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Below are some of my favorite places so far. Also, you
can check out my Angel Pups web site. It's what Celiene and I do when we travel :)
Even though I miss my friends and Girl Scouts in Florida, I am having a lot of fun and going to some
really awesome places. I hope we get to see all 50 states, including Hawaii. We won't drive the RV, obviously,
but maybe we can camp in a tent there!
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| This is me at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. |
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Washington was one of my favorite states because there was so much to do; the Space Needle, Science Center, Orca
Watching, and the Underground Tour all in just Seattle! We also went to Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. Seattle
uses a lot of electric buses and is a really cool place. The Science Center had a "Game On" exhibit with video games from
when even my mom was a kid. It was cool.
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The Alcan Highway was H-E-double-toothpicks! There is so much construction and gravel it was scary at times (okay...lots
of times). But, there is great scenery and a ton of wildlife; moose, elk, grizzley bears, black bears, fox, caribou, bighorn
sheep, eagles, etc, etc, etc. LOTS of picture opportunities and a cool experience for the whole family. Scary at times,
too! You might even feel sick to your stomach on the skinny roads with sharp drop-offs. When you finally get to Alaska, the
one thing on your mind is, "Will I survive the trip back?"
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| Liard Hot Springs in Canada - we stopped on the way to Alaska, and back. It was lots of fun! |
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I also liked Medicine Rocks, MT, and the Badlands, SD, because we got to climb and climb! But, White Sands,
NM, is very fun. They have big sand dunes that you can slide down on sleds! First, wax it, then, find a really steep dune,
and build a slick track by going over and over it on your sled until it's super fast. Just don't step on that trail on
the way back up; it makes the ride very rough.
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Islands of
Adventure is on the “Gotta see” list. You can’t go anywhere
without seeing a roller coaster. Ye-ha! My personal favorite one is Dueling Dragons; two roller coasters – fire or ice. I love fire; so many twists and turns. One
warning though – DON’T sit in the front! Major head bumping action
and headache afterwards. But, it looks like you’re going to run into the other people on the other dueling dragon. Wow!
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Builtmore
Estates in Asheville, NC is also on the “Gotta see” list! It’s gigantic. George Vanderbuilt
III, built his 250 room mansion from 1889-1895. It has four acres of floor space
with 33 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms, 65 fire places and three huge kitchens. He
had an indoor swimming pool and bowling alley, and all kinds of gardens. It even had a dairy farm (now a place for wine). One of the most spectacular things was the huge greenhouse where they even grew oranges! It is bigger than any house I ever lived in!
The have many exotic plants all the way from Madagascar,
and they even grow oranges! It is the most incredible estate I have ever seen.
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Congratulations Hot Springs
National Park!! You made it on Natalie’s “Gotta See” list. It
is an awesome old bath house you can walk through and explore. The girls and
boys have separate sides and there are lots of tubs and therapy pools. It’s
like paradise. The 105 degree water comes directly from the springs and it doesn’t
smell like sulpher. We even got a jug of spring water from a fountain outside
that comes from the same source. And, we earned a Junior Ranger badge. How much
better could it get?
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My Excellent Summer (2007)
We did some sweetness things
this summer! I am going to tell you about my top favorite places we went. In
first place – drum roll please – Voyageurs Ntl. Park! We stayed at an awesome resort that
has so much to do. They had small kayaks and a canoe that we took out to Echo
Island (one of Voyageurs islands).
We fished and swam and I caught about 100 leeches! Close by the resort
was this place that sold bait and there was a restaurant that had ice cream (Bait and Bite…I think), and they were humongous,
cheap, and extremely good!
Now, tied with first place
is Lumberman’s Monument in Huron Ntl.
Forest. We learned all about
logging and loggers used rivers to transport huge logs. We played tag with some other kids on the huge pile of logs (a log
jam interactive exhibit).
My second favorite thing
this summer was Greenfield Village and the
Henry Ford Museum. It had so many old and preserved houses. I didn’t get to see the oldest
surviving windmill up close, only from a train ride. We also saw Thomas Edison’s
house and laboratory, and some of his inventions, and the chair he sat on! We
rode on a Model-T, horse carriage, and an old truck. It was an great experience!
The third favorite thing
I did was visit Walnut Grove! That’s one of the places Laura Ingalls-Wilder lived. We saw a lot of her stuff and her
family’s things, like Pa’s fiddle and big coat. We also went down to Plum Creek and saw where her sod house in
the bank used to be (now a big depression in the bank). She had to walk two miles
into Walnut Grove to go to school, and wouldn’t wear her shoes in the warm weather so she could save her shoes for the
winter. I really loved seeing the places I’ve been reading about in Little
House on the Prairie books.
I had a lot of super fun
this summer and I would love to do it again!
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| Me Kayaking on Lake Kabetogama, Voyageurs Ntl. Park |
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| Lake Huron |
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| Walnut Grove, MN - Museum with Laura's things |
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| Tag on the logs at Lumberman's Monument |
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How the West Was Fun
(Fall 2007)
The number one
winner of all the best of the west is Death Valley National Park. The formations were cool, and there’s lots to do. We went on awesome hikes through
Sunset Canyon and Golden Canyon, and climbed on tall formations
for days. And, even though it looks dried up and deserted, it’s actually
very fascinating and beautiful. The colors of the rocks and formations are excellent.
We also saw coyotes, even in our campground while we played around the bushes. We heard them at night too. The Ranger Programs were cool too. We learned the 101 ways to die in the desert!
I would recommend Death Valley to everyone, but don’t go in the summer when it’s
200 degrees!
In second place was Arches National Park. Even thought there were a lot of people there, there are plenty of places
to hike, and tons of arches to look at! I loved looking at them and it is fascinating how they are mostly reddish and orange
colored. The hikes were great; not too difficult, and they have an open hike policy, except for on the arched parts because
they are too breakable and dangerous.
Third is Six Flags
Magic Mountain in California. The roller coasters were awesome,
and my favorite was DeJaVu. It wasn’t too crowded either.
Fourth is White Sands. I know, I’ve put it on my other lists, but it’s sooooo cool, that we all
had to go again. Everybody really needs to go there. It’s fun and very beautiful.
Last, I have Mesa Verde.
It’s extremely awesome how the natives made their homes in and under the cliffs. Their buildings were constructed so
well and last to this day. I liked our tour of one that we got to climb through the tunnels and openings and up and down “finger
and toe” ladders. It was really great, and kids will love that tour.
The West was definitely fun, and I’m looking forward to more adventures in the East.
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Death Valley coyotes are everywhere.
Climbing at Arches (right) was way fun!
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Mesa Verde exploring the dwellings |
The Last Summer
The last part of our trip was so much fun. I loved so much of it, but narrowed it down to my top ten.
The first is in Maryland; The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. When we went they had a program where you got to try
all sorts of instruments. I enjoyed the violin the most. Then, we saw a symphony called "Troyjam". We all sat down, then the
unthinkable happened...Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs came out to be the narrator! Afterwards we ment him and got his autograph.
Wow.
Second is the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It's not very hands-on, but they have tons of exhibits!
They have many stuffed animals and lots of amazing crystals. I really enjoyed it and any kids that like to learn about wildlife
will too.
Third is Assateaque (pronounced ass-ah-teek) Island National Seashore. I loved the wild horses...they
are beautiful! Since I love horses this adventure was spectacular. There are several herds and one was lead by a black stallion.
I would love to go again.
Fourth is Cape Cod National Seashore. The visitor center has a great touch-table, but the beaches are the
best. The rocks are beautiful and on the state owned part you can collect a few. I have one from the Atlantic side and the
Cape side. When we were swimming in the Cape water a kid came over and said, "I found a moon snail." I went over and
asked if I could hold it, and I did! I released it into deeper water, then went on swimming.
Fifth is The Newport Mansion Tour in Rhode Island. The mansions will take your breath away! The Marble House
is like 80% marble and is filled will such old stuff. One other mansion had a ceiling with gold leaf lining...real gold,
wow! They are too beautiful to describe. Your family would love it!
Moving on. Next is in Maine; Eastport. You can find so much beach glass it's not funny! I love beach glass
and stuffed my pockets. We also visited a lobster pound, and we asked to see where they hold them. We even got to pick some
up. I held one that was eight pounds. Near Eastport (in the Bay of Fundy) is North America's largest whirlpool. The largest
is called the Old Sow and the littler ones are called The Piglets. Eastport was great.
Seventh is one of the most beautiful sites in America; Niagara Falls. I enjoyed the Cave of Winds where
you go right next to Bridal Falls and get soaked! They give you sandals to wear so your regular shoes don't get wet. We also
rode the Maid of the Mist and it was spectacular floating at the bottoms of the falls. I'd like to go back one day.
Cedar Point, in Ohio, is eighth on the list. They have such good rides like Top Thrill Dragster; 150
MPH in 18 seconds. I also loved the Millenium Force roller coaster; 300 feet almost straight down! I loved all the rides and
want to do it again.
The Laura Ingalls-Wilder home in Mansfield, Missouri is ninth. This is where she wrote her books - except
The First Four Years. I loved seeing the house Almonzo built for Laura. She was very small so Almanzo built her special
cabinets and tables. Their daughter also became a writer too!
Last, but not least, is Roaring River State Park in Missouri. Our Aunt Jenny and cousin Simon visited us
there too. We first went on a hike to Devil's Kitchen and climbed on rocks. It was really fun, Then we went to the trout hatchery.
It was huge. The had all sorts of tanks for little to huge sized trout. We even got to help the employees feed them.
I would have loved to have stayed longer and seen more, but we had to move on.
I really loved this trip. It was an amazing experience and have learned so much and got to see many incredible
things. I will miss traveling, but, I cannot wait to move onto a small farm with my family. Thanks so much for
looking at my web-page, and you contact me with questions about my adventures (see the "Contact Us" web page).
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Playing the piccalo at Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts, WA D.C.
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The Eastport, ME shore where I found
tons of beach glass
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Niagara's Cave of the Winds |
Roaring River State Park, MO
My brothers and cousin Simon
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