Search results for 'history'

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.  

For a brief and beautiful time, around the turn of the last century, utopian societies were in full swing. The shining jewel of these enterprises is Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. 

Last year was the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. If you want your understanding broadened, your senses dazzled, and your collector gene completely awed, The Civil War Museum in Bardstown, Kentucky is a must see. It has one of the largest collections of rare and authentic artifacts of any Civil War Museum in the country. Prominent Civil War magazine, The North and South, named it the 4th best in the U.S. out of 500. This is quite a surprise for this great small Central Kentucky town.

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.

Okay, I don’t mind admitting that, before visiting the place, the only thing I knew about Slovenia was that it once formed part of the former communist block of Yugoslavia. Not a very positive note to start a visitor review maybe, but do your research and delve deeper into the history of the region and you will be pleasantly surprised by all that a country measuring up at only half the size of neighbouring Switzerland, has to offer.

This summer we crossed the Plains through Nebraska, following the famed pioneer trail along the Platte River. We traveled west from St. Louis, skirted around Kansas City, and passed through a small slice of Iowa, where sunflowers grow wild in the fence rows and the dirt is black as coffee grounds.

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. 

Nashville gives us the best stars and legends in country music and they also give us restaurants that are legends and stars…..The Victorian Home restaurant named Jimmy Kelly’s is on the top of that list!

As a child, when we were watching Johnny Weissmuller swing through the jungle and swim at lightning speed in Tarzan’s Secret Treasures we really were experiencing Wakulla Springs State Park in Florida up close and personal.  While traveling to visit family in Gainesville we discovered this jungle gem 14 miles south of Tallahassee.  If you want the best family boat ride through an exotically diverse natural habitat, this is your spot. 

Jordan is one of the most culturally rich and magnificent places to visit in the entire world.  The breadth of civilization and depth of history is overwhelming: from the Nabateans to the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads to the Ottomans, the history truly humbles one's knowledge of ancient cultures and traditions.  The visitor immediately recognizes the graciousness of the people, who represent a crossroads of cultures: there is a mixture of Palestinian, Chechen, Turkmen, Circassian, and Druze.  The one word that best describes this country is tolerance.... and a celebration of cultural diversity.  This is reflected in their artwork and cuisine.

We can't cover everything, but with your help we can certainly try. Our latest guest patrol contributors are Jeff Unger who will be covering motorcycle travel and Sandy Gladfelter, a widely published author.

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.

Israel is one of my most favorite destinations and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to live in Jerusalem for a few years.  Israel was never on my list of countries to visit.  Isn’t that one of the greatest lessons we learn as we approach our golden years?  That sense of discovery of a new destination that never before captured our imagination?  To visit a land from where all of Civilization emerged?  A land so rich in history and culture, upon your first venture into its history, you are overwhelmed by its magnitude.  However the net has been cast - your spirit, your soul captured in its embrace, never to be the same again.  Come as I share with you my adventures into discovery of one’s own destiny and reflective purpose.

A stroll down the National Mall in Washington D.C. is captivating. Flowers bloom all around as children enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass. National landmarks surround the grand avenue sprinkled with museums and gardens. The Potomac River flows into the Tidal Basin surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This is the first sight many think of as Washington D.C., a powerful city filled with history. I know it as a city of opulence and splendor.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, is a hell of a town, the Bronx is up and the Battery down!

Guayquil, Ecuador, classiness and luxury come together in this small yet vibrant city. Situated along the Pacific Ocean, Guayaquil delivers exclusive shopping, dinning, culture and luxurious lifestyle.

When was the first time, or the last time you saw Paris? But all those wonderful songs go humming through your mind as you stroll on the Champs Elysee. Wherever you are in Paris, you're walking through History. Streets and Parks that were created for Kings, Palaces that are now Museums, art galleries that hold the finest examples of art from centuries ago to the latest art from the sidewalks of Paris.

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.

First of all, please be sure to rent a car. This is a must for Los Angeles no matter where you stay, because everything is so spread out. Having stayed in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, the heart of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, I keep finding myself drawn back to the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel. This property is located between Westwood and Century City and is about a 5 minute drive into Beverly Hills. The area is residential, so you actually feel like you live here. Also, because it is residential, you can find free parking on the street after business hours and can avoid paying for valet parking, which is available if you choose. Let's face it, you will probably be out exploring all day anyway.

Jerusalem is perhaps my most favorite destination and I was blessed to have lived here with my family for a few years.  I will always remember how overwhelmed I was with the history and many historic sites and will share my own simple guide in visiting this historical city.

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.  

The origination of man’s creative spirit began in the East – but the gauntlet was passed onto the West – as we have seen throughout our European sojourns.  However, we are seeing the Phoenix rise from a humble beginning as a pearl-diving centre, to one of the fastest growing cities in the world!  What makes Dubai so remarkable is that such accomplishments have taken only thirty years!  This is a city constantly on the move that even the updated GPS systems cannot keep up with all the road changes!

After leaving Montreal it was already past lunch time and we began to look for a place to stop and have a bite to eat. We left Quebec and barely had entered Ontario when we decided to take exit 814 off of Ontario 401 (the continuation of Quebec 20) which was the exit for Lancaster, Ontario.

The ‘lands down under’ bring together unbelievable natural wonders with friendly and generous people and diverse cultures.