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Our visit to Florence took us to the breathtaking source of the Italian Renaissance. You saw and felt history in every direction and at all times. We spent 5 days on patrol revisiting our art history textbooks from college only this time we were there in person.

One of the most remarkable places we have been from a photographer’s point of view is Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC. If you can go in July when the water lilies are in bloom, you will be transported and dazzled by their beauty. Looking into a rare water lily blooming is by my estimates what the Hubble telescope sees when it looks into deep space. Strange universes stare back  leaving you with a sense of mystery and awe. 

Hot Springs, Arkansas is one of North America’s first resort cities. It is a mix of vintage hotels, Hot Springs National Park, Art Galleries, and historic Bathhouse Row. Nature’s geo-thermal healing powers have attracted people to the hot springs for centuries. 

We love Chicago.  It’s a city of big ideas with great public art in large open spaces.  One of the best way’s we have found to truly understand the remarkable vision Chicago’s builders had is to take the Chicago Architecture Foundation Cruise.

Our visit to the Cleveland Art Museum was awe-inspiring. Their collections are World Class. They have integrated state-of-the-art technology as a way to showcase and teach about their collections. They told us that every major museum in the world has visited to check out their new gallery that utilizes an Artlens app on an iPad as a wireless interactive personal guide for visitors.

This is a special year for anything Beatle. Hundreds of events all over the world are heralding the 50^th Anniversary of their arrival in the U.S. and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. If you need to celebrate your inner Beatle, Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, Kentucky is a must do for any fan. The 250 concerts from over 50 bands on 7 stages over 5 days will remind you and inspire you to remember all you need is love. 

The American Numismatic Association sponsors the largest and most important coin show each year called the World’s Fair of Money. It is held in August and rotates between the largest cities on the East Coast and Chicago. 

In the heart of Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville is one of the largest Gingko trees in the state of Kentucky. On a recent visit, we wandered into its presence. All the leaves were a bright yellow. It was 2:00 in the afternoon on November 8^th so the light was hitting the tree at a sharp angle. The reflections off the surface of these usual shaped leaves filtered throughout the giant tree. This tree is the volume of a two-story house with about 3000 square feet. I was told that all Gingko trees shed their leaves on the same day. The gingko is a living fossil dating back 270 million years. The word Gingko is derived from the Japanese word ginkyo meaning “silver apricot”. The realization that this tree was 150 years old reminds us to think about all the history it had witnessed and that we are standing in a sacred place. 

It is difficult to find a true intergenerational family experience that entertains, educates, and inspires, but on our recent road trip to SanAntonio, Texas, we found one. We went to Enchanted Springs Ranch with aunt, uncle, niece, twin 5-year olds, and a fifth grader and we all loved it!!

Pensacola Beach has been a destination for our family many times. We have spent Christmas there as well as summer vacations. We visited our niece who worked in the city. Pensacola Beach is on Santa Rosa Island, one of the longest barrier islands in the world. Pensacola Beach pier is a great spot for fishing and one of the longest on the Gulf of Mexico at 1471 feet. 

For thousands of years, humans have found areas in the world where the natural mineral springs seemed to miraculously help cure health ailments. For over 9000 years The Jefferson Pools have refreshed the fortunate few who knew her location. Warm mineral springs are relaxing, rejuvenating, and offer a great pit stop on a road trip to brush off the aches and pains of road travel.  Thomas Jefferson came in 1818 at the age of 75 suffering from what he called “rheumatism.”  He stayed for three weeks, taking the waters several times each day.  He reported their naturally warm mineral springs had a healing effect. Mrs. Robert E. Lee came often, but during the Civil War sorely missed her visits because of her fear of travel.  

During our first trip to Italy, we spent 3 days in Florence. Out the window of our home base, Hotel De Lansi, was the main church of Florence, The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower. The ideas and architectural techniques used to build its dome played an important role in igniting the Renaissance. 

Any time you are traveling in or around Nashville, TN, a visit to Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage, is well worth it.  His home is a great window into Jackson’s tumultuous life and presidency.  The house tour is one of the best we’ve experienced.  Our tour guides were in period clothing and were excellent storytellers.  The house is filled with original family artifacts, giving a real idea of what day to day life was like for the wealthy in the 1830’s.  The French landscape wallpaper in the curved center atrium was hand painted in dark shades of blue indigo dating to the period. 

Going to Hawaii is about as far off the beaten path as I have been.  When we had a chance to go to Maui for two weeks, we were “all in.”  We landed in Maui after a 16-hour plane flight.  We could have done it in 3 less flying hours for not too much more money, which will happen next time we go. It took a couple of days for our internal clocks to adjust to the time zone difference.  Our home base was in a resort area in Lahaina.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a huge collection of the personal artifacts from almost all the Rock and Rollers you know and love. This includes the musical instruments, cars, vans, clothes, advertising, handwritten song lyrics, gold records, jewelry, and much, much more. 

We are always “On Patrol” looking for a place to take our kids and grand kids. It must be family friendly, which for us means there is something of interest for all ages. The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort, Kentucky fits the bill. The permanent exhibit titled “A Kentucky Journey” is a great walk through our early history up until the present day. The exhibits are interactive and at eye level for children seven or eight years and older. It is filled with rare and authentic artifacts that reflect the strengths and talents of our ancestors. Many of the objects are in drawers so you have easy access for viewing.

Let’s get off the interstate and “Go on Patrol!!” Today we are traveling on 31W, one of the original north south routes that run parallel to I-65 from Michigan to Alabama. On a car lot in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, we found Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum. It is without a doubt the best free Car Museum in the U.S. Owner, Bill Swope, has collected and put on display 60 cars built between 1900 and 1970. They have been lovingly restored in every detail. I am a collector (not of cars) so I’m in total awe at what Mr. Swope has accomplished. He has found many totally original cars that are in “like new” condition. 

On our way to San Antonio to visit our family, we decided to venture off The Beaten Path onto the Natchez Trace between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. The 444-mile two-lane highway is a National Scenic Byway, All-American Road and Designated Bike route. We drove 17 miles southwest of Nashville on I-40W and took Exit 192 onto McCrary Lane. We went five miles to the entrance of the Park. We put on two of our “travel” CD’s consisting of the Grammy Songs from the last two years and headed out to find harmony in midst of a sometimes-troubled world. 

In the heart of Old Louisville overlooking Central Park is the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, known as Louisville’s Castle. In the 1890’s, Theophile Conrad commissioned local architect Arthur Loomis of Clarke & Loomis to design this stone masterpiece. It is one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in the world.  

If you are in or around Chicago, you have got to go to the retail store named Primitive, three floors of rare antiquities, ancient art, and authentic craft from cultures all over the world. Each object is artfully arranged to showcase the individual item in the context of a room. The effect is amazing and it’s all for sale. 

Venice is the most magical, mysterious city I’ve ever visited. It has to be in as close to in its original condition as any city in the world. It consists of a series of over 100 islands built upon centuries ago. It allows you to wander where you want without hearing the sound of any motorized vehicle. That’s right-no motorized vehicles. Think about it. 

Route 66 took us off the beaten path to discover the amazing Acoma Indians. Members of the Acoma tribe have continuously lived atop a 70-acre plateau called Sky City since 1000 A.D. That’s right- 500 years before Columbus hit our shores in 1492. Sky City is nearly 370 feet above the canyon floor in the desert of Western New Mexico. About 50 Acoma Indians now inhabit the once thriving Pueblo.

When I’m looking for a summer retreat for rest and relaxation, I head for the Wax Marina in Wax, Kentucky on Nolin Lake. The Wax Marina provides a beautiful view of a 100-foot limestone cliff and safe haven for boaters and fishermen. It is home sweet home for our pontoon boat “Buttercup”. 

When we found out the “best” Antique Mall and oldest continuously running Dance Hall in Texas were in a place called Gruene, we had to head out on patrol. We were on our way back from San Antonio visiting our niece and spent a great afternoon walking around exploring this unique small Texas town.