Travel |
Below are travel articles
the range from "Best of..." columns to Tour Diaries
to specific articles. Since some are specifically about regions
and locations... forgive me... but the alphabetical order used
at times means that I've separated sections by states and by cities.
(But you're smart... you'll figure that out.)
(Looking for Bob
and Dad on the Ballpark Tour? Use the link...)
|
May
22, 2011 |
|
We
got a bit cute on this one and cheated a bit… we visited
the place on a day off for the Cubs to try and stay away
from the potential nightmare crowds caused by Red Sox
fans taking in the sights. It worked like a charm for
us… because we had a great meal, a great time, and not
one problem with a crowd.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted June 29,2005 |
|
May
22, 2011 |
|
A
woman sits down in the row in front of us. She’s wearing
a fantastic shirt that says “real women don’t date Yankees
fans.” Here’s her story… In the bottom of the second
inning, she starts laughing as a “Yankees suck” chant
breaks out two aisles away from us. In the bottom of the
third, she takes out her cell phone and calls someone
that apparently is sitting some place in aisle 211 to
tell her that she heard a “Yankees suck” chant and was
surprised it didn’t happen before the second inning. Her
friend hadn’t heard a “Yankees suck” chant yet. Oh, and
by the way, Cubs fans agree that the “Yankees suck.” Hey…
I don’t make up the news… I just bring it to you with
as much accuracy and unbiased talent as I have.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted September 7, 2005 |
|
January
23, 2012 |
|
On
the Wednesday of our trip… December 7, 2011… Terry,
Ellen and I went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That
night, we wandered over to the awesome holiday display,
the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. And,
right in the middle of the chaos was a retail outlet,
Youse Guys Moychundice... Enter Jamie.
|
|
January
23, 2012 |
|
In
one way, we were very lucky. People normally can be
seen staking out parade-route viewing spots well in
advance of a start time. (And I mean at least an hour
ahead of the parade, and often more.) We got off of
Peter Pan and decided our timing and place in the park
warranted going to Mickey’s PhilharMagic instead of
rushing to the parade route. As we came around the castle,
we ended up near the bridge that leads out of the center
hub and into Liberty Square… and basically had a front
row seat. That was nice.
|
|
January
23, 2012 |
|
We
only ate one meal inside the park, and that was at the
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Loved it. Just over 12 years
ago, Terry, Ellen, Richard and I went to the 50’s Prime
Time Cafe and had a great time. So, Terry and I have
been kicking around trying the Sci-Fi ever since. It
didn’t work out in 2005… long story… but this time we
got there as it opened and were able to get a table
pretty much right away despite a full log of reservations.
|
|
April
25, 2011 |
|
As
much as we enjoyed everything about the Magic Kingdom
and the rides, two things should be mentioned: (1) Recapturing
another time… a past visit… connections with family
and friends over stories and movies and any number of
emotional triggers… is an amazingly powerful element
of the Disney experience. Call it memories… call it
nostalgia… call it whatever you want… I think of my
mother and 1979 each and every time I visit “it’s a
small world” and I smile when the Jungle Cruise passes
the elephants. I’m not alone. Time can be marked by
so very many people in ways such as whether or not the
kids were kept by your side or old enough to wander
off for a time on their own.
|
|
April
25, 2011 |
|
One
of the unusual aspects of this trip involved the entire
reason for it… moving Ellen and Richard to a new home.
That meant two funny things: (1) Almost every day had
a set of unplanned plans. In other words, we had nothing
set up to actually do on most days… and yet deliveries,
cable/internet, shopping for items and other assorted
tidbits were taking place, and some on a schedule. (2)
A learning curve based off of necessity and general
conversation was taking place… maybe this store had
a chair for that desk… that looks like a department
store, but the name is one none of us are familiar with,
let’s stop and see what they sell… there’s a book I
wanted to pick up… we could use a bottle of wine for
dinner tonight… and any of a number of other boring
and everyday passing thoughts and ideas and stops. Essentially,
we were looking in plazas and at billboards and along
the side of the road. We were spotting small local sandwich
shops, national chain restaurants, and fresh fruit for
sale.
|
|
March
4, 2011 |
|
Epcot
is not a destination to toss to the side. Soarin’ may
simply be one of the best attractions in any Florida
theme park. I’m not saying it’s the most exciting… most
innovative… most creative… or even the most entertaining.
But when you combine the show content of the ride with
its overall design, toss in the ability for pretty much
the entire family to take part, and then add in the
way you feel after the experience… yeah… amazing stuff.
Plus, I guarantee you that when you unite Soarin’ with
a visit to Journey into Imagination and its play area,
you will be stunned to see the reaction you get from
children.
|
|
March
4, 2011 |
|
The
Wizarding World of Harry Potter is small, but it just
may be, by design and visual appearance, the most impressive
area of a theme park I’ve ever set foot in. The buildings
are wonderful, and do a simply brilliant job of bringing
a fantasy world most of us know from books and movies
to reality. The Butter Beer is amazing. You honestly
wish the section was larger… and undoubtedly, there
will be more of it as the years pass and additions are
made. In a word… phenomenal… breathtaking… outstanding…
pick the word, and it’s likely not good enough in describing
how impressive this area is.
|
|
March
4, 2011 |
|
This
trip to Orlando wasn’t like any other I have ever planned
or experienced. It wasn’t based around Disney World…
though we made it one of the Disney Parks, and over
to one at Universal Studios. It wasn’t based upon eating
out… though we shared some great meals at amazing restaurants.
And… As I look at my notes… recall the events… create
articles… and decide what stories to share… I keep remembering
the peanut butter dilemma.
|
|
October
26, 2010 |
|
The
problems were discovered over time. If we had walked
in and immediately seen the showerhead, and the extension
cord, and knew about the air conditioning, then sure…
maybe we would have argued more at the front desk or
tried to get our money back while changing hotels. But
instead we hadn’t jumped in the shower yet or experienced
the air conditioning… and we had returned the rental
car by the time several things became evident.
|
|
October
25, 2010 |
|
Simply
put, your day with the dolphin… whether meeting one
up close for a few minutes, playing with one in a group
swim, or experiencing any of the other exciting and
fun options… is a great day with a real dolphin. As
in… an amazing experience that doesn’t happen for most
of us every day with a real dolphin. That means other
people will be calling or will be there, and they will
be looking to set up their plans. So don’t hesitate.
|
|
October
25, 2010 |
|
Out
over the ocean side of the highway is a cloud. I point
it out to Ellen and Richard and mention it looks like
a funnel cloud. I tell them I think we’re looking at
a waterspout, while thoughts of actually seeing a tornado
race around my mind. The trouble was that the cloud
was several miles offshore. And while it looked pretty
well formed at the top, it was almost see-thru in quality
near the water. It would get a bit more defined, look
even bigger and stronger, and then kind of fade a bit.
And in questioning ourselves about it, it never really
occurred to us to pull over, wake Terry, and grab cameras.
(I have zero clue why such a sensible idea never occurred
to us.)
|
|
October
25, 2010 |
|
The
Party of 5 is… go figure… the last to board the plane.
The very last. A quick look around confirms (and both
my memory and the margins of my notes agree) these five
are the only ones standing as this event unfolds before
us. She begins this morning’s show with Act One, Scene
One ~ “There’s no place for us to sit”… always a strong
opening number and destined to be a crowd favorite from
this performance. Oh heck… here’s the Playbill
for you…
|
|
September
1, 2009 |
|
Key
West is one of those places where a sunset isn’t simply
a part of every day. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn
that “Key West Sunset” is actually a religion. And quite
worthy of such a possibility, the sunset we viewed on
the boat certainly could be credited as evidence of
a higher power.
|
|
September
1, 2009 |
|
Coopertown
itself was pretty much an accidental find for us. We
had been searching for options, wanting to combine an
airboat ride with a visit to the Everglades. Established
roughly 60 years ago, the property has an alligator
exhibit out back and a restaurant up front. It has been
used for several movies and television shoots, and…
funny enough… if I asked you to draw a picture of what
a low-key, small operation, Everglades airboat company
looked like, Coopertown is exactly the kind of small,
weathered, shack on the side of the road building you’d
place in the scene.
|
|
August
2, 2009 |
|
Richard
is talking about a pie we got from the Blonde Giraffe.
We went down to Key West and I had some notes on a few
places that all of us were interested by, which included
a few that none of us thought we had tried before in
any of our previous travels. The Blonde Giraffe was
one of these places. Key lime pie dipped in chocolate
and frozen… on a stick… oh yeah. And on our first trip
to a store, I bought a slice of the meringue pie for
later on. Once I tried it… dear lord… I had to have
more. Well, Richard happens to be a pie fan… and he
really enjoyed his slice of regular key lime pie from
our visit… so I figured I’d be safe heading back and
buying a full meringue pie. I was… we demolished that
thing. Incredible. The regular pie is good… the meringue
is a godsend.
|
|
August
2, 2009 |
|
We
arrive and go to the French Market Buffet. I have no
idea where the name came from, but there is absolutely
nothing to remind you of a French market. (Not that
I’ve ever been to an actual, in France, French market.
Just… you know… trust me. Unless some miraculous transformation
takes place around dinner service… yeah… umm, no. Nothing
French market-y.) It’s a sterile environment… lots of
tables… and several buffet stations. And while everything
looks fine in general, the reality is that the entire
production could have used some modifications… some
upgrades… some changes in… oh… say… 1983. Seriously…
it reminded me of a cafeteria from junior high school
that needed alot of work.
|
|
August
2, 2009 |
|
Ellen
takes some sort of perverse delight from her tomato
juice. It starts when she spots it on the menu… sees
it on another table… or gets confirmation from a waitress
that the restaurant does indeed offer such a delicacy.
Her eyes immediately glaze over a bit, looking remarkably
like a 6-year old that was just offered ice cream, knows
she shouldn’t be getting ice cream, and believes that
everyone else at her table is going to be jealous once
that ice cream arrives. Yeah… that’s the look. The problem
is… Terry and I figure she’s stoned. Because… let’s
be honest… it’s not ice cream. It’s tomato juice!
|
|
March
19, 2009 |
|
We
talk over some options and then head over to The Orleans…
another place we never visited on our first trip. And
this time, the first experience is going to be very
different. The
decision is quickly made to find a place to eat… we’re
all starving. After some glances around, we finally
pick Don Miguel’s Cantina… a small place featuring Mexican
food, but more importantly with a sign promising 99-cent
margaritas and half-priced appetizers. This
may have been one of the greatest accidental finds we
have ever experienced on a trip.
|
|
February
11, 2009 |
|
Including
the Grand Canyon and Route 66 were highlights of this
trip for me… and neither one was too expensive, more an
investment of time. For the money-no-object idea, I’d
go with either O or Love… you can’t
go wrong with either show.
|
|
July
27, 2010 |
|
Over
the course of our trip we actually did explore a bit more
than we expected, and visited several properties… Bally’s,
Caesars, Bogota, Harrah’s, Showboat, and Taj Mahal. Even
ate at the Rainforest Café on the last day, so
toss in Trump Plaza if you wish. And out of all of those
properties, only two were… well… I suppose clean is the
word I’m looking for.
|
|
July
26, 2010 |
|
My
lovely bride did not pour the rest of my hot chocolate
over the tank’s head the way she wanted to. And she didn’t
belt her the way she wanted to. That was probably fortunate
considering the police officers standing a few feet away
on the street. But the shove was noticeable enough that
a ring about ten people deep around cheered when my wife
pushed back and firmly said “watch it” to the little beast.
|
|
September
23, 2010 |
|
Now…
we were in Progressive Field… and when we posed the
“where would you go for lunch today” question, the answer
was apparently pretty simple.The
Winking Lizard. Diane didn’t hesitate at all.
|
|
September
23, 2010 |
|
We
drove along Grandview Avenue and stopped a couple of
times to take in the sight of the city across the Monongahela
River. The street name says it all… grand view. Simply
incredible. In a city that was filled from beginning
to end with surprises… including the amazing unveiling
of the city when using the Fort Pitt Tunnel… this was
one of the best. I’m almost ready to declare it a must-do
if you visit the city, because it really brings the
entire picture together… the rivers… the city… the sporting
venues… fantastic. Heck… let’s do it… The overlook is
a must-do when visiting the city.
|
|
|