November 16, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 4 DAYS

Joshua Tree NP Recap!

Welcome back and welcome to a new week!

Week number 47 in 2015 to be exact, and I still have 4 more (fairly) local getaways/weekend type trips to go on before the year is up!

credit: latimes.com

I woke up today to beautiful blue skies, snow capped mountain ranges, and a glorious snow report! It's pretty much officially ski season and we are stoked and can't wait for our first trip down the slopes (Colorado in January)!

While although I was quite amazed that I got cellular signal while sitting in my tent, the upload speed for pictures with beyond ridiculously S L O W.

So today I figured that I would do a bit of a photo recap of the weekend at Joshua Tree National Park for you!

​If any of you are familiar with 1960's cartoon...
The Flintstones. Residing in Bedrock. Well that is what it is like to be at Joshua Tree National Park!
​
You feel like you are back in the stone age, and that at any given point you could see a Dinosaur running amongst the Joshua Trees. It's pretty wild!

Yesterday remained quite windy as a result of the storm front, and I gotta say - I am NOT much of a fan of the wind. Gimme a nice ocean breeze anyday, but I could certainly do without the wind.

From what I found out those winds and the powerful gusts were getting up to 55mph. Which I suppose didn't give me as restful a sleep as I needed. How can I tell?
Well for starters I was EXTRA sleepy during the driving portions of the day, and then last night when it was only 9pm, both Cosette and I felt like it was 3am. And it didn't take me long at all to doze off into a heavy slumber. Which is highly unusual! I'm usually awake super late. Night owl/Early bird.

After having a delicious breakfast of S'mores Pancakes we headed into town and to the Joshua Tree Visitors Center.

Next up we were on our way to Hidden Valley, a moderate one mile loop, rock-enclosed valley rumored to have been used by cattle rustlers.

We were scrambling up and around the rocks and boulders, taking plenty of pictures, watching the rock climbers scale walls, and we even managed to have some fun monkeying around in a tree!

Next up was SKULL rock! 
A 1.5-mile loop Jumbo Rocks Campground    boulder piles, desert washes, and a rock formation known as Skull Rock.

It began long ago when rain drops accumulated in tiny depressions and started to erode the granite. As more rock eroded, more water accumulated, leading to more erosion until, as time passed, two hollowed-out eye sockets formed and the rock began to resemble a skull...

And finally as the sun began to set and the rain started to come down, we parted ways with Jet, Andrew, and Chaplin as they went home and we went to Palm Springs for some dinner!

Tonight the kids have choir rehearsal for the many Christmas performances that they have coming up!

I've got some unpacking and repacking to do for next weekend...when we are on the road again!!

I hope that you've had a wonderful weekend and have a wonderful week to come.

I'll see you back here tomorrow for
​Travelin' Tuesday when I'll be updating you on future travel and sharing with you some information on Yosemite National Park.

Catch ya later,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN
BOSTON, MA

Goodbye Boston, Hello Long Island

Hi there!
It's the start of another week as another trip comes to an end. 

What a great trip this was!  Only 4 days, but, oh, so good! So much we didn't get to see - ahh, but that is reason for another trip to Boston!

I want to tell you all about yesterday... we did 3 totally amazing things for our last full day in Boston...

We started our day bright and early and did a whole lotta walking.  Thanks to my phone and portable GPS, we navigated this historic city on foot!

THE BOSTON DUCK TOUR
If you've ever done any of the "Duck" tours, which are primarily offered as tourist attractions in harbor, river and lake cities, then you know how informative and fun they are!!  

It all takes place in a World War II style amphibious landing vehicle and yesterday the girls and I took the Boston Duck Tour.  

Part drive, part cruise, we lucked out with the weather as we enjoyed so many of the sites for which this city is famous. From the State House to Bunker Hill to Copley Square and Boston Public Gardens and so many other local sites.

Our ConDUCTor was truly amazing as we boarded our Duck at 9:30 and was chock full of information and trivia facts, pointing out the famous and not-so-famous spots. 

As we splashed down into the Charles River, both girls had an opportunity to "man" the ship and take the helm!! What fun!

Splashing down into the Charles River

Here are some of the facts we gathered during this tour:

1. The first chocolate factory, Baker Chocolate is located in Boston.

2. The first telephone call was made from Boston by Alexander Graham Bell.

3. Boston Common Park was set aside by the Puritans for things like grazing cattle, growing vegetables and even public hangings.

4. Mary Dyer was a Quaker, who was hanged for her religious beliefs and was the inspiration for the First Amendment.

5. 122 Bowdoin Street, was where John Fitzgerald Kennedy lived and it was still his legal address when the 35th President was killed.

6. The Hurley Building is where Leonardo DiCaprio ran up steps to the police department in the movie The Departed.

7. The 1910 Bridge was completed in 1912.

8. There are 22,000 tulips planted each year in the Boston Common.

9. The newest statue in Boston is of Edgar Allan Poe.

10. Arlington Street Church contains original stained glass windows created by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself.

BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM

This was more delightful than I had imagined!  It combined history and fun!  If you haven't been to this totally awesome experience, I highly recommend it!

It was much more of what I would call an "experience" than jut a museum.

Everyone was dressed in period attire from the 1700's and the actors were impeccable in their portrayal of Revolutionary time Americans. 

The "interactive exhibit" drew visitors in from the moment of arrival, straight through the entire presentation which moved through various halls, rooms and period exhibits indoors and out. 

One of the most awesome parts was boarding the replica ship, sitting in the harbor!  Our very small and intimate crowd stood aboard this Revolutionary War era vessel, as if we were rebels involved in the plot to throw the King's shipment of tea overboard.

What I didn't know was that, the tea had remained aboard the ship since its arrival into port, in an effort to avoid Boston taking possession of the cargo and thereby being required to pay taxes -- the very taxes that the patriots had been objecting to for several years leading up to the Boston Tea Party.

Plotting and eventually disposing of the East India Tea Company's boxes of tea into Boston Harbor was a bold move which carried with it the charge of treason (if caught) with a penalty of death.

These patriots were brave and resolute in their desire for liberty.

We got a chance to "throw" the tea overboard, which I happily snapped away as Gianna and Kelsey tossed cargo into the water below. 

Gianna throwing her tea overboard...

Our three guides were incredible and not only brought us back in time with their enactment of the events leading up to the fateful night, but also schooled us in the language and expressions of the time, which we all partook!

The tour ended with a very touching and poignant film of what would transpire the months following the Boston Tea Party and the eventual start of the American Revolution.

The film depicted the fateful night in April 1775 when William Dawes made his ride, along with Paul Revere  from Cambridge throughout the countryside to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that a large mass of British redcoats were on their way to Lexington for a fight that signaled the beginning of the War of Independence. 

I tried to impart on my girls just how brave these men (and women!) were to fight so hard and with such sacrifice to insure the liberties, freedom and rights we enjoy today as Americans. I won't lie, I cried during the film.

I was completely impressed from beginning to end and was delighted at the sight of an actual East India Tea Company tea box that survived from the night of the Boston Tea Party that is on display at this museum!

​After the full presentation, we were guided to Abigail's Tea Room, for a yummy snack.  

We enjoyed tea - the same flavors that the colonists themselves drank over 200 years ago!

And now, a few words from the Abigail's Tea Room...

​BEAUTIFUL THE MUSICAL AT THE BOSTON OPERA HOUSE

As many of you who have been following my blog for a while know, I saw the original Broadway production of Beautiful back in June of 2014.

This show, of course, would go on to win two Tony Awards that year! My girls would enjoy listening to the original cast soundtrack time and again and when I found out that Beautiful was playing in Boston during our trip, you best believe I wasn't going to miss this opportunity to see it with daughters.

First of all, it was playing in The Boston Opera House, in which, I'd never been.

At first sight, me and the girls were struck by the exterior architecture.  But, upon entering, we were awestruck by the beauty of this building, which opened in 1928.

With attention to detail everywhere we turned, it was a bit like stepping back in time.  I was curious what the traveling company's performance would be like, having been spoiled by the original cast...but, it was amazing, to say the least!!

Gianna and Kelsey were not only entranced with the music, which, by this point, they knew very well; but also with the performances, the witty and touching dialog and the mesmerizing sets and costumes.

It was definitely the highlight of our trip!! I felt so proud to be with my girls, who not only behave like adults, but just knowing how their personalities and minds are being shaped with the many worldly experiences they have under their belts in their respective 9 and 11 years.

Everyone always comments on how maturely they behave and I think to myself (as I thank them) "my girls are world travelers who have developed a sophistication no possessed by many kids their age"  and I thank God I have been able to expose them to such experiences at such young ages.

Anxiously waiting for the show to begin

Oh, one other thing about yesterday...

Between sights, we also took the chance to go inside Faneuil Hall and for the girls and I to get our National Parks Passports stamped.  

Kelsey also found an historic fiction book, about which to write her book report, which was to be part of her assignment for missing school for our Boston trip.

A little candy for both girls was also in order before leaving!!

Faneuil Hall

Kelsey selected this historical Fiction book on which to do her book report project

Yes - it was a great and memorable day!!

Today, we took a vote on what we should do with our limited time - A) Go on the Fenway Park tour (as I wanted to do) or B) Head over to the Science Museum of Boston to see the Pixar Exhibit.  Well, folks, which one do you think won out?

My girls are not big baseball fans, however we are ALL animation fans, so it's off to the Science Museum!

More about that tomorrow.

After visiting the museum later this morning, we'll get back on the road and head south, back to Long Island.  

It's been a great trip!!  See ya tomorrow!

-E
xoxo