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 Egyptian walls by SirRichardLeave a Comment
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 Man in Manhattan by SirRichard
To take this photo I had to wait more than 10 minutes for the man in black to get in the right corner in front of the right scenary... Leave a Comment
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 the El Camino completes the
scene by PA2AKgirl
I don't think I would have had as great of a time without that barbed wire museum. (just kidding, but it helped!) Leave a Comment
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 by PA2AKgirlLeave a Comment
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 Our Airboat Tour of the
Everglades by deecat
To preserve the region, in 1946, President Harry S. Truman, established Everglades National Park.Its also been designated a World Heritage Site, and International Biosphere Reserve, & a Wetland of International Significance. The Native Americans called the Everglades "grassy waters" because tall, grasslike plants grow here. This sawgrass is a razor-sharp, saw-toothed grass 10 to 15 feet tall that can cut human flesh like a knife.. The Everglades really is a very wide, slow-moving river of freshwater; it's sometimes 70 miles wide but only one foot deep!
The American Indians in the Florida region fled to this area once the White Man appeared and tried to exterminate them. There are about 200 Seminole Indians who still live in the Everglades. The Miccosukee Indians have lived here since 1820. The Florida panthers still live here, but they are close to being endangered.
If you visit the Everglades, you should go sometime between late fall & early spring. Otherwise, this swampy region's many insects will make your visit uncomfortable. In the Everglades, you can walk on long wooden boardwalks, or you can explore in a canoe or take a tour on an airboat. Many of the airboat tours are done by Native Americans who grew up in the region. While there, DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE WILDLIFE!
If you visit via airboat as I did, you will learn about the hammocks which stand a few feet above the high-water level. Hammocks are small islands covered with trees & shrubs. Hopefully, you'll be able to see tree frogs, blue herons, white ibises, and alligators.
Sadly, the Eveerglades are threatened by land development and farming. A major rescue effort is needed to save our Everglades, but some experts think that it is already too late.
If you visit, do not add to its destruction! Leave a Comment
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 "Frozen Niagara" in
Mammoth Cave by deecat
In our cities & our suburban areas, people need a place to escape pressure & to enjoy the fresh air, open space, clear streams, & stunning landscapes. These places deserve to be protected because they contain plants, animals, & scenery found nowhere else in the world. What are these places. Why, the United States National Parks, of course.
Although, unlike many of my friends on VT, I have visited very few of these wonderful parks. I will list the ones I know something about because I've been there:
Everglades National Park in Florida This huge (2,185 square miles) park is still in danger. Its an open, flat land of prairie grass, pine trees, & swamps with water that flows slowly to the sea. Importantly, there are beautifu herons, egrets, storks, pelicans, spoonbills who come here to hunt fish. In addition, alligators prey on anything they can find.
Here you are able to hike backpack, camp, boat, bicycle, fish, go birding, or take a guided boat tour.
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona (1,903 square miles). This is the "Cadillac of National Parks" with its gorge carved by the Colorado River. From the canyon's top to the bottom, you can experience 4 life zones. 2 billion years of earth's geological history are here for us to see in the layers of rock. Here you are able to hike, backpack, camp, take river raft & mule trips.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee (813 square miles). This is indeed my all-time favorite. There's a smoky haze that covers the land; the hills are pink with rhododendron blossoms in spring. In the fall, the fall colors are spectacular. Here you are able to hike, backpack, camp, horseback ride, bicycle, fish, cross-country ski, sled, toboggan, or just enjoy the scenery.
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas (9 square miles) Although it is small, it is wonderful with its thousands of gallons of hot (143 degrees F) water that flows daily from 47 natural hot springs. You are able to bathe in the water in handsome old bathhouses to seek relief from pain or just to relax. There's also beautiful woodlands. Here you are able to hike, backpack, camp, horseback ride, swim, boat, or bathe in the hot springs.
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky (81 Square miles) It's the world's largest known underground cave system with more than 330 miles of mapped passages. Here you are able to hike, backpack, camp, fish, boat, and explore the caves.
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (305 square miles) The dense hardwood forest balanket the Blue Ridge here. The fall is spectacular. Here you are able to hike, backpack, camp, snowshoe, downhill & cross-country ski, climb mountains, horseback ride, and fish.
All the national parks were created to protect our irreplaceable land. Each has its own special value. There are 350 sites in the system, but only 50 are national parks.
These special parks have the highest mountains, tallest trees, longest cave systems or some other unusual landscape feature that is not found anywhere else in the world. These parks are dazzling. Leave a Comment
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 Dee at the Hotel del Coronado by deecat
It's affectionately known as The del and has recently been renovated and is an example of Victorian architecture at its finest. This hotel enjoys fame because it was the setting of one of Marilyn Monroe's movies and because of its historical/architectural significance.
When you first see the hotel, it "leaps" out as a huge white edifice with red roofs with many turrets. It is lovely set against the sugar-white sands and the aqua-blue Pacific Ocean.
The inside is quite elegant with stately solid furniture, subdued fabrics, and subtle lighting.
It was recently voted "Best Hotel Dining" by the California Restaurant Association. Here are some of the places that you may choose to eat at while you visit the hotel:
1. Prince of Wales is romantic fine dining either inside or outside.
2. Sheerwater has casual California coastal cuisine. It is an oceanfront restaurant with lots of outdoor dining terraces and a giant fireplace.
3. Babcock & Story Bakery & Bar offers tapas and light fare. Also serves gourmet coffee, tea, & freshly baked breads & pastries.
4. Crown-Coronet Room is world famous because of its crown-shaped chandeliers which drop from a glowing sugar-pine ceiling. Marvelous views of California can be seen from the large windows that circle the room. Sunday Brunch is served here.
5.Cabana Bar is a Poolside Bar.
The employees see to every detail, and you are treated as though you were royalty.
It's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. Besides all the wonderful places to eat, endless white sand beaches (named one of top ten beaches in USA), and incredibly beautiful scenery, the Hotel Del Coronodo has two swimming pools, a nearby boathouse, and programs especially for teenagers.
Be sure to visit the Hotel del Coronodo, even if you don't go inside. But, it does not cost one penny to have a look!
Located on Island of Coronado in San Diego Leave a Comment
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 Arizona Memorial at Pearl
Harbor by deecat
It's perhaps most noted for the military installation of Pearl Harbor Naval Base. (That's the reason we stopped here on our way to Maui).
But, Waikiki Beach is, by far, the main attraction with its white sand, clear blue water, swaying palm trees, and locals surfing. Now, the "down side" to Honolulu is the fast-food joints and wall-to-wall hotels lining the beach. Most people ignore that negative factor and concentrate on the beauty of such natural wonders as Diamond Head and Punch Bowl, the two imposing extinct volcanoes.
Tourist also enjoy visiting the Iolani Palace and Queen Emma Summer Place, in the vicinity.
But, I noticed that many people just stayed on the beach or around the pool of the hotel just soaking up the glorious sun and relaxing in this slow-paced Paradise.
My favorite memories of Honolulu concern the day we visited Pearl Harbor, saw the Arizona Memorial, and visited all the other WWII-related places. We took a special tour with four other people in a van that picked us up at our hotel, took us to Pearl Harbor (where we did not have to wait in any lines), showed us the other military installations, treated us to lunch at the Officer's Mess Hall, and showed us the military cemetery. The tour guide was dressed in uniform, played music from the 1940s, gave us a detailed account of that horrid day, and then drove us back to our hotel. Although I was drained at the end of all that emotional turmoil, I was so glad we had seen it; that moment in time is forever branded in my memories. Leave a Comment
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 Sunset from Balcony in Maui,
Hawaii by deecat
Many visitors arrive at their beachfront hotels (concentrated in West Mauri from Kapalua to Lahaina and at Kihei in South Maui), and they remain there to swim, surf, sailboard, ocean Kayaking, snorkeling, sailboating, and ocean rafting. They also take diving expeditions to Molikini Crater.
Lahaina has a historic district with great shopping.
Whale-watching can be done from mid-December to April. We took a whale watch trip while there, and we did see whales!
Also, many resorts have world-class golf courses. However, it was way too expensive for us.
But, Maui's premier attraction is Haleakala National Park. By all means, be sure to take the famous Drive to Hana via the Hana Belt Road. Here, you'll see lovely roadside waterfalls. Take your time and absorb it all. Beware: it's a "hair-raising drive of incredibly winding roads. Hopefully, you will experience the "real" Maui.
Visit the Hana Cultural Center to learn about this marvelous area.
My favorite memories of Maui is taking walks on the beach, visiting Hana, going out to dinner, going to the weekly markets, playing tennis, and having coffee each morning on the balcony watching the whales!
Maui is a glorious destination, but be prepared; prices are steep! Leave a Comment
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 Southern-most House in USA by deecat
However, the 2nd time that we visited was just two years ago, and I was amazed at the improvements. It was no longer dirty; still somewhat weird, but no longer "tacky".
As the southernmost settlement in the United States, unique, artistic people are attracted to Key West.
While there, I really enjoyed that most everything was within a few blocks of Duval Street (main thoroughway).
I visited the Hemingway House and really found the six-toed cats to be fascinating. I also took a Trolley Tour where I learned the history and the architecture of the area.
I would also suggest seeing the Heritage House Museum on Caroline Street (probably because the Robert Frost Cottage is there!)
One cannot go to Key West without seeing a sunset at Mallory Square (on the northern edge of Old Town). It a real celebration.
I did not think that I would like the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (shipwreck treasures), but I sure did/
The most fun, however, was simply walking around this unique town, going in and out of the many shops, stopping for refreshments, and watching all the people...and you will see some strange people!
Learning about the "shot-gun" houses; seeing the places where the
cigars were made, and partaking in the nightly Mallory Square Celebration honoring the stunning sunsets. Leave a Comment
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