united states - Pics - Tripatini2024-03-28T19:27:28Zhttps://tripatini.com/photo/feed/tag/united+statesArizona´s Canyon de Chelly National Monumenthttps://tripatini.com/photo/canyon-de-chelly-national-monument-arizona2024-02-19T06:49:13.000Z2024-02-19T06:49:13.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12384889058?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Precolumbian historical sites in the Americas have always been one of my keen interests, and when it comes to the U.S. Southwest I´ve got a long bucket list. High on it is this <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm" target="_blank">U.S. National Monument</a> within the boundaries of the <strong>Navajo Nation</strong> in the state´s northeast, four hours from <strong>Flagstaff</strong>. It´s called Tsegi in Navajo, and Chelly is a Spanish adaptation of the word, though in English it´s pronounced " Shay" because its spelling apparently looked French (yeah, I´m confused, too). <br /> <br /> Anyhow, the area was settled by the ancient Puebloans as far back as 5,000 years, and you can visit their cliff dwellings, with ranger-led hikes and Navaho-guide-led jeep tours available. 40 Navajo families still live here. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Ruins_-_Canyon_de_Chelly_National_Monument.jpg" target="_blank">Potok71</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>The allures of Roanoke, Virginiahttps://tripatini.com/photo/roanoke-virginia2024-01-16T15:02:36.000Z2024-01-16T15:02:36.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357594870?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Located in the Roanoke Valley off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this city plays a vital role as the transportation hub for passengers and coal mining industry. You can explore the heritage of the railway and visit the Museum of Transportation., with a wide array of exhibits, including well kept steam locomotives. You can also take a trip to the summit of the Mill Mountain; once you reach the top, you can take a closer look at the man-made star. The Mountain offers beautiful landscaped parks, hiking trails and a zoo. This could very well make Roanoke a perfect place to spend quality time.<br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SanjeebMallick">Sanjeeb Mallick</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/3-top-places-you-must-visit-in-virginia?edited=1" target="_blank">3 Places You Shouldn't Miss in Virginia</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>Virginia Beach is both a family and spring break favoritehttps://tripatini.com/photo/virginia-beach-family-spring-break-travel2024-01-16T14:23:56.000Z2024-01-16T14:23:56.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357593682?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In what's dubbede “Neptune City”. You can start by exploring the three main beaches and their 14 miles of sandy shores. Another option could involve getting lost in its surrounding nature or mingling with the crowds. You can take a walk on the three-mile boardwalk of the beach. It's great for cycling and inline skating as well. There is a plethora of restaurants, shopping stalls and stages for live entertainment. Virginia Beach has plenty to offer, however its not for the history buffs or those looking for hipster neighborhoods. Additional activities may involve playing golf, sea kayaking and taking a boat tour. It also happens to be a great place for nightlife, notably during spring break.<br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SanjeebMallick">Sanjeeb Mallick</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/3-top-places-you-must-visit-in-virginia?edited=1" target="_blank">3 Places You Shouldn't Miss in Virginia</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_landscape_view_of_Virginia_Beach,_VA.jpg" target="_blank"><br />Bruce Emmerling</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of the USA´s first presidenthttps://tripatini.com/photo/george-washington-estate-mount-vernon-virginia2024-01-11T12:04:26.000Z2024-01-11T12:04:26.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12356843485?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Books, manuscripts, clothing, surveying equipment and other belongings of George Washington are among the artifacts on display at <strong><a href="http://mountvernon.org/library" target="_blank">Mount Vernon</a></strong>, overlooking the <strong>Potomac River</strong> just 15 minutes <strong>Alexandria</strong>, northern <strong>Virginia</strong>. In keeping with the goal of the collections to personalize the human side of presidents, the dentures that he wore also are on display. <br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock124">Victor Block</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/presidential-libraries-usa-united-states?edited=1" target="_blank">Parsing Politics, Personalities & History at the USA´s Presidential Homes & Libraries</a>.</p>
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<p> </p></div>A lower cost Nevada gambling mecca: Laughlinhttps://tripatini.com/photo/laughlin-nevada-casino-resorts2023-12-12T13:46:27.000Z2023-12-12T13:46:27.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12323138870?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>When many years ago I was an editor at <em>Arthur Frommer´s Budget Travel,</em> ,we used to cover with some regularity this city on the Colorado Riverdown at Nevada´s southern tip (and around an hour and a half from Las Vegas) because of its budget-friendly lodging, dining, entertainment, casinos, and more. With a permanent population of less than 9,000, Laughlin is home to a dozen casino resort and has become the state´s most popular gaming destination after Vegas and Reno - and as a bonus, it can boast water-based fun on its river!<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Resorts_of_Laughlin,_Nevada_Along_Colorado_River_%2810086867256%29.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Ken Lund</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the USA´s most popularhttps://tripatini.com/photo/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-tennessee-north-carolina2023-11-28T22:06:44.000Z2023-11-28T22:06:44.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304913659?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Near the towns of Gatlinburg (whose Sugarlands VIsitor Center is one of two in the park), Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Townsend, and shared with North Carolina, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a gorgeous 816-square-mile expanse of rolling, forested hills. In addition to hiking; biking; fishing; camping; canoeing kayaking and tubing on the <strong>Pigeon River</strong>, and horseback riding, there are also plenty of historical sites dating back to the 19th-century frontier days. </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><a href="https://npgallery.nps.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">National Park Service</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Memorable music in Memphis, Tennesseehttps://tripatini.com/photo/beale-street-memphis-tennessee-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T22:04:16.000Z2023-11-28T22:04:16.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304912664?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">With a population of around 633,000, <strong>Tennessse</strong>´s second largest city is best known for barbecue and music - home to <strong>Elvis Presley</strong>´s mansion <strong>Graceland</strong> and birthplace of blues, soul, and rock ´n´ roll (you can see this history laid out in the <strong>Rock ´n´ Soul Museum</strong> and hit the clubs on <strong>Beale Street</strong> (pictured here) and elsewhere for the current scene. </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/whatcouldgowrong/3388981250" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Josh Walker</span></a></span></em></p></div>Graceland, the single biggest draw of Memphis, Tennesseehttps://tripatini.com/photo/graceland-memphis-tennessse-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T22:02:29.000Z2023-11-28T22:02:29.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304911295?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">On a 14-acre estate nine </span><span style="font-weight:400;">miles south of downtown, this 84-year-old, 23-room neo-colonial manse was famously lived in by Elvis Presley (from 1957-till he died here in 1977) as well as various family members, and he and various of them are buried out back. Visitors have been welcome since TK, and there´s also an exhibit complex on the grounds, including a car museum with star attractions like Elvis´ pink Jeep and Cadillac. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graceland_Memphis_Tennessee.jpg" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size:6pt;">Joseph Novak</span></em></a></span></p></div>Nashville´s legendary Grand Ole Opryhttps://tripatini.com/photo/grand-ole-opry-nashville-tennessee-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T21:59:44.000Z2023-11-28T21:59:44.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304911452?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I remember my first (and so far only) time visiting the Opry, back in 2014. The lineup included Carrie Underwood, the Charlie Daniels Band, and Riders in the Sky. Man, was that memorable. In a couple of years the Opry will celebrate its 100th birthday, and it´s still going strong as an institution of U.S. country music (and music in general, and it also includes bluegrass, folk, and gospel, along with comedy standups and skits).</span><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshbousel/140079213/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Joshua Bousel</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Sun, fun, and spectacular scenery at Southern California´s El Matador State Beachhttps://tripatini.com/photo/el-matador-beach-los-angeles-california-beaches2023-11-19T10:12:49.000Z2023-11-19T10:12:49.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12294243261?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">A 15-minute drive north of <strong>Malibu</strong> and marked by dramatic sea stacks, caves, and rock arches, this petite beach is quiet, boasts some strong surf, and is accessible via a steep set of steps down from the parking lot (we´d recommend using the restroom at the top before making your way down!). .It´s especially scenic around sunset.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/StephenSalvador">Stephen Salvador</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/beaches-los-angeles-california?edited=1" target="_blank">8 of the Best Beaches in/around California</a>.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Matador_Beach_%28231445251%29.jpeg" target="_blank">Rodrigo Argenton</a></em></span></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Classic hanging ten at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, Californiahttps://tripatini.com/photo/surfrider-beach-malibu-lagoon-los-angeles-california-beaches2023-11-19T10:09:12.000Z2023-11-19T10:09:12.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12294242470?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Surfin´ USA! Time to haul out on the board, put on a fresh coat of wax, and zip into your wetsuit. The <strong>Malibu Lagoon State Beach</strong> is a 72-year-old, 110-acre state park whose Surfrider Beach was a cradle of SoCal surfing culture in the 1960s, with a famous right break and three main surfing areas (above) suitable for beginners as well as experts. You can grab food and drink at the famous <strong>Malibu Pier</strong>, and there´s actually other intersting stuff to see/do around here, too, including nature trails, the landmark Spanish-Revival <strong><a href="https://adamsonhouse.org/main.php" target="_blank">Adamson House</a></strong>, dating back to 1929, and the next-door <strong><a href="https://adamsonhouse.org/main.php" target="_blank">Malibu Lagoon Museum</a></strong>. Then of course there are all the allures of tony Malibu, around a half hour from downtown. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/StephenSalvador">Stephen Salvador</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/beaches-los-angeles-california?edited=1" target="_blank">8 of the Best Beaches in/around California</a>.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gorbould/50041294653" target="_blank">MLB California 2016</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Southern California´s classic and quirky Venice Beachhttps://tripatini.com/photo/venice-beach-los-angeles-california-beaches2023-11-19T09:59:42.000Z2023-11-19T09:59:42.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12294241091?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">At perhaps Greater L.A.´s most famous (and certainly the most colorful), just to the south of <strong>Santa Monica</strong> and an easy drive from downtown, the excitement involves as much crowd as surf and sand.. Stretching more than two miles, the world-famous, much photographed Ocean Front Walk *above( often upstages the Pacific for its offbeat character (and characters); Be on the lookout to see <strong>Harry Perry</strong>, the turban-wearing guitarist often seen rolling across the boardwalk (and he´s featured in myriad TV shows and films). Bodybuilders, street vendors, chainsaw-jugglers, breakdancers, musicians as well as palm readers and all sorts of performers keep things plenty lively and often more than a bit kooky..Away from the beach, You can also take walking tours and check out the canals which give the neighborhood (founded as a town in 1905) its name. <br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/StephenSalvador">Stephen Salvador</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/beaches-los-angeles-california?edited=1" target="_blank">8 of the Best Beaches in/around California</a>.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/busy-street-in-venice-beach-5849680/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Gabriel Graves</em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>The Civil Rights ´Freedom Trail´ of St. Augustine, Florida: the Woolworth lunch counterhttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-woolworth-black-travel2023-11-06T20:10:14.000Z2023-11-06T20:10:14.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287240480?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In the history of the Civil Rights movement, names like <span style="font-size:13px;">Little Rock, Birmingham, and Montgomery stand out most in memory. But it was in the USA.´s oldest city the events of 1963 and especially 1964 provided the final shock needed to pass the Civil Rights Act in a balky, filibustering Congress. One of those events was a 1963 sit-it at the lunch counter of the local Woolworth department store.like the more famous one three years earlier at the Woolworth in Greensboro, North Caroliana.</span> Now preserved in the lobby of the Wells Fargo Bank which currently occupies the site, it´s part of this city´s Freedom Trail which visitors can explore through free black heritage tours.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>The Civil Rights Freedom Trail of St. Augustine, Florida: Fort Moséhttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-fort-mose-black-travel2023-11-06T20:07:59.000Z2023-11-06T20:07:59.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287239872?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>By 1738, Spanish St. Augustine had been an established garrison town for nearly 175 years and had become a player in the skirmishing between the Spanish and the English in the Americas. In that year, Florida's Spanish governor chartered a new settlement a bit of a ways inland from town. The wooden garrison of <strong>Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé</strong> was set up as the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in North America, and became a refuge for escaped slaves from the English colonies in the Carolinas and Georgia - kind of like the original Underground Railroad, but southward instead of northward. Pretty much all the refugees had to do upon reaching <strong>Fort Mose</strong> (as it's since become known, pronounced "mo-<em>zay</em>") was agree to convert to Catholicism, and many unsurprisingly fought for the Spanish against the English on various occasions. Today the original fort is gone, but at the site (declared a National Historic Landmark) there's a very well-designed, multimedia visitor's center (above) that lays out the history, along with some beautiful grounds, including a walkway over a marshland that nature lovers will enjoy.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p></div>The Civil Rights 'Freedom Trail' of St. Augustine, Florida: Lincolnvillehttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-lincolnville-black-travel2023-11-06T20:06:00.000Z2023-11-06T20:06:00.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287239256?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The modest clapboard house of dentist <strong>Robert B. Hayling</strong>, a local NAACP leader who became the father of the Civil Rights movement in St. Augustine - and was once beaten within an inch of his life - was where he and his coleagues met to plan strategy, and <strong>Martin Luther King Jr.</strong> himself once overnighted. It´s part of the "Freedom Trail" inin St. Augustine´s <strong>Lincolnville</strong> neighborhood <strong>Lincolnville</strong>, founded after the Civil War by freed slaves and named, of course, the president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Having a ball in Baltimorehttps://tripatini.com/photo/baltimore-maryland-attractions-tourism-travel2023-10-31T19:20:40.000Z2023-10-31T19:20:40.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12280916260?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">"</span><strong>Charm City</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">" (population around 586,000), the state of </span><strong>Maryland</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">´s biggest, hasn´t always has such a charming reputation in recent years, but urban renewal has made a huge difference, and crime is limited to neighborhoods well away from areas most visitors are interested in. Art lovers, history buffs, and foodies will have a field day in </span><strong>Baltimore</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">´s museums, landmarks/historic sites, and a flourishing restaurant scene which ranges from seafooders specializing in the iconic local</span><a href="https://baltimore.org/guides/crabs-guide/"> <span style="font-weight:400;">blue crabs</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">, crab cakes, oysters, and ¨coddies¨ (cod-and-potato-cake sandwiches) to sophisticated international cuisine. And here are five spots not to miss: </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor </span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LowestFlightFares"><span style="font-weight:400;">Lowest Flight Fares</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/baltimore-maryland-attractions-tourism-travel-museums?context=featured" target="_blank">7 of the Best Things to See & Do in Baltimore</a>. </span></p>
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<p> </p></div>RV park meets resort near San Antonio, Texashttps://tripatini.com/photo/alsatian-rv-resort-texas-united-states-rv-recreational-vehicles2023-10-27T08:05:35.000Z2023-10-27T08:05:35.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12269663882?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In a state with the most RV parks of any in the USA, the <strong><a href="https://www.alsatianresort.com/" target="_blank">Alsatian RV Resort</a></strong> is a standout - an exclusive, newish 156-acre spread is about a half-hour drive west of downtown <strong>San Antonio</strong>. In addition to 37 back-in sites and 25 long pull-through sites, there's a nice clubhouse with a good-size poolm a fitness center, as well as a large in-ground whirlpool; laundry facilities. Another interesting feature is a set of nine one-room cabins (which they term <em>casitas</em>) with rpivate bathrooms and outdoor kitchens. Perhaps Alsatian's particular pride and joy is its very own 18-hole golf course; and there's also a walking track and a small fishing lake stocked with largemouth bass.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones">Rohny Jones</a>´ post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/united-states-usa-rv-recreational-vehicle-motorhome-parks?edited=1" target="_blank">6 of the USA´s Top RV Parks</a>.</p>
<p><br /> <em><a href="https://www.alsatianresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/191125_Alsatian_RV_004.png" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Alsatian RV Park</span></a></em></p>
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<p> </p></div>A handsome historic inn north of Austin, Texashttps://tripatini.com/photo/stagecoach-inn-salado-texas-united-states-historic-hotels2023-10-27T07:46:40.000Z2023-10-27T07:46:40.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12269655892?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p> </p>
<p>In the town of Salado, about 45 minutes north of Austin, the setting is far less sumptuous at a rest stop that was built in 1861 along the <strong>Chisolm Trail</strong> to accommodate ranchers and drovers herding cattle from <strong>Texas</strong> to <strong>Kansas</strong>. The modest but comfortable <strong><a href="http://stagecoachsalado.com" target="_blank">Stagecoach Inn</a></strong> over time also provided lodgings for 19th-century notables who were passing through Texas, ranging from the famous to the infamous.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock">Victor Block</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/united-states-usa-historic-hotels?edited=1" target="_blank">Sleeping with History at 7 of the USA´s Most Historic Hotels</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Stagecoach Inn/Belton Library</em></span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Revolutionary history at Princeton Battlefield State Park in New Jerseyhttps://tripatini.com/photo/princeton-battlefield-state-park-new-jersey-history-travel2023-10-18T08:28:13.000Z2023-10-18T08:28:13.000ZJordan Simonhttps://tripatini.com/members/JordanSimon<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12259109864?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><a href="https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/princetonbattlefieldstatepark.html" target="_blank">This 681-acre spread</a> in the eponymous central Jersey town commemorates and documents the momentous defeat of the British on January 3, 1777 by the forces of the newly declared United States of America. Among its notable features is the Thomas Clarke House Museum, built by a Quaker family in 1772, furnished according to the period, and displaying many exhibits and artifacts relating to the battle and New Jersey´s Revolutionary history.<br /> <br /><br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PrincetonBattleb.jpg" target="_blank">Ekem</a></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>New York City´s blast from the medieval pasthttps://tripatini.com/photo/cloisters-metropolitan-museum-of-art-manhattan-new-york-city2023-10-09T13:21:03.000Z2023-10-09T13:21:03.000ZBarbara Neckerhttps://tripatini.com/members/BarbaraNecker371<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12245039685?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>It´s a bit of a schlep, but worth it: one of my favorite Big Apple museums is way up in Fort Tryon Park, in Manhattan´s Washington Heights neighborhood. The Cloisters is run by the Metropolitan Museum of art and specializes in European medieval art and architecture. And yes, there are actual cloisters here, which were shipped here from France in the very early 20th century and opened as a museum in 1938. It definitely evokes another era - by which I´ve always been fascinated (although I sure wouldn´t have wanted to live back then).<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tabor-roeder/29775587505" target="_blank">Phil Roeder</a></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>New York State´s beautiful Finger Lakes region produces some excellent winehttps://tripatini.com/photo/finger-lakes-wine-country-new-york-state2023-10-07T08:24:19.000Z2023-10-07T08:24:19.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12243798053?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LindaStewart">Linda Stewart</a> writes:<br /> <br /> "As a member of the <strong>International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association</strong></span> (IFWTWA), I was fortunate to attend a webinar on the <a href="https://www.corningfingerlakes.com/" target="_blank">Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes</a> presented by <strong>Kevin Costello</strong>, president and CEO of the <strong>Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau</strong>, and Dave DeGolye, the bureau’s communications manager. I was only somewhat familiar with this wine region, so was pleased to learn more about its wineries as well as to be introduced to all its fascinating museums; delightful small towns; and abundance of outdoor activities."</p>
<p>Read more in her post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/finger-lakes-new-york-state-wine-vineyards-attractions-travel" target="_blank">Discovering Wine and More in New York State´s Finger Lakes Region</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:6pt;"><em>Luke Petrinec/Steuban County CVB</em></span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Gobbling up Indiana´s terrific Turkey Run State Parkhttps://tripatini.com/photo/turkey-run-state-park-indiana-ecotourism2023-09-19T18:07:05.000Z2023-09-19T18:07:05.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12228001684?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Halfway up the western side of the state near the town of <strong>Marshall</strong>, about an hour and a half west of <strong>Indianapolis</strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/turkey-run-state-park/" target="_blank">Turkey Run</a></strong> was Indiana´s second state park, established in 1916. Its 2,382 acres include gorges and forests which offer fantastic hiking as well as tubing/canoeing/kayaking down <strong>Sugar Creek</strong>. Other features include a couple of houses on the <strong>National Register of Historic Places</strong>, the <strong>Lusk Home and Mill Site</strong> and the <strong>Lieber Log Cabin</strong>; covered bridges; a nature center/planetarium; an equestrian facilities offering trail rides; tennis courts; a public pool; and for overnighting, cabins, campsites, and an inn with a restaurant and an indoor pool. <br /> <br /> Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/MaureenBlevins">Maureen Blevins</a>´ post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/turkey-run-state-park-indiana?edited=1" target="_blank">Indiana´s Turkey Run State Park</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>Dunes and beaches in Indiana?https://tripatini.com/photo/indiana-dunes-state-park-beaches-ecotourism2023-09-19T18:04:31.000Z2023-09-19T18:04:31.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12228000692?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Most non-Hoosiers probably think of Indiana as another landlocked Midwestern state, but in fact its northwestern corner has miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan, including seven cities and towns (one you might´ve heard of is <strong>Gary</strong>) and <strong><a href="https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm" target="_blank">Indiana Dunes National Park</a></strong>, 24 square miles and running 15 miles along the lake. In addition to great beaches, the park also has forests, prairies, and wetlands; ranger-led nature tours; several historic houses; and plenty of recreation opportunities including camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing, <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_everett82/2833549001/" target="_blank">Paul J. Everett</a></p><p> </p></div>The famed Indianapolis Motor Speedwayhttps://tripatini.com/photo/indianapolis-motor-speedway-indy-500-indiana-sports-travel2023-09-19T13:09:41.000Z2023-09-19T13:09:41.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12227852255?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Indianapolis (well, actually one of its suburbs, just a ten-minute drive away and fittingly called Speedway) becomes the center of the sports world every May with the Indy 500, first held way back in 1911. But besides other races held here, the racetrack complex including a museum and Hall of Fame are also open year round for visiting and guided tours. Vroom vroom!</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indianapolis_Motor_Speedway_%2815982572368%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" target="_blank">Redlegsfan21</a></p><p> </p></div>Magnificent Lake Tahoe, California´s most popularhttps://tripatini.com/photo/lake-tahoe-california2023-09-10T08:06:51.000Z2023-09-10T08:06:51.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220259471?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Up north and also shared with another state, this time <strong>Nevada</strong>, at up to 22 miles long and 12 mi. wide Cali's most famous lake is also its largest in terms of volume as well as the entire USA's largest after the <strong>Great Lakes</strong>. It attracts people especially because of its scenic beauty - including its cobalt-colored water and gorgeous views of the surrounding <strong>Sierra Nevada Mountains</strong> - as well as its huge array of fun options on both water and land. In addition to the usual array mentioned at all the preceding lakes, the Tahoe area also offers a huge raft of facilities and amenities include good golfing; relaxing spas; a vairiety of shops and galleries; several casinos; a great dining scene; several family-oriented attractions; and in winter a raft of skiing and other winter sports options. (And by the way, Lake Tahoe made rare good environmental news this past summer due to a scientific report stating that its clarity is now the best in 40 years thanks to the natural recovery of zooplankton which cleanse the water.)<br /> <br /> Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang">Ady Kang</a>-s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/california-lakes-swimming-boating-ecotourism-outdoor-recreation?edited=1" target="_blank">13 of the Top Recreational Lakes to Enjoy in California</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://pixabay.com/es/photos/lake-tahoe-california-monta%C3%B1a-1591339/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>12019</em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Recreation with a side of wine at Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley, Californiahttps://tripatini.com/photo/lake-berryessa-napa-valley-california2023-09-10T08:03:12.000Z2023-09-10T08:03:12.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220258865?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Here's a lake-and-wine-country two-fer! The largest in <strong>Napa County</strong> (16 miles long and three wide), about two hours north of San Francisco, this one (above) was formed in the 1950s by the damming of <strong>Putah Creek</strong>. known for boating, water sports, and jet skiing. Various sandy beaches and marinas also provide great swimming and fishing as well all kinds of boating - from kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and canoeing to sailing and motorboating - along with waterskiing and Jetskiing. And the area around the lake is popular for picknicking, hiking, biking, motorbiking, birding, and wildlife spotting.<span style="font-size:10pt;"><br /> </span><br /> Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang">Ady Kang</a>-s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/california-lakes-swimming-boating-ecotourism-outdoor-recreation?edited=1" target="_blank">13 of the Top Recreational Lakes to Enjoy in California</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/celine181/7239881050" target="_blank">Céline Colin</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Dammed if you do at Southern California´s Pyramid Lakehttps://tripatini.com/photo/pyramid-lake-california2023-09-10T08:00:58.000Z2023-09-10T08:00:58.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220257896?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>On the other side of L.A., just over an hour north and surrounded by the <span style="font-size:1em;"><strong>Angeles</strong> and <strong>Los Padres National Forests</strong>,</span> this 1,360-acre reservoir built in 1972 is named for a nearby pyramid-shaped rock carved out during the building of the nearby highway. There are a number of sandy stretches, the most popular of which is <strong>Vaquero Beach</strong> near the <strong>Vista del Lago Visitor Center</strong>, with swimming, picnicking, and rentals of kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang">Ady Kang</a>-s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/california-lakes-swimming-boating-ecotourism-outdoor-recreation?edited=1" target="_blank">13 of the Top Recreational Lakes to Enjoy in California</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/water_alternatives/47746669372" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Pyramid Dam and Pyramid Lake, California, USA</em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Great Danes in the Southern California town of Solvanghttps://tripatini.com/photo/solvang-california-ethnic-travel2023-09-10T07:54:54.000Z2023-09-10T07:54:54.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220256463?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Nestled in the <strong>Santa Ynez Valley</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, a 45-minute drive north of </span><strong>Santa Barbara</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> and a bit over two hours from </span><strong>Los Angeles</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, this small town of just over 6,100 offers visitors a unique blend of nature and culture. One of Solvang's top attractions is its unique Danish, which you can explore by strolling its charming streets. Founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants, and its downtown remodeled in the 1940s to reflect that country's architectural heritage, Solvang has a rich cultural heritage delightful to both the eye and stomach.<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SimonHopes"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Simon Hopes</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">' post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/solvang-california-attractions-tourism-travel"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Sweet Solvang, California Is Cool for Both Culture and Nature</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
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<h6><strong><a href="https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/solvang-in-santa-barbara-county-california"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">Carol Highsmith</span></em></a></strong></h6>
<p> </p></div>Fess Parker Winery, near Solvang in Southern Californiahttps://tripatini.com/photo/fess-parker-winery-solvang-california2023-09-10T07:53:25.000Z2023-09-10T07:53:25.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220256454?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>A <span style="font-weight:400;">45-minute drive north of </span><strong>Santa Barbara</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> and a bit over two hours from </span><strong>Los Angeles</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, Solvang is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, and more than 125 wineries producing some of the world's best vintages and many accepting visitors for tours and tasting; among of the most popular are half-century-old</span><a href="https://www.firestonewine.com/"> <strong>Firestone Vineyard</strong></a><span style="font-weight:400;">,</span><a href="https://www.fessparker.com/fess-parker-wines"> <strong>Fess Parker Winery</strong></a><span style="font-weight:400;"> (above, founded in 1988 by the actor famous for playing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on TV in the 1950s and 60s), and</span><a href="https://sunstonewinery.com/"> <strong>Sunstone Winery</strong></a><span style="font-weight:400;">, in business since 1990 and with an enphasis on environmental sustainability.<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SimonHopes"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Simon Hopes</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">' post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/solvang-california-attractions-tourism-travel"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Sweet Solvang, California Is Cool for Both Culture and Nature</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
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<h6><strong><a href="https://www.fessparker.com/gallery"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">Fess Parker Winery</span></em></a></strong></h6>
<p> </p></div>Key West´s frisky gay Island Househttps://tripatini.com/photo/island-house-key-west-florida-gay-travel2023-09-06T07:14:06.000Z2023-09-06T07:14:06.000ZDave Actonhttps://tripatini.com/members/DaveActon<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12218379695?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The number of gay guesthouses in Key West has declined over the years - especially the ones with a high ¨sexual temperature,¨ but <a href="https://islandhousekeywest.com/" target="_blank">Island House</a> has soldiered on since it first came on the scene decades ago, upgraded it rooms and facilities several years ago, and it´s still as frisky as ever, with a couple of sex lounges and clothing-optional pool area and café (where the food is actually pretty good). It´s not cheap - rates for the 34 rooms start at $349 - but you can buy a day pass and have all the fun you want that way (I´ve certainly done that, with very satisfactory results ;)). <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IslandHouseKW/photos/a.100162202064/10154524453747065/?type=3" target="_blank">Island House</a></p><p> </p></div>