All posts by Jackson

Memphis TN

Mud Island Park

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Another “Island”,   actually a peninsula, I wandered onto sits along the shores of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee. Mud Island Park hosts a museum, lots of open space, an Amphitheater for summer concerts, pedal boats, and a large scale model of the lower Mississippi River. The 1.3 million gallon water filled model shows the locations of cities and other rivers that flow into the mighty Miss and empties into an acre sized Gulf of Mexico. During the summer you’ll also find lots of people ‘wading the river’. Access to the park is provided by ferry, car, footbridge, or for something different – a monorail. SAS Score: 3

On a side note: The first time I visited Mud Island, the B-17F that flew 25 successful missions in World War Two and took its namesake from the city, the Memphis Belle, was parked under a large canopy on the north end of the island. It has since been moved and is currently being renovated for display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, OH.

San Juan Capistrano CA

San Juan Capistrano Mission

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An hour south of Los Angeles, you’ll find the ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The mission, built by Spanish Catholics, was founded in 1775 and then again in 1776 – being one of the few missions to have been founded twice. Today, much of the mission remains and is peaceful experience, especially for those who are interested in history or 18th century architecture. The mission today holds a museum, wonderfully planted gardens, fountains, and more. They also provide docent and self guided tours. My visit to SJC was short, but pleasant. Given I was limited in time, I took the self guided tour and more or less just wandered around to take in as much as I could; however, I could see spending the better part of a day there if time permitted. Along with a look into the daily life of how many previous human inhabitants lives, the mission is also home to a flock of cliff swallows. These swallows return each year in March from Argentina to make their mud nests all around the mission grounds. Although I recently read the birds are starting to prefer nesting places north of San Juan Capistrano due to urbanization in the area, I was fortunate enough to visit while they were plenty abundant. My SAS score: 4

Fall River MA

Battleship Cove

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Sitting in the waters of Mount Hope Bay, under the shadow of the Braga Bridge, is the largest collection of World War II naval vessels in the world. Along with its namesake battleship, the U.S.S. Massachusetts, the cove is home to a destroyer, a submarine, two PT boats, and a Soviet Corvette. There are also several aircraft, portions of other ships, and many related displays. The best part of the museum is climbing around inside all these old ships. There are very few places off limits and it provides a very physical view of how life was lived on each type of vessel. This museum will wear you out if you try to climb through everything in a short time, but it is well worth a look even if you only have an hour or two. – My SAS score: 5

Fall River MA

Fall River, MA

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Fall River is about 15 miles South of Providence, Rhode Island and 45 miles South of Boston. I’ve made the easy trip from both locations, but have not stayed overnight in Fall River itself. Although you can find some nice local eateries, the city still has an industrial feel, which is understandable given its prominent place in the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, the falls for which the town is named were lost when the Quequechan River was diverted to underground culverts.

Washington DC

Roosevelt Island Park

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Originally known as Mason Island, I stumbled upon the now Roosevelt Island Park during a long walk along the Potomac River one evening. Aside from a single jogger I passed on the footbridge on the way in, there were no other visitors on the island that day, which made for a very peaceful experience. Within the park are lots of trails, wildlife, vegetation, and a very large memorial to the 26th President. The memorial, dedicated back in 1967, consists of a couple nice fountains, four large stone monoliths with quotes from Teddy, a circular surrounding moat with four entry bridges, and a statue of the President – hand outstretched as though giving an impassioned speech. If you are in D.C. or the Virginia area, and are looking for a quiet space to relax, I recommend you give this spot a try. – My SAS score: 3

Newport KY

Thompson House

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Just off the waters edge in Newport is a grand old place called the ‘Thompson House’. It currently serves as a hip live music venue, with weekly comedy nights, but also has a pretty cool history as well. It was the birthplace and former home of Brigadier General John T. Thompson, who invented the sub-machine gun; later known as the Tommy Gun. Prior to this, his forefathers entertained many distinguished guests in the home, including the future President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, the home was used as part of the underground railroad, leveraging a closet with hidden passageways to the Cincinnati River, where slaves would cross to their freedom. – side note: The underground railroad museum is just across the water in Cincinnati.

 

Newport KY

Newport, KY

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Just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati sits Newport, Kentucky. I’ve been to Newport many times, mostly to grab a bite to eat, or wander through the shops along the riverbank. But occasionally to meander along the small side streets, where there are a few surprising finds…

Hello World

Hello world!

Hello World. This blog will highlight places around the globe, both on and off the beaten path. If you find yourself in one of these cities, I hope you are able to say “saw that!”, not “should have seen it!”

Safe Travels – Jackson