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| packing has gotten more efficient |
So my plan to write a blog about every MUSAP adventure didn’t quite go as planned. I am way behind, but I have notes from every trip and dreams that I will catch up. Perhaps I will resolve to simply do better moving forward.
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| MUSAP loves exploring and sunshine |
For now here is a summary of MUSAP’s 2014 travel adventures. There were 11 trips ~ 6 involved airplanes, 4 were round trips and 2 were flights to one city and home from another. Five adventures were road trips.
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| walking on a beach is always a favorite activity |
I went to 15 shows in 8 different cities ~ sometimes the show or someone in the show was the motivation for the adventure. MUSAP doesn’t always get to go to shows.
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| MUSAP at Cirque du Soleil's Totem in Santa Monica |
Chihuly glass was motivation for 2 of the adventures. The first was in New Orleans, the second was Denver.
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| Chihuly's Summer Sun |
There were only two trips where I didn’t connect with a friend or family member along the way. Some people I saw more than once, some I saw for just a little while. There were meals, shows, walks with my camera, and time to catching up.
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| family and friends with MUSAP |
MUSAP has now taken segway tours in 4 different cities and gone horseback riding twice.
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| I have now explored Washington, DC, New Orleans, Chicago, and Denver by segway tour. |
January saw MUSAP in Florida. We explored from Tampa to Naples and back again.
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| MUSAP in Punta Gorda |
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| on Sanibel Island |
February took MUSAP to California, from Santa Monica to San Francisco. This trip included my sister-in-law, Susie. We enjoyed visiting family along the way.
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| didn't realize Route 66 ended on the pier in Santa Monica |
This is Wylie, my ride at Will Rogers State Park as I was enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean.
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| horseback tours are another fun way to explore |
As we drove up the coast we stopped at Elephant Seal Vista Point near San Simeon.
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| there were hundreds of elephant seals |
In San Francisco we enjoyed the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden depsite the drizzle.
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| MUSAP prefers visiting gardens and parks, not museums |
March included a trip to the barrier islands of Georgia. Stops included Amelia Island (in Florida), Cumberland Island - fun van tour, Jekyll Island - behind the scenes tour at Georgia Sea Turtle Rescue, St Simons Island - trolley tour.
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| Cumberland Island tour guide was willing to pose with MUSAP |
I was able to make a stop at Sea Island and enjoy a horseback ride on the beach which brought back memories of time spent there in the 1960’s!
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| how appropriate that my horse was named Jack Frost when I had headed south to escape the cold at home |
There was a visit to Okefenokee Swamp including an airboat tour.
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| there was an alligator summing on the other side of the pond |
There was also a weekend visit to Long Island.
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| beaches on Long Island are pretty chilly in March |
April was a mid-Atlantic road trip that included stops in New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Visited Cheesequake Park in NJ - I had driven past signs for it many times and always wanted to stop on check it out.
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| so happy to see signs of spring |
Delaware’s stop was Winterthur Estate.
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| a tiny home in a tree in the Children's Garden at Winterthur |
The cherry blossoms were in bloom in Washington DC. This was my first experience on a segway.
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| MUSAP and the cherry blossoms |
In Virginia I got to spend some time with Mark and Darin at Oakhill Farm in Aldie.
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| Mark & Darin's dogs weren't too sure about meeting MUSAP - looked like a toy |
In Maryland I was able to stop and have lunch with my cousin, Deanie. We don’t see each other often so it was nice to catch up. Later in the trip I visited Rose Hill Manor.
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| had a private tour with a docent at Rose Hill Manor |
I really enjoyed seeing the Amish country in Pennsylvania. I took a scooter tour to see covered bridges and a buggy tour to an Amish farm where I bought a homemade quilt.
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| we only saw 2 covered bridges on the scooter Covered Bridge Tour |
I went to Dutch Apple Dinner Theater and saw Megan Godin in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
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| Megan agreed to a MUSAP photo |
May was a return trip to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, returning with a stop on Long Island. First stop was Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.
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| these gardens are impressive and a visit needs to be all day - I need to return |
Then a return visit to Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, this time to see Megan in Shrek.
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| such a perfect Shrek elf |
On the way home I drove through Long Island to see Sean Quinn in 42nd Street at The Gateway Playhouse.
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| Phil, Jenny& I enjoyed the show |
Also got to spend time with Phil & Jenny and Tony, Sarah, & Leo.
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| every visit to Long Island includes a stop on Peconic Lane |
June brought MUSAP to New Orleans, Louisiana, which was one of the few trips without a rental car. Lots of walking and lots of heat. My second segway tour saved me a lot of steps.
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| ready for segway tour number 3 |
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| Mississippo River |
The reason I went was to see a Chilhuly glass exhibit in a gallery. I had the gallery all to myself - it was wonderful.
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| so amazing to be able to be leisurely wander among these pieces |
MUSAP stayed close to home all summer.
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| Swan Boats in Boston Public Garden |
In September MUSAP started traveling again with another visit to Long Island followed by the Big Apple, New York City.
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| sunset view from the dock at Phil's Mattituck house |
Stayed at the Yotel, near Times Square. I have a better sense of where things are in NYC now.
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| an experience with a view |
Sean was my tour guide and we covered a lot of ground.
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| appreciated Sean's company and his guidance for my NYC visit |
The end of September and into October brought MUSAP to Route 66, which doesn’t really exist anymore. The adventure started in Chicago and ended over 1,000 miles later in Dallas. There were stops in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
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| MUSAP checking our Route 66 plans |
Route 66 started in Chicago near Grant Park on Lake Michigan.
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| where the Mother Road began |
I took my 3rd segway tour of the year. I was surprised to see that the guide was the same guide I had had in Washington, DC last spring!
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| the Evening Glide tour was worth it |
I had to check out “The Bean” sculpture in Grant Park.
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| a selfie in the reflection of The Bean |
In Missouri MUSAP and I toured Meramec Caverns in Sullivan.
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| interesting tour that I discovered because of road side signs |
Kansas had about 13 miles of Route 66 back in the day. I found a few places to explore, but nothing too memorable.
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| Kansas - perhaps I should return and explore further |
In Oklahoma City I spent time at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial - very moving.
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| there is a memorial chair for each of the victims and the children's chairs are smaller |
My dad worked for Tandy Leather Company in Boston when I was growing up and I worked for them when I was a student at BU. So it was fun to be able to visit their company headquarters - they have a museum and a huge store. Wandering through the store brought back some special memories.
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| Tandy Leather |
In Dallas I toured the Perot Museum guided by Lucy Hale, former specialist at the Needham Schools Science Center.
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| Perot Museum is a great science museum |
I also enjoyed my behind the scenes tour at the Dallas Zoo.
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| they are very careful as they set up this photo op |
Later in October MUSAP headed west again to visit Colorado. At the higher elevations there was snow and not much oxygen. MUSAP didn’t care, I did!
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| MUSAP hasn't seen much snow |
Carol Evans was my wonderful hostess and tour guide. We both enjoyed the Chihuly at the Denver Botanical Gardens - during the day and then after dark.
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| Carol at Chihuly Nights before it got dark |
I introduced Carol to the segway tour experience.
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| I think Carol would try a segway again, she did fine when she didn't think about it |
We toured the Molly Brown House and followed that by seeing The Unsinkable Molly Brown at the Denver Performing Arts Center with Amber and Avery Evans, followed by dinner with Evans family.
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| Avery was happy to pose with MUSAP |
We drove up to Estes Park where the scenery was magnificent.
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| America the Beautiful |
After Denver I made a quick stop at Garden of the Gods.
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| Garden of the Gods balancing rock |
Then I stopped to see Susan Soloyanis - my sister’s college roommate. Susan was another fine tour guide and I was happy to see her home in Cascade with her chickens.
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| chickens wondered what MUSAP was doing in their pen |
Other stops included Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Four Corners, and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.
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| Mesa Verde cliff dwellings |
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| we decided we like rock cairns |
I didn’t know there were massive sand dunes in Colorado!
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| the people show how huge the dunes are |
So can I say I have visited Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico because of this stop?
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| Four Corners - a tourist stop with dozens of Native Americas selling handmade crafts |
I knew sandhill cranes migrated near Monte Vista NWR, but I didn’t think I would be lucky enough to see them.
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| sandhill cranes |
November was another stay at home month. Then as soon as the page on the calendar turned to December MUSAP was on the road again with a trip to Ohio. I made it a driving trip with a stop at Niagara Falls.
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| no crowds at Niagara Falls in December |
A visit to Cleveland wouldn’t be complete without the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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| seen in the RRHofF store |
I saw 4 shows at Playhouse Square - Behind the Myth with the stars from the TV show Mythbusters, Santaland Diaries, Straight No Chaser, and White Christmas.
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| Playhouse Square is a beautifully restored building with several theaters inside |
Sean poses naturally with MUSAP now. He was touring with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas so that was my motivation to visit Cleveland in December. He was assistant dance captain and swing (understudy for the male ensemble roles) so I didn’t expect to see the show. When I got there he let me know he was swinging in on Sunday night, so I got a ticket and got to see him on stage after all.
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| Sean Quinn |
So in case you lost count that was 18 states in the past 12 months. Phil & Jenny gave me the perfect Christmas gift - a scratch off map of the USA so I can have my travels on display. I have been to 22 states plus Washington, DC so far. Plenty of places still to explore!
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| love my new scratch off map! |
MUSAP will be repeating a few states as 2015 gets underway, then crossing new ones off the list with trips already planned for January, February, and March.
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| MUSAP is ready for the adventures of 2015! |
