http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Silver-Back---Cuda/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Silver Back Cuda en-us Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:09:40 +0000 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:09:40 +0000 Every so often we receive an invitation for a marketing preview of Broadway Shows through Group Sales Box Office. For a recent Monday early evening performance we grabbed an afternoon Amtrak out of Albany and arrived in Penn Station in plenty of time to walk up 7th Ave to Broadway and the Marquis Theatre for the 6pm show. We were treated to two hours of snippets from 10 Broadway Shows and a bon http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-459369.html New York is always magical even more so at Christmas time We signed up for a bus trip to The City sponsored by our friends the Carneys at Carneys Pub so long ago we had almost forgotten about it. Good thing we jogged our memory as it was a great trip. Our group of about 40 people had decent balcony seats at Radio City for the Christmas Show starring The Rockettes It was an amazing mix of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Bronx/blog-459090.html Pine Island is special. It's rural rustic artsy and real. It seems to be home to fishermen artists musicians and people who want a different Florida lifestyle. There are no traffic lights on all of Pine Island St. James City where Woody's is located on a canal is at the south end of the Island Bokeelia where Crossed Palms Gallery is is at the north end and Matlacha home to a scor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Pine-Island/blog-452304.html We have been so lucky to catch the Pine Island Monthly Art Weekend again. The official name is Pine Island Florida's Creative Coast Weekends. Wes bought me a beautiful bronze crab pendant because of my Zodiac sigh not because I am crabby at Island Visions. We had lunch at the Old Fish House Ice Cream at Great Licks and dinner at Sandy Hook food is art after all. Adding some photos http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Pine-Island/Matlacha/blog-453784.html What a day Wes got the name of Captain Mike Nabors from Scotty at Coast Connections at Bokeelia. We met Mike this morning near Woody's on the Monroe Canal near St. James City Pine Island. He first took us out the Monroe Canal and then back up another. St. James City and much of Pine Island is a virtual Venice of canal systems. We wound around identifying birds talking about fishing enjo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Pine-Island/blog-453777.html Bokeelia is at the northern end of Pine Island. It has a golf course a few marinas a few restaurants an inn or two and many lovely homes. It is also very private. We always stop at Crossed Palms Art Gallery and the owners let us use their deck across the road to take in scenic Port Charlotte Harbor. Dawn a silk screen and jewelry artist was on duty at the shop. She knows her local art http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Pine-Island/Bokeelia/blog-453117.html Long time blog followers know how much we love Captiva and Sanibel Islands and never miss a visit when we are in the Fort Myers area. I think you can go back through the travel blogs for the entries about the Lighthouse the Ding Darling Nature Preserve the Shell Museum and more if you wish to know more about these beautiful islands. As for today it was sunny it was Sunday and it was time fo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Sanibel-Island/blog-453496.html This is our fourth time at Fort De Soto County Park. It is located in the Tampa Bay area near St. Peterburg. Previous travel blogs from us have covered the area fairly well. Not amazingly Fort De Soto is the top hit getter on the blog. People really want to plan their trips here. We are facing some weather because hurricane Ida has hit the Panhandle Pensacola area of Florida so we are http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Fort-Desoto/blog-452238.html History is what it is and the antebellum period is an important part of Georgia's history. A Plantation near the base of Stone Mountain is a collection of precivil war buildings that have been moved to the site and set up like a little village. The Dickey House is stunning. Because of so many other things going on we limited our visit to the one home. So we missed the farm animals vario http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Stone-Mountain/blog-451700.html We were so lucky that a Pow Wow and Native American encampment was going on while we were in Stone Market. It's an annual event worthy of the tickler file We got a Stone Mountain Adventure Pass which covered the 10 entry fee to this and other attractions throughout the park. Buying the tix at the camp ground office had the bonus of making a single ticket ok for two days' admission. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Suwanee/blog-451699.html Stone Mountain near Atlanta Georgia is magical. We're camping in a virtual four star resort. Two golf courses choice of nice restaurants history geology fun scenery boating and fishing. Bicyclers are here in droves. Family activities include mini golf a train ride around the mountain and an incredible high top Sky Hikecourserdquo with kids in harnesses attached to a zip line. N http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Stone-Mountain/blog-451063.html Asheville NCMost American cities are struggling to regain a certain cache and economic base. Asheville NC is another such town on the cusp of becoming very special. Among the highlights for us was a visit to some great galleries. One A Boy and His Dog Fine Art Gallery landed us a sneak preview of the upcoming Steve Tracy show. Steve himself was there and we had quite a visit. Steve's http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-450838.html Asheville NC This little corner of North Carolina near the Tennesee border is beautiful a fact not lost on George Vanderbilt who built his stunning and LARGE retreat near Asheville. It rivals other massive and elaborate American and European homes we have oogled. The landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted is amazing and true to its original design. The house tour is very well organized http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-450338.html The ride from DC to Lake Norman near Mooresville NC was shrouded in mist but the beaurtufl fall foliage managed to peek through. Virginia was beautiful but no stopping for us. Sometime we should plan to stop at Old Town Alexandria but not this trip. The dam that created Lake Norman was built in the early 60s and the homes are newish and stylish. We went with Cindy to pick up Ray at the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-449485.html We are heading south in The Schooner a little earlier this year in hopes of better travel weather and to follow the brilliant foliage. The Mohawk River Valley the Schoharie Valley and bright color through the hills of Pennsylvania didn't disappoint on a glorious first day. As we approached BaltimoreDC the farms dotting the countryside were a visual treat. This year's planned stops are Wa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-445050.html Our blog followers we have had over 23000 hits thank you all very much know that as much as we get around we LOVE where we live and work here in Upstate NY. We are more or less Schenectady and Saratoga County based. We'll be off in the motor home soon so are reminiscing about our great home base. Once the Saratoga Race Course starts to wind down its summer meet festivals abound in the Cap http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Schenectady/blog-445467.html There's no place like home. We love where we live here in upstate New York. Here are a few of the things we have done here at home over the past year. Nothing was over 150 miles from home. Starting back in the winter we loved attending PBS's Celtic Women concert at Proctor's Schenectady with 10 of our closest relatives who are all a BIG part of the reason why we like it HERE We're alr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Schenectady/blog-379648.html Our first day trip from the River Baroness was a trek up a steep hill to Richard the Lion Heart's late 12th century Chateau Gaillard at Les Andeleys. It was very foggy so we could only guess at the view that our guide described. The fortification would remind New Yorkers of the way that West Point provided protection by its high elevation and river location. The little town was charming. This http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-442699.html Honfleur was a wonderful surprise. We took the guided walking tour with a local guide provided by UniWorld really tio notch. After the tour we signed up for a late bus back to the River Baroness and stayed on to enjoy this charming town on our own. We had a wonderful meal at a sidewalk cafe next to the old harbor. Wes and the waiter had a little to do about speaking French or not and sh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Honfleur/blog-442701.html Battlefields and cemeteries whether in Normandy Gettysburg Washington DC or anywhere tug at the heart. It is overwhelming to look at the thousands of Crosses and Stars of Davids and think what these brave soldiers went through. The US Canadian Cemetery is fittingly immaculately kept. We were given a rose to place on the grave marker of our own choice. The museums were so informative. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Arromanches-les-Bains/blog-442700.html