Last Minute Deals for Sealand Travel Club Members
June 30, 2009
Island Walk
Sea land Travel Club is offering some fantastic deals on travel this month, but they are ending soon so they can be replaced by new fantastic travel deals.
If you are looking for a new travel destination, here are some great options, but remember you have to book soon and you can only take advantage of these offers if you are a member of Sealand Travel Club, so join today!
How about Belair Beach Hotel in Philipsburg, St. Maarten?
If you have always thought about traveling to St. Maarten, but thought it would cost to much, now is your chance to experience this island paradise.
If 7 days at the Belair Beach Hotel with 2 bedrooms for only $350.00 sounds good to you, then book your vacation now with Sealand Travel Club or forever hold your peace as this offer expires on July 4th 2009.
The Belair Beach Hotel is located on Little Bay Beach and offers wonderful views of the Caribbean. Featuring wonderful amenities such as air conditioning,, kitchen and two bedrooms. Only 3 minutes away from Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch Sint Maarten and only 20 minutes away from the French capital. Wonderful people, great views, fantastic service and many great activities abound for the island traveler.
Don’t forget, all US Citizen need a passport if traveling out of the country.
If island life is not what you are looking for, this next deal may be for you. Again, time is short to book this trip, but Sealand Travel Club is here for you no matter what your perfect vacation is.
Maybe 7 days in Greenlinks Golf Resort in Naples Florida is just what you are looking for, and for $250.00 how could you go wrong?
If you book this trip by July 11th 2009 you could be golfing in style in no time at all.
Featuring 2 bedrooms and a fully appointed kitchen with microwave, living room, dining area, 2 cable tvs, and many other great options available to you. Situated within Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, be prepared for a golf outing that will be hard to match. You will also enjoy the heated pool, outdoor jacuzzi, tennis courts, and fitness room.
With 36 holes of championship golf designed by some of the best golf course designers in the world such as Trent Jones Sr., you can be sure that this golf outing will be one for the books! Of course you will be in Florida, and you certainly will not be lacking in a life outside the course. Gorgeous beaches, museums, galleries, and hundreds of restaurants are all nearby and just waiting to cater to you.
Sealand Travel Club only offers the best and these trips are just a taste of what you could be a part of if you join Sealand Travel Club today.
Remember, these great vacations end soon, and you may lose your chance to take advantage of what Sealand Travel Club is offering.
Please call our office for exact pricing on your specific case. CALL 877-572-0204 All hot weeks are very limited & subject to availability. If you are interested in something listed or unlisted, please call as soon as possible. At these low prices they will not last long! Price may not include sales taxes, if applicable.
Top Ten U.S. Amusement Parks
June 26, 2009
Couple driving a bumper car
Everyone loves amusement parks, but with hundreds to choose from, which one do you visit this year?
This is a countdown of the top ten amusement parks in the U.S. with highlights from each one. Choose your own adventure this year and have a family vacation you will never forget!
10. Sea World, California
Located in San Diego California, Sea World is your adventure under the sea. With a focus on all things water, if the ocean is what you crave, Sea World California is the place to be. This year take time to see the Summer Nights show. Instead of closing down at dark, things heat up here in the summer. Imagine a 320 foot tower shining red white and blue lights down on the water below on various acts performed by some of the oceans most amazing creatures. New this year is the “Sea Lions LIVE” a comedy show featuring sea lions. Dolphins doing amazing acrobatics and Shamu surrounded with LED screens and much more await at Sea World, California.
9. Great Adventure, New Jersey
Found in Jackson, New Jersey, the largest Six Flags in the country offers a water park, roller coasters, and your very own wild safari! Here you will find 13 amazing roller coasters including the new Bizarro, a multi-sensory ride experience. Hurricane Harbor, part of six flags is located next door and is a 45 acre tropical themed water park including a million gallon wave pool, and last but not least a 350 acre safari with over 1,200 animals roaming outside in an African like setting waiting for you to cruise through.
8. Busch Gardens, Florida
Located in Tampa Bay, Florida, Busch Gardens offers a variety of attractions including wild animal shows, Broadway style shows, a world class zoo with more than 2,500 exotic and endangered animals and huge, amazing roller coasters including the SheiKra, a floorless super fast roller coaster in the middle of the park. Climb 200 feet up and drop 90 degrees straight down!
7. Sea World, Florida
Sea World Orlando, Florida offers a journey to the bottom of the sea with live shows, wild sealife exhibits and special events throughout the summer. Be sure to check out the many amazing exhibits filled with live creatures both endangered and just amazing including: Shark Encounter, Wild Arctic, Dolphin Cove, Manatee Rescue, Turtle Point and much more.
6. Universal Studios, California
Located in Hollywood, California, step into the movies you love! Here is your chance to get a behind the scenes look at how they make all those amazing movies that keep us all entertained throughout the year. The rides change to fit the times, you used to be able to ride in the sky like Elliot from ET, now you can get cursed on the new Revenge of the Mummy ride, or take an 84 foot plunge through Jurassic Park. Whatever you choose to do, there is always more to look forward to.
5. Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
Similar to the California location get into the movies we all love and remember. Rides always change and there is always something new for returning visitors to do or see.
4. Disney MGM Studios Theme Park, Florida
One of four theme parks in Walt Disney World Resort here you are offered a chance to get behind the scenes of everything Disney. Including live shows, backstage tours and magic that can only be Walt Disney. Experience the past and the present Walt Disney from the heyday in the 30’s and 40’s to now, including the American Idol Experience, one of the newer attractions.
3. Epcot, Disney World, Florida
Another theme park located within Walt Disney World Resort, the future is wild here. Dealing with technological advancements and innovation, learning can be fun at Epcot. The best part of the Disney theme parks is that they are ever-changing to keep up with the newest trends and are always looking to the next and newest thing to amaze and inspire you.
2. Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida
Definitely a family experience you and your family will never forget. Disney is part of all of us, young and old. Travel through seven different lands all starting at Cinderella’s Castle in the center of the park. Pay tribute to Walt Disney and enjoy everything Disney has to offer. Parades, fireworks, Disney characters and great rides await at Magic Kingdom, Disney World.
1. Disneyland, California
Of course, Disneyland is number one. There are some must sees at this, the top amusement park in the U.S. Hit the Indiana Jones adventure and travel deep into the secret chambers in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, or meet and greet your favorite characters. Celebrate every night with a breathtaking fireworks display and visual effects all to Disney music both you and your family can all relate to. Free fall in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, or if Monsters INC is more your style then jump on and race with them through Monstropolis to save Boo. Disneyland really does make dreams come true.
Fire up for Fireworks at Mt. Rushmore
June 18, 2009
Mt. Rushmore Fireworks
What better way to celebrate our country’s freedom than by a spectacular fireworks display on the fourth of July?
You see them in your hometown but I am sure that most of you like me are ready to see something new and better. Most people think Washington when they think patriot fireworks shows, but what about Mt. Rushmore, one of the wonders of the world?
Mt. Rushmore is a tribute to four of the finest Americans in history, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Each face is 60 feet high and 500 feet up overlooking the Black Hills in South Dakota. They were constructed between 1927 - 1941 by Butzon Borglum to commemorate our four fathers in history.
Leading to the Grandview Terrace, walk through 56 flags representing the states and territories. A truly spectacular sight to behold on any day, but imagine what it would be like to sit below these flags, look up at these amazing sculptures commemorating our freedom and see fireworks exploding in the background highlighting every feature you may not even notice in the light.
“A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated…Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.” Butzon Borglum
In 1923 state historian Doane Robinson suggested carving giant statues in the Black Hills. Mt. Rushmore was chosen by Butzon Borglum himself. The faces chosen were based on our history and its battles. George Washington, commander of the Revolutionary army and our first President. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President. Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President and the man who restored the Union and ended slavery in the U.S. Finally, Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President who encouraged progressive movements in the U.S. in conservation and business, and also happened to be a hero to Butzon Borglum.
Coined the Shrine of Democracy at its 1930 dedication, Butzon Borglum was hired to create a monument, but he created more than that, he created a shrine to our freedom, our independence, and our country. On the weekend that you will be celebrating our countries freedom, why not celebrate at Mount Rushmore.
The celebration at Mount Rushmore begins on the third of July and ends on the 4th with a Memorial Lighting ceremony and the United States Air Force Heartland Band Brass Ensemble.
Fireworks are on the third of July and are preempted by B-1 flyovers and patriot music sung by Robert Moore and also played by the Air Force Brass Ensemble. There are events scheduled all day. So when choosing a place to celebrate our independence this year, why not choose a memorial that exemplifies the U.S. and head to Mount Rushmore for a display you are not soon to forget.
San Francisco For The “Foodie” In You
June 17, 2009
The Height at Night
Everyone knows about the Golden Gate Bridge, Height-Asbury (”The Height”, as the locals call it), the Transamerica building, and the wondrous Cable Cars. But, when I think of San Francisco, I think FOOD. You’ll have to travel a little to get the best, but it’s worth it.
“Greens” restaurant is Annie Somerville’s glorious contribution to the epicurean scene on the waterfront of San Francisco.
All of the food is grown locally, and “Greens” was one of the country’s first vegetarian restaurant. It set the trend for working with locally grown, organic foods which when combined with a bit of imagination and ingenuity, could become as tasty a dish as you could find at other ‘normal’ restaurants. My experience there was amazing. We sat on the left-side of the dining room, and watched the sun set over the marina, with the Golden Gate Bridge perched in the background.
Be sure to call ahead and reserve. “Greens” fills every night. Also, you want to insure your seat by the window. It makes for an idyllic and healthy night out.
Take an evening and travel to Berkeley, where you must experience Alice Waters’ “Chez Panisse”.
When you arrive, you will instantly feel how special this restaurant is. First of all, there is the wooden exterior which allows you to enter into the ‘natural’ environment right from the start. When inside, you can immediately sense the quality of “Chez Panisse”. Everything is immaculate, clean and professional. Like “Greens”, it opened in the early 1970s, and became a flagship for the growing organic revolution.
The menus are all 4-course meals, with a fixed price. Every menu is conceived as a total experience. For this, you pay a bit more than other restaurants, but it’s worth it. Very rarely can you digest an entire meal which works together so well. And the staff is mostly friendly and highly knowledgeable about the food combinations. This is a refreshing change for those of us visiting from the east coast!
Finally, if your plans take you through the Napa Valley (and they certainly should), then carve out an evening for one of the nation’s true culinary jewels, “The French Laundry”.
Opened in 1994, this French-style country restaurant is Thomas Keller’s masterpiece. The food is American, but with a French flair. Everything on the menu is superb, but the environment and energy of the building, décor and staff is what sets this place apart.
Each meal consists of 9 courses (yes, nine). Before you rule it out as being ‘too much’, consider that each course is a ‘tasting’. They are rather small, but exquisite. Incredibly, not one ingredient is repeated throughout the meal, and yet every dish builds on the previous. It’s the finest blend of culinary mastery and creativity in the US today (in my view). The grounds are wondrous, and one feels transported to Provence or the outskirts of Normandy. No trip to the San Francisco area is complete without a day spent in the Napa Valley. And no trip to the Napa Valley is worth it without dinner at “The French Laundry”.
Land Vs. Sea Vacations - Which to Choose?
June 11, 2009
The open ocean, or the open road, those are your choices of vacations, now how do you decide? There are upsides as well as downsides to both of these options. Your job is to weigh the pros and cons of both of these choices and then decide, but what if you have never been on a cruise? Can you really make an informed decision as to which of these is the appropriate choice for you next vacation?
Here are some of the pros and cons in no specific order to the sea vs. land vacation’s controversy, hopefully it will help you become more educated on what to expect. Of course you need to remember that here we will just be discussing general tour information, to help you become more informed you may still need to do a bit of research, but I hope that this will help.
Mexico is a wonderful vacation be it by land or sea, so that is where our comparison begins
Many cruise lines offer cruises to Mexico. Some Mexico cruise ports include Catalina Island, Ensenada, and Cabo San Lucas. Of course there are many more ports of interest in Mexico, but we will stop with this.
We have decided to cruise to Cabo San Lucas and the first part of our journey is to fly to California from wherever you live and catch a cruise to your ultimate cruise destination. Basically your cruise ship is you floating hotel on the ocean. It takes you from port to port with scheduled trips on the way and shore excursions as you go, many of these excursions are not included in the price of the ticket, so be aware that extra money will be necessary if you are interested in one of the scheduled activities on shore.
If you are cruising around Cabo San Lucas, the itineraries include many regular onshore activities that you may already be interested in. Scuba diving off the island, off road excursions, museums, or other activities may be offered to you as options on the island part of your vacation. The joy of a cruise ship is there is a cruise director creating an itinerary for you with a list of things you can do on your stop off.
If you enjoy having options given to you then a cruise may be for you. Your food on the ship, amenities, pool, games, and even casinos are already at your fingertips on your cruise ship.
The upsides to a cruise are:
- Your hotel and restaurants are travelling with you
- All of your travel is taken care of in advance when you are going from port to port
- You have a cruise director that has an itinerary with a list of things to do at the ports
Downsides to a cruise are:
- Some of what you do at port are already planned for you with a time schedule you have to follow
- You are on a ship with a group of people in relatively small quarters you may not enjoy
- You still have to get to the ship before the cruise actually begins.
So, if you enjoy being in a group of people, are very social, and enjoy having a preplanned trip, then a cruise may be for you.
Now let’s travel to Mexico on a land vacation
You still need to travel via flight or driving to Mexico, if you are not cruising the decision is up to you, plan stops along the way. Once you get to Mexico, in this case Cabo San Lucas, you choose your accommodations, fancy or modest, there are many choices. Eat at a resturant with local cuisine or pick a five star restaurant of international cuisine. Choose a car to hit the open road, drive the island, see the sights, with no time restrictions.
On your own, your trip is entirely in your hands; of course the downside to this is you are in charge of discovering what Cabo San Lucas has to offer you. If you enjoy this kind of opportunity and desire choices and freedom of decision making, than a land journey is probably what you should choose.
The biggest problem with this kind of travel is you will probably pay more in the end for your vacation.
The upsides to a land vacation are:
- Freedom to choose where and when you travel
- Variety, it is the spice of life
- The open road and no set itinerary
Downsides to a land vacation are:
- In comparison to a standard cruise, you will pay more in the long run
- It is your job to find out if something is worth trying or not
So, in conclusion land vs. sea is entirely up to you, the traveler. If the benefits of a cruise outweigh the downsides, choose a cruise, but if the benefits of the open road and freedom outweigh the downsides to having to be your own vacation planner, choose a land vacation.
Whatever you choose, land or sea, if you investigate carefully, and choose what is best for you, I am sure that you will have the perfect vacation, one that suits you and will make you happy. I hope this has helped, have a great vacation wherever you choose.
What Happens in Las Vegas – More than you ever imagined
June 11, 2009
The Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada
Outside of the flashing lights, spectacular fountains, and posh hotels lies a quieter, wilder place that many people traveling to Las Vegas never see.
Millions of people flock to Las Vegas every year for a chance to strike it rich, monetarily. It’s what Vegas is known for to most of the world, but if you are looking for something else from Las Vegas, what lies outside of the city is some of the most amazing scenery and opportunities the United States has to offer.
Red Rock Canyon
Natural wonders abound in this desert climate. Red Rock Canyon just 15 miles west of Las Vegas and is almost 200,000 acres of land protected as a National Conservation Area. Easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is visited by over a million visitors each year.
What makes this area so spectacular to see is the what it is named for, its red sandstone peaks popular for hikers and climbers. Its highest point is La Madre Mountain at 8,154 ft. It is Nevada’s first National Conservation area and offers scenic drives, hiking trails picnic areas, a visitor center and even a campground for those who prefer to rough it.
The history of the Red Rock area is filled with native peoples due to its geography. It offers water and shelter that before civilization arrived, didn’t exist in the surrounding desert. From as early as 900 A.D., Native Americans have been living in the area as noted by the numerous petroglyphs and pottery fragments that have been discovered in the area.
Red Rock is a part of the Mojave Desert and is home to over 600 plant species in an otherwise harsh barren landscape. What makes it spectacular are the complex geologic features that surround. The Red Rock area is an ancient seabed exposed to air which literally caused it to rust, hence the red coloration.
With a host of activities to participate in, Red Rock Canyon is a trip in and of itself. If you are looking for horseback riding, hiking, camping, or some of the best rock climbing you can imagine, you should definitely consider Red Rock Canyon as the place to visit.
Of course there are other amazing natural or man made places to visit in the Las Vegas area if gambling is not what you crave.
Valley of Fire State Park
Another wonderful place to visit is the Valley of Fire State Park. Also near to Las Vegas and filled with stunning red cliffs and natural wonders, Valley of fire is littered with rock drawings, unique rock formations and camping facilities as well.
Ghost towns, Springs, four wheeling, sky diving, the Hoover Dam, Canyons and waterfalls abound in this spectacular area, consider Las Vegas a destination worth visiting for your next vacation, you won’t be disappointed.
Travel to Dallas – A Mecca of Opportunity
June 11, 2009
Dallas in the Evening
A popular travel destination has become Dallas Texas. The third largest city in the United States, Dallas offers a wide variety of opportunities for a wonderful vacation. Whether you idea of Texas is a traditional southern vacation with rodeos and state fairs, or one a bit more urban with art and shopping, you can find either trip right in Dallas.
Dallas offers a wide variety of options for your next vacation. The urban experience is varied and will keep you busy with any number of things to do and see. If art and style are what you seek, look no further. Dallas is the #1 shopping destination in Texas.
From Neiman Marcus, to Highland Park Village, a variety of shopping experiences awaits you. Highland Park Village was built in 1931 and is recognized as the first shopping center in American history. Located in Dallas, it is home to shopping including Ralph Lauren and Chanel, but also some great restaurants and filled with Dallas charm.
The Dallas Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday and has enough to do for an entire vacation by itself. Visit the gallery and peak into ancient Egypt with the Tutankhamen and the Gold Age of the Pharaohs exhibit,stay late and experience some wonder jazz performances, concerts, or film screenings, and eat at the famous Seventeen Seventeen restaurant. Let art and history provide you with a vacation you will never forget.
If the wild side of Texas is what you crave, there is always the Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex, offering
a variety of rodeo experiences like nowhere else in the world. The Cowtown Coliseum is home to the worlds first indoor rodeo! Rodeo and air conditioning, the best of both worlds. The Mesquite Rodeo was built in 1986 and offers rodeo from April to October just 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas.
Livestock shows, barrel racing, and non stop rodeo action await you in this traditional Texas vacation opportunity.
Dallas offers much more than what is listed here. Dealy Plaza Museum, aquariums, fine cuisine, fantastic accommodations, and so much more can be found in Dallas. Plan a trip around one of the many festivals in Dallas or just go and see some of the world finest 20th century architecture. Dallas is definitely a destination you shouldn’t miss.
Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part IV – How the West was Won
June 11, 2009
This is the last step in our travel across America, ending here in the Great American West. The Western United States is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Some of Americas truest stories of monetary success as well as survival are from the West. Cowboys and Indians come to mind when thinking of the west to many people, but the west also includes Alaska, our 49th state.
In this, the finale of our journey across the United States, we will focus first on the traditional old west part of the United States, places that conjure images of covered wagons, tales of survival in harsh terrains, and my favorite, the gold rush!
In 1849 the California gold rush began. James W. Marshall discovered gold, and the rush was on. It didn’t take long until hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, were sailing or riding to California to stake their claim on instant riches. Also called forty-niners history was made with their tales of riches and ruins.
Interstate 5 travels through Old Sacramento, a historical journey you are not soon to forget. Old Sacramento is home to many historic buildings kept in their original state for a snapshot to the past. Old Sacramento offers the “Spirit of Sacramento” an historic riverboat as well as the California State Railroad Museum.
Begun by John Sutter and his landing party, Old Sacramento is the old west at its finest. Stories of gold, migration and murder abound in this old west town. You will find many places of interest nearby. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park gives visitors a chance to pan for gold, or if you prefer, head to the Suspects Mystery Dinner Theater to solve an old west river boat murder! California offers much for the historical tourist to do, check out any of California’s many historic sites for an idea for your next vacation.
Now on to the other west, Alaska. Its history is based in part on similar circumstances to that of California. That being the gold rush. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park located in Skagway is definitely worth visiting.
Divided into two parts, the Seattle and Skagway Units, there is enough to keep a history buff busy in two different western States.
The Skagway Unit is located in Alaska and boasts a variety of exhibits, audio visual presentations and a visitor center, not to mention the vast area of wilderness surrounding you. The Curatorial center houses a collection of material from over 50 excavations in the historic district of nearby Dyea. Discoveries so far include saloons, a liquor store, railroad depot, bakery, cigar and confectionery store, dry goods store, tailor and furrier shop, paint and wallpaper store, transportation company, catholic church rectory, mission house, the home of the founder of Skagway, and a residential district.
Explore the possibilities in Alaska. Remember to check times of operation for all of your destinations. I hope you have enjoyed your journey across the United States. Go out and see what you have been missing, our history, our link to the past.
Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part III The Midwest
June 10, 2009
A continuing travelogue brough to you by Sealand Travel.
Part three of our journey to the best historic sites to visit worldwide takes us to the Midwestern United States. It is made up 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
European settlement of the Midwest began in the 17th century first by the French and followed later by the British. The Midwest provokes images of the French fur traders following the many lakes and river systems covering much of the area. In fact, the mighty Mississippi runs through the Midwest and was forever ingrained in our memories by the famous author Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain.
Mark Twain has become a part of history, perhaps a more upbeat part of history to explore than the many wars we could discuss. The Mark Twain House and Museum is a wonderful tourist attraction for us to start out at on our journey through the Midwest.
Samuel Clemens lived in the late 1800’s to 1910 and is known to many as the American author. The Mark Twain House and Museum makes a great addition to any historic trek across the Midwest. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, it consists of many options for the history buff. As one of our defining cultural figures, we have the chance to see what life was like for people in that time in the Midwest.
The Mark Twain House and Museum offers living history tours dealing with the entire era, not just the subject of Mark Twain alone. One exhibit offered is the “origins of baseball’s ‘color line’”. This exhibit informs its onlookers as to the increasing racism in society as reflected in sports. Another interesting feature, perhaps more for the kids or at least the kids at heart is the Lego replica of Twains house, which was part of the LEGO road show in the 1980’s!
The house alone is a wonderful journey to the past. Then new technologies such as a gravity flow heat system, and one of the first telephones to be installed in a private home are found here. Many interiors created by Tiffany and various other cultures and styles exist to inspire and amuse to visitor the this historic house.
The museum also offers another opportunity to absorb some history, created in the present. Opened in 2003, visitors have to chance to explore Twains life both good and bad as told or illustrated by many of Twains peers as well as through artifacts containing manuscripts, photos, and many changing exhibits. This makes the Mark Twain House and Museum a highlight of any trip to the Midwest.
Let’s travel now to one of my favorite spots in the world, Michigan. The Great Lakes have their own history of many ill fated ships that helped to created what Michigan is today.
“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they called “Gitche Gumee.”
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty,
that good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
when the “Gales of November” came early.”
from “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot
Stories abound in the Great Lakes with tales such as this. From iron ore from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, mined from the mountains covering its countryside, to great ships full of timber from the lower peninsula of Michigan heading for growing cities across the lakes, the number of shipwrecks historically in the great lakes is in the thousands!
If this is the kind of history that interests you, opportunities abound in the Lake States of the Midwest. Located in Paradise, a well known maritime museum lies in the vast unspoiled wilderness of Michigan. Called the Great Lake Shipwreck Museum, it also includes a wonderful lighthouse on Whitefish Point.
Here you will have the chance to travel back in time to 1861 to the lighthouse keepers quarters of the oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior. The museum holds artifacts from 13 local shipwrecks, one being the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Guests even have the opportunity to sleep in the crews quarters, and if you go in the off season, May to November, you are even entitled to a private tour and membership to the Shipwreck Society. In the gales that strike early and hard in the Great Lakes, many ships went down without a trace and ghost stories abound. Even lighthouses invoke ghostly images of keepers long past haunting the lighthouses still today.
Say yes to Michigan and other states in the Midwest, a spectacular place to vacation for a look back at our nations history.
Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part II Southern United States
June 10, 2009
Continuing on our journey of the best sites to visit on your historic journey across the world, we are now visiting the Southern United States. From the east coast all the way to Texas.
The south has a rich history of Native Americans, early Europeans, French English and of course a more sordid tale of battle of the original African slaves for their freedom. Due to this incredibly varied past, the south is home to some of the most varied cultures found in the United States today.
We will begin our journey to the South by visiting Louisiana. This states history is a bit different from that of the northeast. First colonized by France and Spain, the culture and history here are strong in French influences.
An option for historic travel in Louisiana is to visit one of the many historic plantations left over from an era gone by. Though many were destroyed in hurricane Katrina, one that remains is called the Destrehan Plantation. Located just outside of New Orleans, they offer tours of the plantation where you are taken back by costumed players to a time of slavery, bells, French nobles, and the Jefferson Document. It was established in 1787 and is the oldest documented plantation in the lower Mississippi River Valley.
Experience plantation life on your own or with a guided tour. They also offer a museum store with a large collection of historic books and vintage toys and decorative items from the past. The Destrehan Plantation has demonstrations of 18th century cooking, construction, as well as candle making and African American herbal remedies. They also have an option of special group tours for children, making this a great option for families as well on the lookout for a wonderful historic journey.
Perhaps your journey through time leads you to want to explore Texas. Remember the Alamo? Texas offers much more than the Alamo, though it does play an integral part in U.S. History. Our journey today however is off the a further back in the past, to the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site.
Located in Val Verde County, this historic place has only been open to the public since 1980. Its history goes back 12,000 years to early man. Seminole Canyon is home to some of the most well preserved rock art. Ancient riverbeds formed by the Devil’s River, and hikes down the canyon to see drawings made by humans who still lived off the land and depended solely on nature for survival are just a few of the historical treasures found here.
Originally named for the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts it honors the scouts from Fort Clark there to protect the frontier from marauding Apache and Comanches in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The history of the railroad is also woven into this vast area. You may journey into these canyons, but a guide is required for access. History here is abundant and spans thousands of years. Make this one a trip to remember and camp out at one of the areas provided.
Our journey to the Southern United States has ended for now, but the options for travel in the south are abundant. History abounds here, and it is just waiting for you to come and see. Take the opportunity to broaden your horizons and visit the south.