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 Oahu, Hawaii by deecat
All the islands are volcanic in origin, but the only "live" volcano is on the Big Island and is called Mount Kilauea. Each time the world's largest active volcano erupts, the lava cools and hardens in the ocean, making the island larger!
The only royal palace in America is Hawaii's Iolani Palace because Hawaii was ruled by kings and queens from 1795 until 1893. (see separate tip) Hawaii did not become a state until 1959. The name "Hawaii" is based on "Owbybee", the native Hawaiian word for "homeland". It's known as the Aloha State or Paradise of the Pacific
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Honolulu is the largest city and the capital. Travel between the islands is by inter-island air flights, a few ferry services, and some luxury cruises. Public transportation is almost non-existent except on O'ahu. Thus, a rental car is imperative.
Hawaii is exotic and somewhat seductive with plants and animals that are native to only these islands and nowhere else on earth!
Only 20% of the state's population is native descendants of Polynesians. There is about a 40% intermarriage rate between the Polynesians, Orientals, Caucasians, and other racial and ethnic groups. I personally found the locals to be friendly, relaxed, and hospitable. The traditional giving of the flower lei to greet someone is an example of the friendliness of islanders.
We personally visited Oahu and Maui (about 3 days on Oahu with a visit to Pearl Harbor and a month in a condo on the beach in Maui). What an incredible experience it was!
So, if you, too, wish to experience a little of paradise while in America, visit the Hawaiian Islands. Leave a Comment
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 Naples Florida Sunset by deecat
There's 2 separate swamplands,The Big Cypress & the Everglades. Together these 2 virtually cover the southern tip of Florida.
I soon discovered that the sand beaches so popular with "snowbirds" , actually account for less than 1/2 of Florida's coast. Most of the coast consists of marshes, swamps, & muddy bays.
I've noted that Florida beaches come in 3 shades of color: dazzling white, a shade of tan, & even gray. The white beaches near Panama City are nearly 100 percent quartz sand; the gray tone of Venice beach has large amounts of phosphates; the tan beaches (on the east coast) reflect high shell & iron content.
There's more than Disney World. Hopefully, more visitors discover other wonderful spots:
Pensacola in Florida's panhandle, a gold mine of history.
Tallahassee, state capital, with its Civil War battlefield and stately old plantation homes.
Beautiful Amelia Island.
St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, with its restored streets, horse-drawn carriages, & old buildings.
The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral.
Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America because of its many canals.
The Florida Keys (32 islands connected by the 100-mile Overseas Highway.)
Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the USA.
The Gulf Coast with great cities like Naples, Fort Meyers, Bonita Beach, Sanibel & Captiva Islands, & the more laid-back cities of Sarasota, Bradenton, and St. Petersburg.
Tampa has Busch Gardens; Winter Haven has Cypress Gardens.
And in the middle of the state, Sebring, which is the golf capital.
Come visit, but see it all. Leave a Comment
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 Okefenokee Swamp in
Georgia by deecat
Atlanta is its largest city, but Savannah is its prettiest. (see Savannah tip)
Poor Atlanta; even though it was the fourth state of the United States, it has very few historic old buildings because at the end of the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman ordered Atlanta to be burned. The Confederates' food & ammunition were stored here. Thus, Atlanta had to be built from "the group up" so to speak. Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, & it also has the distinction of being the city where Coca-cola was born.
The story goes that cola syrup was accidentally mixed with carbonated water & served at Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta in 1886, & a new drink called Coca-Cola was born.
The famous Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as from Atlanta & an eternal flame burns to honor his memory.
It's obvious why Georgia is called the Peach State (peaches grow in abundance), but why The Goober State? If you are not from the South, you may not know that "goobers" are peanuts, & Georgia grows more peanuts than any other State.
Most people think of Georgia as the backroads with verdant fields & dense forests interspersed with small towns. When you travel those backroads, you see roadside stands selling peaches, cold cider, & boiled peanuts. Oh, yes, & near the town of Vidalia, you can purchase famous Vidalia onionsIn the southeastern corner of Georgia & extending into Florida is the Okefenokee Swampt. It's full of cypress groves, spongy island peat, & glassy black water. In the 1890's farmers tried to drain it into the Atlantic Ocean 120 miles away! Thank goodness, it failed. Okefenokee serves as a refuse for alligators & other swamp life, is a haven for birds, & is important tot he "balance of nature". The Creek Indians called it, Land of the Trembling Earth.
continued in next tip Leave a Comment
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 Palm Beach Area of California by deecat
Who could ever forget the Pacific Coast Highway with its Big Sur, the 760 mile coastline of jagged cliffs & sandy beaches where the twilight glows, transforming this state into a palette of pastels.
The population of California is just as diverse as its landforms. Asians & Hispanics add to the mix of African Americans & European immigrants to make a mini USA.
While in California, you must be sure to visit the Yosemite National Park with its alpine meadows, tumbling waterfalls, & towering trees are a sight to behold.
Everyone "leaves their hearts in San Francisco", & you will too when you see & experience this exciting city by the bay.
Two of my favorite cities are San Diego & Palm Springs, & they are as different as night & day.
Also make sure you visit the "Accidental Sea", the Salton Sea, the result of an accident on a massive scale...visit & discover what that accident was.
Other Places To Visit
Death Valley National Monument: a parched desert basin of canyons, sand dunes, & salt flats (lowest spot in US).
Hearst Castle in San Simeon: Wm. Randolph Hearst's lavish & eccentric home.
Wineries (Napa, Sonoma, Lake, & Mendocino counties) more than 700 wineries
California has a special place in my heart; come see what this love is all about. Leave a Comment Directions: Most western area of USA along the Pacific Coast
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 My Parent's Kentucky Home on
the Lake by deecat
Here are some of the places I cherish or facts I find fascinating:
For instance, Kentucky blue grass is not blue at all; its tiny buds lend a slight blue-purple cast in spring, but it's really green.
I'm proud to know that Mother's Day is the brainchild of a teacher from Henderson, Kentucky named Mary S. Wilson.
Must sees in this marvelous state for me would be "Cumberland Gap National Historical Park near Middlesboro; Land Between the Lakes near my parent's retirement home on Kentucky Lake; Mammoth Cave National Park in Cave City, the world's longest known cave system; Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park; Abraham Lincoln Birthplace and National Historic Site near Hodgenville; and Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill to experience a community that's quite historical.
But, don't miss such lovely places as The Old Governor's Mansion at Frankfort, The Samuels Distillery in Loretto, The Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum in Louisville, & The Museum of the American Quilter's Society in Paducah.
Ah, yes, Kentucky, a state that represents both the north and the south. Leave a Comment
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 Plymouth Rock by deecat
It's the state where the Pilgrims first stepped foot; it's the state who had the 1st Thanksgiving feast; it's a state where the capital (Boston) is considered one of the country's friendliest; it's a state with a rich history, but it's also a state that meets the future head-on; indeed, it's a great place to seek the American future.
Did you know that the Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest governing constitution in the world? It is. Also, it's the high-tech capital of the East...once again, the past and the future unite.
Although Massachusetts is a small state, its diversity makes it an important state in the USA. It's filled with great people and picturesque places. Noted for its many wonderful educational institues, it is the state where the Institute of Technology (MIT), located in Cambridge, is home to more than 40 Nobel Prize Winners!
Five men from Massachusetts became President of the United States, even though not all were residents when elected: John Adams, John Quincy Adams. Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush.
But probably most important (LOL) Massachusetts is the birthplace of the Tollhouse chocolate-chip cookie & the Fig Newton cookie too!
Massachusetts offers visitors much to do, so much to see, so much to learn. Don't be the one to miss it! Leave a Comment
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 George Rogers Clark National
Memorial, Vincennes by deecat
My husband Allan is an Indiana boy from "the Harbor"--East Chicago, Indiana. Finally, my daughter Jill went to school for 2 years at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. So, I have a "soft spot" in my heart for the Hoosier State of Indiana.
Indiana is called the "Crossroads of America" because of its location in the middle of the the nation & because Indiana has more miles of interstate highway per square mile than any other state. Because 5 interstate routes converge within its borders, two thirds of the U.S. population is within a day's drive! But, today, Indiana is not just a crossroads; it's a destination all its own!
Being a midwestern state & being located in the middle of the country, Indiana has a "down-home rural atmosphere". The people seem to value the simple things of life & are people who seem to cherish the past. As a visitor, you'll be able to see places in Indiana where the past is certainly preserved.
For instance, New Harmony is a delightful old-time village; Madison is a lovely 19th century settlement that's beautifully preserved; Conner Prairie Settlement in Noblesville is a re-created pioneer village; but Zionsville is an authentic "well preserved carry-over of a nineteenth-century settlement."
I'm always amazed at how some of Indiana's old towns have maintained their "American Heartland" ambience--the past somehow lingers--thank goodness for that! Leave a Comment Directions: Indiana is located in the middle of the United States. Lake Michigan borders it to the northwest; Michigan is to the north; Ohio is to the east; Kentucky lies to the south; & Illinois is to the west.
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 Landmark Union Station in St.
Louis by deecat
The Lake of the Ozarks are, I think, among the most beautiful in our nation. Saint Louis is a wonderful small city with culture, historic sites, & excellent restaurants. It's zoo is among the best in the nation, and it has a nationally acclaimed Botanic Gardens.
Kansas City, Missouri, has more fountains than any city in the world except Rome! In addition, it has miles and miles of tree-lined boulevards (more than any other American city.) It's the up-and-coming city of the future with its artistic enclaves, wonderful restaurants, & lovely shopping areas.
"Missouri" first appeared on maps that the French explorers made in the 1600s. It was the name of a group of Indians who lived near the mouth of a large river...and the Indians called it "river of the big canoes". The Misssouri River was big, swift, and quite difficult to navigate before the locks & dams of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tamed it (at least, they attempted to tame it!)
Missouri is known as the Show Me state. It has a reputation for people who are individualists, stubborn like the Missouri mules..that's not a bad thing either. Missouri people want proof. They will change if need be; however, with such a colorful past, they strive to preserve their history.
Missouri is divided into 5 unique areas:
Northwest Missouri with St. Joseph.
Central Missouri with Kansas City.
Southwest Missouri with Springfield.
Southeast Missouri with both Jefferson City & St. Louis.
Northeast Missouri with Hannibal and Columbia.
What a DIVERSE state it is...a state worth exploring. Leave a Comment
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 Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore by deecat
Even though most people think of automobiles when thinking of Michigan, I think of outdoor attractions. With its 3,000+ miles of shoreline & sandy beaches, it's a popular place in the summer. Besides Lake Michigan, Huron, & Superior, there are more than 10,000 smaller lakes & numerous rivers & trout streams, an outdoor wonderland!
The Upper Peninsula is linked to the Lower Peninsula by a 5-mile bridge across the Straits of Makinac. The Upper is more rugged & much smaller than the Lower.
Here are the places I've been & enjoyed:
Battle Creek, known as "Cereal City", is home to "Kellogg's cereals".Sojourner Truth (ex-slave, women's right activist, & abolitionist) lived here in her old age, & she is buried in Battle Creek's Oak Hill Cemetery.
Flint, in southeastern part of the state is the birthplace of General Motors.
Don't miss the Flint Cultural Center which is 7 separate institutions on campus of Flint College. Also of interest: Crossroads Village (recreated 19th-century village). I loved the For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum.
Lansing is the capital of Michigan. It's also home to Michigan State University. There are wonderful free tours of the State Capitol, the Michigan Historical Museum, North Lansing Historic Commercial District, Tours of the city by paddlewheel riverboat, & Potter Park Zoo
Rocks National Lakeshore's ( the center of the Upper Peninsula) name is perfect with its dramatic, mineral-stained sandstone cliffs in fantastic shapes.
Parts have 200-foot-high sand dunes, & lovely beaches.
Saginaw in eastern Michigan on the Lower Peninsula has a Japanese Cultural Center & Tea House, Saginaw art Museum, a Sculpture Gallery, Children's Zoo, a Water Park, & lots of shops.
No matter where you go in Michigan, you'll be inspired by its natural beauty. Leave a Comment
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![Canton [Ohio] Football Hall of Fame - United States of America](http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1/2061625-Ohio_State_of_Contrasts-United_States_of_America.jpg) Canton [Ohio] Football Hall of
Fame by deecat
The name Ohio comes from the Iroquis word "O-hy-o" which means "something great". In the beginning of our young nation, Ohio was the gateway to the West. Its central location as well as its many waterways made it an important state.
Even though Ohio began as a farming colony, because of its many waterways, cities grew as industry and shipping flourished. But, in time, Ohio's land and water suffered terribly.
I've read that by 1948, the Ohio River was so dirty that people were not allowed to swim in it, and that Lake Erie was filthy by the 1960s that it was proclaimed "dead" Much of that has changed, but the fight against pollution continues.
Every four years, Ohio ends up in the political spotlight because there's an old adage that says, "As Ohio goes, so goes the nation." It's called a "barometer state" ( a place to find out how Americans feel about political and social issues.)
I recently discovered that in 1803 Ohio became the 1st "all-American state," because it was settled by people from every state that already existed!
I've always wanted to visit Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. I've seen Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (married to a lover of football) It commemorates football's heroes and legends.
But where I really want to visit is Cincinnati for its famed Zoo, Art Museum, Natural History Museum, Sharon Woods Village, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Fire Museum, and a historic sternwheeler.
What I've seen of Ohio is positive; I just want to see more! Leave a Comment
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