured the cliff and the posts leaving deep gouges where dirt once was. A few of the posts had come out of the cliff and were just hanging there ready to fall to the sea at any time. An old street sign, covered in bumper stickers, read "Unstable Cliffs, Stay Back". The sign was leaning back at a 60 degree angle to the cliff, truly proving its point. I'd be surprised if its still there today.
A few hundred feet down the way I could see surfers decending down the cliffs, seemingly unaware of the perils the sign told of.
This to me is California. The people do things that might seem harmful (traverse hazardous terrain or jump off cliffs) just to feel alive. And, no matter how much civilization tries to build her up, nature in California will always bring her back, just as nature was reclaiming that cliff from development.
California
There is a town in California called Topanga.
Yes, the same as Corey's girlfriend's name on "Boy Meets World". I'm almost positive that the only reason why I remember its name is because of that show. It's a little south of Malibu, near Pepperdine along PCH.
One of the strangest things I saw in California happened in Topanga. I visited it on my last day of vacation a few years back. It was sunset, but I made my family stop at one last beach. I've always loved the beach, how the sand settles in around me as I lay there listening to the soothing ebb and flow of the waves in the background.
As we walked down towards the water, we encountered a man stacking rocks the size of my head on top of each other. But, he wasn't stacking them on the flat sides, as you would to make a caryn or a pile. Instead, he was staking them on the points and edges making very precarious looking towers. But, for some reason they didn't fall over. He staked five or six on top of each other and then would move on the next stack. Making each stack as sturdy as the next.
It was fascinating to watch him. He would turn the rocks over in his hands a few times like he was looking for an energy or center, and then would just place them carefully on top of each other, and not once did I see one fall over.
The man had a skill. Maybe not a marketable skill, but I'm still amazed to this day at his talent.
Yes, the same as Corey's girlfriend's name on "Boy Meets World". I'm almost positive that the only reason why I remember its name is because of that show. It's a little south of Malibu, near Pepperdine along PCH.
One of the strangest things I saw in California happened in Topanga. I visited it on my last day of vacation a few years back. It was sunset, but I made my family stop at one last beach. I've always loved the beach, how the sand settles in around me as I lay there listening to the soothing ebb and flow of the waves in the background.
As we walked down towards the water, we encountered a man stacking rocks the size of my head on top of each other. But, he wasn't stacking them on the flat sides, as you would to make a caryn or a pile. Instead, he was staking them on the points and edges making very precarious looking towers. But, for some reason they didn't fall over. He staked five or six on top of each other and then would move on the next stack. Making each stack as sturdy as the next.
It was fascinating to watch him. He would turn the rocks over in his hands a few times like he was looking for an energy or center, and then would just place them carefully on top of each other, and not once did I see one fall over.
The man had a skill. Maybe not a marketable skill, but I'm still amazed to this day at his talent.
Arkansas
I know very few things about Arkansas. I know Bill Clinton (hottie president extrodinaire) is from there. I also know that I visited there once when I was very young.
Since I was so young, I remember very little of the visit. When speaking about the vacation, my mother always complains that we cried to much because we got chiggar (a meaner, southern version of the misquito) bites in our diapers. This part I do not remember.
I do remember that it was sweltering hot. We decided to go to the pool to cool off. I, the clumsy child that I was, pulled a metal door over my big toe, removing part of the nail and cutting the top of big toe. There was a lot of blood and I cried a lot.
So the only things I know about Arkansas are:
1)Bill Clinton once lived there
2)Chiggars live there
3)I almost lost a toe there
Since I was so young, I remember very little of the visit. When speaking about the vacation, my mother always complains that we cried to much because we got chiggar (a meaner, southern version of the misquito) bites in our diapers. This part I do not remember.
I do remember that it was sweltering hot. We decided to go to the pool to cool off. I, the clumsy child that I was, pulled a metal door over my big toe, removing part of the nail and cutting the top of big toe. There was a lot of blood and I cried a lot.
So the only things I know about Arkansas are:
1)Bill Clinton once lived there
2)Chiggars live there
3)I almost lost a toe there
Alabama
When I was younger, between 5-8, my grandparents became snow-birds. They live in rural Wisconsin during the summer and move to the south during the winter months to get away from the cold. In the beginning they rented condos for a few months in different southern states like Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.
During winter vacation my family would down and visit. The condo was always on or near a beach. Grandma, my sister, my mom, and I would all get up early to go seashell hunting. You had to go early because otherwise the early morning beach walkers would get all the good ones.
One morning we happened upon a muddier beach with lots of big shells. The kind that spiral around on the side and look like small conch shells. This was a great find. Usually we found them in pieces or broken apart, never whole like these.
After searching for the best ones around we returned home and left the shells on the balcony table to dry in the sun. A few hours later when we went out to inspect the shells there was a special surprise waiting for us. One of the shells had still been inhabited and the poor crab had tried to crawl out and back to safety away from the sun. He had gotten about halfway across the table before he had died and dried out to a crisp.
I was horrified. Since then collecting shells has never brought the same joy it once did.
During winter vacation my family would down and visit. The condo was always on or near a beach. Grandma, my sister, my mom, and I would all get up early to go seashell hunting. You had to go early because otherwise the early morning beach walkers would get all the good ones.
One morning we happened upon a muddier beach with lots of big shells. The kind that spiral around on the side and look like small conch shells. This was a great find. Usually we found them in pieces or broken apart, never whole like these.
After searching for the best ones around we returned home and left the shells on the balcony table to dry in the sun. A few hours later when we went out to inspect the shells there was a special surprise waiting for us. One of the shells had still been inhabited and the poor crab had tried to crawl out and back to safety away from the sun. He had gotten about halfway across the table before he had died and dried out to a crisp.
I was horrified. Since then collecting shells has never brought the same joy it once did.
I've picked a topic!
I tend to be really bad at writing memoirs. I think they are just to close. I don't like talking about myself. So I think I'm going to use this site to perfect my memoir/story-telling skills.
The one thing I do enjoy writing about are my vacations. I'm not a world traveler, but I was on an airplane before i was 1. I've been to about 37 of the 50 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Conneticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virgina, West Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
I've lived in 4 of them and will probably make it 5 after college. I've lived in the midwest, the south, the north, and now New England (My least favorite of all) I get restless once I hit about 7 years in a place. I've spent 2 summers living in Canada, as well.
Most people don't realize what a beautiful country we live in. It is so large and diverse. The mountains that butt up against the Atlantic in Maine, the swampy Everglades of Florida, the redwood forests of Washington and the cliffs of San Diego. Not to mention everything in between. All beautiful in their own ways, but totally different from one another.
Maybe next time I'll get into a story...
The one thing I do enjoy writing about are my vacations. I'm not a world traveler, but I was on an airplane before i was 1. I've been to about 37 of the 50 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Conneticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virgina, West Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
I've lived in 4 of them and will probably make it 5 after college. I've lived in the midwest, the south, the north, and now New England (My least favorite of all) I get restless once I hit about 7 years in a place. I've spent 2 summers living in Canada, as well.
Most people don't realize what a beautiful country we live in. It is so large and diverse. The mountains that butt up against the Atlantic in Maine, the swampy Everglades of Florida, the redwood forests of Washington and the cliffs of San Diego. Not to mention everything in between. All beautiful in their own ways, but totally different from one another.
Maybe next time I'll get into a story...
I'm not so sure about this blog thing
I have to write this blog for a class I'm taking. I've never written a blog. I've never read a blog.
Already I've had to backspace and take out the extra spaces after my periods that I just learned aren't used anymore.
I'm really not so sure about this blog thing.
I'm going to have to think about it and hopefully the next time I write on this thing there will be something meaningful.
Already I've had to backspace and take out the extra spaces after my periods that I just learned aren't used anymore.
I'm really not so sure about this blog thing.
I'm going to have to think about it and hopefully the next time I write on this thing there will be something meaningful.
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