http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Sylvan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Sylvan en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:17:19 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:17:19 +0000 December 2 2009ABC Jeep ToursWednesday morning at eight we stood outside the Beach Club and waited for our ride to the ABC Jeep Tours office in Oranjestad. As folks waited for their daily tour bus out front of the Surf a giant custom monster truck off road vehicle came to pick us up to get us to the start of our tour. We quickly notice there arenrsquot any Jeeps at ABC only Land Rovers. Two ben http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/Gulf-of-Venezuela/blog-459155.html Aruba Marriott Surf ClubNovember 29 2009Karen and I were invited by Kim and Jim to share their timeshare in Aruba the week after Thanksgiving. This was the perfect way of escaping the beginning of winter in New England. We stayed at Marriott Surf Club on Palm Beach in the High Rise District of the island. The island of Aruba is justly known for its great weather fine beaches and exquisite rest http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/Gulf-of-Venezuela/blog-459150.html North Adams MASS MOCATuesday October 27 This weekrsquos trip we planned to visit the MASS MOCA in North Adams MA the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury Vermont and the Connecticut Lakes in Northern New Hampshire the headwaters of the Connecticut River. Our first night we plan on staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Amherst while visiting Maxanne at Umass. We booked the room at the Holiday http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/blog-449960.html The Connecticut Lakes Happy Corner New Hampshire After spending a good part of my life going over around or along the Connecticut River New Englandrsquos longest river I always wanted to see the lakes and wilderness above Pittsburg New Hampshire where the river begins. I also want to see and photograph a real live honest to goodness moose in the wild. The river begins in a series of three Co http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/blog-450007.html Cliffrsquos house Littleton New Hampshire Wednesday October 28 2009We arrive at Cliff and Nancyrsquos house in early evening. Itrsquos the first time in many years that wersquove been here. Itrsquos an attractive old farmhouse along a dirt road thatrsquos high on a hill just outside of town. Itrsquos such a great place to get away and relax. Therersquos a WiFi connection for http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Hampshire/blog-449991.html The Fairbanks Museum St. Johnsbury VTThursday October 28 2009On my list is the Fairbanks Natural History Museum in St. Johnsbury Vermont located at top of the hill in the Main Street historic district. Founded by industrialist Franklin Fairbanks in 1889 the museum is an impressive Victorian building designed specifically to share his private collection with the public. The museum provides an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-450003.html St. Mary Montana Saturday September 5Saturday we drive back to the Park Caf for a hearty breakfast. Itrsquos now time to leave the park and begin our journey home. We cross the ldquoRoad to the Sunrdquo again and head back to Spokane and tomorrows flight home. We drive the eastern shore of Flathead Lake and get some different views of Montana. Wersquove really enjoyed our trip to the Pac http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/St-Mary/blog-439664.html Waterton National Park Alberta CanadaFriday September 4 2009Another full day in a Jammer for Karen and I riding north to the Peace Park in Alberta. Driver Bill obviously enjoys his job as a Jammer driver. He talks about the Native American traditions and provides an interesting narrative on our ride. Driving over the mountain pass is spectacular. When you view the valley you are overwhelmed by http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/Waterton-Lakes-National-Park/blog-439478.html Many Glacier Inn Glacier National ParkThursday September 3 2009Thursday Karen and I pack up and again head over the ldquoRoad to The Sunrdquo to the town of St. Mary on eastern entrance of the park. This side of the park is the Blackfoot Native American Reservation. After a great bowl of beef chili and a slice of pie at the Park Caf we head north through to the town of Babb and the eastern http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/Glacier-National-Park/Many-Glacier/blog-439477.html Lake McDonald Lodge Glacier National ParkTuesday September 1 2009On Tuesday Karen and I moved from the motel in Kalispell to the Lake McDonald Lodge thatrsquos inside Glacier National Park. What an improvement this is over the roadside Econo Lodge. The McDonald Lodge is a small lakeside inn that was privately built here almost a hundred years ago. Itrsquos now owned by the National Park and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/Glacier-National-Park/Lake-McDonald/blog-439476.html Kalispell MontanaAugust 31 2001On Sunday Karen and I headed east for our visit to Glacier National Park. Joining us on our travels to Kalispell were Maxanne Colleen Warren and AJ. Wersquore all heading to the city at the entrance of Glacier National Park and itrsquos a 200mile ride. Driving east on route 90 to Kalispell Montana is a very interesting and lovely ride as it passes through r http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/Kalispell/blog-439473.html FridayAugust 28We left Wanatchee and continued our drive across Washington. That afternoon we stopped at the Spokane Airport to pick up Maxanne and Billy. Then we drove on to the Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. The Inn is the site of Deb and Mikes wedding and is filling up with family members. The city of Coeur drsquoAlene a city of 40000 residents sits in the center of the Idaho Panhand http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Idaho/Coeur-d-Alene/blog-439475.html Saturday August 30Deb Mikes weddingThe sky cleared and the sun came out for the late afternoon wedding. Deb was a glowing bride and Mike a handsome groom. They exchanged their vows on the side lawn with family and friends in attendance. Following the touching and sometimes funny ceremony we moved to the opposite side lawn and enjoyed a wonderful buffet a great selection of beer and wine and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Idaho/Coeur-d-Alene/blog-439493.html This entry is of the Topsfield Fair Flower Show entry day three. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Topsfield/blog-444422.html Today is the second day of the Topsfield Fair Flower Show. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Topsfield/blog-442722.html Today is the first entry day for the design division of the Topsfield Fair Flower Show. The theme for this years flower show is Special Days to Green UP. These photos are of entries that were done for the flower show. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Topsfield/blog-441371.html August 28Wenatchee WashingtonHeading southeast as we leave the town of Leavenworth the landscape makes an abrupt change. Wersquod been driving along the Wenatchee River through rugged mountains and national forests. Now wersquore suddenly traveling through rolling hills and fruit orchards. On all sides fruit trees appear weighted down with a seasonrsquos bounty of pears and apples. Wersquo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Wenatchee/blog-436047.html Leavenworth WashingtonThursday August 29Itrsquos been a hot sunny day and wersquove been traveling for hours on this winding twolane rural highway. The road crosses Stephens pass through the Cascade Mountains then follows the Wenatchee River down through the valley. We leave the national forest and suddenly town of Leavenworth appears at the base of the mountains. Leavenworth is a mock alpin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Leavenworth/blog-436042.html ThursdayAugust 27The drive across WashingtonThursday morning we all loaded into Janersquos Honda Element and began our drive east to Idaho. We chose to drive rural roads and take Route 2 across the Washington instead of US Route 90 the crosscountry interstate that starts at Logan airport in Boston and ends up in Seattle. We cruised along Rt. 2 past the suburbs of Seattle towards the Cascade http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Skykomish/blog-436006.html Wednesday August 26thSeattle MarinersWhile Jane provided assistance to Karen in her primary pastime shopping Maya and I went to Safeco Field to watch a Seattle Mariners baseball game. Tonight Seattle is playing the Oakland Athletics. This clean modern park was the antithesis of our home field Fenway Park. Access to the park was easy and we were able to get van transportation from our downtown ho http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-435997.html