Adventures for Anyone

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The One Place I Am An Expert On...Connecticut

I've written a lot of blog entries about travel around the world. It occurred to me that sometimes we take things for granted, and I've kind of done that with where I live. Thirty years ago, I came to Connecticut to visit friends, and fell in love with the place, to the point that I have lived here for the last 22 years. In that time, I have been out and about, lived all over the place, and learned about everything that I want to know about this state. So, today I will talk about the place I know best...Connecticut.

Connecticut is famous for it's foliage. That's a given. But, the amazing thing about Connecticut is that it's so compact. It has it all, folks. We have a couple of the world's largest casinos, ocean beaches, deep sea fishing, Appalachian Trail hiking, Revolutionary War time history, mountains, skiing, aquariums, zoos, planetariums, museums, world class performing arts, ivy league colleges, high end sports colleges, amazing foods, and so much more. Here in Connecticut you can visit a tiny village and go antiquing by day and head into the city and go clubbing by night. There's really not a place in the whole state that you can't reach in two hours or less, and there's almost anything that you can find in most of the rest of the country. We've just shrunk it all down and made it convenient.

One of the things that we have are castles. That's right, we've got some. One of my favorites is the home of the one time famous William Gillette. He was an actor back in the stage days, and he was famous world wide for several reasons. One of those reasons was that he was a little nuts. He built the reclusive castle that he called home on a cliff overlooking the Connecticut River in Haddam, and it was a little weird in his house. There were huge wooden beams everywhere, and everything was a little dark, but elegant. But that was okay, because if you wanted some air there were the amazing gardens overlooking the river and the train that you could ride around on. That's right, the guy had his own train. Now Gillette Castle is a state park and we all enjoy spending the day there, because in addition to the castle and tour, they tend to have live performances to watch. The other castle that I enjoy visiting is just a turret but Castle Craig sits in a great location high above the cliff overlooking Hubbard Park in Meriden. It's a great walk, a great view, and Hubbard Park is home to one of our best drive through light displays at Christmas time. For those who thought that Connecticut was just a paved piece of I-95 between Boston and New York, I think that some of our parks and countryside might just surprise you.

Another thing that we have here in Connecticut is educational fun. We have two aquariums, one in Norwalk and one in Mystic. The one in Mystic is larger and has more stuff to see, but the one in Norwalk has more hands on stuff for the kids, an educational program that you can sign up for that does hands on work on Long Island Sound, and an IMAX movie theater. Both cities are interesting outside the aquariums as well. Norwalk has a beautiful downtown to wander through, and great boating. Mystic has all of that plus the Mystic Seaport where you can spend time wandering through a period historic settlement and look at some real life old tall ships. Mystic also has beaches, and the famous Mystic Pizza Parlor that was the centerpiece of the movie "Mystic Pizza."

Just in case you like mountains, we've got them. Hublein Tower sits on top of Talcott Mountain in Avon, and the tower is the museum that was once a private home. The view from the top is amazing, and the grounds are a great place to have a picnic and enjoy the view. The best way to reach the top and the tower is to take the hike up the path. The ridge walk is full of amazing views and it's a must see. But that's not the only mountain worth taking a look at. Mohawk Mountain and Mount Southington are great places to go skiing in the winter. There is also Haystack and Ski Sundown. You don't think about it, but you can do a lot of skiing in Connecticut. If you don't wish to ski, you can always take a walk on the Appalachian Trail. There are parts of the trail running through Kent and in the northwest corner by Salisbury and Canaan.

We love water in Connecticut too. We have lakes, shoreline, and rivers, oh my. The entire southern border of the state runs along Long Island Sound. True, it's not the Atlantic exactly, but it sure looks like ocean when you're there, and for another half hour's ride, you can go to Rhode Island and see the actual ocean anyway. We have beaches, marinas, harbors and all that. Ocean Beach Park in New London has a small amusement park and a boardwalk and arcade to go along with their fabulous beach. They have bands on the weekends and everyone has a great time. New London and Groton are also home to the submarine base. Groton's Submarine Museum will tell you all about the home of the country's first subs. But there are also great beaches and shoreline all along the coast. The cute little villages offer all the antiquing, craft shopping and seafood that you ever dreamed of. They also most likely will have deep sea fishing available for hire. In the northwest corner we have Satan's Kingdom. This is a great tubing trip that goes down the Farmington River from New Hartford to Collinsville. It's a lot of fun, but just remember that the mountain rivers are a little brisk and quite refreshing. The lakes of the interior and the rivers are home to any number of places that you can go fly fishing, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and rafting as well.

If you like the water and love rides, Connecticut is home to Lake Compounce, the country's oldest theme park. They have all kinds of rides and entertainment, plus a great water park along the lake. It's over 150 year's old, but as modern as they come. They have a haunted graveyard at Halloween and it's a whole lot of fun. That's in Southington. If you'd rather have a little more toned down good time for the little ones, Quassy Amusement Park is over in Middlebury with a more carnival like atmosphere, but still a good time. In the fall all of Connecticut has fairs, but in the summer the theme parks are the way to go. Connecticut is also covered with mini golf courses and go kart tracks. Some of the go kart tracks run all year round inside and out with leagues and tournaments. You will also find a lively fish and game community with clubs all over the state. They have archery tournaments and target shoots all year round.

Now, if you need more educational things to do, there's the science center in Hartford. This new age building houses hands on science exhibits and a 3D IMAX theater. If that's not enough for you, there's the Gengras Planetarium and Science Center in West Hartford, and a dozen children's museums around the state for the little ones. On the art museum front there are art museums all over the state including Hartford and New Britain. The Mark Twain House and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Homestead in Hartford are just two of the famous homes that you can tour throughout the state. Connecticut is the Constitution State and our history goes back hundreds of years. Hartford is also the home of the Hartford Courant, the country's longest running newspaper. We were also the first colony to have our own constitution or at least a set of independent laws. Also on the list of historical places in the state are the Nathan Hale House in Coventry, The Newgate Prison in East Granby, The Essex and Naugatuck train rides in Essex and Thomaston, and the Indian Institute in Washington. If all of that educational fun isn't enough for you, you can take a visit to the Yale Campus or eat at the home of the very first hamburger, Louie's Lunch Box both in New Haven. If you want to take it outside you can visit the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport or the drive through zoo at Action Wildlife in Goshen.

If you like the arts, you've definitely come to the right place. The Bushnell in Hartford is a historic and famous theater. They have concerts, play, and all kinds of performances there. But they aren't alone. We have theater all over the state. There are theaters at both of the huge casinos. There are theaters of great note in Hartford, New Haven, Goodspeed, Torrington, Thomaston, Waterbury, and so many more. Here in Connecticut we have professional theater, local theater, community theater, and several schools for the performing arts. There are many towns that have an old theater that is part of the community, and is still going strong. If you like other forms of art there are numerous art galleries around state.

Then there are the casinos. Foxwoods is the father of the Indian Casino. They started as a bingo hall the rest is history. At one point, it was the biggest casino in the world. Then along came Mohegan Sun to give them a run for their money. Foxwoods is bigger, but it's more like Vegas. If you want something unique, I recommend Mohegan. If you happen to live across Long Island Sound, a few years ago the casinos provided a high speed ferry for travel back and forth. It's a great ride. You can also see great shows, go to the museums, eat at great restaurants and so much more at these resorts. At Foxwoods you can also attend the Schimitzun once a year in the summer.

Do you like to hike? Well, here in Connecticut we went a little wild. We have a ton of state parks. Two of my favorites are Enders in Granby, and Kent Falls in Kent. They both have amazing waterfalls to see. But they aren't the only places to go hiking and they aren't the only places to see waterfalls. You can also see waterfalls at Devil's Hopyard, Campbell Falls, and others. We have hiking along the shore at Rocky Neck and Hammonasset State Parks and more. We have countless river walks like the one that goes through Collinsville. We have all kinds of railroad paths like the one in Granby. They are amazing and they go all over the state. You will never run out of places to hike and bike in Connecticut. We even have a river walk right in the middle of Hartford.

We have so much to do in the state of Connecticut that we're almost never bored. In the fall we have foliage to look at and a whole bunch of events to go with it, like the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in Norwich. This is a great place to get your geek on. You can dress up like olden times and watch a jousting exhibition or any number of other great shows. If you come out on Columbus Day you can even participate in a Dr. Who costume contest. In the fall there is also the Hartford Marathon, also on Columbus Day Weekend. But there are many things to do in the fall. There's the haunted things. There are haunted hayrides, haunted houses, haunted graveyards and so much more. There are great farms where you can go apple picking, pumpking picking or wandering through a corn maze. In Stonington, you can go to a real cider mill to see how the enticing brew is made. There's so much to do in the fall that we all get a little tired from trying to do it all.

But at the end of the day, we have some amazing sunsets to watch. I can't describe everything that there is to see and do in Connecticut. It's taken me twenty two years to see as much as I have. I still haven't driven all the scenic drives in the state, but I hope to have done that one day. It's on my bucket list. One thing that I can say is that we have a terrible tourism board that doesn't know how to market this place. If everyone knew that in one tiny state you could do all the things that you have to go to separate parts of the country to do in most other areas, the place would be full. The beauty is amazing here. The activities are first rate. I didn't even discuss the food and concerts which tend to be amazing. I didn't even mention that we have a Christmas Village in Torrington where the kids can not only see Santa but his elves at work and his reindeer. I didn't mention the dinner cruises on the Connecticut River. I didn't even mention the great Air Museum at Bradley International Airport. I didn't even mention everything that goes on at the University of Connecticut. I didn't even mention the race tracks in Stafford Springs and Lime Rock. I didn't mention the wineries or the breweries. I didn't mention the hot air balloon rides or the professional golf courses. I didn't mention the jazz festivals or the Celtic festivals or the summer festivals or the trapeze school, or the summer camps or the flea markets. I didn't mention the Dinosaur Park in Montville with real live track fossils. There's a whole lot to do. There's a whole lot of things to see. You should save on gas and come to Connecticut and do a whole lot of amazing things in a small space. You'll be glad you did. It will change your view of Connecticut.
Enjoy!

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http://www.cafepress.com/profile/ninakindred
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html?tab=artwork

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Some Different Cruises

One of the most popular things that my friends do is go on a cruise. Now, let me be more specific, they go on a Caribbean Cruise. Sometimes they go to the Disney Island on one of their cruises. Sometimes they go from Sandals Resort to Sandals Resort. Sometimes they stop and visit some dolphins or go where their guides take them and things like that. It's fun. The ships are like theme parks with malls and casinos. It's sometimes like Vegas on water. I get it, there's a waterpark on deck. There are all kinds of restaurants. There are nightclubs and shows to go see. There are movie theaters and spas. It's a great way to travel and I would never argue that. I just wonder if most people are aware of how many truly amazing cruises there are that most people don't really know about.

Do you really want to spend your time on the ship when you cruise? If so, I have a great one for you. Take the transatlantic trip on the Queen Mary II. This ship goes from New York to England and vice versa. It's a luxurious trip and it gives you all the time in the world to spend on the ship. They have great food, great entertainment, great shopping, great accommodations. You can't beat it. It gives you that sense of living in a much older time and getting to experience the honor of travel as your ancestors did.

Extreme is your thing? Well, you can cruise to either pole on icebreakers built and run out of and by Russia. The cruise to the North Pole leaves from Murmansk and the the cruise to Antarctica leaves from Argentina. You get great accommodations, because they have not just turned over a working ship for a cruise. They have all the amenities, including swimming pools. Just tell your friends that you went swimming while on a cruise to Antarctica. No one will believe you, so take lots of photos. Take some of the penguins and the weather stations too.

Now, if you take a river cruise, say to the Amazon, you may not be getting the luxury accommodations that you would find on a standard cruise line. However, you will get to see the Amazon. River cruises are one of the great compromises of travel. Let's say you like to go on a cruise. You get to move around and see lots of locations in exotic parts of the world. Say your partner likes to get out there and explore an area to see how it works. This is your middle ground. River cruises run all over the world. They go on the Mississippi, the Hudson, the Yangtze, the Amazon, the Nile, the Volga, the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone, the St. Lawrence Seaway, you name it. They don't have a lot of fancy stuff and they tend to have a smaller group of travelers, but they do spend a lot more time in port so you can see what goes on in the part of the world that you're visiting. You get to see a lot more of the cities you stop in. You have the time to go shopping on shore, so you don't need all the shops on the boat. You have a chance to go to the opera in town, so you don't need a lot of shows on board. If you want to go to a casino, you can just get off the boat. It gives you a chance to try local restaurants, activities, museums, entertainment and shopping instead of doing so much on the ship. It's a great way to travel.

There are cruises for the adventurous. There's a cruise to Cape Horn, which is one of the most difficult places on Earth to get to. As any sailor throughout history will tell you, the weather around that cape is horrendous. Even if you take the cruise that goes there, you may not get to walk on that piece of land, because the weather may be too bad to stop. It happens on these cruises. They make no bones about it. But adventure cruises are great for some folks. They love to say they did some of the riskier things in life. Cape Horn is one of those trips. Some people also like to take a schooner cruise, where you can be part of the crew if you want to and help sail the giant ship. Some folks like to go out along the big island of Hawaii where Kilauea is erupting. Some people like to get up close and personal with whales and glaciers in Alaska. It all depends on what you're looking for.

Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and many other Asian countries have cruises. There are all different kinds. You can go on a Junk, a ferry, any number of private sailing boats, or a standard cruise ship. In Ha Long Bay you can cruise around and see grottoes. In Indonesia and Malaysia you can cruise from island to island. You can dress up like drag queens and sing in Karaoke contests on some of the ones out Japan's way. It's all about what you want to do.

Here's one for you, you can cruise the whole world. They do have world cruises. That's the creme de la creme of cruising. It takes the better part of the year, and you never have to move your stuff. If you really want to see the whole world, cruising is not a bad way to go. You'll be on one of those ships that has everything, and you'll be stopping in a lot of ports and for longer than on a standard cruise. If you are in no hurry and you want to see the world, try that.

But cruises are readily available pretty much anywhere that there's a suitable body of water. Baltic cruises have been all the rage for years. The elite love to cruise the Mediterranean. The fjords of Norway have always been a big favorite. To go to Pitcairn Island, be prepared to take a boat that only goes there every couple of months. There are ferries that run from Denmark to Iceland. There are cruises off the coast of Greenland, and through the inside passage up the west coast of Canada into Alaska. They cruise along the Columbia River and the Kamchatka Peninsula. Cruising has a lot to offer, and I've been trying to let people know that there is more to cruising than just having fun on a ship in the Caribbean. Be different. Take a cruise that none of your friends have ever heard of. Go see the North Pole. Cruise the rivers of Russia. Take a riverboat up the Mississippi. It's all about adventure, and this blog has always been Adventures for Anyone. Cruising is an adventure that anyone can enjoy. Take a shot. Choose something that everyone has heard of but put a twist on it by picking a cruise that isn't that normal to most. Go through the Panama Canal. Stop in the Galapagos to see what Darwin once saw. Swim with pink dolphins in the Amazon. Try to reach Cape Horn. It's all about the adventure.
Enjoy!

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Friday, October 3, 2014

It's Time For Oktoberfest!

Every year Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany, and for two weeks--give or take a couple of days--the visitors to this 182 year old tradition have a really good time. Millions of people visit Munich during the festivities, and a truly immeasurable amount of beer is served. There are carnivals, parades, music, dancing, eating, drinking, contests, beer gardens and crowds everywhere you go. There's just that something about October that says it's time to drink. And we all love it.

However, most of us can't get away to Munich every fall just to drink and learn to play an Alpen Horn. That's just the facts. Let's face it, we can get beer almost anywhere, and we love to make an excuse to have an extra beer and some fun whenever we can. We, the working folks who don't get to run off to Germany at the drop of a hat to have a bier need a way to celebrate the fall with polka music, beer, bright colored clothes, and a great festival.

So, in today's world, you can go to Oktoberfest in any number of locations, and some of them you probably hadn't really thought about. Frankenmuth, MI. If you didn't think of this one, then you weren't thinking very hard. Frankenmuth is Michigan's taste of Germany all year round. Bronner's is one of the most famous Christmas Stores in the country, and the whole town looks like it got up and walked to Michigan from Bavaria. It's in September, so it's a little early, but it's a great party.

Fredericksburg, Texas. Surprise! There's a huge German community here, and they do both the polka and squaredancing at this festival. They have parades, rides, oompa bands, and a lot of beer. They also have the Haupstrasse Chicken Dance which you have to partake in to truly appreciate and a massive amount of Tuba music.

San Francisco. Oktoberfest by the Bay is a great time, and the views are fabulous. San Francisco has a whole lot of people from all backgrounds and the city loves to throw a party. You'll find that this city celebrates most traditions from all over. All the best stuff is here from parades to lots of beer and everyone has a really good time.

Minneapolis, Minnesota. These guys brave the cold in October for their giant party that has spilled out all over the state fair grounds. Long time famous for their Nordic backgrounds, some forget that there are a lot of German folks running around the state. This is a big festival with lots of music, dancing, food, and of course beer.

I could go on forever about Oktoberfests from Tempe to Phoenix to all over Arizona. I could talk about Asheville, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee. From Columbus, OH to Denver, CO. From Chicago, IL to Ft. Lauterdale, FL. Everyone has some kind of October celebration that they call Oktoberfest. My point is that you should look around and see what goes on in your area, so that you too, can partake in the festivities that make fall the amazing and fun time that it is.

My favorite Oktoberfest is on Hunter Mountain in the Catskills of New York. These guys give you your choice of four weekends to come and enjoy what throughout the winter is an amazing ski resort. There's music and fun for the kids. You can polka until you can't stand anymore. It's a great time to go and enjoy that foliage that I'm always talking about too. I love to take the ski life up the mountain, and if you like, you can now zip line back and forth from mountain to mountain, 600 feet in the air. It's a great place to go and relax, enjoy the music, enjoy the schnitzel, and have some beer. There's not better way to get out in the fall, so take the time and find one of these great festivals in your area. It's a true adventure for anyone.

So come and enjoy a tradition that actually started 182 years ago in Munich, but has brought a lot of happiness to the whole world, and seek out and find an Oktoberfest near you.
Enjoy!

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Wind and Sea in Denmark...That's Part Two of My Thoughts on That Country

I'm continuing my fascination with Denmark, by discussing two unique spots in that country. Now, I know that the castles and Copenhagen are great, but they are not the only places in the country to see. First off, as I have mentioned previously, Denmark is expensive. If you have a lot of money, you can stay in the city, shop til you drop and enjoy those expensive restaurants. If you have no imagination, you can still have a great time in Denmark. Don't think that you can't. There are a whole lot of things that you can do in Copenhagen. It has it's own city flavor. It's not just like visiting Krakow, Prague, Budapest, Helsinki, or Stockholm. It does have all the same kind of stuff that the others have, but only I would truly find them similar. But, wouldn't you love to see something that you can't see elsewhere?

West of Copenhagen, very much west, is the city of Ribe. Ribe is the oldest town in all of Denmark. The place sits on the edge of the Wadden Sea, and was once the home of Vikings. The town really hasn't changed all that much, save for a dyke that helps to control the floods. What you do find in Ribe is great food, laid back atmosphere, and great little places to stay. You get that small town feel, along with that traditional lifestyle that is part of what makes Denmark what it is today.

Around Ribe the locals are very proud of their Viking heritage and the Ribe Viking Center is there to help teach us all about the experience of being a Viking. It wasn't all raids and pillaging, although that was definitely part of life for the Vikings. At the center they will show you how they lived their day to day lives. They have houses, tents, food, games, and tradesmen there to show you. If you bring the kids they might be able to learn a little bit about using a bow, shield, or sword. They also might get to see how they made these items. Also in Ribe there is a Viking Museum that can show you some of the real artifacts from the Viking time.

Next to Ribe, I mean within a couple of miles, is the Wadden Sea National Park. This is one of the largest protected marsh areas in the world. I know what you're thinking. I thought that it would be lame too, but it's gorgeous. This place has extreme tides, so you can take a tour amongst the mud on one of their tractor buses, which is also largely how you get from island to island. It is not advised that you go walking about the tidal areas if you are not completely familiar with the tide schedules in this area. You also should not try to drive in the tidal areas unless you know what you're doing. They will flood the flats and you will be in trouble if you are in the way. But, as long as you do things safely, you can have a really great time. There are quaint little villages out the way of Mando Island with windmills and quiet little inns. There are the bus tours that take you out into the tidal areas and from island to island. They also go on seal watches in season. You can go on oyster trips, or go hiking. There are three islands associated with the national park, and on some of them are beaches as well. There's something for everyone that loves the outdoors. It's a beautiful place to watch the sunset too.

So, Ribe has a Viking village, Viking Museum, and churches and buildings that are over 1,000 years old. The Wadden Sea National Park has seals, amazing tides and great tours. The whole area is relaxed and easy to get around in. The accommodations and the food are good. You will have a great time in the area, and it is a great Adventure for Anyone.

So, take the time to get out of Copenhagen and see some of the wildlife. Take a walk back in history with the people who's ancestors lived it. I think that sometimes you can learn and have fun. I think that there is something to be said for seeing the sea from somewhere other than a beach full of umbrellas. It's a unique area that you don't hear much about. I love Denmark, and I will write more about this fascinating country in coming weeks. I hope that you will continue with me on my journey to see what else is in this little country that has so many happy residents.
Enjoy!

http://www.visitdenmark.com/en-us/south-jutland/live-viking
http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/ribe.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/denmark/jutland/ribe/sights
http://www.visitribe.com/ln-int/south-jutland/accommodation/accommodation-mandoe
http://www.visitribe.com/ln-int/south-jutland/activities/wadden-sea-national-park-0
http://eng.nationalparkvadehavet.dk/
http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/wadden-sea-national-park
http://www.danhostel.org/2014/05/17/a-sea-explorer-barefoot-tour-in-the-wadden-sea-national-park/#.VCQ6YBawRqw
http://whenonearth.net/wadden-sea-national-park/
http://www.waddensea-worldheritage.org/
http://www.ribevikingecenter.dk/en/home.aspx
http://www.tripomatic.com/Denmark/Fyn/Ribe-Viking-Centre/
http://www.jeremyhead.com/denmark-vikings/
http://www.tours.com/tours_vacations/denmark.htm
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, September 18, 2014

My Fascination With Water and Cruising On Rivers and Lakes

It's not that I don't like cruises. I hate big giant floating amusement parks that keep you busy, but make you miss the point of traveling in the first place. I just can't spend my time in the casino, or the club, or up on deck at the pool, or hovering over a buffet or bar. When I travel, I want to spend all or most of my time seeing where I am. It's who I am. Now, does this mean that I don't like cruises? No!

I love a good cruise. Ferries are some of my favorite boat modes of transportation. But, I could digress all day on the issues of ferry travel. I decided to mention some of my favorite river, lake and harbor cruises around the country. Maybe, if I have some time, I'll stop on this subject again and add some more exotic ones from around the world. Let's start with Chicago. That city is full of drawbridges and skyscrapers. That makes for interesting scenery to start off with. They also have some specialty tours which I've mentioned before like architecture tours and historical river tours. It's a one of a kind place to spend some time, and the scenery is truly impressive.

Before we leave Chicago, let's talk about the Spirit Cruises. They have them in Chicago and on the Hudson River, and many other places. These guys normally throw in a great meal to go along with the views around the cities. You can catch them in several cities around the country, especially Chicago.

Texas has a lot of coast, but it has the incredible San Antonio Riverwalk area, and the river cruises to enjoy them on. It's one of the prettiest and romantic riverfront areas in the country, and the cruise is the best way to see it.

Out west in Newport Beach, CA, you can catch a gondola ride. The canals there reminded the locals so much of Venice, Italy that they made gondolas their business as well. It's a great way to see the city and relaxing as well. There are also Venetian Gondola rides at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Those Gondoliers are actually from Italy. It's pretty cool.

If you miss the old days of paddlewheelers, you will be happy to hear that they're still all over the place. They run up and down the Mississippi, the Ohio, the lower Colorado, the Columbia and several other rivers. They also are found on lakes from Lake George, to Lake Michigan, to Lake Mead and beyond. They are an iconic piece of American history and they won't fade away any time soon.

If the hop on hop off style of tour isn't your thing in Washington DC, then you should try out the Patomic River Cruises. These guys take you around to get all the best vistas of the city. You can catch them on the waterfront anytime during the season.

But, the thing is, whether you're in Boston going out to look at whales, or taking a harbor cruise, or riding a jet boat in Niagara Falls, the water is a great way to see stuff and have fun. Jet boats are becoming more popular from Niagara to the Colorado, to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Wisconsin Dells. It's great to go through the locks in Sault St. Marie. There are houseboats for rent on several big lakes around the country including Lake Powell of northern Arizona.

So, whether you're normally inclined to take a cruise or not, there are some great idea around this country. There are cruises of some kind on every navigable river. There are cruises of many kinds on every large lake in every corner of the country. They even have cruises in the desert. They have cruises in the north. They have them everywhere. You can even take a glacier viewing cruise in Alaska. It's a great way to add to a great vacation. Hey, who doesn't love telling their tale of nearly drowning while viewing Niagra Falls from the Maid of the Mist? It's fun. Do it.
Enjoy!

http://www.circleline42.com/new-york-cruises/home.aspx
http://www.nywatertaxi.com/
http://www.spiritcruises.com/chicago
http://www.chicagoline.com/
http://www.sanantonioriverwalk.com/tourism_rivertour.html
http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/
http://gondolas.com/
http://www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/mississippi-river-cruises
http://www.cruisebostonharbor.com/
http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-cruises
http://www.sunstonetours.com/columbia-river/
http://www.adventure-life.com/cruises/ships/ss-legacy-278/legacy-of-discovery-3482
http://www.yumarivertours.com/sternwheelercruises.htm
http://www.maidofthemist.com/
http://www.whirlpooljet.com/
http://norrislakehouseboats.com/
http://www.lake-powell-houseboat-rentals.com/
http://www.houseboating.org/Lake-Mead-Houseboat-Rentals
http://www.whalewatch.com/
http://www.gondolaman.com/gondola-tours
http://www.soolocks.com/
http://boothbayboattrips.com/
http://www.dollysteamboat.com/
http://www.hornblower.com/home/sf
http://www.glacierbayalaska.com/glacier-bay-day-cruise-day-of-family-fun/
http://www.superiorvisits.com/content/Lake_Trips/Cruising/
http://detroitprincess.com/
http://www.gatewayclipper.com/
http://www.nashvillesightseeing.com/?event=offer.detail&offerId=3875
http://www.mainstreetlakecruises.com/
http://lakegeorgesteamboat.com/
http://www.dellsboats.com/
http://www.wisconsindellstours.net/?event=offer.type&productType=BOAT&mpt=1706
http://www.hartfordbelle.com/
http://www.katahdincruises.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html?tab=artwork
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

I could have talked all day on this one, but visit the sites and see for yourself. They are everywhere and fun!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

It's Fall in New England...The Fairs Are Here!

It's my favorite time of year, and if you aren't in New England, you're missing it. I love the fall. I love the foliage. I love the last rage against the machine that is the long cold winter to come. By the way, I hear that this year is supposed to be bad. I don't know if that will pan out, but just in case, I'm celebrating fall with some of my favorite things.

Here's my schedule:

Terryville Country Fair--August 23, 24, 25 it's over.
Goshen Fair--August 30,31, September 1 it's over.
Bethlehem Fair--September 6, 7 it's over. It's my favorite!
Brooklyn Fair--August 23, 24, 25 it's over
Durham Fair--September 25, 26, 27, 28
Harwinton Fair--October 4, 5
Riverton Fair--October 10, 11, 12
The Big E--September 12 through 28
Jiminy Peak will be open weekends and on Columbus Day

Can't miss fall. Can't miss all the fairs. Get out! Get going! Run through a corn maze, pick some apples, go to a haunted house, or on a haunted hayride, or to Lake Compounce for the Haunted Graveyard. It's a great season to be out. It's a great season to take a Hudson River Cruise to look at leaves. It's a great time to take a bus tour to Vermont. It's all the best stuff. Don't put it off. Winter will be here soon!

I beautiful out there! Enjoy!

By the way, I updated everything on my blog, so if it's looked a little shabby lately, it should all be better for a while.

http://www.goshenfair.org/
http://bethlehemfair.com/
http://www.durhamfair.com/
http://www.brooklynfair.org/daily-schedule/
http://terryvillefair.org/
http://harwintonfair.com/
http://www.rivertonfair.org/
http://www.thebige.com/fair/
http://www.jiminypeak.com/
http://www.discovernewengland.org/seasons/fall/
http://vermontvacation.com/Fall.aspx
http://foliage-vermont.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html?tab=artwork
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Thursday, September 4, 2014

My First Thoughts on Denmark

I've looked forward to talking about Denmark for a very long time, but I'm just now getting around to it. It's a fascinating country with so much to do and so much to learn. Denmark is currently considered the happiest country in the world. It's socialized lifestyle, while impossible to implement with any success in a larger country, works extraordinarily well for the Danes. They do have one of the highest taxation levels in all of Europe, but they also have one of the highest standards of living. What does that mean to the traveler? For one thing, it does mean that prices might be a little high, but they don't follow the Euro like most other countries in the continent. They still use the Danish Kroner, so make sure you look up the exchange rates for the right currency.

Denmark is famous for wind turbines. The sea around the conglomerate of dozens of islands that make up the country is full of them. They also have one of the more interesting bridges in the world to unite them with the rest of Europe. Everywhere in Denmark are amazing examples of architecture and engineering. It's one of the things that the country is known for. They still have an international empire as well. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are still protectorates of Denmark. Pretty good for a small little island nation in the North Sea.

If you're looking for one of those European countries that still has a monarchy and has a whole lot of castles, then you've come to the right place. Denmark is home to one of the world's oldest running monarchies. They have a changing of the guard at the main palace complex every day, and it's really popular with the tourists. The country is currently ruled by Her Majesty the Queen.

Amalienborg Castle is the main residence of the royal family headed by Queen Margrethe. It's part of a four castle complex in Copenhagen, and only one of the fabulous castles to see around the country. I'll cover that one in a different entry to this blog. Irregardless, Denmark has some amazing historic sites to see.

I've taken this time to write about two theme parks in Denmark. Theme parks are not always an adventure for anyone, but this time they are. Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is one of them. This place sits in Copenhagen amongst the history and the new found food culture and the architecture of the city with a beauty that is hard to match. The gardens are hundreds of years old, the buildings are amazing, the gardens themselves are gorgeous. You could spend all day wandering the grounds just to look.

But there's more to it than just gardens and cool looking buildings. There's a theme park in there with roller coasters, thrill rides, amusements, boats to ride around in, great food, and in the winter time, you can come to see the Christmas lights and go ice skating. It's the preferred spot for the locals to go and spend the day. It's part of the happiness that the Danish folks enjoy.

One thing to remember however. At Tivoli Gardens there is beauty all around. That's why I see it as being for anyone. European theme parks have been around for millennia. There weren't always roller coasters. In the old days, you brought your family and a picnic to spend the day here. You went there to see the gardens and float around in a boat. Beauty is part of the park here. So, take time to smell the roses and don't worry about standing in line to ride the rides all day. This is an experience. Make sure you have the right one.

And that brings us to Legoland. That's right. It's one of the few things that Americans really know about Denmark. They invented and are home to the Lego building block. There are Legolands in other countries, but I say visit the original. Copenhagen has one of the loveliest old waterfronts in Europe, and if you missed it while in town, it's been immortalized 150 miles away in Legoland. Part theme park, part garden, and part Lego art museum, Legoland has something for everyone and is a great adventure for anyone. It's the kind of place that lets your imagination run wild.

Is it real, or is it made from Legos? That's an interesting question, and one that you will answer over and over during your visit to this park. Legoland comes with a theme park, a water park, numerous Lego sculpture areas, places where you can build your own things, gardens, shops, restaurants, theme hotels, and so much more. It's a one of a kind park, even thought there are a couple of others roaming around the world. But this is the original, and you should not visit Denmark and miss it. I found out a few years ago that the factory that you can take a tour of here is the only place that you can order regular old Lego sets from. If you want to reach for the stars and make the kinds of things that you see in the park, then you need regular Legos, not a kit to build some star wars ship or something. In many places throughout the USA, the only way to get that is to order it from Denmark. I've done that, and it was worth it to my son.

You can ride stuff, make stuff, buy stuff, and experience stuff. The best part about Legoland is that it sets your imagination on fire. You see so many amazing things. It sets your own wheels in motion about what you could build. If you can dream it, you can build it with Legos. And if you build it, they will come. I don't know about that, but if James May can build a house out of Legos, imagine what you could do.