Notes from the Road – 2012 Road Trip with George and the Dogs

"One day your life will flash before your eyes.  Make sure it's worth watching."

Unknown - saw this on a sign in Leavenworth, Washington

 

"People do not quit playing because they grow old...

They grow old because they quit playing."

Unknown - on a sign in Estes Park, Colorado 
 

Driving across the Columbia River to Astoria in the fog

our back seat

On July 14^th we took off on our annual road trip to Washington state, but with a slight detour through Colorado and Mt. Rushmore area.  A bit out of our way, but our goal is to see some new areas of our country.  We have the dogs with us, and they are being good little travelers most of the time.  Sadie tends to be a bit paranoid sometimes, and it is difficult to get her to eat when she is nervous.  That can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but on the whole they do pretty good on our road trips. 

So, our first day was going through Arizona, which we have been through quite a few times, so we were not doing much sightseeing here, our goal was just to get through it and into new territory.  We were stopped and asked if we were US citizens, part of their new immigration policy.  I’m sure a bit of racial profiling was going on, since we are white, they waived us through.  If we had been Hispanic we would have had to produce paperwork.  The schnauzers barked at the officer, but thankfully they did not have to produce paperwork either, they would have hated being deported. 

Monument Valley - I thought this looked like the Parthenon in Greece
before it became ruins, use your imagination.

Our second day on the road we were still in Arizona, but it was new territory, we were in Monument Valley.  I have to say that was a really pretty area, and certainly worth the short detour we took to drive through the area.  We also stopped at a roadside area where we saw a sign that said “See the Dinosaur Footprints”.  An Indian guide gave us a quick tour of the area.  There were indeed footprints in the rocky areas, left from dinosaurs in the mud, which later became hardened when a volcano erupted.  There were also bones and skulls.  Very interesting, and we were glad we stopped.

Dinasour footprints

I had worried about the heat that was in all the news before we left home, with fires all over Colorado, but so far we’ve had lots of rain, would like a little heat and sunshine.  Can’t imagine the fires are still going because Colorado has been very wet.  But the scenery has been mostly beautiful, and very green.  We have traveled on some very narrow roads, high up with no railing, a few white knuckle moments.  The area around Durango and Silverton were particularly stunning.

Inside the True Grit Cafe

We made a point of stopping in Ridgeway, Colorado.  That is where the original movie “True Grit” was filmed – the one with John Wayne.  We got into town late afternoon on the second day, so we opted to spend the night there.  We had dinner in the True Grit Café, which had a lot of memorabilia and pictures on the wall.  George has a good friend who is a John Wayne fan, and he wanted us to take some pictures of the area, so we did, the next day before heading out. 

 

Along the road to Aspen

Our third day we headed north toward Grand Junction.  I was a little disappointed in the scenery from Ridgeway to Grand Junction, not the prettiest of areas.  But once we turned east the scenery got better.  We took a detour off of the 70 and went down to Aspen and across the Independence pass.  Talk about narrow roads, with no railing, and up high.  We were at 12,095 feet elevation.  Road was very curvy and in places it was so narrow that when you met an oncoming car, both cars had to slow and carefully pass each other.  And of course it started raining again when we were up there.  It really poured down and we had thunder and lightning, so quite dramatic.  Sadie has always been scared of rain, and especially thunder.   She was shaking pretty hard, so I ended up holding her in my lap through that part of the trip.  She calmed a bit.  We had planned to stop and walk around Leadville, but it was raining pretty hard then, so headed on to Frisco, where we found a hotel and spent the night.  We had a good dinner in a nice steakhouse restaurant in town.

Taken from porch of Grand Lake Lodge

The next day we headed toward Rocky Mountain National Park.  We entered the park from the southwest entrance by Grand Lake. But before actually entering, we turned off and went to the Grand Lake Lodge.  That is a beautiful lodge with views of the lake.  They have cabins for rent there also, and they are pet friendly.  We didn’t spend the night there, but if I was going to go again, I would seriously consider staying there, the prices are reasonable, and it is a great location. We stopped at the visitor’s center then headed into the park.  We had not gone far when we saw cars parked along the road and people pointing at 2 moose – a mother and a baby – that were in the field.  We stopped and took their picture.

The baby moose in the park

The Rocky Mountain National Park has some spectacular views.  There are hiking paths if that is your thing, but remember that you are at a very high altitude, quite a few people in the park said they were feeling tired and having problems breathing, so hiking will be harder at that altitude.  Quite a bit of the road we were driving on was over 10,000 ft.  When we reached the Alpine Visitors Center we stopped to buy lunch, it is the only place along the way that had food for sale.  I have to say that they didn’t have a lot of choices for food, and it was a bit high in price.  We had 2 hot dogs, 1 bag of chips and shared a small apple juice and it was almost $15.  I would suggest buying some good sandwiches before entering the park, and putting them in a cooler.  There are picnic tables where you can stop and eat.  Also, be aware of the weather in the park.  We started with sunny skies, but we hit heavy rains and hail by the time we got to the higher elevations, so be prepared for anything.

Elk in the Rocky Mtn NP

While in the park we also saw elk, in several different places along the way, and we saw some mule deer.  Of course, there were chipmunks and birds, as well.  We were told that there was a possibility of seeing bears, as there are some in the park, but they are not spotted often.  If you are not planning on hiking, it is possible to see this park in one day.  The scenery is visible while driving, with lots of places to pull over and take pictures, and the animals are there, if you are lucky you will see some.

 

Estes Park, Colorado

Just outside the main entrance is the town of Estes Park, and I thought it was a delightful place, with cute shops, lots of good looking restaurants, and the Falls River runs through the downtown area, with a park area along the river.  It is quite a picturesque town.

We went on to Fort Collins for the night, we had reservations there at the Best Western.  We had dinner in their downtown area, at a pizza restaurant called Beau Jo’s.  They have restaurants all over Colorado, and are now opening places in South Dakota.  If you ever run across one of their places, I highly recommend them.  I have had pizzas all over this country, as well as others, including Italy.  The pizza I had at Beau Jo’s has to rate as the best pizza I have ever had.

Day 5 had us leaving Ft. Collins and heading north briefly and then east.  We decided to drive over to Nebraska to see a small part of that state, since we have never been there.  I have to say that Nebraska – at least the part we saw – looks just as I imagined it would.  It is flat.  Of course there are other states that have lots of flat land, such as Arizona, but what I have to say about Nebraska is – they put their land to use.  In Arizona there is vast areas of un-irrigated land – desert.  But Nebraska’s land is all cultivated.  It is farmland.  We particularly saw lots of cornfields.  There were vast stretches of road where we were the only car out there.  But alongside the road we saw tractors in the field – our farmers hard at work, producing the food America needs. 

I have been reminded the past few days that the states we are traveling through are all red states.  The signs alongside the highway and on the farmlands have all been very convervative in their views, and the hotel we stayed at in Colorado had on Fox “news”.  That was a shudder from me.  It has made me appreciate the fact that I live in a nice blue state, with more progressive views – on the whole.  And I appreciate all our mountains and our ocean, I would have a hard time living in Nebraska, or several other states we’ve traveled through.  But I have enjoyed seeing them.

George in Lusk

We did head back into Wyoming and stopped for a visit in Lusk, where we had lunch.  We were in Lusk, Ireland  in June, and now in July we found ourselves in Lusk, Wyoming.  We took a quick excursion over to Keeline, only to find it was a ghost town.  Our daughter married a Keeline, so we had to get a picture of the town and the sign for them.  Then we headed into South Dakota. 

Crazy Horse Memorial

We stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial, which was quite fascinating.  I was impressed with what is still a work in progress, but which, when finished, will be spectacular.  I learned a lot about Crazy Horse while there.  Then we went to Mt. Rushmore and saw those carvings in the mountain, which were also quite impressive.  Since we have our dogs with us, we were limited at Mt. Rushmore, as they don’t allow dogs in the park.  George and I had to take turns staying with the dogs while the other went up to the plaza to view the mountain.  We hadn’t had the problem at the Crazy Horse memorial, as it is dog-friendly.  I don’t really understand why they would have a problem at Mt. Rushmore with dogs on leashes walking up to the plaza.  Most dogs are better behaved then most children, and as long as owners are responsible – which I believe the majority are – there shouldn’t be a problem. This is a pet peeve of mine – dogs not allowed in places, and also pet owners who don’t pick up after their animals, and ruin it for the rest of us.
 

Anyway, we ended the day at our hotel in Sturgis where we had dinner at the restaurant next door.  We have reservations here for 3 nights, so time to see the Badlands and Deadwood, and whatever else looks like fun.

Ad for Wall Drug Store

Badlands NP

The Badlands National Park has some very desolate but interesting scenery.  We drove out to Wall first.  We had to stop at the biggest tourist destination in the area – Wall Drug.  It is a famous place, with lots of roadside signs marking your way to it.  They are famous for giving free ice water, and we certainly needed ice water, as it was 109 degrees.  Then on to the National Park.  We drove through the park, first going out a gravel road to see some prairie dogs, and we also saw 2 buffalo and some antelope along this gravel road.  Then we went back and drove the main road loop through the park, stopping at different lookout points to take pictures.  There are some hiking trails – but it was 109 degrees, so we didn’t do much outside the car.  We have our dogs with us, and they had no desire to get out of the air-conditioning either.  Baxter was fascinated with the prairie dogs and the buffalo though.  We made it a fairly quick trip through the park and headed back to the hotel and the swimming pool.

For dinner we left the dogs in our hotel room and headed to the historic town of Deadwood.  We saw a mountain goat alongside the road on our way there, and some deer on our way back to the hotel.  The town itself is now mostly casinos and tacky tourist shops, but there are some good restaurants and we had a nice meal, and enjoyed looking around.

Mountain goat just outside Deadwood

The next day we decided to check out of our hotel a day early and head towards Devils Tower.  It made sense to get a hotel that direction instead of coming back here and then heading that way again the next day, since that was the direction we would be going.

We first headed back to Deadwood and then did a loop through the Black Hills Forest.  It was a really pretty drive.  Then we headed into Wyoming and to the Devils Tower National Monument.  With our National Park pass we were covered to get into this without paying another fee, so we drove in and stopped at the information center. 

Devils Tower Nat. Monument

Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower a national monument in 1906, making it the first national monument.  The tower is 5,112 feet tall.  There is a path that you can walk that is 2.8 miles and it goes to the base of the mountain and then all the way around.  Since it was 100 degrees the day we were there, and we also had the dogs with us, we did not take the walk.  The dogs would have been allowed, as long as they were on a leash, but the heat would have been too much for them.  So we took some pictures and then headed west through Montana. 

Little Bighorn Battlefield

We ended our day by stopping briefly at Little Bighorn Battlefield near Hardin, Mt.  This is where Custer fought a battle against the Lakota, Arapaho and Cheyenne, and where he lost his life.  It is also a national monument, so our passes got us in.  It is a large open area that you can drive through, and there are signs saying what happened in each area.  There are markers where the soldiers died and a few where Indians died.  Last Stand Hill has a memorial marker and 210 soldiers are buried around the base.  Custer was originally buried here, but has since been moved.  There is a visitor’s center, which shows an informative movie.  It is an interesting place to stop if you are in the area.

I have to say that driving across Montana was not too exciting.  Most of Montana is flat, with brown fields on both sides of the road, straight road that goes forever.  It wasn’t as bad as driving across Texas – nothing is, but it was boring.  Finally as we got closer to Butte, there were some mountains and trees, so it got better.  But we were just driving, we didn’t see anything we wanted to stop and see. 

Lake Chelan, Washington

We finally arrived in Washington.  Our first stop was the Wenatchee area where we spent the night.  Then we made the drive out to Lake Chelan.  As a child I camped there with my family.  I had fond memories of the area and wanted to see the lake again.  There is a boat that takes you to the other end of the lake and as a child we took our own boat up there.  Didn’t go up this time, but it is worth going there.  The lake is 55 miles long and there is no road to the other end of the lake, but there is a small village up there and a nice falls you can hike out to. 

Leavenworth, Washington

We then decided to head for Leavenworth, with a short stop first at the Aplets and Cotlets factory in Cashmere, to pick up some of the famous candy.  Yum!  Leavenworth is a Bavarian town in the mountains of Washington.  It is particularly popular at Christmas time when they decorate the town and have sleigh rides.  But we won’t be in Washington at that time of year, so decided to stop and visit now.  It really is a charming town, with good restaurants, and really nice shops.

Then we headed down the Columbia River, with views of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.  We watched the wind surfers on the river.  We were anxious to get to our cabin where we will stay for 3 weeks.  It is our home away from home and the purpose of the trip was to come here and stay, and relax.  This place is my happy place.

Dogs are happy to be at our cabin on the river

Bashia and I heading downriver

 We spent the 3 weeks comfortably enjoying our river, and watching the wildlife from the deck.  We saw a pair of snow geese and their baby, lots of ducks, a blue heron, an osprey, and some deer while there.  The dogs hung out on the deck, took walks with me up the road and even got in the water with me.  They had a good time too.  We have lots of family and friends to visit.  Quite a bit of the visiting was them coming to us and enjoying the river too.  My sister-in-law and I even decided to do a inner-tube trip down the river.  We floated 3 miles down to a popular swimming hole, where our husbands picked us up.  I think they were getting worried about us, it took us 3 ½ hours, longer than we thought it would.  We were tired and bruised when we got there.  There were many rapid areas where we hit rocks with our bottoms, and some areas you couldn’t float through because the water was too low.  I had never gone that far down river on a tube before, so it was an adventure.

Baxter enjoying the beach

After our stay at the cabin, we took off for the Washington coast for 5 nights.  George’s family lives there, so we always stop for a short stay to visit everyone.  We got a cute little cabin there in town and spent the week visiting family and eating wonderful seafood.  His cousin Dean gave us 5 crabs that he had caught and he also cooked us dinner one night – fish tacos – my favorite.  The dogs enjoyed out treks to the beach where they could run free, and smell all the smells of the seashore.  The beach has always been a favorite place for them.

 


View along the northern stretch of Hwy 1

After all our visiting, it was time to head home.  We were already at the beach, so decided to head down the Oregon coast on 101, and then pick up Hwy 1 in California.  It is a more scenic drive, although certainly a lot slower.  Especially since I was always saying “pull over, I need a picture”.  George is a very patient driver and pulls over whenever I see something worth shooting.  He did say that he would never again complain about how straight and boring Interstate 5 was, after driving the VERY curvy Hwy 1.  It did take us an extra day to get home, but it was worth doing, as the scenery is spectacular.  We only went as far as Bodega Bay on the northern stretch of 1, then turned inland and picked up the 5 so that we could get home. 

So now we are home again.  When we drove up our street the dogs sat up and got big grins on their faces.  They couldn’t believe we were home again.  It was good to see our home.  Our daughter had been coming over weekly to take care of the place, so we knew everything was okay.  We had a stack of mail to go through, empty cupboards to restock, and clothes to wash.  So that takes care of another adventure.

 

 

Destination - Washington DC, the Nation's Capitol

"Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all."

Alistair Reid

Capitol Building

I have been to Washington DC quite a few times, I even lived a couple hours away for a couple of years back in the early 70’s. There is so much to see and do there, and I never get tired of exploring the city when I have a chance.  The past few times I have been to the DC area, I was there for a political march.  That in itself can be very exhilarating, it is part of what the city is all about.  But even when I go for a reason, I take time to do some exploring.  There is just so much to see and do in the city, and it is such a pretty city.

Washington Memorial

This is a city you can walk across, with wide-open avenues, old neighborhoods and river views. It was designed by a Parisian, Pierre L'Enfant, and it still feels that way. Because buildings cannot by law be higher than the width of the street they front, you can always see the sky. There are more than two dozen free museums, so you can absorb culture while enjoying the sights of this city.  It’s even prettier if you happen to be there in the early spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, it will also be very busy then, as people try to plan their trips around this time.

There is so much to see and do in Washington, DC that you can’t see it all in just one visit. The nice thing is, it is a city that is easy to get around in, with a great subway system.  A well-rounded trip should include exploring the National Mall and some other activities too! Here are my top 10 things to do or see.

1. Visit the Smithsonian

Smithsonian Building

Start at the Smithsonian Institution Building where you can pick up a map and information on all of the museums. These national treasures cover a wide range of subjects from art to space exploration. Plan to explore those you are most interested in, but don’t try to see everything at once. Be sure to save time to see an IMAX movie at the Natural History Museum or the National Air and Space Museum.




2. Tour the National Monuments and Memorials

Lincoln Memorial

Our national monuments are truly spectacular. The best time to see them is at night when they are illuminated, less crowded and parking is easier.  There is a tour just for the night time illumination. This three hour tour is well worth the $15. The guides are well-versed in stories about how our nation planned to honor our country's heroes and there is something almost reverent about viewing these illuminated memorials and monuments with the moon lighting the way. You will see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. This is by and far one of the best tours in the city.

3. Tour the Three Houses of Government

White House

Explore the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court and you will gain a fuller understanding of the division of power within our democratic government.  The Capitol Building is the home of our House and Senate.  Get in line early to tour this building, tickets are limited. Or arrange in advance through your representative to get a ticket to the gallery where you can watch them in action (on inaction).  The White House is an architectural symbol of the power of the presidency and one of most compelling sights to see when visiting DC.  If you want to go inside for a tour you will need to plan this 6 months in advance of your trip, as you have to make arrangements with your Congressional Representative.  I remember when you use to be able to just go stand in line to go into the White House, but since 9/11 that is no longer possible.   You can take a short 5 minute tour of the Supreme Court or you can actually go and listen in if they are in session, but get there early.

4. Take a Walk Through Georgetown

Georgetown from the river

Georgetown is the capital’s historic waterfront that today is bustling with activity. The area is a shopper’s paradise and the streets are lined with restaurants of every nationality. Take a tour of historic sites, do some shopping and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.  This historic neighborhood boasts houses over 200 years old, an elite university campus, and cobblestone streets that are centuries old.

5. Walk, Bike, or Kayak Along the C & O Canal

C & O Canal

The Washington DC region is lucky to have this wonderful historic park that offers a quick relief from hectic city life. Take the whole family for a walk and learn about the historic C & O Canal, explore the region's bike trails or spend a few hours kayaking and enjoying the breathtaking scenery.

6. See a Show or Concert at the Kennedy Center

Great Falls Park

Live theatrical productions at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts are entertainment at its finest. Purchase tickets in advance for performances ranging from musicals to concerts by the National Symphony or see a free show at the Millennium Stage.

7. Take a Hike at Great Falls Park

Take a picnic and enjoy spectacular views of the Potomac River at this 800 acre park, located just 14 miles from Washington DC. Great Falls offers a variety of activities including hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling, and horseback riding.

 8. Explore Mount Vernon

Mt. Vernon

With the recent addition of the new museum and education center, Mount Vernon is now a full day excursion. Explore the state of the art galleries and theaters, visit the 500-acre estate of George Washington and his family, tour the 14-room mansion that is beautifully restored and furnished with original objects dating back to the 1740's. Be sure to plan enough time to tour the outbuildings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, smokehouse, coach house and stables. The estate is located in Northern Virginia, just minutes from Washington, DC.  You can drive there, or book a day tour.

9. Take a Walking Tour of Old Town, Alexandria

Explore a quaint historic town just over the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The lively waterfront area has plenty of things to do. Visit colonial houses, public parks, churches, museums, a marina, unique shops, and restaurants.

10. Make a Covert Visit to The International Spy Museum

Spy Museuk

Soviets trying to steal atomic secrets from the US; American spies being shot out of the sky over Soviet territory while photographing missile installations; Robert Hanssen's ultimate betrayal of our country--if the world of espionage and double agents is as intriguing to you as it is to the hundreds of thousands of visitors that flock to the Spy Museum, join the crowd. This is a high demand Museum that is packed on the weekends so if you can wait and go on a weekday, the lines may be less dense.

Holocaust Museum

There is so much more, and you will likely not be able to do it all in one trip. There is an excellent zoo, which has pandas and is free.  You can visit the  Holocaust Museum, where you are given the name of a person when you enter, and as you leave you find out if they survived.  It is one of the most profound and unusual places to visit.  You could visit the grave of JFK in Arlington.  Or go into Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is a beautiful building and worth going into for a short visit.  We stumbled on that by accident.  My husband asked me to go in, check out a book and make a copy of a page for him  He does genealogy research on our family and needed the information.  We did as he asked and discovered one of the prettiest buildings, one we wouldn't of thought of going into.

National Cathedral

The National Cathedral in Washington, DC is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. Although it is the home of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the National Cathedral has no local congregation and is considered to be a house of worship honoring all faiths from around the world. The Cathedral is known as the Washington National Cathedral, though its actual name is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. It is Gothic in design and it rivals the large Cathedrals of Europe.  Worth visiting for its beauty.

Malcolm X Park

There are many parks throughout the city.  One of the nicest and least appreciated parks is  a place officially called Meridian Hill Park but known to everyone as Malcolm X Park. Its 12 acres sit on a hill overlooking downtown and the monuments. John Quincy Adams lived in a mansion here after leaving the White House. Today, there are spooky statues and cascading pools of water, more reminiscent of a neglected European chateau garden than a National Park Service tract. Visit late on a Sunday afternoon.

And of course there are world class restaurants throughout the city.  You may even run into a few politicians - after all the city if full of them.  There is lots of nightlife in the city, you can find something for everyone to enjoy.  So explore and enjoy!

Ground Transportation

"Often I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am....Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of your food, your closet full of your clothes, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating."
- Michael Crichton ~

Airport Shuttle Bus

You have just arrived in a city, somewhere in the world.  You need to get to your hotel.  If you were on a tour you would be met at the airport and taken to your hotel, but you are not.  So how do you get to where you need to go.  There are always taxis but those are not always the most economical choice. If you did your research before you left home, then chances are you know where to go, and may even have something pre-booked and waiting for you.

Most airports, no matter where you are, have shuttles that run from the airport to the city center, usually dropping off at most major hotels.  You can usually just go to the area where ground transportation is, and purchase a ticket.  But before you leave home, you should actually research the airport you will be arriving at and find out what is available.  Some airports have subway or train stops right at the airport.  If you have packed light and only have a suitcase and a small carry-on, then getting on a subway or train is usually the fastest and most economical way to reach your hotel. 

Munich Subway Station

As an example, if you have ever flown to Washington DC, you know there are actually 3 airports that service the DC area.  One of those airports is Baltimore, which has a train that stops at the airport.  For very little money you can purchase a ticket and take the train to Grand Central Station in downtown DC, which will probably be fairly close to your hotel, just a short taxi ride at most.  The train runs regularly and it is easy to get to.  Certainly less expensive than a shuttle or a taxi all the way from Baltimore.  Many European cities also have trains and subways that go to the airport, so do a little research before you leave home, and see what is available. 

Another option is to pay for transfers from the airport to your hotel before you leave on your trip.  When we flew to Athens, Greece I pre-paid for a shuttle to pick us up at the airport and to take us to the Marriott where we would be staying for one night.  The next day we were leaving on a 3 day cruise, so I also paid for transfers from the hotel to the cruise ship.  I figured that would be the easiest way to get around, and it was not that expensive.  I booked the transfers through a company called Travelbound, which is a company that AAA uses for booking hotels, transfers and city tours for all over the world.  As it turned out, our flight was delayed and we were not able to use those transfers, but that is another story.  To read about that you can go to our trip to Greece on the sidebar and find out all the problems we had getting to Greece.  But we did get reimbursed for not using the transfers, and they were a good idea.

Trolley in Vienna

Once you have gotten to your hotel, If you are going independently and not on a tour, then you still must rely on ground transportation.  There are always buses, and many cities have trolleys, which will take you around the city.  Almost all European cities have subways, they are a great way to get around and easy enough to figure out.  The subway will have a subway map, or you can purchase one to carry with you.  A good city map can also be quite handy.  And if you plan to travel to other cities or countries from there, then the trains in Europe are quite convenient, and run on time.  I wrote an article about Eurrail and Britrail and gave information about them, so you can check out the article in the archives.

We have a trip coming up in September.  It is a cruise on the St. Lawrence River. I decided that since Niagara Falls is not that far from where we start the cruise, which is Montreal, that we would include a side trip to the falls in our trip.  We looked at airfare, and the least expensive airfare is into Buffalo and then at the end of the cruise we will fly home from Boston.  So that is what I have booked.  I then booked 2 nights at a hotel in Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side.  And we booked one night before the cruise in Montreal.  Then I started looking at rental cars to get us from Buffalo to Niagara Falls and on to Montreal.  The cost for the car was outrageous, mostly because we would be taking it from one location and leaving it at another location - which happened to also be another country.  That is when I started looking at options.  I found I could get a shuttle from the Buffalo airport to our hotel at Niagara Falls for $45 per person.  We really didn't need a rental car while at the falls, so if I did a one day, one-way, rental from Niagara Falls to Montreal, the cost was $177.00.  It was still high, because it was one-way, but it was all within one country now.  Compare that cost to $950 for the one-way, 3 day rental from Buffalo to Montreal, and it is quite a savings.  Well worth looking at alternatives. 

Should I Buy a Timeshare?

"To many people holidays are not voyages of discovery, but a ritual of reassurance."
Philip Andrew Adams

We own a timeshare.  We bought it over 20 years ago while on vacation in Mexico.  You have probably all seen the vendors who try to talk you into getting a free dinner or tour, you just have to go to a presentation.  Well, what can I say, we got suckered in.  But was it a bad deal?

I guess that depends on how you look at it.  We have gotten some pretty good use out of our timeshare.  We have only gone back to our home resort once.  Since then we always use it for a trade, which means that we have to bank our week and then trade it with whatever is available in the timeshare pool.  And we have to pay a fee to exchange.  But we have gotten some pretty nice places doing this.  A few times we got some not so nice places also.

Timeshare we stayed in on the island of Crete, Greece
We were on 2nd floor and our friends on the 3rd

There have been years when we haven't used the timeshare.  You can only bank it for 3 years and then you lose it, so there have been times when we realize we are about to lose our week.  We then have offerred it to friends or family to use.  So sometimes others have been able to get a good deal.  We gave our daughter a week in Orlando for her honeymoon, since they wanted to go to Disney World.  And one year my mother used it for a week in Coronado when she was down visiting us.  But most of the time we have used it ourselves.

Timeshare in Smugglers Notch, Vermont

When they sell you the timeshare they tell you how much money you save by having your vacations basically paid for.  However, I'm not at all convinced that we have really saved that much money with the timeshare.  We had to pay for it when we originally bought it, a large sum which we paid monthly over several years.  Then every year we also have to pay a maintenance fee, which has steadily gone up in cost.  And then the exchange fee when we do the actual exchange, and when you are at the resort there is usually resort fees. If you give the week to friends or family, there is also a guest fee. So in the long run, I think the cost is about the same or maybe even more, then if we had just gone on vacation on our own.  And trying to exchange for a property or area you want is not always easy.

Living Room of condo in Kauai

Another draw back for me is that very few of the properties are pet-friendly, and I enjoy taking my dogs on vacations with us.  I miss them when we leave them home, plus it costs for a pet sitter.  If we are going someplace where we can drive, I prefer to take them along.

The nice thing about a timeshare is that it is always more than just a hotel room.  There are some studio rooms which still has a small kitchen, but most of the time we have a one bedroom unit, which has a separate kitchen and living room.  Quite often there are dishwashers and washer and dryers right in your unit.  And we also have been able to get 2 bedroom units, so when we travel with our friends we can all stay together in one unit, our home away from home. 

Palm Springs Timeshare

There is not usually daily maid service at a timeshare, but to me that is a plus, I don't necessarily want someone coming in everyday, and you can always get more towels or linens if you need them. The resorts sometimes have restaurants and entertainment on the grounds.  We were in a timeshare in Crete, Greece and several nights durng our week there were specialty dinners with Greek dancers.  In Tahiti the timeshare provided a Tahitian dance show, and one night we went to the crab races, which were amusing.  There is always a pool, and you are usually in a tourist area with lots of things nearby to do and see.

Timeshare in Tahiti

So, should you buy a timeshare?  If you find one that you would love to go back to over and over, then by all means, buy it.  It will probably be a good deal, because you won't have the expense of the fee for trading, and you won't have any problem getting to stay there, because owners get preference at their own resort.  If you plan on using it strickly as a trade to travel all over the world, I would give it some serious thought, because we have found that it is possible to get the trade, but not always easy.  You will have to be flexible about when you travel and open to lots of possiblities to where you are going.  And you might not actually be saving any money.

Destination - New York

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.”
Tom Wolfe

“I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance.”    

Nora Ephron 

New York, there is no place quite like it.  I’ve been there a couple to times, and each time I discover something new about the city.  It is an exciting city to visit, whether it is your first visit, or you’ve been there many times.  There is always something to do.

Christmas in New York
Across from Radio City

My girlfriend and I went to New York last Christmas.  I had been there several times during the summer months, but never at that time of year.  I have to say that being there at Christmas was magical.  It really put us in a Christmas mood.  The tree at Rockefeller Center, ice skaters, Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes Christmas show.  It was all wonderful.  * 

Whatever time of the year you decide to go to New York, there are a few things that everyone agrees you should see at least once.  If you have never been to New York before, these are the places that you should go to.  If you are a regular visitor you probably have discovered your own favorite places, some of my favorites I’ll discuss later.

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TIP - If you plan to go to most of the major attractions in New York, you should be aware that there is a charge for many of these sights. The New York Pass card might be an option for you to consider. You purchase it in advance and then use it to get into all the sights. Once you buy the pass it works like a smart card which allows you completely entry to over 70 New York tourist attractions. The more sights you see, the more money you save. The pass is then valid for the number of days that you've purchased - be it 1, 2, 3 or 7 days. It is important to note that a ‘day’ is based on a calendar day, not a 24 hour period. As well as entry into the sight the pass allows you to skip long lines at the busiest tourist attractions, so it can save you time as well. For more information on the pass, go to: www.newyorkpass.com
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Looking down from the top
of the Empire State Bldg.

Empire State Building - Tired of staring up at New York City skyscrapers? Check out the view of New York City from atop the Empire State Building.  It is the tallest building in New York City and a feat of true American accomplishment, the Empire State Building in New York City stands 1454 feet tall and is currently the 9th tallest building in the world and the 4th tallest freestanding structure in the Americas. This NY monument has 102 stories, and was the first building to ever have more than 100 stories.  You can purchase a ticket to ride to the top of the building, and get some great shots of NYC.

Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island

Statue of Liberty - The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States in honor of the friendship established during the French Revolution. The Statue of Liberty has become an American symbol of freedom and welcome to the immigrants who come to the USA looking for a better life.  You can get to the island by ferry, there is a charge for the ferry but there is no cost to go onto the 12 acre island or to go into the statue or the museum.   If you’re in the mood to break a sweat, climb the 354 stairs that wind through the inside of the statue. Your hard work will be rewarded with stunning views of New York City seen from the crown of the Statue of Liberty! Only 240 people are permitted to ascend the staircase a day so reservations are a must, and they’re definitely worth it. Not only will you fill your camera with amazing photos of NYC taken from high inside the statue, you can brag to all of your friends that you climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty!

Ellis Island Immigration Museum - The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers visitors a fascinating look into the immigrant experience. Interactive exhibits, walking tours and movies reveal the hardships and challenges faced by immigrants passing through Ellis Island.

Leaving NYC on the Staten
Island Ferry

Staten Island Ferry - The Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry from lower Manhattan to Staten Island, used by commuters and tourists wanting a view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.  If you don’t have time to actually go to Liberty Island and visit the statue up close, you can get some great views of the lady from the Staten Island Ferry.  You do have to get off on Staten Island, you can’t just ride the boat round-trip.  So you will have a short stay on Staten Island, waiting for the next ferry.  But it is a nice way to get out into the harbor, see the skyline and the statue, and it’s free.  We went late in the day while we still had good daylight, but then by the time we returned we got beautiful night skyline with all the lights.

9/11 Memorial, someone had
placed a white rose on a name

9/11 Memorial - Everyone knows what happened on 9/11/2001.  There is now a memorial where the World Trade Centers used to stand.  Where the 2 footprints of the buildings were, there are now ponds with the names of the people who died there on plaques around the ponds.  You have to make arrangements ahead of time to go to the memorial.  There is no charge, but they only allow so many in at a time, because construction is still  on-going.  It is a moving tribute to the people who lost their lives on that day.www.911memorial.org/visitor-passes

Central Park - Central Park has offered a welcome escape from the concrete jungle of New York City for over 150 years. Take a walk, a boat ride or just enjoy a picnic in Central Park and discover for yourself why Central Park is so popular.  Covering 843 acres of land, this magnificent park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1963.  The park is known as “the heart of the city”.  You can take a walking tour, a bike tour, or a horse-drawn carriage tour of the park, or just hang out and relax.

Metropolitan Museum of Art - Over 2 million works of art from around the world and throughout history are housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An iconic art museum, the Met is well worth a visit.

The Museum of Modern Art - Founded in 1929 as the first museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art, the MoMA is host to an impressive collection of modern artistic efforts. From painting and sculpture to film and architecture, the Museum of Modern Art's diverse collection has something for everyone.

Inside Grand Central Station
Four corners whre you can whisper and be heard

Grand Central Terminal - Whether or not train travel is in your plans, Grand Central Terminal deserves to be one of your destinations. Since the building's revitalization 10 years ago, Grand Central has enticed visitors and locals alike, with quick bites and delicacies located in the Grand Central Market, fine cuisine in the Dining Concourse and free arts events in Vanderbilt Hall.  If you see people in the lower area standing and talking into the columns near the Oyster Bar Restaurant, they aren’t talking to themselves and probably are not talking on telephones.  The acoustics here allow you to whisper into the corner and someone standing at the opposite corner can hear you quite plainly.  During World War II it is said that spies used this corner to communicate.  We tried it and it works.  The Oyster Bar had quite good seafood also.

Times Square

Times Square - One of the most famous areas of the city.  New Years Eve everyone converges on Times Square waiting for the ball to drop at midnight.  But the rest of the year it is still a popular area.  It is full of shops and restaurants and bright signs.  It is one of the most recognizable spots in the city.  The half-price ticket booth is here, where you can purchase tickets to plays.  There is a Times Square museum where you can get a piece of paper and write down your wish.  They will keep that paper until New Year's and then it will drop from above with thousands of other wishes, at midnight.

Playbill outside Marquis Theatre

See a Broadway Play - Your in New York City, of course you have to see a play.  I can't imagine going to New York without taking in a play.  There are plays for every taste.  You can see one of the big Broadway productions, quite a few of them are musicals, but you will find some that are not.  And there are off-Broadway productions, and even off-off Broadway.  Plays can be pricey, but there is always the Arts Tix booth in Times Square, where you can get half price tickets for the day of the performance.  We used them when we were there at Christmas time, and we only waited in line for about an hour.  And we got the tickets for the show we had chosen as our first choice.  Always have a couple of back-up choices, because they could be sold out of your first choice.

Those are probably the places most people plan to see on their first trip to New York.  But for those who have already seen those sights, there is much more to New York.  There are 5 different and distinct neighborhoods (or boroughs) in New York.  Most of the sights we talked about are in Manhattan and there are lots of little neighborhoods within Manhattan, such as Soho, Little Italy, Grenwich Village, Chelsea, East Village and Battery Park, just to name a few.  The other boroughs are Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island.  If you take the ferry out to Staten Island then you could spend some time there instead of just turing around and coming back on the next ferry.  Visiting some of the other neighborhoods of New York will give you a different perspective on the city.

When we were there in December, my friend and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was a wonderful walk and the views of the skyline from there were fantastic.  There is a nice park just as you get across the bridge, and Broooklyn is right there to explore.  Just walking across the bridge was a fun experience, and they have a section dedicated to walkers.

View from the High Line

Another good walk with some excellent views is walking the High Line.  The High Line is a one mile linear park built on a section of the former elevated railroad spur. It runs along the lower west side of Manhattan from Gansevoort Street & 12th Street to the Chelsea area and ends at 30th Street.  If you take this elevated park walk you will have excellent views of the water and the skyline, and when you exit in the Chelsea area you can visit Chelsea Market, which is full of fun shops and a wonderful chocolate shop - Jacques Torres Chocolates.  Chelsea Market is where the Food Network films its shows.

There is so much more to New York than I have mentioned.  There are wonderful museums to spend your days in.  You can go to the top of Rockefeller Center - known as the Top of The Rock, where you will have some wonderful views.  There is more nightlife than I could possibly go into.  Some of the best nightlife is just being in the city and watching the people, as long as you stay in populated areas and use common sense, walking the streets of New York at night is just a fun place to be.  And you can find wonderful restaurants to eat just about any kind of food you are in the mood for, and with the subway system it is easy to get around New York.  So, go to New York and have a wonderful time.

*To read about our actual Christmas in New York trip, go to the side column where Trip Reports of Trips we have Taken is and click on the New York trip.

Destination - Anaheim & the Los Angeles area

"Just get on any major highway, and eventually it will dead-end in a Disney parking area large enough to have its own climate, populated by large nomadic families who have been trying to find their cars since the Carter administration."

  ~Dave Barry



Downtown Anaheim

So you are going to Disneyland.  It is one of the top destinations in California.  Everyone wants to go, it is the “The Happiest Place on Earth”, or so they tell you.  I don’t necessarily agree with that, I’ve seen crying children at Disneyland.  I personally think the happiest place is dog beach, you never see an unhappy dog.  But that’s just me.  Disneyland is up there on the list and a half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once). But besides Disneyland, what else is there to do on a vacation to the Los Angeles/Anaheim area?  There are really lots of things to do. 
For those of us who live in Southern California, we tend to make day trips to Disneyland.  We are only 2 hours away, and while it is nice sometimes to stay overnight, most of the time we dash up for the day and have fun, then head back to our own beds.  But if you want to make the area a destination for a longer vacation, then here are some things to do while in the area.

Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks are the number one attraction in the area.  You could spend several days just taking these parks in and really having time to see everything, and get on all the rides.  And don’t forget Downtown Disney, with lots of interesting shops and restaurants and the ESPN zone.  When it is crowded, which is all summer, all holidays and all weekends, the Fast Pass can save you a lot of time, so make sure you check that out.  My favorite rides at Disney are Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and I have always loved the Matterhorn.  The best place to eat in Disneyland, in my opinion, is The Blue Bayou, which is near the Pirates of the Caribbean.  I really like California Adventure Park also, and my favorite rides there are California Screaming which is a roller coaster that does and upside down loop, and Soaring Over California, which makes you feel like you are in a balloon flying over the California landscape, wind in your hair.  In June they opened a new area of California Adventure called Cars Land.  I have not yet been to this, but it looks like fun.  Disneyland is a great way to unwind and let your hair down.

La Revolucion - Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm is just down the road from Disneyland.  It has a lot more of the thrill rides than Disneyland.  La Revolución swings riders an astounding 64 feet in the air, over 6 stories high! Rip Tide will send you soaring 59 feet into mid-air while turning you head over heels.  Supreme Scream is one of the world's tallest, most radical thrill adventures. In seconds, you're propelled straight up, 254 feet in midair, but there's no time to enjoy it.  But there are also rides for everyone, all ages.  And in the Marketplace area there are shops and restaurants, including the famous Mrs. Knott's Chicken pie place.

Heading north into the Los Angeles area, there are lots more fun places.  You could visit Universal Studios which is a theme park that grew out of a studio tour.  You can still take the studio tour, and when we did it we saw them filming.  We also saw a couple of stars on the lot.  Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park. 

Hollywood sign in the hills over the city

You could head for Hollywood.  There is Hollywood Boulevard with the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood & Highland complex has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards).  From there head for Rodeo Drive, packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.  You could book a tour of the stars homes.  And there is Sunset Boulevard, one of the most famous streets in the world.  It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the “Sunset Strip” on its way.  Drive down it and you pass through Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.

Venice Beach

Santa Monica Pier

While there, check out the Southern California beaches.  I think that Santa Monica Beach and Pier is a fun place to visit.  It has a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies.  From there you can head south a couple of miles to Venice Beach. It is Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best. Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore. Fun, VERY interesting, but avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting and may not be that safe.

Griffith Park Observatory & view of LA

Heading farther north you should check out Griffith Park Observatory perched high on the hill overlooking LA.  You will have great views from up there.

You could attend a TV taping.  You can get free tickets at www.audiencesunlimited.com, www.tvtix.com,or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.  Or get tickets in advance for a chance to win a prize on The Price is Right. www.cbs.com/daytime/price/tickets

Getty Museum

The Getty Museum is so beautiful, no matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Farther south in Long Beach is the Queen Mary.  Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price, she is also a hotel.

Display inside the La Brea Tar Pits Museum

There are many museums is the Los Angeles area.  One of the more fascinating is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum, on Wilshire Blvd.  It is the world’s most famous ice age fossil excavation site.  Kids really love this place, with bones of ice age animals on display.

You won’t find yourself bored with a vacation to the Los Angeles – Anaheim area.  You will have fun at Disneyland, and find there is a lot more to see as well.  For those of us who live in San Diego, most of us have a kind of love/hate relationship with LA.  It has so much smog.  San Diego gets some, but not nearly what you have up there.  And we have more of a small town feel, where LA just goes on forever.   I found several quotes that I couldn't resist adding to this.  And remember if you are on vacation and you get tired of the smog and traffic, San Diego is just a short drive away.  You can certainly combine the two area for a vacation.  You can read about San Diego by going to the side column and clicking on the San Diego link under the Destination Series.

“Even though I grew up two hours south,
 I had rarely ventured to Los Angeles.
 I soon learned that my dad wasn't totally off base when he said,
"Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes." 
 Justin Halpern, Sh*t My Dad Says

“When its 100 degrees in New York, it's 72 in Los Angeles.

When its 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles it's still 72.

 However, there are 6 million interesting people in New York, and only 72 in Los Angeles.” 

 Neil Simon