North Carolina

Multi View Greetings from North Carolina

North Carolina is an enchanting state to me.  The state is one of the original 13 colonies and has a long history.  From the Atlantic coastal areas to the mountains in the western part of the state, North Carolina has a wide variety of beautiful landscapes, a number of vibrant modern cities and a multitude of interesting towns.  One glance at The Smoky Mountains and you realize they are aptly named.  The popular movie “The Hunger Games” had many of its filming location sites in North Carolina. 

Although I have traveled through the state many times, the western mountain region is the area I am most familiar with.  Nestled in the Smoky Mountains, each of the mountain towns seems to have its own character.   

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina

Several years ago my husband and I toured the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  For anyone who enjoys exploring castles and mansions, this one is unique with many stories to explain the history of the building or the reasons for the décor of each room.  The grounds and the gardens are at their best in spring and early summer, but enjoyable year around.  Not far to the west of Asheville is the Cherokee Reservation which includes a welcome center, the Oconaluftee Indian Village, a museum, various demonstrations, pottery classes and other activities.  I enjoyed the time we were there but would enjoy another visit to see more.   

Grove Park Inn - Asheville, North Carolina

Last year was my most recent trip to North Carolina, when once again I found interesting places to explore.   We took the trolley tour around Asheville and found the River Arts District area where you can learn to make blown glass items, the downtown Art Deco section including an area where some of the buildings are replicas of the New York Times Square area, the Biltmore Village, boutique shops near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn and several historic areas.    The Trolley Tour was great because you are allowed to hop on and off so you can take your time in each area and then just take the next trolley to another area.  In the downtown Grove Arcade we discovered a wonderful Italian restaurant with excellent sandwiches for lunch.  

Patton Avenue looking west in Asheville, North Carolina

 

The lovely water color postcards in this post are ones I purchased on our last trip.  They are reproductions of original painting by Ann Vasilik.  

For more information on the beaches of the coastal area, the craft beer or tobacco road tours, wineries or the many attractions in the cities of North Carolina, visit the website at http://www.visitnc.com/ for all the places to see in North Carolina.  Each of the cities and the Cherokee Nation also have a website for more detailed information.

New York

I apologize for taking so long in posting this.  I have had 5 hospital visits for 3 different family members in the last couple of months so it kept me away from my computer.  Thankfully everyone is doing well now and life can return to normal.

New York City Views

New York City is only one of many cities in the state of New York but it does hold the majority of the population and it certainly is well known all over the world.  New York City is spectacular but the rest of the state has a wide variety also.  There is something for everyone – the outdoor enthusiast, the art lover, the history buff or the family looking for places for the kids to enjoy.  This postcard shows the places that were the most important tourist attractions during the 1960s - Rockefeller Center, The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building and The United Nations Building.

Multi View Greetings from the Adirondacks

We drove across New York State whenever we visited my brothers who live in Michigan.  About fifty years ago, we were a young family and decided to go camping first on our way to see them.  We chose Lake George, one of the largest lakes in New York State.  It is a beautiful lake that forms part of the border between Vermont and New York. We apparently picked the one week in the twentieth century when the camping park we chose at Lake George received some form of rain for the entire week.  It made for a memorable vacation week since our camping was done in a tent!  It never got warm enough that week to put on bathing suits and try the beach although we could see the beach and the lake from the door of our tent.  It was beautiful even through the drizzle and the downpours. 

Lake George View

We mastered the art of building a fire and cooking over a campfire in the rain. We explored the many tourist attractions in the area during the day, especially those inside buildings!  When we broke camp on the last day, it was in a pouring rain so my husband just wadded the tent up as fast as he could and shoved it into the back of our station wagon.  That afternoon as we were nearing Lake Erie State Park we began to think about that wet tent and wonder if we were going to be able to sleep in it that night.  Amazingly, it was completely dry; however, our camp site was a large mud puddle and it took some work to drain it, put up the tent and build a bridge over the mud to make our fire close enough to the tent door to cook supper!  When you’re young and low on funds you learn quickly how to make the best of your situation. 

Night View of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is like The Grand Canyon.  You have to just stand and stare when you first see it as it fills your entire viewpoint at once.  I think many places where we see the wonders nature creates leave us speechless and in awe.   The Niagara Falls area and The Catskill Mountains are both well known as honeymoon destinations. Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964.   The Erie Canal was called the Eighth Wonder of the World when it was constructed in 1880.  The Adirondack Park is the largest State Park in the United States and was established in 1883.  The list of special places to see goes on and on.  Check out the websites to find the places that fill your dreams for a vacation spot, whether it is an outdoor athlete’s dream, an art lover’s dream or one for a history buff.