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Once you’ve been to Sea World’s Aquarium this pales in comparision. It has improved somewhat since it first opened it’s doors. They’ve added a Bird Sancturary. They have a lot deacons who will educate you about all things Ocean. In 2005 some teenagers broke into the Aquarium and wrecked havoc. They smased a turtle egg; threw furniture and garbage in the tanks; tortured, battered sharks. One was found dead outside, having been smashed on the wall. They were caught when they returned the next day to have some more “fun”. Because of their age, they weren’t really punished for their crimes. They had to write letters of apology. One of the boys said he didn’t know he’d done anything wrong. Sad.

The photo isn’t the Traffic Circle at PCH & Lakewood. Some people from North Jersey can’t manuever traffic circles, because there aren’t many; whereas, South Jersey has lots of them. When I first drove this Traffic Circle, they do it differently than in South Jersey, so took a while to learn. One day entering the Circle from Lakewood Blvd going West, as I rounded the curve going uphill, a dog apppeared out of nowhere and I instantly hit my breaks. Didn’t even think that I could have been rear-ended, the dogs safety was my only concern. Hearing him cry, realized he was under the tire and backed up and he ran ‘cross the highway. Pulled across and parked. My daughter and I searched for the dog to take it to a Vet. It was nowhere to be found. We felt horrible not being able to find it and because it seemed impossible for it to appear so quickly, and also get across the highway with all that traffic, we called it a ’ghost dog’, that maybe it was not real.

The quaint shopping area had a florist where I worked for a short time. Delivered flowers to the Wedding Chapel and reception rooms and once in a while a vactioner had ordered them for their rooms. The Queen Mary is rumored to be haunted. The walls on the various levels are lined with interesting old photo’s and historical facts. There was a bit of controversy with the town of Long Beach and the owners about taxes.

It has been used in filming movies, as are a lot of places in Long Beach. I enjoyed being part of “Little Nicky” as an unpaid extra and also concerts and other events I attended there.

Had been planning on relocating to this exciting town, before the floods last year. Love music, love the French Quarter, with every genre you’d care to hear. The people are friendly and enegetic, tho’ some tire of the tourists.

The state also has fantasic scenery for a drive thru…besides the Gulf of Mexico, rivers and greenery you won’t see on the West Coast or Norhtern USA.

Growing up 30 miles from the “Big Apple” visits to the city were frequent. Especially liked the Italian street festivals, going to China town. As an adult attended concerts, Earth day celebrations and so much more.

Catskill mountains, lake Erie, Marist college in Poughkeepsie, Syracuse all play roles in my life. Don’t go in the winter if you don’t like the cold!

…the Garden State has many Historical places to visit. There’s also the “Jersey Shore” heavily populated by residents & NYC guests. Atlantic City has gambling; South Jersey lots of farms and back country roads; Appalician Mountain range, river trails for nature enthusists…can even find caves to explore and find crytal rocks & fossils.

The downer is traffic & smog, especially when near the big “City”. It’s great to leave the car at home when visiting New York, by taking a train from many places in New Jersey.

Rutger’s College, Robert Wood Johnson teaching University are two places in my home town of New Brunswick.

have driven across the country 3 times and taken Greyhound a few more! Will add some photo’s at a later date. (just joined 43 things yesterday).

But you’ll also be in for long lines of grid locked traffic. Like any large city there are areas of Anaheim that are unsafe, so be careful; use common sense!

Most people think the airport is in Los Angeles, but it’s actually El Segundo. LA is just ‘cross the highway tho’.

A sleepy ole town on the coast. It sets high above the ocean and you often see people exercising by biking, running, skating up and down the long hill to the beach. What an awesome view of the ocean, from the top, especially at sunrise & sunset.

Tho’ they ‘roll the sidewalks up’ on weekends, there’s still lots to do. Karokee bars, library, kids sports at the park. Close to mass transit and major Freeways. Great place to raise children.