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.
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