Year of First Visit – 1999
Point of Entry – Great Smokey Mountains National Park
After our hike we got into the car and drove across the state line just to be sure. All indicators said that we'd crossed into North Carolina while hiking in Great Smokey Mountains National Park but there were no "Welcome to North Carolina" signs along the trails.
Since then I've been to North Carolina many times, mostly traveling I-95 on the way to and from Florida. I've also crossed the state on I-85 and via Amtrak. I've as had a couple of layovers at Charlotte-Douglas as well.
On one of those trips we were headed north on January 2 after a Christmas break in South Florida. We pulled into the outlet center in Smithfield to stretch our legs. We ended up stretching our wallet, too, as we stuffed our rented Prius with bargains on some necessary wardrobe updates. We were back on the road in under 90 minutes.
For many years we've collected refrigerator magnets of the touristy places we visit. Some friends visited the Outer Banks and brought us a magnet featuring the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Therefore, North Carolina has the distinction of being the only state featured on our fridge with a picture of a site we haven't seen. I guess we'll need to drive back across the state line just to be sure to we see what's there.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
New York
Year of First Visit – 1998
Point of Entry – George Washington Memorial Bridge
Wow! Some people actually get to live here!
That's what I was surprised to hear coming out of my mouth one time when crossing the bridge from New Jersey to NYC. That's part of my feeling toward much of the entire state of New York.
New York City, especially Manhattan, is one of my favorite places on the planet. Memories of family vacations, business trips, and community development training all melt together into a wonderful collage of ----
--The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
--Touring city parks in preparation for redevelopment of our own Olmsted-designed green space.
--Subways the way they're meant to be.
--The best meal I've ever eaten (Thanksgiving 1998 at Carmines on Amsterdam).
--Seeing the Today Show live.
--The view of and from the Statue of Liberty both before and after 911.
--My toddler's temper tantrum atop the Empire State Building.
--Our friend's apartment which featured 2 full inches of kitchen counter top.
--My daughter hiding from the performers at Ellen's Stardust.
And the UN. And Roosevelt Island. And the Top of the Rock. And going backstage at NBC. And Aida on Broadway. And. And. And. And. And.
Yes, New York City has more memories per square inch than any place I've been or could even imagine. But New York certainly isn't limited to the city.
From Niagara Falls to the Hudson River Valley I have memories spread across the state.
Of those, my favorites are probably found in Hyde Park. The summer homes of the Vanderbilts and Roosevelts, along with the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, hold a special place in my heart. In fact, my long-term readers might recall that visiting Elenore Roosevelt's home there is what led to my starting to blog.
I still haven't made it to Cooperstown but it's on my "A" list of place to see. Of course, you don't have to ask me twice to go back to New York City, either.
So I hope and plan to return to New York again and again and again and create more memories with the people who actually get to live there.
Point of Entry – George Washington Memorial Bridge
Wow! Some people actually get to live here!
That's what I was surprised to hear coming out of my mouth one time when crossing the bridge from New Jersey to NYC. That's part of my feeling toward much of the entire state of New York.
New York City, especially Manhattan, is one of my favorite places on the planet. Memories of family vacations, business trips, and community development training all melt together into a wonderful collage of ----
--The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
--Touring city parks in preparation for redevelopment of our own Olmsted-designed green space.
--Subways the way they're meant to be.
--The best meal I've ever eaten (Thanksgiving 1998 at Carmines on Amsterdam).
--Seeing the Today Show live.
--The view of and from the Statue of Liberty both before and after 911.
--My toddler's temper tantrum atop the Empire State Building.
--Our friend's apartment which featured 2 full inches of kitchen counter top.
--My daughter hiding from the performers at Ellen's Stardust.
And the UN. And Roosevelt Island. And the Top of the Rock. And going backstage at NBC. And Aida on Broadway. And. And. And. And. And.
Yes, New York City has more memories per square inch than any place I've been or could even imagine. But New York certainly isn't limited to the city.
From Niagara Falls to the Hudson River Valley I have memories spread across the state.
Of those, my favorites are probably found in Hyde Park. The summer homes of the Vanderbilts and Roosevelts, along with the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, hold a special place in my heart. In fact, my long-term readers might recall that visiting Elenore Roosevelt's home there is what led to my starting to blog.
I still haven't made it to Cooperstown but it's on my "A" list of place to see. Of course, you don't have to ask me twice to go back to New York City, either.
So I hope and plan to return to New York again and again and again and create more memories with the people who actually get to live there.
Friday, May 11, 2012
New Mexico
Year of First Visit – 1995
Point of Entry – I-10 near LasCruces
I remember New Mexico not looking like the pictures. Not better than the pix. Not worse than the pix. Just different.
Of course, I didn't get to the places I'd like to visit. We traveled through both the north and the south paths through the state (I-10 and I-40) with several stops along the way. That just didn't take me to the places I wanted to go.
Carlsbad Caverns
White Sands
Santa Fe
Four Corners
And I'd like to go to Truth or Consequences. My grandmother's brother settled there for health reasons after WWII so I have family in the area who I never met.
So for for now most of my New Mexico memories are yet to be written. And I know they'll look different from the pix in my mind.
Point of Entry – I-10 near LasCruces
I remember New Mexico not looking like the pictures. Not better than the pix. Not worse than the pix. Just different.
Of course, I didn't get to the places I'd like to visit. We traveled through both the north and the south paths through the state (I-10 and I-40) with several stops along the way. That just didn't take me to the places I wanted to go.
Carlsbad Caverns
White Sands
Santa Fe
Four Corners
And I'd like to go to Truth or Consequences. My grandmother's brother settled there for health reasons after WWII so I have family in the area who I never met.
So for for now most of my New Mexico memories are yet to be written. And I know they'll look different from the pix in my mind.
Friday, May 4, 2012
New Jersey
Year of First Visit – 1993
Point of Entry – Bridge near Washington’s Crossing
I first arrived in New Jersey by surprise.
Our flight was late into Philadelphia on our way to Deer Park Campgrounds in New Hope, Pennsylvania. A friend was driving the van with us plus travelers from Missouri and Florida to the campgrounds. Because our flight was delayed we’d all missed the camp's dinner that night. The driver hung a right by Washington’s Crossing and took a very narrow bridge into New Jersey to go to a diner there.
I found other surprises in New Jersey as well. On our first drive to New York City, we took the Turnpike and found ourselves on the “double double” north of exit 8. I wasn’t quite ready for where the highway shifts in Newark and found opposing lanes on both my left and right.
I was surprised when I found the Princeton area to be quite beautiful. Many of the other places in the state I've visited were rather bland looking, but when I went up to spend a day with a friend who was there for a few weeks of training I was most pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the area.
I even surprised myself when the family and I ended up in Atlantic City. Who knew that someplace could be vibrantly tackier and spiritually darker than Las Vegas? It was good to get on the Cape May/Lewes ferry and head home.
I’m hoping to have some additional New Jersey memories to add to the list. Most notably, I want to take the kids up to Edison’s historic site. Don’t be surprised to see me there again soon.
Point of Entry – Bridge near Washington’s Crossing
I first arrived in New Jersey by surprise.
Our flight was late into Philadelphia on our way to Deer Park Campgrounds in New Hope, Pennsylvania. A friend was driving the van with us plus travelers from Missouri and Florida to the campgrounds. Because our flight was delayed we’d all missed the camp's dinner that night. The driver hung a right by Washington’s Crossing and took a very narrow bridge into New Jersey to go to a diner there.
I found other surprises in New Jersey as well. On our first drive to New York City, we took the Turnpike and found ourselves on the “double double” north of exit 8. I wasn’t quite ready for where the highway shifts in Newark and found opposing lanes on both my left and right.
I was surprised when I found the Princeton area to be quite beautiful. Many of the other places in the state I've visited were rather bland looking, but when I went up to spend a day with a friend who was there for a few weeks of training I was most pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the area.
I even surprised myself when the family and I ended up in Atlantic City. Who knew that someplace could be vibrantly tackier and spiritually darker than Las Vegas? It was good to get on the Cape May/Lewes ferry and head home.
I’m hoping to have some additional New Jersey memories to add to the list. Most notably, I want to take the kids up to Edison’s historic site. Don’t be surprised to see me there again soon.
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