travel Archives

The “Paper House” in Massachusetts

October 1, 2026September 2, 2026Posted in blogging, environment, history, Travel, writingTagged blogging, education, environment, history, Nature, travelLeave a comment

The “Paper House” in Rockport, Massachusetts was an interesting quick visit. This 1924 house with paper walls and furniture has survived a century! It was a summer camp to live in; only roof, floor and house frame wooden when originally built, the rest from paper.

The Stenman family read 3 newspapers per day. With additional newspapers from others, they built this house and made various furniture pieces, such as the grandfather clock. It was built in 1933 from the capital city papers from 48 states at that time:

Walls were newspaper pages pasted … with mixture of flour, water and apple peels…. with lacquer then applied. Walls were layered 215 sheets thick and were for insulation; now covered to hold the walls in shape.

Visitors to the property can step into the house and see all the created pieces. Some are tightly rolled or folded paper structures, but the piano is real and covered with paper. When you visit, look closely at some furniture and you’ll see historical headlines from the 1920’s.

Need a place to stay for the night? Check out the Blue Shutters in Gloucester

Wish to eat a lobster roll? Check out Charlie’s Place. Take a short hike at Halibut Point… plenty to visit along the coast; enjoy!

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill

September 27, 2026September 2, 2026Posted in blogging, history, Travel, writingTagged blogging, history, travel, USA2 Comments

Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt had another property, Val-Kill, a short distance from the home Franklin grew up in. While Eleanor and Franklin lived with his parents and at the White House, Val-Kill was a place Eleanor started Val-Kill Industries. Here rural youth and underemployed workers learned woodworking. Creating handicrafts allowed farmers to also keep afloat during tough times. She closed the industry down in 1936 and moved in after Franklin’s death in 1945. Eleanor certainly contributed to her husband’s work during his presidency and was called upon by others even after his death. Plenty of history regarding her!

I toured this property and museum and viewed an informative 20 minute film. There are well groomed trails to walk here. It’s a beautiful place!

Plenty of conversation around this table!

Beautiful grounds with water and trails.

FDR’s Home, Museum and Library

September 24, 2026September 2, 2026Posted in blogging, history, Travel, writingTagged blogging, history, travel, USALeave a comment

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was our President for many years (March 4, 1933-April 12, 1945) and lived in Hyde Park, New York where we now find his home and Presidential Museum and Library. Years ago, when at the Walkway over the Hudson River with my friend, we only drove past these places. This trip I toured his home:

His father encouraged him to know birds in the area, so Franklin did learn 300 birds and did taxidermy work too.

Many rooms as he and Eleanor lived in this home with his parents.

The family owned many acres of land which overlooked the Hudson River. Due to numerous trees planted by his family, a river view is no longer as the trees grew nicely through the decades.

Once upon a time one could see the Hudson River.

The Presidential Library is available to researchers and the museum is open to all. Many hours and even days are needed if one was to read all in the museum! It is well done! Videos also available to break up the reading and displays. So many initiatives from Franklin D. Roosevelt during his years as President.

By the way, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidential Library is the first presidential library ever built.

Did you hear? July 4 of this year the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library just opened in North Dakota. Looks great, I’ll have to visit it someday!

A Memory & Learning Something New on a Bridge

September 20, 2026September 2, 2026Posted in Bike paths, blogging, environment, history, Travel, writingTagged bicycling, history, insects, science, travel1 Comment

The bridge is the only pedestrian-bridge across NY’s Hudson River, known as “Walkway over the Hudson”. In 1979, this Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; 2016, inducted into the Rail Trail Hall of Fame. Great re-purposing of the railroad bridge as many people now walk or bicycle across.

Four years ago my best friend and I visited this bridge as I had written about in previous posts. Since her death 3 years ago, I have walked the bridge each time I travel to the east coast. While I walk from gate to gate, just over a mile each way, I remind myself of good times we had during the 40 years we were friends. Wonderful memories! I am continually grateful for that friendship.

I love learning new things everyday. This time I discovered an elevator from Upper Landing Park area to the bridge! I rode it and had a nice chat with its operator. I learned locals use the bridge to get from home to work on opposite sides of the river. Saved time and no gasoline as they walked or cycled over the walkway.

While walking the bridge I saw a young boy stepping on an insect, and then another and another. Sometimes the insect would jump before the boy could step on it, but in the next second, the boy got it. Not recognizing the insect, I used iNaturalist app to identify the insect. A spotted lanternfly!! I read about these invasive planthoppers and the destruction they can cause fruit trees and trees for our lumber industry. No doubt this young boy was doing a great removal service!

Quite a walk on the bridge …

Walkway over the Hudson. Some people use the bridge as part of their commute to work!

Spotted lanternfly. Wings spread… then red color can be seen

Fillmore Glen State Park in upstate NY

September 10, 2026September 2, 2026Posted in blogging, environment, history, Travel, wildlife, writingTagged environment, history, Nature, travel, wildlife3 Comments

Fillmore Glen became a state park thanks to the efforts of Charles Atwood. He recognized the beauty and importance of maintaining a place like this for years to come. His efforts began in 1919; finally in June 1925 the 941 acres was recognized as a state park. It is named Fillmore Glen State Park in honor of US President Fillmore.

I appreciate his interest in protecting this land!

Visitors can hike the north, south or gorge trail and easily make a 3 mile loop as we did. On the south rim trail we observed many mushrooms … so different from my home desert environment… and completed our loop on the gorge trail.

Wow! Gorge trail is spectacular with waterfalls. Plenty of water was running and falling! We walked in a narrow, steep-walled gorge under trees and protected from the summer heat. It was wonderful and not muddy or buggy.

People can hike, camp, swim in the designated area and fish at the Owasco Lake inlet. Nature Conservancy is also involved in protecting this watershed.

If you are near Moravia, New York, this is definitely a park to visit!

Next blog post I photographed different types of fungi!!! Will share.

Finger Lakes Land Trust in NYS

August 30, 2026August 10, 2026Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, wildflowers, wildlife, writingTagged birds, environment, hiking, Nature, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

New York State has a new trail thanks to the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Near Lansing New York is a 224 acre protected conservation area named Sims-Jennings Preserve at Cayuga Cliffs. The out and back 3.4 mile trail can be located on AllTrails app.

Ample parking is available at start, then a leisurely meadow walk and pollinator garden. Great hike for anyone wanting shade. Since it rained recently, we saw numerous examples of fungi. Plenty of black raspberries ready to pick! Further along there are vista points; cliffs over-looking Cayuga Lake; bench available to sit and relax. Four thousand feet of shoreline so better views could be from a boat if you happen to be on the lake!

A trail worth checking out if you are in the area! Bird-wise it was quiet, so I distracted myself looking at mushrooms. Next blog post I’ll share some photos of fungi!

Tucson: First UNESCO City of Gastronomy!

August 27, 2026August 7, 2026Posted in blogging, Food, history, TravelTagged blogging, food, Local food, travelLeave a comment

Did you know Tucson, Arizona was the first recognized UNESCO City of Gastronomy … part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network? I did not.

Tucson, Arizona (UNESCO designation in 2015) and San Antonio, Texas (UNESCO designation in 2017) are the only two American cities that have been designated Cities of Gastronomy. Both are multicultural communities with culinary creativeness and deep agricultural heritage. Search the topic and you’ll see an updated list with many other cities around the world with this designation!

We enjoy Indigenous and Mexican foods here at Tucson restaurants, thus I understand its UNESCO designation. The heritage crops of the past 4,000 year we’d taste: squash, chilies, tepary beans and white Sonoran wheat. Plus there are festivals such as the Agave Heritage Festival. Let’s not forget Sonoran hotdog food trucks … a must here at parking lots or some farmer’s markets.

So if you visit Tucson, zero in on restaurants featuring the foods that have long been here and enjoy! Start your meal with tortilla chips and salsa or guacamole!! At least that’s how I start my meals😀

Love chips … now do I want hot, spicy salsa or guacamole?

“BirdBuddy” is Cool!

August 23, 2026August 7, 2026Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlife, writingTagged birding, birds, environment, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

While visiting a friend who loves birds too, I noticed a bird feeder in the backyard. This one though is quite different from others I’ve seen. These bird feeders are solar-powered and with a camera. The camera captures a video of the bird(s) while they feed at the feeder. Cool!

Ruby-throated hummingbird was seen head-on as it slurped the sugary mixture. Wow, few times do we see them from that angle! That feeder is designed especially for hummers. Another feeder had seeds where sparrows and other birds frequented.

If interested in seeing more about these smart bird feeders, check out: https://www.mybirdbuddy.com (I have no affiliation with this company. Do your research to find best deal if you go the purchasing route.) It was fun seeing birds at the feeders and watching the videos on my friend’s phone app. One gets to see a bird close-up and in action! Cool!

Eye Contact, I See!

August 20, 2026July 27, 2026Posted in blogging, environment, safety, Travel, walking, writingTagged environment, outdoors, safety, travel1 Comment

Recently I saw a new, to me, sign with an important message!

I was in Nashville, Tennessee and saw this sign while standing at a road intersection. The traffic light would soon change and the walk light will come on counting down the seconds for me to cross the road. However, this sign reminds all of us of the importance in looking into the driver’s eyes to see that he or she sees you. I came to realize that an electrical box was blocking their view of me! Glad I looked!

“Get Your Kicks” at Route 66 Museum!

August 16, 2026August 17, 2026Posted in blogging, environment, history, Travel, writingTagged environment, history, travelLeave a comment

Here’s a museum when you’re driving Interstate 40 east and needing a break in Oklahoma? Route 66 Museum is in Clinton, Oklahoma, a few miles north of the interstate and worth a visit!

The history about this road’s creation is fascinating and the museum shares it all. The 1920’s is when the concept of driving a road from Illinois to California comes into its own. Nine thousand registered OK drivers in 1914 grew to 144,000 in 1920, then to 576,000 in 1930. More people driving meant gas stations, cafes and motels were needed for travelers. The migration of people in the 1930’s due to the lack of rain, the Dust Bowl, increased the use of the “mother road”, Route 66, as many headed west!

Thanks to Cyrus Avery in envisioning such a road, the WPA workers building the road and the business owners along the road providing services to travelers. Unfortunately with President Eisenhower’s Interstate Plan, many towns were bypassed and Route 66 roads were not used. However as we now drive the interstate, there are some people who do drive as much of the old 2448 mile road where possible through the 8 states from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica Pier in California.

Map of the road; now some people cycle it!

You too may stop at Cadillac Ranch by Amarillo, Texas. Cadillacs from 1949-1963 are part of a 1974 installation. The cars are nose-dived into the ground and you can walk up to them and add your spray paint or creative touch!

I have driven and cycled parts of Route 66 and love seeing the old motels, gas pumps, etc. Go out and “get your kicks” on Route 66!