I have been to all states (expect Hawaii) plus Puerto Rico, 10 Canadian Provinces, Mexico, Central and South America as well as several Caribbean Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Last year we travelled through 11 European Countries. And, we hope to do more travelling in the future. We visited an inactive volcano which is now very active (on the island of Montserrat). And, we were part of a small group who visited Three Mile Island (Unit 2) during an open house for employees, and stood in the reactor building (before the TMI Nuclear Accident). No one can return to either of these two places. Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Volcano is now active, and Unit 2 reactor building is cemented shut, forever. When we visited we had no clue about how dangerous these places were about to become!
When I was a child, we went on vacations and weekend trips camping using our station wagon and a tent. We went to the Delaware and Maryland Beaches every summer, often renting an apartment or cottage for vacations or camping at Indian River. Atlantic City was an easy day trip from Lancaster County, but was known for its boardwalk and the Steel Pier, rather than the beach (and there was no gambling, yet!). I was to all the New England States very early in my childhood, and I remember them well. We visited Watkins Glen, and Thousand Islands in NY and camped there. Niagara Falls was a cool place to visit, and I urge everyone to visit at least once in their life. On a return trip, we were delighted by the People Movers that take you all around the sites on the Canadian Side of the falls for one small price. Loved the Green Mountains of NH, and the maple syrup candy in Vermont, as well as the history in and around Boston, MA. We drove out on Cape Cod. Never spent a lot of time in RI, but I understand the beaches are nice. Maine is a huge state and is where Rt. 1 begins on the east coast, and goes down to Key West, FL. Much of it is now Interstate, I believe.
We had friends in Salemburg, NC (near Fayetteville) and we spent
a few summers visiting them on a tobacco farm. It was hard work,
and hot, but we kids had lots of fun. We also loved camping along the Skyline Drive in VA. The Luray Caverns in VA is one of the finest anywhere. Travelling down the Blue Ridge Parkway brings you into the Great Smoky Mountains in TN. Washington, DC, is a great place to visit any time of the year. There is great access to the city and famous attractions parking in the suburbs of MD or VA and taking the Metro.
Just recently we stopped in Charleston, SC, and visited Patriots
Point which is where the Yorktowne, and Laffey are on display,
as well as several other naval vessels. It is worth a stop.
Florida: first vacation with our new travel trailer
When I was a teenager in PA, my parents bought a 15 foot travel trailer. It was a 1957 Metzendorf, and the only one I have ever seen with that name. One of the first trips we took was to Florida in 1958.
I remember having $20.00 to spend on the trip (2 weeks). I was good at budgetting money, because we got to the Florida state line (where you can get fresh orange juice at the Welcome Center), with all my money. We stopped at St. Augustine, drove on the beach at Daytona, and headed for Miami. In the Miama area, we stopped at the Parrot Jungle and every "snake and alligator" place along the highway. Not too sure where we stayed except for one buggy night at Everglades National Park. We took the Tamiami Trail over to the Gulf Coast, where we visited Cypress Gardens, and Wikiwatchee.
Heading West
Our next big trip was July 1959. My Dad planned a trip so we could get to all the states we had not been to on previous trips. We left Lancaster County, PA and headed out the PA Turnpike to Ohio. I slept in the back of the station wagon until day break. Heading out what is now I-70, the old road (Rt. 40?) went through Columbus, Ohio and on to Indianapolis, IN, through
IL to St. Louis, MO, where we crossed the mightly Mississippi River. From there we headed to Oklahoma City, OK and on to Amarillo, TX. After Albuquerque, NM we crossed the Continental Divide for the first time, and headed into AZ to see the Petrified Forest and to stop at the Grand Canyon. Las Vegas, Nevada, was next on our list of stops, before we headed into California. We spent three days in LA, our longest stopover of the trip. One day we spent at Disneyland (there wasn't a Disney World in FL, yet). The next day we went to Knott's Berry Farm, and the third day we went to Mexico (Tijuana). Then we drove up the coastal highway (Rt. 1) to San Francisco and on up to camp at beautiful Crater Lake. From there we headed to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, WA where they were hosting the World's Fair. From there we drove to Spokane,
WA and through a little section of Idaho and some of Montana on the way to Glacier National Park (which has absolutely beautiful scenery). Then we headed to Yellowstone, where we camped for a day or two. But, it was July
and the heat and the sulfur smell made me sick. I longed to be back in the cool, clean mountains of Montana! I remember swimming after arriving at night in Great Salt Lake, which was warm and, of course, extremely salty! From SLC we headed for Denver,
CO and the Rocky Mountains where there was still snow on some of the mountains in July. We stayed south of Denver in Colorado Springs visiting the Air Force Academy, and a ghost town. From there is was a long trip across the flat lands and flowers of Kansas, and back to St. Louis and home. It was a long trip, but
one I will never forget. We did it all in four weeks, and without air conditioning. I hope to make this trip again. But this time we will definately have air conditioning, and take more time to be able to stop and smell the roses.
We also had relatives in ND, whom we visited on one of our vacations. We stopped in Battle Creek, Michigan to visit the Kellogg's factory. Then travelled to Wisconsin to visit the Dells--very interesting place to see by boat. We also saw awesome Mount Rushmore, and then continued on to the Badlands in SD. They are aptly named. Unique, but very hot, especially in July! Also enjoyed the visiting the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.
My second trip to Michigan was when John and I were married. We spent our honeymoon in Bay City, MI, on Lake Huron.
We celebrated our first anniversary in Newfoundland, Canada; and we have been on the go ever since...
© 1998-2001 JKH
