"There are places I remember...."
In keeping with the theme of expanding one's personal universe, this page is basically a list and short observations of places I have been.

Most importantly - links to sites are included to provide information to help someone make that "first step in a journey of a thousand miles" to see what's around the next bend, over the next hill, beyond those far waves...
By the way - except for one destination - these were all "road trips" (many in our '95 SL2 Saturn) - tiring, yes - but definitely lets you get a sense of the land and culture.

Don't be too disappointed... I'm not a world traveler... If you are - then you're very fortunate. Share some of your experiences with someone. Some of the most interesting things I've learned are from people who have "been there, done that" sharing observations from a personal viewpoint which makes it all the more real for me when I see or hear about it in a book, movie, or television documentary, etc...

... And if you don't have the time and resources to travel - today's technology and media, allows you to at least get a tantalizing glimpse of far off lands and cultures. No - it's not the same as being there... but it's still a journey for the mind and soul.


Redwoods, Big Sur, Golden Gate Bridge- A trip to see distant relatives with my parents and grandmother when I was a teenager. I'd like to take my wife to see the redwoods and NW coastal region. The bridge was fogged in when I rode over.
The Ozarks, AR, MO, OK - Ancient forested mountains - My Dad took autumn pictures that would rival New England.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, NC- "One impulse from a vernal wood may teach you more of man, of moral evil or of good, than all the sages can." Wordsworth
... and waterfalls... well worth the hikes..
Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge Parkway - Try to avoid the fog (difficult). Other wise - the views can be spectacular.
Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, AZ - As awe inspiring as the Grand Canyon in its colors. Splendid Desolation. Gorgeous "Badlands".
Meteor Crater, AZ - Just 10 miles off Interstate 40 on the way to Flagstaff, AZ. Don't miss it.
Montezuma's Castle, AZ - An excellent example of SW Native American cliff dwellings.
Wupatki Monument, AZ - More ancient ruins - a small "town". The sky and land seems to go on forever.
The Grand Canyon, AZ - Unbelievable colors... and snow on the South Rim in mid October... I've seen the Canyon twice. Once with my parents and grandmother as a teenager and later, a lifetime goal became reality by sharing it with my wife. I'd promised her I'd take her to see it...."It's big!"
Sunset Crater, AZ - A huge volcanic cinder cone. Climbed a nearby forested cinder cone and got a view of the snow covered San Francisco Peaks (possibly the entire range is a remnant of a monstrous volcanic St. Helen's type eruption - Lava flows, and fantastic geology.
Carlsbad Caverns, NM - The view of El Capitan Peak of the Guadalupe Mountains on the way from El Paso,TX is spectacular. The cave formations were highlighted by subtly dramatic lighting without being garish. Because of it's sheer size I never felt claustrophobic. We missed the bats - oh well - next time.
Niagra Falls, Canada - We stayed on the Canadian Side - the best views. We took a bus tour the first day to get our bearings and then the next couple of days we drove to Lakes Erie and Huron, did the Maid of the Mist boat ride - went behind the falls, took pics from an observation tower, saw the down river rapids up close... won a few "Loonies and Twoonies" at a casino, and met some nice Canadians "Aay". A really relaxing trip.
MISCELLANOUS:
Walt Disney World - Universal Studios - Sea World, Orlando, FL - Pretty obvious we haven't grown up yet (GOOD for us!). Lots of fun! (and tired feet!).
Cape Kennedy Space Center - FL, Naval Aviation Museum- Pensacola FL, Air Force Armament Museum- Clearview, FL, Vicksburg,MS Battlefield, Chalmette Battlefield- New Orleans, LA, two or three Civil War forts in Central and SE LA and NW FL. (I saw Gemini 5 launched from Cape Canaveral/Kennedy when I was a teenager.) Battleship Alabama, Mobile AL, Carrier Lexington (port visit to New Orleans)
Worlds Fair, 1984 New Orleans, LA - My wife LOVED (NOT!) the gondola ride across the Mississippi River (I'll never ride in a cramped space with a claustrophobic over a deep river again!!!!!)
San Diego - Business trip. Flew first commercial jet flights. I had the window seat and I saw most of the southern leg of the road trip my wife and I had made just 5-6 months before. I even recognized El Capitan Peak of the Guadalupe Mountains . We stayed at the U.S. Grant Hotel. Took the excellent San Diego bus system everywhere...Went to the beach. San Diego Zoo - POLAR BEARS (Coooll!)
The Audubon Zoo and New Orleans Aquarium - each worth a day to themselves.

Our personal favorite getaway: Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach FL - Sea, sand, and sky. Always different - always beautiful.


More to come - I hope - and a trip wish list....