Many Wonders of Scranton, PA

Scranton, Pennsylvania is a tough one.  I spent 20 years avoiding it like a plague, because of the road construction back in the 1980's and 1990's.  Yes, the project that they were doing on I-81 and I-84 took forever and made a real mess.  Therefore, I never went there.  I didn't want to go there.  I didn't want to hear about the place.  It had driven me nuts for years, and I wanted to go anywhere else.

Then one day, years after all that, when I'd forgotten all about Scranton, PA, I was searching for waterfalls.  That was what I did in my spare time back in the early 2000's.  My son and I loved to go hiking to a good waterfall.  Anyway, I found some information on a lovely state park called Rickett's Glen.  It was supposed to be wonderful for waterfall enthusiasts like me and my son.  It reported at least 20 waterfalls, most of them on a waterfall trail.  One of them was supposed to be 94 feet high.  It sounded great.  As I read on, I learned that this park is only a few miles outside of Scranton, PA.

So, I decided that for the sake of seeing a boatload of waterfalls, I would suck it up and go to Scranton.  So I booked an inexpensive hotel in Wilkes Barre, because I was really reluctant to go to Scranton, and off we went.

By the way, the park was beautiful.  We spent two days, or the better part of them, hiking the falls trail.  It's in two parts, so we did one side one day, and the other the next.  It's a waterfall lover's dream.  That's for sure.  But, we were there for a few days, so we needed something else to do.
What to do in Scranton, PA?

For one thing, we went to the Lackawanna Coal Mine.  That's right, Pennsylvania is one of those towns of old.  Back in their heyday, they were the center of the universe.  Pennsylvania overall was ground zero for coal, oil, and steel back in the days of the huge magnates like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Carnegie.  This was where their power struggles happened and where dynasties were built.
From New York and Pennsylvania to New Jersey, you will see the name Lackawanna on a lot of things.  In Pennsylvania, it's a county and everything named for that county.  Lackawanna is a word from the Lenape Indians which were located originally in this area of the country.  Lackawanna means two streams or where two streams fork.  I learned that from touring that wonderful mine.

While on the tour of the mine, you will see how they worked and how they extracted the coal from the mine.  It was harsh back in the day, and a lot of people died working in those conditions.  It is a fascinating little tour, however and a great ride in one of the old mine trains.  There are other mines in the area which you can tour.  Back in the day, they had a few different ways of mining, and you can learn about different ways by visiting different mines. The Pioneer Tunnel Mine will show you all about drift mining, which is pretty unique by today's standards.
So, then what?  Now what do you do in Scranton?

The Scranton area has way more outdoor stuff to offer.  They have almost a dozen well maintained extensive trails that you can hike.  They have it all, and it's all around town.  They have a beautiful river walk that you shouldn't miss.  It's great, and it's a beautiful walk.  River walks are one of the fastest growing trends in the Northeast.  I don't know about the rest of the country, but we sure do love them here.

Here's an interesting fact and a fun thing to do, that tells you how unique Scranton is.  You can take a tour and visit the Houdini Museum.  That's right.  These folks will take you to see all the things that scream Houdini.  It is the most extensive collection of things pertaining to Houdini, and they also have a great show with well known magicians for you to go along with your tour.  If you like, you can take a haunted tour as well.  Harry Houdini's wife spent years trying to reach him through seances, and now you can experience the whole thing right here in Scranton, PA.
There are many wonderful things to do in Scranton, PA.  No one was more surprised than me.  My son and I went to a wonderful place called Lahey's Family Fun Park, just outside of town where we rode go karts and played mini golf, rode bumper boats and had a great time.  We went to a McDonald's that looked like a 50's diner.  We went to a great downtown mall that had as much entertainment as they did shops.  They have a great modern art scene there as well.  They have a well known night life.  It's an amazing town.  You can even take a tour that highlights all the landmarks that they use on the TV show The Office.  The place is one of a kind.  Until I got off the road and visited the place I had no idea.  While it has plenty to be unique, why did I mention it as one of my adventures for anyone?
The trains.

Scranton had several rail lines running right through it back in the day.  Pennsylvania was the home of the country's first railroad.  But, in the heyday of trains and coal and oil and steel, Scranton was a hub.  Today they have Steamtown.  This is a great indoor and outdoor museum with an old fashioned roundhouse that still operates.  While you're there you can visit all the museum buildings, see all the trains that are still there and take a ride on a train.  It's not a long ride, but it's great for the kids. 

One of the great things about Steamtown is that you can go in everything and wander around.  It's the most accessible outdoor museum I've ever been to.  You get to see how everything works and what it felt like to sit in a real caboose, or mail car, or whatever.  It's a lot of fun.  If you like trains, this place is for you.

Now, here's the best part.  Several times a year, Steamtown offers specialty tours.  Some of these things last for more than one day.  You can book a real train trip on an old style train.  All you have to do is check their website for a schedule and book a trip.  They take a few every year through the beautiful Pocono countryside.  It's a great way to spend a weekend.

 There is also the Stourbridge Line.  That is another local train company that offers sightseeing rides in the Scranton area.  They are currently postponed.  That's what they say, but they do hope to be up and running soon.  Once again, just check the website.  They'll keep you posted.

Trains are something that not everyone appreciates, but to those who love them, they are the best thing in the world.  Scranton is known as Steamtown, and the reason is the trains.  There's a lot to do once you get past the constant road construction surrounding the city.  It's an amazing place to be.  Come see the trains and the mines and the waterfalls and the river walks.  Come and experience something that you never hear about on television.  Scranton has so much to offer that you could spend a whole week there taking it in.  It's that great.  I was wrong about Scranton.  It's a great place that I now go to whenever I get the time.  So, for anyone out there that hasn't visited Scranton, because of the way it looks on the outside, get off the highway and take a look.  Scranton will surprise you.  Enjoy!
http://www.laheyfunpark.net/contact.htm
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/rickettsglen/index.htm
http://www.pioneertunnel.com/home.shtml
http://www.waynecountycc.com/?itemCategory=29874&siteid=210&priorId=0
http://www.houdini.org/
http://www.eldcps.org/
http://www.eckleyminersvillagemuseum.com/
http://www.visitpa.com/pa-caverns/lackawanna-coal-mine-tour
http://www.dorflinger.org/
http://www.wegoplaces.com/things-to-do-in-scranton-pa
http://theofficewrapparty.com/
http://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm
http://www.lhva.org/heritage-trail.html#lrht
http://www.lackawannacounty.org/
http://www.discoverourtown.com/PA/Scranton/Shopping-1007.html
http://themallatsteamtown.com/
http://www.visitpa.com/cities/scranton
http://scranton.lodgingguide.com/
http://www.artsandmusicpa.com/art/art.htm
http://poconodowns.com/
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t531
http://scrantontheater.com/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Day Trips for Nutmeggers!

I've been doing this for quite a while now, and some of my friends have asked me to put in some things that they might find interesting to do on a day trip from right here in Connecticut.  So, here you go.



1.  One of my favorite walks in the world is the cliff walk in Newport, Rhode Island.  It can be a little drive from home, but it's so worth it.  You have the views of the ocean, the views of the mansions and a great walk.  It runs about seven miles around the little peninsula that is the city of Newport.  It connects to at least two beaches as well.



2.  It was the playground of the Vanderbilts and all their friends.  The mansions of Newport, Rhode Island are some of the most amazing homes to tour in the country.  There are many of them to tour.  There is a fee, but there also is a day pass that will allow you into multiple homes.



3.  Someone in Montville, Connecticut at some point discovered dinosaur tracks.  They're the real thing and it's since become a very popular state park.  There are exhibits, trails, and activities for the kids.  It's a great way to spend a day.



4.  Gillette Castle is one of those places that you have to see to believe.  It was built about 100 years ago by William Gillette.  Now, I won't get into his idiosyncrasies that led to him designing his house the way he did, but it is a beautiful spot, an interesting home, and a great view of the Connecticut River.  During the summer on the weekends they also do some outdoor skits from the period of the actor William Gillette.  If that doesn't fill your day, Devil's Hopyard State Park is right up the road and has some great scenery and trails.



5.  Quechee Gorge, Vermont is a small, but very dramatic gorge pretty much in the middle of flatlands.  It's a great little hike through the gorge.  There are beautiful meadows and lakes above, and in the summer they have a hot air balloon festival that's amazing.  There's also some great restaurants around there, shopping, and there's mini golf all over the place for the kids.



6.  Lake George is not normally seen as a day trip, but most of the time it is when I go.  There's something about a resort area that just begs to be visited for the day.  When I go up there we like to take a ride on the Mini Ha Ha around the lake.  Then we hit the go karts and mini golf.  If you like, in the summer there are horse and buggies around and a great beach right in the village.  It is Lake George, so the food is fabulous too.  There's also Fort William Henry right in the middle of the village that's great to visit.


7.  Ocean Beach Park, New London, Connecticut.  I don't care what anyone says about their great beach and board walk, this one rules.  I've been up and down the Eastern Seaboard and this place is great.  There's all kinds of things to do from rides, to waterslides, to pools, to arcades, to food, to bands on the weekends, and there's the beach.  It's a great way to spend a summer day.



8.  Yes, that's Thomas the Train.  Actually, it's the Essex Steam Train in Essex, Connecticut.  It doesn't always look like that.  They only do that for special occasions.  This is a great all around trip.  The train ride is great.  They have a special lighted tour at Christmas as well.  They also have a combined train and riverboat ride in the summer.  It's a great time for everyone.  Afterwards, stop off in Essex for some really great ice cream and a maritime museum that's pretty interesting.



9.  The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford is our newest attraction in museums.  This place is great.  They have 3D Imax for a theater.  You can make a film of yourself doing a weather broadcast.  There are so many things to do in this science center, that it will keep you and the kids busy all day.  If it doesn't, there's an amazing river walk right outside on the Connecticut River that you shouldn't miss.



10.  The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Connecticut.  The seals are the main attraction here, it's true.  Everyone loves to gather for feeding times.  There are so many other things to see and do here that I can't list them all.  They have Imax.  They have all kinds of maritime life.  Sometimes you can even play with penguins in this place.  You can always pet the rays.  It's a great time for adults as well as the kids.  It's not as well known or as big as Mystic, but it's my favorite.  It sits right in the middle of Norwalk, so there's wonderful shops and restaurants right outside as well.

 

11.  The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts is one of those places that I didn't expect to be so interesting.  It's a little museum in a small town in western Mass, but it's full of surprises.  They have mummies, gems, Ansel Adams photography, fine art from around the world, and an aquarium in the cellar.  I'm not joking.  They also have a tortoise named Chuck that will come out and visit with you and the kids.  It's a great little place to spend some time. 




12.  The New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport, Connecticut is fabulous.  There are planes indoors and outdoors to see.  There are all kinds of exhibits and there are flight simulators to ride in.  It's not as exciting as some of the other museums, but it's really interesting.

 

13.  Jiminy Peak Mountain Park in Hancock, Massachusetts.  This place is a great ski resort.  That being said, in the summer time this place has it all.  It makes traditional theme parks seem boring.  They have alpine slides, mountain coasters, segway tours, bungee jumps, smaller rides for little kids, zip line adventure parks, and great food.  It's a must see.  You can also ride to the top of the mountain on the ski lifts for the view.  It's a great fun way to spend the day.



14.  Mount Greylock, North Adams, Massachusetts.  This is the highest point in the Berkshires.  You can climb it, drive it, and camp on it.  It's a stop on the Appalachian Trail, so there's a hiker's cabin right next to the parking lot.  There's a gift shop and snack bar at the top as well.  The tower is open most days and gives an amazing view of four states.



15.  Natural Bridge State Park, North Adams, Massachusetts.  This is a great little park that was found when they were using it as a quarry.  The natural bridge is small, but it's real, which is something that I've almost never run across.  There are a couple of little waterfalls, and some odd little bridges to run around and take pictures on.  It's fun, and a great addition to a day out in northwestern Mass.
 

16.  Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts.  This place is awesome.  They have a PT Boat, a submarine, a battleship, and so much more.  You get to roam around on these things.  You can climb ladders, sit in gun turits, and eat in the mess hall.  It's great fun.  After you can stop and take a ride on the carousel at the building next door, and you can spend some time in the riverside park on the opposite side of the parking lot.  Fall River is also known for it's Portuguese food restaurants, so make it a day.



17.  The Children's Museum in West Hartford.  The center piece here is the Gengras Planetarium.  There is also a small zoo that doesn't thrill me.  They do have an interactive children's museum and they have classes where the kids get to work in a lab.  It's a lot of fun, and the planetarium is great.



18.  Hublein Tower sits high atop Talcott Mountain in Simsbury, Connecticut.  This place is a hike, but the views alone are worth it.  This is the place that the elementary schools take the kids to on field trips to work in the academy labs with the teachers there.  The overall place is sprawling with trails, the academy and the tower area.  Inside the tower is an amazing home museum.  The walk is exhilarating and the view is worth all the trouble.



19.  Hunter Mountain, New York.  This is the Catskills, and this is the best place to go to a festival in probably all of New England.  They have all kinds of music festivals, Scottish festivals, Octoberfests and a lot of others.  There's always something going on there, and the scenery is unmatched.  There are ski lift rides up the mountains, plenty to do in the town, and great food.  There also is one of my favorite waterfalls, Kaaterskill, on the road to the town.

 

20.  Great Barrington, Massachusetts is just a great town to go to.  Whenever we get bored, we end up there.  It doesn't have anything particularly thrilling, it's just the atmosphere.  There's great food, great shopping, great antiquing, and a bohemian feel that just keeps us coming back.  They have a little river walk that they're still working on behind the downtown area that's really cute.  They have a regal looking academy there that has a great rare book sale  every July.  Just north of town they have Monument Mountain which is a tiny little mountain that you can climb in 20 minutes and gives you just as dramatic a view as if you'd climbed a real mountain.  It's a wonderful place to spend your time.  They also have access to the Appalachian Trail for two interesting sections.

So, I hope this helps with those around me looking for day trips for the summer.  I've done all these things, most of them more than once.  I've always had a great time in these places, and I hope all of you do too.  Enjoy!

http://www.cliffwalk.com/
http://www.newportmansions.org/
http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org/
http://www.stateparks.com/gillette_castle.html
http://www.quecheegorge.com/
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/quechee.htm
http://www.lakegeorge.com/
http://www.ocean-beach-park.com/Park-Info.html
http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/steam.html
http://www.ctsciencecenter.org/Default.aspx
http://maritimeaquarium.org/
http://berkshiremuseum.org/
http://www.neam.org/
http://www.jiminypeak.com/
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/mtGreylock/
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/nbdg.htm
http://www.battleshipcove.org/
http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org/
http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325272
http://www.townofgb.org/Pages/index
http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/index.aspx 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings 

The Pagodas and Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

It's hard to put this place into words.  There are so many structures here that it's impossible to describe them all.  The country of Myanmar was completely cut off from the rest of the world for decades, so we have very little travel experience there in the first place.  Everyone has ruled here from the Kings to the Khans to the British and now to the Tatmadaw organization that currently manages the country.  So, you to go and work very hard to get the visas, learn all the rules, take the train that shakes and bumps so bad that you need rails to stay in your tiny bunk, pay more fees, and hire a guide.  It's not easy to visit Bagan.  It is something that you won't see anywhere else in the world though, so I think it's worth it.



There are so many structures in this 26 square mile area, that it's impossible to see them all.  They were built over eons, so they vary in size and appearance.  They were created during different rulers' times, from the time of King Anawrahta around 1057 to the time that Kublai Khan conquered the area in about 1287.  It is believed that at one point there were over 13,000 structures in this area.  Now that many have become little more than piles of rubble, only about 2,000 remain intact.  They range from the simple and small to the ornate and gilded.  It is one of the most significant sites of this kind in the world.

Now, don't worry, there are resort hotels, great restaurants and shopping to do in Bagan City.  It's not just a collection of temples and pagodas sitting in a field in the middle of nowhere.  It's actually quite nice in Bagan City, and it's still pretty quiet.  They have built a tower there just so you can get a really good view of the temples and so on to help the tourism cause.  They are starting to learn to cater to tourists, but for now, it's still way under the radar for the norm, so it's a great time to visit here.

The tower is built to blend in as best it can with it's ancient surroundings.  It is hard to go and see all there is to see in this place, so having a photo op spot isn't a bad thing.

The amazing thing is that somewhere out in that huge collection of pagodas and temples is a pair of them that claim that they have actual hair and such from the Buddha.  Myanmar is extremely Buddhist, and the temples that contain the hair of the Buddha are extremely sacred sites to Buddhists everywhere.

Inside most of the temples is a Buddha.  The more elaborate the temple, the more elaborate the Buddha.  It's all an amazing experience.  The best part is that after you're done investigating the grounds for the day, you can go back to town and go to a buffet.  It's all the rage there.  They have discovered the buffet style restaurant.  There are good deals on them too.  Then you can go back and take a swim at your resort hotel.  It's past meets present in an extreme way.  It's also modern meets old world dictatorship at it's finest.  The world is full of contrasts.  An American traveling Myanmar is just one more.
 


So, throw off the ordinary once again.  If Angkor Wat seems interesting to you, then think about this spot which is the second most significant spot of this kind in the world only behind Angkor Wat.  The people here are still very curious about outsiders, so they will ask a lot of questions.  They are very friendly and love to haggle with shoppers, so remember to do that.  You'll love how new it all is to them.  You'll love the direct view you get of their world, since they aren't quite over run by tourists yet.  It's mystical and real.  It's forgotten and newly found.  It's a land of contrasts and that's what makes it fascinating.  Enjoy!

http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myanmar/bagan/index.php
http://bagangolfresort.net/index.htm
http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-travel/myanmar-bagan/bagan.htm
http://sacredsites.com/asia/burma_myanmar/bagan.html
http://www.baganmyanmar.com/bagan-pagodas-temples/others.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma
http://myanmartoursoperator.com/
http://www.voyagetrek.com/Travel/Tours/Myanmar?tfa_SpecialFormNotes=Bing+Yahoo-Search&tfa_SpecialNotes2=Myanmar%20tour%20operator
http://myanmartoursonline.com/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1077.html 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

The Other Side of the Grand Canyon...Page, Arizona

Somewhere in the northeastern corner of Arizona, lies the town of Page.  It's past the narrow beginning of the Grand Canyon and above the Cameron Trading Post.  At the moment, they've had a partial road collapse on route 89 and you even have to take a 45 minute detour to get there if you come from the south somewhere like Flagstaff.  Here's the thing.  You can go to the Grand Canyon's south rim and see all the beauty you can absorb.  There's dining, lodging, hiking, burro travel, tours to Phantom Ranch, and even a train.  It's amazing.  I admit that.  But, if you never go to the lands along the north rim, you'll be missing something amazing.

Page, Arizona is the home of Lake Powell.  Lake Powell was largely formed when the upper Colorado River was regulated by Glen Canyon Dam.  The sandstone that is the lake and it's edges make for a colorful landscape that also gives the feeling of being on an entirely different planet.  There are many who would argue that it's the most beautiful lake in the world.  It covers an enormous area stretching up into Utah, and is one of the best places in the world to go house boating.   There are several companies along the shores of Lake Powell that rent houseboats out by the day and week for the tourists, as well as wave runners, speed boats and fishing equipment.  It's one of the biggest water recreation areas in Arizona topped only by Lake Meade.  Along it's shores you will find many tributaries to investigate, and with a permit, you can visit the Rainbow Bridge, the worlds largest natural bridge.  Be careful to be respectful when visiting this monument.  It's on Navajo land and it is a sacred point to them.

Page is a wonderful little town, and it's directly on the Navajo Reservation.  There's a good portion of this town devoted to the tourists.  There's every imaginable hotel chain, there's a Walmart, and they have a McDonalds with the best view I've ever seen.  Most people, myself included, don't really bother to take pictures of the town, because there are so many beautiful things around to look at.  It just gets overshadowed by the art that God provides.  I can say that there are a ton of shops devoted to both the ridiculous souvenirs that we all love to buy and the native handicrafts that are purely works of art.  So the shopping here is amazing.  I don't normally mention that, but there it is.  There is also the Indian culture to absorb.  There is amazing food to be tried, those beautiful handicrafts I mentioned and then there's the dance.  In the summer, which is the height of tourist season here, a couple of nights a week, the locals will put on a dancing demonstration, and if you like, they will teach you to join in.  Page is a great place to use as a hub for your north rim area adventure.

While you're in the area, you need to take the road trip out to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  There's not as much to do out there as there is on the south rim, but the views are amazing.  Even the drive through the Kaibob Plateau on the way there is amazing.  The seasons  are more defined along the north rim.  It snows there in the winter...a lot.  You should check to see if the north rim is open if you plan a spring trip.  Sometimes the snow can block the roads well into May.


Once you arrive at the north rim, you will notice the difference between it and it's counterpart.  Here you can look back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt, when the national parks system was new.  The Grand Canyon Lodge was built in 1928 with all the grandeur of the day.  It's stone facade and rustic yet grand interior has made it a draw on the north rim even to this day.  There are rooms available in the lodge, excellent dining and cabins for rent on the property if you want to do it the old fashioned way.  But the best part to me was the view.  You can sit on the terrace of this amazing old lodge and look out over the Grand Canyon.  It's hands down the best view anywhere of this stunning natural wonder.
 
While you're out touring the nether regions of the Grand Canyon, you have to stop at both Lee's Ferry and the Cameron Trading Post.  If you like to stop along the way and find kitchy things to see, these are for you.  Lee's Ferry is an abandoned town, founded by the man who some credit with finding the Grand Canyon.  I'm sure lots of people knew it was there, but the story is good.  Down in Lee's Ferry there are more natural sights to see.  This is where you can hike amongst the red dunes.  They're a sandstone formation the looks like striped dunes.  They're fascinating and shouldn't be missed.  The Cameron Trading Post is a wonder perched along the edge of the river right at the bridge on the road headed for Page.  This place has great Navajo Tacos.  I had to throw that in.  It also has some amazing shopping.  The place is huge and has every handicraft and every stupid little souvenir you've ever seen.  They also have a complete clothing department, and groceries.  It's spectacular.
As you drive back to Page, you'll pass the Red Cliffs which glow in the sun, and you'll wonder what else could make your trip special.  This is where the adventure truly begins.

Antelope Canyon is one of the most unusual places I've ever been.  There are many slot canyons, as they're called throughout the Arizona/Utah area.  Antelope Canyon lies directly on Navajo land, is sacred, and is the most famous one in the world.  In order to go into the canyon, you must go with a native guide, so if someone who is not a native offers to take you there, don't go.  It's against the laws of the Navajo Nation.  Now, you can drive out to the desert and meet up with the tour, or you can just ride from Page.  The giant tired trucks that take you to the canyon are quite a fun ride.  They do bounce a bit, but it's all part of the adventure.

Antelope Canyon has an upper and a lower section.  The most popular is the upper section.  It's the easiest to get to and doesn't fill up with water very often.  The canyon is only about a quarter of a mile long, but it's amazing.  In the beginning, the red rocks glow in the sun, but as you get further into the canyon, the magic starts.

The walls grow higher, the pathway gets narrower, and the colors change almost continually as the sun moves across the sky.

Water carved these amazing slot canyons with their curves and twists, but the sunlight brings out the full beauty.

No two pictures are alike.  You feel like you've been transported somewhere when you're walking through the canyons.  It's an experience that you can't get from a picture.  You simply have to be there.

So, take a walk on the north side.  Come to Page and make it the hub for your north rim adventure.  Stay on a houseboat on Lake Powell, visit Glen Canyon Dam, see the Cameron Trading Post, Red Cliffs and Lee's Ferry.  Visit the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and enjoy the Navajo Culture in Page.  And, by all means, take the time to have the real adventure of a lifetime.  Visit the slot canyons--mainly Antelope Canyon, and have an experience that you'll never forget.
Things that you do have to remember for this trip.  Make sure that you go with a guide to Antelope Canyon.  Make sure that you have a permit to go to Rainbow Bridge.  Make sure you book your houseboat before the season begins.  Be prepared for detours on route 89.  Be aware that the seasons in the area are somewhat harsh at times.  Not all of Arizona is warm year round.  And by all means, have lunch at that McDonald's with a view.  Enjoy!
http://visitpagearizona.com/activities/adventures-and-tours.html?page=2
http://www.cityofpage.org/
http://www.page-lakepowell.com/
http://page.arizona.com/
http://www.zionnational-park.com/grand-canyon.htm
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/grand_canyon/north_rim.html
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/lees_ferry/
http://www.camerontradingpost.com/index.html
http://navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm
http://www.lakepowell.com/glen-canyon-history.aspx
http://grandcanyonlodgenorth.com/lodging/
http://www.antelopecanyontours.com/pages/1/index.htm
http://www.antelopeslotcanyon.com/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
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Ten More Things That You May Not Have Been Aware of...USA

There are things that we just miss, because we've overlooked it, no one talks about it, or we just never even thought about it.  Here's some of those things.
1.  In Oklahoma City, OK this year, they will be holding the 62nd Annual Square Dance National Convention.  I know what you're thinking, but it's not the old barn dance that you've seen on TV.  These dancers have spent a long time in classes learning the moves that make square dancing popular.  If you think you've heard it all, try doing a move called a bucket of worms.


2.  Have you ever considered cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway?  It's not the Caribbean Cruises that we've all heard about, but then again, I haven't heard of them breaking down all over the place.  There are several cruise options on the Seaway, but one of my favorites is the Pearl Seas Cruise of the Thousand Islands area.  It's relaxing, old world and beautiful.

3.  How about a night on the town in Little Italy, New York City?  There is nothing quite like a warm summer evening dining outside in front of the restaurant with the streets blocked to traffic and street performers all around.  There's wonderful music to dance to, and as always, the great authentic Italian food.  Not to mention, it always looks like Christmas in Little Italy and the views are way better than you might think.
 
4.  My family talks non stop about the NASCAR Racing Experiences around the country.  But, did you ever wonder if you could drive an Indy Car?  Yes you can.  The Indy Racing Experience is waiting for you at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Here's your chance to get off the beaten path and away from NASCAR for just a moment and try a different kind of racing.

5.  Ithaca, New York is one of those unique places in the world.  It's green, it's gorges, and it's full of food of all kinds.  The Moosewood Restaurant is famous the world over for it's amazing vegetarian cuisine, and their cookbooks are some of the best sellers of all time for vegetarian.  There are also over 100 other fabulous restaurants in this amazing city.  You can find some of the best Thai food outside of Thailand, there's an authentic Irish Pub with music too, there's great Mediterranean and so much more.  Then if you need to bike it off, you can rent a bike from several locations around town.  You can also hike it off in any of the several beautiful gorges that give the town it's slogan...Ithaca is gorges!

6.  Here it is.  Did you know that Cedar Point has been ranked the best roller coast amusement park in the world for most of the last decade?  It's in Sandusky, Ohio, for heaven's sake.  They have, count them, 16 roller coasters, most of them world famous and some of them have been around for years, like the Blue Streak and the Corkscrew.  There are tons of other rides in the park, so there's something for everyone, but remember, the best amusement park in the world is just over in Ohio.

7.  It's here.  Sandboarding.  It's all the rage, and one of the best places to do it is the Imperial Dunes in southwestern California.  There aren't rental places that I know of just yet, but it is allowed, along with all the ATV's, dirt bikes, and dune buggys you can muster up.  It's a great sport, but remember to allow yourself to get used to it.  It's definitely not like being on the water.
 
8.  Just in case you missed this one, several years ago London Bridge was sold, and the owner moved it brick by brick to Lake Havasu, Arizona.  Not only is the Lake Havasu area a beautiful place to go boating and in general spend your time, but London Bridge is there too.

9.  I love this one.  Only in Vegas can you spend a couple of hundred dollars and have the privilege of playing with heavy equipment.  It opened only a couple of years ago, so if you haven't been to Vegas lately, you missed it.  They have bucket loaders, backhoes, and all kind of wonderful toys for your biggest boys and girls.

10.  Michigan is a great place.  There are so many unique things there to do and see.  I spent half my life traveling in Michigan, and I can attest to that.  But, if there's one thing that I can say is unique about Michigan, it's the dune rides.  There are dunes up and down western Michigan along the shores of the great lake that bear's it's name.  Silver Lake Dunes is the place to go however.  You can take a ride in dune schooners, or you can bring your own vehicle.  This is the only place in duneland that you are allowed to do that.  It's great fun.

So, if you are looking for something a little different to do this summer, I hope you enjoy these ideas.  It's all great fun, and it's all right here in the U.S.  Enjoy!

http://www.62nsdc.com/
http://pearlseascruises.com/store.php?crn=229
http://www.littleitalynyc.com/gethere.asp
http://www.indyracingexperience.com/t-DriveIndyCar.aspx
http://www.visitithaca.com/dining/
https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/roller-coasters#panel1-3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OZHRSWKvEc
http://www.golakehavasu.com/activities/more_to_do/london_bridge.aspx
http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/digthis.html
http://www.thinkdunes.com/ 
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings