Victor Block's Posts - Tripatini2024-03-28T21:10:53ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlockhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/106819499?profile=original&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://frugalnomads.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=3hj7ehcv14z37&xn_auth=noFrom Food to Fashion, Birdwatching to Bourbon, Themed Itineraries in the USA Satisfy Many People's Special Intereststag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-11-20:3169359:BlogPost:7918432021-11-20T12:11:58.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792533869?profile=RESIZE_710x" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792533869?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><i>"Nature's Grace" along the Maine Sculpture Trail. Photo by Alan Stubbs</i></span></p>
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<p>Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes as others explore history from days of <strong>North America</strong>'s earliest tribal peoples to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792533869?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792533869?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><i>"Nature's Grace" along the Maine Sculpture Trail. Photo by Alan Stubbs</i></span></p>
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<p>Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes as others explore history from days of <strong>North America</strong>'s earliest tribal peoples to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water. At the end of the day, many of these visitors to <strong>Panama City</strong>, <strong>Florida</strong>, belly up to an oyster bar to enjoy freshly shucked bivalves prepared in a variety of ways.</p>
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<p>These seemingly disparate activities and attractions have one thing in common: they’re all taking place along designated trails that focus upon a single thing to do, see or eat. Countless trails around the country are available to people with a particular interest; from food to fashion, covered bridges to Kentucky bourbon, they offer something-for-everyone variety. No matter how esoteric someone’s passion, there may be a walking driving, biking, paddling, or other kind of trail somewhere that focuses on it.</p>
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<p>Consider <a href="http://DestinationPanamaCity.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panama City</a>, a community of about 37,000 residents perched along Florida’s northwestern "panhandle" coast.<span> </span> For a smallish municipality, that town provides a surprising choice of routes that both locals and visitors may explore.The <strong>Oyster Trail</strong> alone has enough appeal to bring some travelers to town.<span> </span> A dozen restaurants, ranging from a ten-stool oyster bar to a casual grill to a fine-dining establishment, serve the fresh-from-the-sea food raw, baked, fried and prepared in other ways.<span> </span> Whether visiting Panama City for the bivalves or birds, hiking or history, you might find a trail with appeal. </p>
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<p>Restaurants along a different oyster trail, which runs through <strong><a href="http://gulfshores.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gulf Shores</a></strong> <a href="http://gulfshores.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and</a> <strong><a href="http://gulfshores.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orange Beach</a></strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong>, bring their own personal touch to the recipes.<span> </span> In addition to traditional preparations, some serve them barbequed, fire roasted, Alfredo style and in ceviche.</p>
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<p>Next door in <strong>Louisiana</strong>, it's this state's rich gastronomic culture which is celebrated along the <strong><a href="https://www.lacajunbayou.com/foodtrail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cajun Bayou Food Trail</a></strong><span>,</span> comprised of restaurants that serve local favorites like gumbo, jambalaya and pecan pralines.<span> </span> Some family-run eateries follow recipes that have been passed down for generations.</p>
<p>Variety of a different kind greets visitors to the Fields of Gold Farm Trail in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.<span> </span> People may stroll through a farmers’ market, tour a working spread, enjoy a locally grown meal at a garden-to-table restaurant or pick their own fruit at an orchard.<span> </span> (<a href="https://fieldsofgold.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fieldsofgold.org</a>)</p>
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<p>Fresh-picked apples, pears, grapes and cherries are sold at more than two dozen stands located along the colorfully named <strong><a href="http://hoodriverfruitloop.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hood River County Fruit Loop</a></strong> in <strong>Oregon</strong>. The 35-mile trail goes through forests, farmlands and orchards, and includes vendors offering flowers, pies jam, and local artisan gifts.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792537456?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9792537456?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>Visitors at the Fields of Gold Farm Trail</em></span></p>
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<p>Berries are used in different ways on a route which leads through <strong>Surry County</strong>, <strong>North Carolina</strong>. The colorfully named <strong><a href="http://sonkertrail.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Surry Sonker Trail</a></strong> connects a bakery, general store, winery, and other places which serve a quaintly named dessert created in the early 1800s by homemakers seeking to stretch the use of fruit or use it before it rotted. Recipes include fruit sweetened with sugar, molasses, and other ingredients blended into unshaped dough - so that like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9791874259?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9791874259?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><i>A tour along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail</i></span></p>
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<p>Where there’s food there often are beverages, and the birthplace of one is acclaimed along the <strong><a href="http://kybourbontrail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kentucky Bourbon Trail</a></strong>. Guests may visit a distillery that traces its ancestry back to the 18th century and another where they have a tasting while standing in the largest bourbon barrel in the world.<span> <br/></span></p>
<p>Those who like the word “soft” before their drink may prefer to set their sights on the multi-state <strong><a href="http://thecocacolatrail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coca-Cola Trail</a></strong>. Places related to that world-famous beverage are described in a book of the same name, which can serve as a guide to museums, historic bottling plants and other destinations around the country. The story began in <strong>Vicksburg</strong>, <strong>Mississippi</strong> where the concoction was first bottled in 1894. Other stops include the <strong>Dawson & Stevens Diner</strong> in <strong>Grayling</strong>, <strong>Michigan</strong>, which doubles as a Coca-Cola museum, and a former bottling plant in <strong>Los Angeles</strong> that was built in the shape of an ocean liner.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9789164471?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9789164471?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>"Camel Country" along the Maine Sculpture Trail. Photo by Alan Stubbs</em></span></p>
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<p>Not surprisingly, state tourism offices promote the trails concept as a way to attract visitors.<span> </span> For example, <strong><a href="http://visitmaine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine</a></strong> has a driving tour that leads to 34 outdoor sculptures strung out along 273 miles of its coastline; the <strong>Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail</strong>, which includes canoe routes that the author followed during trips to that state in the mid-1800s; and a <strong>Freedom Trail</strong> in <strong>Portland</strong> which leads to sites associated with the <strong>Underground Railroad</strong> and the anti-slavery movement of the 19th century.</p>
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<p>Not to be outdone, trails which make their way through Ohio focus upon interests as diverse as shopping and steam trains, Italian food and ice cream.<span> </span> (<a href="https://trails.ohio.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trails.ohio.org</a>)</p>
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<p>Moving out west to Oregon, given the love of nature by many residents this state, it's not surprising that among trails within its borders are paths for hiking and biking, seeing wildlife and wild flowers, and dozens of other routes. Most famous is the local stretch of the <strong><a href="http://nps.gov/oreg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oregon Trail</a></strong>, part of the historic wagon route that began in <strong>Missouri</strong> and which, in the early 19th century. an estimated 400,000 settlers, including farmers, miners, ranchers and others, followed in their quest for a new life.<span> </span></p>
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<p>Other pages of history are turned during drives to see “quilt blocks” that adorn the sides of dozens of barns in Oregon’s <strong><a href="http://tualatinvalley.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tualatin Valley</a></strong>. Some designs on those eight-by-eight-foot wooden slabs resemble traditional quilt patterns, while others display crops or animals, or relate to the farm family’s history.</p>
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<p>And all this is just the tip of the iceberg. From seafood to sweets, berries to beverages it’s likely that somewhere in the country there may be one or more driving, walking or other trails focused upon an interest of yours.</p>
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<p></p>Find the Hidden Historic Gems of Gatewayd to California's Yosemite National Parktag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-10-27:3169359:BlogPost:7853552021-10-27T07:25:10.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222824492?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222824492?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Pioneer Yosemite History Center</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></br> <br></br> Following the hilly, curvy road that snakes through <strong><a href="https://www.yosemite.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Yosemite National Park</a></strong> in the east of…</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222824492?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222824492?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Pioneer Yosemite History Center</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> <br/> Following the hilly, curvy road that snakes through <strong><a href="https://www.yosemite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yosemite National Park</a></strong> in the east of cental <strong>California</strong>, every turn elicits another “wow” moment. It's not easy to decide which view best demonstrates the appeal of this nearly 1,187-square-mile sprread:</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dramatic overlooks, soaring mountains, rushing waterfalls or other breathtaking examples of Mother Nature's magnificent handiwork.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> Equally challenging is choosing among a number of nearby places that themselves would be worth a visit, and which greatly enhance a trip to the area. From ancient fossils to Native American culture to gold mining, something-for-everyone variety adds to the appeal. A sampling of these sites is grouped together in <strong>Madera County</strong>, located just outside the southern entrance into the park. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Keeping Alive Yosemite's Past</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> A good place to begin exploration is the <strong>Pioneer Yosemite History Center</strong> (top), comprised of various structures that played important roles in the park's past, and which later were moved to this location. A centerpiece of the collection is a covered bridge that was erected in 1857, over which all Yosemite-bound traffic used to cross; original markings etched into some timbers by the bridge’s builders still are visible.</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nearby is the <strong>Wells Fargo</strong> office, which operated as a stagecoach terminal and telegraph agency, as well as a blacksmith forge.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222895678?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222895678?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sloths, Camels, and Mammoths Once Roamed Madera County</span><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> A much older chapter of the past goes back nearly 800,000 years, when elephant-like mammoths, giant sloths, and camels were among animals that lived in the area. After they died, rivers washed many of their bones to a low-lying spot where they have been uncovered and are on display at the <strong>Fossil Discovery Center</strong> (above).</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> <br/> It's located next to the landfill which is the site of the paleontology dig. The collection is significant because it's one of a few known places remaining from that time period, and also for the large number of species which are represented. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> Reminders of more recent human history also abound. They include evidence of peoples who inhabited this area nearly 4,000 years ago. Their heritage is recalled and celebrated at the <strong><a href="https://www.monomuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sierra Mono Museum</a></strong> with displays of beautiful basketry, intricate bead craft, ceremonial items and other exhibits. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Additional vestiges of Native American culture include a historic round house which is still in use, as well as an annual pow wow that is open to visitors. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There Was Gold in them thar Hills of Madera County</span><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> Those indigenous people later were joined by lumberjacks, ranchers and other settlers. Then the discovery of gold in 1848 set off an influx of people seeking instant riches into the territory. By the time the Gold Rush ended seven years later, California had become a state, the Native American population had been largely decimated, towns were established, and farmers and ranchers arrived to feed the new residents.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222911701?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222911701?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> <br/> Among reminders of those days are the villages of <strong>Fine Gold</strong> and <strong>Coarsegold</strong>, which got their names from the type of precious metal found nearby. Information about mining is among stories related at the <strong>Coarsegold Historic Museum</strong> (above), located at a site that served as a horse-drawn freight wagon station, and the original mud-and-rock adobe building from that time still is in use. <br/> <br/> Other pages of the past are turned at the <strong>Fresno Flats Historic Village</strong>, which captures the flavor of the 19th-century life of settlers. Structures include two homes containing period furnishings, a matched pair of compact one-room schoolhouses, and a log cabin that originally was part of a lodge offering accommodations to stagecoach passengers.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A Mix of Other Attractions Awaits in Madera County</span><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> These and other examples of pioneer history would be reason enough to visit this destination. Throw in some of the most magnificent natural settings anywhere and it’s no wonder that Yosemite National Park and its surrounding area are included on many a bucket list. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> There’s also an added bonus for those seeking an inviting place to enjoy a bit of R&R. Despite its name, <strong>Bass Lake</strong> is a good place to catch a wide variety of freshwater fish. Because it’s less than 20 miles from Yosemite’s southern gate, it offers a convenient location with a choice of water-related activities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> That man-made body of water has been named one of the “West’s Best Lakes” by <em><strong>Sunset</strong></em> magazine. No wonder it’s a year-round vacation destination for California residents and others.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222911894?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222911894?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></span><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Pioneer Yosemite History Center</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> The lake and resorts along its shoreline have been attracting visitors since the 1920s. They come to fish, boat, look for bald eagles and swim in water that can reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer.<br/> <br/></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A couple of towns close to Yosemite’s southern entrance, each with about 3,000 inhabitants, make up in charm what they lack in size. <strong>North Fork</strong> is home to the Sierra Mono Museum and serves as headquarters for a branch of that tribe.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> The other, <strong>Oakhurst</strong>, has two primary claims to fame. Despite its small size, it’s Yosemite National Park’s largest gateway community. In addition, the village is located at a terminus of <strong>Scenic Route 49</strong>, also known as the <strong>Gold Rush Trail</strong>. This road’s history dates back to early mining days, and it's peppered with historic towns that retain their mid-19th century charm. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br/> For information about exploring Yosemite's southern gateway communities in Madera County, California, log on to <a href="https://yosemitethisyear.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YosemiteThisYear.com</a>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222824492?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></span></p>Cheese, Truffles, History, and Wine in Piedmont, Italytag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-09-26:3169359:BlogPost:7892352021-09-26T06:00:00.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608209861?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608209861?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Piedmont, Italy displays a landscape of vineyard-covered hills, tiny towns and medieval stone castles. </strong> <strong>Photo by Victor Block</strong></em></p>
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<p>The platter that was set before me was covered with what resembled small piles of leaves from a fall lawn raking. The little brown, green and…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608209861?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608209861?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Piedmont, Italy displays a landscape of vineyard-covered hills, tiny towns and medieval stone castles. </strong> <strong>Photo by Victor Block</strong></em></p>
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<p>The platter that was set before me was covered with what resembled small piles of leaves from a fall lawn raking. The little brown, green and black heaps hardly invited sniffing, much less tasting. Yet sniff and taste I did.</p>
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<p>Little did I know, before this introduction to “cheese wrapping,” that a gastronomic tradition in one corner of Italy is aging cheeses by encasing them in leaves. Nor was I aware that there are highly respected professional “cheese hunters” whose job is to seek out the best leaves in which to wrap locally made cheeses, and to know the exact amount of time each variety should be aged to bring out its best flavor.</p>
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<p>The opportunity to learn about one of the most unusual professions anywhere is among attractions of a visit to the Piedmont (<em>Piemonte</em>) province of northwestern Italy. Others include its lovely landscape of gently rolling hills blanketed by vineyards, and tiny towns that grew up around imposing stone castles in medieval times.</p>
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<p>Adding to the appeal are an enticing history and the fact that Piemontese food and wine, while not as well known as world-famous cuisines like that of France, in my opinion should be.</p>
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<p><strong>Alba is perched in the Alps of Piedmont, Italy</strong></p>
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<p>Piemonte derives its name from the phrase <em>ai piedi del monte</em> (at the foot of the mountains), and the towering peaks of the Swiss and French Alps soar above the area. A perfect home base for traveling throughout the region is Alba, “the town of 100 towers.”</p>
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<p>That claim dates back to the 12<sup>th</sup> and 13<sup>th</sup> centuries, when noble families competed to build ever-taller fortified towers to both provide protection from attack and demonstrate the family’s wealth and importance. While only four of the original structures still overlook the town, the name has stuck.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608213458?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608213458?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;" width="460"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Two of Alba’s remaining towers bathed in the evening light. Photo by Rostislav Glinsky/Dreamstime.com</strong></em></p>
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<p>Alba also boasts other enticing relics of its history. Among these are portions of the ancient city walls, fragments of frescoes and other remnants of Roman rule.</p>
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<p><strong>The magnificent scenery of Piedmont, Italy resembles a lovely painting</strong></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608223659?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608223659?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;" width="460"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Piedmont’s scenery has attracted artists for centuries. Photo by Victor Block</strong></em></p>
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<p>Outside of Alba, the scenery becomes etched in the mind’s eye like a series of paintings. Roads wind through tiny towns, in places so narrow that when two cars meet, one must back up to a wider spot so the other can pass. Stone buildings line narrow cobblestone streets.</p>
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<p>Church steeples rise above a sea of red tile rooftops as if gazing out at the surrounding view. Many a hilltop is capped by an ancient castle, whose massive walls and turrets recall times of past grandeur.</p>
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<p><strong>Each town in Piedmont, Italy has its own intriguing stories to tell</strong></p>
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<p>Along with their common attractions, each town also has its own unique appeals and stories to tell. Serralunga d’Alba is one of only 11 villages where Barolo wine may be produced. Many connoisseurs rank it, along with Barbaresco, as Italy’s most prestigious red wines.</p>
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<p>The town of Grinzane Cavour and the 12<sup>th</sup> century castle of the same name also have a strong connection with viniculture. Among exhibits in the fortress is the Regional Piemontese Wine Cellar, which showcases and offers tastings of a sampling of the area’s vintages, plus several grappa brandies. Also intriguing is the Masks Room, whose soaring ceiling is painted with portraits, crests and a series of fantasy monsters and allegorical creatures that range in countenance from droll to macabre.</p>
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<p>One proud claim to fame of Cherasco is that Napoleon Bonaparte described it as “le plus beau coin d’Italie.” Even those who might not agree that the town is “the most beautiful corner of Italy” can appreciate the original star-shaped Roman bastion and the medieval architecture that abounds there.</p>
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<p>The town’s elegant porticoed arcades continue to protect pedestrians from sun and rain, as they did in the past. Among the sumptuous palaces is the Palazzo Salmatoris, where the ruling Savoy family spent many a summer holiday. A graceful “Triumphal Arch” was donated by a citizen to give thanks that the plague which wracked the region in 1630 spared the citizens of Cherasco.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608235858?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608235858?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;" width="460"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Triumphal Arch and San Agostino Church] The Triumphal Arch in Cherasco is flanked by Sant Agostino Church. Photo by Pikappa/Dreamstime.com</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>Food is fabulous, wine is wonderful in Piedmont, Italy</strong></p>
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<p>Anyone who travels to Italy’s Piedmont Region is sure to leave with an appreciation of the importance of both food and wine in the lives of its people, and probably with a few extra pounds as well. Cheese and truffles, especially white truffles, hold a place of honor on many a dining table and in the local cuisine and culture.</p>
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<p>Cheese-making is closely identified with the region, having flourished there since the first century A.D. Many farmers continue to follow traditional family recipes, which often call for a mixture of milk from cows, sheep and goats.</p>
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<p>A visit with a “cheese hunter” turned out to be one of the more unusual experiences of my trip. Gianna Cora described the local tradition of “maturing” cheeses by wrapping them in various kinds of leaves to both preserve and flavor them. The foliage which is employed for those purposes includes leaves from chestnut and fig trees, as well as cabbage, cauliflower and other vegetables. I also encountered, but chose not to sample, cheeses wrapped in grass, tobacco leaves and goat hides.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608250496?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608250496?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;" width="460"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Cheeses wrapped in leaves are a Piedmont specialty. Photo by Victor Block</strong></em></p>
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<p>Gianna reported that each year he gathers and uses more than 100,000 chestnut leaves alone. (I didn’t inquire how he knew the number.) Explaining that about three dozen neighbors share his unusual profession, he claimed – without embarrassment at the pun – that he is recognized as the “Big Cheese” among them.<span> </span></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608261465?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9608261465?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;" width="460"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Gianna Cora checking a cheese wrapping leaf] Gianna Cora is the self-proclaimed “Big Cheese” wrapper of Piedmont. Photo by Victor Block</strong></em></p>
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<p>It had not taken long after my arrival at the destination to observe and experience first-hand that the Piemontese people are as serious about enjoying cheeses as Gianna is about doing his best to make sure they taste as delectable as possible. Most restaurants serve a wide selection of locally produced types. I observed diners discussing their selections with the server, asking for small samples before ordering, then nibbling on their choices with an enjoyment that was obvious even from across the room.</p>
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<p>Enjoyment of Piedmont’s magnificent scenery, ancient towns and intriguing history might not be demonstrated so clearly. But this corner of Italy has much to recommend a visit to savor the flavors and other attractions it has to offer.<span> </span></p>
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<p>If you go.<span> </span> Travelers from the United States to Italy must present certificates that they have been vaccinated against Covid 19, and have received a negative swab test.<span> </span> For more information log onto <a href="http://www.italia.it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">italia.it</a>.</p>
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<p> </p>Whatever Your Pastime or Interest, There May Be A Cruise For You!tag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-08-30:3169359:BlogPost:7874162021-08-30T12:26:10.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/cunard-asset/Images/Hero2.jpg.1571333432483.image.750.563.low.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/cunard-asset/Images/Hero2.jpg.1571333432483.image.750.563.low.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/inspiration/life-on-board/focus-on-fashion?otprrf=https_duckduckgo.com%2F" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cunard.com</a></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br></br> <br></br> Whatever hobby, pursuit or pastime you enjoy, it’s…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/cunard-asset/Images/Hero2.jpg.1571333432483.image.750.563.low.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/cunard-asset/Images/Hero2.jpg.1571333432483.image.750.563.low.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/inspiration/life-on-board/focus-on-fashion?otprrf=https_duckduckgo.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cunard.com</a></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/> <br/> Whatever hobby, pursuit or pastime you enjoy, it’s possible there’s a voyage that will let you combine it with the pleasures of cruising. From food to fashion, music to mystery, the offerings are as varied as the destinations which are included on ship itineraries.<br/> <br/> An Internet search for cruises that interest you may turn up one or more alternatives. While cruise lines are gradually beginning to return to normal services, it’s necessary to check what sailings are being offered, and what coronavirus/COVID-19 protocols they have in place.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Food aficionados long have looked to <strong><a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avalon Waterways</a></strong> to meet their longing for <em>haute cuisine</em>.<span> </span> And what could be more “haute” than combining a voyage through the rivers and lush landscapes of <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/a-culinary-experience-in-burgundy-provence-northbound/WLJ-T1/?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>France</strong>'s <strong>Burgundy</strong> and <strong>Provence</strong></a> including gourmet meals?<span> </span> These food and wine trips merge cuisine and culture to offer a memorable experience.</p>
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<p> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438293890?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438293890?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Alexander Kolemion/Dreamstime.com</em></span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> For golfers - from duffers to low-handicap players - small luxury <strong><a href="https://www.azamara.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azamara Cruises</a></strong> is a good place to start.<span> </span> It has a well-deserved reputation for <a href="https://www.azamara.com/es/search/results/golf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cruises including some of the best known and most beautiful courses around the world</a><span>, with</span> packages including everything from experienced caddies to convenient transportation to the links. Another plus is on-board opportunities to compare experiences and tips with other golf aficionados. <span><br/></span></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438295082?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438295082?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Valtours/Dreamstime.com</em></span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> And now turning from links to tunes, music is usually a big part of the entertainment on any given cruise, but some special-interest sailings make it front and center, such as next Februaary's <strong><a href="https://rockandromancecruise.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70’s Rock & Romance Cruise</a></strong> leaving <strong>Miami</strong> and including the Caribbean islands of <strong>St. Maarten</strong> and <strong>St. Thomas</strong>.<span> </span> A long list of performers includes the popular band <strong>Guess Who</strong> and singer-song writer-actress <strong>Melissa Manchester</strong>, plus a long list of others.<span> </span> Onboard activities will range from a disco party and costume ball to question-and-answer sessions with the musicians.</p>
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<p>Where there’s music there often is dancing, and that’s definitely true on <strong><a href="https://www.hollandamerica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Holland America</a></strong>’s <strong><em>Dancing with the Stars</em></strong> cruises. Champions from that popular TV series join passengers in competing for the colorfully named Mirrorball Trophy. Those who feel they’re not quite ready to don dancing shoes with experts may join a complimentary onboard class to learn the same routines that have been performed on the hit show.</p>
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<p>Hands-on workshops also are part of <strong><a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/inspiration/life-on-board/focus-on-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transatlantic Fashion Week</a>,</strong> which since 2016 has been a feature of <strong>Cunard Line</strong>’s cruise calendar.<span> </span> Designers, milliners, models and others present a series of talks, Q&A sessions, catwalk shows and events aboard the <em><strong>Queen Mary 2</strong></em> that celebrate style against the backdrop of an iconic ocean liner.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438297063?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9438297063?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Mickem/Dreamstime.com</em></span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> Wait, there's much more! Art mavens will get a kick out of Avalon's <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.co.uk/europe/special-interest-cruises/art-and-impressionist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Art and Impressionist</a> river sailings through the French countryside, including destinations depicted by the likes of <strong>Van Gogh</strong> and <strong>Monet</strong> (his house and gardens depicted above). Avalon also runs other specialized history itineraries such as a <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.co.uk/europe/special-interest-cruises/art-and-impressionist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World War II itinerary</a> led by an expert in the amphibious landing on the beaches of <strong>Normandy</strong> and stories of the Allied forces that drove the Nazis out of <strong>France</strong> and other occupied countries, and several of its <strong>Danube River</strong> cruises explore Jewish heritage stories and sites such as the world’s second largest synagogue in <strong>Budapest</strong> and <strong>Prague</strong>’s Jewish quarter.<span> </span></p>
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<p>The themes of other special interest cruises range from birding <a href="https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/outdoor-activities/birding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the <strong>Arctic</strong>/<strong>Antarctic</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.tropicalbirding.com/cruises/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elsewhere</a> to beer (<a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruises/beer-cruises/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avalon</a> and <strong><a href="https://www.crystalcruises.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crystal Cruises</a></strong>) and from literature (<a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-types/event-cruises/literature-festival-at-sea-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cunard</a>) to <a href="http://craftcruises.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">craft cruises</a> focusing on the likes of knitting and needlepoint.</p>
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<p>Theme cruises differ in other ways as well.<span> </span> Some take over an entire ship while others have a group join a regular itinerary.<span> </span> In addition to the opportunity to enjoy a favorite activity, benefits include meeting and mingling with people who share an interest and input from experts in the topic or activity.</p>
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<p>At this time of restrictions on the cruise industry, it’s necessary to check if, and when, a theme cruise in which you may be interested will sail.<span> </span> <span> </span>Check out websites of individual cruise lines or log onto <a href="https://www.sixthman.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sixthman.net</a>, a clearing house for special-interest shipboard experiences.</p>
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<p> </p>The Past Come Vibrantly to Life in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-07-31:3169359:BlogPost:7778022021-07-31T23:00:00.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></em></span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colonial_Williamsburg_(3205781804).jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Humberto Moreno</a></em></span></p>
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<p><strong>William Byrd III…</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%283205781804%29.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></em></span><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colonial_Williamsburg_(3205781804).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Humberto Moreno</a></em></span></p>
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<p><strong>William Byrd III</strong> was a man of great stature in <strong>Williamsburg</strong> before the American Revolution. His vast holdings included mills, warehouses and ships, and he owned hundreds of slaves. However due to his lavish lifestyle and gambling addiction, he could not live within his income, lost his wealth, and died - it’s believed by suicide - in 1760.</p>
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<p><strong>Christiana Campbell</strong> operated one of Williamsburg’s most successful taverns, where she hosted the likes of <strong>George Washington</strong> and <strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong>. Washington’s diary includes entries indicating that he dined there ten times in two months. </p>
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<p><strong>Robert Carter III</strong> was a wealthy owner of land and slaves who fathered 17 children with his wife, <strong>Frances Anne Carter</strong>. He is best remembered for freeing his slaves as quickly as he could under laws then in effect in <strong>Virginia</strong>.</p>
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<p>These historic figures played parts in the fascinating tableau that makes <strong><a href="https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colonial Williamsburg</a></strong> - Virginia's first capital, located just under an hour from current state capital <strong>Richmond</strong> - a perfect place to relive pages from the past. Presentations by authentically attired re-enactors, tours led by factually based characters and a wide variety of other interpretive programs combine to involve visitors in the interest, information and fun.</p>
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<p>Williamsburg’s meticulously restored 17th-to-19th-century historic area provides the Revolutionary and colonial-era setting in which chapters from the past are dramatically revived. The 300-acre site clings proudly to countless vestiges of its original appearance and ambience.</p>
<p><br/> For close to a century, from 1699 to 1780 Williamsburg, which was named for King William III of England, served as the capital of the Virginia Colony. That vast settlement stretched west to the <strong>Mississippi River</strong>, north as far as the <strong>Great Lakes</strong>, and encompassed the territory of eight present-day states. </p>
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<p>In its early heyday, the town of about 2,000 residents was the cultural, social and political center of the colonial world. Before Thomas Jefferson relocated the Virginia capital to Richmond in 1781, he, George Washington, <strong>Patrick Henry</strong>, and other patriots frequented its shops, taverns and other establishments.</p>
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<p>While Williamsburg’s fortunes declined after the Revolution, the town and the important role it played in the New World were not forgotten. In 1926, magnate John D. Rockefeller Jr. launched an effort to restore the setting to its former splendor and the result is one of the largest and most impressive history projects in the <strong>United States</strong>. Colonial structures were renovated to their 18th-century appearance and missing buildings were reconstructed on their original sites. </p>
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<p>Today more than 600 historic buildings – imposing public structures and modest dwellings, bustling taverns and crowded shops – line tree-shaded streets that echo the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages. Gardens and “dependencies,” including freestanding kitchens, smoke houses, and privies (public toilets), add to the atmosphere and authenticity. <br/> <br/>
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<p><br/> <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Colonial_Williamsburg_%282463494327%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%282463494327%29.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Colonial_Williamsburg_%282463494327%29.jpg/800px-Colonial_Williamsburg_%282463494327%29.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colonial_Williamsburg_(2463494327).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Colonial Williamsburg/Albert Herring</em></span></a></p>
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<p>Along with this elegant and historically accurate scene, it primarily is people who bring Colonial Williamsburg to life. Character interpreters dressed in colonial-style clothing - many depicting real-life former residents of the town, converse with visitors in period dialect as they go about their daily tasks.</p>
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<p>Chefs in several restaurant kitchens use “receipts” (recipes) from 18th-century cookbooks to prepare original dishes on authentic hearths. Presentations of dance, singing and other leisure time activities demonstrate aspects of life of the half of Colonial Williamsburg’s population who were black.</p>
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<p>Costumed artisans use 18th-century tools to fashion items that closely resemble those made by their Colonial predecessors, including reproduction toys, pottery and pewterware. A blacksmith turns out items that were part of everyday life. The bookbinder carefully hand-stitches cover boards for a new volume. A silversmith creates wares that would have appealed to the colony’s wealthier members. A shoemaker fashions men’s boots “with good thread well twisted.” Among other historic tradespeople are a basket weaver, cabinet maker and milliner. The results of their efforts are sold in shops located along <strong>Duke of Gloucester Street</strong> (above).</p>
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<p>Leaving no stone unturned - literally as well as figuratively - historians, archaeologists, and others who are active in enhancing the setting and programs transform research and construction projects into learning experiences for the public.</p>
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<p>For example, "trials" take place in the courthouse, which has been reconstructed as closely as possible to its original form. Architectural historians scoured plans, court records and other documents for clues to its former appearance. Then costumed carpenters used tools and techniques of colonial times to restore the building as visitors looked on.</p>
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<p>As a result, figures from the past depict life today as it once was in surroundings that would be familiar to the people whom they represent. For those who visit Colonial Williamsburg, the result of such attention to detail is an engrossing, all-encompassing trip back through time.</p>
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<p>They may enjoy a theatrical comedy and a traveling magic show reminiscent of entertainment in the 18th century. Among choices for shoppers are an inkwell, silver coffee pot and other souvenirs and gifts that have been hand-fashioned by craftspeople in ways of old. Those interested in legal issues may observe colonial justice in action, and perhaps even play a role in the court proceedings.</p>
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<p>And for those staying overnight, there's a wide range of lodgings - either restored colonial premises in Colonial Williamsburg itself or modern ones nearby - are available at various price points.</p>
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<p>It’s all part of the immersion in the past at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, a destination that gives new meaning to the term “living history.”</p>
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<p>For more information, log onto <a href="https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ColonialWilliamsburg.org</a> and <a href="https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/attractions/colonial-williamsburg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VisitWilliamsburg.com</a>. </p>
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<p> </p>7 Swell Spots to Travel the World Without Leaving the USAtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-07-19:3169359:BlogPost:7804732021-07-19T20:00:00.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908631855?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908631855?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Exploretarponsprings.com</em><strong><em><br></br> <br></br> <br></br></em></strong></span> At this time of limited travel, if you live in the <strong>United States</strong> it may be less easy visit other countries on your bucket list. <span>But thanks to the <strong>USA</strong>'s longstanding history of…</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908631855?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908631855?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Exploretarponsprings.com</em><strong><em><br/> <br/> <br/></em></strong></span> At this time of limited travel, if you live in the <strong>United States</strong> it may be less easy visit other countries on your bucket list. <span>But thanks to the <strong>USA</strong>'s longstanding history of immigration, there's plenty of international</span> culture, cuisine, and customs that can be experienced right here at home. Notable among them are the various Chinatowns in <strong>New York City</strong>, <strong>San Francisco</strong>, and elsewhere<span>, And here are five other destinations whose ethnic enclaves will transport you to foreign shores. <br/> <br/> <br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Tarpon Springs, Florida: Greece on the Gulf</strong></span></span></p>
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<p>Women chatting in Greek stroll by signs that identify the <strong>Spartan Gas Station</strong> and <strong>Alexander the Great Apartments</strong>. They pass restaurants where diners are feasting on pickled octopus, squid salad and gyro sandwiches. Nearby, a man wearing a diving suit emerges from a river and clambers into a boat, clutching a sponge he dredged up from the bottom.</p>
<p><br/> A visit to this town of just over 24,000 on <strong>Florida</strong>'s <strong>Gulf Coast</strong> near <strong>Tampa</strong> can bring to mind Greece, where sponges have been fished and used since the ancient times of <strong>Homer</strong> and <strong>Plato</strong>. And when they were also discovered beneath Florida’s waters in the 1880s, an influx of Greek immigrants were recruited to dive for them, and to this day <strong>Tarpon Springs</strong> has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any U.S. locality.</p>
<p><br/> And while as of the mid-20th century the industry tapered off considerably, thanks to algae blooms and lower demand for natural squeegees due to the development of artificial sponges, a pocket of the industry hangs on here - and these days brings in as much if not more income from tourism than from the actual sale of sponges. Attractions in its <strong>Greektown</strong> historic district include a <a href="https://tarponarts.org/event-location/heritage-museum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local heritage museum</a>; <a href="http://tarponspringsareahistoricalsociety.org/museum.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">historical society museum</a>; the Victorian <a href="https://tarponarts.org/event-location/safford-house-museum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safford House</a>, chronicling a prominent local family; and the <strong><a href="https://spongeorama.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spongeorama</a></strong> sponge factory.<br/> <br/> For more info: <a href="https://exploretarponsprings.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ExploreTarponSprings.com</a>, <a href="https://www.tarponspringschamber.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TarponSpringsChamber.org</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908634858?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908634858?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Victor Block</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Corners of Cuba & Haiti in Miami<br/></strong></span></p>
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<p>While many flock to the sands and party scenes of <strong>Miami Beach</strong> and the other barrier islands of <strong>Miami Dade County</strong>, the more culturally minded head to mainland Miami to watch cigar rollers at work in <em>tabacaleras</em>; gray-haired men and women loudly slapping dominoes onto tables, seemingly interested more in who can produce the loudest bangs than in how the game turns out; shop for <em>guayabera</em> shirts; and feast on Cuban delicacies while being serenaded by salsa and old-timey <em>boleros</em>. Welcome to <strong>Calle Ocho</strong> (aka <strong>Southwest Eighth Street</strong>) in the neighborhood know,n as <strong><a href="https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/little-havana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Havana</a></strong>, settled by Cuban refugees in the 1960s after <strong>Fidel Castro</strong> seized power in their homeland, this several-block stretch is lined with restaurants, shops, galleries, and bars.</p>
<p><br/> What's more, virtually all Caribbean cultures have a presence in Miami, and the other main one can be found several miles north of Little Havana in <strong><a href="https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/little-haiti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Haiti</a></strong>. Here women in colorful print dresses gather at markets to buy plantains, salt pork, and other favorite foods; <span>s</span>hops sell <em>kremas mapou</em>, a blend of milk, egg yolk, cane sugar and light alcohol, as well as flaky dough pockets brimming with meat, fish and flavor; and locals browse botanicas for medicinal herbs, incense, and other voodoo supplies (in the market for a doll to cast a spell on someone?). Visitors can also shop, eat, and buy Haitian crafts at the neighborhood's <strong><a href="https://www.miamigov.com/LHCC/Venues-Rentals/Caribbean-Marketplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caribbean Marketplace</a></strong>, a replica of an iconic market in <strong>Port au Prince</strong>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>In Missouri, Hermann Is German<br/></strong></span></p>
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<p>An hour and a half west of <strong>St. Louis</strong>, this small town was founded on the <strong>Missouri River</strong> in 1837 by members of a German-American society (attracted here because the area's rugged terrain reminded them of the Rhine Valley), and downtown <strong><a href="https://visithermann.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hermann</a></strong> is has no shortage of quaint 19th-century architecture, with more than 150 buildings listed on the <strong>National Register of Historic Places</strong>. There are several museums exploring the town and its Teutonic heritage, and guided tours of the <strong><a href="https://mostateparks.com/park/deutschheim-state-historic-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deutschheim State Historic Site</a></strong> provide an introduction to the daily life and traditions of the first German settlers. <span>They also roll out the barrel at <strong><a href="https://visithermann.com/explore-hermanns-oktoberfest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oktoberfest</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://visithermann.com/hermann-wurstfest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wurstfest</a></strong>, and various other events throughout the year featuring t</span>ypical food, music and dancing. And by the way, this also happens to be <strong>Missouri</strong>'s most prominent wine country, with a <a href="https://hermannwinetrail.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wine trail</a> of several vineyards, some of which have won gold medals internationally - and an early-September <a href="https://hermannjazz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wine and jazz festival</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908635861?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908635861?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>New Glarus Chamber of Commerce</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Swiss Bliss in Wisconsin</strong></span></p>
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<p>Another small town, this one just over a half hour from <strong>Wisconsin</strong> capital <strong>Madison</strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.swisstown.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Glarus</a></strong> was founded in 1845 by immigrants fleeing hard times in their home canton <strong>Glarus</strong>, in eastern <strong>Switzerland</strong>, and these days the locals embrace their town's Swiss heritage with a passion. Downtown is full of Alpine-style chalets adorned with boxes of geraniums, as well as Swiss bakeries, shops, restaurants, and museums such as the <strong><a href="https://theswisscenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swiss Center</a></strong>. Traditions from the old country including yodeling and playing the alpenhorn (above) are still practiced, and a number of festivals throughout the year such as <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolkFestNewGlarus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Volksfest</a></strong> and the <strong><a href="https://wilhelmtellfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wilhelm Tell Festival</a></strong> also keep the Helvetic spirit alive.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908637074?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908637074?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Holland Area Visitors bureau</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Windmills & Tulips in Michigan</strong></span></p>
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<p>Dire economic conditions also prompted Dutch Calvinists to flee the <strong>Netherlands</strong> in the 1840s and settle the town of <strong><a href="https://cityofholland.com/101/Visitors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Holland</a></strong> on Michigan's lower peninsula. Dutch architecture, delicacies and festivals are among features that create a charming environment. Most notable is the 12-story <strong><a href="https://cityofholland.com/471/Windmill-Island-Gardens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">De Zwaan Windmill</a></strong> (above), one of over 9,000 that once graced the landscapes of the Netherlands; Built in 1761, it was dismantled and reassembled on its present site in 1965, where it grinds grain into flour which may be purchased. It’s surrounded by manicured gardens, canals and dikes. Tulips are everywhere, and serve as the main attraction of the annual <strong>Tulip Time Festival</strong> in mid-May.<span> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Wt7Gb_VSYM?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="640" height="400" frameborder="0"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br/> <br/>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Los Angeles' Little Persia</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></iframe>
</span> <br/> <br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Little Tehran in Los Angeles</strong></span><br/><br/> Like Miami's Cubans, many Iranians fled their country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and today more than a half million and their descendants live in the <strong>Westwood</strong> section of <strong>Los Angeles</strong> (waggishly dubbed "<strong>Tehrangeles</strong>" ) between <strong>Beverly Hills</strong> and <strong>Santa Monica</strong> - the largest such concentration outside Iran. Ground zero is the <strong>Persian Square</strong>, the intersection of <strong>Westwood Boulevard</strong> and <strong>Wilkins Avenue</strong>, anchoring an area also dubbed <strong><a href="https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/eat-drink/the-definitive-guide-to-persian-square" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Persia</a></strong>. Here you can find a number of Iranian shops, tea shops, and restaurants including the likes of <strong><a href="https://shamshiri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shamshiri Grill</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.farsicafe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farsi Café</a></strong>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908641067?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8908641067?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Victor Block</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>The Multiculti Mosaic that Is Queens, New York</strong></span></p>
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<p>By far the largest borough of New York City, <strong><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/an-under-the-radar-new-york-city-gem-the-borough-of-queens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queens</a></strong> is also the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, with more than half its residents born outside of the United States, hailing from more than 120 countries and speaking over 135 languages (The Tower of Babel had nothing on Queens!). <span>Asians and Latinos are especially well represented, but depending on the neighborhood you'll also find many Greeks, Eastern Europeans, Africans, Middle Easterners, and people from all the corners of the world - along with their many shops (like the Indian sari shop above), restaurants, and nightspots.</span> For more info on this most multicultural of boroughs, check out <a href="https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/queens/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NYCGo.com</a>.<br/> <br/> <br/> <span><br/></span></p>
<p>This is but a brief sample of destinations around the United States where people may enjoy attractions and appeals of other countries and cultures.<span> </span> There are many, many more, including picturesque <strong>Danneborg</strong>, <strong>Nebraska</strong>, with its romantic homes and Danish festivals; <strong>Mineral Point</strong>, Wisconsin, where restored houses built in the 1830s by miners from <strong>Cornwell</strong>, <strong>England</strong> are among reminders of those early settlers; the <strong>Asiatown</strong> neighborhood of <strong>Houston</strong>, <strong>Texas</strong>, with a melting pot of architecture, shops, restaurants and experiences reminiscent of <strong>Vietnam</strong>, <strong>Korea</strong>, <strong>Pakistan</strong>, <strong>Bangladesh</strong>, and other Asian countries; and other Texas towns such as <strong>West</strong> and <strong>La Grange</strong> where the heritage of its Czech immigrants is still kept alive.</p>
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<p></p>From Beaches to Blackbeard, Shipwrecks to Sand Dunes, North Carolina’s Outer Banks Have Something for Everyonetag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-07-07:3169359:BlogPost:7799392021-07-07T17:42:37.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837737259?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837737259?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Gavin Haskell/Dreamtime.com</em></span></p>
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<p>I stood frozen with fear, unable to move. The terrifying image drew closer, curved sword swinging wildly. Just as the fearsome swashbuckler seemed about to separate my head and body, I snapped back to reality; left my all-too-real…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837737259?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837737259?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Gavin Haskell/Dreamtime.com</em></span></p>
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<p>I stood frozen with fear, unable to move. The terrifying image drew closer, curved sword swinging wildly. Just as the fearsome swashbuckler seemed about to separate my head and body, I snapped back to reality; left my all-too-real daydream about <strong>Blackbeard</strong> the pirate behind; and moved on the next exhibit in the museum.</p>
<p><br/> The dramatic, somewhat grisly story of Blackbeard is but one display that transforms <strong><a href="https://graveyardoftheatlantic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum</a></strong> in <strong>Hatteras</strong> into a memorably lifelike experience. This eclectic collection is among the attractions which make <strong>North Carolina</strong>'s <strong>Outer Banks</strong> – the chain of narrow barrier islands that parallels the state’s Atlantic coastline – into much more than just another sun-and-sand vacation destination.<span> </span></p>
<p><br/> No wonder <strong><em>Forbes</em></strong> last year included it among <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2020/05/20/america-best-places-travel-beaches-small-towns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Top 20 Places Americans Are Dreaming About Right Now</em>,</a> and a renowned seashore expert included one of its beaches among his list of the most outstanding in the country.</p>
<p><br/> Another draw is how the these islands' past comingles with life there today. Tiny family cemeteries stretching back generations are hidden behind houses - some of which contain timbers salvaged from the hundreds of ships that fell prey over centuries to the treacherous waters off this coast.<span> </span></p>
<p><br/> The Outer Banks first became a magnet for vacationers all the way back in the 1830s, when families of wealthy North Carolina planters found refuge here from the summer heat. They were followed by sportsmen drawn by outstanding fishing and hunting that First Nations peoples had discovered centuries earlier.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9097625692?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9097625692?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/onasill/3522193121" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Onasill ~ Bill</em></span></a></p>
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<p><strong><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beaches, Towns & the Wright Brothers</span> <br/></strong></p>
<p><br/> The pristine strands strung out along the 130 miles of the Outer Banks are of course the major appeal for most visitors. The <strong><a href="https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cape Hatteras National Seashore</a></strong> runs for 70 of those 130 miles, including the largest stretch of undeveloped beaches on the U.S. <strong>East Coast</strong>. - including the eastern seaboard's tallest sand dune (fluctuating in height between 80 and 100 feet, constantly reshaped by the wind) at nearby <strong><a href="https://www.ncparks.gov/jockeys-ridge-state-park/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jockeys Ridge State Park</a></strong><span>.</span><br/> <br/> Nestled between these stretches of sand are tiny villages, each with its own distinctive characteristics.<span> </span>Many visitors rank the northernmost towns <strong>Corolla</strong> (pronounced <em>coh-RAH-luh</em>) and <strong>Duck</strong> as the Outer Banks' two prettiest - the latter with a wooden boardwalk that skirts a bay, leading through pockets of woods where bird calls are the only sounds.<span> </span>The islands' commercial hub, meanwhile is comprised of <strong>Kitty Hawk</strong>, <strong>Kill Devil Hills</strong>, and <strong>Nags Head</strong>, with more of a strip-mall atmosphere. And it was at Kitty Hawk where on December 17, 1903 <strong>Wilbur</strong> and <strong>Orville Wright</strong> made the first controlled power flights. The <strong><a href="https://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kitty Hawl National Memorial</a></strong> has a musuem with a full-scale replica of their rickety aircraft (above) along with various exhibits and memorabilia; visitors often are surprised to learn that the <strong>Wright Brothers</strong>' longest journey lasted only 59 seconds and covered just 852 feet.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837733462?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837733462?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>Victor Block</em></span></p>
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<p><strong><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Precolonial, Colonial & Civil War History</span><br/></strong></p>
<p><br/> <strong>Roanoke Island</strong> became the site of the first English colony in the Americas in 1657, and a good place to begin your exploration is <a href="https://www.roanokeisland.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roanoke Island Festival Park</a> (above), where the life of Native Americans who originally inhabited the area is recreated.<span> </span> Longhouses, a dance circle, and planting and harvesting areas set the mood.<span> </span>Interactive exhibits appeal to generations of family visitors.</p>
<p><br/> To relive another chapter of the story, clamber aboard the Elizabeth II, a sailing ship representative of seven British vessels that arrived during the 16th century.<span> </span> Costumed interpreters describe the small craft, and entertain landlubbers with dramatic tales of the perilous voyage, speaking in a thick brogue that echoes the dialect of that time.<span> </span></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837732300?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837732300?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><strong>An Elizabeth II interpreter spins tales for guests aboard the ship.</strong></em></span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><strong>Victor Block</strong></em></span></p>
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<p>The history lesson continues at the Roanoke Adventure Museum, where 400 years of Outer Banks past are explored. From early pirates to the Civil War, from boat-building to shipwrecks, virtually every facet of life as it used to be gets its due.<span> </span></p>
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<p><strong>Sunken Ships Tell Part of the Story of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.</strong></p>
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<p>In Hatteras Village, the aptly named Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is chock full of dramatic exhibits which chronicle the tragic tale of more than 2,000 ships that met their fate on the treacherous offshore shoals. Many were sailing vessels that went down during the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries.<span> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837734085?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8837734085?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>A reminder that thousands of sunken ships lie below the waters off the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau</em></span></p>
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<p>Others were cargo carriers heading for England during World War II, which were sunk by German submarines that lurked surprisingly close to our country’s East Coast. Parts of several shipwrecks still are visible today along beaches or in shallow water at low tide.<span> </span></p>
<p>Among other vivid exhibits at the museum are displays about the Civil War ironclad U.S.S. Monitor, ship bombing demonstrations by General Billy Mitchell off the Cape Hatteras coast in 1921, and lifesaving and rescue operations. Of course, there’s a section devoted to the notorious Blackbeard who, after his life of marauding, was killed in the area.<span> </span></p>
<p><br/> Lighthouse buffs will think they’ve gone to heaven, with three towers that mark this stretch of the Outer Banks, all of which were first lit in the 1870s. The Cape Hatteras light claims fame as the tallest brick beacon in the country.<span> <br/> <br/></span></p>
<p>Adding to this historical and cultural mélange is a list of other pursuits that offer something-for-everyone variety. They range from hiking to hang gliding, kayaking to kite boarding, sailing to surf boarding, along with fishing and crabbing. Oh yes, and one of my favorite beach pastimes: relaxing on some of the finest sand anywhere with a good book.<span> </span></p>
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<p>For more information about visiting the Outer Banks, call 877-629-4386 or log onto <a href="https://outerbanks.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OuterBanks.org</a>.<span> </span></p>
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<p></p>Nostalgia Front & Center in Some U.S. Museums & Eateriestag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-06-26:3169359:BlogPost:7817692021-06-26T04:30:00.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049735071?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049735071?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame</em></span></p>
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<p><strong>Louis Kaplan</strong> is channeling his childhood.<span> </span> While a youngster, he collected baseball cards which he stored in boxes and treasured as souvenirs of the <strong>USA</strong>'s…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049735071?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049735071?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame</em></span></p>
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<p><strong>Louis Kaplan</strong> is channeling his childhood.<span> </span> While a youngster, he collected baseball cards which he stored in boxes and treasured as souvenirs of the <strong>USA</strong>'s favorite pastime.<span> </span> Decades later, he’s reliving that time while visiting the <strong>National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum</strong> in <strong>Cooperstown</strong>, upstate <strong>New York</strong>.<span> </span></p>
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<p>Opportunities to recapture memories from the past are of course not limited to baseball, nor to New York. From Coca-Cola to cars, movies to museums, chapters of times gone by await discovery.<span> </span> Some may be close to where you live.</p>
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<p>One exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame traces the history of the cardboard collectables from 1878 to today.<span> </span> Another showcases cards imprinted with the photo and statistics of famous players like <strong>Babe Ruth</strong> and <strong>Jackie Robinson</strong>.<span> </span> A surprising twist is a section devoted to “error cards,” which had misspelled names and other mistakes.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049587261?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049587261?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Norman Rockwell Museum<br/></em></span></p>
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<p>Paintings rather than pitches also prompt memories of the past, and few evoke nostalgia more than those of Norman Rockwell.<span> </span> His images portrayed virtually every aspect of American life and culture.<span> </span> His best-known works were cover illustrations for <em>The Saturday</em> <em>Evening Post</em> magazine between the 1910s and 1960s.<span> </span> The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, western Massachusetts is home to a treasure-trove of the artist’s paintings, sketches and studies.<span> </span></p>
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<p>Shaving mugs, colorful striped poles and elaborate padded chairs are among exhibits at another museum.<span> </span> The National Barber Museum and Hall of Fame in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio recalls the heyday of old-fashioned barber shops and traces the history of barbering back to the Egyptian pharaohs, when instruments were fashioned from oyster shells. The Hall of Fame honors giants of the trade like the man who founded the first barber school in the United States in 1893.<span> <br/> <br/></span></p>
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<p><span><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/World_of_Coca_Cola_2015-04-09.jpg/800px-World_of_Coca_Cola_2015-04-09.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/World_of_Coca_Cola_2015-04-09.jpg/800px-World_of_Coca_Cola_2015-04-09.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></em></span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_of_Coca_Cola_2015-04-09.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Marco Correa</em></span></a></span></p>
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<p>Two iconic brand names that have been known around the world for decades are celebrated in other places. <strong>Atlanta</strong>'s <strong>World of Coca-Cola</strong> traces the history of that beverage with a film, artifacts and interactive exhibits. A Coke syrup urn from 1896 sets the stage and a "Virtual Taste Maker" invites visitors to create flavors the way early pharmacists did.<span> </span> One high point is the "Vault of the Secret Formula," where the legendary recipe for the soft drink is secured.</p>
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<p>The story of an even older creation is told at the <strong>Levi Strauss Visitor Center</strong> in San Francisco.<span> </span> It began in 1852 when an immigrant by that name from <strong>Bavaria</strong> opened a dry goods store during the height of the Gold Rush.<span> </span> When he patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength, the world’s first jeans were born.<span> </span> That’s part of what comes to life at six museum-quality pavilions.In-jean-ious!</p>
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<p>Any back-to-the-past journey requires places to eat, and some immerse diners in the feel, and food, of yesteryear.<span> </span> <strong>The Forks Resort Restaurant</strong>, a lakeside diner in California's Sierra National Forest, has been family owned for four generations, and has a 1950s diner setting and prices to match.<span> </span> A hamburger costs $5.60, a double ‘burger $6.95, and hungry folks often end their meal with old-fashioned ice cream pie washed down by a root beer float.</p>
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<p>At <strong>The Coffee Shop</strong> in <strong>Jackson</strong>, <strong>North Carolina</strong>, the entire menu is priced below $10.<span> </span> The popular spot has been serving home-cooked meals since 1926 in an atmosphere enhanced by vintage photos, signs and an old jukebox.</p>
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<p>What could be finer after dinner in a diner than taking in a drive-in movie?<span> </span> Back in the 1950s, more than 4,000 drive-in theaters dotted the American landscape, and were a popular pastime place for people of all ages.<span> </span> While only about 325 outdoor motion picture venues are operating throughout the country today, they continue to offer hints of history.</p>
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<p>The past meets the present in Atlanta at the <strong>Starlight</strong> drive-in, which has been a local landmark since 1949.<span> </span> The Art-Deco décor, choice of four screens and appeal of natural social distancing are among attractions that account for its continued popularity.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049717892?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9049717892?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Coyote Drive-in</em></span></p>
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<p><strong>Texas</strong> has always been (and some of it still is) is cowboy and cowgirl country, so it’s no surprise that wranglers in <strong>Fort Worth</strong> may ride their steeds into the <strong>Coyote Drive-in</strong>. Convenient hitches provide a place to park their animal as the movies are shown.<br/> </p>
<p>Through the early to mid-1900s, U.S. Route 66 was a primary thoroughfare followed by adventure seekers, people migrating westward during the Dust Bowl days and others.<span> </span> It was one of the original roads in the national highway system commissioned by the federal government in 1926.<span> </span> It ran nearly 2,550 miles from Chicago to California, passing through eight states.</p>
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<p>Route 66 was immortalized in the novel <strong><em>The Grapes of Wrath</em></strong> by <strong>John Steinbeck</strong>, as well as a 1960s television series and the popular song <em>Get Your Kicks on Route 66.</em><span> </span> While it has been replaced by other stretches of road and removed from the U.S. highway system, sections in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Arizona have been designated as a National Scenic Byway.</p>
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<p>In places, old-time diners and quirky shops dredge up memories of former glory days.<span> </span> POPS in <strong>Arcadia</strong>, <strong>Oklahoma</strong> is fronted by a 66-foot-tall soft drink bottle which advertises the fact that it serves more than 700 flavors of soda pop. The aptly named <strong>Midpoint Café</strong> in <strong>Adrian</strong>, Texas touts itself (almost accurately) as at the center of the original Route 66, and also is famous, or infamous, for its "Ugly Crust Pies. <span>And the</span> title of the USA's longest still-operating restaurant belongs to <strong>Ariston Café</strong> in <strong>Litchfield</strong>, <strong>Illinois</strong>, which has been feeding hungry diners since 1935.</p>
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<p></p>Spring Has Sprung & U.S. Gardens Await Discoverytag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-04-16:3169359:BlogPost:7782292021-04-16T12:22:28.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725265494?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725265494?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
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<p>Spring is here, and summer's already around the corner! If you’re a flower gardener - and the <strong>National Gardening Association</strong> estimates that members of over a third of U.S. households are - you already may have begun to till soil and plant seeds. And those who like to travel as well as garden (as well as those who enjoy…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725265494?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725265494?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></p>
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<p>Spring is here, and summer's already around the corner! If you’re a flower gardener - and the <strong>National Gardening Association</strong> estimates that members of over a third of U.S. households are - you already may have begun to till soil and plant seeds. And those who like to travel as well as garden (as well as those who enjoy gardens more by watching than working), now is time to plan a trip to take in some of Mother Nature’s bountiful beauty.</p>
<p><br/> Gardens come in a variety of types, sizes and offerings. Some are urban pockets of color and scent, others world-famous destinations that people travel far to see. They also can turn pages of history, amaze with their beauty, and at times also amuse.</p>
<p>Wherever you live, or go, there no doubt are parks and plots that can satisfy a longing for the splendor that flowers, shrubs and trees provide. Many city dwellers live close to outstanding public gardens. <br/> <br/> For example, residents of <strong>Los Angeles</strong> have easy access to one that’s said to offer more types of plants than any other botanical garden in the world. The 16 themed areas at the <strong>Huntington Botanical Gardens</strong> include sections devoted to natives of <strong>California</strong>, <strong>Australia</strong>, and <strong>Japan</strong> (top); the deserts, jungles, and the subtropics; and specialty flora including herbs and roses.</p>
<p><br/> Vibrant colors team with chapters from the past at what’s billed as Charleston’s "famous gardens." This historic <strong>South Carolina</strong> city is home to three spectacular settings that were born in pre-Revolutionary times. <strong>Magnolia Gardens</strong> was established in 1671 and once was listed as among the three most outstanding attractions in the United States, along with <strong>Niagara Falls</strong> and the <strong>Grand Canyon</strong>. It's still quite an experience, including moss-draped live oaks spreading their branches over masses of color that line inky black lakes. Water also is a key feature of <strong>Cypress Gardens</strong>, where island-studded lagoons reflect a blaze of color, and what today is a swamp garden in the mid-18th century served as a freshwater reservoir for a nearby rice plantation. <strong>Middleton Place</strong> also was an important plantation when creation of its gardens got underway in 1741, laid out in the classic style then in vogue in Europe, which accounts for the descending terraced lawns that lead to the oldest camellia plants in the Western world and more than 100,000 azaleas. </p>
<p><br/> Clear across the country, <strong>Portland</strong>, <strong>Oregon</strong> touts itself as the "City of Roses," and the <strong>International Rose Test Garden</strong> alone could be reason enough for that moniker. It was founded as a safe haven for hybrid flowers grown in <strong>Europe</strong> during World War I, and the grounds are divided into several areas where more than 10,000 of these blooms thrive. Very different atmospheres greet visitors to two Asian-inspired settings in Portland. The <strong>Japanese Garden</strong> is considered to be the most authentic of its kind outside of Japan; among its five distinct areas are a <strong>Strolling Pond Garden</strong>, <strong>Sand and Stone Garden</strong>, and <strong>Bonsai Terrace</strong>. Portland's other Asian horticulture hub is the <strong>Lan Su Chinese Garden</strong>, which offers an immersion in an authentically designed Ming Dynasty-style atmosphere. Itw richly planted landscape encompasses open colonnades, graceful bridges, and covered walkways. </p>
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<p> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725267071?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725267071?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><br/> Then there are topiary gardens, where shrubs and trees are trained and trimmed into ornamental shapes, and include touches of humor. At <strong>Ladew Topiary Gardens</strong> in <strong>Monkton</strong>, <strong>Maryland</strong> (a half hour north of <strong>Baltimore</strong>, an hour and a half from <strong>Washington DC</strong>), they echo the love of hunting by the property’s original owner, with flora-sculpted scenes including horses, riders, and hounds pursuing an unfortunate fox. </p>
<p><br/> More whimsical wildlife inhabits <strong>Green Animals Topiary Garden</strong> in <strong>Portsmouth</strong>, <strong>Rhode Island</strong> - in addition to an elephant, ostrich and unicorn, there’s a menagerie of teddy bears and more than 75 other critters. </p>
<p><br/> Animals, along with a table, chair, and geometric forms are features at <strong>Longwood Gardens</strong> near <strong>Philadelphia</strong>, but they’re just for starters. Sharing Its 1,100 acres are woodland, hillside and meadow gardens, and indoor environments that mimic desert regions and <strong>South America</strong>, along with places where orchids thrive.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725269870?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725269870?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>There also are welcome surprises that extend beyond what you might expect. People strolling through the <strong>Desert Botanical Garden</strong> in <strong>Phoenix</strong> follow trails that lead to plants which thrive in some of the hottest and driest parts of the world, including desert wildflowers and vegetation that has been traditionally used by native people for food and medicine for centuries. </p>
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<p>Therapeutic horticulture benefits also are a focus at the <strong>Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens</strong>, which sprawls across a forest that includes nearly a mile of tidal saltwater frontage. It offers a "Nurturing Connections" program for people facing physical, social or emotional challenges which is intended to evoke the benefits of close encounters with nature. </p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725271287?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8725271287?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/><br/> <br/></a></p>
<p>Furthermore, beyond gardens per se some resorts and hotels around the country add magnificent floral attractions to their other amenities. The gardens at <strong>Antrim 1844</strong> in <strong>Taneytown</strong>, Maryland, whose name indicates its founding date, are bedecked by more than 80 varieties of English Tea Roses, which make it a popular venue for weddings, while a secluded <strong>Secret Garden</strong> features a changing display of annuals. </p>
<p><br/> More than 8,000 rose bushes, citrus trees, and towering palms are among plantings at <strong>The Wigwam</strong> (above), a half hour west of Phoenix, which has been a world-class resort since 1929. Its 440-plus acres of lush landscapes also include colorful spreads of seasonal flowers and native cactus. and the spa here uses rose petals from its garden in some treatments. </p>
<p><br/> And finally, zoos can also serve double duty as places of floral beauty. In addition to its resident animals, the <strong>Cincinnati Zoo</strong> offers green, conifer and pollinator species gardens. There also is an area which demonstrates the environmental advantages of having rooftops do double duty as growing mediums.</p>
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<p></p>Sleeping with History at 7 of the USA's most Historic Hotelstag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-02-28:3169359:BlogPost:7517772021-02-28T20:30:00.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel1.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel1.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></em></span> <a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/galleryHotel.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Crescent Hotel</em></span></a></p>
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<p>How would you like to spend a night or more at a hotel once frequented by <strong>Clark Gable</strong>, <strong>Ingrid Berman</strong>, <strong>Marilyn Monroe</strong> and a long…</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel1.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></em></span><a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/galleryHotel.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Crescent Hotel</em></span></a></p>
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<p>How would you like to spend a night or more at a hotel once frequented by <strong>Clark Gable</strong>, <strong>Ingrid Berman</strong>, <strong>Marilyn Monroe</strong> and a long list of other Tinseltown luminaries? Or snuggle down under the sheets at a former stagecoach stop along the famous <strong>Chisolm Trail</strong> which played host to <strong>George Custer</strong>, the cavalry commander in the Civil and American Indian Wars, and <strong>Jesse James</strong>, who needs no introduction? If luxury and elegance are your preference, how about the <strong>Hotel Du Pont</strong> in <strong>Wilmington</strong>, <strong>Delaware</strong>, which opened in 1913, was built to rival the finest European lodgings of the time in stylishness and beauty?</p>
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<p>A hotel can be more, much more, than just a place to catch a good night’s sleep. Properties throughout the <strong>United States</strong> offer interesting stories of famous guests, accommodations that range from laid back to lavish, and opportunities to snooze with intriguing chapters of American history. At this stay-at-home time, they also provide a welcome escape for people seeking a change of scenery without having to travel far from where they live, or happen to be visiting, in the <strong>USA</strong>.</p>
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<p><em><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426702874?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426702874?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></em><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Biansho/Dreamstime.com</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Hotel for Hollywood Heroes</strong></span></p>
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<p>An Italian Renaissance-style building which was the first high-rise hotel in <strong>Phoenix</strong> and first in the state of <strong>Arizona</strong> to have elevators (which were hand-operated), was the go-to place for Hollywood celebrities when it opened in 1928. Marilyn Monroe and other movie stars and dignitaries who frequented the <strong><a href="http://hotelsancarlos.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotel San Carlos</a></strong> over the years are memorialized by copper stars set in the sidewalk. Guests today enter the same limestone-tiled lobby with its original carved crown moldings, elaborate crystal chandeliers, and other architectural features that once greeted movie stars.</p>
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<p><em><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426704093?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426704093?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a></em><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Stagecoach Inn/Belton Library</em></span></p>
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<p><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Rustic Roost for Ranchers</strong></span></p>
<p><br/> The setting is far less sumptuous at a rest stop that was built in 1861 along the Chisolm Trail, to accommodate ranchers and drovers herding cattle from <strong>Texas</strong> to <strong>Kansas</strong>. The modest but comfortable <strong><a href="http://stagecoachsalado.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stagecoach Inn</a></strong> in <strong>Salado</strong> over time also provided lodgings for 19th-century notables who were passing through Texas, ranging from the famous to the infamous.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426693477?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426693477?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>The Cliff House</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Pike's Peak Perch</strong></span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> Speaking of stagecoaches, it was their passengers, rather than cattle drivers, who holed up for the night at quarters in Colorado that are older than the state itself. Following its debut in 1874, the <strong><a href="http://thecliffhouse.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cliff House</a></strong> at Pike’s Peak was a stagecoach stop along the gold mining route from <strong>Colorado Springs</strong> to Leadville. Later it became a military barracks and then finally a hotel, hosting VIP guests as diverse as <strong>Theodore Roosevelt</strong>, <strong>Charles Dickens</strong>, and <strong>P.T. Barnum</strong>. Many rooms offer views of towering <strong>Pike’s Peak</strong> and its surrounding foothills.</p>
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<p><img src="https://www.omnihotels.com/-/media/images/hotels/indsev/photos/hotel/indsev-omni-severin-hotel-exterior-night.jpg?la=en&mw=768&hash=6F6D1993FAF851166450F6D8975AC59A127C1CC3" alt="Hotel exterior at night"/></p>
<p><a href="https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/indianapolis-severin#digex-photogallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>OmniHotels.com</em></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Elegance on the Go</strong></span></p>
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<p>Rather than a place to stay when on the go, some historic hotels were designed to be destinations themselves because of their opulent décor and furnishings. From 1913 to the late 1930s, the Grand Hotel in <strong>Indianapolis</strong>, Indiana offered guests the height of luxury. Reopened recently as the <a href="https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/indianapolis-severin#digex-photogallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Severin</a>, it retains touches of its elegant past including a dramatic marble stairway, an immense Austrian crystal chandelier and original mahogany dressers at each elevator landing.</p>
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<p><a href="https://d2tuzfd0l4k9zb.cloudfront.net/hoteldupont-1874311108/cms/cache/v2/5dd71d4ab4041.jpg/1920x1080/resize/80/e7a053ad0dd94cdae28676ae6555d3a5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://d2tuzfd0l4k9zb.cloudfront.net/hoteldupont-1874311108/cms/cache/v2/5dd71d4ab4041.jpg/1920x1080/resize/80/e7a053ad0dd94cdae28676ae6555d3a5.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><a href="https://www.hoteldupont.com/gallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>HotelDuPont</em></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Gilded Age Glamour</strong></span></p>
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<p>The <strong><a href="http://hoteldupont.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotel Du Pont</a></strong> in Delaware's capital <strong>Wilmington</strong>, built during the USA’s “Gilded Age” to rival the finest hotels in Europe, opened in 1913. Rich woodwork, mosaic and terrazzo floors, gilded hallways and other adornments were created by artisans from <strong>France</strong> and <strong>Italy</strong> who toiled for 2½ years to make the building a monument to outstanding craftsmanship. The results of their efforts serve as reminders of a decades-long period of economic development in the United States that began in the 1870s.</p>
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<p><a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://crescent-hotel.com/hotel4.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><a href="https://crescent-hotel.com/galleryHotel.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Crescent Hotel</em></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Castle in the Air</strong></span></p>
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<p>Some well-heeled travelers who could afford to overnight in the lap of luxury chose to “take the waters” at health spas that were built near natural springs, which became popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and beyond. The 1886 <strong><a href="http://crescent-hotel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crescent Hotel & Spa</a></strong> in <strong>Eureka Springs</strong>, <strong>Arkansas</strong> (above and top) was one such property. The massive stone structure perched on a hilltop is reminiscent of castles in Europe and so earned the moniker “Castle in the Air.” The hotel is surrounded by acres of lovely gardens and forested walking trails, and retains the tasteful traces that made it a popular mountain retreat for wealthy clientele.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426718853?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8426718853?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Victor Block</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Rambling Rose in Maine</strong></span></p>
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<p>Less luxurious but equally inviting in its way the <strong><a href="http://therangeleyinn.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rangeley Inn</a></strong> is a personal favorite located in a tiny, quaint in a tiny town of the same name in the lakes and mountains region of western <strong>Maine</strong>. It opened as the Rangeley Tavern in 1909, then several years later a smaller inn which stood nearby was attached to the larger building and today is one wing of it. A visit to the rambling wooden structure provides both an introduction to the surrounding area and a walk back in time. The head of a moose and rearing body of a bear in the lobby greet; antique furnishings scattered here and there contrast with the renovated and well-appointed guest rooms; and walls are covered with vintage photographs that depict varying aspects of local history and lore. These include Rangeley's long-held reputation as a freshwater fishing mecca and the time when a narrow-gauge railroad carried visitors here primarily from Boston, New York and Philadelphia, then and steamboats then completed the journey to the large hotels that once lined the shore of Rangeley Lake. The inn's iinteresting history combined with the Norman Rockwell-like ambiance of the town in which it’s located and four-season choice of activities, makes this a perfect place to sleep with history.</p>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.historichotels.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historic Hotels of America</a></strong>, a program of the <strong>National Trust for Historic Preservation</strong>, includes more than 300 properties throughout the country that have “faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity.” All are recognized as having historical significance and offer exceptional accommodations and amenities.</p>
<p></p>The Past Comes Alive in Many Ways in Patrick County, Virginiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-02-26:3169359:BlogPost:7722572021-02-26T14:11:03.000ZVictor Blockhttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/VictorBlock
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<p> One place that my wife Fyllis and I visited promised a “luxury boutique” which has won accolades as among the best resorts in the country. The other invited us to “Experience the simple life.”</p>
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<p> These very different settings stretch along the Virginia-North Carolina border. Together, Patrick County, Virginia and the Primland resort offer an inviting getaway with eclectic appeal. </p>
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<p> Primland combines touches of elegance with a…</p>
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<p> One place that my wife Fyllis and I visited promised a “luxury boutique” which has won accolades as among the best resorts in the country. The other invited us to “Experience the simple life.”</p>
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<p> These very different settings stretch along the Virginia-North Carolina border. Together, Patrick County, Virginia and the Primland resort offer an inviting getaway with eclectic appeal. </p>
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<p> Primland combines touches of elegance with a friendly, casual atmosphere, and opportunities to enjoy activities not found at many resorts. </p>
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<p> The surrounding area of Patrick County offers an immersion in a locale where people cling proudly to their strong Appalachian heritage and colorful past.</p>
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<p> Much traffic in the region consists of trucks carrying freshly downed trees, horse trailers and an occasional plow heading for a farm. </p>
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<p> Country stores left over from earlier times attracted our attention and, in some cases, our cash. We were experiencing the lure, and lore, of Appalachia—which, we learned, should be pronounced app-uh-laitch-uh. This place is as much a lifestyle as a destination.</p>
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<p> The rambling Poor Farmers Market lives up, and down, to its claim to be an “Old Fashioned Country Store.” Homemade jams, jellies cakes and pies share shelf space with bags of grits, barrels of beans and sacks of locally grown fruit. </p>
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<p> Jams, jellies and a taste of history tempt those who stop at the Mayberry Trading Post. Corn cob pipes, wooden toys and quilt patches serve as reminders that the store opened in 1892 and once served as the local post office. </p>
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<p> Some flour sold at the Trading Post was ground at Mabry Mill, which has been in operation since 1905. The water-driven gristmill is the main attraction along a walking path that also leads to a blacksmith shop, tiny cabin, moonshine whisky still and early farm implements.</p>
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<p> While most people who lived in the area toiled and died in anonymity, Patrick County had its share of those who went on to become well known. One was James Ewell Brown Stuart, better known as J.E.B. </p>
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<p> He spent his early years on a plantation and, after graduating from the Unites States Military Academy, served in the U.S. Cavalry. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Stuart resigned his commission and eventually commanded the Army of Northern Virginia’s cavalry forces. </p>
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<p> This story is told at Stuart’s birthplace and family home. Its 75 acres contain family graves dating back to 1780 and a slave cemetery. </p>
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<p> A very different type of plantation is recalled at the Reynolds Homestead, home of the founder of the tobacco company that bears his name. He gained fame, and fortune, as the first major marketer of cigarettes. </p>
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<p> Construction of the Victorian home began in 1843 and included a separate kitchen, milk house, ice house and other structures that still stand. A hand-hewn barn represents the sheds where tobacco leaves were hung to dry.</p>
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<p> In addition to brick, native field stones were used as construction material and six lovely “rock churches,” dating to the early 20<sup>th</sup> century, are dotted around the area. The Mayberry and Slate Mountain Presbyterian Churches, the two I dropped by, are nearby neighbors. Those who wish to visit all of them may follow a scenic backroads tour route.</p>
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<p> Depending upon when they make the trip, visitors are treated to sounds of gospel which, along with other musical genres, play an important role in the Appalachian culture. Settlers from Europe in the 18<sup>th</sup> century arrived with their instruments, dances and songs and a strong musical tradition was born. Over time it evolved into bluegrass, country and other home-grown melodies.</p>
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<p> Today, music is everywhere. Scheduled performances are augmented by pop-up sessions that can occur at almost any time and any place. As Fyllis and I passed a restaurant one afternoon in Stuart, the miniscule county seat, four men had gathered inside to jam with their guitars and banjos.</p>
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<p> Stuart was named for the Civil War general, and is a stop along the Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. Two sections of the tiny town are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They fit comfortably into a destination that combines a rich history with many charms of the past.</p>
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<p> If you go. A stay at the somewhat quirky Uptown Suites of Stuart adds to the immersion in the destination. The five accommodations are located on the second floor of a building that was constructed in 1928 to provide office space. They include a living room, kitchen and the usual amenities. Rates begin at $95. For more information log onto uptownsuitesofstuart.com.</p>
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<p> When it comes to dining, El Rancho restaurant) is a favorite among locals seeking burritos, fajitas and other authentic Mexican cuisine. Its lengthy menu also includes a variety of shrimp, chicken and beef entrees ($9.95-$14.95). The atmosphere is inviting and the waitstaff pleasant. </p>
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<p> The place for breakfast, early lunch and some down-home flavor is The Coffee Break Café. A full breakfast (egg, bacon, potato and pancake) costs $5 and a giant-size cup of coffee is just $1. The walls are covered by photos of music groups and diners sometimes eat to the sounds of locals taking part in an impromptu jam session. </p>
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<p> To learn more about Patrick county log onto visitpatrickcounty.org. </p>
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