Attractions

Franklin Delano Roosevelt first visited Warm Springs, Georgia in 1924, hoping that the buoyant spring waters would cure the infantile paralysis that had struck him three years earlier. Although the mineral-laden water provided no medical miracle, FDR claimed that the 88-degree springs relaxed his atrophied muscles such that he had much better mobility after soaking for an hour. FDR became so enchanted with the area that he built a small vacation home on the side of Pine Mountain while running for president in 1932. Before long, locals were referring to the cabin as the “Little White House” and the name stuck.

FDR's Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia

Throughout his Presidency, FDR made many trips to the cottage, often speaking with neighbors to learn about their difficulties, especially during the Great Depression. New Deal policies such as the Rural Electrification Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and Tennessee Valley Authority grew out of these conversations. Today the Little White House is one of Georgia’s most popular historic sites. Guests Read More »

My husband has been wanting to take a road trip with the family fo’evah. Yup, that’s how we hard core New Yorkers say it. Another thing about us hard core New Yorkers: we don’t take road trips…to far away lands…like the Rocky Mountains and beyond.  Nope.  We fly.

But, when you are a member of a family of five, it seems that road trips become the way to go, no matter where you are from.  So we ventured out on our trip, and saw several great places,  and the one place I was eager to see was Yellowstone National Park. I have always heard it’s a wonderful place to visit, especially with kids and that it is beautiful. And when we arrived there I could see that all of that was true.

We did several things while in Yellowstone.  We skipped pebbles on the lake, we camped, we saw caribou and buffalo, we even went for hikes.  But it was the scenery in Yellowstone that really made the trip wonderful. First let me just say, that to get from the East entrance of the park to the West entrance it took us about 2 hours.  It is, of course, huge.

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Chicago Water Tower, constructed of weathered Joliet Limestone, is one of very few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

At first sight, the historic Chicago Water Tower seems strangely familiar to many people. Although this vague, unsettling feeling of having “been here before” could be deja vu, it probably has more to do with the design of White Castle restaurants, which are said to have been modeled after the Water Tower, right down to the crenelated tower at one corner.

The structure does tend to live in our psyche. Legend has long held that the Water Tower was the only building to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In truth, it was the only public building to survive; a few other buildings escaped the flames, although the Water Tower is the only one still standing today. The 154-foot tower was originally constructed for the purpose of holding a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize the city’s water distribution system. Inside, a 138-foot high standpipe held water that could be regulated to control water surges in the area or used to fight fires. The standpipe was removed in 1911 when it became functionally obsolete, however the spiral staircase that encircled it is still used to reach the tower cupola and the pumping station still pumps water for the city.

The Chicago Water Tower currently houses “Here’s Chicago,” a multi-media show about the city, as well as an official city Visitor’s Center, where the friendly staff will gladly tell the famous story about Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow kicking over a lantern and starting the Great Fire that burned a large portion of the city to the ground. Today the landmark stands as a symbol of resilient Chicagoans who rebuilt their city from ashes.

Article and photo by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Speeding along Seven Mile Bridge on my way to Key West I wonder about Pigeon Key, a tiny lump of land off the southern tip of Marathon, and about the old two-lane roadway that parallels the modern new highway. I have often puzzled over the old roadway. If it was unsafe, why it was left standing? And if it is safe, why have giant chunks been cut out of the span, ensuring that it is not used? During my most recent trip, curiosity got the better of me and I stopped for a day tour.

Aerial view of tiny Pigeon Key clearly shows the chunk of the old Seven Mile Bridge that has been removed beyond the island. Traffic roars by on the New Seven Mile Bridge at left. Photo courtesy of Pigeon Key Foundation.

Although the $11 admission included a boat trip to the island, I opted to walk 2.2 miles along the original Seven Mile Bridge. Under a blazing sun I strolled the narrow two-lane roadway that today is used only by  golf carts, bicycles, and pedestrians. The bridge was originally a railroad trestle for the Florida East Coast Railway, which ran from Miami to Key West. Brainchild of the enormously wealthy entrepreneur, Henry Flagler, the railroad was considered by most people to be an impossible feat of engineering, since it would require long trestles crossing miles of open water. Flagler persevered, certain that the Keys would become a gold mine of development if only reliable transportation could be made available. Unconvinced, locals began referring to the project as “Flagler’s Folly.” Read More »

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Of the numerous well-preserved Native American ruins found in north central Arizona, the ancient cliff dwelling found at Montezuma Castle National Monument is the most spectacular. Built into a recess in a white limestone cliff about 70 feet above the ground, this 20 room, 5-story structure was occupied as early as 1200 a.d., until the inhabitants mysteriously departed from the Verde Valley more than two hundred years later.

The 900 year old cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Photo by Barbara Weibel at HoleInTheDonut.com

Believing the prehistoric cliff house to be Aztec in origin, the first settlers to the area – a ragged collection of miners and soldiers who arrived in the 1860’s – named it after the Aztec emperor, Montezuma. We now know that this unique dwelling was constructed by the Sinagua Indian peoples using locally available limestone rocks stacked and held together with clay, much like laying bricks on a modern house. Once the construction of the outer walls was completed, an adobe plaster was used to coat and seal the exterior. The Sinagua cultivated a variety of crops in the valley that spread out beneath their cliff house, using water that flowed year-round through Beaver Creek to irrigate the crops. No one knows for sure why the Sinagua abandoned their home, although some experts speculate that a severe drought dried up the creek, forcing the tribe to pack up and leave.

A close up look at the structure, courtesy of the National Park Service

After being abandoned, the dwelling survived for hundreds of years in the hot, dry climate found in this part of Arizona and only began to deteriorate when it became a popular tourist destination. Early visitors were allowed to climb a series of ladders up the side of the limestone cliffs and access the interior of the structure, resulting in extensive damage. Thankfully, the park service stopped allowing access in 1951. Visitors are now limited to viewing the ruins from the valley floor, where a self-guided, 1/3-mile loop trail leads past the cliff dwelling, through a grove of old-growth sycamores, and along Beaver Creek, one of only a few perennial streams in Arizona.

Montezuma Castle National Monument is open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June through August and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during other months. In addition to the self-guiding trail, an on-site museum includes exhibits and artifacts depicting the lifestyle, history and culture of the Sinaguan Indians who built Montezuma Castle. Adults pay a $5 entrance fee and children under 16 are free. Although no accommodations are available at the site, hotels and motels are located in nearby Camp Verde (5 miles), and in Cottonwood (19 miles).

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Perhaps even more than gorgeous beaches, bronzed surfers, and swaying palm trees, the image most associated with Honolulu is Diamond Head Crater, so it is no surprise that its unmistakable profile is immediately recognizable to most visitors the moment they set foot on Waikiki Beach. What does surprise many, however, is that it is possible to climb to the top of this extinct volcanic cone.

Aerial view of Diamond Head Crater, courtesy of Bill D'Agostino at http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamdag/256593314/

The 0.8 mile switchback trail to the summit climbs the inside slope of Diamond Head, ascending 560 feet from the crater floor. Although the hike is is steep and moderately strenuous, it is well worth the effort as it provides a fascinating glimpse into the geological and military history of Diamond Head. When the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, harbor defense was one of the first concerns and Diamond Head’s elevation provided the best location for an outlook. In 1908 a trail was carved to the top, and by 1911 Fort Ruger had been built at the summit. Eventually, a 580-foot tunnel was dug through the crater wall to provide easier access to the Fort. Today, visitors drive through this tunnel, park inside the crater, and hike the very same path that was used to gain access to the Fort.

View of Diamond Head from overlook on Round Top Road, courtesy of Chad Podoski at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadpodoski/217976946/

The trail begins as a relatively level improved concrete walkway but soon changes to a natural tuff surface with many switchbacks. All along the trail, interpretive signs explain that the crater was formed when the now extinct volcano exploded about 300,000 years ago. Ancient Hawaiians called it Laeahi, which translates to “brow of the tuna,” an obvious reference to its resemblance to the fish. It’s current name derives from British sailors who, in the 1800’s, believed calcite crystals found in the lava rock were diamonds.

Sketch of the hiking path courtesy of Dept. of Land & Natural Resources, Hawaii.

After passing a lookout point that doubles as a rest stop, the trail takes a steep upward ascent via two stairways (74 and 99 steps) and two tunnels. Upon emerging from the second tunnel, a shorter spiral staircase and a fourth set of metal stairs provides access to the observation deck at the very top, rewarding those who persevere with spectacular vistas to Waikiki in one direction, and to the leeward side of the island in the opposite direction.

View toward Waikiki from the top of Diamond Head, courtesy of dgrice at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgrice/390810021/

Climbing to the top takes between 1.5 and two hours and it can be a dusty, hot hike, so be sure to carry sufficient water, wear appropriate shoes, and use sunblock. The last entrance to hike the trail is at 4:30 p.m. and the gates are locked at 6:00 p.m. daily. Diamond Head State Monument opens at 6 am. each day and the entrance fee is $5.00 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians. Visitors to Oahu will discover the island offers a vertiable treasure trove of attractions and outdoor activities, as well as providing accommodations for all budgets.

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.

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Virginia may be for lovers, but when Christmas rolls around, it’s the history buffs who flock to Hampton Roads, a moniker used to describe the southeast corner of Virginia that is home to dozens of communities, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg.

Handmade Christmas wreath on a Williamsburg door Photo courtesy of Stigs (http://flickr.com/photos/stigs)

Any historical holiday tour of the “Tidewater area,” as it is sometimes called, demands a stop at Colonial Williamsburg. Throughout town, red-brick Colonial Revival homes and businesses are adorned with traditional, hand made decorations. All the traditional decor is crafted from locally available materials: the candles in the windows, the miles of pine garland, the bushels of fresh fruit, the holly berries and bittersweet – even oyster shells dug up from nearby tidal flats. To best experience Colonial Williamsburg’s picturesque buildings and streets decked in their holiday splendor, join the Christmas Decoration Walking Tour.

On the last weekend of November and the first three weekends in December, the Historic Area and Museums of Colonial Williamsburg invite families to take a journey back in time. Museum personnel dressed in period costumes are devoted to sharing fun, food, and festive entertainments with kids of all ages at sites throughout the town.

On December 7th, Williamsburg officially welcomes the Christmas season with “The Grand Illumination,” a magnificent spectacle of candles, fireworks, and music. Performances are held on multiple stages in the Historic Area and continue after the fireworks, which are set off from three locations simultaneously.

The Grand Illumination Christmas Ceremony. Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/sepol/

The town continues in the historical tradition with the Firing of the Christmas Guns and the Fifes and Drums March on December 24th. The traditional Christmas decorations can be viewed through January 1, 2009

Fifes and Drums March on Dec. 24th, photo courtesy of Stigs (http://flickr.com/photos/stigs)

Recalling the traditions of the 17th and 18th century, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center (10 minutes west and 20 minutes east of Williamsburg, respectively) present A Colonial Christmas from December 20 through January 4. Films and guided tours show how Christmas may have been observed in the difficult early years of the two historic settlements.

The Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth, kick-off the holiday season with a displays from the popular Coleman Nursery Collection. Over the years, the collection, which began in the mid-1960s when the owner of the nursery purchased a single “Sleeping Santa,” became a tradition for families across Hampton Roads.  Each year, the scenes grew and changed as more figures were added. When the nursery closed in 2004, the Portsmouth Museums Foundation arranged to purchase the collection in order keep it in Portsmouth for future generations to enjoy. This captivating display of animated elves, snow babies and woodland creatures is on display from November 21 through December 31.

The Coleman Collection at the Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth. Photo courtesy of www.portsmouthholidays.com

When all the historical possibilities have been exhausted, families will discover a plethora of traditional events:

• The Grand Illumination Parade in downtown Norfolk (not to be confused with Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination event) begins when 100,000 spectators join in a synchronized countdown, signaling the illumination of more than 12 miles of lights outlining the skylines of downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth. The parade, which steps off the moment the buildings are outlined in neon, features floats, marching bands, giant helium balloons, horses, dancers, and ‘Ole Saint Nick’ himself. The parade happens on November 22, but the lights outlining the skyscrapers are illuminated through New Year’s Day.


Holiday Lights at the Beach along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Photo courtesy of www.HamptonRoads.com

• From November 27 through January 1, Newport News Park will be transformed by over half a million individual lights into Celebration In Lights, a drive-through animated holiday display that features reindeer leaping overhead from the dark winter woods, candy canes twinkling along the roadside, and rainbow-colored scenes reflecting on the park’s ponds.
• Last but not least is McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach, a favorite for many years in Virginia Beach. Running from 2nd Street to 33rd Street along the oceanfront boardwalk, the drive-through display features more than 250 animated nautical and holiday-themed light displays – festive fish, jumping dolphins, frolicking porpoises and a giant “Twelve Days of Christmas” section – all illuminated by thousands of tiny colored lights.

For accommodations in the Hampton Roads area check out the following links at UpTake.com: Norfolk hotels, Virginia Beach hotels, Portsmouth hotels, Hampton hotels, Newport News hotels, Williamsburg hotels