Beantown

Bridget:

Now the drive from Maine to Boston wasn’t too long, so we decided to take a little side trip to a small ship building town called Essex, about 20 miles north of Boston. Why would we go to a place not even listed on most maps? Woodman’s. Woodman’s is a famous seafood eatery that has been going strong since 1914, claiming the freshest and most delicious fried clams you can get….anywhere. We just had to see if this was true.

The verdict: true, true, true. They were mouth-wateringly delicious.

Onward to one of the most historic cities in America. Boston was the location for many of the American Revolution’s important events. We started off the day here with a stroll down the 3-mile “Freedom Trail,” a self-guided tour that takes you by eighteen national monuments:

Massachusetts State House

Paul Revere's Grave Marker

Old State House (where the Dec. of Independence was first read in Boston)

The trail ends near the U.S.S. Constitution, or “Old Ironsides.” In order to get some close-up views of this still-Navy-commissioned ship, you have to take the tour, so we did. The men and women dressed in 1800’s naval uniforms giving tours are actual enlisted sailors, doing their time on this historic ship in Boston. Crazy.

After a full day of American history, we were pretty tuckered out, so we grabbed a Sam Adams Octoberfest (hey, it’s actually local there) headed to the campsite in southern Massachusetts around dinner time. If I had to characterize Boston, I would say it’s a place that brings history to life, while its own modern-day metropolis still thrives in and of itself. Oh, and the local accent is pretty cool too.


Next Stop: New York, NY

Acadia National Park: Maine

Bridget:

When you cross the border into the Maine, the welcome sign says, “Maine, The Way Life Should Be.” Now that is a pretty lofty claim for a state, but from what we saw on this stop, I wouldn’t say they are too far off. We planned to camp in Bar Harbor, which is just outside Acadia, a small national park situated on an island on the coast of Maine. On the way there, we passed several coastal cities with sailboats floating in the harbor and colorful houses dotting the hills. As we approached the town of Bar Harbor, signs advertising the “freshest Maine lobster in town” littered the sides of the road. Even though it is only September, the night weather was already chilly and made for great camping conditions. The next morning we headed into the park to check it out. We first stopped for some sweet coastal pics:

We then drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the first point in the U.S. to see the sunrise (we didn't make it quite that early).


After the park, we strolled down the quaint streets of Bar Harbor in search of some good Maine lobster for lunch. Bar Harbor is yet another cute little town with several interesting shops and harbor views to boot. You can even jump on a ferry for whale watching excursions if you have the time.


After lunch, we drove back down the coast and of course had to make a stop to the Patagonia OUTLET in Freeport, Maine. Even though our stop in Maine was short, I’m so glad we drove the extra miles to get there. Maine seems like a place with lots of character, friendly people, and interesting activities you can’t find many other places in the U.S.

Next Stop: Boston, MA

Backpacking in the Adirondacks

Craig:

We have done a lot of “firsts” on this trip. We knocked out one more first for Bridget after our nice little vacation in Burlington by going on a backpacking trip. We packed up two backpacks and headed out into the Adirondacks of New York for three days and two nights. We ventured out about ten miles into the Tongue Range of the Adirondacks. We followed a loop that went up onto a ridge and followed the ridge for about four miles offering great views of Lake George, the High Peaks to the West, and of the Green Mountains in Vermont to the East. We camped up on top of a peak named Fifth Peak and then headed down the next day to hike along Lake George. After a long second day, we took a swim in the lake and set up camp right by the water for our second night. If you have ever been camping out in the woods you would know that it gets really quiet. The noises of civilization are just not there. This leads to your mind playing some tricks on you…well, Bridget’s mind. I don’t think she slept a wink the second night because she was sweating every little stick that broke, every leaf that crunched, and every drop of water lapping onto the shore. Sleepless nights aside, we had a great time! Here are a couple of the better pictures:

Next Stop: Acadia National Park

Burlington, Vermont

Bridget:

After Saratoga Springs, we headed north through the Adirondack Mountains on our way to Burlington, Vermont. In order to get there, we had to take the ferry across Lake Champlain, which was my first experience taking the car on a ferry. In two words: very cool. For a small fee, you can sit back and relax, save a little gas, and watch your destination come into view across the deep blue water:

Just don’t try to go this way in the winter…you may have trouble, unless, that is, you are headed there for the ice fishing.

So Burlington is much more of a college town than I first thought, being home to three colleges. They are definitely not lacking in bars, breweries, or eateries. We ate dinner at a fantastic pizza place called American Flatbread, Burlington Hearth. All their pizzas are made from scratch and use mostly organic ingredients. It was delicious!

We visited a couple other places among the hopping nightlife of the tri-college town, and met a couple very friendly Burlingtonians, one of whom was also a nuclear submariner in his younger years. We in fact had so much fun that we sort of forgot to take any pictures of the city to share with you. Oops. I guess when we say how cool the place is, you’ll just have to take our word for it.

Next Stop: Adirondack Mountains, NY

Race to Saratoga Springs, NY

Bridget:

If you’re like me and thought New York City was a good representation of New York, think again. NYC is the anomaly in a state full of history, charming cities, and even farmland. Driving to Saratoga Springs was quite an experience in itself for me. It is amazing to see old red barns, corn fields, and whitewashed country churches along the back roads of a state I associated with the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Plaza.

We decided to spend some time in Saratoga Springs, Craig’s old stomping grounds during his prototype training for the Navy. Craig’s old roommate and buddy from the Navy, Al, and his wife Brandy also live in Saratoga and were nice enough to give us a place to crash for a couple nights.

We arrived around dinner time (we have a knack for that, I guess) and spent the night catching up and reliving old memories over pizza and some of Al’s home-brewed beers. Don’t be surprised if you see his stuff on the market one day…he is quite the brew master already!

The next day we headed into the city to check out the fabulous downtown of Saratoga Springs, and to witness none other than the Saratoga Horse Race Track. Saratoga Springs is also nothing like I imagined. The main street is comprised of well-kept red-brick buildings holding fine dining restaurants, upscale shopping, and hotels. Closer to the race track, Union street is lined with Victorian-style mansions, most of which look new despite their many years of existence.

After cruising through the downtown area, we headed to the race track to catch a couple races. Again, if you’re not a gambler, this is a very affordable outing: $3 per person. Awesome.

That night we drove to Albany to meet up with Stacey, a good friend of mine from FSU, her husband Andy, and their five-month-old baby Drew. It’s been almost a year since I last saw them and have never met baby Drew, so it was so great catching up with them. You can always rely on your good friends to pick up right where you left off, no matter how long it’s been. They treated us to a fantastic dinner (thanks, guys!), then of course we had to take some pics:



Thank you, Al, Brandy, Stacey, and Andy for a great stop in upstate New York! Can’t wait to see you guys again.

Next Stop: Burlington, VT

Niagara Falls…don’t forget your passports!

Bridget:

Craig and I have seen no shortage of waterfalls on this trip. Whether tall and skinny, short and cascading, loud and roaring, or barely trickling, they have all been beautiful. However, none could measure up to the “mack daddy” of waterfalls: Niagara Falls. We decided to head there after Chicago and on our way into New York. Niagara Falls sits on the U.S./Canadian border with towns on either side named after the falls. The American side holds many touristy-like shops and restaurants, and the Canadian side appears to be yet another mini-Vegas (that place just keeps coming back to haunt us).

What I didn’t know before arriving was that Niagara Falls is actually split into two main sections: The American Falls/Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. What I also didn’t know is that the views from the American side are not as spectacular as those from the Canadian side. Here are the views from the American side:

American Falls from the east side


American Falls from the west side

Horseshoe Falls

Although we did have our passports with us, we decided against heading to the Canadian side in order to avoid waiting in lines for the international customs security checks while crossing the border. We just didn’t have enough time. If you ever decide to head to Niagara Falls, I recommend bringing your passports and planning to spend a full day. I would first head to the Canadian side to snap some pics, and maybe take advantage of a few other attractions, such as “Maid of the Mist,” a passenger boat that floats right up into the mist of Horseshoe Falls, or the “Journey Behind the Falls” tour which descends 150 feet through rock leading to a series of man-made tunnels that give visitors a look behind the water. On the American side, there is a “Cave of the Winds” tour that leads people to the base of the American Falls, and even a “Flight of the Angels” passenger helium balloon that takes people up and hovers about 400 feet above the falls.

Or if you’re like us and are okay with just seeing the natural beauty of the almost-mile-wide falls from above, you can check it out for free. Just remember some cash for parking.

Next Stop: Saratoga Springs, NY

The Windy City: Chicago, IL

Bridget:

One of the things on this trip that has amazed me the most is to see so many opposites in the same country…opposites in weather patterns, opposites in demographics, and especially opposites in geographic features. After spending a few days in Wayne, where there are only a few stoplights but several hundred acres of corn, I was once again amazed at the contrast when we entered the thriving metropolis of Chicago.

The last time I was in Chicago was about 15 years ago, sometime during my junior high years. We had driven up as a family for my Papa’s 80th birthday and to visit with my mom’s brother’s family. Uncle Rick and Aunt Dawn had three kids about the same ages as me and my siblings, so naturally we had a blast doing weird kids things like climbing up hallway walls, giving puppet shows out the back window of the station wagon, etc. That visit was the last time I saw them. Well, you can imagine how “opposite” it felt to step out of this time machine we call life into the present, where my cousins are all grown up with adult jobs, and we can actually hold adult conversations.

We arrived to the house Saturday night, where Dawn already had a feast prepared. After catching up on the past 15 years over an excellent meal, we did a little sightseeing-planning for the next day. We decided to squeeze in Navy Pier that night. So, Craig and I along with my cousins Jeff, Lauren, and her boyfriend Kyle caught the train into the city and headed to the Pier. At first glance, the bright lights and Ferris wheel make it look a bit like the fair, but you can also listen to live music, go to restaurants & bars, do a little shopping, or even catch a chartered boat ride. They also do a fireworks show on Saturday night.

The five of us decided to cheese it up with a ride up the Ferris wheel. It was soooo chilly up there (especially for a couple of Floridians), but it provided a spectacular view of the city’s nighttime skyline.

The rest of the night we spent chit-chatting about plans for the future, Craig’s Navy stories, and of course a few more funny memories.

The next day we were greeted with a delicious breakfast and coffee before heading downtown. We had decided on the Museum of Science and Industry which has a smattering of exhibits such as old trains, cars, farm equipment, a chick hatchery, genetics center, German U-boats, and even a fetus development exhibit that shows each stage of life in the womb (unfortunately this exhibit is under renovation until October I think). The museum building itself is also pretty incredible considering it was built in 1903, before the use of modern-day machinery.

Rick, Dawn, Jeff, Craig and I met my cousin Michelle and her husband Jamie at the museum entrance. The last time I saw Michelle we played with dolls and talked about the difference in our accents. Now she is married, living in downtown Chicago, and working for an advertising agency with big-name clients.

One of the new exhibits in the museum is something called the “Smart House.” This is a full-size house built in the museum’s courtyard. Everything in the house lives by five eco-principals: smart design, material efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and healthy environment. That includes the furniture made from recycled wood, the composting machine made from recycled plastic, and even the kitchen counter tops made with recycled broken traffic lights and car taillights. The house even has giant plastic water tanks underneath the house that collect rainwater for taking showers, flushing the toilets, or watering the gardens.

The house’s design is deceivingly open, allowing easier ventilation from room to room and even from the first floor to the top. Oh, and there are hot-water tubes running underneath the flooring throughout the entire house to provide a flawless heating system (remember: hot air rises). There aren’t even any air vents to collect dust, mold, or mildew.

After the museum, we headed to Millennium park to check out the fountains and “The Bean.” The fountains were our first stop. Now, don’t let the word “fountains” trick you into thinking boring…they are unlike any fountains you have ever seen. They are basically two very tall brick rectangles that face each other with the water in the middle. The interesting part is that there are videos of different faces projected onto the inner-facing sides of the bricks.


If you stay for a few minutes, you might be surprised by what the faces can do:

Now that would be a mean, but funny, trick to play on someone. “Hey, go stand right about here and wait for the face to start puckering up.” Just be sure it’s a scorching-hot day if you plan to do this. The Chicago wind gets chilly!

Onto “The Bean.” If you have ever heard anyone describe this, you probably thought to yourself, “What’s the big deal?” Trust me, it’s one of those things you just have to see to appreciate. It is basically a giant chrome-sided sculpture that looks like a huge…well, bean. It’s actual name is Cloud Gate, but is commonly referred to as the bean. We had some fun taking pictures in various positions around the bean and seeing how distorted we could make our reflections. The coolest part is the reflection of the city skyline at most angles.

On the way to catch the train after Millennium Park, we passed several breathtaking views of the city:

After a terrific day spent in the city, we all worked up an appetite that could only be cured by some authentic Chicago grub: Portillos. Originally a 1963 hot dog joint operating out of a trailer, now they have 48 locations and feature sausage dogs, hamburgers, and their famous Italian beef sandwich with gravy and sweet peppers. To wash it all down, you might try their new “chocolate cake shake.”

So we now leave the beautiful city of Chicago ready to witness the next “opposite.” The one thing about our visit here that does not differ with my memories from 15 years ago is the warmth with which we were welcomed and the constant generosity we felt from the Sayre family. We thank you so much for everything!

Next Stop: Niagara Falls, NY