Entry bubble Your Backyard National Parks!

By: Editor | May 25, 2009 | Category: Travel

Carl Chitwood has been Web Manager for the National Park Service since December of 2003 and has traveled to 124 of the 391 parks in that time.

Of all the weekend and day trips I make, none is more refreshing than a day in the mountains. Whether that day is spent at Catoctin Mountain or Shenandoah, just one or two days hiking in the crisp, fresh mountain air refreshes and recharges me for the inevitable energy drain of day-to-day work. On longer vacations, as a self described “mountain man stuck in urbania,” I always try to get to the mountains and spend time with nature. For me there is nothing better than a late spring day spent above 8,000 feet with my family. However, not everyone is a mountain person . . .Logo for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Almost everyone thinks of geysers or wildlife when they hear “National Park.” However, what you may not know is there are parks in almost every state covering everything from American cultural and societal history to beautiful natural landscapes and recreational activities. If you have an interest in something “American,” you can bet that there is a park for you.

This country is blessed to have such a vast and diverse National Park System. With 391 places to visit, it is almost guaranteed that you have one near you.

Get out there, enjoy your public lands, landmarks and places . . . you own them.

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Entry bubble Museums and Halls of Fame

By: Jim | September 29, 2008 | Category: Travel

Museum at nightA recent weekend away got me thinking about some of the historic and artistic destinations in the DC area that I’ve not yet seen. A lot of them free at that! Why is it that so many of us who live in cities with a variety of attractions rarely take advantage of them? For example, I have yet to finish touring all of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution or go to one of its Folklife Festivals.

If you're like me, you probably have the usual excuses, like being too busy or wanting to wait until you have houseguests. Others of us may have children and think the kids may not enjoy a trip the local museum. Not to fear! Museums and Learning has tips on how to prepare for and enjoy a trip to the museum with your kids. If you think you're not ready for a trip to the Museum of Modern Art with the kids, then maybe a visit to a children's museum is in order.

For something a little unusual, try a hall of fame. Back home in Northeastern Ohio there are such diverse venues as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron. If you or your kids have a particular interest or hobby, do a quick search using your hobby with the term "hall of fame" or "museum" and see what you come up with, like the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, TN. Another way to find about interesting cultural opportunities is to go to your town's chamber of commerce or department of tourism. Check out USA.gov's history, arts, and culture page page for more ideas, too.

Does your home town have an unusual attraction?

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Entry bubble Exploring Pocahontas and Native American History Month

By: Jake | November 12, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

November marks American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month. In existence since 1990, the goal is to recognize the intertribal cultures and to educate the public about the heritage, history, art, and traditions of the American Indian and Alaska Native people.

The legend of Pocahontas saving Captain John Smith from execution, to me, is one of the most fascinating stories of all time. I think this is because a) I grew up in the Tidewater Virginia area near the site of the Citie of Henricus where Pocahontas met John Rolfe, whom she would eventually marry and b) I find the mystery of what actually happened interesting.

The legend is based on Smith's version of the story, which he recounted back in Great Britain years after the incident. He said that Chief Powhatan's tribe was about to execute him when Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, ran in and cradled his head to protect him. Powhatan stopped the execution and the rest is history. While some historians think Smith's story is legit, some assert that what Smith witnessed was a ritual.

Most interesting to me is how some Native American tribes beg to differ. In 1995 an animated version of the Pocahontas legend was released and it motivated the Powhatan Renape Nation to give their take on the legend. The Powhatan Renape Nation says the rescue never happened, and that Smith's earlier accounts of his peaceful stay with the Powhatan Nation contradict his later accounts. They believe that Smith, who was broke later in life, made up the story afterwards to promote himself.

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: american   americans   culture   history   indians   native   pocahontas