More of Connecticut with Race Day!

As I spent my spare time investigating my state of residence, Connecticut, this summer, I couldn't overlook the high octane chances of race days in the state.  I don't normally go to racing events, which people refer to as a sport and I disagree.  But, for the sake of investigation, I went out and saw the spectre.  Lime Rock is probably the best known of the motor speedways in Connecticut.  Nestled in the northwest hills in a place that has virtually no residents, this is one of the state's premier racing venues.  I was fortunate in that I got to attend the Le Mans series race weekend where there are cars from all over the world.  This is not your local stuff, folks.  This is real professional racing, and if you follow it, you know that Le Mans is an international circuit.  If you watch Grey's Anatomy, you will also note that Dr. Dreamy, Patrick Dempsey is one of the circuit's race car drivers.  He wasn't there this year, but he does come.

One of the great things about Lime Rock is the atmosphere.  You can pretty much wander wherever you want.  There are lots of places to view the race from and there's lots of good food and drink available.  It is a road track, so you won't get to see the whole track from anywhere, but you can choose your spot.  Your tickets do not limit you to one seat.

Other advantages of attending events at Lime Rock are pit row walks where you get to see the cars up close and personal, meet and greets with the drivers where you get to see them and their cars in the off track work spaces, and you may even get to take your picture with the Michelin Man.  It's a lot of fun, and the access and freedom of seating are two of the biggest perks of this environment.  You will pay for all of this, however.  Lime Rock is the most expensive track  in Connecticut to attend an event at.  But, Lime Rock is also a club.  So, if you are a member, you get plenty of chances on the weekend to race your own car at Lime Rock.  Pretty cool.

In the wilds of northeastern Connecticut is Stafford Motor Speedway.  This track is an oval and caters to a variety of events.  They have weekly local racing and NASCAR's Whelen racing.  It's a casual track with general admission and no assigned seating.  They do also turn their infield into a monster truck venue a couple of times a year, so that the locals can see something different.

One of the perks of Stafford is that the locals are the friendliest bunch in the racing world in Connecticut.  These folks will make you feel right at home no matter what's going on.  They love to get out and party at the race track.  The food here is also fabulous.  The pricing here is good with most events being less than $20, but weather is a factor here.  The police in Stafford Springs will shut the place down if they think that the storms are too much.  It's not even in the hands of the operators here.  If they shut down, they do offer rain checks, which is good.  But, they do not offer refunds which can be frustrating for those of us who don't have every weekend free to go to the races.

There are two other raceways in Connecticut.  I didn't learn a lot about them this summer.  Hopefully, I will get a chance to next summer.  The speedway in Thompson has several events and has been a NASCAR historic speedway for years.  They have both major and local events and they do change their status from time to time.  They are currently a road course instead of an oval course.  It doesn't sound as if that's always been the case.  I'll learn more when I get a chance to get over there and see for myself.

The other one is Waterford's Speedbowl.  This is a small oval track that does both local and Whelen racing.  It's a short track, hence the term bowl.  This place would remind you a lot of Bristol with NASCAR.  It's again, a weekend spot with friendly locals and lots of different styles of racing.  The pricing here is also moderate and the seating comes with great views.

Racing is just one of many things that most people don't associate with Connecticut, but it's here and we do enjoy it.  I never thought that I would enjoy going to races, but I have to say that I will be back and come to see some more.  It's not even so much about the racing for me.  It's the wonderful cars, the wonderful participants, the wonderful fans and the great atmosphere.  It's something that makes you happy you got off your couch and went somewhere for the day.  I mean, you can watch Lime Rock's Le Mans race on television.  You probably have a better view of the race that way.  But you don't get to meet the spectators, the race car drivers or Dr. Dreamy sitting on your sofa.  So, Once again, come see us in Connecticut and experience racing Connecticut style.  You'll be glad you did.  You'll be surprised.  You'll have a lot of fun.  You'll enjoy.

http://www.speedbowlct.com/
http://limerock.com/
http://www.thompsonspeedway.com/
http://staffordmotorspeedway.com/
http://racedayct.com/
http://www.lrpartners.com/
http://hometracks.nascar.com/tracks/stafford
http://www.tonystrackdays.com/category/8931/ct-track-info.htm
http://www.circuit-1.com/thompson-speedway-ct/
https://www.hotelplanner.com/Hotels/10507-in-Thompson-CT.html#dir-bar
https://www.hotels.com/de1402492/hotels-thompson-connecticut/
http://www.booking.com/city/us/waterford-us-3.en.html?aid=801942;label=yahoogemini-city-waterford-us-3-Ws*gy1Vree7t6x1k8hheuQ&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CT-Connecticut-CT-Waterford---UFI-900053963&utm_term=hotels-waterford-ct-e
https://www.priceline.com/stay/?searchType=CITY&page=1&utm_medium=cpc&refclickid=D%3AcHOTEL1321128008028939941124&query=hotels%20waterford%20ct&utm_source=Yahoo&utm_campaign=CS%7CUS-CT%7CAll%7CHotels&lp=y&match=e&utm_term=hotels%20waterford%20ct&refid=PLGEMINI&slingshot=134#/search/hotels/Waterford,CT,US/1?page=1
http://www.trivago.com/?sLanguageLocale=US&iSemThemeId=4257&iPathId=94502&sem_keyword=%2Bhotel%20%2BStafford&sem_creativeid=11338987397&sem_matchtype=bb&sem_network=s&sem_device=c&sem_param1=&sem_param2=&cip=122001023
https://www.kayak.com/horizon/sem/hotels/destination/-c29618?lang=en
https://www.expedia.com/Lime-Rock-Hotels.d6340814.Travel-Guide-Hotels?regionId=6340814&langid=1033&semcid=US.UB.BING.SEARCH.HOTEL&kword=+lime_+rock_+ct_+hotels!b.ZzZz.4820000228169.0.12761363501.hotels%20lime%20rock%20ct.+lime_+rock_+ct_+hotels&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA:ENG:$:DL:AMER:USA:M:X:2:&utm_term=+lime%20+rock%20+ct%20+hotels&utm_content=USA:ENG:$:DT:AMER:USA:CT:Torrington:6057200:Lime_Rock:6340814:M:X:hotel:
https://www.hotwire.com/Lime-Rock-Park-Hotels.0-l6127072-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels
http://www.ctvisit.com/
http://www.visitconnecticut.com/state
http://www.connecticutvisitorsnetwork.com/
http://ctautoracing.com/
http://www.theracingschool.com/schedule
http://skipbarber.com/track/lime-rock-race-track/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

This Summer's Tips for New York City!

Ah New York in the summertime.  Is there any better place to get away to the city?  I say no.  So, my son and I took our summer trip to New York City, and we learned some things.  Now, I am passing it all on to you.  So, we went biking again.  This time, our target was Central Park.  We were going to bike the whole ring of 6.1 miles.  The question was how to do it?

Just outside the park at Columbus Circle you have some really great things.  Some of the best Gelato at Grom's.  You have a great high end mall, and you have all the stuff at the bottom of Trump Tower.  That is, when there isn't someone trying to climb Trump Tower.  Election years are getting interesting in this neighborhood.  What you also have is one of the busiest entrances to Central Park and in this tiny little neighborhood you have about thirty ways to rent modes of transportation to go through the park.  There's a lot to choose from.  There are pedicabs, there are horse and carriages, there are cars and taxis, there are mopeds(which you must have a special license for), there are roller blades available, and there are tons of places to rent a bicycle.

My son and I quickly got tired of the upscaleness of the area, with the Whole Foods in the mall and all these vendors trying to direct us away from the park to rent bicycles from their companies.  There are a ton of bicycle places.  It's hard to choose.  My son and I walked by all the vendors and headed straight for Citybike.  Now, in most cases I say this is the way to go.  But, we found out that you have to be careful if you want to pull off the ride through Central Park on Citybike.

There's so much to see in Central Park.  You can do so many things.  There's boating, the zoo, carousels, castles, Shakespeare, concerts, more.  There's a waterfall in the north woods.  There's an enormous pool, and manicured gardens.  The options are limitless.  So, no matter how you bike the park, take a lock.  You don't want to lose a rented bicycle.  But, there are other worries too, which me and my son soon found out.  At the time, (which things have changed now) there were not enough Citybike stations to allow us to stop every thirty minutes which is the rule.  So, we got charged a lot to rent a Citybike.  Not their fault.  It was our fault for not being prepared enough for our journey.  Just be aware that when Citybike says that they will charge you extra for riding over thirty minutes at a time; they mean it.  Since that time, which was just last month, there have been more stations opened.  They do this all the time, so check the map before you go anytime you go.  It can make a big difference.

So, if you aren't adept at Citybike, just take the tour.  There are a lot of them.  I would make sure that I take the tour that is associated with the Central Park Website.  And the only bike rental that I would use at Central Park besides Citybike is the rental agency run by the park.  It's right at the Columbus Circle Gate.  You can't miss it.  The one thing that you don't get from the side agencies is guarantees.  You don't know what the others might charge you for when you're done.  They are mostly fly by night pop up companies.  So, if you bike the park there are the things you need to know.  Rent from the park, take a tour, or if you're in the know take Citybike.  Make sure you bring a chain lock so you can enjoy the sights.  Bring money so you can buy water or other drinks and snacks.  You also may want to rent a boat or get ice cream at the patio of Tavern on the Green.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Natural History Museum, and the Guggenheim are all along the way as well.  Plan accordingly if you want to go to the zoo, ride the carousel, or go swimming.  It's all possible in the world's most famous park.

Now, the mall at the entrance is great.  However, be aware that it is a high end mall.  When those of us who come to the park for a ride go walking in there in our jeans and tshirts, we are not always what they picture as a customer.  Whole Foods is a grocery store for those of you who've never seen Top Chef.  They are great, but a little expensive.  We tried to stop for a drink at a bar that had a great view and we could not get acknowledged.  Be aware of this.  I say use the mall for the restrooms and a bottle of water from Whole Foods.  Leave the rest for the rich people who spend money like water.

So, after biking 6.1 miles through Central Park and a little browsing in the high end mall, what do you do?  Well, in our case we encountered some pop up storms, so our plan to check out another park before dinner did not happen.  I'll tell you all about that next time I go to the city.  Instead, we decided to get something to eat.  We decided to dine like the celebrities do and we went to a great little soul food spot in Harlem known as Amy Ruth's.  Presidents come here.  It's located on 116th street in Harlem, and if you look up soul food restaurants in New York City on Yelp; it's the first place that pops up.  Is it worth all the hype?  You bet it was.  The atmosphere was down home.  The smothered chicken was amazing, as was the mac and cheese burger.  We had rum cake and all kinds of truly great food.  Amy Ruth's is one of Harlem's institutions.  It's just a short subway ride from the park and it is one of the best places that I've ever eaten in New York City.  It's casual, moderately priced and very affordable.  The staff is friendly and the food is good.  I mean, what else do you need?  If the place is good enough for the Clintons, the Bushes, and the Obamas; well then it's good enough for me.

We had a little time to kill before our train, and our go to thing to do is to stop off in Times Square.  We haven't done it for a while.  Here's my tip.  What the hell happened down there?  That place was beautiful, but it looks like a demilitarized zone.  I appreciate that they are doing work down there, but that isn't the only problem.  It's difficult to get to the things you want to see, because there are barricades everywhere.  Toys R Us is gone.  That takes away a whole family element from the area.  I was disheartened.  I hope it gets better, but for the foreseeable future; check the web cams before you stop there.  It was a little depressing when we stopped by.

The long and the short of New York is that things are always changing.  You never know what you're going to see whether you're on the street or on the subway; whether you're at the park or in the train station.  It's always an adventure.  That's why when I go, I try to share my experiences to keep you up to date on what things are like when I visit the city.  So, take a ride, take a walk, eat great food, and maybe venture into Times Square.  It's all an Adventure for Anyone.  Enjoy!


https://www.yelp.com/biz/grom-new-york-3
http://bikenycentralpark.com/
http://www.theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com/
http://bikenewyorkcity.com/
http://www.nycgo.com/
http://earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=tspano
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/index.aspx
http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/
http://www.mta.info/
http://amyruths.com/
http://www.trumptowerny.com/
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https://bikerentalcentralpark.com/
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Zip Lines and Adventure Parks

In my lifetime I've seen a lot of change.  When I was young, certain things did not exist.  We did have roller coasters, but nothing like the crazy thrill rides that we see today.  A water slide was a slide by the side of the pool in most cases.  I remember going to parks where they had a water slide.  Just one.  That was all you needed.  Alpine slides were our big invention.

Now, everyone seems to be seeking a thrill and the aerial adventure parks are more popular than ever.  I remember when you had to drive for hours to find one.  Now, it seems like they're everywhere I go.  The first aerial adventure park that I remember in my area was Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass.  In the winter, a ski resort; this is the MO of the adventure park.  They were partially born out of the concept of finding some way to use the ski resort in the summer time.

What is the history of the adventure park?  Interestingly, no one seems to know.  Several theories exist.  Some say that it comes from the popularity of mountain climbing and rappelling.  Makes sense.  Some say that it all started with zip lines, and that they came from the rudimentary cables used to cross ravines and such in central and south America.  Could be.  I actually heard that the popularity of the zip line first gained popularity after the movie "Medicine Man" with Sean Connery came out.  It is true that zip lines and tree bridges have been used for a long time as a means to investigate the rain forest.  But, what's the big deal?

People seem to want to have a thrill more and more.  Why do we suppose that is?  Psychologists would tell you that hard working people who aren't that fond of their jobs seek fun.  They want a thrill.  It's believed that many of us need a thrill.  Our lives are mundane and we want something to make us feel alive.  We want to feel like we did something spectacular.  Climbing through the trees and flying around on zip lines seems to be just the ticket.

Lately, no matter where they started, these parks have been cropping up all over.  They have them everywhere in Connecticut.  They have them in Stafford close to the speedway in Stafford Springs.  In New Britain, they have them in the park.  In Storrs, they have it in the woods to give the college kids something to do.  In Bridgeport they have them in the park connected to the Discovery Museum.  In Portland, they're all around the quarry that you swim in.  In New Haven, they have them indoors.

The phenomenon is world wide.  It is said that the popularity of the adventure park is the biggest in Europe.  That may be true, but here in the US, they are cropping up everywhere.  They come in varying levels of difficulty, and they can keep us in the trees for hours.  It depends on what you're looking for whether or not you choose to do the adventure course, or you just choose to zip line.

But it looks like the thrill is here to stay.  Here in Connecticut we have courses by our biggest university, next to our military base, in our biggest cities, and even in our furniture stores.  We have them over water and in the woods.  We have them everywhere.  It's a great way to use a ski resort in the summer, but it's something extremely versatile.  People love to be in the air, I guess.

However you look at it, one of the big changes in how we spend our leisure time has changed since I was a kid.  With the never ending challenge of more and more thrills, we've come to the point where our choice is to climb and fly through the tree tops.  Is it a wise choice?   I think so.  With the availability of video games and other such things that some people are blaming for the obesity plague in this country; it's nice to see that there is something that people want to go out and get up and do.

No matter whether the Mayans came up with it, or if it was Sean Connery who made it popular; zip lining and aerial adventures rock.  So, if you're traveling this summer, and you've never tried one of these parks or a zip line; check ahead.  See if there's one in the area of your vacation.  It will be a great addition to your vacation.  Do you  need a thrill?  They're everywhere these days.  Try an adventure park.  Enjoy!

https://goape.com/Locations/Connecticut/New-Britain
http://www.cranmore.com/summer/aerial-adventure-park
http://www.gunstock.com/summer/treetop-adventures/
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https://storrsadventurepark.com/#_=_
http://www.ziplinerider.com/Connecticut_Ziplines.html
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http://fieldsoffiremystic.com/
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
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https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred