Adventures for Anyone

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

And Then There's Fall on The Riverfront in Cincinnati!

One of my fondest memories of childhood has recently translated into a good time in adulthood. As a lot of you know, I'm from the Midwest. When I was young, Cincinnati, Ohio was a destination filled with fun and good food. We spent weekends wandering Findlay Market, walking on the skywalk through downtown, riding rides at King's Island, and of course; hanging out on the waterfront.

Home of the best in local entertainment, the waterfront in Cincinnati is unmatched. Home of Reds Baseball, Bengals Football, and Cyclones Hockey; the waterfront is sports central. Along with all the sports, there are events, college sports and great food. There's a lively club scene there and even The Hard Rock Casino. If you can't find something to do or drink or eat or gamble on; then you aren't in the right place. The riverfront of Cincinnati is non stop fun.

Cincinnati's waterfront also has beautiful parks and places for outdoor performances right along the shore of the Ohio River. Some of the best views in town are right along the water.

But, there's more going on there than just the waterfront. There's the over the water as well. The Roebling Bridge is currently only for pedestrians. This landmark bridge is available for one of my favorite activities; bridge walking. It's great exercise, it's great views for photography, and it's just a great way to get away from it all.

Little known fact about the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Newport, Kentucky is that the river belongs largely to Kentucky. You will notice when you cross a bridge, that the sign that says Welcome to Kentucky is at the entrance to that bridge on the Ohio side. Back in the day when I used to go with my parents, this wasn't as clear. Back in those days, there were riverboat casinos, riverboat restaurants and many other riverboat places, because there weren't a lot of laws covering the actual river. Gone are these things, and for the most part ownership has been decided. It belongs to Kentucky.

Therefore, when an old railroad bridge was converted into a pedestrian park, it belonged to Kentucky and they dubbed it the Purple People Bridge and painted it purple. The bridge has long been called the Purple People Eater Bridge by those who walk on it, just because it makes everyone smile.

The Purple People Bridge is unique, has great views of the river and many of the bridges up and down the river from it. You can only enter and exit from Newport. They do have a section of the bridge set up for locks of love and the bridge can be rented out for events. It's an interesting concept.

The Taylor-Southgate Bridge is another great walk. This is a motor vehicle bridge, but has a pedestrian way. It connects the Levee District of Newport to the event district of Cincinnati. It has amazing views of the entire area and is a great walk. You can enter and exit it from either end.

So, what if walking back and forth over the Ohio River isn't your thing? There are plenty of other options of things to do.

And then, there's the waterfront in Newport. The town has long since been on the downside of the river, and levees have been part of the program. There's been a massive levee system there for decades, because of the seasonal flooding of the mighty Ohio River. Newport, over the years, has turned into somewhat of a hangout spot. They have concerts, movies, restaurants, clubs and even an aquarium there. This is the relaxed side of the river and it is beautiful. It's hard to choose somewhere to eat in the neighborhood, because it's all so good. It's amazing how each side of the river has its own personality, and they complement each other very well.

Newport is also where you will find the remaining boats along the river in the area. The USS Nightmare is not the boat that we rode on. This leftover wreck of a boat is the area's premiere haunted ship. It's open every night of the week during the Halloween season and is a favorite of the locals.

BB Riverboats is the company that took us for a cruise on their Belle of Cincinnati up and down the river. They have a snack bar, gift shop and restaurant on board. They do all kinds of cruises and have more than one riverboat. We sat leisurely on the deck and watched the scenery go by while listening to our narrator and banjo music. It was a relaxing and wonderful way to get the best views of the area.

Cincinnati and Newport have been a hand in hand combo for many years. Whether it's the events and shopping of Cincinnati or the eateries and movies of Newport; there's something for everyone on one side of the river or the other. No matter what side of the river you spend your time on, there are great views and fabulous places to spend your time. If you're like me, you'll do a little of both and even take time to cruise the river for all the best views in either town.

It's great family fun, good food, fabulous views and lots of events to choose from. So take some time in the southern most part of Ohio and enjoy!

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https://ussnightmare.com/

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https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/walk-this-way-2021/rating-downtowns-bridges/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g60993-a_contentId.1174278585920034+268262957-Cincinnati_Ohio.html

https://cincinnatiusa.com/article/walk-way-walking-guide-cincinnati-usa

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60993-d281853-Reviews-Roebling_Suspension_Bridge-Cincinnati_Ohio.html

https://roeblingbridge.org/

https://www.bengals.com/

https://www.mlb.com/reds

https://cycloneshockey.com/

https://heritagebankcenter.com/

https://cincinnatiusa.com/things-to-do/Riverfront

https://www.meetnky.com/play/riverfront/

https://cincylink.com/2021/10/26/the-cincinnati-experience-the-riverfront/

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/tricks-and-treats-fall-fest?&msclkid=25d05b26ca2f1554b4e63a5f5ebe34eb&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Remarketing_Exact&utm_term=things%20to%20do%20cincinnati&utm_content=Leisure_Planning&gclid=25d05b26ca2f1554b4e63a5f5ebe34eb&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://www.skylinechili.com/

https://www.findlaymarket.org/

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https://myfountainsquare.com/

https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/smale-riverfront-park/

https://thebankspublicpartnership.com/map-of-the-banks-cincinnati-riverfront/

https://cincinnatiusa.com/things-to-do/attractions/newport-levee

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g39707-d594770-Newport_on_the_Levee-Newport_Kentucky.html

https://www.newportonthelevee.com/

https://www.newportaquarium.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g39707-Newport_Kentucky.html

https://www.expedia.com/Newport-Hotels.d8954.Travel-Guide-Hotels?semcid=US.UB.BING.DL-DSA-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a1392718700.b11329310671815839.r1.g1dat-2334881661090349:loc-190.i1.d1.e1c.j144736.k150494.f1.n1.l1o.h1b.m1&msclkid=a8de1b9ebf46158617f07ae72857fdb0&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADL%3AAMER%3AUSA%3AOH%3A237%3AMCY%3ACincinnati%3A178249%3A%3A%3A&utm_term=MECE_GAIA%3A178249&utm_content=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3ADT%3AAMER%3AUSA%3AOH%3AOhio%3A237%3ACincinnati%3A178249%3A%3A

https://riverfrontlivecincy.com/

https://promowestlive.com/our-venues/promowest-pavilion-at-ovation

https://ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/site/tourism

https://ohio.org/wps/portal/gov/tourism/home

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/ohio

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

And From Jenn's List....Dubai!!!!

It's the UAE (United Arab Emirates), it's Dubai, and it's Abu Dhabi. This is one of the most modern mystical lands we hear about day after day. This land of adventure, luxury, modernity, and really big things sits along the coast of the Persian Gulf and is a desert playland for all ages. It is home to the biggest. The Burj Khalifa, Ain Dubai (the observation wheel) and The Palm Islands. You can go to Lego Land, ski indoors, and gaze at some of the biggest synchronized performance fountains in the world. Everything that the Emiratis do, build, design, and create is big and luxurious, and designed for people to come and enjoy. It is a wonderland of modernity, but there is more to it than that.

Dubai is an ancient country, with the first recorded people being Minoans when the area was a swamp land, in about 3000 BC. Many peoples have lived in this area since. There have been nomads, the Bani Yas, Royalty and so on. At one point, it was a walled city. But, since the discovery of oil in the land, Dubai, and the Maktoum have turned modern day Dubai into the UAE's greatest wonder, with a lifestyle that benefits every Emirati. The monarchy is still vastly in charge of the country, with
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum squarely on the pulse of the people, and fairly obviously doing a great job.

Dubai is built for tourism, and they boast some of the safest travel in the Middle East. They are in a questionable position with Qatar and Yemen not far away and do sit on the Arabian Peninsula, but they claim they will fly you in and out of the area safely so that you can enjoy all they have to offer. Emirates airlines is reportedly the way to go to benefit the most from the safety.

Abu Dhabi is the most famous part of the country, but the desert is still an amazing destination. You can tour the area in rugged 4X4's, on camel back or several other ways. You can glide across it on land sailing vehicles as well. You can camp overnight with Bedouins, or you can stay in a five star resort. Dubai is a place that you don't want to leave and miss all the amazing things you can see and do in the desert.

As per any major city, the historical section is right downtown along the creek. It has been preserved so that people can come and learn about the 3000 years of cultural and religious history of the area. There are forts, mosques, and other buildings from the past of the ultra modern country to remind all of us of where they came from. I find it interesting that you have to look for the past. The Emiratis are fond of their modern lives, and all of the giant buildings and malls far overshadow the humble beginnings of this great country. They are there for you to learn from and the ancient architecture is always one of my favorite things to see.

While enjoying the history and culture of the area, take a cruise on a dhow. These boats have been all over Asia for hundreds of years, and it's a true experience to ride on one. They have all kinds of harbor cruises, dinner cruises and so forth, and it's a great experience being connected to past times.

But, if modern Abu Dhabi is what you crave, let's take a look at it, starting with the QE2. That's right, the ocean liner. It was decommissioned and it was a sad idea to destroy it. So, it's now permanently docked in Abu Dhabi and is a restaurant and hotel. Just one more giant unique spot to visit in Dubai. It has all the amenities you could ask for and a great view of the city.

If you're looking for a hotel, Dubai has some of the most famous ones in the world. In the early 2000's the Burj Al Arab popped up looking like a sailboat, and the race was on. Since then so many luxury hotels have popped up that it's hard to keep track of them all. There's an Atlantis Resort on the infamous Palm Islands, there's everything Jumeirah, and the list goes on. There are beach hotels, city hotels, and desert resorts in the area. You can stay at theme parks, golf resorts, Bedouin camps and so on.

Whether you are looking at buildings, resorts, islands, malls, rides, or whatever; Dubai is big. Everything is bigger, better, world record breaking, unique, cutting edge, and frankly; cool. They just opened the biggest observation wheel in the world, to go along with the largest collection of man made islands in the world, the tallest building int he world and so on. There are many of the biggest things to do in Dubai. And then there's the Frame. This unique structure is something that you can look at or go into. Your choice.

Do you like cars? The Dubai Autodrome is one of the world's best and most versatile racing arenas. All kinds of car racing happens here. They have a facility where they can race day or night and a variety of track options to accommodate the different kinds of racing. Cars are big in Dubai. There's a lot of money from a lot of oil and there are supercars everywhere you look. The people of Dubai are proud of their money and love to show it off.

Do you like to shop? Dubai is famous for that. They have some of the craziest malls in the world and they still have areas of bazaar shopping as they did in the old days. Whether you are looking for traditional items or something more Rodeo Drive, you can find it in Dubai.

Another note. Dubai has many festivals celebrating all kinds of things from music to movies to food to shopping. That's right, Dubai has a shopping festival. It's the only place on Earth I know of that has an actual festival to celebrate shopping.

If you don't feel like shopping, but hopefully if you go to Dubai you like to shop; you can do many other things at the Dubai Mall. They have all kinds of activities, but two of them that they are best known for are skiing and playing with Penguins.

It's hot in the Persian Gulf, but that didn't stop the Emiratis from enjoying some colder activities. Ski Dubai is the most famous indoor ski resort in the world. You can also go ice skating and there is the interactive Penguin habitat. Don't worry, you can also go to the movies and other things that you do in average malls.

Dubai has many active places. They have an aquarium where you can swim with dolphins. They have a Lego Land. They have a massive water park at Atlantis. It is an amazing place to visit.

Would you like to experience pure magic? Abu Dhabi has the Magic Gardens. Whether you see them during the day or at night, they are spectacular. These highly sculpted gardens are designed to transport you to a magical land, or at least give you that effect. They are huge, and will take some time to explore, so don't think that this is some half hour stop on a city tour.

Now, we've talked about some amazing things, and I am convinced that Dubai is a great vacation spot. It's like someone took Las Vegas and made it bigger, better, more fun.

But, this is a Middle Eastern Country. There are rules, and you should learn them before you go. Just because you are a tourist from America, doesn't mean you are exempt from their Sharia laws of behavior. When in Rome, and here they are Muslim. You can't show PDA. It's offensive. You should consider covering your head. It's out of respect. I wouldn't drink alcohol. Just be respectful. All of the public rules can be found on the country's website. They want you to visit. They just don't want you to be disrespectful.

Also, right now there are Covid-19 requirements. Check before you go. You will not be allowed in the country without a Covid-19 test. Check the rules before you go. Also, this country sits in the Middle of the Middle East. Check the State Department Website for recommendations on travel before you book a trip. Dubai is an amazing place, but don't forget, the neighborhood is tremendously unstable.

All that being said, I can't imagine not having a great time visiting Dubai and the UAE. The place is huge in more ways than one. It's a playground for the rich, but it's also a place that normal people can find a reasonably priced hotel room and go and see what all the wealth can build. There's history, activity, and very big things to see. The people speak English as a second language, so the language barrier is small. There are several local tour companies that can help you choose what you wish to do while you're there and help set it up for you. It's a country full of people who want you to have a good time. They welcome outsiders and love to learn about other cultures. They only ask that you respect their culture while you're visiting them.

So, whether you want to enjoy man made, nature, water, desert, wildlife, city life, or just really big things; Dubai, the UAE, and Abu Dhabi are a great place to visit and enjoy!

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https://www.atlantis.com/dubai/atlantis-aquaventure/aquaventure-waterpark

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https://www.bollywoodparksdubai.com/en

https://www.platinum-heritage.com/overnight-desert-safari/

https://www.desertsafariuae.ae/

https://www.dubaidesertsafaris.com/

https://www.withlocals.com/s/united-arab-emirates/dubai/desert-safari-tours/?msclkid=3e2da348e049164c98dfc22c459c786a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Dubai_Tours_EN_CC_Core_US&utm_term=dubai+desert+safari+tours&utm_content=Dubai-desert-safari-tours

https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/what-to-see/iconic-landmarks/marina-eye

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https://www.withlocals.com/s/united-arab-emirates/dubai/tours/?k=Dubai+Local+Tours&

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Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Taking Time out to Celebrate My Favorite Time of Year...Foliage Season!

My favorite time of year is here! I love fall. I love leaves at their best. I love taking drives to look at foliage. I love anything pumpkin except beer. I am one of those people who enjoy the last bastions of civilized weather before the winter comes crashing down, reducing my adventures to what I can find on TV and the internet. So, I have taken this opportunity to bring around some great options for leaf peeping.

New England, where I live, is famous for its foliage. People come here from all over the world to look at our leaves, drink our cider, and find out just how many food and drinks you can make from pumpkin. One of my favorite spots in the world is southern Vermont. During Columbus Day Weekend, you can't move there. Everywhere you look are guided tour buses full of tourists looking at the leaves. It's a popular sport in the fall in Vermont. Leaf peeping is one of the most popular sports in New England, second only to football.

If there's one thing I've learned in all my travels, it's that people overlook some great spots because they aren't famous as the best spot. Therefore, I'd like to mention some other fabulous spots to look at foliage across the lower 48.

Right here, in Connecticut are some of the prettiest views around. By the way, that's why I live here. We love the foliage in CT. We have all of our fairs in the fall, countless festivals, and special events; just to celebrate foliage season. We love everything fall. All of New England is beautiful during this season. It's starts out earlier in northern Maine, then it trickles down the coast. We pick up shortly after in northern New Hampshire and the White Mountains, and northern Vermont along the Canadian border. After that, we hit Massachusetts, then Rhode Island and Connecticut. New England in fall is gorgeous.

The surprise spot in New England is Cape Cod. The cape is long famous for its summers and its beach life. Provincetown is famous for its laid back attitude and diversity. But, in the fall, there are still tons of trees and the coastline comes alive with color. Along those shores you will find a special kind of sun that makes the skies a blue that you see no other time of year. It is a very special time to see Cape Cod.

Yosemite and Yellowstone. They are two of the most famous national parks on Earth. Yellowstone is the first one ever created. Once again, you hear about these parks for many reasons, but in the fall they come alive with fiery colors to go along with their dramatic sites. It may be a bit cold in these places, but you can't possibly imagine what all the yellows, reds and oranges do to a place like Yellowstone or Yosemite. And, don't forget most of northern California. The redwoods, the Sequoias, Big Sur. There are tons of foliage spots in the state and the Pacific Coast Highway as well.

The Pacific Northwest. It's covered so heavily in woods that people still argue the existence of Bigfoot. Oregon and Washington are home to the Cascade Mountains and some of the most magnificent waterfalls in the contiguous United States. There are tons of great foliage experiences in the area and so much to see and do. The bonus here is the raiinforest effect, and the fact that your elevation has everything to do with the weather and outdoor temperature.

The American Southwest isn't known for its foliage as a rule, but there are places where it comes alive in the fall. Around Taos, New Mexico are some of the best foliage drives. The forest in the area comes alive with color in the fall and the southern location makes the weather more temperate. Other places that you wouldn't normally think of the foliage are places like Indiana and Illinois and Ohio. These states are largely farmland and not much for woods. However, if you travel to the southern parts of these states along the Ohio River, you will see some amazing foliage and be truly amazed.

Michigan, home of most of the great lakes, motor vehicles, and about to become NFL quarterbacks is home of some of the best foliage anywhere. All along Lake Michigan are wooded areas combined with some of the largest sand dunes you'll ever see. You can stop in Hell and enjoy the foliage and some of the best events of the October season. Frankenmuth is home of german lifestyle and black forest style foliage. You can enjoy Oktoberfest, Christmas shopping and foliage all in the same place. And then, there's Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is one of the best places in the world to look at foliage. It's a can't and shouldn't miss. Michigan's Upper Peninsula connects directly to the heavily wooded state of Wisconsin. Whether you're a Green Bay Packer's fan or just a fan of woods and beautiful scenery; Wisconsin is a must see.

The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for their foliage. Everywhere from Cumberland to Chattanooga is amazing for leaf peeping. There are festivals, tours and maps for great drives all over the place. But, don't forget about southern Appalachia. The Carolinas, and Virginia, along with parts of Georgia and Alabama have amazing foliage. In West Virginia, they have the bridge festival in New River Gorge in the middle of October too. Beautiful foliage and people jumping off a bridge. Beat that.

Another extraordinary place that is overlooked in foliage season is the Ozarks. Based in Missouri, these mountains are beautiful in the fall. There are a lot of places that are beautiful in the fall. Remember, no matter where you are, there are places to go and look at the leaves. Just because you may live in farmland, doesn't mean that there isn't somewhere nearby to go and see the splendor of fall.

One of my favorite areas for foliage are Pennsylvania and New York State. Pennsylvania, despite its eastern location is wild and wooded across most of its area. There are so many great parks such as Bushkill and Rickett's Glen. The leaves are bright and beautiful in the fall. Northern New Jersey is amazing, as is most of the massive state of New York. The fire of fall is appreciated in these areas with festivals, fairs, cruises on the Hudson River, hot air balloons, and so much more. Everywhere you look there are farms, corn mazes, pumpkin picking and so much more to celebrate fall. So, if you're looking for somewhere to look at the leave besides the Kankamangus Highway, check out all the states. There are some great places to go leaf peeping that you've probably never heard of. Check out Brown County, Indiana; Taos, New Mexico; Metropolis, Illinois; the Wisconsin Dells; Mackinaw Island, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Cherokee, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; Roseburg, Oregon; Telluride, Colorado; and so much more. The leaves are waiting, and winter is coming. Get out to see some leaves before they fall and enjoy!

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https://leafpeepers.com/wpleaf/ny/