Black Friday 2011 is approaching to its end by the time I write this post. This year Kohl's is on top of our shopping list, then JC Penny Outlet Store, then Walmart.
Just Dance 3 Wii video game is the one on top of the kids' list, and they had it today. It was amazing to watch them dance together and perfect their dancing skills. Very good way to sweat and stretch! I tried once on the Mermaid with Nosaj, and he has been the best in the house. Already a four-star dancer!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving in Year 2011!
Today, November 24, is the fourth Thursday of November, 2011, the official day of Thanksgiving Day.
I am thankful for having food to eat and a house to live. I am thankful for having two kids to keep me alive with hope to see them grow up and be independent with their own lives.
This Thanksgiving holiday I decide to shop less and eat less. I would walk routinly and stay fit for the rest of Year 2011.
Shop only what you need, not what you want. This is the way to go green with Earth's limited resources.
Today, November 24, is the fourth Thursday of November, 2011, the official day of Thanksgiving Day.
I am thankful for having food to eat and a house to live. I am thankful for having two kids to keep me alive with hope to see them grow up and be independent with their own lives.
This Thanksgiving holiday I decide to shop less and eat less. I would walk routinly and stay fit for the rest of Year 2011.
Shop only what you need, not what you want. This is the way to go green with Earth's limited resources.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
HikeOhio!
HikeOhio! - get off the couch and outta the house...
HikeOhio is a Meetup group for walking and hiking in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Founded on August 25, 2008, it currently has 1,361 members.
This group is for anyone who likes to hike and walk on nature trails, backpacking trails and just about anywhere in the great outdoors. All those who are dedicated to hiking excursions in Ohio, with a focus on leaving no trace of litter on our lands can join us! We will get together for evening hikes on metro parks trails, gather for day hikes in the Ohio State park and forest system and maybe even do overnight trips if anyone is interested. Lace up your hikers and hit the trail with us!
Proudly joined on November 21, 2011.
If interested, here is HikeOhio's calendar for the upcoming events.
HikeOhio is a Meetup group for walking and hiking in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Founded on August 25, 2008, it currently has 1,361 members.
This group is for anyone who likes to hike and walk on nature trails, backpacking trails and just about anywhere in the great outdoors. All those who are dedicated to hiking excursions in Ohio, with a focus on leaving no trace of litter on our lands can join us! We will get together for evening hikes on metro parks trails, gather for day hikes in the Ohio State park and forest system and maybe even do overnight trips if anyone is interested. Lace up your hikers and hit the trail with us!
Proudly joined on November 21, 2011.
If interested, here is HikeOhio's calendar for the upcoming events.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
King of Prussia Mall - The Largest Shopping Mall in the U.S.
King of Prussia is a booming town with the largest shopping mall in the United States. It is located in the northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The King of Prussia Mall has two sections, one is Plaza at King of Prussia, the other is Court at King of Prussia, which includes the Pavilion at King of Prussia.
The King of Prussia Mall was first developed and opened by the Kravco Company in 1963. It now has over 400 stores and 2,793,200 square feet (251,388 m²) total retail floor area. Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, H&M, Nordstrom, etc are some of the high-end stores; Sears, JC Penny are the examples of the medium to lower-end stores. Several retailers rent more than one space, such as three Macy's, two Coach stores, two Victoria's Secrets, three Auntie Anne's (Aha, my favorite!)
The King of Prussia Mall is a prominent tourist destination in the Philadelphia area, with an estimated 20-25% of visitors as tourists. Ask for details of mall tourist packages if you plan to visit Philadelphia. The mall tourist package typically include mall gift cards.
The King of Prussia Mall has two sections, one is Plaza at King of Prussia, the other is Court at King of Prussia, which includes the Pavilion at King of Prussia.
The King of Prussia Mall was first developed and opened by the Kravco Company in 1963. It now has over 400 stores and 2,793,200 square feet (251,388 m²) total retail floor area. Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, H&M, Nordstrom, etc are some of the high-end stores; Sears, JC Penny are the examples of the medium to lower-end stores. Several retailers rent more than one space, such as three Macy's, two Coach stores, two Victoria's Secrets, three Auntie Anne's (Aha, my favorite!)
The King of Prussia Mall is a prominent tourist destination in the Philadelphia area, with an estimated 20-25% of visitors as tourists. Ask for details of mall tourist packages if you plan to visit Philadelphia. The mall tourist package typically include mall gift cards.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Most Beautiful Landmarks In the U.S.
The past century-and-a-half has seen the creation of two organizations that work together to protect America’s national treasures. After the first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872 to protect the natural beauty of its world-famous geyser basins and wildlife, the U.S. National Park Service was founded in 1916—and now oversees the preservation of 58 parks around the country. Later, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 created the National Register of Historic Places, to protect landmarks that specifically illustrate the heritage of the United States.
#1. Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York (checked)
More than 750,000 gallons of water per second thunder down this iconic 167-foot waterfall—the most powerful on the North American continent. The falls straddle the border between the U.S. and Canada, and though some argue that Horseshoe Falls—set on the Ontario side—is more spectacular than the smaller American Falls, the landmark has held a particular place in American history ever since 1901, when Michigan schoolteacher Annie Edson Taylor was the first person to go over the falls (and survive) in a barrel.
How to See It: Take a half-hour water tour on the Maid of the Mist ferry, which has boarding docks in both countries.
#2.Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, South Dakota
Carved into a granite mountain face in South Dakota’s southwesterly Black Hills, this sculpture of four of America’s most influential presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt) was considered an extraordinary feat of engineering when it was completed in 1941—and it’s still majestic today, bringing in more than two million visitors per year.
How to See It: If you visit in winter, you’ll be able to avoid the summer crowds and see the monument dusted with snow. In warmer months, though, try to catch the evening lighting ceremony (starting at 9 p.m.), where park rangers slowly illuminate the enormous granite faces above.
#3. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California (checked)
Stretching 1.7 miles high above the mist-enshrouded waters of San Francisco Bay, this peaked, vermilion-painted suspension bridge (the color is officially known as International Orange) is as striking today as it was when it was completed in 1937. The natural surroundings—including the coves and forested bluffs of Marin County; the island of Alcatraz; and numerous sailboats, barges, kite-surfers, and even frolicking seals—can all be seen from the bridge on a clear day.
How to See It: Walking at least partway along the bridge’s pedestrian path allows for the most dramatic views (and best photo ops).
#4. The Wave, Coyote Buttes, Arizona
Set in the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in northern Arizona, this dazzling rock formation, which looks like a cresting wave frozen in time, isn’t easy to access: you’ll need a permit from the Bureau of Land Management, which allows only 20 people per day to visit the delicate landform. But getting to see this fiery swirl of Jurassic-age sandstone, carved by the wind more than 190 million years ago, is well worth a little advance planning.
How to See It: From the Wire Pass Trailhead, it’s a three-mile hike out to the Wave over sandy terrain. Summer temperatures soar to more than 100 degrees, so bring plenty of water.
#5. The Giant Forest, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, California (checked)
Located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, this three-square-mile forest of massive giant sequoias is home to the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree by volume (52,508 cubic feet). The other trees here are jaw-dropping, too—on average, they are as tall as 26-story buildings and have base diameters wider than many city streets. Equally awe-inspiring as these conifers’ grand size, though, is their age: most are between 1,800 and 2,700 years old.
How to See It: If you’re short on time, take a two-mile hike through the Giant Forest on the Congress Trail, which begins at the General Sherman Tree. With more time to explore, though, you’ll want to take the steep quarter-mile staircase to the top of Moro Rock, a granite dome that offers gorgeous views of the Great Western Divide and the forest below.
#6. Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
The legendary home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, this 4,091-foot-high peak is located on the southeastern part of the Big Island of Hawaii. Appropriately named after the Hawaiian word for “spewing” or “much spreading,” this is one of the world’s most active and dangerous volcanoes. Continuous eruptive activity has occurred here since 1983, creating devastating-but-beautiful lava flows that have etched their way across the dramatic landscape.
How to See It: Take Crater Rim Drive, an 11-mile road that circles the summit of Kilauea, for panoramic views of the volcanic landscape. Since access roads often shut due to volcanic activity, though, be sure to check for closures before you visit.
#7. Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico
Set at the base of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this multistoried adobe compound is one of the country’s best-preserved Pueblo Indian settlements. The pueblo, which was built before 1400 and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the States, consists of ceremonial buildings and individual homes built from adobe—bricks made from earth mixed with straw and water—and decorated with bright turquoise doors. While visitors are welcome, approximately 150 people are lucky enough to call this UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark home.
How to See It: You’re welcome to wander around in the Pueblo as you like—but be respectful by only entering clearly marked shops, as most homes in the pueblo are privately occupied. (As a courtesy, you should also ask for permission before photographing Pueblo residents.)
#8. Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. (checked)
This stately 555-foot monument, built in the bladelike shape of an Egyptian obelisk and completed in 1884, is the most prominent structure in the American capital city. Built in honor of the nation’s first president, the marble monument has served as a backdrop for some of the country’s most historic moments, including Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration. It’s at its most beautiful when mirrored in the Reflecting Pool at sunrise or sunset, and especially on the Fourth of July with evening fireworks bursting overhead.
How to See It: Though admission into the monument is free, tickets are required and long lines form to get inside every day. A better bet: enjoy the exterior of the monument from the steps of the Lincoln Monument, or from the tidal basin during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in April.
#9. Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Illuminated for the first time in 1791 by whale-oil lamps, this lighthouse is located within the beautifully landscaped grounds of Cape Elizabeth’s Fort Williams Park. Attached to a red-roofed Victorian keeper’s house, the 92-foot-tall white conical tower is often seen as a symbol of Maine’s beauty. From its location on a commanding point at the southwestern entrance to the harbor, you can take in crisp salt air as well as endless views of the ocean and rocky coastline for which the state is known.
How to See It: Fewer than 300 tickets are given out to climb the tower on Open Lighthouse Day, a September event put on by the Coast Guard, the State of Maine and the American Lighthouse Foundation. You can also enjoy the lighthouse in a more leisurely manner, by gazing up at it while picnicking in the park or visiting the museum.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July!
Lot of fireworks everywhere! Columbus's Red, White and Boom on July 1st, 2011 is known for being the largest firework show in the Midwest of the United States.For the first time ever, we stayed late to watch the fireworks on TV until the grand finale.
Dublin Ohio's firework show was on July 4th, though we skipped, since we got up early for the fishing derby at the pond next to Dublin Recreation Center.
Dublin Ohio's firework show was on July 4th, though we skipped, since we got up early for the fishing derby at the pond next to Dublin Recreation Center.
Monday, June 13, 2011
U.S. States We Visited
Here comes the list of the states we have visited in the United States:
1. Ohio, Buckeye State: lived in central Ohio for so many years, visited almost every corner of Ohio: Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Athens, Dayton. Strongly recommended tourism hotspots: Dayton's Air Force Museum, Columbus's Dawes Arboretum and Columbus Zoo, Hocking Hills Old Man's Cave.
2. New York, Empire State: visited Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Columbia University, World Trade Centers before September 11, 2001
3. New Jersey, Garden State: fishing, crabbing, turtling except gardening
4. North Carolina, Old North State: summer vacation at a vacation house of Outer Banks in 2003
5. California, Golden State: 12-day field trip from LA to Napa Valley, from San Francisco to Hearst Castle to Silican Valley then to San Diego
6. Arizona, Grand Canyon State: visited Tucson and its Carolina Mountains
7. Nevada, Silver State: visited casinos in Reno (1997) and Las Vegas (2004)
8. Oregon, Beaver State: visited Eugene and Sea Lion Cave along Pacific Ocean in 2009
9. Montana, Treasure State, Big Sky State: visited Glacier NP, Flathead Lake, tried to go treasure hunting but no time
10. Wyoming, Equality State, Cowboy State: the most recent state we visited because of Yellowstone NP
11. Colorado, Centennial State: National GAP Conference at Colorado State in 2003, visited Rocky Mountain NP
12. Michigan, Great lake State, Wolverine State: visited Michigan State University several times, like their horticultural garden; visited Detroit
13. Indiana, Hoosier State: visited Purdue University and University of Indiana at Bloomington; played U.S. Chess at Indianapolis in 2009
14. Illinois, Prairie State: job interview at University of Illinois at Urbana
15. Wisconsin, Badger State: visited University of Wisconsin at Madison
16. Virginia, Old Dominion: visited friends in Richmond, Virginia in 2010
17. West Virginia, Mountain State: first skiing trip at WinterPlace, WV in 2007 and rafting on the New River in the past June 2011.
18. Pennsylvania, Keystone State, Quaker State: visited Penn State in the Happy Valley in 1996
19. Kentucky, Bluegrass State: visited friends in University of Kentucky
20. Tennessee, Volunteer State, Big Bend State: visited Rock City and Great Smoky Mountains NP in 2007
21. Massachusetts, Bay State, Old Colony State: met old time friends and visited Harvard University and MIT in 1999
22. Alabama, Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie, Camellia State: visited Mobile, Alabama in 2003
23. Maryland, Old Line State, Free State: visited Baltimore and its Aquarium long time ago
24. Florida, Sunshine State: visited Disneyland twice, boarded Norwegian Jewel to Cruise the Caribbeans
25. Missouri, Show Me State: visited Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis long time ago
By Year 2011 I visited exactly half of the 50 U.S. States. What a journey!
1. Ohio, Buckeye State: lived in central Ohio for so many years, visited almost every corner of Ohio: Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Athens, Dayton. Strongly recommended tourism hotspots: Dayton's Air Force Museum, Columbus's Dawes Arboretum and Columbus Zoo, Hocking Hills Old Man's Cave.
2. New York, Empire State: visited Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Columbia University, World Trade Centers before September 11, 2001
3. New Jersey, Garden State: fishing, crabbing, turtling except gardening
4. North Carolina, Old North State: summer vacation at a vacation house of Outer Banks in 2003
5. California, Golden State: 12-day field trip from LA to Napa Valley, from San Francisco to Hearst Castle to Silican Valley then to San Diego
6. Arizona, Grand Canyon State: visited Tucson and its Carolina Mountains
7. Nevada, Silver State: visited casinos in Reno (1997) and Las Vegas (2004)
8. Oregon, Beaver State: visited Eugene and Sea Lion Cave along Pacific Ocean in 2009
9. Montana, Treasure State, Big Sky State: visited Glacier NP, Flathead Lake, tried to go treasure hunting but no time
10. Wyoming, Equality State, Cowboy State: the most recent state we visited because of Yellowstone NP
11. Colorado, Centennial State: National GAP Conference at Colorado State in 2003, visited Rocky Mountain NP
12. Michigan, Great lake State, Wolverine State: visited Michigan State University several times, like their horticultural garden; visited Detroit
13. Indiana, Hoosier State: visited Purdue University and University of Indiana at Bloomington; played U.S. Chess at Indianapolis in 2009
14. Illinois, Prairie State: job interview at University of Illinois at Urbana
15. Wisconsin, Badger State: visited University of Wisconsin at Madison
16. Virginia, Old Dominion: visited friends in Richmond, Virginia in 2010
17. West Virginia, Mountain State: first skiing trip at WinterPlace, WV in 2007 and rafting on the New River in the past June 2011.
18. Pennsylvania, Keystone State, Quaker State: visited Penn State in the Happy Valley in 1996
19. Kentucky, Bluegrass State: visited friends in University of Kentucky
20. Tennessee, Volunteer State, Big Bend State: visited Rock City and Great Smoky Mountains NP in 2007
21. Massachusetts, Bay State, Old Colony State: met old time friends and visited Harvard University and MIT in 1999
22. Alabama, Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie, Camellia State: visited Mobile, Alabama in 2003
23. Maryland, Old Line State, Free State: visited Baltimore and its Aquarium long time ago
24. Florida, Sunshine State: visited Disneyland twice, boarded Norwegian Jewel to Cruise the Caribbeans
25. Missouri, Show Me State: visited Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis long time ago
By Year 2011 I visited exactly half of the 50 U.S. States. What a journey!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
U. S. National Parks We Visited
On our second day's long drive to the eastern Glacier National Park, we talked about how many states we / I have visited, and how many national parks we / I have visited, as during this summer vacation, we were going to visit two more national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone in one week.
The National Park Service was created by an Act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Yellowstone National Park was established by an Act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, as the Nation's first national park.
There are over 365 National Park Service areas in the Unites States, including two-thirds of small historic sites. But when people think of National Parks, they think most often of places like Yellowstone. There are 58 officially-designated National Parks in the United States and its dependent areas.
Let's start from the shorter list of mine: national parks in the United States with established dates not my visit dates!
Yosemite NP, California, Oct. 1, 1890
Sequoia NP, California, Sept. 25, 1890
Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado, Jan. 26, 1915
Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio, Oct. 11, 2000
Great Smoky Mountains NP, North Carolina and Tennessee, May 22, 1926
Grand Canyon NP, Arizona, Feb. 26, 1919
Glacier NP, Montana, May 11, 1910
Yellowstone NP, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, Mar. 1, 1872
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Horseback Riding in Whitefish, Montana
The next day, May 31st, 2011, we decided to stay in town and explore Whitefish, Montana.
Whitefish is a vibrant western town located in the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana next to Glacier National Park, and it has millions of acres of spectacular unspoiled nature in every direction.
We came here to see Glacier's Rocky Mountains, but the first mountain came to impress us most is Whitefish's Big Mountain, a winter ski and summer resort mountain. It has had a very busy winter ski season due to this year's unexpected number of snowfalls. We even saw local resident walk all the way up to ski down today at the last day of May!
I called Explore Whitefish's toll free number 1-877-862-3548 for ideas of what to do in town. A nice lady gave me two numbers for horseback riding, told me of today's Farmers' Market at downtown Whitefish in front of the historic Whitefish train depot.
Bar W Guest Ranch was the one answered my phone so we scheduled our riding at 1 pm. Since we still had plenty of time before the horseback riding, we decided to drive south and visit the Flathead Lake, the so-called largest natural fresh-water lake in the western United States. What impressed us most is the fried duck drumlets we ordered from the Docks, Lakeside, Montana. $18 for six pieces, perhaps over-priced but it is the most delicious dish. Mac and Cheese from the kids' meal is yummy, too.
So we drove back to Whitefish, and were just in time for our scheduled horseback riding. Our two wranglers were Allan and Raven, both from Tennessee. My horse was Toby. I didn't expect our riding with that much uphill and downhill, it gave me such saddle sores in the end. Still, it has been exciting experience as this is my first time of horseback riding ever.
We located the Whitefish's Post Office in the downtown and mailed two postcards to friends back in Ohio, then we visited Whitefish's Farmers' Market near the Train Depot. Veggies, flowers, arts, music, foods, cookies, the same as farmers' market all around the country. So just we just bought a bag of kettle popcorn and left before the raindrops falling on our heads.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Many Glacier and Ice Mountain
For shorter hikes, Grinnell Lake, Red Rock Falls, and the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail are good choices.
With all those said in the Glacier National Park Visitor Summer Guide, we were here too early for the summer season. We could not go hiking on the trails as they were covered with snow. We tried to follow the sign to Ptarmigan Tunnel, ended up circling in the ghosted log cabins. So we had to turned back out.
On our way out, we saw quite a lot of mountain goats on the mountain side of loose rocks. What a regret I didn't take even a single picture of the goats. We wondered why the water of the Swiftcurrent Creek flows so fast.
The glaciated mountain on the background of Lake Sherburne is so beautiful, we thought the Ice Mountain Spring Water is probably sourced from here in Glacier National Park. It turned out, Nope, yet from two groundwater wells at Sanctuary Spring in Mecosta County, Michigan and/or Evart Spring in Evart, Michigan.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Black Bears and Glacier's Saint Mary Lake
On May 30, we drove US Route 2 and Route 89 to visit East Glacier and the eastern portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road due to road closure from Avalanche Creek to Jackson Glacier Overlook.
The scenic drive along US Route 2 led us drive from scenes of late spring to mid-spring then to early spring. We had sunshine, drizzling spring shower, then icy rain on our way to Jackson Glacier Overlook. It turned out the Saint Mary Visitor Center is the major entrance to the Glacier. Again, the views of those white glaciated mountains along Saint Mary Lake are spectacular and breathtaking. No much traffic, we have it all!
When we saw a mother black bear and her cub along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, we realized that we are truly in Bear Country.
The Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, from which the road takes its name, is right across the Jackson Glacier Overlook,and it is 9642ft or 2939m high. However, it didn't impress us much, probably because of the cold rain. Still, we walked in ponchos and winter coats all the way to Sunrift Gorge, hiked on the trail to the shore of Saint Mary Lake, came back out at Sun Point. With all these sunny names, we had to wait in rain for our Toyota Sienna to be picked up with the help of two park rangers. Rising Sun was ahead of us. I bet it would be a perfect place to see the rising sun... 20 years later?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Avalanches of Avalanche Creek Glacier National Park
Avalanche Creek is on the western portion of Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road. While walking on the trail of Avalanche Creek, we finally know why it gets its name, because of all those thundering avalanches!
The view of Avalanche Creek Gorge is simply gorgeous and breathtaking.
The Cedars Nature Trail is a boardwalk easy and relaxing trail, compared to the trail of Avalanche Creek all the way to the Avalanche Lake.
And the Deer!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Lake McDonald - Glacier's Largest Lake
From Apgar Visitor Center, we got a Glacier road map from the park ranger and decided to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road along the shores of Lake McDonald until Avalanche Creek where the road beyond was closed. Lake McDonald is Glacier's largest lake. The water is icy cold, and the view is splendid with all those snow-covered mountain surrounding it. My fondest moment was sitting at the northern shore looking to the south in the afternoon sun, warm and calm... ... And those pretty pebbles, green or red, smooth and flattened, so pretty I couldn't help taking two pieces home for souvenirs.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Glacier National Park - Crown of the Continent
Established as the 10th national park, Glacier National Park celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 11, 2010. It is now 101 years old!
Glacier National Park was named for the glaciers that carved, sculpted, and formed this landscape millions of years ago. Some scientists have predicted that by the year 2020, there will be no more glaciers in Glacier National Park due to global climate change. Despite the recession of current glaciers, the park's name will not be changed when the glaciers are gone. I would like to revisit Glacier in 2020, even though I would probably not be able to retire and travel freely by then.
These are some examples of global warming impact on Glacier National Park:
The year of 2003 was one of the hottest recorded years in Glacier National Park's history. That year, approximately 144,000 acres burned from multiple wildfires.
Eight inches of snow fell during one night at Glacier's high country in August, 2005. The weather forced hundreds of backpackers out of the back country.
In 1976, Glacier National Park was designated as a World Biosphere Reserve. This designation recognizes Glacier’s intact ecosystem as a valuable place for sound research and education to take place in a sustainable manner.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Early Summer Vacation 2011: from Glacier NP to Yellowstone NP
This year Dublin School ended early on Friday right before the Memorial Day weekend. I had been longing for a vacation away from home, so I booked tickets to Glacier National Park after Cindy's recommendation.
Here is the first blog of a series reports on our early summer vacation from Saturday, May 28 to Friday, June 3rd, 2011.
We flew into Kalispell, Montana's Glacier Park Airport, and had stayed at Best Western's Rocky Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana for four nights. We visited Glacier National Park for the following two days, then spent one full day exploring Whitefish, Montana, a ski and summer resort town, and the nearby Flathead Lake, the largest natural fresh-water lake west of Mississippi River.
On June 1st, we drove seven hours to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park, stopped by to see those thermal features especially geysers, patiently waited over one hour and fifteen minutes for Old Faithful to erupt. Lucky us, we got available room at Grant Village so we drove another 40 minutes to stay there for one night. The next day we visited Fishing Bridge Museum, Canyon Village, Norris Geyser Basin, and Mammoth Hot Springs. By 2:30 pm we were ready to say good bye to Mammoth and headed back to Kalispell.
We drove 89 North then 90 West, took a dinner break in Missoula, Montana, then kept driving along 200 West and 93 North, arrived at America's Best Value Inn at 9:30 pm. It was raining hard that night and the following morning when we left Kalispell and flew back to Columbus, Ohio. It was warm and shining like a real summer day in Ohio!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
2011 Free Fishing Days - Tips for a Day of Fun
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Friday, March 25, 2011
10 U. S. Places Every Kid Should See
By Nicole Frehsee
Not only are these attractions fun and (shhhh) educational, they're especially magical through the eyes of a child.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
During the day, stroll the 4-year-old Skywalk, a U-shaped, glass-bottom observation deck that juts 70 feet over the canyon's West Rim and sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Come sunset, hit Grand Canyon Apache Stables, where, for $25.50 per person, you can hitch a one-hour ride on a horse-drawn wagon that ends around a campfire. Tip: BYO marshmallows and hot dogs so you can cook up a nighttime snack. Skywalk Package including mandatory Legacy pass.
The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Riding the streets of Washington, D.C., in a boat on wheels might sound cheesy, but cruising the Potomac River in one is pretty sweet. Set in a WWII-era amphibious vehicle, the 90-minute D.C. duck tour covers both land and sea. The first leg hits the history-packed National Mall—look for the 19-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol building, and the Smithsonian museums—and then switches to a scenic river trip. Highlight: The boat pauses at Gravelly Point, a park located just a few hundred feet from the runway at D.C.'s Reagan National Airport, so you can watch roaring planes take off and land.
Redwood National Park, California
Ancient, sky-high sequoias aren't the only attraction in this lush California locale—there's cool aquatic life, too. Take a guided tide pool tour, where budding biologists can scramble between the coastal forest's rocks while hunting for underwater creatures such as orange and purple ochre sea stars and sprawling, green anemones. Free tide pool tours are offered during the summer through Redwood National Park.
Ellis Island, New York
Between 1892 and 1924, more than 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island; today, their descendants account for 40 percent of Americans. Go on a hunt for your ancestors at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where for $5 you can search through millions of records to find the exact date your relatives sailed into the Port of New York, as well as which ship they were on and whether they traveled with other family members. (Bonus: copies of the documents are yours to keep.) And don't miss the construction of the Peopling of America Center, which cost $20 million to build and is slated to open in 2012. The new space focuses on U.S. immigration from 1955 (when Ellis Island closed) to the present, and houses interactive multimedia exhibits, like a touch screen that reflects demographic changes in American cities over time.
Niagara Falls, New York
Sure, your grandparents honeymooned there, but the majestic waterfalls straddling the U.S.-Canada border are worth a 21st-century trip. Ever wonder what it's like to be a rubber ducky in a massive bathtub? Sign up for the Cave of the Winds tour, which begins after you change into a complimentary yellow poncho and sandals (trust us, you'll need 'em). After riding an elevator 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge, you'll stand on the Hurricane Deck, where you'll be drenched by the tropical-storm-like spray from the 181-foot Bridal Veil Falls, where the water falls at a rate of up to 68 mph. Cave of the Winds operates May 1–Oct. 25.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Snag a Young Scientist Toolkit stocked with magnifying glasses, rock samples, and stopwatches to time geyser eruptions at the Old Faithful Visitor Center and hit the great outdoors for some investigating. The coolest toy: an infrared -thermometer gun that takes readings of thermal pools when pointed at the water. And there's lots of H20: The 3,472-square-mile park is home to more geothermal features (geysers, hot springs, mud spots) than any place on earth. The Young Scientist activity booklet and toolkit costs $5 (toolkit must be returned after use).
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Everyone in this living-history site likes to play dress-up, and visitors are no exception. At the Great Hopes Plantation—a re-creation of the town's original 1700s farm—a stash of old-timey accessories await, from tricorne (three- pointed) hats for boys and shifts and mop caps (bonnets) for girls. The costumes come in handy in the field, where kids can perform 18th-century household chores, such as picking bugs off potato crops, fetching water from the well, or hoeing the soil, that are likely to make clearing the dinner dishes seem like a breeze by comparison. Great Hopes Plantation can be accessed through regular admission tickets.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho
The National Park Service calls this Idaho preserve "the only officially weird park" in the country. And for good reason: The jagged, black landscape—formed by volcanic eruptions up to 15,000 years ago—boasts a 618-square-mile lava field, the biggest in the U.S. (The rocky surface is so moonlike that Apollo 14 astronauts trained at the site in 1969.) The park's most awe-inspiring feature is its lava tubes, underground passageways created by hardened molten rock. Grab a flashlight and head to Indian Tunnel, which, at 30 feet high and 50 feet wide, allows for comfortable exploring. Craving an even more intense experience? Exit the cave at the far end, a feat that requires mounting a big rock pile and squeezing through a small opening.
Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
Acquaint yourself with the spirits of America's founding fathers on Philadelphia's Ghost Tour, a 90-minute, candle-lit stroll that winds past landmarks like Independence Hall, where the Constitution was adopted; the Powel House, which hosted George and Martha Washington's 20th wedding anniversary celebration; and the 238-year-old City Tavern, John Adams's former watering hole. A cape-wearing, lantern-carrying guide points out "haunted" graveyards (St. Peter's Cemetery) and reports sightings of Benjamin Franklin, who's said to roam the city's streets. The best part: All the ghost stories are based on documented accounts, which makes them all the more spooky.
Alcatraz Island, California
Shiv collections and cramped jail cells don't exactly sound kid-friendly, but they offer a glimpse into America's most notorious island prison—and the National Park Service is all for bringing younger ones for a visit. Hop a ferry from San Francisco's Pier 33 and stroll the damp, gray halls of the maximum-security pen, which housed criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly from 1934 to 1963. (You can even get behind bars in one of the cells, if you dare.) Don't miss the audio tour, which was updated in 2007 when former inmates and guards recorded their memories of doing time at "the Rock." If you're feeling brave, take the night tour, which lets you roam the prison after dark. Alcatraz Cruises is the official carrier for tours to Alcatraz Island.
Not only are these attractions fun and (shhhh) educational, they're especially magical through the eyes of a child.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
During the day, stroll the 4-year-old Skywalk, a U-shaped, glass-bottom observation deck that juts 70 feet over the canyon's West Rim and sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Come sunset, hit Grand Canyon Apache Stables, where, for $25.50 per person, you can hitch a one-hour ride on a horse-drawn wagon that ends around a campfire. Tip: BYO marshmallows and hot dogs so you can cook up a nighttime snack. Skywalk Package including mandatory Legacy pass.
The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Riding the streets of Washington, D.C., in a boat on wheels might sound cheesy, but cruising the Potomac River in one is pretty sweet. Set in a WWII-era amphibious vehicle, the 90-minute D.C. duck tour covers both land and sea. The first leg hits the history-packed National Mall—look for the 19-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol building, and the Smithsonian museums—and then switches to a scenic river trip. Highlight: The boat pauses at Gravelly Point, a park located just a few hundred feet from the runway at D.C.'s Reagan National Airport, so you can watch roaring planes take off and land.
Redwood National Park, California
Ancient, sky-high sequoias aren't the only attraction in this lush California locale—there's cool aquatic life, too. Take a guided tide pool tour, where budding biologists can scramble between the coastal forest's rocks while hunting for underwater creatures such as orange and purple ochre sea stars and sprawling, green anemones. Free tide pool tours are offered during the summer through Redwood National Park.
Ellis Island, New York
Between 1892 and 1924, more than 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island; today, their descendants account for 40 percent of Americans. Go on a hunt for your ancestors at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where for $5 you can search through millions of records to find the exact date your relatives sailed into the Port of New York, as well as which ship they were on and whether they traveled with other family members. (Bonus: copies of the documents are yours to keep.) And don't miss the construction of the Peopling of America Center, which cost $20 million to build and is slated to open in 2012. The new space focuses on U.S. immigration from 1955 (when Ellis Island closed) to the present, and houses interactive multimedia exhibits, like a touch screen that reflects demographic changes in American cities over time.
Niagara Falls, New York
Sure, your grandparents honeymooned there, but the majestic waterfalls straddling the U.S.-Canada border are worth a 21st-century trip. Ever wonder what it's like to be a rubber ducky in a massive bathtub? Sign up for the Cave of the Winds tour, which begins after you change into a complimentary yellow poncho and sandals (trust us, you'll need 'em). After riding an elevator 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge, you'll stand on the Hurricane Deck, where you'll be drenched by the tropical-storm-like spray from the 181-foot Bridal Veil Falls, where the water falls at a rate of up to 68 mph. Cave of the Winds operates May 1–Oct. 25.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Snag a Young Scientist Toolkit stocked with magnifying glasses, rock samples, and stopwatches to time geyser eruptions at the Old Faithful Visitor Center and hit the great outdoors for some investigating. The coolest toy: an infrared -thermometer gun that takes readings of thermal pools when pointed at the water. And there's lots of H20: The 3,472-square-mile park is home to more geothermal features (geysers, hot springs, mud spots) than any place on earth. The Young Scientist activity booklet and toolkit costs $5 (toolkit must be returned after use).
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Everyone in this living-history site likes to play dress-up, and visitors are no exception. At the Great Hopes Plantation—a re-creation of the town's original 1700s farm—a stash of old-timey accessories await, from tricorne (three- pointed) hats for boys and shifts and mop caps (bonnets) for girls. The costumes come in handy in the field, where kids can perform 18th-century household chores, such as picking bugs off potato crops, fetching water from the well, or hoeing the soil, that are likely to make clearing the dinner dishes seem like a breeze by comparison. Great Hopes Plantation can be accessed through regular admission tickets.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho
The National Park Service calls this Idaho preserve "the only officially weird park" in the country. And for good reason: The jagged, black landscape—formed by volcanic eruptions up to 15,000 years ago—boasts a 618-square-mile lava field, the biggest in the U.S. (The rocky surface is so moonlike that Apollo 14 astronauts trained at the site in 1969.) The park's most awe-inspiring feature is its lava tubes, underground passageways created by hardened molten rock. Grab a flashlight and head to Indian Tunnel, which, at 30 feet high and 50 feet wide, allows for comfortable exploring. Craving an even more intense experience? Exit the cave at the far end, a feat that requires mounting a big rock pile and squeezing through a small opening.
Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
Acquaint yourself with the spirits of America's founding fathers on Philadelphia's Ghost Tour, a 90-minute, candle-lit stroll that winds past landmarks like Independence Hall, where the Constitution was adopted; the Powel House, which hosted George and Martha Washington's 20th wedding anniversary celebration; and the 238-year-old City Tavern, John Adams's former watering hole. A cape-wearing, lantern-carrying guide points out "haunted" graveyards (St. Peter's Cemetery) and reports sightings of Benjamin Franklin, who's said to roam the city's streets. The best part: All the ghost stories are based on documented accounts, which makes them all the more spooky.
Alcatraz Island, California
Shiv collections and cramped jail cells don't exactly sound kid-friendly, but they offer a glimpse into America's most notorious island prison—and the National Park Service is all for bringing younger ones for a visit. Hop a ferry from San Francisco's Pier 33 and stroll the damp, gray halls of the maximum-security pen, which housed criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly from 1934 to 1963. (You can even get behind bars in one of the cells, if you dare.) Don't miss the audio tour, which was updated in 2007 when former inmates and guards recorded their memories of doing time at "the Rock." If you're feeling brave, take the night tour, which lets you roam the prison after dark. Alcatraz Cruises is the official carrier for tours to Alcatraz Island.
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