Note to anyone reading this blog

I apologize for the slow down on my postings.  I have had computer issues, holidays and quite a few doctor apointments.  My husband had eye surgery this week and I am having foot surgery tomorrow.  I do not know if I will be able to post again soon or if it will be a few weeks until I can try to get back on a schedule to post about once a week.  Think good thoughts anyway!

Oregon

Antique card showing an Oregon Fir tree

When I think of Oregon I think of trees.  Early postcards that my Dad had were of giant trees in Oregon that were exchanged between his mother and friends of theirs who had moved to Oregon to work in the forests there.  When I was a little girl I enjoyed looking at his postcard collection and was fascinated by the huge trees.  I could not believe there were trees that large. 



Antique card showing grapes grown in Oregon

I traveled by train to my Mother’s home in Eugene around 1991.  It was snowing along the train route which wound through the Cascade Mountains. The snow made the view almost magical as I watched out my train window at enormous snow covered trees.   I was fascinated by the tall firs as they do not grow in Louisiana where I was living at the time.  There were also small waterfalls coming down the mountainside with icicles fringing the edges.  I spent the entire trip looking out at this wonderful landscape.

A few years later we helped my Mother move closer to family, so once again I was in Oregon.  This time we traveled by car (and moving van}.  Oregon is divided by the Cascade Mountains.  From the Pacific to the Cascade Mountains the climate is normally moist and there is a large area of rainforest near the coast.   A great amount of produce is grown in this part of Oregon because of the fertile soil, long summer sunlit days and abundant moisture.  The eastern side of the state has a high desert with little vegetation.  I was awestruck by the beauty of the forests as we traveled across the mountains and then I was shocked to see how desolate the high desert was in comparison.     

The Phantom Ship (island) in Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park has a lake with the most intense blue water I have ever seen.  The lake was formed by the prehistoric explosion of Mount Mazama.  The volcano erupted and collapsed in such a way that it formed a circular area of cliffs almost two thousand feet high which enclose the lake and a couple of islands.  The lake is the 9^th deepest lake in the world.   http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm



Hood River Valley with Mount Hood in background

Oregon has several spectacular mountains including Mount Hood and The Three Sisters, part of the Cascade Range.  The Columbia River forms the northern border between Washington state and Oregon and was the route traveled by Louis and Clark on their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase.  For outdoor exploration, history or beautiful scenery, Oregon is a great vacation destination.  Websites for more information:  http://www.oregon.com/ and http://traveloregon.com/.

Oklahoma

National Memorial and Museum
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma is the state directly west of Arkansas, where I live.  It is in the center of the United States from East to West.  It is a state that has a little bit of everything geographically.  It shares the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains with our state but also has a large area of prairie grasslands since it is in the southern edge of the Great Plains Region.  There are 50 State Parks, 6 National Parks or regions and a total of 11 different ecological areas.  Everything from scuba diving to rock climbing is available for outdoor adventure travelers.

Holy City Easter Pageant Ground
Lawton, Oklahoma - Vintage card

Route 66 – the legendary highway that linked the eastern states to the west from 1926 until 1985 – had over 400 miles in Oklahoma.   It has been called the Main Street of America, The Mother Road or the Will Rogers Highway.  It was the road used by many who migrated to California during the Dust Bowl years when severe drought struck the southeastern part of the United States.  Museums about Route 66 are in Elk City, Chandler and Clinton. 

Native American Dancer vintage postcard
 

The Trail of Tears ended in Oklahoma.  This was the largest forced migration of Native American peoples during the 19^th Century.  You will find museums in several cities in Oklahoma that chronicle this sad time in the history of our country.  There remains a large Native American population in Oklahoma who continue to follow their traditions.   Native American gatherings are held throughout the year with many of them open to those who would like to learn about their unique culture.  The Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City is held annually, a gathering of 100 or more Native American Tribes from all over the United States.  Exhibits of art are on display along with some ritual dances to observe.

The International Rodeo Association headquarters are in Oklahoma City and rodeos are major sporting events in the state.   You can find many other interesting places to visit in Oklahoma and their website is interactive so it allows you to quickly locate the places that are waiting for you to visit.  The website for tourism in Oklahoma is http://www.travelok.com .

    

 

Ohio

Church of the Steps in Cinncinnati

The New Year has arrived and I finally have my computer working again.  It still has some problems but is greatly improved.  I must tell you that Ohio is one of those states that I have driven through many times on the way to or from other places. I have never made Ohio a vacation destination although I have visited relatives living there. There are a few places that I would like to see if I could so this is another wishful thinking trip!

Like many of the States in America, the majority of Ohio is rural, small town America, surrounded by good farm land.   There are a few large metropolitan areas showcasing all the “big city” attractions – museums, art centers, theaters, sports arenas, shopping malls, zoos and other family oriented features. There are beaches along Lake Erie which forms much of the northern border of Ohio. The southeastern part of Ohio is bordered by the Ohio River. 

Vintage view: Goodyear Zeppelin Factory in Arkron

One of the most interesting places to me is the National Museum of the United States Air Force located within Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  Among many other interesting exhibits, the Air Force One Presidential Plane that was used by President John F. Kennedy is on display.  Ongoing construction will provide a new building to house the entire collection of Presidential airplanes that have been retired along with exhibits of many of the space program vehicles.  Admission is free and you might want to check out their website to see what the museum offers.  http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Baby Carriage, Zoar Village

The place my husband would love is the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  It is the ultimate destination for any true (American) football fan and is located in the Northeastern part of Ohio in the city of Canton.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland and would be my preference since I grew up during the early years of Rock and Roll,.

Many states have populations of Amish or Mennonites. Ohio has an area in north eastern Ohio where you can enjoy various tours to learn more about their culture.  They have luncheon tours to sample many of the foods that are their pride and joy.  There is also a Zoar Village south of Cleveland that was established by German Immigrants in the early 1800s.  The original buildings are open to those who are interested in seeing typical village life in earlier times.






Fountain Square - Cinncinnati

Among many other interesting places to see I would especially enjoy a visit to Ravenwood Castle and Medieval Village near New Plymouth, Ohio.  There is a Great Dining Hall, a pub with craft beers and various accommodations including suites in the castle, Village cottages, Gypsy wagons, and fairy tale cabins .  Their website is http://www.ravenwoodcastle.com

I would also enjoy seeing the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, located in Cincinnati.   To find the spots that intrigue you, visit http://www.discoverohio.com  and explore all that Ohio has to offer.

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I finally received a replacement for my dinosaur computer.  It is going to take a week or two for me to get my son or daughter to get it all fixed up for me.  It will probably be after January 1st before I can get another page ready for my blog.  Please bear with me...at almost 74, it is not always easy to switch to newer technology but I am working on it.

North Dakota

North Dakota is one of those big, quiet, “wide open spaces” states near the Canadian border.  It sometimes has the coldest weather in the United States during the winter and on occasion has heavy flooding due to the snow melt in the spring.  It is primarily an agricultural state, located in the Great Plains region.  More sunflowers are grown here than anywhere else in the country and the state is the leader in quite a few other crops.  It is probably the least touristy state of all but that doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer. 

Multi View Card from North Dakota (my only postcard)

It may not have the glitz of New York City, the excitement of Disneyland, the awesomeness of the Grand Canyon or the Redwoods of California but North Dakota has a mixture of some of the best people who emigrated from other countries. Many from Northern Europe settled in the Red River Valley, fertile farm land.  These original settlers brought with them the hardworking ethic that built this country to be strong, striving to provide a good life for all.  The residents of North Dakota have the highest rate of church attendance in the United States.  

The original peoples here were Native Americans.  Scandinavians in large numbers arrived along with other Europeans to settle this land because it was good farmland, similar in climate to their native homelands.  Today you can enjoy their history at the Scandinavian Heritage Park which includes a full sized replica of a stave church.  At the end of September each year a festival called Norsk Hostfest is held to celebrate their pioneer ancestors.  Almost 80 percent of the current population of North Dakota is either German or Norwegian.

In late November one year the Amtrak train I was traveling on stopped in Fargo for a ten minute stop.  It was cold and snowing but the most popular place was an ice cream stand right by the train tracks.  These are hardy people who are used to a cool climate and don’t let a little cold air get in the way of having an ice cream treat.  

The International Peace Garden is located on the border with Canada near Dunseith, North Dakota, about 110 miles northeast of Minot.  In 2002 a 9/11 Memorial was constructed and added to the park, using ten girders from the ruins of the World Trade Center.     http://www.peacegarden.com/sights.htm

Lewis and Clark spent more time in North Dakota than any other state on their legendary trip to explore the western United States.  Museums and Interpretive or Visitors Centers allow tourists to follow in their footsteps. Teddy Roosevelt National Park includes three separate areas of “Badlands” from the western part of the state.  Other interesting places to visit showcase dinosaurs and albino Buffalo.  To find other gems in North Dakota check out their website at http://www.ndtourism.com

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.