One Day in St. Croix is Never Enough

Colorful Carnival characters are only one of the many reasons to visit the Caribbean island of St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether you'd like to snorkel in the clear warm waters off Buck Island or tramp through the historical ruins of St George Village Botanical Gardens or loll on a sugar sand beach, St. Croix gives you plenty of options. Photos by Joe Tolley for TravelBoldly.com

One Day in St. Croix is Never Enough 

Guest Post by Kristy Tolley

“Oh, my gosh! Did you see that nurse shark?” My daughter squealed in delight. “That was so cool!”

I never would have expected my kids (at the time, ages eight and five) to be so thrilled about learning about marine life. However, that was just one of several pleasant surprises we experienced during our family’s visit to St. Croix.

A stretch of empty beach beckons on Buck Island St. Croix

As a port of call for our seven-day cruise, St. Croix’s bucolic landscape beckoned us to come explore. Being the unconventional cruisers we are, we opted to plan our own excursions for the day. Our goal: pack as much in as we possibly could before the ship left the port!

Our first diversion was snorkeling on Buck Island. Located off St. Croix’s northeast shore, it was declared a National Monument in 1961. A number of local companies specialize in half or full day tours, yet the trail is protected by the park system so it’s never over crowded. We snorkeled with Big Beard’s Adventure Tours, and had a remarkable experience.

Ready for snorkeling off Buck Island, St. Croix

Although my kids were great swimmers, I was a little apprehensive how they would fare in open (and somewhat choppy) waters with little prior practice. My fears were quickly abated thanks to knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides. We spotted coral fish, angelfish, and a nurse shark while floating above stunning brain and elk horn coral. I believe my oldest daughter’s passion to pursue a career in marine science was fueled by this early encounter.

Our next stop was the St. George Village Botanical Garden in Frederiksted. What an unexpected gem! The garden is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is situated on the remains of a 19th century Danish sugar cane plantation. The gardens are alive with more than 1,500 native and exotic species of flora. A tour here reveals ornamental ferns, bromeliads, heritage gardens, a naturalized forest, and other treasures.

Cactus in St. George Village Botanical Gardens St. Croix

As cool as the ghostly remains of buildings looked, I honestly thought the girls would lose interest quickly. Once again, I was proven wrong. David Hamada, the garden’s Horticultural Director, was well versed and engaging – pointing out countless natural wonders. The Stapelia plant especially intrigued them. This low growing succulent resembles a cactus and hails from Africa. Its scent, that resembling rotting flesh, attracts different kinds of pollinators (and apparently my kids).

Historical treasures in the garden include artifacts ranging from pre-Columbus through the plantation era. A few of the restored buildings to see are the Blacksmith Shop, the Overseer’s House and the Great Hall, among others.

View of  Christiansted from the water,  St. Croix. 

Had our visit landed on a second Saturday, we could have enjoyed the special kids’ programs from 9 am until noon. Workshops like cooking (finding ingredients throughout the gardens), chocolate making and the like are offered. Oh well - just another reason to book a return trip to St. Croix!

While this brood certainly enjoys outdoor action and soaking up some history, we do appreciate a little “chillaxing time” as much as the next folks. Chenay Beach and Rainbow Beach are perfect family hangouts. Chenay provides shallow water and lots of shells to hunt. Its palm-lined shore offers ample shade. The kids can even go nuts on the play set. Rainbow Beach is like hanging out at a friend’s house for a barbecue. Volleyball, swimming and snorkeling are on hand on this white sand beach. Often, you can enjoy live music as well.

Although our time on land was waning, refueling with local cuisine was a “must do”. Our group

View from Rum Runners' deck in Christiansted, St. Croix.

enjoyed the casual fare and excellent view at Rum Runners in Christiansted. Voted best for just about everything by tourists and locals, Rum Runners serves up a mean fish taco and sumptuous conch fritters. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and given more time, I would have sampled all three. Live steel pan music added to the island vibe, and made us sad to realize our day on St. Croix had come to an end.

I wasn’t surprised how quickly my family fell in love with the island. I got bit by the St. Croix bug years ago, and was excited to finally share it with them. After we boarded the ship and watched St. Croix fade into the distance from our cabin balcony, I asked my daughters when they wanted to go back. Their response was a resounding “Now!” Ditto, girls.

~~~

Kristy Tolley, from Tega Cay, South Carolina, is a freelance travel copywriter with a soft spot for the Caribbean. Her blog reflects that love - and other amusements. She's no stranger to traveling boldly. She's traveled with children, and has forgotten to pack deodorant on occasion. You can follow her on Twitter @KristyTolley to share ideas on what she should write about next - or share packing tips.

A Day Trip to Washington, D.C.

You don't need a week to see all of the sights of Washington, D.C..  Michelle Carr shows us how to see the Washington Monument and many of the other monuments in the nation's capital on a day trip. Photos by Michelle Carr 

A Day Trip to Washington, D.C.

Guest post by Michelle Carr

On my leaf peeping trip to Virginia, I decided to explore the sights of Washington, D.C. since my Front Royal base was only 45 minutes from the United States capital. I drove east on I-66, parked the rental car at the Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station lot, and took the metro to the Smithsonian Station. The National Mall and the White House were the first visions of grandeur I noticed as I exited the station. My heart

Korean War Memorial Washington, D.C. 

stirred with a sense of American pride knowing that blood, sweat, and tears were shed to preserve my liberties. It was like walking on holy ground touring the collection of Smithsonian museums and national monuments.

I began my tour by obtaining information at the Smithsonian Castle Information Center and I was glad to hear that there was no charge to enter the Smithsonian museums. With a goal to see one museum per hour, I set off to explore the Natural History Museum, the American Art Museum, National Gallery of Art (East and West buildings), and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. After the museums closed at five-thirty p.m., I walked to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, and Martin Luther

MLK  Memorial  Washington, D.C. 

King Jr. Memorial to take a few photos before joining friends for dinner at Founding Farmers. When I arrived at Founding Farmers, the farmhouse designed restaurant was filled with locals and visitors and there was a thirty minute wait with reservations. However, time passed quickly after a pre-dinner cocktail with my friends. The fried green tomatoes, skillet corn bread, and Southern pan-fried chicken and waffles were worth the wait. We completed our meal by sharing a piece of red velvet cake.

I really enjoyed my day excursion to Washington, D.C. The day was perfectly filled with sights, history, and a good meal shared with friends. I don’t remember what my first visit to Washington, D.C. was like when I was 13 years old, but I do know that I fell in love with the city in one day and plan to return soon.

~~~

Michelle Carr, from Houston, Texas, writes stories and travels for fun. She gleans tips and ideas from her Twitter followers and writes about her “life by tweets” adventures on her blog. You can follow her on Twitter @lifebytweets to post ideas where she should travel next.

Michelle's other stories on Travel Boldly:

Swapping Stilettos for Hiking Shoes: a Leaf Peeping Story

Swapping Stilettos for Hiking Shoes: a Leaf Peeping Story

Virginia's fall colors light up the landscape along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Michelle Carr takes us on a 3-day leaf peeping road trip with Front Royal, VA as her base.  Photos by Michelle Carr

Swapping Stilettos for Hiking Shoes: a Leaf Peeping Story

Guest Post by Michelle Carr

Each year when summer fades to fall, I dream of visiting a place with gold, orange, and red tree-lined landscapes that offer winding roads, hiking trails, and harvest festivals. Since I live in Houston, Texas where the seasonal lines are not clearly defined, I posted a Tweet asking where to go leaf peeping. Within minutes, I received a reply from a follower suggesting several areas from his home state of Virginia. I researched the recommended sites and discovered that the third weekend in October was

Virginia's most popular weekend for leaf peeping activities, including Virginia's Wine Tour month. The wheels were in motion to making this dream come true, but two weeks before my departure the US government shutdown and closed all national parks, museums, and monuments. Despite the threat of an extended US government shutdown, I swapped out my stilettos for hiking shoes and made my leaf peeping pilgrimage to Virginia.

As I arrived to my base location at Front Royal, Virginia in my rental car, I was greeted with a warm sunset casting off of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a kiss from the crisp fall air. I followed Google Maps’ narration through a series of back roads that closely resembled Thomas Kinkade's American landscape themed artwork, exhibiting barns with red doors, rolling hills with grazing sheep, and cozy cottages adorned with seasonal decorations. Every turn unveiled a breathtaking view that made me want to pull the car over to take pictures. Shortly after seven p.m., I checked-in at the Holiday Inn at Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows and I was upgraded to a spacious suite that overlooked the golf course and the Blue Ridge Mountains. After the long day’s journey, I refreshed up and made reservations at Apartment 2G in Front Royal’s historic district for their Third Thursdays Tapas Night. It was a treat to watch David and Stacy Gedney, the executive chefs and restaurant owners of Apartment 2G, broadcast their culinary skills over closed-circuit TV monitors as they prepared the Spanish tapas for their guests like Food Network stars. I sampled an array of tapas ranging from gambas ajillo to scallops with walnut grape salsa and finished dinner with a homemade apple tart made from local ingredients. With my wine glass lifted to the TV monitor, I toasted the beginning of my trip with a verbal "Cheers!"

Day Two- Shenandoah National Park

Luck was on my side because the US government shutdown ended the day I arrived Virginia. The next morning, I packed a bag with water and snacks, and started my leaf peeping adventure at Shenandoah National Park’s North Entrance. The thirty-five miles per hour Skyline Drive captured my full attention

with vibrant jeweled-tone colored valleys seen from various observation points and from the tree-lined curved roads that hugged the mountainside. Cyclist shared the road with motorists and enjoyed the cool breezes and smell of fresh pine trees. In the afternoon, I pulled over at milepost 49.4 to stretch my legs with a 2.6 mile hike to Rose River Falls, a waterfall with four cascades of 67 feet. On foot, I absorbed the essence of the fall foliage experience capturing the sights of crimson and amber hued leaves, hearing the sounds of crunching leaves under my feet and chirping birds over my head, and smell of damp soil mixed with decayed leaves. As the sun began to descend, I returned to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center to watch the sunset. The area was alive with recreation: fathers tossed footballs to their sons, couples drank wine and ate cheese on colorful blankets, and people walked their dogs on leashes. As the brunt orange globe acknowledged goodbye to the day, everyone stopped their activity to gaze at the view in wonderment.

Day Three: Syria, Virginia - Harvest Festival and Wine Tour

A light morning fog hovered off the ground as I drove to Syria, Virginia to attend the Graves' Annual Harvest Festival. I took the wine tour route 211 to the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoyed the

beautiful fall vistas. As I neared Syria, cars formed a line to enter the Graves' festival grounds to park in an open field. The smell of freshly popped kettle corn filled the air with sweetness and lured guests to the first samplings of the day. A bluegrass band entertained the crowd with banjos and guitars as children chased each other around the grounds. Families posed for pictures in the pumpkin patches, children rode on hayrides, and vendors sold their homemade crafts. Across from the festival grounds, the Graves' working farm was open to the public. The farm was stocked with chickens, goats, and pigs, and the apple orchard was open for apple picking.

Around mid-afternoon, I decided to leave the harvest festival in search of one of Virginia’s nearby

wineries. I veered on to Weakly Hollow Road for an off the beaten path drive that displayed some of the best fall foliage views of Madison County and down RT 643 to the DuCard Vineyards Tasting

Room on Gibson Hollow Lane. The DuCard Vineyards Tasting Room offered the perfect escape to relax and unwind. A three man band played a jam session with a harmonica, bass guitar, and double bass while clients sipped wine and tapped along to the music. The owner, Scott Eliff, butterflied around the tasting room to supervise the affairs of his business and to greet his guests. When he stopped by my table, I interviewed him to find out more about his story and how he made his dream come true. Scott Eliff’s dream began over ten years ago when left his Washington, D.C. consulting job to live in the country with his wife. He converted the acreage on his estate from an apple orchard to a vineyard beginning with a few grapevines. It took him a few years, but through Scott’s motivation, determination, and process improvements to his product, the grapes blossomed into award winning grapes for local wineries. He departed with a few words of wisdom: love what you do, never under estimate a hobby, and always have fun even when times gets hard.

As my Twitter follower promised, Virginia exceeded my expectations with an abundance of fall foliage, hiking trails, civil war sights, museums, national parks, festivals, and wineries. The one thing that impressed me the most about Virginia was the first class hospitality shown to visitors. 

~~~

Michelle Carr, from Houston, Texas, writes stories and travels for fun. She gleans tips and ideas from her Twitter followers and writes about her “life by tweets” adventures on her blog. You can follow her on Twitter @lifebytweets to post ideas where she should travel next. 

Michelle's other stories on Travel Boldly:

A Day Trip to Washington, D.C.

Discovering Santa Fe, New Mexico on foot

Flapjack and I took many walks around Santa Fe stopping for a several photo ops. Flapjack has a unique ability to dress up any photo. Here Flapjack sits on a wall in the late afternoon light at the end of east San Francisco Street in front of the Saint Francis Cathedral.

Discovering Santa Fe, New Mexico on foot

One one of my walks I had a serendipitous experience as I walked along Canyon Road, I met Sagemaya Dandi an "old-timer" that moved to Santa Fe in the early 80's. He lives on slopes of a peak at the end of Canyon Road and collects his mail from a mailbox he petitioned the city to install along upper Canyon Road.

He gave me a guided tour of Canyon Road introducing me to several gallery owners and giving me a running history of the buildings along Canyon Road. 

Before Sagemaya (which means wise illusions) and his dog Butterball walked on down Canyon Road to their home, he told me I should head back into town along along Palace Road. One the way I'd find the walkway up to the top of the hill with a white cross on top. It was good advice.

The Cross of the Martyrs sits atop the hill overlooking Santa Fe, New Mexico. The cross together with the walkway, that includes several historic plaques, commemorates the 21 Franciscan monks that were slain during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The site was a given to the city during the 350th anniversary of Santa Fe's inception.

Cross of the Martrys walking tour article.

Map of the area

Text and photo copyright Jerome Shaw 2010 / www.jeromeshaw.com

Jerome also writes for Confluence Denver, Travel Boldly, Johnny Jet, Recommend Magazine and Encompass

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Santa Fe, New Mexico: The Cross of the Martyrs

The Cross of the Martyrs

An often-overlooked feature of central Santa Fe is The Cross of the Martyrs. It is an easy destination for an evening walk from downtown Santa Fe. The vantage from the top offers dramatic views of The Plaza and entire valley but the peek into the history of the oldest capital city in the United States is the best reason to make this walk.

The walk is not an arduous climb but does take moderate fitness. The inclined brick walkway is a series of switchbacks interspersed with steps that climb to the ridge above Paeso de Peralta in Hillside Park. The project was a gift to visitors on the occasion of the 375th anniversary of Santa Fe. (In 2010 Santa Fe is celebrating its 400th anniversary) There are handrails and sure footing on the commemorative walkway built in 1986. The good news is that if you become oxygen challenged there are ample reasons to stop, read and catch your breath. A series of display plaques offer an interesting diversion and a chance to recover from Santa Fe's elevation of more than 7,000 feet above sea level.

The twenty plaques give walkers a glimpse of the events that helped shaped Santa Fe into a blend of three cultures. The walk will take you on a mental journey through history from 500 AD to the modern era. At the top of the walkway is the brick prick plaza and the steel cross that was erected to honor the 21 Franciscan Friars killed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

The Pueblo revolt was a mass insurrection by natives of the area pueblos against the Spanish interests. This coordinated attack of all Spanish settlements of northern New Mexico was organized at the Taos Pueblo and led by Popé, a medicine man from the San Juan Pueblo south of Taos. Popé became the ruler of all the pueblos of New Mexico for a dozen years as result of the successful revolt that killed 400 Spaniards and caused the survivors to flee to El Paso del Norte (El Paso, TX.) While the revolt did not remove the Spanish from the area permanently, it did cause changes in the way the Spanish dealt with the Pueblo Indian after 1692.

The cobblestone platform that surrounds the cross is a wonderful place for reflection, or to take in the views of expansive homes along the ridges behind the cross or to make sunset photos of Santa Fe.

To reach The Cross of the Martyrs from the Plaza area take East Palace Avenue in a southeasterly direction to Otero Street. Go left on Otero (northeast) approximately ¼ of mile. You will cross East Marcy Avenue before reaching Paseo De Peralta. Turn right on Paseo De Peralta. The entrance to the walkway is on your left approximately 400 feet ahead. Legal parking places are at a premium.

On Fiesta weekend there is candlelit procession to The Cross of the Martyrs from Saint Francis Cathedral after a special Mass. Fiesta weekend is celebrated the weekend after Labor Day.

600 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM
Tel: (505) 984-6760

Map of the area

Side story how I found The Cross of the Martrys

Text and photo copyright Jerome Shaw 2010 / www.jeromeshaw.com

Jerome also writes for Confluence-Denver, Travel Boldly, Johnny Jet, Recommend Magazine and Encompass

Contact Jerome on Twitter at @JeromeShaw or find him on Facebook

Jerome on Google+   

Sip, Savor, and Brew: A Craft Beer Weekend in Vail, Colorado

The unofficial last week of summer is over, the football games really don’t mean much and most of the tourists have left the state. It's time for Coloradans to head for the hills to enjoy the actual last few weeks of summer before the leaves turn gold and fly.  I recommended you sip some great brews and savor wonderful foods in Vail. 

Brian Lutz from West Flanders Brewing Company,  Charlie Berger from Denver Beer Company and Steve & Leslie Kaczeus from Bootstrap Brewing Company will be hauling their brews over to Vail Pass to pair them up with amazing food from the chefs at Atwater on Gore Creek at Vail Cascade Resort September 6th & 7th.  Not only will the brewers bring beer but they will also bring their brewing and craft beer knowledge for the information sessions with topics ranging from “Brewing the Belgians” to “How to Have Fun & Never Brew the Same Beer Twice” and “What makes Colorado different?” John Carlson from the Colorado Brewers Guild is cohosting the informational programs and will join in on the informal question and answer sessions.

I had the pleasure of attending the June Sip Savor and Brew, Brewmaster’s Weekend with Kevin DeLange from Dry Dock Brewing Company and Bill Eye from Prost Brewing Company. They not only shared their favorite beers but a trove of beer knowledge too.  That will be the same during the September Brewmaster’s weekend.  You’ll get to learn about brewing and craft beer from three outstanding Colorado brewers.  A word of advice: don’t duck out early either night and miss the beer and dessert pairing or you’ll be sorry.

Package rates for two start at $330 and include two nights accommodations at the Vail Cascade Resort + two passes to all craft beer events for the weekend. Colorado Brewers Guild SOCIAL members receive a complimentary lodging upgrade. Sip, Savor & Brew sessions only are $69 for a weekend pass. Call 800.282.4183 to book your Sip, Savor & Brew Weekend package (mention promo code VCSSB13) or go online at  AtwaterOnGoreCreek.com

What could be better than a weekend of some of Colorado’s best craft beer, gourmet food from one of the best restaurant in Vail and September mountain air? Nothing, see you there.

You can also pick up your tickets for the 2014 Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival. This is 14^th year for this grand event and will debut new venues for the Commercial Tasting & Fireside Bar programs.  Every January, craft brewers from around the country come to Vail to share their liquid art at the festival. One of the most prestigious craft brew events in the nation, Big Beers is known for the impressive roster of craft beer industry luminaries that come to share their biggest and best beers.

The weekend schedule for Sip Savor and Brew September 6 & 7th showcasing the Colorado Brewers Guild & guest breweries: Denver Beer Company, Bootstrap Brewing Company & West Flanders Brewing Company

Friday, September 6th

4:00 – 7:00pm “Meet the Brewmasters” open tasting in Fireside

8:00 – 9:00pm Informal discussion: “Craft Beer: Past, Present, Future”

9:00pm Craft beer dessert to wrap up evening 

Saturday, September 7th

Activity opportunity

2:30 – 3:15pm: How to Have Fun & Never Brew the Same Beer Twice - Charlie Berger, Denver Beer Co./ John Carlson, CBG

3:30 – 4:15pm: Brewing the Belgians - Brian Lutz, West Flanders Brewing Co./ John Carlson, CBG

4:30 – 5:15pm: Craft Beer Culture & Pioneering Entrepreneurism in Niwot - Steve & Leslie Kaczeus, Bootstrap Brewing Co.

6:00 – 7:30pm Small Plates and Craft Beer Pairing 

8:00 – 9:00pm Informal discussion: “What makes Colorado different?”

9:00pm  Craft beer dessert to wrap up evening 

Sunday, September 8th

Activity opportunity / Travel day

For more information about the Vail Cascade Craft Beer Program contact Laura Lodge - 970.479.1514 or visit AtwaterOnGoreCreek.com

Read Jerome's recent story on Nanobreweries in Denver.  You can find Jerome on Twitter at @JeromeShaw and @TheBeerWhore

Photography and text copyright Jerome Shaw 2011 / www.jeromeshaw.com. This article and photos may not be reposted or reproduced without prior written permission from the author. Please contact Jerome on Twitter at @JeromeShaw or find him on Facebook.

Jerome Shaw, Denver International Travel Examiner

Jerome Shaw is a writer, photographer, traveler and teacher based in Denver, Colorado. Jerome has been traveling since his first taste of adventure while working on ski films in Aspen. He teaches photography classes and workshops in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, & Cuba and is planning a new...

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Amaluna & Cirque du Soleil come to Denver - a return to the circus

Cirque du Soleil workers prepare to raise one of the
sections of the Big Top in preparation for Amaluna's
run in Denver. Photo: Jerome Shaw

by Jerome Shaw  Jerome on Google+

The smell of wet canvas, the sight of muscular men hauling ropes and the sounds of animals that aren’t normally found in Southwest Nebraska are just a few of the odd memories that came flooding back to me last week.

I was invited to watch the blue and yellow Big Top being raised in the parking lot south of the Pepsi Center in preparation for Cirque du Soleil’s traveling show Amaluna, which opens in Denver July 18th.

My behind-the-scenes peek into what goes into preparing for a Cirque show gave me more than just insight into how many people and how much stuff it takes to create one of these high-flying acts.  For a few moments I was transported back to when I was a child and a traveling circus would come to visit my small town.  They didn’t come every summer and long before I was grown they stopped visiting such hamlets as mine.  I still got go to the circus but we had to travel 30-40 miles to see it.  Lost was the opportunity to hangout in the background and watch the circus being setup, which, for 8-9 year old boy, was nearly as thrilling as the performance itself.  

Gone from today’s experience is the canvas, there is not an elephant in sight and no children peer eagerly as forklifts and workers rush about.  I am here now as an adult watching the setup for a modern day, “slick” circus. Cirque du Soleil has gone from being a band of 20 street performers without so much a musty old tent in 1984 to a company based in Quebec, Canada with 5,000 employees (1300 of which are performers.) 

The Bit Top is raised but that is just on of the early
milestones in readying the Cirque du Soleil village for
Amaluna's Denver run. Photo Jerome Shaw

While much has changes since the more traditional traveling circuses visited my tiny village it still takes a bunch of strong people (more than 60) and lots of cables, ropes and 100 support poles to create the space for the performers of Amanluna.  The 19 meter high Big Top takes 8 days to erect (2 days to tear down) with its 4 − 25 meter masts it seats over 2,600 people. The tent is now made of high tech fabric with a interior structural design that can withstand winds of nearly 75 miles per hour. 

But the excitement preparing for the big show is still here.  And, once the last section of the Big Top was pushed up and the stabilizing poles in place a cheer when up among the workers.

Amaluna opens tonight in Denver and runs through August 25th  I’ll be there tonight and I’ll feel a special sense of connection to this Cirque du Soleil having had the chance to recapture my youth and see what goes into the making of a modern circus.

for more information on Amaluna, performance times and tickets please visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/amaluna/tickets/denver.aspx

Watch for my review of Amaluna in the next couple of days. 

Photos and text copyright Jerome Shaw 2013 / www.JeromeShaw.com

you can contact Jerome on Facebook 

Six places in the United States I hear calling my name. My Travel Wish List

Visitors to Volcanos National Park on The Big Island of Hawaii pose for photos in the eerie glow of the lava flow.
Photo: copyright Jerome Shaw 2013 / www.JeromeShaw.com 

I have set foot in 47 of the 50 states during my lifetime of travel.  Admittedly, some of the visits were quick hits like the time I made a dash from Connecticut into New Hampshire in search of a patch of snow big enough to shoot an overdue magazine cover.  Vermont had an equally short visit during a trip to Maine to shoot photographs for a travel article. New Hampshire and Vermont deserve better than a quick border crossings. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to explore Vermont & New Hampshire more fully but they don’t make this years US travel wish list.  

The two of the three states I have yet to visit do though. Along with a couple of perennial favorites and one state I have visited but haven’t been to its most famous city.  

In part one of My Travel Wish List I shared the background of my travel lists over the years.  In part two I listed my thirteen top international travel destinations and then 6 islands I want to visit in the next twelve months.  

Here are the six places in the US that are calling my name.

1. North Carolina

Mayberry and Mount Pilot are two famous places in North Carolina and I am not sure they are real. Even so, I want to see where Andy Taylor, Opie and Aunt Bea brought small town living to the small screen.  The Cape Hatteras Sea Shore and coastal North Carolina are another draw for me.  At the other end of the state are the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains. I want to see the historic barrier to westward expansion in colonial times.  History is the biggest reason I want to see NC.      

2  South Carolina

I admit to being almost entirely ignorant about South Carolina. The most recent addition to my knowledge base about SC is that they beat my beloved Cornhuskers in last year’s bowl game.  I need to know more.  Charleston has made its way onto my list of cities I want to experience.  Myrtle Beach is about the only other place in South Carolina that I can name without a map.  I’d like my readers to educate me. What are some other places I should see in SC?

  

4. Washington

There are several places in Washington State that have garnered my interest in recent years. One has a very personal slant.  My great Uncle Clarence Shaw lived in Gig Harbor.  Uncle Clarence lived life out loud in the front half of the twentieth-century.  He was a champion of Gig Harbor and certainly its chief tourism promoter.  Legend has it he established a contest for the roundest rock pulled from the Puget Sound each summer season.  He originated Roosterville and rooster races that became known across the US.  He was also a photographer as was his son Frank O.Shaw. A true renaissance man Clarence ran a sign painting business and drew cartoon for Colliers magazine.  I want to go visit place he called home for most of his life. While I am in the neighborhood I’d like to see Seattle again for the first time.

5. Louisiana

I have been to Louisiana. I have never visited its most famous city, New Orleans.  I plan to rectify that omission in 2013.  I likely won’t make it in time for Mardi Gras but I hear there is a pretty good party most nights on Bourbon Street. I am late to the party for sure and I should’ve found a way to get to N.O.long before this.  It is well past time for me to hear the music and taste gumbo in one of the most unique of American cities.

6. Hawaii

Hawaii could have easily made my list of Six Islands I’d Swim To if I hadn’t already given it a place here on my USA list.  I have made many visits to Hawaii. Oahu & Maui were my first big photography job when I was getting my start in travel journalism.  Yet, I still have never visited Kauai, Lanai or Molokai. And if that were’t enough reason to crave a return trip to Hawaii, I haven’t been to Oahu, Maui or Hawaii in over 15 years.  I have plenty to see and do in Hawaii, it may take two trips to catch up. 

Honorable Mentions: Alaska, Montana, Texas 

I have made two trips to Alaska, one for nearly a month, but I have barely grazed the banquet that is travel in the 49th state. Something above the Arctic Circle or out in the Aleutians are on my list. I have made many trips to Montana and enjoyed everyone, I expect I’ll enjoy the next one just as much.  There are two place in Texas I want to see; Austin and San Antonio.

Future posts

My Travel Wish Lists are composed of places I have yet to visit so in another post I’ll name the 6 places I have already visited that I want to return to.  The cherry on top of the wish list pie is a list of  my favorite places in Colorado and the neighboring states.    

#NorthCarolina #SouthCarolina #Washington #Louisiana #Hawaii #Alaska #Montana #Texas 

What is your favorite place in the United States?  Give me some advice on where my next trip in the US should take me.  Please share your Travel Wish List with me here in the comments and tell me why your choices should make my next list.

My #TravelWishList posts:
Part one - The History of My Travel Wish List and The Candidates 
Part two - 13-4-’13 - Thirteen Places To See 
Part three - Six Islands I’d Swim To 
Part four - Six Places In The US That Are Calling My Name 
Part Five - Six Places I’ve Been But want to Go To Again
Part Six  - My Favorite Places in Colorado And The Neighboring States

The History of My Travel Wish List

Brazil is one of the candidates for my 2013 Travel Wish List.  I'd love to go
and visit Jennifer and Beatriz in Jardim Redentor near Rio de Janeiro.
I'd also like to visit Belem, Fortalezza, Salvador and Florianopolis.

A couple decades or more ago during the work-lull between Christmas and New Year's Day I began making up a travel wish list. It was most often scribbled on a scrap of paper that I tucked in my desk drawer. In most years I never looked at it again until the next year when it was time make up a new wish list. It was my adult version of a letter to Santa Claus, dutifully filled out but never mailed. Even so, in most years, I'd always get to cross at least one destination off my wish list.

Then one year Sally McKinney, a writer I worked with as a photographer, casually asked me where I'd like go on assignment in the coming year. I did a mental review of the travel wish list tucked in my desk drawer and came up with Hawaii, Montana, Russia, Brazil and half dozen other places that consistently fascinated me. The reasons the locations made my list were varied and random. Montana was the only state in West I hadn't visited and Hawaii was a placed I'd been many times but knew it had much more to offer than I'd so far discovered.  I'd been drawn to Russia since my childhood because my brother had studied Russian in college and Russia's featured prominently in my childhood consciousness as our Cold War nemesis. Brazil was a new fascination, though the Amazon River caught my attention during a movie titled "The Pirates of Blood River" that featured prominently in my nightmares well into my adult life.

My #TravelWishList posts:

                    Part one - The History of My Travel Wish List and The Candidates 
                    Part two - 13-4-’13 - Thirteen Places To See
                    Part three - Six Islands I’d Swim To
                    Part four - Six Places In The US That Are Calling My Name 
                    Part Five - Six Places I’ve Been But want to Go To Again
                    Part Six  - My Favorite Places in Colorado And The Neighboring States

I noticed that something amazing happened over the next 2-3 years. First Sally called to ask me if I''d like me to photograph for her in Hawaii for a food & wine article. Then 6 months later the annual trips Montana for newspaper articles began, the first about the Robert Redford movie "A River Runs Through It." Soon she asked me to collaborate on whitewater rafting story in Costa Rica. Costa Rica wasn't even on my wish list but I an not dogmatic about these things, I am pretty flexible about my list which is good because the company I worked with in Costa Rica hired me the next year to go Russia for them and another company saw my images from Russia and hired me to photograph their river cruise in Ukraine.  

Of course there were several assignments that weren't on my wish list but they should have been, places like Finland and South Beach, Florida that should have been on that list and return visits Alaska and New Mexico. There were many minor successes along the way. I crossed off all but 3 US states from my travel list and got the opportunity photograph the Sandhill Crane migration in my home state of Nebraska and to take a llama tour in my adopted home state of Colorado.

A couple years later Sally called with a 10-day assignment in Brazil. In one of the saddest, most regretted decisions if my travel life I turned this job over to an associate because I already had a better paying gig in Colorado. Be forewarned: don't mess with the TravelWishList gods because it took me nearly 10 years to get another opportunity to travel to Brazil. 

You might have thought I'd be bright enough to see the connection between sharing my wish list with Sally and higher incidence of hits in my list but I guess I am a liiiitttllle sssslllooooow. I put it down to Sally simply being aware of my preferences and nothing more. 

The Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia along
with Tahiti and Bora Bora are candidates for my
Travel Wish List.

I pretty much went back to putting my wish list in the desk drawer, keeping my travel dreams to myself. That was until Twitter caught my attention in 2009. For some unknown reason I began sharing snippets of my desk drawer list in tweets. But this time I saw the global significance of casting my #TravelWishList to the winds and waiting for the travel gods to hear my travel prayers. 

Now this year I am codifying it and sharing it far and wide. I am breaking it down into 13-4-'13 top travel destinations for this year. I'm also listing 6 islands and 6 places in the US that I have never visited. So that makes 25 places. As a bonus I'm listing 6 places I have already visited but long to visit again. Plus  a list of a few places in Colorado and neighboring states that are my favorites and one place in Colorado, that 35 years after moving here, I have yet to visit.  

Here is the list of candidates (in alphabetical order) that I came up with from which my Travel Wish List is selected. 

Are your favorites on the list? 

Alaska Antarctica Argentina Austria Azores Bali Bhutan Bora Bora Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Canada Canary Islands Chile Cuba Costa Rica Easter Island Egypt England Estonia France Fiji Islands  Galapagos Islands Greece Guam Iceland India Ireland Italy Jordan Kamchatka Peninsula Kenya Kyrgyzstan Madagascar Maldives Marquesas Islands Mauritius Mexico Mongolia Morocco Myanmar Nepal New Zealand Norway Panama Papua New Guinea Peru Portugal Romania Russia Seychelles Islands South Africa Spain Sumatra Sweden Switzerland Tahiti Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Thailand Tibet Togo Turkey Venezuela 

Curious facts:  There were no places on my list that started with D, H, L, O, Q, U, W, X, Y, or Z.  Do you have recommendations that begin with these letters?

The letter with the most destinations in "T" with seven.  "S" is second with six. 

Eleven are in the Pacific and fourteen on the Pacific Rim.  North America had the fewest locations with 3 but if you count the Caribbean you get 6 and what continent is Iceland associated with anyway? Seventeen are in Europe. Seven are part of South America. Nine are in Asia.  Two are in Central America.  Eight are in Africa.  Twenty-two are islands.

My #TravelWishList posts: 

Part one - The History of My Travel Wish List and The Candidates   

Part two - 13-4-’13 - Thirteen Places To See

Part three - Six Islands I’d Swim To 

Part four - Six Places In The US That Are Calling My Name 

Part Five - Six Places I’ve Been But want to Go To Again 

Part Six  - My Favorite Places in Colorado And The Neighboring States

Please share your Travel Wish List in the comments.

#Alaska #Antarctica #Argentina #Austria #Azores #Bali  #Bhutan #BoraBora #Botswana #Brazil #BritishVirginIslands #Canada #CanaryIslands #Chile #Cuba #CostaRica #EasterIsland #Egypt #England #Estonia #France #Fiji #Islands #Galapagos Islands#  #Greece #Guam #Iceland #India #Ireland #Italy #Jordan #Kamchatka Peninsula #Kenya #Kyrgyzstan #Madagascar #Maldives #MarquesasIslands  #Mauritius #Mexico #Mongolia #Morocco #Myanmar #Nepal #NewZealand #Norway #Panama #PapuaNewGuinea #Peru #Portugal #Romania #Russia #Seychelles Islands #SouthAfrica #Spain #Sumatra #Sweden #Switzerland #Tahiti #Tanzania #Trinidad and #Tobago #Thailand #Tibet #Togo #Turkey #Venezuela