If you’re planning a trip to the Garden State, here’s some sites you don’t want to miss, according to Trip Advisor!
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Opened on June 26, 1870, the world-famous Boardwalk stretches along six magical and glittering miles of Atlantic City beachfront.
Lakota Wolf Preserve
Ocean City Boardwalk
With its quaint storefronts, amusement rides and Music Pier, Ocean City is everything you’d expect from the real Jersey shore. This family-friendly town boasts a two-mile boardwalk dotted with amusements, pizza parlors, and seaside stores.
Jersey Shore Alpacas
IMPORTANT: OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US FOR AVAILABILITY WITHOUT VISITING OUR WEBSITE FIRST for complete schedule information. Closed Sundays. Again, OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Fleece and Fun for Everyone! Jersey Shore Alpacas is a small, friendly farm located in Green Creek, just north of Cape May, NJ (about 3 hours from NYC). Please see our website for more information on visiting the farm. 🙂 You’ll love meeting our curious alpacas and browsing in our shop for soft, warm alpaca clothing and cuddly toys! We also carry more than 20 different types of alpaca yarn from Blue Sky Fibers, Alpaca Yarn Company, and farm yarn (when available). We also host occasional adult craft classes in knitting, needle felting, and wet felting! Hope to see you soon!
Liberty State Park
This Park offers stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline.
If you’re planning a trip to Pennsylvania, Trip Advisor recommends these must-see places!
Eastern State Penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Tours today include the cellblocks, solitary punishment cells, Al Capone’s Cell, and Death Row.
Longwood Gardens
In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,077 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ and 4.5-acre conservatory. Longwood continues the mission set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the performing arts, through programming that includes exhibitions, musical performances by leading artists, renowned horticulture education programs, horticulture research, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Independence Hall
Both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed in this historic building.
Sight and Sound Theaters
Sight & Sound® is a ministry on a mission to bring the Bible to life through live theater in Lancaster County, PA. What started 45 years ago as a traveling multimedia show has today become a destination for over 25 million people. This inspiring family experience includes a majestic 2000-seat theatre, a massive 300-foot wrap-around stage, a professional cast, spectacular sets up to 40 feet high and a variety of live animals. Go back in time and witness the greatest stories of the Bible as they come to life right before your eyes!
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War, was the Union victory that ended General Robert E. Lee’s second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Often referred to as the “High Water Mark of the Rebellion,” Gettysburg was the Civil War’s bloodiest battle and was also the inspiration for President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal “Gettysburg Address.”
If you’re planning on visiting Delaware, Trip Advisor recommends these following places.
Nemours Estate
Explore the elegance of a 77-room Mansion, a Chauffeur’s Garage with vintage automobiles, and 200-acres of French-inspired formal gardens, grounds, and woodlands.
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
A Very Pleasant stroll
What a wonderful stroll with beach access, restaurants, shops and benches to sit and enjoy the view.
Funland
A family owned and operated business since 1962, Funland provides family fun at reasonable prices for those who visit us each summer. The park offers great entertainment for the whole family, featuring 19 rides, 14 midway games, a redemption center, Skeeball, and an arcade. Our season begins Mother’s Day Weekend and runs through Labor Day.
Rehoboth Beach (Public)
A sandy public beach that offers various organized sports activities every evening during the summer plus special designated areas for surfing and surf fishing.
Bethany Beach
Great Beach
The waves are awesome, the beach spotless and uncrowded.
If you planning on visiting Hawaii—first, lucky you! And second, Trip Advisor recommends these sites to visit!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Get up close and personal with a volcano at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Stop by the Kilauea Visitor Center to pick up a map and ask a ranger for their recommendation on the best route. Hike the Kilauea Iki lava field, check out the Nahuku Thurston lava tubes, and drive the Chain of Craters Road. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen, and don’t forget headlamps and binoculars if you’re planning to experience the molten lava’s glow at night.
Mauna Kea Summit
At 13,796 feet, this peak offers an incredible view of lava, desert, the valley and Mauna Loa.
Akaka Falls State Park
The Vanillerie
We invite guests to our farm to see, smell, taste, and feel vanilla growing on the vine in our shade house oases in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, five minutes from the Kona International Airport. Come to learn about the beautiful vanilla orchid’s fascinating history and experience entertainment and delight for all ages. Our vanilla infused food and body products excite all the senses, and allow guests to take the experience home with them.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
The big island of Hawaii’s southernmost point features the Green Sand Beach.
Check out these “must-see” sights (according to TripAdvisor) if you’re going to Alaska!
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, trestles & tunnels from the comfort of vintage train cars. Rail service between Skagway, Alaska, Fraser, BC, Carcross, Yukon, and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Alaska Railroad
Completed in 1923, the iconic Alaska Railroad connects many of Alaska’s most popular destinations: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Girdwood, Seward, Whittier and the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. Daily summer departures and our knowledgeable Alaskan reservationists make it easy to plan everything from day trips to multi-day Alaska vacations including excursions and accommodations — all using the Alaska Railroad to traverse this great land. Choose from two classes of passenger service: comfortable Adventure Class seating offering large picture windows, or premium GoldStar Service featuring glass-dome ceilings, all-inclusive dining and an outdoor, upper-level viewing platform.
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Mendenhall Glacier is easily accessible via roads from the local airport, cruise ship terminal and state ferry terminal. Our facility and lands are managed by the federal government through the United States Forest Service. Federal passes are accepted and sold as well as daily passes. There is a visitor center with a theater showing a 15-minute film on Mendenhall Glacier, a bookstore operated by nonprofit organization Discovery Southeast, and exhibits on wildlife, history, and glacial and geological changes. Rangers provide talks at various indoor and outdoor sites in summer
Tracy Arm Fjord
Goldbelt Tram
As Southeast Alaska’s only aerial tramway, the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway takes you to 1,800 feet above sea level in just five minutes. On the way up, marvel at incredible views while listening to a narrated tour of the surroundings. At the top, you can embark on various hiking trails, check out the flora and fauna display at the Nature Center, watch an award-winning short film about Tlingit history and culture, and dine with a view at the restaurant. The tramway operates from April to October but the best time to visit is in June for stunning views of alpine meadows.
Yesterday was actually Arizona’s national day, but it was also Father’s Day, so a girl has to make choices…lol. If you’re planning on visiting Arizona, check out these places recommended by TripAdvisor.
Antelope Canyon
The only way to visit this otherworldly spot is to book yourself on a tour with a Navajo guide. The Upper Antelope Canyon is especially picturesque, with better lit areas and light shafts usually visible at noon, a popular time to visit for the best photos. It can get pretty hot, and the terrain is tricky and uneven, so wear sturdy shoes, load up on water, and pile on the sunscreen. Antelope Canyon can get really busy, especially from March to October when the light beams occur, so secure your booking at least six months in advance.
Grand Canyon South Rim
The most developed area of Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim offers amenities such as bus service, hotels and water stations, but is also more crowded than the North Rim. Scenic highlights include Pipe Creek Vista and Yavapai Point.
Desert Botanical Garden
Discover the tranquil vibrancy of desert plants nestled amid the red rocks of the Papago Buttes. Visitors can stroll through five thematic trails to explore the fascinating beauty of the Sonoran Desert, from towering cacti and alluring succulents to brilliant wildflowers and lush trees. Scroll through the Garden’s calendar so not to miss festive events and dazzling exhibitions. Delve deeper to learn about desert landscaping, nature art, cooking and wellness and more through the Garden’s various adult and children’s classes.
Grand Canyon Railway
Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel has been taking passengers on a fabled journey to the heart of one of the seven wonders of the world. Grand Canyon Railway is more than just a mode of transportation: it’s a trip back in time on lovingly restored rail cars with entertaining musicians and the antics of cowboy characters. Out your window, the terrain changes from high desert to prairie, prairie to pine. It’s a view that’s ever-changing until you come across a view so brilliant, it could very well change you. All aboard to the Grand Canyon to make a grand trip grander!
Devil’s Bridge Trail
This 1.8-mile hike will lead you to Sedona’s iconic sandstone arch, where you’ll get breathtaking views of the surrounding valley and rock formations. Get there early to beat the crowd or expect to wait for up to a couple of hours for a photo op. Walk about a mile along the Dry Creek dirt road to reach the trailhead, but if you can’t find a spot at the Dry Creek Trailhead parking lot, park along the highway instead. Otherwise, Sedona offers a free shuttle service from downtown to two of the five trailheads, Mescal and Dry Creek Vista.
Horseshoe Bend
This horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River is just a short hike from the beginning of Grand Canyon National Park. The overlook point, which can be accessed via the town of Page, is particularly popular during sunset when the landscape is at its most vibrant, and the iconic turquoise bend glows against the orange cliffs. Although the desert hike is relatively easy, you won’t encounter much shade, so be sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. To maximize your time here, join a tour that includes other picturesque sights like Glen Canyon Dam and Antelope Canyon.
Trip Advisor advises these spots if you’re traveling to New Mexico.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Ride to new heights on North America’s longest aerial tram ride. Sandia Peak Tram takes visitors 2.7 miles or 10,378 ft up the Sandia Mountains. Breath in the fresh mountain air and enjoy breathtaking views of over 11,000 square miles of New Mexico.
White Sands National Park
Visitors to this endless waterless sea can enjoy driving, hiking, visiting a museum and sledding down the huge dunes.
Meow Wolf Santa
The original permanent Meow Wolf exhibition, House of Eternal Return, is a monumental achievement in DIY world creation and collaboration, featuring over 70 rooms made by local and community artists. House of Eternal Return is an unique & immersive art installation with multimedia elements and a mysterious narrative throughout.
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument is 50 square miles of the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. Over 70% of the Monument is Wilderness, with over 1 mile elevation change, from about 5000′ along the Rio Grande to over 10,000′ at the rim of the Valles Caldera, providing for a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitat. There are only 3 miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country’s largest Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.
This month’s weird building comes from Nebraska! Nicknamed The Castle, George and Sarah Joslyn completed one of Nebraska’s greatest homes—a 35-room Scottish Baronial mansion atop a hill on Omaha’s outskirts in 1903.
The four-story house was completed at a cost of $250,000—about $9 million in modern currency. The pace of construction—18 months—was amazing, given the rich use of carved wood, stained glass, chiseled stone, mosaic tiles, and wrought iron. The Castle and the outbuildings were built of Kansas Silverdale limestone.
The Castle includes a reception hall, music room, ballroom, a library and gold drawing room. The basement at one time housed a bowling alley. With the addition of a music room in 1907, the house totaled 19,360 square feet. The interior of the home’s conservatory was designed by famous Chicago-based landscape architect Jens Jensen in 1913.
George Joslyn died in 1916, in his sixties. Sarah lived on the 5.5-acre estate until her death in 1940 at age 88. From 1944 to 1989, the home served as the headquarters of the Omaha Public Schools’ administrative offices. During their residency, many changes were made to the Castle to accommodate the staff including installation of a modern central heating and cooling system, an elevator, and separate male and female restrooms.
The castle is an Omaha Landmark Historic Structure and on the National Register of Historic Places for National Significance. The grounds are part of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
The Joslyn Castle is an example of Scottish Baronial Revival architecture, a romantic outgrowth of the 19th-century Gothic Revival movement. Examples of Scottish Baronial hallmarks include crow-stepped gables, crenellations, and small turrets or bartizans, and the style can be found in innumerable public and private buildings of this era throughout Great Britain, the United States, and Canada.
Much has been made of the influence of architect John McDonald’s Scottish ancestry on the choice of Scottish Baronial style for the Castle, but the reality is more complex. The Joslyns, like other Gilded Age millionaires, chose a style that would lend an air of old money and sophistication to their newly found wealth and position.
The specific idea of a Castle for their home might have originated in Joslyn’s youth from Union Pacific Railroad tycoon Jay Gould’s greatly admired home, Lyndhurst, with its medieval towers and extensive greenhouses. A third influence was likely that of another “Castle”, the Chicago home of Marshall Field’s founder, Potter Palmer. In the 1890s, the Joslyns would have attended Columbian Exposition receptions inside the Potter’s Castle with its crenelated towers and sumptuous historic revival interiors.
Lynhurst may look like a Castle, but it bears little resemblance to the drafty stone ruins of Europe. Like other gilded age mansions it was built with both dramatic ostentation and state of the art domestic technology.
The gracious hall opening up to adjoining rooms with pocket doors, the carved rare woods, the sweeping staircase, the stained glass windows, a ballroom, an Aeolian pipe organ, and historically-themed rooms were coupled with telephones, central heating, gas, electricity, a refrigeration room, and indoor plumbing with bathrooms for each bedroom, one with an elaborate shower.
The result was conspicuous consumption rooted in tradition announcing the Joslyns were a couple not only of cultivated tastes, but power and influence.
If you’re going to visit Oklahoma, Trip Advisor recommends these destinations!
Bricktown
Bricktown, just east of Oklahoma City’s downtown business district, is the city’s original warehouse and distribution center turned entertainment district. You can go shopping, drink at a bar, dine at one of the many restaurants, and stroll along the Bricktown River Walk Park at your own pace. You can also catch a baseball game at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark or have fun on the sands of Bricktown Beach on summer days. The area is home to a plethora of public art, museums, and galleries, making it one of Oklahoma City’s most vibrant arts districts and a great attraction year-round.
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the Museum, located in Oklahoma City, collects, preserves, and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have sought out this unique museum to gain better understanding of the West: a region and a history that permeates our national culture.
Philbrook Museum of Art
This vast art museum, housed in an Italian style villa, has numerous exhibits from European, American, Asian, Native American and African artists and is surrounded by acres of lush gardens.
Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
The Cave House
The Cave House in a landmark in Tulsa. It was built in 1924, as a Chicken Restaurant. Built during prohibition, it was a place you could quench your thirst! It not only has quirky architecture, but it probably best known for its stories, full of interesting and sometimes amusing information. It is a great date, or family adventure, and as the owner I love to share it! It is best to call, or message ahead, as I do not have regular hours. Due to scheduling for private tours and groups, and because travelers request all days and times, I try to schedule according to requests as best as I can. The cost is $15.00 and kids under 13 years are $7.50.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Myriad Botanical Gardens is one of Oklahoma City’s most beloved public spaces, offering its visitors a 15 acre natural escape in the heart of downtown. A half-acre children’s garden, an off-leash dog park, splash fountains, and paths for walking and jogging provide guests young and old with a place to seek solitude with nature, or seek community and the company of others. The Gardens offers a variety of horticultural education programs for adults and children. The centerpiece attraction of the Gardens is the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory. Its unique design has earned attention and praise in the architectural community. It is 224 feet long, 70 feet in diameter, and is covered by 3,028 sections of translucent, double-layered acrylic panels. After an 18-month, $11 million renovation, it reopened to the public on November 18, 2022.
Sew Colorful 