Hi everyone!  This week we will be wondering over west to the great state of Nebraska.  Now yes, Nebraska does have corn as far as the eye can see, but it also has much more than just these gardens of grain.  In fact, Nebraska has everything from a beautiful capitol building to wonderful family-bonding opportunities. 

My family and I first traveled to Nebraska back in 2012 as part of our trip towards the western side of the continental United States.  We stayed at a campground near Lincoln, the capitol of Nebraska, with intentions of exploring the city.  At first, I am not going to lie, I was not super excited to visit the city; I mean, I had never heard anybody say they went on vacation to Nebraska, let alone Lincoln.  To my surprise, however, we first went to visit the capitol building which I found to be unbelievably beautiful.  The building was filled with a variety of murals, complex mosaic tile work, and incredible architecture around every corner.  The tile work on the floor in the Great Hall, for example, contained depictions of alligators and turtles that required some extreme artistic ability to conceive.  While there, we also got to travel up to the top of the capitol building.  From here (as the below pictures show) we got a breath-taking view of the surrounding city and landscape.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While in Lincoln, my family and I also went to a place called the Sunken Gardens.  The gardens were a project of the Depression-era and, as I call it, a botanist’s dream destination.  Construction of the Gardens provided 200 “family men” at the time with labor that helped to pull them from the Depression.  The garden is filled with about every type of flower one could name, and words cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it truly is.  In this case, it is necessary to say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and therefore I advise you to take a long look at the following images.  As a matter of fact, while there, my family and I even witnessed a proposal occur, which only added to the beauty and serenity one experiences while there.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After visiting the Gardens, we had acquired a bit of a sweet tooth and decided to head on over to a candy shop in Lincoln known as Licorice International.  Here I witnessed the most licorice in one location I had seen in my entire life.  They had just about every flavor you could imagine ranging from blue raspberry to root beer to pina colada.  If you are a licorice lover, I would highly recommend checking this candy store out! 

As our time in Nebraska began to dwindle down, my family and I decide to check out an Omaha Storm Chasers game.  The Storm Chasers are a minor league baseball team that is based out of Papillion, Nebraska near Omaha.  The team is primarily in association with the Kansas City Royals.  Going to the game provided a great family-bonding experience over America’s favorite pastime and to top it off, my brother even caught a shirt at the game. 

Overall, where Nebraska is a lot of corn fields upon corn fields, it also has much more to offer than what meets the eye.  As usual, do not be afraid to go out and experience new places and activities because you never know what you may find.  

Come back for my next post when I take a trip down yonder to Kentucky!

Hello all!  This week I will be taking a trip to an unlikely vacation destination: Ohio.  At surface level, Ohio does not seem to have much going for it, but on the contrary it is actually quite fascinating.  Ohio has everything from great amusement parks to dazzling works of nature that both inspire and drive me to visit the state again someday (by “everything” I do not include colleges since I go to Penn State University and Ohio State University is our arch-nemesis). 

My family and I first visited Ohio back in 2015, starting out in a place called Hocking Hills, which is located near the center of Ohio.  Hocking Hills gets its name from the Native American word “hock hocking” referring to the Hocking River’s bottle-shaped gorge.  Most people are probably unaware of all the wonderful adventures that Hocking Hills provides but let me be the first to tell you it is spectacular.  As you look at the below pictures, one can easily see why it is hard to believe this is in the middle of Ohio.  One would not expect such beautiful works of nature out of such a seemingly desolate place.  My family and I encountered these beauties while doing some hiking in Hocking Hills State Park.  One of my personal favorites in the park was the Old Man’s Cave.  The cave itself is as unique as the name and story behind it.  A man by the name of Richard Rowe (the “old man”) actually lived in the cave back in the 1800s and some people theorize that he was also buried there.  I, for one, was amazed by not only the cave but the water features surrounding it as well.  Even for the non-nature lover it is a magnificent sight to see.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I am going to fast forward to 2018 when my family yet again visited the great state of Ohio.  This time, however, we were not in seek of nature but instead the one and only Cedar Point.  For anyone not aware, Cedar Point is one of the roller coaster capitals of the world.  The amusement park is located in northern Ohio along the Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky.  This trip was the first time I was at the park and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves roller coasters, food, and fun.   

My two favorite roller coasters of the day included the Maverick and Top Thrill Dragster.  The Maverick is designed, as the name suggests, to act more like a bucking horse in that it contains multiple corkscrews, twists, and tunnels.  The ride also features the steepest angle drop at Cedar Point at an incredible 95 degrees.  Though I absolutely loved the Maverick, my “top thrill” of the day was by far the Top Thrill Dragster.  This high-speed coaster launches riders at 120 mph up a 90-degree incline, which at its peak is 420 feet.  Riders are then propelled back down the other side experiencing a 270-degree twist on the descent.  I, myself, am a thrill seeker and never one to back down from a ride, but it took some serious convincing to get my sister and friend to get on the ride with me.  They were especially deterred by the sign that noted that the coaster sometimes does not get up the incline and rolls back down it.  After riding it though (we did make it up the incline), all of us agreed that it was one of the best roller coasters we had been on in our entire lives.  I would 10/10 recommend the ride and Cedar Point as a whole to anyone and everyone.  We did not get a chance to visit the water park though I would love to go back and check it out as well.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, Ohio appears to be nothing more than “that state people drive through to get somewhere else,” but I encourage you to stop and look around the next time you are driving through.  I even recommend making it the destination of a weekend trip or vacation so that you too can experience all Ohio has to offer. 

Do not go too far and come back next week as I travel west from Ohio to the state of Nebraska.

Hey everyone!  This week it is time to travel over to the east coast for a tour of the magnificent state of Massachusetts.  This great state contains everything from the earliest milestones in American history to restaurants that sparked well-known television shows.  My family and I traveled to the state back in 2014 as part of our vacation north of home (home is Pennsylvania).   

We first headed to Plymouth, Massachusetts to visit one of the first major landmarks in United States history: Plymouth Rock.  The rock marks the spot where William Bradford and the Pilgrims first landed in North America back in 1620.  They went on to build the colony of Plymouth starting a major migration of Europeans to the area.  The rock is marked visibly with the year 1620 and is covered by a pavilion to prevent it from weathering.  Upon first seeing the rock, I was very underwhelmed oddly enough.  Plymouth Rock was extremely small (at least for what I expected) for such a big benchmark in American history.  I soon learned that the rock split into two when a team of oxen tried to move it back in 1774 causing its smaller size.  It was interesting, nonetheless, to see such a pivotal landmark and form a visual connection to it for reference in my history classes.  We continued for the rest of the day to peruse through the colonial town of Plymouth, admiring all the quaint houses and stores.

My family next traveled into the beautiful city of Boston.  We started out our adventure of Boston with a Red Sox’s game at the one and only Fenway Park.  I was surprised to see how well the original charm of the park has been preserved from everything from the seats to the big Green Monster.  For those of you who are unaware the Green Monster is the nickname given to the high left field wall in Fenway Park.  With everything nowadays being made as modern and economically efficient as possible, it was pleasant to experience a baseball stadium that defies these standards.  The game was enjoyable with the Red Sox winning and it provided some great family bonding time.  I would definitely recommend going to a game if given the opportunity! 

Our next day in Boston was spent doing some very intriguing sightseeing.  We did a guided trolley tour through the city, learning all about the history of each and every street, landmark, and more.  One of my personal favorites was the Bull and Finch pub that later became the inspiration for the 80’s television sitcom Cheers.  It was absolutely surreal to see the very place that contributed to the success of such a well-known show.   

Later that evening, my family and I went on a Ghosts and Gravestones tour of the city.  This tour was aimed to show and inform visitors of the murders, gravestones, and more that pervade the city of Boston.  We got to see the headstones of many famous men in American history such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams.  This tour is not normally something I would be interested in, considering I do not like “scary” movies, books, etc.  I was surprised by how entertaining the experience was, however, with the tour guide being lively enough to energize anyone.  To my own amazement I would definitely recommend trying the tour out, even if it does not seem as intriguing to you (as it did to myself before experiencing it).   

We rounded off our stay in Boston (and Massachusetts for that matter) with a boat ride around the Boston Harbor.  While on this ride, we got to witness magnificent ships such as the USS Constitution.  “Old Ironsides” (as its nicknamed) was one of the first ships commissioned by the United States navy in 1797 and is taken out on a cruise of the harbor every Fourth of July to celebrate America’s birthday.  Unfortunately, we were not in Boston over the Fourth, but I would love to return someday to watch this beautiful piece of history cruise around the harbor.   

Overall, on a scale from one to ten I would give Massachusetts an eight.  Between the great historic landmarks and family fun it is definitely a place to check out.  I would especially recommend the city of Boston for its beautiful charm and entertainment. 

Come back next week to learn all about the great opportunities in the state of Ohio!

Hey everyone!  This week I will be taking a journey on over to the wonderful state of South Dakota.  What in the world is in South Dakota, you might be asking?  Well, there is more to the state than it might seem.   

My family stopped in South Dakota back in 2012 as part of our big northwestern United States tour/vacation (same vacation we went to Wyoming). Our first stop after we entered the state and got settled was the one and only Mount Rushmore.   Now sure we have all seen pictures of Mount Rushmore or talked about it in our United States history class, but one characteristic that is not captured is the true size of the monument.  I was completely shocked to see how such a large sculpture was carved into just a mountain!  I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of time, planning, effort, and creativity that went into erecting such a spectacular display.  But, in case you were wondering, it took 14 years to carve starting in 1927 and ending in 1941.  Every night, the monument is lit up so that it can continue to be seen in all its glory.  Unfortunately, both nights my family went it rained and the faces looked as though they were crying, but it was spectacular none the less.  

 

After visiting the monument, my family and I also visited the Crazy Horse Memorial just a half hour from Mount Rushmore.  To my surprise, upon arriving at Crazy Horse, I was faced with a far from complete sculpture.  The memorial is, in fact, still under construction with the first carving beginning back in 1948.  If completed, the memorial should stand to be the world’s largest sculpture.  And large it was, again shocking me with its sheer size.  I hope to someday go back to a completed memorial, so I can fully bask in the essence of its beauty and get a true appreciation for the time and effort placed into it.  

 

 

Onward from Crazy Horse, my family and I decided to do something a little out of the ordinary: caving.  And what better place to go caving than the Mount Rushmore Cave.  There is nothing like packing a sweatshirt on an 80-degree day because the cave you are about to enter is only a mere 50-degrees on average.  The temperature, however, did not deter my family and I from soaking in every last stalactite and stalagmite the cave had to offer.  I highly recommend caving at some point in your life so that you can get a true appreciation for the beauty of nature.  There are many caves, including the one we went to, that involve only walking rather than crawling, which is much more suitable for people of all ages looking to experience nature at its finest.   

We next traveled east across South Dakota to experience Badlands National Park.  This park is unlike anything I have ever seen before and I feel as though I cannot find the correct words to describe it.  Therefore, take a good, long look at the picture below and try to imagine yourself among all these crests and troughs and see just how indescribable it truly is.  It feels as though you are looking out onto another planet and I, for one, would have never guessed that South Dakota could behold such a place.   

My closing advice this week is to not judge a book by its cover, or, in this case, a state by its name.  I, personally, would have never traveled to South Dakota had my mother not planned the trip, but I am all so thankful that she did.  The monuments and works of nature will forever have a place in my heart and I hope to someday return to the great state of South Dakota.   

Come back next week for my adventures in Massachusetts!

Hey everyone!  This week I will be traveling to the marvelous state of New York.  Now if someone asks you what you would do on a vacation to New York, most people would respond by saying they’d go to the Big Apple.  Well, that is true; we did go to New York City (and I will be discussing it in this post), but New York also has much more to offer aside from the city streets.   

My family and I started our journey north (I live in Pennsylvania) into New York by traveling into Cooperstown.  For those of you who are not aware, Cooperstown is home to the Baseball Hall of Fame and my family being big into baseball, of course, had to visit.  The Hall of Fame was actually much bigger and more exciting than I had originally anticipated.   

As we first walked into the Hall of Fame, we were greeted by three miraculous statues of some of baseball’s greatest players: Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente.  From there, we perused through the great Hall soaking up every bit of baseball history.  I especially took notice of two sites in the Hall of Fame.  The first being a baseball signed by Babe Ruth.  As I am sure, most people have heard of Babe Ruth whether you watch baseball or not.  Babe Ruth played professional baseball for 22 years ending his career with a shocking 714 home runs, 2,873 hits, and .342 batting average, just to name a few statistics.  The second site that captured my attention was the plagues of the First Inductee Class.  This class included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth, all of which are legends both on and off the field.  They were inducted over 80 years ago in 1936.  Seeing these plagues was truly breath-taking and allowed me as well as many others to visualize how baseball can unify everyone even decades later.   

 

After hanging out in Cooperstown for a few days visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame and some other local attractions, my family and I decided it was time to take on the Big Apple.  Since none of us had been to the city before, we decided to take a guided tour.  The tour started out with a visit to the Riverside Church, a gothic revival style cathedral that encompasses multiple dominations.  The architecture was magnificent with details put into every last square inch.  Also visited the tomb of Ulysses S. Grant, which was only a mere block from the cathedral.   

 

Our next stop on the tour was widely-known Wall Street.  One of the main attractions of the street was undoubtedly the Charging Bull statue.  The 7,100 lb. bronze sculpture stands to represent the market optimism that has driven Wall Street for many years.  The street also provided a breath-taking view of Trinity Church.  I will end my description of Wall Street here since we had many other attractions to visit and did not spend a surplus amount of time here.  I would, however, recommend visiting Wall Street because it feels as though you are in a whole new world while there. 

 

We next traveled to the awe-inspiring Reflecting Pools at Ground Zero.  There was nothing but complete silence and respect as we and thousands of other people gathered around the pools to salute those who tragically lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  The sight of the engravings along the pools will forever stand out in my mind and words cannot begin to describe the intense feelings brought on by seeing all the roses and candles next to these heroes’ names.  With the Freedom Tower right next to the pools the entire display both honors the heroes and unifies our country.  It seemed as though I was transported to an entirely different world when around the pools because the hustle and bustle of NYC is nowhere to be found.  Rather it seemed as though time had stopped.  

 

We lastly took a boat to around Liberty Island to get an up-close view of the Statue of Liberty.  This is definitely one of those tourist attractions to go see if you are ever in New York City.  We did not get off on Liberty Island, but the Statue was equally as impressive from the New York Harbor.  I would love to go back some day and walk around Liberty Island. 

Overall, I would recommend visiting New York to see both the Big Apple and the many other attractions the state has to offer.  While New York was not my favorite state, it was definitely interesting to see all the people, monuments, and buildings. 

Stick around for next week when I slither on over to South Dakota!