Attractions

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Ocracoke Island, an isolated 16-mile long strip of sand that is home to only 800 residents, is perhaps the most fascinating destination on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Historically a fishing and whaling village, this tiny island was so remote and isolated from the rest of civilization that native O’Cockers developed a unique manner of speaking.

Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum. Photo courtesy of www.ncbeaches.com.

I first learned about this some years ago when I visited the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum. Housed in a historic white clapboard house, the museum contains historic furnishings; artifacts from Fort Ocracoke, a Confederate Civil War fort that was abandoned and destroyed; and displays about whaling and commercial fishing, which was for 250 years the lifeblood of the community. But the most fascinating feature of the museum is the “Brogue Room,” which contains extensive research about the unique linguistics of the island and features a video of native O’Cockers speaking in their unique accent.

The first time I pulled up a metal folding chair to watch the video, I was shocked. While much of what they said was unintelligible due to the thick brogue, some of the words were completely familiar to me. A “dingbatty” was a foolish person and “katty-whompus” meant to cross (a road) in a diagonal direction. Fascinated, I began reading the displays to determine if there was a reason I knew these words. I soon had my answer. The earliest residents of Ocracoke were fishermen who emigrated from southwestern England. This is where my grandmother was born and it must have been she who handed down these words to me, through my mother.

The isolation of the island began changing a number of years ago when the State instituted a ferry service. Soon, tourists were flocking to Ocracoke and the old way of life began to disappear. Today there are only a few remaining O’Cockers who speak in the old brogue, and most of them refuse to speak to tourists. Indeed, when I lived on the Outer Banks, I frequently spent weekends on Ocracoke and was often subject to this treatment – O’Cockers will pretend they are deaf if you speak to them. Fortunately, the O’Cocker language will be forever preserved through the efforts of the Ocracoke Museum.

The museum is open weekdays from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. during the off-season. From Easter to Thanksgiving, it is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee, however donations are gratefully accepted. Although many visitors to the island are day trippers, the numerous attractions on Ocracoke Island can easily justify a weekend stay, if not an entire week.

Wedding photos at Pulgas Water Temple

A gorgeous backdrop often used for wedding photos, the Pulgas Water Temple on Canada Road in Woodside is also a lovely location for a picnic or afternoon visit.

Built to commemorate the 1934 completion of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, the Pulgas Water Temple was designed in the Beaux Art style by San Francisco architect William Merchant. The temple is made up of fluted columns arranged in a circle, with the words “I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people” in the frieze above.

My favorite part of the Pulgas Water Temple is the reflecting pool in front of the temple, and the expanse of grass behind the pool. On Sunday afternoons, we like to ride our bikes up Canada Road, on Bike Sunday (when the road is closed to car traffic) and stop at the Pulgas Water Temple for a picnic and rest.

Reflecting Pool

You can also hike to the Pulgas Water Temple from Edgewood and Canada Roads. The three-mile hike starts at the stone gates and finishes in the temple parking lot. And if you are driving, exit 280 at Edgewood Road and go west. Turn north on Canada Road for 2 miles to the Pulgas Water Temple on the left.

However you decide to travel, be sure to visit this lovely gem in San Mateo County.

National Road Marker

by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children

If you’re traveling through Ohio on Interstate 70, why not consider driving off to the now-less-traveled road that’s a piece of our nation’s history?

Site of First Traffic Fatality in Ohio

The National Road, begun in 1806, was one of America’s first “highways.”  By leaving the Interstate and traveling on U.S. 40, or better yet, getting a local guide that outlines the original road and its historic points, you can imagine what travel was like in days gone by.

Brick Section of National Road

Drive across an “S” bridge, remembering to stop and read why the bridges were designed in this way.  See how well your car does on a narrow brick road.  See toll houses and sites important to Civil War personnel.  Learn about early traffic fatalities.  Look for the white markers that showed a traveler’s location, as well as distances to other cities.  Learn about Zane Grey and John Glenn and others who lived in the area.  All the while, take the time to enjoy the drive through Ohio instead of rushing through on the expressway.

To learn more about the National Road, visit the National Road/Zane Grey Museum in Norwich, OH.  Guernsey County offers a detailed driving guide to its section of the road.

What interesting things have you found off the beaten path?

S-Bridge at New Concord, OH

Photo credits:  minnemom

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

It had been years since I visited Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a wonderful outdoor tide pool and marine reserve on the San Mateo Coast, just north of Half Moon Bay, along highway 1. Well known as a destination for school children, it is also an interesting stop for any marine science enthusiasts.

The Tidepools at Fitzgerald

Before going, be sure to check the online tide chart, as it is not worth visiting unless the tide is low. When the tide is low, you can walk out and visit the tide pools, checking out starfish, sea anemones, hermit crabs and other creatures. Across the waves, we also spotted several harbor seals lounging in the sun.

Harbor Seals Basking in the Sun

Established in 1969 by James F. Fitzgerald, the reserve has deep historical importance for the area. Moss Beach is the site of several important fossil discoveries, including a baleen whale, estimated to be between 2 and 5 million years old. As you look up at the cliffs from the beach, you are drawn to think about how the coast has changed over these many years.

Cliffs and Beach at Fitzgerald

For picnicking, check out the tables near the ranger station at the top of the hill, or bring your picnic down to the beach. The beach is also lovely for walking, flying a kite, or building sand castles. Do not, however, bring your dog – they are not allowed on the beach and in the tidepools!

Starfish

Hermit Crab?

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

The original photo, titled "The Kiss," shows a soldier kissing a nurse in Times Square at the end of WWII. Photo courtesy of Alfred Eisenstaedt.

"Unconditional Surrender" by sculptor J. Seward Johnson. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Season of Sculpture.

At the end of WWII, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped a now famous photo of a sailor kissing a young nurse in New York’s Times Square. In 2005, when artist J. Seward Johnson was invited to participate in the annual exhibition of large scale sculptures displayed along the Bayfront in Sarasota, Florida, he decided to recreate the photo in a 26-foot high Styrofoam sculpture. The piece, named “Unconditional Surrender” by Seward, was so popular that local residents attempted to keep it in Sarasota permanently, but they were unable to find enough donors to pay for the sculpture. Recently, a new aluminum version returned to Sarasota, where it is scheduled to remain until March 2009. However this time Sarasota Season of Sculpture, the non-profit group that sponsors the event, is determined to keep the sculpture in Sarasota.

To do so, the organization will need to raise $675,000. The hundreds of people who stop every day to see the sculpture and have their photo taken in front of it may have given SSoS the germ of an idea; they are inviting  couples to renew their wedding vows at 10 a.m. on Valentine’s Day 2009. Billed as “A Monumental Valentine’s Kiss,” every participating couple will receive a certificate of remarriage and be photographed sharing their own kiss under the sculpture. The $100 tax deductible cost per couple will be used toward the purchase of the monument.

Couples who wish to participate in the event  can call Sarasota Season of Sculpture offices at 941-366-7767 or sign up online at the Sarasota Season of Sculpture events page. The sculpture is located at U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) and the Ringling Causeway, at the beginning of Sarasota’s Bayshore Park, which offers walking paths, restaurants, boating, fishing and is adjacent to Sarasota’s historic downtown. A number of hotels are located in and around the downtown area, as are numerous entertainment options, including cinemas, theaters, the Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Symphony, G.Wiz Science Center, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, and the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art.

by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be looking for something just a little different to show that someone special your love.  Why not consider going off the beaten path and visiting someplace that is romantic, at least in name?  I’ll provide the location ideas, and you provide the rest.

Disclaimer:  All of the places listed here are actual geographic designations and can be found using Google Maps.  That doesn’t mean they’ll be big or beautiful.  Sometimes a “town” has a name even if it’s two houses and an old barn.  Use your imagination and say you took your date to Valentine or proposed in Love.  No one has to know the details of the spot but you!

If a Valentine is your style, try one of these:

• Valentine, Texas
• Valentine, Nebraska
• Valentine, Arizona

Are you more about Love? Then maybe

• Love, Mississippi
• Love, Kentucky

If you’re all Heart, you might like

• Heart, Arkansas

Or if you’re a romantic, perhaps

• Romance, Arkansas
• Romance, West Virginia
• Romance, Missouri
• Romance, Wisconsin

If none of these work for you, perhaps you can take your loved one on a romantic getaway somewhere else.  Wherever you go, whatever you do, enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

Photo Credits: Rose: kalandrakas, Love: sister72, Valentine Snowflake: terren in Virginia.

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

View of the theater from the stage. Photo courtesy of the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art.

For such a small town, Sarasota, Florida has an uncommonly large number of theaters and other cultural venues. Among these are a number of historical facilities, including the Historic Asolo Theater at the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art. The Asolo theater was originally built in 1798 in honor of Catherine Cornaro, legendary 15th century bride of James II, the King of Cyprus. It was a popular venue, hosting some of the greatest theatrical performers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, until it was dismantled by the Fascist regime in Italy in the 1930’s.

The figure of Queen Caterina Cornaro above the "royal box" suggested that she was viewing a command performance. Photo courtesy of Whitney Cox.

A Venetian collector/dealer, Adolph Loewi, purchased the theater and stored it in his personal collection. In 1952, the Ringling Museum of Art purchased the theater and brought it to Sarasota. Following a painstaking process that restored it to its former glory, the theater became home to a summer company founded by faculty of Florida State University.

Today the Historic Asolo Theater functions as a performing arts venue, with a calendar of seasonal events that includes theater, music, dance, film, and lectures. While the performances are always top quality, it is worth the price of admission just to see the exquisitely restored interior.

Theater-goers check out the exquisitely restored interior of the theater. Photo courtesy of Barbara Weibel at holeinthedonut.com.

The theater is located on the grounds of the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, located on the Tamiami Trail (US Route 41) at University Blvd. in north Sarasota.

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

In the middle of San Francisco’s South of Market area is Yerba Buena Gardens, with enough activities to keep families, adults and visitors happy for days.

Looking toward YBCA and SF MOMA

Divided up in two main areas, the lower area is surrounded by Metreon, an entertainment and technology marketplace and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. At the YBCA, take in one of the ODC shows or participate in a join-along on the outdoor stage. At the Metreon, take time to explore the various exhibits and shops, or take in a movie at the Century Theaters upstairs.

During the warmer months, grab a seat on the grass and enjoy a picnic or relax in the sun. Don’t miss the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at the end of the grass area – be sure to take a meditative walk through the waterfalls, stopping to read the inspiring messages.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Across the bridge, as you walk over Harrison Street, marvel at the traffic and excitement of the road below you. On the other side awaits a wonderland of things to do, including Zeum, the museum devoted to technology and creativity, a carousel, bowling alley and ice-skating rink.

Oracle Wishing Tree

Outdoors, kids and families also enjoy the Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Playground, complete with sky-high slides, climbing structures, and a hedge maze. In the warmer months, the water and sand area is popular – bring a change of clothes just in case.

Children's Playground

If hunger strikes while you are visiting, check out Samavor for lunch or afternoon tea, or try one of the many restaurants inside the Metreon food court.

by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children

Washington Monument

I just came across something that’s right up my alley–the National Park Service has created a “Discover Our Shared History Travel Itinerary” about American Presidents.  This itinerary includes a map of presidential sites, as well as a listing by president of National Park Service sites and other locales.

Glancing through the list, I see several places I’ve visited in the past:

Lincoln Memorial

• George Washington: Mount Vernon and the Washington Monument
• Thomas Jefferson: Jefferson Memorial
• Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, Lincoln Memorial
• Theodore Roosevelt:  Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Herbert Hoover:  Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
• Harry S Truman:  Harry S Truman National Historic Site

The site also includes other sites of presidential interest, such as the White House, Mt. Rushmore, and Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

Visiting sites about individual presidents gives insight into these men and their presidencies that is often overlooked in history classes.  I remember a Christmas display at the Hoover site that included Christmas greetings from the President and his family.  Actually being in Ford’s Theatre brings Lincoln’s assassination much closer than any book can.

Now I see that I was in the vicinity of other presidents’ sites on various occasions without being aware of it.  I particularly like the map so that travelers can easily see if they might be near one of these sites while on the road.

What presidential sites have you visited in the past?  Will you make use of this itinerary to find presidential sites to visit?

Photo credits: NCinDC

On the first of January a brass marker is placed on the geographical South Pole indicating the exact position of the South Pole for that year. This marker designates the exact location of the South Pole at 90 degrees south. The South Pole sits on a thick sheet of ice that moves between 10 to 30 meters each year since it’s first marker was placed in 1956.

Ceremonial South Pole at Amundsen Station

Image courtesy www.newzeal.com/

The ceremonial South Pole is surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty Nations.  You can see the dome of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the background.

Data from a GPS is used to mark the exact placement of 90 degrees south latitude.  Each marker is about 12 feet long, but about two-thirds of it gets pounded into the ground.  The markers are only left up for a few years before they are stored away in the South Pole Station.

Here are images of the “true” South Pole Markers going back to 1996 and a bonus bicentennial marker.

2009

Image courtesy humanedgetech.com/expedition/nwpassage

2008

Image courtesy National Science Foundation

2007

Image courtesy of National Science Foundation

2006

Image courtesy of National Science Foundation

2005

Image courtesy National Science Foundation

2004

Image courtesy National Science Foundation

2003

Image courtesy National Science Foundation

2002

Image courtesy amanda.uci.edu

2001

Image Courtesy rnc.lbl.gov

2000

Image courtesy www.physicschick.com/

1999

Image courtesy tea.armadaproject.org

1998

Image courtesy www.drexel.edu

1997

Image courtesy astro.uchicago.edu

1996

Image courtesy astro.uchicago.edu

1975-76

Image courtesy www.southpolestation.com

Past Markers

Image courtesy www.cortada.com

In 2007 Miami artist Xavier Cortada marked 51 years of south pole markers with flags where the markers once stood. Each flag has the year it represents on it and the coordinates of a place on earth Cortada deemed important during that year.