Showing posts with label Adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventures. Show all posts
Traveling is a gift.
Traveling somewhere new is a beautiful gift that you can give to the soul.
But... traveling and exploring your own hometown or city that you live in (or one nearby) is a gift that can change your life.
Traveling somewhere new is a beautiful gift that you can give to the soul.
But... traveling and exploring your own hometown or city that you live in (or one nearby) is a gift that can change your life.
If you have been around this blog for even a little bit of time then you know that I love to travel and be adventurous, but I also learned throughout the last ten years (especially during the fight for my health and life) in new ways to be content in seasons of life where travel and adventure are lived closer to home. This was a lesson that I found incredibly priceless as people seem to be able to go off to all different parts of the world and I was bedbound for years. That beautiful lesson has directly affected my thoughts of living life with adventure and also looking "closer to home" for new things to explore that now I have implemented into my daily life in so many different ways. I can't encourage you enough to embrace adventure wherever you are...mostly with your life. You do not need to travel somewhere else to get refreshed, recharged, or whatever else you read. Travel can be done right in your own city.
With summer in the northeast reaching the halfway point and dreams of fall road trips looming, I thought it would be a perfect time to share tips for exploring your own city and finding the joy and adventure that can be found in your own backyard.
I have been trying on the weekends to go to a new place that I have never seen in our area and it has been so much fun. This adventure heart of mine has loved exploring and it has been practically free (with the exception of gas money).
Maybe you don't have a ton of money to travel to far away places but you can explore the culture that is found in your beautiful area of the world. Maybe your health doesn't allow you to travel as much as you would like, but you can take a short car ride to see the beauty around you. Maybe you can't leave your job to travel far but you can spend a weekend traveling around your town. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to develop your wanderlust, I hope that this post will inspire you to explore right where you are!
Here are 10 tips for exploring your own city...
I have been trying on the weekends to go to a new place that I have never seen in our area and it has been so much fun. This adventure heart of mine has loved exploring and it has been practically free (with the exception of gas money).
Maybe you don't have a ton of money to travel to far away places but you can explore the culture that is found in your beautiful area of the world. Maybe your health doesn't allow you to travel as much as you would like, but you can take a short car ride to see the beauty around you. Maybe you can't leave your job to travel far but you can spend a weekend traveling around your town. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to develop your wanderlust, I hope that this post will inspire you to explore right where you are!
Here are 10 tips for exploring your own city...
1. Ask your Friends, Co-workers, Neighbors on where to go
Whenever I have moved to a new place I always make it a point to ask people what their favorite thing is to do in the area. It is always so much fun to hear what people consider the best things to do are and it will give you a list to jump off of as you consider your own adventures. You may have returned to a city that you have lived in before after being away for a while or you may have lived in the same place your whole life. Either way take the time to ask your friends, co-workers, and neighbors for ideas on what to see and do in your own city. You may be surprised with the answers that you discover!
Also- write down or keep track of people's suggestions. It can be so easy in the hustle and bustle of life to remember something new to try when the weekend or a day off comes around. Writing the ideas down, tearing ideas out of local newspapers, etc. can be a fun way to keep track of new things to do. I add these ideas to my travel book of my city/state (#3) and it is a fun way to keep track of everything! I also decided a while ago to start keeping a key chain junk journal (click HERE) of my own living area. It has been so fun to see so many things and places!
2. Eat at Someplace New
This suggestion probably seems a little funny at first, but it is so easy to get into a "rut" of eating at the same place week after week or day after day. When we travel we are often forced to try new places and things to eat so why not do this in your own city? Check out your city and see what the local newspaper says is the best "hole in the wall restaurant"? Instead of eating at your favorite restaurant why not try a dinner cruise in your town? Think outside the box and explore your city by trying to eat something new or different just like you would if you had traveled somewhere new.
One of the really neat things has been going out with friends to new places in my area that I have never been to before! I have loved the suggestions and the opportunity to explore all different places these past years!
Maybe money is exceptionally tight right now (I definitely understand) so maybe the "restaurant" during the summer is checking out your local ice cream stand or farmers market. Set a limit, have everyone chip in $5 and share your findings in a picnic. It doesn't have to be expensive to enjoy and have fun!
Another suggestion- One thing that some friends and I did when we lived in DC was to try the "top 25 restaurants" that had been listed in the "Washingtonian". It was so fun to explore these restaurants that we may never have discovered otherwise! Check your local paper for new restaurants, their top picks, and "secret" hole in the wall locations! You may be surprised at what you find! Live in a bigger city and can't afford some of the pricier restaurants? Sign up for restaurant week!
3. Be a "Tourist" in Your Own Town
A simple way to explore your own city is to pretend to be a tourist in your own town. What are the places and things to do that you recommend to others who visit your town? Think about the unique things that you may do with them and find out more about those places that might offer different or unique opportunities.
Several years ago my chiropractor mentioned the Mother Cabrini Shrine that was in driving distance to us. I had never heard of it before and this place was beautiful and to find it so close by was amazing.
Also randomly three years ago we were driving to a new town that we had never been to and we came across the Almanzo Wilder Homestead. Y'all- it is so interesting to discover what is really close by!
Another example of this is "Jazz on the Green" in DC. When I lived in DC so many of my friends and family who visited wanted to go to the National Gallery of Art. As a lady who loves art, the museum (and its gardens) is wonderful and I definitely recommend it, but the museum (like many museums) offers so much more than simply exploring their collections. One of the great things that the National Gallery of Art hosts is "Jazz on the Green" in the summer months (starting at the end of May). The event is free and hosts a ton of different artists throughout the summer. You can purchase food and drinks there and it makes for an enchanting evening in the summer.
What does your city offer that might be similar to this? Think like a tourist and check things out a little bit more in depth and you may be surprised at what you discover! One simple way that you can pretend to be a tourist is to purchase a travel guide for your city that you live in (or a city that is closest to you)! When I first moved to Georgia years ago I did this and it was so fun to explore and see the city through different eyes.
Some of my favorite travel books are Lonely Planet books, Rick Steves Books, or Moon Travel guides. Interested in a travel journal of your city to use as a keepsake? Consider looking through the travel journals that are available for purchase in my Etsy shop!
4. Go see a (different) Sports Event or a local play
Many people have "their teams" that they cheer for and sports teams that they religiously follow. But did you know that there might be a different sport that you may find you like just as much by trying it out? If you love football why not try and see something different in the Winter and Spring months? Be open to trying new things and you may discover a whole new side of your city!
Another thing to do that is fun is to go see a local play at the high school or local college. Over the years I have been to a lot of different local high school plays and y'all they are so fun and good! And as a former high school teacher- I know how much hard work goes into things behind the scenes to make those plays happen! And seriously- the talent that some of those young adults have is amazing and it was fun to get into the community in this way.
5. Try Something Different in Your Hometown
Anyone that knows me knows that I loved growing up tubing and skiing on the lake during the summer months. Some people though have heard the humorous story of how wake boarding came to our family. For some reason we never did this growing up and I honestly am not sure why, but years ago I was out in Washington state visiting a friend and his family took us boating on a nearby river. Their big thing was wake-boarding and were surprised that I had never tried it before. It was so much fun and it was fun to "introduce" this to our family. For some reason though this has added a completely new aspect to the lake for us and I really am convinced that it is because it is something new. So my advice and encouragement is to take the time to try something new in your own city that you may only try if you were traveling somewhere else!
6. Try a Different Form of Transportation
It is so easy to use our cars to drive when you live in the city you are wanting to explore, but why not try exploring your city through a different form of transportation? Just like if you traveled abroad why not try using the metro system, riding bikes, or walking through your city? You may be surprised at what you discover simply from trying a different form of transportation.
Do you like to Hike or Bike in general? Why not make it a goal to try all of the different hiking or biking trails in your area? Or why not join a club that does the same thing? Who knows what your town or city may have to offer that is similar! You may meet new friends and have a great time exploring something completely new in your city!
7. Participate in the Local "Customs"
Is your city "known" for something? Many times people who live in a city that is known for something (politics, fashion week, military activities, natural wonders, etc.) don't end up attending these things. Whether it is because we live in that place and "are so used to it" or we just don't think of attending, many times the locals actually miss out on local customs. This is such a simple thing to change- simply investigate what your city is known for (or why people come to visit it!) and check out the things to do!
One of the neatest parts of living in Virginia Beach (near Norfolk) was going to celebrate the return of soldiers after a deployment. It was beautiful, it was moving, and it reminded us of the intense and incredible sacrifice that so many families and soldiers are making for our country. If you have the opportunity to attend a homecoming ceremony do it. It will be amazing.
8. Stay at a Local Hotel, Inn, or Bed & Breakfast
A great way to explore your city and make you feel that you are on vacation is to stay at a local Hotel, Inn, or Bed & Breakfast. Having the opportunity to "get away" for an evening is something that can make you feel that you truly are on a vacation even if you are in your own city. (Don't have the finances to stay someplace? Some friends of mine had a perfect idea for this: swap houses with some other friends! It gives everyone a chance to go someplace new and feel like you are getting away!)
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to go over and explore Lake Placid in depth for a few days at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort was a beautiful gift. I hadn't spent time really in Lake Placid (except for some day trips) and it was truly lovely.
Another neat opportunity for me was going to the Wildflower Inn in Vermont. It was only about 3 hours away but it felt that we had entered another land as we had never explored the Northeast Kingdom before.
What is in driving distance to you that you may find to be an adventure? Also- don't forget to consider going somewhere in the "off season" - you will get to explore and also will find reduced rates!
9. Walk around Downtown.
Many cities are giving life to their "downtown" areas with unique shops, local eateries, coffee shops, etc. Why not spend a day walking through the downtown and exploring your city? You may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover and learn!
10. Explore the Natural Resources around your City
I shared a couple of years ago about discovering the Hurricane Chapter" in the Adirondack Mountains and what a joy it was! It is amazing that despite the fact that I have spent nearly half of my life in this area of the United States that I was not aware of this beautiful section of mountains. What started out as a simple drive brought such beauty to my world and joy in discovery!
Another amazing thing was joining into a local challenge to see more of the area. For years I have been working on the #ADK50FALLSCHALLENGE and it has been so much fun! You can read about some of the places that I have visited below:
What land or natural beauty is around your city? Look on a map and see what natural resources surround your area! You may be surprised to discover areas that you have never explored or driven to! (Don't see anything new? Look up national parks, gardens, waterfalls, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. that are around your city! You are guaranteed to find something!!)
What are tips you have for exploring your own city?
I just want to drop this extra encouragement one more time. Friends, never feel that this is second to exploring other areas of the world! Remember sweet friends, your beautiful life is the adventure and no matter how near or far you can physically go, you can make life full of adventure and joy right where you are at!
Looking for additional tips on exploring your city? Check out this post HERE!
Want to find more travel tips and travel experiences here on the blog? Click HERE!
Want to read more on my thoughts on being adventurers? Check out this post HERE!
Have a beautiful day fellow adventure lovers!
Last Sunday mom felt well enough to get out of the hotel room so we took a little drive over to the area of Fort Lee to view the George Washington Bridge from afar. Over the last year, but especially these last several weeks we have driven back and forth over this bridge countless times. I had never explored the history of the bridge and when I did it was truly so fascinating to learn. I hope you enjoy these pictures and the history behind the bridge!
The George Washington Bridge spans over the Hudson River connecting New Jersey and New York City. At the time it was built it was twice as long as any other suspension bridge and is still considered by many to be the marvel of suspension bridges.
The building of the bridge presented quite a challenge to those who worked on it as it was difficult to find out a way to span the Hudson River. For over a 100 years this was the challenge. Finally Othmar Ammann, a Swiss born architect and engineer, proposed a design that was ultimately chosen. Nearly a hundred years ago (he proposed the bridge design in 1923) what seemed like an impossibility was going to become a reality that would help millions of people each year, including us.
Construction on the bridge was started in 1927 and was opened to traffic in 1931. In 1932 (the first full year of use) more than 5.5 million vehicles used the bridge and in 1962 the lower level was finalized.
It is amazing to think about how this design that was created in 1923 has stood the test of time, been added to, and continues to be a main point of crossing each day for so many people!
I shared a reel on instagram about the bridge that you can see HERE!
Interested in reading about other bridges that I have shared about on the blog? Click on the links below:
Confederation Bridge (Prince Edward Island)
Information on the George Washington Bridge was taken from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Website.
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week!
Today I am excited to share with y'all a bit more about the #ADK50falls challenge and specifically about the Blue Ridge Falls, a waterfall that we recently visited.
If you are doing the challenge, coming from the north, and wanting to see a few of the same falls in the same area then I would highly suggest planning to see both Split Rock Falls (you can read about it HERE)and Rice's Falls (you can read about it HERE) at the same time as they were all located somewhat close together. If you aren't familiar with the #ADK50falls challenge, you can read about the places that I have been going as part of the challenge HERE (I started in 2019) or read about the entire challenge HERE.
Simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. For those of you who love hiking and being outdoors this can show you unique parts of the Adirondacks that you may have never discovered. I definitely have been feeling that with the waterfalls that we have visited and explored the last several weeks and look forward to sharing more!
If you would like to know just basic facts about the falls please just scroll down to the bottom of the post where I will be sharing basic information to help those who want to know more specifics about each of the falls in the challenge.
It was a beautiful and easy hike (less than a 1/2 of a mile) to get down to the bottom and there was no one else around at this time of the year so we had the place to ourselves.
Blue Ridge Falls, located in North Hudson, New York, is a beautiful 20 foot waterfall located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains that is made up of several small drops and ledges. Formed on the Branch, fed partly by Elk Lake, the falls are incredibly beautiful and are visible from the road with a pull-off with parking provided.
After parking, I went and explored around the top of the falls. If you park and walk up the road there is a dirt road that you will see. This is not for driving, but you can walk the very short distance and you will come out above the falls. The area splits and you will have the option to follow the path down to the falls if you would like, which I did. It was a bit muddy (because of the Spring time so be careful if you go during this time of the year), but easy to get to the falls and see them from that angle to.
It was absolutely beautiful! It was definitely one of my favorite waterfalls that I have visited in the challenge!
If you are interested in reading more about each of the waterfalls - I recommend reading Adirondack Fifty Falls (click HERE to purchase) which lays out all of the falls in a concise and easy manner. It also groups the falls in the challenge by area so that you do not have to do that research!
When I was extremely sick I used to grieve not being able to be outside in nature as much as I wanted to be and if this is where you are at due to health reasons I hope that the information I provide about each of the falls in this challenge will encourage you to explore as you are able.
.
......BLUE RIDGE FALLS INFORMATION......
......BLUE RIDGE FALLS INFORMATION......
LOCATION:
North Hudson
(approx. 35 minutes north of Lake George // 1 hour southeast of Lake Placid)
TYPE OF FALLS:
20 foot fall + additional drops and ledges
KEY LANDMARKS:
KEY LANDMARKS:
Several High Peaks trails and Elk Lake Lodge which is a short distance from the falls
COST:
Free
PARKING:
Roadside parking where you could see the falls without getting out of the car.
CROWDED?:
No. Rumor is that during the summer it can get crowded with locals who are wanting to wade in the bottom of the falls, but during the late winter/early Spring when we went there was no one.
DISTANCE TO FALLS FROM PARKING AREA:
None to see from road or a short, steep hike if you want to go down to the falls.
DISABILITY FRIENDY?:
Absolutely Yes. You could even see the falls from the car if you did not want to get out. If you are just getting into hiking the trail splits into two different ways where you could take a higher trail to see more or a lower, steeper trail which will take you directly to the falls. If you are able to walk short distances then this could be a "yes" from the top. To get to the bottom and back up may be difficult depending on your condition.
Thank you so much for reading today friends! Please let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or the Blue Ridge Falls! I am happy to answer and can't wait to hear about your waterfall adventures! And again, if you would like to read about other #adk50falls that I have written about on the blog click HERE or click on the links below:
// Split Rock Falls (New Russia, New York) //
// Upper LaChute Falls (Ticonderoga, New York) //
// The Falls of Carillon (Ticonderoga, New York) //
// Anderson Falls (Keeseville, New York) //
// Upper LaChute Falls (Ticonderoga, New York) //
// The Falls of Carillon (Ticonderoga, New York) //
// Anderson Falls (Keeseville, New York) //
Have a wonderful day!
Happy Wednesday friends! I am excited to spend the next couple of weeks sharing with y'all some recap posts from the girls trip that I took four years ago through New England, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia (along with some new posts from this time that I never shared also!)! I hope that it encourages you to consider taking a road trip (in part or in whole depending on your circumstances) this fall to these beautiful places in the world.
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Happy Thursday friends! Today I am so excited to share with y'all 6 important things you must know if you are planning to take a similar road trip like we did on Prince Edward Island (PEI)! These are in no particular order, but are all really important! I hope that these tips help you as you travel throughout this amazing Canadian Province!
1. There Are Only Two Ways to Drive On and Off The Island
There are only two ways to get onto Prince Edward Island if you don't fly or cruise into Charlottetown. One way is the Confederation Bridge and the other way is the Ferry. I wrote a ton about this on the blog and I hope that these posts are helpful to y'all!
Some additional posts about this:
// Confederation Bridge //
2. There is NO Charge for Getting on the Island, but You Do Have to Pay to Leave
No matter how you choose to get on the island you don't have to pay- but you will have to pay when you leave. The cost for both the bridge and the ferry are comparable- both cost approximately $50. Because we were going in a loop (starting in New England, going through New Brunswick to get to Prince Edward Island we drove across the bridge to get on the island and then took the ferry to get to Nova Scotia when we were leaving).
Some additional posts about this:
// Confederation Bridge //
3. Certain Roads Are Not All Finished and End Without Warning
One thing that we quickly learned in our adventures was that you could be driving, following the GPS and suddenly the paved road that you were on would turn to gravel or dirt ... or end. (Like the picture above shows!)
Sometimes you literally ended up in a farmer's field (like I mention in #6)! One time when this happened we were on a road that suddenly turned into dirt and ROUGH rocks and we literally couldn't go backwards. We were bumping along afraid the car was going to break (literally!) when we all of a sudden were back on a paved road!
We ended up finding out from the friendly farmer that came over to chat with us that the GPS didn't know that the road was now private property and the road for that stretch wasn't paved because he opted to not pay taxes. According to him, this is a general and common thing across certain parts of PEI.
My best advice is to understand this and get clear directions from locals if you are trying to go some place a bit "off the grid" (including some of the "Anne Places").
4. Getting to All of the "Anne Places" Can Be An Adventure Because of #3
I always wondered why on most Canadian Cruise Itineraries the only "Anne Places" that they visited were the Anne of Green Gables Museum and the Green Gables Heritage Home. The reason I discovered is really simple. Getting to all of the "Anne Places" (due to the roads) is impossible for buses. We saw buses struggle even in the two mentioned places above just because those roads were really narrow.
If you are looking to explore all things "Anne" on the Island, you will want your own car and should plan a road trip on the Island. (Especially if you are planning to get to the Anne and Diana Lighthouse!)
Some additional posts about this:
// Dalvay By the Sea //
5. People On PEI Consider Going From One End of the Island to Another "A Long Trip"
One of the things that heard a lot was how "incredible" it was that we were going to explore different parts of the island (that were more than 20 minutes away). For the people that we interacted with this was something that just isn't done on the island much. I am not sure if it is just a coincidence of who we ended up talking to, but we heard this from our hosts, a person at the restaurant in Charlottetown, our waitress in Tignish, a cashier at Walmart, a gas station attendant, and a couple of other people that we chatted with.
Y'all know that on trips I like to see as much as possible (you never know when or if you will be able to travel back to a place again) so driving an hour to see a different part of the island wasn't an extreme thing to me... especially after we were taking a long road trip. But be prepared that if you choose to do the same thing you may encounter some concerned wisdom. *smiles*
Some additional posts about this:
// The North Cape (Tingish) //
// Wind & Reef Restaurant //
// A Lighthouse Adventure //
// Charlottetown, PEI //
6. Cell Phone Service
Overall, I found cell service on the island to be better than I expected (and had been warned about prior to the trip). If you have Canadian Service on your phone you will be fine overall, but will encounter some "dead spaces" as you can imagine. I said this several times throughout my posts on our time in Prince Edward Island, but we found the people in PEI to be incredibly helpful and going out of their way to help if it was needed (even when we accidentally ended up driving through a farmers rocky field. Hahaha!)
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read this post today. I hope that all of the posts about our one week adventure through New England, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia has inspired you to plan your own road trip in the coming years!
If you are curious about the specific details of the road trip that we took throughout New England, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia or if you are planning a similar road trip (or just want to see and dream about visiting the beauty!) I hope the information below is helpful. You can read all of the posts from the trip by clicking on the links below:
MAINE:
Camden: // Lord Camden Inn Review // Maroon Swing Dress & Boots //
// A Walk Through Downtown Camden Maine // Maine Schooner Olad Sunset Cruise //
// A Walk Through Downtown Camden Maine // Maine Schooner Olad Sunset Cruise //
Cape Neddick: // Cape Neddick Lighthouse //
General: // A Drive Through Beautiful Maine and a Lesson to Never Stop Exploring //
Portland: // Ferry Ride from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland, Maine //
NEW BRUNSWICK:
St. Andrews By the Sea: // A Drive Across the Ocean Floor to Minister's Island //
// A Walk through St. Andrews By the Sea // Kingsbrae Gardens //
// Purple and White Midi Dress in the Garden // The Algonquin Resort Review //
// A Walk through St. Andrews By the Sea // Kingsbrae Gardens //
// Purple and White Midi Dress in the Garden // The Algonquin Resort Review //
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:
All Things "Anne": // Anne of Green Gables Museum // L.M. Montgomery Birthplace //
// Green Gables Heritage Home // Green Gables Walking Trails // Dalvay By the Sea //
// Montgomery Inn at Ingleside // A Look Inside Montgomery Inn at Ingleside //
// Senators Suite at Montgomery Inn at Ingleside // Anne & Gilbert the Musical //
// Green Gables Heritage Home // Green Gables Walking Trails // Dalvay By the Sea //
// Montgomery Inn at Ingleside // A Look Inside Montgomery Inn at Ingleside //
// Senators Suite at Montgomery Inn at Ingleside // Anne & Gilbert the Musical //
// The North Cape (Tingish) // Wind & Reef Restaurant // A Lighthouse Adventure //
// A Walk on the Beach Beside the Rugged Cliffs // Charlottetown, PEI //
// Sunrise Ferry from PEI to Nova Scotia //
NOVA SCOTIA:
General: // A Drive Through Stunning Nova Scotia // Sunrise Ferry from PEI to Nova Scotia //
// Ferry Ride from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland, Maine //
Halifax: // Halifax Citadel //
Lunenburg: // Lunenburg //
// Ferry Ride from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland, Maine //
Halifax: // Halifax Citadel //
Lunenburg: // Lunenburg //
Peggy's Cove: // Peggy's Cove // Peggy's Cove Lighthouse //
PS- Our time on PEI was lovely and have made some of the most beautiful watercolor prints that are now available in my new Etsy Shop, December Lane! If you love this area of the world and are interested in purchasing these prints for your home or office head on over to the shop by clicking HERE!
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