I was discussing this with friend earlier. I'm torn between Austin and Charleston, two cities I'd move to tomorrow. What say you? What's your favorite city/place to go to?
Columbia River Gorge. If you've been there, you know...
Second; I mentioned before how amazing Breakfast at Saratoga Race Track is,even if it's a bright sunny day.
But sometimes the fog and mists linger from the night before. And if you come early...right when it opens at 7:00am, you might see the sunbeams light up the mist, as if it was another place, another time. Then, as if out of legend, you see those amazing animals and their riders spring out the mists.
As if the legends of old and ghosts of champions past can't resist one more lap around a legendary track. You're in another time, another place, for just a moment, something you'll never forget:
Awesome post.
I agree, awesome post. A little bit of the poet John? You have enticed me to try this. I did plan on going up to Saratoga/Lake George in August but I didn't know about the breakfast. There's no way I cannot try this now.
Re-wrote a trip itinerary today to include Saratoga Springs, for my wife and kids. I hope they get it.
Was stationed at 29 palms, use to go climbing, camping, hiking there al the time
. Very cool place but difficult trails. Got lost there once, during an early evening hike, and had to continue hiking for hours hopping over those huge boulders till we found a road again. Then along the road until we stumbled on another campground, 45 minutes' drive away. Someone took pity on us and drove us back to our campground, almost midnight. It was in an area called "Rattlesnake Canyon", I shit you not. Luckily did not stumble on any snakes, though I got a pretty nasty deep piercing cut from falling partly onto a cactus. It was cool to see the blood spurting out of my thigh like a mini geyser, in time with my heart's contractions. I used my T shirt to tie up the cut with almost tourniquet like pressure to stop the bleeding.
Luckily the night was a full moon, and any anxiety we had among our quartet was simply overwhelmed by the fookin' beauty of the place under the bright moon.
We were all hungry like bears when we finally arrived back to our campsite, and we prolly appreciated our camping dinner of pasta with walnuts, olives and pimentoes (a Julia Child recipe) with lots fresh grated parmesan as much as any meal we'd ever eaten in our lives to that point. With 2 bottles of Bordeaux, IIRC.
There's something magical about the old places, like the Saratoga Race Track (1864). We lost a lot after 9/11; for example, the horses used to be walked right through the crowds and under the trees before races, with only rope lines between you and them. There's still magic around though, if you're lucky and things fall into place.
Don't forget the backstretch tour...it's amazing. They show you the practice tracks, you may see horses up close (sometimes being washed down), and trainers walking their horses right by you (close enough to say hello and ask a question or two!)
The mist thing is rare (you can see more photo shots if you google Saratoga Track Mists, and select images)...you need to get there early, it has to be a clear sky, and you need the right temperatures/fog. Don't forget to get there early, you can still get a great view if you get a table trackside; sometimes the riders do buzz right by you, just a few feet away!
Just a few miles more up the Northway (I87) sits Lake George..great village to walk, with many amusements. Don't miss visiting Fort William Henry (a surviving pre-revolutionary fort), and make sure to take one of the SteamBoat tours of Lake George!
Lots of hidden secrets (like the Columbia River Gorge link) in the US. There's a wonderful [ur=http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/capecodsights/l/aa082301a.htm]Sand Dunes tour, Provincetown Cape Cod[/url] that shouldn't be missed. Provincetown is a jewel itself, especially in the summer...walk down the streets, and you'll pass by theatre, and tiny fudge shops that have the most amazing confectionaries!
If you're in Orlando, FL...you think Disney, right? But if you walk off the beaten path...you might run into a calm, peaceful oasis in Leu Gardens, see the wonders of Tiffany in the Morse Museum, or take a scenic canal boat tour.
All hidden gems, but those are the ones that stay with you. The US is full of these, you just need to look a bit harder, but they're there...a little extra work researching pays off! The big attractions are nice, but the small ones can leave an impression that last a lifetime.
JohnF, my older brother, unencumbered with a wife or children,
has been an ardent traveler most his life. About 30 years ago he gave me an Insight Guides book for Hawaii, which was great for getting off the beaten path to hikes, waterfalls, and beaches less prominent. They cover the obvious, like Hanama Bay, well too.
Their books for Greece and Italy, Tuscany specifically, have been excellent too.
in Charlestown RI for a week every summer for a few years.
that was pretty incredible.
Ocean was our front yard (literally with our own private beach)
the backyard was a salt march we'd go clamming in and pull out bushels of clams and grill them, steam them, eat them raw, and we'd surf cast at night occasionally snagging a striper or two following in the snapper.
day was spent on our private beach, playing golf, or headed to Block Island or Newport.
those years were great. Can't imagine anywhere similar, but then the kids were born and the stilt house was just not kid friendly.
I'd add this place to my list though it's kind of obscure.
Quote:
In comment 12355608 JohnF said:
Quote:
Columbia River Gorge. If you've been there, you know...
Second; I mentioned before how amazing Breakfast at Saratoga Race Track is,even if it's a bright sunny day.
But sometimes the fog and mists linger from the night before. And if you come early...right when it opens at 7:00am, you might see the sunbeams light up the mist, as if it was another place, another time. Then, as if out of legend, you see those amazing animals and their riders spring out the mists.
As if the legends of old and ghosts of champions past can't resist one more lap around a legendary track. You're in another time, another place, for just a moment, something you'll never forget:
Awesome post.
I agree, awesome post. A little bit of the poet John? You have enticed me to try this. I did plan on going up to Saratoga/Lake George in August but I didn't know about the breakfast. There's no way I cannot try this now.
Re-wrote a trip itinerary today to include Saratoga Springs, for my wife and kids. I hope they get it.
Luckily the night was a full moon, and any anxiety we had among our quartet was simply overwhelmed by the fookin' beauty of the place under the bright moon.
We were all hungry like bears when we finally arrived back to our campsite, and we prolly appreciated our camping dinner of pasta with walnuts, olives and pimentoes (a Julia Child recipe) with lots fresh grated parmesan as much as any meal we'd ever eaten in our lives to that point. With 2 bottles of Bordeaux, IIRC.
Don't forget the backstretch tour...it's amazing. They show you the practice tracks, you may see horses up close (sometimes being washed down), and trainers walking their horses right by you (close enough to say hello and ask a question or two!)
The mist thing is rare (you can see more photo shots if you google Saratoga Track Mists, and select images)...you need to get there early, it has to be a clear sky, and you need the right temperatures/fog. Don't forget to get there early, you can still get a great view if you get a table trackside; sometimes the riders do buzz right by you, just a few feet away!
Just a few miles more up the Northway (I87) sits Lake George..great village to walk, with many amusements. Don't miss visiting Fort William Henry (a surviving pre-revolutionary fort), and make sure to take one of the SteamBoat tours of Lake George!
Lots of hidden secrets (like the Columbia River Gorge link) in the US. There's a wonderful [ur=http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/capecodsights/l/aa082301a.htm]Sand Dunes tour, Provincetown Cape Cod[/url] that shouldn't be missed. Provincetown is a jewel itself, especially in the summer...walk down the streets, and you'll pass by theatre, and tiny fudge shops that have the most amazing confectionaries!
If you're in Orlando, FL...you think Disney, right? But if you walk off the beaten path...you might run into a calm, peaceful oasis in Leu Gardens, see the wonders of Tiffany in the Morse Museum, or take a scenic canal boat tour.
All hidden gems, but those are the ones that stay with you. The US is full of these, you just need to look a bit harder, but they're there...a little extra work researching pays off! The big attractions are nice, but the small ones can leave an impression that last a lifetime.
Their books for Greece and Italy, Tuscany specifically, have been excellent too.
that was pretty incredible.
Ocean was our front yard (literally with our own private beach)
the backyard was a salt march we'd go clamming in and pull out bushels of clams and grill them, steam them, eat them raw, and we'd surf cast at night occasionally snagging a striper or two following in the snapper.
day was spent on our private beach, playing golf, or headed to Block Island or Newport.
those years were great. Can't imagine anywhere similar, but then the kids were born and the stilt house was just not kid friendly.
I'd add this place to my list though it's kind of obscure.