Cross-Country Vacation 2023

  The web address for our blog is called "travelingvtjs", which refers to Traveling Vermonters Julie and John. The purpose for this blog is to share all the wonderful places that we visited along our journey. In early 2023, we started planning for a cross-country trip to visit family. Our plan was to leave in mid-April and use  Airbnb  and  Hipcamp  to find places to stay along the way. Experience using  TripAdvisor ,  AAA TripTiK , and  Google Maps  for planning vacations and places to visit helped. Purchasing  Wanderlog  and  DayOne  were also useful to plan and record. Because National Parks and camping were on the list, we used  Recreation.gov  for reference and planning too. Being a veteran I was able to purchase a lifetime pass to National Parks for $10 (processing fee & handling charges); it allows us in to all National Parks where a fee is charged. We are both in our mid-sixties so we knew that we did...

  We started the day with a continental breakfast at the Microtel Inn and Suites.  (Click on any photo to enlarge) Continental Breakfast Today's plan is to drive 7 hours, 402 miles and visit two interesting places along the way. We drove 2.5 hours to the Richmond Aquaduct Ruins and went birding on the Byron Lapp Trail. Added two birds to the checklist, Rusty Blackbird and Rough-winged Sparrow. A Google Maps glitch took us to the near end of the trail instead of the start; a 3 mile hike became 0.4 miles. The water was still high from Spring waters so we were unable to complete a loop hike we had planned. Richmond Aquaduct Ruins The Richmond Aquaduct Ruins is another special place that we visited. I created a separate page with more details and photos. Visit  https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/richmond-aqueduct-ruins.html We backtracked a bit to eat lunch at Potters Farm to Fork . Potters Farm to Fork After lunch we headed to Niagara Falls, another 2.5 hour drive. It wa...

Slept very well at the Old Schoolhouse Music Cottage   AirBnb. Woke up to 32° outside and a dusting of snow. The host gave us a tour of the Old Schoolhouse (which they live in); it was a large open room, post & beam, with narrow wainscoting boards, and chestnut floors; several antiques. We ventured to the waterfront of Findley Lake and found a great store Twin Docks Gourmet Food & Deli for breakfast sandwiches, local beer and specialty foods. I bought two cream ales, one strawberry and one Irish Stout.  (Click on any photo to enlarge) John & Julie at Twin Docks Findley Lake Today's plan is to drive 5 hours, 270 miles,  with several stops for covered bridges and waterfalls. We left Findley Lake headed for Ohio where we would take a short Covered Bridge Tour . We discovered these bridges are huge compared to Vermont. First, the Middle Road Bridge. Middle Road Covered Bridge Middle Road Covered Bridge Middle Road Century Bridge Then, the Sta...

Holliwell Covered Bridge We started with a good breakfast at The Big Apple Restaurant . After spending a questionable night in the Super 8 we needed a good lift. The food was delicious and the waitresses talkative and friendly.  (Click on any photo to enlarge) Hearty Skillet Hashstack Today's plan is to drive 6 hours and 15 minutes, 333 miles, with several stops along the way, including a state park, museum and several covered bridges. First, we headed to Starved Rock State Park, only a short distance away.  We hiked for 2 hours taking in the landscape, wildlife and views. The Legend of Starved Rock Starved Rock State Park is another one of those special places that deserves its own page. Go here  https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/starved-rock-state-park.html to see more photos and learn more. We stopped in Princeton, IL to search out a couple covered bridges. Captain Swift Covered Bridge Red Covered Bridge Illinois River Road We continued on ...

  We left the hospital this morning around 7:30AM. We both wanted coffee and something to eat. We picked up Julie's prescription in Winterset, IA, then searched for food and coffee places. A bakery was my first choice, Julie wanted something a little more substantial, so we stopped at two places. We talked about what to do next? Julie's cousin lived only a few hours away, should we take a direct route there? Julie, was graciously insistent that I go to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, then continue to our next destination. Today's plan is to drive 159 miles in 4.5 hours.  (Click on any photo to enlarge) Off to John Wayne Birthplace Museum and Homestead . I'm a big fan! I've read his biography and seen many movies. It was fun to see childhood photos, artifacts from movies, a short clip from his daughter, and his birth homestead. John Wayne Birthplace I consider this another special place and we create a separate page.  Go to  https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p...