History Hound Travels

So, here I am again. It’s time to brush this blog off. I don’t know how often I’ll post, but I am planning a trip again, so it seemed like a good time. I don’t even know where I am going yet, but I am starting to gather info for an IRL with my BFF, Ang.

We recently discovered that was could take the train to a fun location for pretty cheap and then just do fun things in and around where ever we decide to go. It could come out pretty reasonable, and we’d get to see something we’ve wanted to see. So far, we’ve talked about DC, Chicago, Charleston and I think I also threw out California.

I may mention New York to her as well, and then we could do little sidetrips with NYC Tours. Since they also go to Boston and Washington, we could actually knock a couple of cities off the “must see list”. And don’t forget the original double decker bus tour in NYC. I’ve always wanted to ride one of those!

Okay, I told you about the pictures, but I also need to write about stuff i wish I’d had. Number one on the list: really good walking shoes. Keds are fun and suit my personality, but they don’t have enough support to comfortably walk four or five miles per day. Likewise, clogs are great, but holding them on for that long of a distance also gets tiring.

I also wish I had been a bit more organized in making sure I saw everything I wanted to see. I did make a list of some things, but then I left it on my desk. I wish I had checked out the Las Vegas guide at United States Hotel Guides. They have listings for most of the hotels, but they also have a blog about the city, and info on local events. We were a little too busy to cram in more events, but it would have been nice to know what was unique about each hotel/resort.

So there you have my preliminary repost: wear good shoes, read up before you go. There will be more later. Lots more, LOL!

I’m home, and I took a boatload of pictures. I took so many that I decided to put them on flickrr, which I had previously used only for my Self Portrait Sunday shots. So many, in fact, that I had to buy a pro account to hold them all. I had a marvelous time, and you can expect some posts about the various attractions there. In the meantime, enjoy the photos.

Here in Coastal North Carolina, snow is a real rarity. I remember one big snow storm on my entire time here, and I was a child then. It snowed almost a foot about an hour inland at my Grandparent’s house, and it was a-ma-zing. That’s the most snow I ever saw at one time until I was living in Germany, and then in Colorado. I was looking at some photos on a site that specializes in Whistler accommodations today, and they reminded me a lot of Colorado.

I think I’d like to go for a couple of days, if I was assured I would not have to stay any longer than that. I’ve never skied, nor do I really plan to learn at this point, so I would be all about the fireplaces and hot tubs in the Whistler ski lodges, LOL! Doesn’t that look so cozy? I could totally curl up there and read a book, and pretend I was sad to be missing the slopes! After all, what’s the point of going to a ski lodge if you actually have to ski?

Who can resist a virtual trip to Niagara Falls? This quintessential honeymoon destination is actually comprised of three separate waterfalls and two merged but distinct cities, one in Canada and one in the US, and was the setting of Niagara starring Marilyn Monroe and Wonderfalls (a television series). The falls also provide hydro-electric power to both Ontario and New York.

Daredevils from 22 to 63 have gone over the falls on purpose, and the youngest purpose to go over by accident was just seven years old! It is now illegal to go over the falls, but people still do it occasionally. The last person to go over was Kirk Jones in 2003. Now, I have to tell you that while I would like to go to Niagara Falls, I have zero desire to go over them.

Should you wish to go, I invite you to check out this site for Niagara Falls Hotels. I like this site because in addition to the hotel listings, you can find good articles about your intended destination. Just look in the right hand sidebar for links, or start with this Niagara Falls travel guide. You’ll find enough information there to get started on your planning, and then click the links on the right even more information.

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