racheli

We visited “Old Man River” in Memphis, on the border with Arkansas. It’s not terribly exciting, but just thinking about the importance of the Mississippi, its impact on the economy and geography and history of America was pretty amazing. We had to climb down a rocky cliff to reach the actual river, but it was worth it to dip our toes in this famous waterway.

...although we found one inside one of the cars. You’ll definitely want to leave your mark on this. I probably wouldn’t make a whole trip to visit it (there’s really nothing there besides the cars, not even an explanation), but it’s a fun diversion off I-40 if you’re there already.

Why take Rt. 81 when you can take the Blue Ridge Parkway? It’s not for people who need to get somewhere in a hurry (the speed limit is low, and the road is steep and winding), but if you have time to meander along even a small section of the parkway, it’s worth it for the majestic vistas, clean air and feeling of complete isolation.

Alcatraz is more well-known, but Angel Island is the real jewel of San Francisco Bay. We took a guided hike to the top of Mount Livermore, and our docent was amazingly knowledgeable. Angel Island was called the “Ellis Island of the West,” where Asian immigrants landed and were often kept in quarantine. The poetry left by detainees on the walls of the immigration station is just heartbreaking.

North Beach at Fort DeSoto was named the best beach in America in 2005, so when I lived in Lakeland that summer I took a day trip to see it. There was almost no one there; the smell of dead fish from a particularly bad red tide probably scared everyone away. It was gorgeous – unlike the other Florida beaches which all have boardwalks and hotels behind them, this one was totally natural, beautiful and completely isolated. It reminded me of Cape Cod. I wish I had gotten a chance to go back.