F for A-Z Challenge 2013

F-Fredericksburg, Texas

 

 

Fredericksburg is located in Texas Hill country and has a rich heritage of German culture such as the

 

 

 

 

 Verein Kirche

 

 Although it was re-built in 1936 it was the first public building in the town, and it served as a town hall, school, fort, and a church for all denominations. It is just one of many historical buildings found through out this area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an area  that I have visited and must say the stone work on the historic buildings is just amazing and I loved the down town area. Easy to stoll...

 

There was a little German restaurant close to our hotel and the food was delicious!

 

 

You can drive for miles and miles

and never tire of the sights...
from peach groves

 

To a herb farm

 

 where you may want to stop in and have a wonderful fresh salad for lunch.

Herb Farm Salad – Mixed greens with strawberries, raspberries, sliced Granny Smith apples, candied pecans and stilton blue cheese tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette

 

 

 

To wineries (wine tours are available)

 

and long horn cattle

 

 

Trust me on this.....Fredericksburg and the surrounding area it is a great place to visit.

 

 

Happy Trails

 

 

 

E for A-Z Challenge 2013

E-Eugene, Oregon

This city is noted for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities (especially bicycling, running/jogging, rafting and kayaking).

 They start them out young so they will grow up to savor all the wonderful trails.

 

 

 

 

 

 This is the Willamette River bike trial that is a 6 mile track along the river.

 

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Slip off to visit the Evergreen museum and water park

 

This is a most unusual water park that is not only for fun but also for education. It has many water slides from those for little guys to those for the daredevils. Though out this 70,000 square foot structure with a B747 sitting on top visitors will learn about the power of water and its effects on society through many interactive exhibits and leaning tools. A great place  to learn and play.


Another wonderful educational place to visit is the Oregon Air and space museum

 

 

This Museum opened in August of 1991 and has quickly become a popular education tool with several area schools as well as attracting pilots, historians, model builders and aviation enthusiasts of all ages from all places.



Many birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, osprey and kites)  have not only gotten a bad rap but have also ran out of prey to hunt when our forests have become cities and man has become intolerable.  Eugene has responded to that need with the Cascades Raptor Center.

The staff  here care for the sick, injured and orphaned raptors of Lane County (and occasionally beyond) with the goal of returning as many as possible to the wild and hoping to educate the public of their important ecological role in our world.

 

 

 

 

Don't miss the Conger Street Clock Museum where ticking is just the beginning. This museum contains not only clocks that date back to the 1700's but also Trains, Telephones, Cameras, Cars, and Radios. One man's love for clocks who has been collecting them for over 50 years and his willingness to share them is what makes this possible.

 

 

 Just the sound is entertaining....

With a 50" per year rain fall you can imagine how awesome their farmers markets are...

just don't forget your umbrella.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Trails

 

 

 

D for A-Z Challlenge 2013

D - Dover, Delaware

 

 

Come May 3-5th and you can be right in the middle of the yearly Dover Days celebrations....

 Parade

 

 Maypole dancers

 

and lots, lots  more.

 

 

Or show up in Nov. to see the World Champion Punkin Chunkin

 

 

 

and while you are here in the fall you can attend one of their NASCAR races at the Dover International Speedway

You shouldn't have trouble finding it

 

 

Pick your seat and watch them speed around this oval track.

 

Maybe you have a favorite to win.

 

 

Car racing not for you? Well, how about some horse racing

 

 

and when your finished (and hopefully won)  you can play the slots as well at the Dover Downs-Casino. You can even make a whole day and night of it and stay in their hotel, enjoy some of their entertainment like boxing, concerts and etc. get a massage at their Spa and dine at one of their 10 dinning facilities.

 

 

 

On the quieter side........

 You could take in the Johnson Victrola Museum

 

 

 You'll find some beauties here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or enjoy Silver Lake Park

 

 

Or maybe what brings you here is a loved one that is stationed at the  Dover Air force base.

 

 

Whatever the reason for your visit,  you will find diversity in Dover, Delaware.

 

Happy Trails

 

 

 

 

 

C for A - Z Challenge 2013

C - Charleston, S.C

Everyone knows that Charleston is known for it friendly people with a southern drawl but maybe you didn't know it is also known as  "The Holy City". Maybe because of the many churches found around the city

St. Mary's Lutheran Church

or maybe because Carolina was among the few original colonies to provide toleration for all Protestant religions, though not open to the Roman Catholics (which that has changed of course) and you can still find a Huguenots church here too.





the famous Citidal Military College is located here....

Why this college is different......

 

Of course you will want to see the swamps while you are here


 and the maganolia plantation and garden is just the place to do that.


Whether in a boat
or on a train you will see many critters.

 

On the property a tour of the beautiful old plantation is also available

and a choose to  tour of one of the old slave cabins and learn of the slave history in this area.

The beautiful gardens will take you breath away

or provide for a lovely wedding setting.

 

If you get bored with all that there is a zoo and nature center and of course a little restaurant...who could ask for more?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charleston

The sights

 

 

 

Sounds

 

 

and food

Will make you not want to leave..................

 but if you do and you  drive from Charleston to Mount Pleasant you will have the opportunity to cross

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge as seen from Charleston.
This bridge, which opened in 2005, is also know as the New Cooper River Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River; Carries eight lanes of traffic and spans 1,546 feet.

 

Happy Trails

 

B for A - Z Challenge 2013

B - Bozeman, Montana

 

 The city is named after John M. Bozeman

 

who established the Bozeman Trail and was a key founder of the town in August 1864. It is now the fourth largest city in the state of Montana.

Downtown Bozeman has 49 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places set among galleries, bistros, and shops.

Known for both its summer and winter outdoor recreation, Downtown Bozeman is conveniently situated near the Gallatin and Madison Rivers, three major ski areas, the popular Museum of the Rockies, and about 30 miles away Yellowstone National Park.

 Maybe you would like to check out the American Computer Museum,  there are only two other computer museums like this in the world. This is the place to go to see the early beginnings and some of those old relics some of us remember using.

 

 

 

Another exciting spot to visit is the "Montana Grizzly Encounter"

 

 

 

 

 

 Visit the nearby Palisades Falls with a 80 foot drop

 

 

Take in a little fishing in one of many beautiful streams

 

 

Come in the winter and enjoy the many winter sports available

 or if you are like me....

 just sit enjoy the view.

 

Happy Trails

 

 

A for A - Z Challenge 2013

Although I will be posting with a travel theme for this A - Z Challenge I would like to give special recognition to Arlee Bird for creating it and inspiring so many. Thank you!

 

A - Amherst, Massachusetts

 Amherst is home to about 35,000 residents as well as the campuses of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College.  

A mix of students, academics, and retirees makes for a interesting spot

 

 



An unusual site found here is the Yiddish Book Center

 This is a non-profit facility that tells the whole Jewish story by translating Yiddish books to English.
You can even find Yiddish sheet music in their book store.

 

 

You won't want to miss Puffers pond

This historical landmark is now used by the town for swimming and fishing. There are beautiful trails surrounding the pond.  At the end of one of the paths is a mill river park, an open field and swimming pool and  to the left are tennis courts and basketball courts.

 

 Even in the winter it is a sight to behold.

 

 

 

 

Another, not to be missed site, is the Emily Dickinson Museum

 

The Homestead where this famous poet was born and spent most of her life.

You can take four different tours that present the story of Emily Dickinson from different perspectives.

They have lectures and hands-on workshops and the first professionally-designed interpetive exhibit, "my Verse is alive," which is about the early publication of Dickinson's poetry.

 

 

Several clock towers can be found around town

(maybe so college students have no excuse for being late to class).

 

The best time to visit is in the fall...

 

 

 

 No April fools,  it really is beautiful this time of year.

 

Happy Trails