Washington, DC

Last weekend I went to the Washington, DC area for a quick visit. I skipped all the monuments and explored some other parts of the city. The three highlights were the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River in Alexandria, Georgetown and the Old Stone House, and Rock Creek Park.

Since this trip was in the height of the fall foliage, everything was spectacularly beautiful. On the Mount Vernon Trail I saw breathtaking views of trees with red and orange leaves lining the Potomac River. I happened to be there just in time to watch the sky shift through various shades of pastel blues, pinks and purples as the sun set and the dark hues of night enveloped the scenery. Without a doubt this was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

During this trip I visited Georgetown for the first time as well. The shops, the old buildings and leaf-covered sidewalks gave the town a nice quaint feel. People strolled down the streets with their kids and their dogs and I stopped to play with every puppy I saw. There was an old building made of stone on the main road that looked rather out of place among so many relatively new buildings. It turns out, this was the historic Old Stone Building and, if memory serves, is the oldest standing building in Washington, DC. It even survived the Revolution. With its low ceilings, small rooms and replicas of the original furniture I was able to get a sense of how life was back in the time of the founding fathers. Little wooden plaques hung from the walls to teach about those distant days and remind visitors of our history.

On my last day in DC I went to the Rock Creek Park. Among other things, this park is a common location for scenes from the show NCIS. The park seemed massive and I only saw a small part of it, but what I did see was incredible. This is my first real fall so I was completely mesmerized by the all the colors. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, creating a carpet of brown, yellow, orange and red as far as the eye could see. Somehow the trees still held on to their charming colors. Beyond a stone wall and an old wooden gate I found a dirt path winding through the woods. Like a little kid, I ran and skipped my way down the path stopping only to take a few pictures.

This spur of the moment trip was a wonderful way to explore some new places. Washington, DC is officially on my list of places to visit in the fall as well as my list of recommendations for travelers. There is a lot to see, a lot to do, and a lot to learn from this historic city. In the right season, it is also one of the most beautiful places I can think of.

Central Park, Belvedere Castle

This post is a little overdue, but sometimes life obligations (like work and school) get in the way of hobbies like blogging. A few weeks ago I took a trip to Central Park. It wasn't one of my most glamorous adventures, but I always enjoy visiting my city's biggest park. There's always something new to see and experience.

During this visit I finally made it to the Belvedere Castle. The castle is a bit of an anachronism right in the center of New York City. The architecture alone is incredible to behold. From a distance you can see the Belvedere Castle perched beside the lake and take in its majesty. From next to its walls you can appreciate the intricacy of the castle's stonework and the beauty of every angle. With its Gothic influence, I couldn't help but feel drawn into history. I wondered about life in a time when castles like this served a purpose beyond entertainment. What was it like to hide behind stone walls during an attack of cannon fire? How did it feel to enter such a place as a guest of its residents? My mind continued to wander as I snapped photos like the tourist I am.

I ended my trip to Central Park with a visit to the famous Bow Bridge. The ducks fished for their dinners and tourists paddled their canoes. I watched the canoes slowly drift by and listened as their occupants laughed and enjoyed the evening. I even had the good fortune to see a gondola pass by, its passengers a newly wed couple and its gondolier serenading them with romantic Italian songs.

Central Park can be one of the most serene places in this bustling city. After just a few minutes I can find myself lost in thought as I try to navigate the maze of sidewalks and pathways. I usually get lost along the way, but I'm always refreshed after my visit to this sanctuary of nature in one of the biggest cities in the world.

Circle Line Cruise, NYC

The Circle Line Cruise departs from Pier 16, right next to the Brooklyn Bridge. There's a whole menu of tours available but I did the 1-hour Zephyr cruise tour. We first went right under the Brooklyn Bridge where our tour guide gave us a very interesting and entertaining history of its construction. We've all seen pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge and many tourists and residents have walked or biked over it, but the view of the bridge from a boat bellow is quite different. The perspective along with learning its history gave me a new appreciation of the bridge's magnificent structure.

The boat turned back and proceeded down the East River, skirting Downtown Manhattan. Heading up the Hudson River, we caught a glimpse of the new Freedom Tower and passed right in front of the Statue of Liberty. All the while the tour guide narrated Manhattan's history as we passed by its famous landmarks. The image of Battery Park's trees and walkways contrasting with its backdrop of Manhattan skyscrapers is enough to inspire the creative instinct in any artist.

The Circle Line Cruise was an excellent way to spend an hour and well worth the $23. There was no shortage of breathtaking views and we learned more about the history of New York City's most famous borough than I've learned in all my years in school. This is definitely on my list of must-do attractions for NYC visitors.

Mount Vernon

One of my many adventures this summer was a trip to Virginia. I'm finally at an age where I can appreciate the historical value of places like Mount Vernon, so even though this was technically my second trip to George Washington's home, it's the first one I remember well.

Unfortunately the house was under construction at the time of my trip so I couldn't take any good pictures of the house. The good news was that we learned an interesting little tidbit because of it. They were adding a paint/sand mixture to the outside of the building, just as Washington (rather, his slaves) did when he lived there. The walls are made of wood, but the sand mixed with the paint gives the impression of cement walls. I'm always amazed at how ingenuitive some people are.

As we waited in line to take the tour we admired the volunteers in their costumes from the 18th century. A women who looked like she could have been Martha Washington herself brought us though the house and gave us the history of the rooms. It was quite amazing to think that I was standing in the house where George Washington lived. We saw his bedroom, his study, his kids' rooms and the dining room. In separate buildings were the cooking areas, the storage rooms, and areas where the servants worked to keep the estate running.

Taking the tour really helped put things in perspective and added a lot of value to the things we saw. The many other buildings on the estate, such as the slaves' quarters, had information posted to explain how the rooms and their contents were used and what a typical day would be like for the residents. If you're ever in the DC/Virginia area, Mount Vernon is a definitely a must-see destination. If you have some extra time, check out the museum which is also on the estate. It has great information about not only George Washington, but also about the other Founding Fathers, the Revolution, the Freemasons, and many other worthwhile topics.

Central Park Zoo

My summer has been jam packed with school, work, traveling, and exploring NYC, which unfortunately has left me with little spare time for blogging. Time to remedy that.

Back in July I had my first opportunity to visit the Central Park Zoo. It was a little confusing to get there, but I eventually found it (after being guilted into giving money to a homeless guy who gave me directions). The zoo is relatively small, which is actually quite nice since it's much more manageable and you can see all of the animals. June seems like the perfect time to go since all the fresh flowers were in full bloom.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of exotic animals the little zoo has. I expected monkey, iguanas, snakes, maybe even a leopard, but the Central Park Zoo had a Red Panda (which looks a little like a huge fox), a pair of seals that gave a nice vocal presentation for the visitors, complete with an impromptu swimming display, and there was even a polar bear. There was an owl, penguins, and a little fly that decided to be my friend.

You can leisurely walk the entire zoo and take all the pictures you want in just a couple hours. You can end your zoo visit with a day in Central Park, maybe even a bicycle tour, and you're guaranteed one of those days of that you can look back on and smile.

Yankee Game

"Larger than life" is the best way I can think of to explain how my first Yankee game felt. We took the express subway up to the Bronx, which I must say was a little frightening for me given the Bronx reputation. I wasn't even sure what stop I needed, but I figured we could follow all the people in Yankee shirts and we'd be safe. I was right. There was a swarm of Yankee-clad fans on the train with us, and they all got off at the stopped entitled "Yankee Stadium."  I really should have been able to figure that out on my own.

We got off the train and when I looked around I was a little intimidated by the slightly sketchy neighborhood. I had no idea how far the stadium was from the stop, but again figured I could rely on the trusty fans (strangers, of course. Why wouldn't I follow strangers to the Bronx and then rely on them to get me to the game?). Then I turned a little to the left and saw the tremendous stadium with "Yankee Stadium" written in what must have been 30-foot tall letters. Again, I should have been able to find that on my own. I'd been to several professional and college sports games, but this stadium far surpassed any stadium I'd ever seen. It was monstrously huge and I tried to picture the number people it would take to fill all the seats.

The line to get in went quickly, and from there we had to figure out what to do next. Take the stairs up? Down? Go left? Right? Take the ramp? The elevator? So many options. We decided to deal with options later and buy food right away. I bought a small Mountain Dew that was probably about a liter and half. Between the two of us we ended up spending about $40 on a ridiculously large bucket of popcorn (which was also advertised as a small), a turkey leg that was literally larger than the length of my forearm, and a plate of garlic cheese fries. I would say everything was wonderful...except the fries. I couldn't even bring myself to try them.

When the game finally started, there was so much energy that it was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement. It was electric, contagious even and I was soon on my feet cheering the hits and cursing the errors like a life-long fan. Every Yankee hit brought a mini adrenaline rush. Every hit by the opposing team brought a mini heartbreak. By the end of the 9 innings I felt like I'd been on a wild emotional roller coaster. I couldn't imagine how die-hard fans survive a whole season full of roller coasters. I came to the conclusion that it must be bad for their health and decided it would be safer to avoid becoming too attached. Despite my conviction to remain only a casual Yankee fan, when I left the stadium I bought a Yankee shirt...and a ticket to go to a game the following week.

Montauk Point

My trip to Montauk began in Greenport. The two-hour drive consisted of a nice little ferry ride, a drive through Shelter Island, and a quick stop in Sag Harbor. We pulled over by a bridge with an incredible view of the water and the harbor. Right beside the bridge was a quaint park with a windmill that created a peaceful ambiance. Even the crisp, fresh air was welcoming and inviting to the many tourists passing through.

We continued on toward Montauk Point, driving on what seemed like an endless road to nowhere. For a while I wasn't sure if we were even headed in the right direction, but then the towering lighthouse began to poke its way into the horizon and suddenly we weren't lost anymore. I'd never seen a lighthouse before and couldn't believe how huge it was. Built so long ago, it rivals even the grandest skyscrapers in Manhattan. A walk not suited for a sufferer of claustrophobia took us to the top of the lighthouse. The winding stairs were surrounded by sturdy brick walls. Small rectangular windows let the light spill into the tower and light our path up to the top. Once there, we could peek out the top and see the vast landscape stretch out before us. Staring out at the endless ocean, it's impossible not to think about all the travelers, all the wanderers who took to the sea and relied on this lighthouse for direction and safety. Without its reliable light, they'd be lost. With it, they knew their way and could make it home.

The lighthouse's hard lines and concrete build starkly contrast with the soft colors of the leaves swaying so gently in the breeze. The sounds of the ocean, the bluffs in the distance, the seagulls flying overhead, the bright blue sky, and the cheery visitors harmoniously worked with the historic landmark to create a park well worth the time it takes to traverse the South Fork.