by Gudrun Enger, Kitchen Gadget Girl
One of our fun adventures in Maui, Hawaii, was a visit to the Surfing Goat Dairy, high up in the Upcountry of the island. In a place where pineapples reign supreme, it seemed incongruous to find a working dairy and cheese making operation. Read More »
The Breakers - Newport, RI
By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog
Have you ever wondered how the other half lives? Newport is known for being a playground of the rich. It was home to The America’s Cup for yachting and boasts the International Tennis Hall of Fame. But if not for the millionaires of the Industrial Revolution, it just might have become another sleepy ocean town in the smallest state of the U.S.A.
High society families in the second half of the 1800’s flocked to Newport to build homes for summer retreats and like all good people with money to burn they went above and beyond to out-do each other . Today you can tour many of these mansions set in a row like a parade of wealth, but the biggest of them all is The Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895.
The wealth and opulence of the Vanderbilt family is in full display via a new self-guided audio tour where you listen to memories of a gilded time as told by some of the relatives and servants who experienced The Breakers first hand. The mansion comes to life with the sound effects and background music making it Read More »
by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
In the world of museums it would seem unlikely if not downright preposterous to find circus artifacts mingled with fine art, yet that is precisely what visitors find at the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. With a name like Ringling, the circus connection is not surprising - the benefactors of the museum are the famed couple who owned and operated the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for many years. What does surprise is the impressive collection of European, Asian and American paintings and sculptures.
With the great fortune amassed through their circus, John and Mabel Ringling traveled extensively throughout Europe. In Italy, especially, they developed a passion for fine art, which led to John becoming a regular at New York and London art auctions during the 1920’s. He purchased masterpieces by Rubens, Titian, Velazquez, Hals, Van Dyck, and Gainesborough, as well as a collection of Cypriot, Greek and Roman antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. By 1931, Ringling had built a museum designed after the Renaissance and Baroque palaces and museums of Italy to house their ever-growing collection.
One of numerous galleries displaying the impressive collection of Baroque paintings amassed by John and Mabel Ringling
Immediately inside the front doors of the museum hang five enormous paintings by Peter Paul Rubens from the series titled The Triumph of the Eucharist. At a time when the Catholic Church was losing membership to the newer Protestant denomination, Isabella Clara Eugenia, a devout Catholic and daughter of King Philip II of Spain, commissioned Rubens to paint a set of 11 scenes depicting the Catholic celebration of Eucharist or Mass. The paintings were produced for weavers of the day, who used them as templates to create tapestries that hung on the walls of royal palaces and homes of the wealthy. After Eugenia’s death in 1633, the paintings were dispersed throughout Europe. Four of the originals were destroyed in a fire, two eventually landed in the Louvre Museum in Paris; the remaining five were purchased by the Ringlings in 1926, becoming the only large-scale painting cycle by Rubens outside of Europe.
"The Triumph of Divine Love," one of eleven enormous canvases painted by Peter Paul Rubens for his series "The Triumph of the Eucharist"
Gallery after gallery display the collection of more than 600 paintings by Italian, Flemish, and Spanish artists; indeed the collection of Old Masters, highlighted by the 17th century Baroque period, is considered to be among the finest in the country and does not suffer in comparison with the collection of the Uffizi in Florence, Italy. Even the outdoor courtyard in the center of the museum is filled with art. As in Vatican Square, sculptures ring the roof of the museum and gaze down upon the courtyard, which features casts of original antiquities and renaissance sculptures, including David by Michelangelo; the Fountain of Tortoises, one of three replicas from the Piazza Mattei in Rome; and Oceanus Fountain, copied from the 16th century original by Giovanni Bologna in Florence’s Boboli Gardens.
Interior courtyard of the Art Museum displays reproductions of famous fountains and sculptures such as Michaelangelo's "David"
Beyond the art museum is Ca d’Zan, the 36,000 square foot, 56 room mansion that was once the Ringlings’ personal home. Built in the style of the Venetian Gothic palaces they so loved, it became the cultural epicenter of Sarasota upon completion in 1926. Cà d’Zan was constructed from terra cotta “T” blocks, concrete, and brick, covered with stucco and terra cotta, and embellished with glazed tile. The original roof was made from imported 16th century Spanish tiles and the bayfront terrace is paved with domestic and imported marble. Lavish parties featured full orchestras on the marble terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay, where their private 70-foot yacht was tied up. Today the mansion, filled with art and original furnishings, is open for public tours.
The Ca d'Zan mansion, built for the Ringlings as their personal home, was modeled after the palace of the Venetian Doge
Two additional buildings on the grounds of the Ringling Art Museum house the Circus Museums. Though a visit to these facilities on the heels of the Art Museum and Ca d’Zan is somewhat like stepping into an alternate universe, the Circus Museums house a fascinating array of memorabilia from this bygone era, as well as authentic circus wagons, caliopes, rolling animal cages, boxcars, costumes, and even the original Pullman train car that carried the Ringlings to Big Top sites around the country.
Custom built Pullman train car that was home to the Ringlings during circus season
The Tibbals Learning Center is home to the world’s largest miniature circus, The Howard Bros. Circus Model. This 3/4-inch scale model is a replica of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when it was at its largest (circa 1919-1938). Occupying 3,800 square feet, it contains eight main tents, 152 wagons, 1,300 circus performers and workers, more than 800 animals, and a 57-car train.
Miniature Big Top, centerpiece of the 3,800 square foot miniature circus at the Tibbals Learning Center
Another portion of the 3/4 inch scale model of the Howard Bros. Circus
Even the grounds of the museum are stunning, featuring behemoth old-growth Banyan trees sprouting a dense tangle of air roots; gnarled oaks draped in Spanish moss, lush groves of ferns; and an exquisite rose garden originally planted by Mabel Ringling in an authentic Italian wagon-wheel design.
Exquisitely landscaped grounds at the John and Mabel Ringling Art Museum
When John Ringling died in 1936, he bequeathed his art collection, mansion and estate to the people of the State of Florida. Now managed by Florida State University, the Sarasota Bayfront site is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (65+), $7 for students, Florida teachers, and military, and children ages 6-17 (free under 6). However, Ringling’s bequest mandated that admission to the Art Museum be free one day a week, in perpetuity . Although the Museum does not divulge it on their website, there is no admission charged for the Art Museum on Mondays, and (also a little known fact) the grounds can be wandered for free any day of the week.
Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel
When my son turned 7, I promised him a special day out with me, where he could choose what to do. I gave him several ideas, but he kept coming back to one thing: The Science Museum of Minnesota.
The Science Museum of Minnesota overlooks the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul. It has several floors of exhibits that range in theme, from dinosaurs to light and sound to the river. Some of our family’s favorites are the real tugboat and the chimes that play faster and louder when there is seismic activity somewhere on earth.
Science Museum of Minnesota Seismic Chimes. Photo by minnemom.
In the Big Backyard, open seasonally, visitors can pan for jewels or play a game of mini-golf for an extra charge. Additional indoor fun can be found in the omnitheater where a variety of films is shown.
Science Museum of Minnesota Big Backyard. Photo by minnemom.
Traveling exhibits change from time to time; last summer’s hit was Star Wars, and this year there’s a Titanic artifacts exhibit.
In the museum lobby is the National Park Service’s visitor center for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. There’s also a set of musical lights in the lobby near the gift shop, and a large map near the ticket counter, where my kids love jumping from country to country.
If you want to spend a family day in downtown St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is only about a block away from the skyway system that connects to the Minnesota Children’s Museum. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has several other family-friendly museums that you may want to consider.
Linda (minnemom) writes about Minnesota family travel and more at Travels with Children.
When people think of the Upper East Side (UES), most New Yorkers included, they think of “The Nanny Diaries” or of it being the Socialites’ haven. This is, in part, some of what one can find but that has changed a lot, with young families moving in and bringing a more down-to Earth-ness to the area.
The UES has an incredible selection of bars and restaurants, both for entertaining out of town guests and for a night out with or without the family. The shopping is fun, with a wonderful array of high end boutiques along Madison and 5th Avenues, and less expensive, but still fashionable ad trendy shops found along the Avenues further East.
Walk along 82nd and you will find yourself at the steps of the beautiful Metropolitan Museum and Central Park, walk a few blocks East and you will find yourself at one of the entrances of the East River Promenade.
View of the East River
Enter the Promenade and take the family (and doggie) into Carl Schurz Park. The promenade extents from a long way up the East River and is a wonderful place for walks or even runs or bike rides. Younger kids will enjoy spending time playing at Catbird Playground .
East River Promenade
Carl Schurz Park
If hungry, just walk West, towards 1st and 2nd Aves for a huge selection of restaurants, ice cream shops, bakeries, cafes, and bars. And unlike most other “touristy” spots in New York City, the food is often at a very reasonable price and very good.
So next time you find yourself in the city, remember to venture further into the UES neighborhood, hang with the locals, and enjoy a calm stroll along another part of town. You won’t be disappointed.
by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin’ town….so goes the famous song. Growing up in this thriving Midwest city I never really appreciated the truth of those lyrics. I worked downtown in the “Loop,” and although I spent many lunch hours strolling Michigan Avenue and the lakefront, it never dawned on me that Chicago was a truly spectacular metropolis. It took moving away, growing older, and returning to visit downtown’s magnificent Millennium Park for this fact to dawn on me.
Jay Pritzger Pavilion, home to year-round music programs, is the the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the country. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdho/559492613.
Millennium Park didn’t exist during the years I lived in Chicago. Grant Park had been built along the shores of Lake Michigan in the mid-1800’s in response to lobbying by citizens who feared commercial development along the lakefront, but the land between Grant Park and the rest of downtown was occupied by a wide swath of Illinois Central railroad tracks that remained a blight on an otherwise attractive landscape. It wasn’t until 1997, when Mayor Richard M. Daley directed his staff to develop plans for a new music venue to be built over the tracks, that the idea for Millennium Park was conceived.
Summer lavender in full bloom at Lurie Gardens in Milennium Park. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflythegreat/2855461521.
The results are nothing short of spectacular. Today, the 24.5 acres that comprise the park include a winter ice skating rink, Lurie Gardens, the interactive Crown Fountain, and the hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture, which Chicagoans have nicknamed “The Bean” for its resemblance to a giant coffee bean. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States, is the centerpiece of the park. Free concerts and events that are as diverse as the city itself are held at the pavilion: fitness classes, classical music, jazz, world music, theater, reading circles, ethnic festivals, and dance are just some of the events scheduled throughout the year.
Cloud Gate sculpture reflects Chicago skyline in its seamless stainless steel surface. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/anneh632/3163674119/in/set-72157606211421780.
Bringing the project full circle, the BP Bridge was constructed between Millennium Park and Grant Park to the east, providing incomparable views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan from its 925-foot-long elevated walkway of brushed stainless steel panels. New York may be “the greatest city in the world” and LA may be “home of the movie stars” but with its ethnic diversity, cool neighborhoods, visually stunning architecture, and friendly people, I’ll take Chicago any day.
by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
We live in the rural Midwest, where wide open spaces are plentiful and a traffic mess consists of getting stuck behind a tractor on a gravel road. We’ve mastered driving in Minneapolis. We can manage Chicago if we have a very specific plan. But driving in New York City? No way. Not gonna do it.
Still, when we visited Philadelphia and found ourselves with an extra day in our itinerary, the Statue of Liberty was tops on our list. It’s big, it’s famous, it’s historic, the kids would love it.
Statue of Liberty. Photo by minnemom.
But then we remembered: It’s in New York City.
We thought about driving to New York. For about two seconds.
And we almost gave up.
But then, in looking at the Statue of Libery website again, we found a possibility: Park at Liberty State Park in New Jersey and take the ferry from there, rather than from the more famous and more popular option of New York’s Battery Park.
We decided to give it a try.
We had a few things going in our favor. We would be visiting on the day after Christmas, which happened to be a Friday, and we were hoping that everyone who possibly could take the day off would have done exactly that, easing the traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike. We also hoped that people who had spent the previous day at family Christmas gatherings would just want to sleep in and not go sight-seeing until later in the day.
And do you know what? We were right.
Statue of Liberty Tickets. Photo by minnemom.
We left our hotel near Valley Forge and headed for New Jersey. Traffic was a breeze the entire way, a feat that we couldn’t really believe. How could New Jersey traffic be lighter than Minneapolis? It didn’t seem possible. We were to Liberty State Park in less than 90 minutes.
We followed the National Park Service’s driving directions, “Take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 14B,” which really seemed too simple to work, but that’s really all there is to it. An out-of-state driver doesn’t even need to consult a map a directions like that.
After parking in the lot, we walked up to the ticket counter, purchased our tickets, and boarded the first ferry of the day. We were right about people sleeping in; there were only about a dozen people on our ferry, and when we got to Ellis Island, we had the entire grand hall to ourselves for a while.
Ellis Island. Photo by minnemom.
After visiting Ellis Island, we reboarded the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. Although we had received monument passes with our tickets, we decided to forego the long line to go inside the pedestal, and we took a nice walk around the Statue of Liberty instead.
When the ferry once again deposited us at Liberty State Park, we got into our car and drove off to the west, with a car full of kids who couldn’t believe they’d really seen the Statue of Liberty. It was a pretty big deal for our little guys, and we managed it without setting foot in New York City.
Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the New Jersey side worked out brilliantly. Even in busier times of the year, there tends to be less waiting when boarding the ferry from New Jersey. Parking issues were non-existent, and parking is reasonably priced. Driving in Manhattan is eliminated. For people who want to visit the Statue of Liberty without going to New York City, leaving from Liberty State Park in New Jersey is an excellent choice.
by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
In 1779, the British Navy seized the Castine peninsula, gateway to the Penobscot Valley and Bangor, Maine, the largest lumber exporting port in the world. The ensuing naval battle was the worst defeat in American history prior to Pearl Harbor, resulting in the loss of thirty-seven vessels. To prevent another such threat to the industry and people of the area, the U.S. government proposed building a huge granite fortress at the narrows on the Penobscot River, the channel through which all enemy ships traveling upriver would have to pass.
Old bridge and new bridge, with the observatory in its tip, overlook Fort Knox. Photo courtesy of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Although no funds were appropriated for Fort Knox until 1825, there was still great tension between the U.S. and Great Britain, thus design, engineering, and building of the fort proceeded. Beginning in 1844, ganite blocks were quarried on Mt. Waldo, located about five miles upriver from the fort, transported down the mountain, and then carried by scow to Fort Knox’s wharf. It took more than two decades and in excess of a million dollars to bring the structure to a point where it could be inhabited by troops. Although the structure was never completed, troops did occupy the fort briefly during the Civil War and the Spanish American War, but no enemy ships ever appeared on the Penobscot or threatened its towns during these wars.
Super fast elevator whisks visitors to the top of the Penobscot River Bridge support for a spectacular view of Fort Knox and the surrounding countryside
Today a Maine State Park, Fort Knox is open to the public. From its riverfront batteries to its cavernous dark recesses, the structure offers a fascinating self-guided tour. On the roof, visitors can see the cannon, powder magazines, and casemates employed during battle. And though the roof provides a fairly good view over the parade grounds in the center of the pentagonal fort, visitors now have an even better view of the fort from atop the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, also located within the park.
Built into the pinnacle of one of two upright towers that support the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, this is the tallest public bridge-observatory in the world. A one minute ride on the fastest elevator in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont carries passengers up 420 feet, where the elevator doors open on a spectacular vista over the fort and river to the town of Prospect and mountains beyond. Stairs lead up another two levels to the uppermost level, a glass encased observatory with 360 degrees views, complete with panels identifying nearby mountains, lakes and towns.
Special events at Fort Knox include firing of the battery cannons, a paranormal/psychic fair, granite cutting demonstrations, Civil War reenactments, moon viewings, archeological field schools, a pirate festival, Halloween “Fright at the Fort,” and a plethora of musical performances scheduled throughout the season.
View of Fort Knox and the Penobscot Valley from the observatory
The interior of Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory are open each day from May 1 through October 31, from 9 a.m. to sunset, however the park grounds are open year-round. Admission ($5 for adults, $3 for children 5-11, and free for children under five) includes entry into both the fort and the observatory. The park is located at the junction of U.S. Rte. 1 and Rte. 174, on the south side of the Penobscot Narrows bridge, immediately adjacent to the town of Bucksport.
Photos not otherwise credited courtesy of Barbara Weibel
by Carol Cain, NYCity Mama
One of the many reasons why people come, and often stay in New York City is because of the diversity of the people, cultures, and customs found here. Many immigrants find solace in the fact that the city is broken down into smaller pockets of communities and neighborhoods representative of their homeland.
For the Dominican community in New York City, this neighborhood is Washington Heights, and if you are ever yearning for a taste of Dominican cuisine and sounds but can’t take a plane ticket to get there, than a subway ride uptown on the A train is the next best thing.
The area of Washington Heights spans from as far up as north of Harlem on 155 St and to just below Dyckman St., in the 190s. It is home to Bennett Park, on Ft. Washington Ave and 182nd St., and the highest point in Manhattan, the grand George Washington Bridge, the beautiful Fort Tryon Park, and the medieval Cloister’s Museum.
View of the George Washington Bridge
Ft. Tryon Park is incredibly relaxing and beautiful. Take a romantic walk along the paths of the Heather Gardens, or have a calm family picnic on the grass fields overlooking the museum. It is a wonderful place to stop and have a quiet drink surrounded by the lush greenery while sitting at the New Leaf Restaurant and Bar, brought to us by the ever fabulous Bette Midler, and located on the Southern end of the park.
Heather Gardens
The New Leaf
If you venture further down towards 181st and St. Nicholas Ave you would have reached the heart of Washington Heights. Walking down St. Nicholas Avenue, especially on a sunny Summer day is definitely a unique experience. Walk past shoppers and vendors and the various shops loudly playing their favorite merengue or bachata tunes. Ask one of the frio-frio vendors for a tamarind icy and watch as he quickly scrapes off the ice and pours the delicious fruity juice over it for you. Or stop by one of the fruit vendors and treat yourself to a juicy mango, or a piece of the sugar cane, or some fresh coconut milk right out of the coco (for me, drinking out of the coconut with a straw is always best)!
Frio-Frio Stand
Tropical Fruit Vendor
There are several restaurants that specialize in rotisserie chicken, which is best eaten with rice, beans and some friend green plaintains, of course. My favorite is Malecon Restaurant and while there make sure you order beer like a true Dominican, and ask for a Presidente. If all this Caribbean flare still makes you long for a water view and serene atmosphere, walk up 18st St. and into Fort Washington Park. There not only will you be able to visit the historical Little Red Lighthouse, but you can also sit by the shores of the Hudson River, underneath the GW Bridge and watch the sun set before making your way back home.
The Little Red Lighthouse
New York has the Empire State Building. Chicago has the Sears Tower. St. Louis has the Gateway Arch. Seattle has the Space Needle. Many cities have tall buildings from which visitors can get a birds-eye view of the city and its surrounding area.
Did you know that Minneapolis has a beautiful building that offers this feature? It’s no longer the tallest building in the city, although it held that title for 43 years, and it still stands as the second-tallest skyscraper, behind the Empire State Building.
Foshay Tower. Photo by minnemom.
The Foshay Tower was built by Wilbur Foshay and opened in 1929. Its grand opening was grand indeed, and included a march written especially for the occasion by John Philip Sousa. Shortly after the building opened, the stock market crashed and Foshay lost his fortune and was convicted of fraud.
The building itself was inspired by the Washington Monument’s obelisk shape, and stands 32 stories tall. In 2008, renovations were completed and the tower reopened as part of the W Hotel.
Today, visitors can once again ascend the elevators to the 31st floor, where there is a small museum and access to the observation deck for a beautiful view of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding area. The admission fee is paid at the hotel’s welcome desk in exchange for a key that allows elevator access to the observation area.
Foshay Tower Observation Deck. Photo by minnemom.M
If you’re a fan of tall buildings, don’t miss the Foshay Tower. Although no longer the tallest in Minneapolis, it is still elegant and an icon in downtown Minneapolis.
Information credits: Wikipedia, Foshay Tower, Foshay Tower.
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