Although this site will never be finished as long as we can still travel, it will get more refined as I learn more about web site development. I hope it will be an informative site to travelers within the United States. We have been to 49 of the 50 states and have some helpful hints as to what is not really as advertised or worth seeing and some fun places that a lot of people might not be aware of.
After 13 years in South Texas, we were really glad to return to Maine.
The following descriptions and comments are from our travels from 1988 through
2000 with more to come.
Niagara Falls is a truly great place to visit. The word awesome was invented for these falls. We have been back twice since the first time and feel the beauty every time. It is definitely better to view the falls from the Canadian side. You can get up close and personal either by taking the Maid of the Mist boat to the falls or by going through the Journey Behind the Falls.
The Great Falls Portal - "After
descending 125 feet and walking through 620 feet of tunnels, the final portal
brings you behind the mighty curtain of water for a last unforgettable view."
Uptown in the amusements section are lots of rip-offs but the
Hollywood Wax Museum and
Ripley's are worth seeing if you have never been to one of these before.
Realistic wax statues of movie stars, important persons in history, and
characters from movies are a treat. Ripley's is interesting if you have
never been to one but the best Ripley's Believe It or Not is in St. Augustine,
Florida. It is the original, largest and has the actual items there rather
than the pictures you see at other shows. The picture to the left is the
Eiffel Tower built out of toothpicks. Also in St. Augustine is a
restaurant advertising the world's largest cheeseburger. It looked like it
to me as my husband downed it.
The Jurassic Park mini golf course needs a few repairs but is still fun. It is always crowded but if you can hit it at the supper hour, you stand a chance of not being there for 3 hours.
Eating in Niagara is a fine experience. If you go to the top of the towers, etc., it will be expensive, but there are many fine restaurants in the area at reasonable prices. Steak is reasonable everywhere.
Learning the trolley system saves you from having to fight the traffic. The trolleys run from the floral clock back to Marineland. They are air conditioned and take you where you want to go without too many delays. We stayed up on the hill at Horseshoe Falls Inn by the Minolta Tower overlooking the falls and rode up and down on the incline for $.40 per ride. We had a room with a jacuzzi in room for a very reasonable price. Once you got off the incline, the trolleys are right there.
Marineland was a nice place to visit. You could touch the Orca whales
and watch them swim from below the pool. They had shows, rides, food, and
a great roller coaster. There is a lot of uphill walking and on hot days
it can be a problem for some people. Try to go early morning or evening if
the heat bothers you.
A jet boat ride into the whirlpools is a must.
You have to drive to get there (it is at Niagara-on-the-Lake ), but Whirlpool Jet boats take you
18 miles along the
Niagara into the rapids below the Aero Tram which is also a nice experience. It is
rough water and you will get soaked, but it is truly a fun experience. We
would definitely do that again.
The casino is like any other casino. Try your luck and maybe you'll win and maybe you'll lose. There are floors for non-smoking gamblers and plenty of slot machines.
Be sure to go the duty free shop and cash in your receipts of items you have bought in Canada. You'll get a refund on some of it. Save your cash register receipts while you are there and do stop for your fair share.
Hershey Park was a fun experience. Neat city with Hershey kiss shapes on the top of the lamp posts (above left) and a small amusement park. The tour through the Hershey factory doesn't really show chocolate being made, it is just for show. The rides at the park are real. The wagon wheel ride was terrifying (above right). It swings back and forth and then finally goes all the way around. Kids loved it. It is a nice place to spend a day. If you go in the summer though, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Even the campgrounds were full.
The New York State Fair is a really good fair. Large area but wagons you can ride back and forth in. Great entertainment, exhibits, food, and attractions. Worth attending. We happened to see Gene Pitney when we were there (only baby boomers would know him), and all the seats were good.
The Statue
of Liberty. There is a nice boat rode to the island and they keep it
clean and nicely groomed. The line in August was about a 3-1/2 hour wait
so didn't make it up into the statue. It was a really hot day and the line was
moving slowly. You probably should get there as early in the morning as
possible to make it up the statue.
Washington D.C. is a really great place to visit. You can park your car outside the city and take the subway in. The streets are really clean and most attractions are within walking distance of each other. There are many city tours which can take you around for a not too extravagant fee which will take you out to Arlington and other locations you might not want to walk to. Our favorites were the Museum of Natural History and the Aerospace Museum. For those of you who imbibe, beer is sold right on the streets of D.C., and you can walk around drinking it. Rather strange for our nation's capitol.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA and
Tampa, FL are also fun places to visit. There are rides, animals, and
lots of entertainment. Did you ever see a tiger who loves to swim?
We did. Also many exotic animals and plenty of water rides for
those really hot days in summer. They don't stay open late at night so you
need to get there in the morning to see all in a day.
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN is a great family place, and the Smoky Mountains are beautiful. The kudzu fascinates me; I know it is not a healthy growth but the designs and immense growth of it are fascinating Dollywood has the coldest sarsaparilla anywhere. Water rides, great shops and shows. We saw Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers there. The theater is set up so that any seat is a good seat. Beautiful grounds, and Dolly adds two attractions each year to expand the park. The first time we went was in 1990 and we went back this last August 2000. She has added 20 new attractions/rides since we were there last. It was really hot and humid while we were there but the water rides brought great relief. School had already started by August 21 so we had the park literally to ourselves. No lines for rides, food or shows. The roller coaster only lasts 1.58 seconds but my husband said it was one of the best he's been on, and that is a lot of roller coasters. He should know after 7 rides. The sarsaparilla was just as cold and the country buffets are great with a great price. Spent 2 days there this time and still really enjoyed it. Pigeon Forge has really grown but the trolley system takes the work out of fighting traffic.
Also went to the Knoxville Zoo while we were there. Real small zoo, and the animals don't look like they are really enjoying themselves. Most of the animals had no company of their kind so were listless and bored. I did get to ride a camel there which is something I always wanted to do. This zoo would be great for really little children who haven't seen wild animals up close but it was a bit of a disappointment to an experienced zoo goer.
Gatlinburg hadn't changed a lot. Took the trolley from Pigeon Forge and walked the town. Ripley's Believe It or Not had quite a few new attractions. The Haunted Adventure and Moving Theater were worthwhile. The aquarium wasn't open yet, and it looks like it may be really interesting and entertaining.
Dixie Stampede is a dinner show. They pitted the North against the South and had contests on horseback (32 well groomed horses) with trick riders, a clown, and beautiful costumes. Also included were a pig race and an ostrich race. A great show but you had to eat with your fingers. The menu was about the same as you get at the Medieval Times dinner shows around the country. I forgot my fork again (see below).
We took in one of the local shows, "Hillbilly Hoedown," which was
funny. It's a little blue grass, a little gospel, country, and lots of
laughs. The guy who runs the show used to be on "Hee Haw" years
ago.
White water rafting was a real experience. This was our first trip, and I was really nervous. We went through the group called Rafting in the Smokies/Pigeon River Outdoors, Inc. and we were treated very well. Our guide really new what he was doing, and by the time we got through the first #4 rapid, I felt I knew what it was about. Thrilling, very wet, and extremely fun; well worth the adventure.
We got on the Blue Ridge Parkway to come home. Very long (461.9 miles),
winding road. The Smokey and Black Mountains are still beautiful, but once you have been in
the Rockies or climbed Bear Tooth Pass, it gets to be a monotonous journey. They had a detour after
about 213 miles, and we didn't get back on. The next day we got on the
Skyline Drive which was 105 miles. The roads weren't quite a winding, less
traffic, and more sights to see. That was worth the trip. The
Shenandoah Valley is beautiful to see, and we saw lots of deer along the way and
nice places to stop for a break. Enjoyed that end better.
Disney World is a place we all know. After having been to both Disney World and Disneyland, I definitely think the Florida attraction has much more going for it. The parades, rides, and shows are all great. The electric light parade after dark is a must. It is uncomfortable to watch the parades because you have to stand up and there are so many people but at least see them once. The next time you go you can hit the rides and attractions while everyone else is watching the parades. After going there several times, we have our favorites picked out. We always get there as the park opens and hit our favorite rides. It's a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain we hit first. Then we move onto the other rides while everyone else is standing in line for those. It works quite well. Sometimes around the lunch or supper hour you can also find shorter lines but not a guarantee.
At Christmas time, everyone goes to Disney World for the X-mas parade. That is a good time to hit the other three parks. We did all three with no lines or crowds on Christmas Day 1999. It was great.
We were kind of disappointed in MGM Studios. The backlot tour is OK but
once is definitely enough. Our favorite ride is Star Tours which is a
simulation and fun. The best time is at Christmas when they have the
backlot decorated with thousands and thousands of lights. It is
truly a beautiful display.
The new Hollywood Tower of Terror is the first ride my
husband didn't go on twice in one day. I didn't go but he sure was pale
when he got off.
Epcot is more of an educational place which is interesting. Going into
the big ball is a pleasant, peaceful, entertaining ride, and the Maelstrom in
the Norway section is a short but fun ride. You don't have to stay for the
show afterwards, you can just walk through. Imagination, Energy, World of
Motion, Horizons, and Spaceship Earth are entertaining and somewhat interesting
depending on how much into science and energy you are. Most really small
children would not be interested. You can now "leave a legacy"
by having your name or picture put on large granite formations inside the
entrance. There is a charge but when friends or family go to Epcot, they
can look for your entry. Kind of a nice idea.
Of all the food places, we think Epcot food is the best. The fireworks at all three places are great but plan on getting your position on the water at Epcot about three hours in advance, and it will be stand up. You may have a great seat, but when the fireworks start, people who didn't reserve a place will be standing in front of you enjoying your view.
Animal Kingdom is a fascinating place.
The Lion King show is great for old and young alike. On the safari ride you will see animals roaming free. The Tree of Life is a work of art. The carvings and designs within surrounding the tree are fascinating to look at and photograph. "It's Tough to be a Bug" is definitely worth the wait but go early and you won't have the wait. Our favorite exhibition is the meerkats. We could stand there all day and just watch their antics. When you go to the World of Animals Conservation Station, the paintings inside are breathtaking. We ate Christmas dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. It was really expensive but has an interesting decor.
Universal Studios. We have been to both the Florida and the California
parks. We definitely think Florida is the better of the two, especially
now that they have the Jurassic Park addition. In California, the Jurassic
Park ride was really the only thing worth going for. Now that Florida has the new Adventure Island, it far
surpasses California. Back to the Future, Men in Black, ET, and Terminator II 3-D are
also worth seeing.
The new roller coasters (Incredible Hulk and Fire & Ice Dueling Dragons) were rated top notch by my husband , the experienced rider. The food is pretty good at Universal but everywhere you go at any of the parks, it is expensive for a family to eat. The animal stars show is nice, but the jaws adventure is really a bust.
Sea World. We have been to three Sea Worlds.
California, Florida, and Ohio. Florida is definitely the best. The Journey to Atlantis ride is well worth the wait, but if you go early in the morning when the park first opens or on an overcast day, you can ride it several times before a crowd shows up. The Clyde & Seamore show is very entertaining, and of course the Shamu show is well worth seeing. Seeing the animals up close is fun for old and young alike.
There is also a new roller coaster ride
(Kraken) beside the Journey to
Atlantis ride which is good, but not one of the scariest. Food is not quite as expensive at Sea World but they don't have a
large variety.
If you are going to Florida during the holidays, you might want to split your hectic days at Disney or Universal and go to Silver Springs (http://silversprings.com). Glass bottom boats offer a great view of underwater life in 99.8% pure water. They have 7 major springs formations including the world's largest artesian limestone spring. Six original Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmeiller, The Yearling with Gregory Peck, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and 100 episodes of Sea Hunt were filmed here at Silver Springs. It wasn't busy the day we went, and you could walk around freely without running into people. It was pleasant, quiet, and entertaining. A day roaming around slowly is enough. They do have a beautiful light display at night so if you came at noon and took your time, you could see everything.
We took another day and went to Cypress Gardens (http://cypressgardens.com). Another leisurely day spent with animals, a great ski show, and the view from the "Island in the Sky." This 153-foot platform revolves to provide a picturesque aerial view of Cypress Gardens, lakes, and the scenic countryside beyond.
You can walk the nature trail and see beautiful gardens, an enormous banyon tree which is unbelievably huge, a very large light display (over the X-mas holidays), and get lost on the walkways as if in a jungle. No crowds. Another delightful break from the hustle and bustle of the "big" parks.
While on International Boulevard, we went to see
"Wonderworks." This place is unique. It looks like a
tornado picked up this huge building and dropped it upside down on the side of
the road. The inside is normal except for some of the amazing technology
displayed for interaction on several floors. One can go in and
"play" with the wonders. Kids could spend hours in there trying
each innovative display. It is a fun place to visit. There is a
small charge, but worth it.
Atlantic
City was the starting or stopping point of our vacations for several of the
early years when we were driving rather than flying to our destinations.
Our favorite casinos are Trump Taj Mahal and Caesars. In good
weather, the walk along the boardwalk is refreshing and has beautiful
scenery. In bad weather, it can be very cold. The really big stars
don't seem to flock to Atlantic City as often as Las Vegas but every now and
then you can catch a biggie. Food is everywhere; some inexpensive and of
course, the big resorts are very expensive. If you are on a budget, there
are motels like Econo Lodge right behind the big resorts which are more
reasonable and only a short walk from the boardwalk. You can even get a
jacuzzi room for a small extra fee and feel like you are being pampered in
a resort. We stayed at the Taj Mahal one night and for a small fortune, we
had a normal room and didn't get any pampering. Mini-bar but you pay for
everything. Not worth the money.
We have been to Las Vegas six times now, and we love it. We do very little gambling but love the shows, concerts, food, and big hotels. Each time we go we stay at a different hotel to get different experiences. The first time we went was in August. We soon learned to be out after dark and remain inside during daylight hours; it was so hot. 112o even in dry heat is just plain hot. It was hard to breathe outside at those temperatures. We stayed at the Excalibur which was nice but you have to walk a mile through the casino to get to your elevator. We had a jacuzzi room overlooking MGM which was a great view.
The second and third times we went in the spring; once in April and once in March. The weather is perfect that time of year. No problem walking the strip during the day. We have seen the original FX with Michael Crawford which was great; Starlight Express, Spellbound, Jubilee, Splash II, Sugar Babies with Mickey Rooney, Jeff Dunham with his crotchety old man Walter (great comedy, have seen them twice in Chicopee, MA; once in Kittery, ME; and twice in Vegas), Kenny Kerr in Boy-Lesque, Imagine, Neil Diamond, Olivia Newton-John, David Copperfield, Billy Ray Cyrus, Englebert Humperdinck, George Carlin, Rita Rudner, and Tim McGraw were all fantastic shows. We have seen two shows by Cirque de Soleil and although they were great performers, these are not ones I would go to again. Also the Legends in Concert and Siegfried and Roy left much to be desired. Caesar's and the Luxor have simulator rides which are fun.
The fourth time in Vegas was over New Year's. We took a night helicopter ride over the strip, and it was beautiful. Had to fight for a place by the window to take pictures, but did squeeze in a few. We stayed on Fremont Street, and it was a great experience. Not as many people and a great New Year's celebration with live bands and a laser show above the catwalk every hour. Fremont Street felt like a little town all it's own and was the perfect way to spend New Year's. It was easy to get down the strip via the bus system and trolley system so didn't even rent a car while we were there. We could take the bus system in four directions to get to Liberace's museum and other casinos off the strip. An easy way to get around with no hassle. We even found out how to get around (not direct routes though) on buses that are free between certain places.
A fun place to eat is Steven Spielberg's restaurant, Dive. The food is fantastic, the decor is entertaining to watch, and the prices are good. It is located at the Fashion Show Mall whose shops are way overpriced for our budget.
The fifth time we were in Vegas we stayed at the Stratosphere. The Valencia was open and we took a gondola ride inside the hotel. It felt like being in Venice to me as I have never been to the real Venice. The gondolier even sang Santa Lucia to us in Italian. A good substitute if you won't make it to Italy in your lifetime. Safer and less expensive too.
The sixth time in Vegas we stayed in New York, New York. Had a great price for a jacuzzi room but went the end of May and still too hot. Once again, ended up staying in our hotel most of the day and venturing out at night. Paris was open so went up the Eiffel Tower. It is half the size of the original but if you haven't been up the original, it is a thrill. Great view of Vegas, day or night. Took a bi-plane ride over the Red Rock Canyon early in the morning. Beautiful and fun. The pilot gave us a few thrills with sharp sidewise turns, etc., but didn't take us upside down. I was glad of that. Being outside the plane is a great rush.
Ausable Chasm is a truly beautiful and
fun to visit. There are towering cliff walks, primeval forest, high falls
gorge, and floating down the river on rafts. A tour consists mostly of
walking up and down cliffs with stairs ending with a short boat ride with a
guide. Be sure to have on your walking shoes, and be in shape. There
is camping, food, and attractions also at this location. Definitely a must
when in New England. Start your drive through the Kancamagus Pass of the
Merrimack River Valley in New Hampshire with breathtaking views.
We spent time in Branson, Missouri two years in a row. There were a lot more top names there in 1992 and 1993. We always made our reservations for shows more than a month in advance and always had front row seats. Cameras were allowed and autograph sessions and pictures usually took place after the show. You really got up close and personal with the stars. We saw Mel Tillis twice, Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Conway Twitty, Ray Stevens twice (remember Ahab the Arab?), Wayne Newton, Clyde the orangutan from the movies with Clint Eastwood, Roy Clark, Kenny Rogers twice, Shoji Tobuchi, and Jim Stafford. All of these shows were great. Shoji's theatre was really done up in style with gold fixtures in the restrooms. He, his wife, daughter, and a cast of many others put on a really great show; colorful, dazzling, great content, and great performances.
The Waltzing Waters was a beautiful show with music playing while water
flowed and was directed in different directions to provide unbelievable colors
and designs.
A truly fun thing to do was to take a ride in a barnstormer. You are
outside the plane with leather helmets and earphones on while the pilot takes
you on a wild, fun, and safe, thrilling ride around the Branson
area.
Ride the Ducks was also a really fun time. You
start out in a land vehicle and end up in the lake sailing along as in a boat.
We also rented a boat and guide for a half day of fishing on Table Rock Lake. The lake is stocked and the guide has a fish finder so we caught lots of fish. A half day was enough due to the extreme heat in August but we had a great time.
The Alton Belle Riverboat is moored in Alton, Illinois. It is a floating casino and is really a lot of fun. You get a nice boat ride and a chance to win some money. The second year we went to the Alton Belle, it was the year of the flooding in 1993, and the boat didn't leave the dock.
We went to Twitty City in Henderson, TN the year that Conway Twitty passed away. We had seen him perform in Branson the year before and had tickets to his show again. He passed away a couple of weeks before we were to go to Branson again. It was a sad time to visit his place after he passed. The grounds were beautiful and everything around was truly Conway. His home and grounds have been bought by Trinity Music City, USA which is a gospel organization. They do still have the X-mas light show on the grounds each year.
We stopped at the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch. Saw her house and tour bus
but she was not there. The grounds are pretty; it is way off the beaten
path. A gift shop, but not much else to see there.
Of course we made the stop at Graceland. It was near the anniversary of
Elvis' death and many, many people had left tributes to "The King."
He had some pretty irregular tastes in decor but that was part of his charm.
The St. Louis Zoo was a nice place. A hippopotamus gave birth while we were there. Couldn't see the birth but could see the little head popping up out of the water. It is a well kept zoo, not too large, but it is hot during August.
The St. Louis Arch was a really
impressive structure. It was raining the day we were there but went up to
the top of the arch anyway. It was after the floods in 1993 and the water
was up to the bottom of the arch. We watched the show on how it was built
which was fascinating, then took an elevator to the top. It was thundering
and lightening while we were at the top so didn't get great pictures but it was
quite an experience. One could feel it swaying. If you have vertigo,
don't go up the arch.
If you ever watch TNN you have seen Steve Hall and Shotgun Red (a
puppet). We took a dinner and show cruise on the General Jackson out of
Nashville and the entertainment was terrific. He is one of the funniest
comedians ever. Once the show gets going you forget Shotgun is a puppet,
he seems so real. Great time.
A trip to Pennsylvania is never complete without going to Punxsutawney,
PA to see the ground hogs. They are kept at the library. If you
want to buy souvenirs you have to go during the week to the Chamber of
Commerce. A trip up to Gobblers Knob where the February 2 ceremonies take
place is a neat place to see.
The
Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD is really
something to see. Each year they change the design on the outside which is
made with corn, barley, etc. The designs are beautiful and the workmanship
is impressive.
Wall
Drug in Wall, SD is a shopper's paradise. We were there when the Sturgis SD
Rally bikers were there and there were bikes lining the whole street.
Anything you want to find you can find at Wall Drug. You can also get a
buffalo burger at the local pub. Most of the clientele aren't as fierce as
they look. The Rally is in July but any other month of the year it is just
a normal tourist attraction with jackalopes (I have really seen one but no one
believes me), great food, and gifts galore.
Devil's
Tower in Wyoming is a really impressive sight. Miles before you get
near it you can see it towering above the landscape. This was the place
for some filming in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind." It is quite a drive into the boonies, but well worth it.
Yellowstone
National Park is a truly beautiful park. We saw hundreds of bison up
close and personal, moose, elk, but no bear. We stayed in a lodge on the
Yellowstone River and it was great. The fishing was nice and Old Faithful
was still impressive to see. We were there the year after the fires, and
there was a lot of damage done. The park organizations do not clean up the
debris because that would be interfering with nature's way so burned out areas
will be visible for years to come.
We went in a covered wagon out to a flat area for an old fashioned chuck wagon cookout. The food was great, and we had storytelling by a real cowboy. The ride back to our lodge was a hair raising experience after dark on twisting roads with bison in the middle of the road when you least expect it. You have to wait until they move before you go on.
We came out of Yellowstone from the northern entrance into Montana. We had to go through Bear Tooth Pass which was a winding, constantly climbing narrow road for miles up. It was a beautiful drive, especially looking back to where you had come from. S turns where you really did see your behind. We saw marmots but that was about the only wildlife up that high. The ride down on the other side was escorted by road workers due to construction, and I was glad. A runaway car at that point would have been a definite disaster. At one point we thought we were at the top and a store owner said we had 10 more miles to go. Definitely a hold your breathe trip.
Deadwood,
SD was an interesting little town. We stayed at the Bullock Hotel and
it was great. Real luxury. Every store, even the Burger King, had a
slot machine in it. You could walk the whole length of the town up one
side and down the other with no problem. Great little casino town.
We also visited the Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity
Jane are buried. It is a real interesting cemetery with lots of folklore
about the people buried there. Enjoyable.
Mt.
Rushmore is truly impressive. The lighting ceremony at night is nice
to see but fighting the crowds is no fun. One nice thing is that the
monument is so big you can see it from anywhere in the area.
We
took a helicopter ride over the Crazy Horse
Memorial. It is a private funded project undertaken by a family. The
father has died since it was started, but the family has kept on. It will
take a long time to complete. We would like to go back sometime soon and
see the progress on it since 1994.
Mammoth Site was interesting. Lots of prehistoric mammoth bones being dug up and studied. Students come here in the summers to dig and learn. Interesting place.
Bear Country, U.S.A. was fun. You are in the car and the animals are loose. You get great pictures but be sure to obey the rules. The park is serious about their animals.
Prairie Dog Town is located just before you go into the
Badlands. You get to see prairie dogs up close and personal which we
like. You can feed them and take lots of pictures. This little guy
was angry and actually barked at me.
The Badlands was born of volcanoes. There are all different shapes and colors in this area. You can take a loop road through. It is very hot there in the summer and if you want to stay within the park, make your reservations early. The restaurants are a bit pricey but the food is excellent. Motels are reasonable for the area but there are only a few.
The
Grand Canyon is really
impressive. We took a plane out of Las Vegas over and into the Canyon to
really see the grandeur. The plane left a lot to be desired. It was
pretty old, and the inside was done with old curtains as upholstery. It
held eight people plus the pilot, and six of those people got airsick on the
return trip to Las Vegas. Then we had a
shaky landing; I guess the pilot was definitely not watching the horizon.
We made it back and the view of the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon was worth
it.
San Diego is a nice place to visit. We stayed in a motel overlooking the bay where the America's Cup was run the year before. We visited the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Be sure to wear great walking shoes and be in great physical shape for the zoo because most of your walking will be up hill. They have some exotic animals there but on a hot day it is not a pleasant experience to be doing so much up hill walking. There is one escalator but it doesn't get you to all areas of the zoo. In the wild animal park you take a train around and view the animals in the wild. That is easier on the people at least. They also have some animal shows which are nice. It was a pleasant place to spend a day.
The Santa Monica Pier gives a nice view of the Pacific Ocean. The carousel was open and lots of food available. The old Route 66 ends here. More on that later.
Sequoia
National Park was a beautiful place. The giant sequoia trees are
magnificent to see. We drove through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, CA
which was a fun experience. However, we drove back to San Francisco on
Route 1 along the coast ,and that was a hair raising ride. Once it got
dark, the winding road was treacherous with hairpin turns, a stretch called
"Dramamine Pass," no gas stations open after 5 pm and the sidewalks
literally rolled up. Lost about 5 years of my life on that road but until
it got dark, the scenery was breathtaking.
Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA is a very impressive piece of architecture. We didn't have time to take the tour, but the photographs seen in the shop were mighty impressive.
Pier 39 in San Francisco is entertaining with great but expensive food, lots of shops including the artist Wyland's gallery. One of his whaling walls is right across from the pier. Another beautiful wall by Wyland. There is a large group of seals that come and rest in the harbor. You have a great view of them from the pier. They are really fun to watch.
We
took a boat out to Alcatraz
for a tour of the old prison. The ride was nice but once on the island,
the seagull population has made it impossible to even sit on a bench to rest as
you walk up the steep hill to the prison on top. The prison is in pretty
bad shape although it doesn't look like it ever was in great shape when it was
used. The cells are tiny and there definitely weren't any luxuries
there. They give you headsets and you follow a set path around the inside
of the prison to get an idea what is was like. It was an interesting
experience but I think I could have lived without it. There was a former
prison inmate there that day signing his book. He should be locked back up
for the contents of this book. Really raunchy, and I can't believe he found
a publisher. Pure filth.
Los Angeles is interesting. We took a tour of the stars' homes and you really don't know if the tour guide is putting you on or not but it was fun anyway. It is fun to go to Mann's Chinese Theater and see all the footprints and handprints of the stars, and it is always a treat to see the celebrity stars on the sidewalks.
We went to Six Flags Magic Mountain which if you love amusement parks, this is definitely one to see. There were seven big roller coasters there, and my husband went on six of them (the seventh was closed). You definitely need a whole day or even two to cover everything. This was the park where Chevy Chase filmed National Lampoon's Vacation where they went to Wally World.
Knott's Berry Farm was a much smaller park and, more for children, I think. They do have great food there and their preserves, etc., are world famous. They have a web site just for ordering their food products.
Medieval Times, Buena Park, CA, was a different experience. It is a dinner show with knights jousting, and you eat with no utensils but dishes from that period. I am taking a fork and knife with me if I go back. It was a good show with audience participation and good food even though you do get messy. There are seven locations of this event; CA, TX, SC, IL, NJ, FL, and Ontario. It is worth the experience at least once.
Planet
Hollywood restaurants are everywhere. We like the decor, watching
movie excerpts, and the food. It is pricey but the atmosphere and good
food are worth it. We have been to one in Anaheim, Atlantic City, Las
Vegas, Niagara Falls, Orlando, and Reno. The set up is pretty much the
same but we prefer them to the Hard Rock cafes.
Reno,
NV was quite a change from Las Vegas. Actually it was kind of
quaint. The casinos are all right along the sidewalk. You can sit
right off the sidewalk and watch the people while playing slot machines.
There was a movie being filmed while we were there (Father's Day) and it is not cool to be in a
town while that is going on. The movie people would drive you off the
sidewalks and streets and make you walk in the alleys to get out of their
way. They weren't nice about it either. We didn't get to see the big
stars either, only the less important ones so all in all, that part was a
bust. We stayed at the El Dorado right downtown. Had a great jacuzzi
room at a really reasonable price. Nice decor and the most comfortable bed
I have ever found in a hotel/motel. We saw Alabama and went to the Harrahs
Playboy Ecstasy show while we were there and
a couple of other shows. We drove up to Lake Tahoe for a day and saw the Everly
Brothers and toured the ranch where Bonanza used to be filmed each week.
Very interesting. Lake Tahoe was beautiful, and the water was warm and
clear.
We have been to two North Poles. One in Manitou Springs, CO which
claims to have the highest ferris wheel in the world, and if you go by
elevation, it does and one in North Pole, AK (left). Both were your typical
Christmas shops with Santa and all. You can get your postcards stamped
with the North Pole and they will even hold them to be sent at Christmas.
Great places for the kiddies.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo had a lot of endangered species. You could hand feed the giraffes, and there was a great inside area where you could watch the gorillas and see the babies. It is a small zoo but they care about the animals and is a worthwhile organization for contributions.
Pikes
Peak was another awesome experience. We went up in the tram and two
days later decided to drive ourselves up. The air is really thin at the
top and breathing was difficult, especially if you are a smoker. The only
real wildlife we saw were marmots which are pretty cute little critters.
The food is really expensive at the top and the souvenirs you can buy at the
bottom are a lot cheaper. The drive up was really not bad at all. The
roads are wider and better than driving up Mt. Washington in New
Hampshire. Now that was a frightening experience. The view from
Pikes Peak is breathtaking. Katherine Lee Bates wrote the words for
"America the Beautiful" following her visit to the summit of Pikes
Peak in July of 1893.
Seven Falls is a beautiful sight especially at night when they light up each of the falls with different colors. There isn't much else to see except plenty of chipmunks and of course, a gift shop. You can take an elevator up to the top or climb numerous stairs to get a good view.
Garden of the Gods is
impressive with its huge rock formations of different colors. You can
drive through the garden and get up close and personal with the different
designs.
Four Corners was an
interesting place. You drive way out in the boonies to get to a place
where they have a huge cement slab with emblems of the four states (AZ, NM, CO
and UT) which meet at this point. You can actually sit on the middle and
be in four states at once.
The Royal Gorge is a
very impressive area. The bridge is the highest suspension bridge in
the world. The Arkansas River is 1,053 feet below the bridge. We
took a tram down to the bottom under the bridge, a aerial tram over the river,
and walked and drove over the bridge. The view is spectacular from all of
the above.
Cripple Creek, CO was a nice gambling town. Lots of places to stay and eat. Nice, friendly community with lots of gambling and slots. We stayed at the Gold Rush Hotel and be prepared to climb stairs, they don't have an elevator. It was a nice room for the money, no jacuzzi but when you are sightseeing and playing the slots, you don't spend much time in your room.
Back in Manitou Springs, we took a hot air balloon ride over the area
and had a great view of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. It lasted about
3 hours with a champagne breakfast after and a video tape of your trip. It
was a little scary at the landing, and the heat from the blasts of hot air to
keep the balloon up will burn your head (wear a cap). It was great
fun. These rides only take place in the early morning hours due to the
winds that are always in that region during the afternoons.
There are some fine restaurants in Manitou Springs. Breakfast specials, buffets, reasonable lunches, and great dinners. We are partial to steak and that was abundant everywhere. I had country fried steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Can't get that here in the east. Watch out for the potatoes though, they serve potatoes with each meal and even your side orders. Great potatoes, but too much. The people were friendly in Manitou Springs, jobs were abundant, and their winters are not too fierce. Being in a valley, they don't get the great quantities of snow that other places in CO get. A truly nice place to live.
We
have gone to Alaska twice. The first trip we flew into Seattle, WA and
were picked up by our tour group and bussed to Vancouver, Canada to board the
Norwegian Wind cruise ship. We barely made it on time and didn't have time
to have our life boat drill. Glad we didn't need it in that week.
The ship was huge, and it took a while to find our way around. We soon
found our favorite niches and employees and settled in.
The first stop was in Juneau. We took a tram ride to the top of a mountain and had a beautiful view down into the town and harbor. Everyone on the ship was told they really needed to go to the Red Dog Saloon because it was famous for its food and hospitality and history. There were eight cruise ships in the port that day so you can bet it was crowded. We finally got a seat and were entertained by a guy who looked like he belonged in the old time saloons. He was funny, and it was a good show. The food was very good and the quantities were gigantic. Their specialty is a hamburger large enough to feed four people and great quantities of onion rings or french fries and of course, all kinds of beer. Fun place and worth a visit at lunchtime or after 2:00 pm if you want to see the show.
We took a helicopter ride out of Juneau and landed on the Mendenhall Glacier. That was quite an experience. They make you wear dirty boots worn by hundreds of others and not sprayed, pile about eight people into a small helicopter so that you can't move, and take you out to see a magnificent view of the glacier. You can walk around on it. It is huge. Very worthwhile trip.
Next stop was Skagway. Very small town with lots of shops and places to eat. One place to see was the Red Onion Saloon. They have bedpans of all shapes and sizes and ages hanging on the walls. Quite a sight to see.
Haines, Alaska had a beautiful view from the dock but I really never figured out why we stopped there. There were beautiful lilac trees, a small supermarket, and tourist shops after walking about a mile to get to the town. Really could have left that stop out of our agenda.
Next
we cruised through Glacier Bay. Only so many ships are allowed through
there in a season so as not to destroy the beauty and ecological balance in the
area. We saw whales, a grizzly bear, seals, and eagles on the
cruise. The glaciers were beautiful, and the cruise ships get you really
close. You can see the glaciers calving as the ice breaks away from the
glacier to form an iceberg. The glaciers were beautiful and
plentiful. Great experience.
Next stop was Ketchikan. Nice town with lots and lots of shops. We met some huskies at one store and took a town tour to see the totems. They were huge and beautiful, each with a history as to why it was carved. We also got an up close and personal look at eagles. We went to Dolly's along the boardwalk which used to be a famous bordello and bootlegging district. Her niece was on the premises and the guys get a kick out of putting money in her garter. Yes, my husband too.
In one of the local saloons, we found this sign. It was fun to figure
it out. Usually the saloons were the place to go to find the local
people. It seemed every afternoon they were there. I don't know when they
worked but it was nice to talk with people from the area. We found that a lot of
the "locals" were from someplace else like Michigan, Iowa, etc.
It says "Here stop and spend a social hour in harmless mirth and fun, let
friendship reign, be just and kind, and evil, speak of none."
We
got back to Vancouver and were bussed to Seattle where we stayed an extra week
to see the sights. We went on a whale watch to Friday Harbor and on the
way saw lots of orca whales. They are definitely the most beautiful of the
whales.
We
drove up to Oregon to the Oregon Coast
Aquarium to see Keiko (Willy from the Free Willy movies) before he was
transported to Iceland. He was fascinating to watch. It seems as if
he was performing for the people watching him. I went a little overboard
with taking pictures of Keiko but I'm glad I did since he is so far away.
You can check on his progress by going to the website www.keiko.org
and signing up for their newsletter.
We also went to the Cougar
Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, WA. They are preserving many of the
endangered species. It was a small zoo but very well kept up and had some
exotic animals. A nice place to learn about endangered species. The
bird to the left is waving bye.
Seattle
was a nice city to visit. Traffic wasn't too bad, sights were
pretty. Took a tour through the city and of course, one must visit the
Pier 59, Pike's marketplace. Everything you can imagine is in this
place. The space needle is awesome. I was first in Seattle during
the World's Fair of 1962 but never went up inside. Have done so twice now
and it has a great view from all sides. Another Wyland's whaling wall can be
seen from the top. Nice gift shops too.
The
second trip to Alaska was this past May/June 2000. We flew into Anchorage
and boarded a bus for a week's trek before boarding the ship in Seward.
Took a tour of Anchorage and found Wyland's whaling wall (left). Beautiful
as always. We also went to the Anchorage Zoo which takes care of injured
animals. It was a nice little zoo with otters, a polar bear and a grizzly
bear who grew up together in one area. They played and swam
together. It was a sight to see. They also had a raven, an eagle,
musk oxen, mule deer, a llama, two-hump camels, a moose, Dahl sheep, bears,
reindeer, and a tiger. These animals were well taken care of and allowed
to live out their natural lives without abuse. Proceeds from the tickets,
food, and gift shop goes to take care of these animals.
We
took the bus up to Glennallen with beautiful mountain scenery along the
way. We followed the Alaska pipeline, which was impressive, for miles.
We stopped at a place called "Knotty Things" and they had the world's
largest mosquito made from diseased wood, along with a few other animals.
They were really interesting. Alaska is known for its huge real mosquitoes.
Next stop, Fairbanks. We took a paddle riverboat on the Chena and Tanana Rivers which was really fun. We saw reindeer along the way and got a chance to see Susan Boucher's Iditarod dogs in action. She won the Iditarod three years in a row. She has taken time off to raise a family but will be back to it in a couple of years.
Next we boarded the Alaska Railroad train to go to Denali Park. On the way there was a rockslide and the train had to back up to the nearest flat land with roads so our busses could come and pick us up for the rest of the trip to Denali. It was a nice trip as far as we went. The train has a dining car and a second deck to get a really good view along the way. We were really out in the boonies though so mostly saw trees, etc. We got on a school bus for the trip up into Denali. We went 19 miles up into the park and it was snowing in May. Great big fluffy flakes which we don't see even in Maine. We saw a Mew Gull which is very much like a regular seagull except it is fatter and doesn't live by the water, Willow Ptarmigan which is the Alaska state bird, Dahl sheep, moose and caribou. It was a nice adventure.
On
the way back to Anchorage, we got a good view of Mt. McKinley. We were
told that only 20% of Alaskan visitors ever got to see Mt. McKinley. It is
usually under cloud cover and invisible. We were some of the lucky
ones.
Then
we were back in Anchorage for a day before being bussed to Seward to board the
Holland America Statendam for the return voyage to Vancouver, Canada. This
time we did get to participate in the life boat drill so felt more secure than
our first trip.
We
stopped in Sitka which was a nice little town. We took a wildlife cruise
and saw lots of otters. It was a nice three hour cruise. Next we
went to Juneau . My husband went salmon fishing for a half day
but didn't have any luck. Went through Glacier Bay for a second time, and
it was just as beautiful as the first time. In Ketchikan we took a seaplane and went into Misty Fjords. The view were magnificent.
We landed on a lake way up in the mountains where no one else goes except by
seaplane. This was one of the best parts of this trip.
Route 66 was an interesting trip. We flew to Chicago and started there, and drove through to Santa Monica Pier which is the end. Lots of strange things to see along the way. Getting maps was the hardest of the trip. The original road winds back and forth under and over the new interstate. Hard to find the old Route 66 at times. Got lost a couple of times but all in all, didn't do too bad.
With flight delays, etc., we only made it to Romeoville, IL the first night. Then at 2:30 am, the fire alarm went off. Someone had hung their wet laundry on the sprinkler. Got going the next day and had a great breakfast at the Launching Pad with the Gemini Giant outside. Fantastic food but not great service. This place has been around for many years. The decor was nice with wooden tables with the Route 66 map laminated into it. Our next stop was the Polka Dot Drive-In. Too full to eat again so just had cheese french fries. They were great. Another old place that's been in business for years. They had statues of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and other stars from that period outside. Nice picture opportunity.
The
Dixie Truckers in McLean was an interesting place. They had a lot of
photos from the past and newspaper articles also. Very informative.
Some of the roads had the Route 66 symbol painted in the road. The route
was easier to follow with those, but they were few and far between. Some
states were better marked with signs then others. Illinois was very
clearly marked with the Historic Route 66 signs.
Stopped
at Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, IL which was really interesting. We got
on the 1926 Route from there which didn't go with the maps we were using.
Got a little confused but met up with the road we needed a few miles later. Ate supper at Ariston's. Another landmark. Great food
but they served too much.
Stopped in Staunton, IL and visited Henry's 66. Nice man with some neat souvenirs including an old trailer which used to carry Snortin Norton, a camel mascot from old. The Chain of Rocks Bridge was massive. It was not open for travel when we came through, but I believe they will be working on it and re-opening it. "Escape from New York" with Kurt Russell was partly filmed on the bridge.
Stopped at the Meramac Caverns where Jesse James' Gang probably had their hideout. It is rumored and the place takes the credit, but I don't think it is documented anywhere. Went to Whithall Mercantile. The owner has been there for lots of years. He had some great stories and souvenirs of people who have stopped there through the years. Went to Devil's Elbow, MO. The post office will postmark a postcard for you as a souvenir.
Saw a lot of really neat bridges along the older route. Steel truss bridges still standing and in need of repair. Stopped at Kansas Route 66 Association and Eisler Bros. The Rainbow Arch Bridge in Riverton, KS was really old, and the road is narrow. Galloway's Totem Park in Foyil, OK was unique. The totems didn't look like any other totems we've seen but were interesting. The weather started getting really hot about this time. Over 100 degrees every day. Up to 114 some days.
We saw the former Blue Whale amusement park which was in ruins and most of the buildings and a lot of the old road is in ruins. You don't have to worry about traffic on Route 66 anymore. Until you get to a large town which the old route runs through or is the main road, there is no one else on the road. Don't seem to be any speed limits on most of these stretches. Be sure you have a reliable car because there are strips for miles where there is nothing around.
The
Round Barn in Arcadia was a marvel to see. Upstairs, you can whisper at
one end of the barn and someone on the other side can hear you.
Supposedly they hold dances up there but with those acoustics, I don't see how.
Lucille's
in Hydro, OK is a landmark. She doesn't have much to sell for souvenirs,
but has loads of stories and giant scrapbooks from all her years of running this
store. Visited the 66 Museum in Clinton and the Devil's Rope Museum in
McLean, TX. Devil's rope is barbed wire. Neat museum. Along
this route is a leaning water tower and the largest cross.
The
Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo was different. It is in a huge field behind a
fence. Kids have spray painted all the cars over the years but it's
something to see. No Route 66 signs at all in Texas.
Albuquerque,
NM had a great place known as Tinkertown. The outside of the place is made of 50,000
bottles in cement. Handmade displays of the circus and cowboy town.
All the parts moved, and it was amazing.
Met
the creator of this place. He had spent 30 years doing this. Truly a
delightful feat.
The
sign to the left was posted in his place. I think it is the greatest thought.
It says "There ought to be a law against anybody going to Europe until they
had seen the things we have in this country" by Will Rogers. The
bottom saying is "Anything you want...we got it in the U.S.A." by
Chuck Berry.
Went to a Dinosaur Museum which was very good. Interesting and interactive Stopped at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, AZ. Sat on a big rabbit for a picture and of course, spent some money on souvenirs. Meteor Crater was impressive. This was the crater where some of the movie "Starman" with Jeff Bridges was filmed (at lease the ending of it).
Took
a detour to the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas before returning to
Kingman, AZ to continue on Route 66.
Went
to McConnico on mountain roads through to Oatman where there were burros in the
road. The Black Mountain roads were narrow, very winding, great views, and
deserted. Neat trip.
Went
to the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville, CA. Trigger and son are really
stuffed. So is one of Dale's horses. Then we went on to the
end of the Route. The traffic was terrible in Los Angeles in August but we
were glad basically that the trip was over. It was a long trip by today's
standards, can't imagine what is was like all those years ago. Glad we did
the trip, but once was definitely enough.
Next trip is Hawaii in October 2001. Eleven days around the four islands and a trip to Fanning Island (why you ask? Because Norwegian ship lines has a foreign registry and needs to leave the US on each cruise. There is nothing on Fanning Island). Two days before the cruise and two days after will be spent in Honolulu. Will take pictures.