Indiana

Vintage Indiana Map Postcard

Indiana is a farming and manufacturing state that also promotes tourism.  There are many family friendly places to visit, sites for vehicle and railroad enthusiasts, wine tours, culinary tours, art exhibits, outdoor sports, and so much more.   

 

The population of Indiana includes many Amish who live a simple life, farming and remaining as self sufficient as possible.  You can see their horse drawn carriages when they travel to town to buy supplies or sell their surplus produce.   Farmers markets are common since Indiana has a large area of farmland.  The quilt gardens and murals are among the interesting sights during the summer along the Heritage Trail driving tour through the Amish countryside.



Statue of the Virgin Mary
University of Notre Dame

 Indiana is the proud state for the Indianapolis 500 – one of the most famous American races.  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is legendary and The Hall of Fame Museum there showcases trophies and racecars since the Speedway opened in 1909.  The exhibits usually include about 75 vehicles.

There are many colleges and universities in Indiana including Purdue, Indiana University and Notre Dame along with many others.







Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
1969 American Oil Company Postcard

Along the shore of Lake Michigan you can experience the sand dunes and sandy beaches at The Indiana Dunes State Park which is inside the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  They have a website to introduce you to the variety of places to see and activities within the park:  http://www.indianadunes.com

The Covered Bridge Capitol of the World is in Parke County in western Indiana.   There are 30 covered bridges in a driving tour.  Fall is the best time to enjoy the bridges, the fall foliage and the annual Covered Bridge Festival. 



Hoosier Dome, home of Indianapolis Colts,
renamed the RCA Dome in 1994,
demolished in 2007 to expand Convention Center 



As always, I suggest you check out the state website for tourists which is:  http://www.visitindiana.com 

They have a very interesting website with trip ideas, an events calendar and guides to dining, entertainment and lodging.

Moving time

It has been crazy around here lately.  We just got back from helping our daughter move to a new apartment to find that our son decided to move to an apartment also.  Hopefully it's about calmed down and no one else plans to move soon.  I apologize for taking so long to get the next state posted but I hope you understand we have been very busy.

Illinois

Vintage - North Outer Drive
and Skyline of Chicago

Illinois State Capitol and
 Statue of Abraham Lincoln

Illinois is the land of many things…cornfields, college towns, river cities, the home of Abraham Lincoln, wine country, LGBT travel, the beginning of the famous Route 66 and of course, Chicago, one of America’s big cities.  I think of Illinois as both a Midwest state and a Great Lakes state because of its location.  There are several regions of Illinois, each with something special to see. 

One of my favorite places is in Pontiac where we toured the Route 66 Museum.  The highway connected Chicago and Los Angeles prior to the Interstate Highway System.   I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s so Route 66 was the highway we traveled on when our family moved to California and the times we traveled back to see my grandparents.  I remember many of the little motels, the diners and of course the attractions along the side of the road.  My Dad called them tourist traps and we seldom stopped.  Every once in a while he would give in to our pleas and we were able to see these wonderful places.  A shop in the shape of a huge teepee was one that I thought was great.  Route 66 was a fun highway.  If you have ever seen the movie Cars then you will have a better understanding of why so many Americans love this highway. 

1960s Fun Map of Illinois

The western border of Illinois is the Mississippi River and there is a scenic byway for those who would like to travel by car alongside the great river.  Much of the state is farmland with corn and soybeans as the main crops.  There are no mountains in Illinois although there is an area in the northern portion that is higher in elevation than the remainder of the state. 

In Peoria, the Caterpillar Company has a visitors’ center which includes a theater inside a two story mining truck that they manufacture.  There is a modest fee but children are free with the purchase of adult tickets.  Little boys love tractors and big trucks and this is the place for a little boy to be amazed.



Museum of Science and Industry
Vintage mini folder of Chicago



Chicago is on Lake Michigan so it boasts water attractions like the Navy Pier as well as the Magnificent Mile for those who love to shop.   Special events and Festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate almost everything.  Like most big cities, Chicago has much to offer from historic places to great museums, gardens, parks, unique neighborhoods and big league sports teams. I really enjoyed the Museum of Science and Industry.  It is an excellent place to spend an afternoon.   

As always, my recommendation is to check out the website for up to date information if you plan to visit Chicago or Illinois.  Their website is:  http://www.enjoyillinois.com/ .

Idaho



Vintage Postcard of Idaho Falls



Idaho is one of those states that I have gone through several times but not toured or stayed in for any length of time.  It is a beautiful state with enormous amounts of wilderness that have not been developed or changed much by human intrusion.   It has the grandeur of several mountain ranges, huge wilderness areas, National Forests, caves, high desert areas, hot springs, a multitude of rivers and lakes scattered from one end of the state to the other.   When I think of how our country must have been when the pioneers first saw it, Idaho is one of the states that I think about.  If you are looking for outdoor adventure land, Idaho is an ideal place to visit.  Sun Valley is perhaps its most famous ski area but there are countless places to explore, hike, fish, hunt or just bask in the sun.






Vintage Map Postcard 



There are many small towns but also cities ranging from 30,000 people to over 200,000 in Boise, the capitol city.  In America it seems every town or city is proud of their own place so there are monuments, museums and “sights to see” everywhere.





Idaho is one of several western states that allow you to see what the Wild West really was like.  There you can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they made their way through the wilderness to the Pacific Ocean.  The Oregon Trail passed through Idaho and many pioneers struggled to achieve a new beginning along this way.  There were gold miners who tried to find their fortune, ranchers and farmers who settled this state.

 Potatoes are a main crop in Idaho as this
vintage humorous postcard shows.

I do believe that the explorers and pioneers who first crossed and settled this land had a wonderful imagination and sense of humor.  The names of many places in Idaho are intriguing to me.  The Bitterroot Mountains, Hell’s Dam, Seven Devils Canyon, Heaven’s Gate Mountain, Sawtooth Mountains, Lost River Range, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Snake River, Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness are some of the more interesting place names.  The name tells you there must be a story behind the naming of each place. 

If you want to explore Idaho, then explore their website first to see the variety available.  The website for Idaho tourism is http://www.visitidaho.org . 

Surprise Trip

I am leaving in the morning, traveling to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I am going to help my daughter move to a new apartment.  Since I will be away for a few days, I am posting another state - Idaho - a bit earlier than planned.  It may be ten days or so before I am able to post Illinois but I will work on it as soon as I return.

Hawaii

Multi View of Hawaii

Hawaii is a state that I would love to visit.  Since I have never been there I can only tell you what I would love to see if I traveled there someday.  In my mind, Hawaii is a tropical paradise with many unique features. 



Waikiki View (1981)



I would love to see the black sand beaches.  With over 750 miles of coastline, there are many beaches with sand colors ranging from white to green to black. The ever changing coastline must make each beach unique.  Some must have gentle waves if the surroundings protect the beach.  In other places the ocean must be wild and exciting.  The endless waves of the Pacific must be why so many surfers love Hawaiian beaches.   

I would love to see the coral reef and the marine life near it if I could learn how to scuba dive.  How marvelous it must be to see in the clear waters.

I think it is fascinating that this one state has a climate that varies from tropical to Alpine and from dry to wet, depending upon which side of the island you are on.   To enjoy warm temperature all year, yet see the tops of the mountains (volcanoes) with snow caps during the winter has to be amazing.

Plantation Crop - Pineapples

Museums are usually some of my favorite places to visit but it would be hard to be indoors in such a beautiful place with daily warm weather.  There is a Tropical Botanical Garden which would be a favorite place for me since I love flowers and gardens.  To see the abundance of plant life and also to tour a pineapple plantation would be interesting.

I’d like to see a volcano from a safe distance since I am not much of a risk taker.  It must be thrilling to watch the lava flow into the edge of the sea, forming new land. 

I’m the kind of traveler who would rather stroll around a small Hawaiian town to see how it would feel to live there than to travel from one tourist site to another.  I would of course enjoy the scenery and I feel sure Hawaii has many spectacular places to see.     



Poynesian Cultural Center



If I could, a cruise to each island would be a marvelous experience, especially if I could see dolphins and whales along the way.



I would like to pay my respects at the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor at the memorial there.



There is so much to see in Hawaii and these are just a few of the ones that I think I would enjoy the most.  If you are able to plan a trip to Hawaii, your list might be very different.  To plan a great trip there, check out their website at http://www.gohawaii.com .