Tennessee is really a fascinating place, particularly for history buffs. There are sites exemplifying pioneer history, the founding of the United States, the Civil War, the Great Depression, WWII, and the Civil Rights Movement – all easily accessible from Knoxville (itself named after Henry Knox, Revolutionary War hero and Secretary of War under President Washington). Most interesting to me is that America as the grand experiment - a country … [Read more...]
Bicycling the C & O Canal
Leaves crunch under our bike tires creating a mesmerizing soundtrack to this blue-sky fall day on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Trees are in their post-peak colors dropping yellow, red and orange leaves around me as I anticipate the next scenic bend in the trail and a new vista. The canal water is still on this calm day and reflects a mirror image of each tree and animal we encounter. By the end of our seven mile ride we see four snapping … [Read more...]
Pittsburgh: Land of Celebrities
I am a self-acknowledged history nerd with a film degree. I had no idea that Pittsburgh had an abundance of sites covering my two big interests - colonial and current celebrities. Mostly I am interested in the places celebrities were - so that I can stand in, sit on, or touch the same spot. I imagine I am forging a connection that transcends space and time, that the celebrity's genius energy can infiltrate my own and affect it in a positive … [Read more...]
Pittsburgh: Inspiring Awe and Nostalgia
Visit Pittsburgh. It’s a vibrant city with fantastic views and all kinds of easily accessible ways to see them, a sports legacy to envy, and vital American history. But more importantly, it is a tribute to what city government, public and private enterprise, and concerned citizens – what we, as human beings – can accomplish. In the last 50 years or so Pittsburgh has orchestrated a miraculous environmental transformation. Ride to the top of the … [Read more...]
Gliding to Confidence in Hocking Hills, Ohio
One of my favorite activities is hiking, yet I’m afraid of heights. I love trying different modes of transportation in my explorations, but I’ve been seasick on whale watching trips and catamaran booze cruises. While I’m a huge fan of beautiful views, driving in elevation, particularly if the roads wind and twist, tends to make me carsick. I generally feel colder than everyone else around me. To function at an optimal level, I need to eat more, … [Read more...]
Coming Home to Hocking Hills, Ohio
We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -- T.S. Eliot The press trip to Hocking Hills, Ohio, that I was invited to sounded like just my kind of quirky fun – visits to a washboard factory and the world’s only pencil sharpener museum, candle and pottery-making classes, off-road Segway and zipline rides, and hikes - including a haunted one … [Read more...]
A Visit to the Marconi Museum in Tustin California
When one meets founder Dick Marconi for the first time, one soon realizes just how passionate he is for both the thrill of racing and the vehicles that he has acquired over the years. But it is not only all about his personal interests - as some private car collections can become. His passion goes much deeper than that and ultimately his goal with the museum is to leverage it as a vehicle to give back to the community and help raise funds for a … [Read more...]
Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom
I first met Emily at a travel meetup in Los Angeles several years ago - I was impressed by how easily public speaking comes to her and also by the fact that she has been doing something she loves for so long (she started her website way back in 1996). She continues to be the go to person for travel tips as well as a valuable resource for family related travel questions. She is much sought after as a travel expert -regularly making appearances … [Read more...]
A Car Road Trip Travel Guide for Cincinnati, Ohio
If you happen to be passing through Cincinnati, or perhaps enjoying an adventurous excursion as a new local resident, then this definitive road trip guide will be essential for you. Travelers can enjoy beautiful horizons packed with scenic hillsides. This awe-inspiring backdrop provides an amazing canvas to showcase the architectural magnificence of the city. There are countless historical locations to gaze upon in wonderment, and the region … [Read more...]
Top 5 Romantic Destinations in Ohio
I know what you’re thinking: Ohio is not exactly synonymous with romance. But with its varied landscapes and unique regions, the Buckeye State has many idyllic places for proposals, first and second honeymoons, and weekend getaways, whether your idea of romance involves couples pampering at a luxury spa or escaping civilization at a secluded cabin in the woods. Here are five Ohio destinations where you and your partner can spark, celebrate, or … [Read more...]