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Water Mill, NY

May16

The Hamptons

a water mill
at the B&B
welcome sign

After watching several television series and movies that featured The Hamptons and Long Island, I was ready to check this area out for myself. After a bit of research, I settled on staying in Water Mill, NY.  This little village is a hamlet of the Town of Southampton and was settled in 1644. It was the perfect location from which to explore East Hampton, Westhampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Montauk and Sagaponack – all just minutes away.

The White Fences Inn
Bailey

My first bit of luck was choosing The White Fences Inn. This was a wonderful little Bed and Breakfast with a perfect location. Liz and Eric were most hospitable hosts and their goldendoodle Bailey stole our hearts!  The White Fences Inn was originally built in 1740, and the new owners did a fantastic job renovating and remodeling this historic home. It was cozy, comfortable and had all the latest modern amenities. We were served a delicious three-course breakfast every morning on the back patio (weather permitting) or in the lovely modern dining room. We had a great stay here and especially enjoyed getting to know our hosts and meeting some of the other guests.

Parrish Art Museum
David with paintings
the museum

Just down the road from The White Fences Inn sat what looked like a most unusual and very long barn. This just happened to be the Parrish Art Museum. Being an art major and having free passes from our B&B, we decided to check it out. This unique building houses a very nice modern art collection. I do admit that the building’s architecture – interior and exterior – was as interesting as the art collection. We enjoyed our morning visit here and saw some very thought-provoking paintings by local artists.

cheers!
beautiful vineyards
David by the vines

This area of Long Island is very beautiful with its green rolling hills, floral gardens, corn crops, and meticulously planted vineyards. It is very similar to Tuscany and Napa Valley. Who knew that this area of the country was known for winemaking? I certainly did not!

chardonnay and cheese board
Wolffer Estate rose’

There were several wineries and vineyards in this area, and we visited three of them during our stay. Our favorite was the Wolffer Estate Vineyards down the road from us in Sagaponack. The main Wolffer Estate building was quite elegant – built in a Mediterranean style with lush landscaping and stone terraces. We sat on the back patio terrace on a lovely afternoon and enjoyed a Tuscan board with artisan cheeses, breads, fruits and nuts. We sampled several of their chardonnays, rose’ and red blends. The wines were all delicious and we purchased several bottles to take back home with us. This area of New York is known for their award-winning rose’ wines and now after drinking a few, I can attest as to why!

sandpiper
gorgeous beach
sand dunes

Another thing that surprised me about this area was the lovely beaches. Our B&B gave us parking passes to the local Flying Point Beach just minutes from where we stayed. Our hosts loaded us up with towels, chairs, umbrella, drinks & snacks and sent us on our way. This beach was gorgeous – fine white sand, sand dunes, sea oats, and more sea birds than people! We had such a quiet, relaxing day here and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was an absolutely perfect day at the beach.

red kale salad
delicious endive salad
tile fish with carrot broth

At the end of each day we would go back to The White Fences Inn, clean up, and drive a few minutes into the downtown area of the Village of Southampton for dinner. This neat little town had clothing shops, chic cafes, fancy restaurants, cheese shops, bakeries, delicatessens,  and coffee shops. We had some delicious meals each evening and really enjoyed the local seafood. One night we dined at the Red Bar, a favorite restaurant of the locals, and sat a few tables over from Howard Stern and his wife! You never know who you will see here since so many famous actors, designers, musicians, models, etc. have homes here and live a relatively quiet life. Water Mill, NY is the 14th most expensive zip in the U.S. with the median home price at $2,965,000. I don’t think we will be relocating any time soon.

Sag Harbor
Cheers!

We had an absolutely wonderful time in The Hamptons and were pleasantly surprised by all there was to see and do.  An earlier blog of mine covered Montauk and the Montauk Lighthouse which is just a few minutes drive from here also.  There were antique shops, old churches, ferries, charter boats, stables, horse shows, pumpkin farms, historical museums, art galleries, sailing, surfing, beaches, etc.  – literally something for everyone. It was a great vacation destination and one that I had not heard much about. After we spent a few days here, we then drove the two hours back into NYC for the second leg of our trip. Great time – great memories! 

 

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Garden of the Gods

Apr21

Colorado Springs, CO

entrance with Pike’s Peak in background
Cathedral Valley

Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is a great place to spend part of a day or a full day. You can choose to hike, go rock climbing, bike, ride horseback, or take a leisurely drive (like we did). There are 15 miles of well-marked trails (22 total) throughout the park.

local wildlife
Rock display
Visitor’s Center

We began at the Visitor & Nature Center and Museum at the park’s entrance. This is a wonderful building with geology, ecology, and cultural history exhibits. (Be sure to read about the 125 million-year-old, one-of-a-kind dinosaur fossil found here in 1886.) There are many hands-on exhibits and activities for adults and children. The visitor’s center also houses a gift shop, restrooms, a cafe, theater, and an information desk where you can pick up a free full-color trail map of the park. Step out of the center onto the observation deck for spectacular views of Garden of the Gods. This is the perfect spot to take a photo of the dramatic 300′ towering sandstone formations with the foothills of the Rockies and Pike’s Peak in the distance.  What a backdrop!

dino mural
buffalo
one-of-a-kind dinosaur
bear scat
photo op

When you leave the visitor’s center, the entrance to the park is across the highway. There is not an entrance fee – the park is free. 

Pike’s Peak in background
Balanced Rock
trail map

All the roads, trails and parking areas are well-marked and easy to find. Each turn seems to bring a different, amazing sight. All these rock formations were created by a geological upheaval 300 million years ago. The bright red, pink, gray and white rocks are various shapes and sizes – all motionless and silent. Many were tilted vertically and formed into “fin-like” spikes. Others have been toppled, slanted, pushed around, overturned and eroded.  Most of the rocks are sandstone, limestone or conglomerate and each one is a true masterpiece of Mother Nature.

Gray Rock
David on Balanced Rock
Three Graces
Kissing Camels (at the top)

As the road winds through the park, you can stop for photo ops and explore “Balanced Rock,” located right next to “Steamboat Rock.” Cathedral Valley houses the “Three Graces,” “Gray Rock,” “Sleeping Giant,” and “Kissing Camels” to name a few. There are plenty of pull-offs and parking areas throughout the park. We actually stopped at one trail head and hiked a short distance before having lunch at one of the many picnic areas. There are many trails for easy hikes if you want to check out all the natural flora and fauna. There are also more difficult trails for the athletically inclined people who want to do some actual rock climbing. 

David on a trail
hiking
red rocks

We chose to drive the park on our own this particular day. If interested, there are several other options for exploring the park: private car tours, bikes, jeeps, segways, ATV’s, luxury buses, or horseback. The Park Program also offers 45-minute Nature Walks and Nature Talks daily through the Visitor’s Center. Your call!

Pike’s Peak
mule deer

We truly had a wonderful day here and I will always remember the sight of those gigantic rock formations. The colors, shapes, and prehistoric-looking landscape will be difficult to forget. It reminds me of how powerful this earth can be, how old this planet actually is, and how land is constantly changing. I sincerely hope you have the opportunity to visit Garden of the Gods.

 

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The Freedom Trail

Mar30

Boston, Massachusetts

Freedom Trail marker
view from the Charles River
Paul Revere statue

If you find yourself lucky enough to be in Boston for a day or two, the Freedom Trail is a “must see – must do.” Just follow the red brick line on the sidewalks throughout Boston and you be led on the 2.5 mile tour of 16 American Revolution sites. This is a great outdoor activity perfect for most ages and especially suited for history buffs. Just wear comfortable shoes and plan on spending 2-5 hours walking, exploring, visiting historic sites, and best of all – getting to know the city.

the red brick trail
map
The Old State House

They are several ways to enjoy the Freedom Trail. My suggestion is to do it on your own so that you can spend as much or as little time as you choose at each location. If you get too tired the first day, stop. Pick it up the next day where you left off and do different parts on different days. For the techies, there is a phone app you can download ($4.99) that can be very helpful. There are also paper maps (for us old folks) that you can get from stops throughout the city or from your hotel. The National Park Service has a visitor’s center at Faneuil Hall where they offer tours and give out free maps. There are also several independent tour companies that offer 1-hour guided tours, private tours with a driver, or photowalks. (Photowalks are led by someone helping you capture each historic site in the best light and from the best vantage point.) You will see various tour groups at several of the stops. They are hard to miss since the tour guides are dressed in period costumes, wigs, stockings, shoes, tricorn hats, etc. 

Samuel Adams statue
Faneuil Hall
inside Faneuil Hall

My husband and I have always preferred walking the trail on our own. That way, we can stop for a lobster roll, a bowl of clam chowder, and maybe even a pastachio cannoli  – whenever the mood strikes! The trail takes you by some fabulous places to eat or stop for a “spot o’ tea”, a cup of coffee, or a cold brew. We actually had lunch with Benjamin Franklin one day! How many people do you know that can say that?

Me and Ben Franklin
Mike’s pistachio cannoli

Most of the Freedom Trail guides will start you at Boston Common – America’s oldest public park and in front of the gold-domed Massachusetts State House. It will end at the Bunker Hill Monument. You see famous sites, old buildings, interesting people, the North End (Little Italy), the financial area, markets, eateries, churches and graveyards. Some of the streets are very quaint and narrow since they were first made in the 1600’s for horses, carriages and wagons – not the heavy city traffic we all know today. All of the historic sights are very well conserved and attended. Thirteen of the sixteen stops are free, and three require a small admission fee (Paul Revere’s House, the Old South meeting House and Old State House).

Boston Massacre marker
Massachusetts State House
Boston Common
Paul Revere’s House
Paul Revere statue

If you only have one day, be sure to see the Old North Church, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s House, Faneuil Hall,  and Granary Burial Ground. The last time we stayed in Boston, our hotel was right across the street from the Granary Burial Grounds. This cemetery is one of my favorite places in Boston. It dates back to 1660 and houses the remains of Samuel Adams, victims of the Boston Massacre,  Peter Faneuil, Mary “Mother” Goose, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. If you remember your history lessons, only 5 civilians were killed in the Boston “Massacre.” The Revolutionists’ great PR team made it seem a much more tragic event to play up the role of the evil, murdering British. 

Samuel Adams marker
Paul Revere’s tomb
Boston Common cemetary
Granary Burial Grounds

There is a small pub across the street from Granary Burial Grounds. We were told by our Duck Tour guide that “this is the only place in Boston where you can drink a cold Samuel Adams while looking out over a cold, dead Samuel Adams.” Tasteless – but still kind of funny!

Tricorn hat NOT such a good look!
Fall colors in Boston
Old North Church steeple

There is SO much history in Boston. Take it all in. It makes you proud of those early Americans who rose up against a mighty nation and demanded their rights and civil liberties. Walking the Freedom Trail puts it all in perspective – at least it did for me. It is hard to stand on the hill in the North End and look up at the tall steeple of the Old North Church and not think about Paul Revere and his midnight ride….”one if by land, two if by sea.” When you walk the Freedom Trail, you are truly walking in the footsteps of our forefathers. Walk tall and walk proud….and please do not forget that cannoli!

 

 

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Mendenhall Glacier

Mar14

Juneau, Alaska

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Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska

 David and I had the opportunity to go on a small Alaskan cruise (Un-Cruise) two summers ago and this trip remains one of my all-time favorite vacations. We flew into Juneau a couple of days early to do some exploring before setting off on our adventure cruise. One of the excursions we took while staying in Juneau was to the beautiful Mendenhall Glacier. 

On a gorgeous morning at the end of May, we loaded up on a city bus and rode the 12 miles from downtown Juneau to the nearest bus stop for the Mendenhall Glacier. From the bus stop, we walked approximately one mile to the entrance to the park. This was a very easy walk and we enjoyed it. We saw beaver dams, thick alpine forests, mossy boulders, and scenic views all along the way leading up to the glacier. The weather was perfect.

Mendenhall Glacier from the road
a beaver dam

We soon  arrived at the entrance of the U.S. Forest Service’s historic Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. There is an upper entrance with a ramp and lower entrance with elevators. The views from here were stunning! There are many viewpoints on the outside of the center where you can observe the marvelous river of ice, the alpine ridges, Mendenhall Lake and floating icebergs – all in the distance. 

The Visitor Center was very nice and was well worth a visit. There is an educational movie every 20 minutes (very informative), exhibits, rangers, maps, and a bookstore. One of my favorite exhibits contained photos of the glacier and its progression/recession throughout the years. There is also a glacier bear (taxidermy) which was very unique with its pale blue/silver color – most unusual. Mother Nature adapted this color change to camouflage these brown bears who live on the ice. Very interesting.

View from the Visitor Center
Mendenhall Glacier – blue ice cave in front

We looked at the area maps and picked a couple of trails to explore. We chose Trail of Time and Nugget Falls Trail – both of these trails were easy to walk, took us through a segment of the forest and meandered along the lake. We followed the trails through moss & lichens, skunk cabbage, blueberry & salmonberry bushes and beautiful flowering plants. Our goal was to end up at the base of Nugget Falls. 

mossy rock
colorful flowers
glacial rock totem

After walking a half-mile or so, we started hearing the roar of the falls in the distance and were anxiously anticipating seeing it “up close and personal”. We soon did!

The sight of Nugget Falls cascading down the mountainside near the glacier was breathtaking. The sound was immense! We were dwarfed in comparison to the size, scope and power of these falls (see photo below). We approached the falls, got covered in the cool spray and took lots of photos. As we walked along the rocky beach – we had even better views of the glacier, ice caves, and small icebergs floating in the lake all around us. This was one of those special “pinch me” moments!

David and Susan at the base of Nugget Falls

We took our time and explored the beach here for awhile. The weather and the scenery were both perfect and we knew we needed to treasure this moment and imprint these sights & sounds in our memory. We collected some small glacial rocks. We pulled icebergs (“bergies”) out of the water and played with them. We watched a group of canoers paddling out to the glacier. We watched small areas of the huge glacier “calving” and releasing more small broken chunks of ice into the clear blue, icy waters. We spotted turquoise blue ice caves at the glacier’s edge. This was Mother Nature at her best.

crystal clear “bergie”
Horned Frog iceberg to the left
David on the beach

Experts tell us that by the end of the century, the Mendenhall Glacier will no longer be visible from the current Visitor’s Center. This 13 mile long glacier is melting at a rapid rate due to global warming. Decades ago, there was not even a Mendenhall Lake – this lake was formed due to the glacier ice melting and receding. I highly suggest that if this is something you would like to see, go sooner rather than later! You can visit on your own as we did – or book a guided solo trek,  a helitour, a guided walk or a canoe tour. It is truly a fantastic place to experience first hand. Photos and words cannot do it justice. See it for yourself!

On the beach playing with icebergs
Ouch – sunburn!!

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Sonoran Desert Tour

Mar2

Scottsdale, AZ

Green Zebra
Saguaro
Red Mountain

I just returned from a wonderful four-day weekend to Scottsdale, Arizona and the highlight of my trip was an ATV tour of the desert. After doing a bit of research before I went, I chose a tour close to Scottsdale where the company actually picked us up from our hotel in a very nice Mercedes van.

There were plenty of independent tours to choose from. Some used dune buggies, four-wheelers, three-wheelers, jeeps, hummers, segways and even hot air balloons. This Green Zebra tour I picked was 2.5 hours long, with only  a 30 minute drive from our hotel to the starting point, and provided us with water and a colorful bandana. It sounded like the perfect plan for us. A morning tour of the desert left us with plenty of time for a late lunch and shopping in the afternoon!

learning the rules
on the property
tour starting location

We dressed in closed-toe shoes and grubby clothes, grabbed our sunglasses and hats, and were ready to roll. Our driver/guide Mike picked us up from our hotel and we drove through Scottsdale towards Fort McDowell. Mike explained many of the sights along the way. Our starting point for the tour was actually on tribal land belonging to the Yavapi Indians. We pulled into the main facility (which reminded me a little of the Alamo!) and unloaded. We used the restrooms, donned our bandanas, and listened intently as Mike gave us our instructions for the trail.

thank god for bandanas
behind our guide
Rachel and Linda

The TomCar ATVs were gas powered, military grade and did not have power steering or power brakes. There were two-seaters and four-seaters. We elected my daughter Rachel to drive our four-seater with me in the back and my sister-in-law in the front passenger seat. Luckily, the TomCars did had “over-the-shoulder” harness type seat belts (to keep you from bouncing out) and windshields (to keep a large percentage of red dirt and dust out of your face!). The main rules were to stay on the trail behind the guide and to stay 1-2 car lengths behind the car in front of you. We had this!!

The scenery along the way was gorgeous! The Sonoran Desert has heavy rainfall in the summer and winter and it was more lush than I had imagined. It was rugged but very beautiful. Our TomCars drove through brush, climbed rocky hillsides, and bumped along through dry rocky riverbeds and canyons that showed evidence of flash floods during the rainy season. Our excursion took us from rushes of adrenaline to quiet peacefulness in this remote landscape.

the Verde River gorge
Linda and Rachel

Our first stop was a high overlook at the Verde River. We actually talked to an Arizona Fish & Wildlife employee who had set up cameras at this location to study nesting bald eagles in the large trees down below. The scenery here from this high vista was amazing. We saw Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Phoenix in the distance. We could see how the Verde River split the tribal lands down the middle. Mike pointed out the Yavapi’s reservation housing and their expansive acreage. The Native Americans farm citrus groves, pecan groves, alfalfa, and other grains for their vast livestock. When investors wanted to dam the Verde River miles upstream decades ago to create luxury waterfront real estate, the presence of bald eagles here (then on the endangered species list) kept this from happening and the Yavapi kept their lands fertile with this water source. They are presently a very wealthy and prosperous tribe.

our guide Mike
Verde River
Verde River
Verde River
Rachel takes a breather
Ready to go again!

Our next adventure took us through dense mesquite groves, where we saw recent evidence of a herd of wild horses. The trail ended at a low spot by the Verde River, so we stopped and got out for a water break. Mike then explained all about the mesquite trees and how important they were to the Native Americans. The wood was used for firewood and smoking meats. The flowers and pods were edible. The “peas/beans” were a source of protein in lean months and could be dried and ground into flour. The sap was used as a hair product. These mesquite trees are much larger than the scrubby ones we see in Texas.

Me and a saguaro
cactus
the three amigos

Our third and final scheduled stop was to check out the cacti near the trail. This huge saguaro we examined was over 200 years old. Mike also pointed out many other plant and cacti species that thrive in this desert climate. He talked about the geology, history, and wildlife in this area – it was very interesting. He also had a killer John Wayne impression! We then found several kangaroo rat burrows, but unfortunately – no rats. They were wise and stayed hidden from us (as did the rattlesnakes). Mike told us these desert rodents live their entire lives and never drink water (they get moisture from the seeds and vegetation they eat) and instead of urinating liquid, they excrete a small drop of yellow paste. So being the mature adults we are….we then spent the next five minutes looking for mustard colored kangaroo rat droppings, but never found any.

our fearless driver
pretty spring flowers
dry river bed

This was a such a fun and educational experience! My sister-in-law Linda is not the most adventurous type – but even she enjoyed the tour and got out of her comfort zone a little (okay… a LOT!). My daughter was completely in her element with this excursion and loved driving our TomCar. We were covered in dirt from head to toe when we finished and our clothes were a dusty mess. It took a couple of showers and many kleenex and Q-tips to erase all the “evidence” of this adventure – but it was well worth it! We made wonderful memories on this morning and I hope you have the opportunity to do the same one day.

enjoying the back seat
family fun!

If you would like, please leave me comments or additional information relating to this blog. I would love to hear your thoughts on this trip and your own experiences. I highly enjoyed this brief trip to Scottsdale and urge anyone to visit – especially if you enjoy excursions like this. Please subscribe to my blog for more travel and dining updates. Thanks!

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the beautiful Sonoran Desert on a warm, cloudy morning

One World Observatory

Feb15

New York City, NY

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If you have the opportunity to visit New York City in the future, be sure to put One World Observatory on your “must see” list. 

The building itself is a breathtaking site as it rises 1776 feet up from street level. The One World Observatory is located on floors 100-102 of this beautiful new One World Trade Center Building. On a sunny day with blue skies, this reflective building is even more impressive. It proudly claims the title of the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building.

I was recovering from knee surgery when we visited NYC this past summer, so we booked our visit online and paid extra for the VIP “Skip the Line” Expedited Entry tickets. These upgraded tickets were a god send! Instead of standing and sweating outside for hours with hundreds of others, we bypassed all the general admission ticket lines and were ushered right in. We entered through the front doors, cleared security and walked directly to the elevators. We were inside the Observatory in less than 5 minutes. The VIP tickets were a little costly but they were worth every penny to me.

The 60-second ride in the elevator to the 100th floor was very smooth. The elevator walls were LED screens that illustrated 500 years of NYC’s past history as we ascended to the top floors. When the elevator stopped, we stepped out and saw the skylines and city scenes that awaited us. (Near the elevators, you can rent iPads that actually label the sights you are viewing.) The Main Observatory had outstanding panoramic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey, and all surrounding areas. On a clear day like we had, we could see 50 miles out in every direction. Fantastic!

In the center of one area was the Sky Portal. This is a large glass disc that you can walk across or stand on. It shows the actual street 100 floors below you and was a little scary for me. I did not care for standing on glass and seeing people, cars and taxis moving below me in real time…..a little unsettling, to say the least.

 As we walked around the circular site, all the area views were spectacular from this vantage point. We saw something different in every direction. We spotted the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan, the NYC bridges, the rivers, barges & boats, Time Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Chrysler Building and the 9/11 Memorial next door – just to name a few. It was a very neat experience and something I will never forget. 

The observatory itself was quite open and spacious and there was plenty of room for everyone to get great views. The elevator rides are conveniently timed to keep crowds evenly dispersed. We never felt crowded or unable to see what we wanted. There were restrooms, restaurants, a gift shop, and various speakers scattered throughout the 360 degree site. You choose to spend as little or as much time here as you prefer.

When you decide to leave this building, you are merely steps away from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It was somewhat mentally difficult and quite emotional for me at times being in this building on this very sight. More than once, I stood and gazed out at the horizon looking for airplanes and imagining that horrific day that will forever be locked in my memory.

This sight has so many memories for all of us and I think NYC has done a tremendous job with the One World Observatory. Please visit if you have the chance – it is very worthwhile. If you have visited, please leave your comments below. I would love to hear of your experiences.

Rest in peace, all those unfortunate souls who lost their lives here on 9/11. Your spirits live on.

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Amelia Island, Florida

Feb1

 

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
the beach at sunset

A few years (and several hairstyles ago!) David and I took a great little summer vacation to Amelia Island, Florida. I had not heard much about Amelia Island prior to our trip but wanted to get away from the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys since we had already visited these areas. We wanted something new and different this time. So we flew into Jacksonville, rented a car, and began our adventure.

Amelia Island is an Atlantic coast barrier island on the northeastern corner of Florida, very close to the southeastern Georgia border. It is the perfect place for anyone wanting luxury resorts, golf courses, sandy beaches, shell collecting and small crowds. It is also very rich in history and has been under Spanish, French and British rule at one time or another.

beach view of the lodge
birds on the beach
Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
Happy Hour

We stayed at the wonderful Elizabeth Pointe Lodge located right on the beach. Our room was perfect and we kept the windows open every night and enjoyed the calming sounds of the ocean. The owners David and Susan (coincidence, right?!) had a wonderful staff and we had 24/7 room service available. We enjoyed  fantastic breakfast buffets every morning and a Happy Hour every evening with wines, cheese & fruit trays, and heavy appetizers. Drinks and snacks were always available throughout the day. The owners and manager were always available for a chat, to give suggestions for restaurants or activities, or to book reservations for dining or excursions. One of the best things about Elizabeth Pointe Lodge (besides being adults only) was the gorgeous private beach and the complimentary chairs and umbrellas – all just steps away from our room. You gotta love a hassle-free vacation!

historic downtown church
Amelia Island Light

The drive into town from the lodge only took a few minutes and there were so many things to see on the way. We actually began our first day at the Amelia Island Museum to understand more about this area and the history. We explored Fernandina Beach’s historic district and found neat little artisan shops, boutiques, and bistros. We drove to the Amelia Island Light which is the oldest existing lighthouse in the state of Florida (built in 1838). David and I noticed there were no chain restaurants and we enjoyed trying several of the small local eateries – many that served fresh seafood that came off fishing boats from the harbor that very day. We had some wonderful food!

at David’s Restaurant
crab cake salad
shrimp poboy
oyster poboy

We dined on fresh seafood at Brett’s Waterway Cafe (at the main harbor) where you board the fishing boats or sightseeing cruises. Manatees were spotted here regularly, but we were not lucky enough to see one this day. We had a wonderful lunch at Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro another day after shopping in some of the little downtown shops. One of my favorite meals was a dinner at Espana Restaurant & Tapas where we sat at the bar and drank some fruity sangria and ate some very unusual and wonderful seafood-inspired tapas. We ate fresh crab cakes another night at Lulu’s, a New Orleans inspired restaurant located in a cozy old coach house. On our final night, we dined at David’s Restaurant (yet another David!) and had some of the best cucumber and basil martinis ever. They served a fantastic baked brie with homemade bread (in a little wooden chest) with pesto and oil & vinegar for dipping….Yummy! Every meal we ate was fresh, delicious, reasonably priced and was indicative of the local fare.

at the harbor
on Capt. Dave’s cruise

We booked two excursions while on Amelia Island and they became the highlights of our trip. The first was a boat ride on Amelia Cruises with Captain Pajama Dave. This Capt. Dave was exactly what his name promised! He was a big ole red-bearded guy who wore funny printed pajama bottoms and had an over-the-top personality to match. He told jokes, stories, and was the perfect source of information regarding the history, sights, and wildlife in this area. We sailed from the harbor at Amelia Island up the Cumberland River and off the coast of Georgia to the beautiful Cumberland Island.

shrimp boat
Pippi Longstocking House
snowy egret

We saw the house where Pippi Longstocking was filmed. We sailed past Fort Clinch and had a great view of this well-preserved Civil War fort, complete with a sea wall and cannons. We sailed west of Cumberland Island and saw dolphins, sea birds, and wild horses on shore. We glimpsed the historic Greyfield Inn, mansions, campsites, and the place where John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette had their secluded wedding next to a pig farm. It was a most interesting and very enjoyable day with smooth sailing the entire way.

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Fort Clinch, the old Civil War fort

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a herd of wild horses on Cumberland Island

The second excursion that we enjoyed was a segway tour. Ecomotion Segway Tours of Jacksonville had a wonderful tour of Ft. George Island and Kingsley Plantation that turned out to be such a fun day and a unique way to explore the island off the beaten path. We joined a couple of other families and had a group segway lesson learning how to operate, steer, and stop our vehicles on a practice field with traffic cones. (I almost flunked out and got placed at the back of the line with someone to watch over me!) Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have issues with balance. Unfortunately for me, riding a segway is all about balance and I am lucky that I did not end up in the ocean, a swamp or a ditch! When all was said and done – I must say that I did quite well. 🙂

David on his segway
our segways

These segways were specialized vehicles with huge all-terrain tires that certainly came in handy later when we traversed the roots, logs, rocks, sandy hills, and “jungle” type trails we explored.  We wore ear pieces under our helmets and our leader was miked to communicate with us. He was most informative and relayed interesting facts about the area and the history of the island as we rode along. He also pointed out local plants and wildlife we came across on the trail. We rode single file through dense forests and dodged Spanish moss hanging from branches. We saw tortoises, butterflies, gorgeous flowers, sea birds and spiders. We came across a baby tortoise crossing our trail. We stopped and watched a gopher tortoise furiously burrowing into the sand. We ventured to Kingsley Plantation where we rode past the slave quarters, each formed by hand and decorated with sea shells. We took a break off the segways to explore the plantation house, the surrounding buildings, barn, gardens, and the waterfront where porpoises were playing close to shore. I highly suggest this tour for anyone, any age. It was a remarkable experience and I am still alive to tell about it! Yay!!

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Kingsley Plantation house

Nearing the end of our trip, we explored some of the luxury resorts on the island. We had drinks at the Ritz and booked a massage at the Amelia Island Plantation. The resort hotels and golf courses here were gorgeous and covered lots of prime real estate. All the resorts had private beach property, large pools, playgrounds, bars & restaurants, etc. and were more family oriented. The landscaping and lush floral plant life in this resort area was a sight to behold and everything was meticulously cared for. It was all very beautiful and very expensive!

a couple’s massage
golf course
beach at the Ritz

We spent most mornings in the ocean, had a late lunch in town, then spent the afternoons exploring. The sunsets were beautiful and we spent several evening on the beach (photos below). There was so much to do and I am certain we only scratched the surface of all this area had to offer. You could do as little or as much as you want to do here and have a great time.

This was a most enjoyable trip and I highly recommend visiting Amelia Island for anyone who enjoys the beach, ocean views, quaint restaurants & shops, and a bit of history. We could have found much more to do and more places to explore if we had had more time. We just may have to go back one day…..

sea oats on the beach
David
Susan

 Please feel free to leave comments and let me know of your experiences if you have been to Amelia Island or if you would like to visit. Happy travels!

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Montauk, New York

Jan21
reflective seagull
Montauk, settled in 1660

This past summer I had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City for the first time.  I knew from past trips to NYC what a crazy, hectic, crowded, hot, horn-blaring experience the “city that never sleeps” really is and wanted to add a some relaxing days to this trip to maintain my sanity!  I had enjoyed several television shows and movies that filmed in or around Montauk and decided this was my destination. We would be in the vicinity……so why not?

My husband and I flew from Dallas to La Guardia and rented a car. The trip from the airport to our wonderful little bed & breakfast in The Hamptons was a 90 minute drive. The roadways and traffic were not bad at all and I decided our 2:00 p.m. arrival time had been a good choice. 

We actually stayed east of Southampton in the little village of Water Mill, NY and drove to Montauk (30 minutes away) on a beautiful weekday morning. Montauk is actually 110 miles from NYC and on the very east end of Long Island (and the two places could not be more different!). Due to its location, nicknames such as “The Living End” and “The Last Resort” make perfect sense.

Hither Hills Park
view of the ocean
Montauk selfie

The scenic drive to Montauk took us through Sagaponack, Wainscott, East Hampton, Amagansett and Bridgehampton. We passed lovely little towns, vineyards, cornfields, antique stores, watermills, plant nurseries, historic sites, riding stables, coffee shops and trendy little restaurants. We drove past church sites, cemeteries, and villages that had been around since the 1600’s. As we got further out on Long Island, it became more of a natural setting and much less populated. We stopped at one of the first overlooks (pictured above) that is one of the six state parks in Montauk. There were a few cars in the parking lot but we never saw another soul.

There are actually very few hotels or bed & breakfasts in this area. The “permanent” population of Montauk is actually only around 3,000 people. That doesn’t dissuade people like me from wanting to visit Montauk though! The beaches, hiking trails, wineries, restaurants, fishing, whalewatching, shopping and even surfing make Montauk a wonderful place to visit and explore.

local vineyard
at Gosman’s Dock
Gosman’s Dock sign

My main focus on this day of exploration was the Montauk Point Lighthouse. This beautifully colored lighthouse was commissioned in 1797 by none other than George Washington. It was the first lighthouse built in New York state and is the 4th oldest working lighthouse in the United States.  It is quite a majestic site as you drive up to the point!

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The Montauk Point Lighthouse National Park

There are several large and very convenient parking lots – complete with restrooms, a children’s play area, a restaurant and several look-out points.  It is a short, very scenic walk to the park entrance and the admission tickets are inexpensive ($4-$10).  In addition to the lighthouse itself, there is a maritime museum, a gift shop, memorial sculptures, and gorgeous scenery. You may also climb the 137 steps to the top of the lighthouse for even better views. On clear days, you can see the Connecticut coast which is only 20 miles away. To the south is a wonderful view of the rocky coast and Ditch Plains where surfers ride the huge waves coming in off the Atlantic Ocean. Photos do not do this huge lighthouse justice and the 360 degree view is breathtaking. 

observation deck
beautiful coastal views
the lighthouse

After exploring the lighthouse, we headed back into Montauk and visited Gosman’s Dock. This is a wonderful little area with restaurants, shops, food trucks, boat docks and a harbor. We wandered around and watched the expensive yachts, commercial fishing boats, and pleasure boats arriving into the harbor or leaving on sightseeing excursions. There is also a large fish market where you can purchase the freshest seafood that has just come off the boats that day. It was a great place to spend as little or as much time as you choose to. Unfortunately, our hunger got the best of us and we were off to a lunch place that we had already picked out on the way into Montauk.

lobster roll 🙂
fresh fried oysters
David at the Lobster Roll

Okay, I readily admit it……I love the show “The Affair.” It is set in Montauk and I was so excited to personally see several of the places that I had seen on this series. One of the main story lines revolves around a roadside restaurant called The Lobster Roll and I knew this was where I wanted to eat. This was where the sordid “affair” actually started on the show. Lo and behold, hundreds of other fans showed up there for lunch this day too! After quite a long wait, we were seated and dined on fresh fried oysters and of course – the famous lobster roll.  It was quite tasty and I enjoyed eating the fresh local cuisine. 

We had such nice weather and had a wonderful day exploring Montauk. It exceeded all my expectations. 

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a lone sea gull

I had always heard about Montauk through books, television and films. I now feel extremely fortunate to have had the chance to visit first hand. While doing a little research before the trip, it was no wonder why I was intrigued by this place. Here are just a few of the references I found:

Films:  Jaws, Amistad, Deathtrap, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give

Television: Friends, Revenge, CSI, The Affair, Royal Pains, Billions

Books: The Great Gatsby and Amityville Horror

 

If you have the chance, check out Montauk! Please feel free to leave comments and subscribe to my blog. Thank you.

 

 

Joshua Tree National Park

Jan12

near Palm Springs, California

Smile!
an old Joshua tree

As a Mississippi girl, I can readily identify kudzu, cotton, soy beans, and peanut plants – a Joshua tree…..not so much! I had seen one pictured on U2’s 1987 Album of the Year (Joshua Tree) but that was all the knowledge I had on the subject. The “twisty” trees look like something out of a Salvador Dali painting or a Dr. Seuss interpretation of a tree. When we visited Palm Springs for a tennis tournament, I could not resist the opportunity to visit Joshua Tree National Park and see these odd trees first hand.

entering the park
Joshua trees in the park

We booked a concierge tour of the park and were promptly picked up at our hotel in Indian Wells. The tour guide was named Dave, a retired American Airlines pilot from Dallas. Already we had something in common! The large white Suburban was comfortable and the ride in to the park was very enjoyable. Dave told us a lot about the history, the ecology and geology, and about the wildlife in the area. He questioned us on what we were interested in and customized our trip accordingly. The entire tour was most enjoyable and I could not think of a better way to learn about Joshua Tree National Park.

Rockclimbers
Hanging Rock
David climbs the boulders

The desert landscape in the park is dotted with huge granite boulders, Joshua trees, and other heat tolerant plants. There are many hiking trails inside the park and several areas popular with rock climbers. We got out and scrambled around on a few of the granite croppings and believe me, they are much bigger than they looked from afar! 

a young Joshua tree
a rare white bloom

After a couple of climbing and exploring stops, Dave took us to a popular trail head for hiking. This was the Barker Dam Trail and there were several vehicles in the parking area when we arrived. Armed with plenty of water, sunscreen, hats, and closed-toe shoes – we were off on 1.5 mile desert hike. This was a great adventure! We experienced the desert heat first hand. We saw a bit of this area’s history and the old dam that provided livestock and settlers with much needed water. We walked through desert plants, cacti, yucca and brush while seeing scurrying lizards and other small sunbathing reptiles. We walked in the shade of more huge granite boulders and noticed holes, caves, and Indian petroglyphs. I loved every minute of this hike!

petrogylphs
cactus
black lizard
small desert flower

When we arrived back at the trail head, Dave had a well-stocked vehicle and offered us several snacks and drinks. After a quick break, we were off again and headed to a high overlook in the park that looked down into the valley around Indio and Palm Springs. On this clear sunny day, we had fantastic views of the towns below. There were several more trails in this area that led down to lower terrain.indain-wells-2012-020

We had a wonderful experience the day we explored Joshua Tree National Park  and I will never forget all the sights of the Mojave Desert. If you are ever in the Los Angeles or Palm Springs area, take time to go see this wonderful desert park. It is a very unusual, almost prehistoric, setting. Words and photos do not give you the true scope of this beautiful landscape. Go experience it first hand.

Many scientists think that Joshua trees will be reduced by 90% at the end of the 21st century due to environmental and ecological changes. What a shame. I hope you get to see these unusual trees in their natural habitat before they are gone. 

 

Un-Cruise Alaska

Jan3
a bald eagle
FUN Cruise!
canoes in the fjord

I can honestly state that I do not think there could be any bad way to see Alaska. I studied information on travel sites for weeks after we had decided to venture to Alaska and I kept seeing the Un-Cruise trips mentioned. My husband and I had done the regular cruise ships before and there was something very appealing about a small ship. Seventy people would be on board versus the thousands on the big cruise lines. I was sold!

In late May, we flew to Juneau, Alaska and boarded the Wilderness Explorer.  The weather was perfect for the majority of our trip (rain the last day) and we made memories that I will never forget. Note: when it is sunny in Alaska, the locals call it “cloud failure”, so we were very lucky we had the sunny, warm weather that we did!

Wilderness Explorer
a hike in Bartlett Cove

 

The Un-Cruise trip we chose spent one week in the Northern Passages and Glacier Bay. We did not dock in any other town until the last day when we disembarked in Sitka, Alaska – other than picking up a park ranger in Bartlett Cove (a requirement to go into Glacier Bay).  Most days were spent kayaking, riding in skiffs, and exploring shorelines, glaciers, marshes, and small islands.  We ventured where larger ships could never go. The scenery was spectacular and words could never describe it. Only the full 360 degree experience will ever do a trip to Alaska justice. This was an “adventure” cruise and not a floating entertainment vessel. We were busy every single day and the hard part was deciding what NOT to do! Mornings and afternoons were filled with choices of activities: hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, shore explorations, skiff rides, etc. Nights were filled with games, cocktails, movies & books, a hot tub, and relaxing tired muscles. Most evenings also included short presentations from a crew member or park ranger informing us about local wildlife, the life of the salmon, or geographic formations in the area. We were fed three fulls meals a day in the dining room and also had snacks and drinks available at times throughout the day. We even came off an island hike one day to find the crew had set up a bar on the shore with hot toddies, hot chocolate, drinks and snacks. What a great surprise!

iced coffee with glacial ice
beautiful glacier
in the skiff

Some activities were led by a guide and others were just you on your own. The kayaking was fantastic. One memory I will always have was a day we spent kayaking in crystal clear glacial water near waterfalls, birds, floating chunks of ice and with mountains all around. We were close enough to the glacier that we could hear ice cracking and see small “calving” activity when in the distance we see a huge cruise ship approaching (only 2 ships are allowed into Glacier Bay each day). We gave them wide berth and they sailed in, made a wide turn, and then were off. We could see a few people out on the top of the cruise ship looking at the glacier and almost as soon as they had sailed in, they were gone. We had the opportunity to see this beautiful wilderness up close and personal – for an entire day.

Wilderness Explorer in distance
cruise ship does a drive-by

We explored tidepools and picked up big colorful starfish. We hiked in marshes and bogs and saw fresh deer, wolf and bear tracks. We kayaked close to shore with curious minks watching us. We rode in skiffs and saw otters, eagles, jellyfish, and whales. We explored small islands and walked through mossy forests finding spring flowers, bear scat, and breathtaking views. We sailed through blue waters spotting eagles, killer whales, brown bears, moose, sea lions, mountain goats, puffins, and humpback whales.

We enjoyed every single minute – an adventure of a lifetime. It seemed almost unreal. We were living in a National Geographic documentary.

orcas!
glacial water
gorgeous sunset

 

We enjoyed meeting our fellow passengers and the crew, and in a group that small, we knew a little about everyone. There was a three generation family, a couple of groups of friends, and most were couples like us. We bonded over meals and outings. The captain and staff were all multi-taskers so you got to see them in many different roles. There were lots of handshakes, hugs, and I admit – a few tears when we parted.

This cruise is not for everyone. If you want gourmet meals, Broadway shows, shopping venues,  pre-planned excursions and formal dinners you will be out of luck on a Un-Cruise trip. If you want daily adventures, unspoiled wilderness, and being up close and personal with nature – this trip will be for you. 

curious sea lion
moose on the shore
male killer whale

There is no need for a wallet on this cruise. Everything is included. Any adventure you want to try is paid for. The only added expense for us at the cruise’s end was for alcoholic beverages. 

The things I learned on this Alaskan adventure: #1. I wish I had gone sooner and stayed longer. #2. Alaska is more beautiful than any movie, video or photograph illustrates. #3. Luckily, there are still unspoiled areas like this that man has not yet destroyed or polluted. #4. No matter what the label says, waterproof gloves are NOT waterproof!

Hopefully, I have the chance to return one day….