Visited: Thursday, June 28th, 2012
Anyone who starts exploring the National Parks will quickly come across John Muir's name. But I didn't really have a feel for who he was until today, visiting the house where he lived (with absences) the last 24 years of his life. There's little left of the property Muir managed for his father-in-law, but enough to give a feel for it - and, most importantly, both the Muir house and the Martinez structure.
The park is very well laid out, with a short movie to start things off, and then a pleasant walk with a pass through the house on the way. Fantastic place to visit, on the whole.
One more note - I've said it before, but one of my greatest weaknesses at NPS sites are the bookstores. In addition to adding to my patch collection, there are almost always books of interest. After hearing about Muir, I really wanted to read some of his writing - but couldn't decide what to read. Until I found a sampler, which is right about the right level for me - particularly give how many books I've picked up of late...
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
53) Pinnacles National Monument
Visited: Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
I love sites with historic content.
Megan likes site with natural beauty.
This makes _most_ of the NPS sites of particular interest to one of us - and usually of some interest to the other.
But Pinnacles offers - a limited amount of either. It looks nice for camping, which appeals to neither of us, and the hiking opportunities had their interest hit by hot temperatures and high fire danger. Leaving - a very small visitor center, and a nature center open only on weekends. And a long drive off the beaten path to get there. Still pretty enough to be nice to have seen, but not a standout, and not likely for a return trip.
I love sites with historic content.
Megan likes site with natural beauty.
This makes _most_ of the NPS sites of particular interest to one of us - and usually of some interest to the other.
But Pinnacles offers - a limited amount of either. It looks nice for camping, which appeals to neither of us, and the hiking opportunities had their interest hit by hot temperatures and high fire danger. Leaving - a very small visitor center, and a nature center open only on weekends. And a long drive off the beaten path to get there. Still pretty enough to be nice to have seen, but not a standout, and not likely for a return trip.
52) Channel Islands National Park
Visited: Sunday, June 24th, 2012
The visitor center for the Channel Islands is very nice - if not easy to get to mid-triathlon - but it really is insufficient. We followed up with a flight out to Santa Rosa island, on which there were eight people - the two pilots, a couple taking a day away from their kids, and the four of us. And it's - unique, I think, really best sums things up. Everything is a bit of a surprise. In particular, Crab Stonehenge - a structure built by some previous visitor - was both funny and impressive to come across. Ethan added to it by moving a second crab (empty shell) there. It was only once we got there that I realized that I had flown with my pocket knife, for the first time in many years.
It was particularly interesting to discover that the island had been an active ranch as recently as a year ago. The presence of a schoolhouse - albeit not in use as such for many years - was odd to think about; the island feels well away from everything, and it's hard to imagine with enough children there to necessitate a school.
We flew over Anacapa and Santa Cruz; I wish we'd seen the other two islands, but that seems to have necessitated the boat tour. Next time...
The visitor center for the Channel Islands is very nice - if not easy to get to mid-triathlon - but it really is insufficient. We followed up with a flight out to Santa Rosa island, on which there were eight people - the two pilots, a couple taking a day away from their kids, and the four of us. And it's - unique, I think, really best sums things up. Everything is a bit of a surprise. In particular, Crab Stonehenge - a structure built by some previous visitor - was both funny and impressive to come across. Ethan added to it by moving a second crab (empty shell) there. It was only once we got there that I realized that I had flown with my pocket knife, for the first time in many years.
It was particularly interesting to discover that the island had been an active ranch as recently as a year ago. The presence of a schoolhouse - albeit not in use as such for many years - was odd to think about; the island feels well away from everything, and it's hard to imagine with enough children there to necessitate a school.
We flew over Anacapa and Santa Cruz; I wish we'd seen the other two islands, but that seems to have necessitated the boat tour. Next time...
Monday, June 25, 2012
51) Cabrillo National Monument
Visited: Saturday, June 23rd, 2012
This was not the first time I visited Cabrillo - though the first time was when the original statue was there, and the replacement will soon be 30. But I'd forgotten the place entirely - particularly why it was there. So it was great to get back; the park isn't large, but between the monument and the lighthouse, it's an enjoyable stop, and a nice place to learn about the Spanish explorers. Definitely recommended if you're in San Diego...
This was not the first time I visited Cabrillo - though the first time was when the original statue was there, and the replacement will soon be 30. But I'd forgotten the place entirely - particularly why it was there. So it was great to get back; the park isn't large, but between the monument and the lighthouse, it's an enjoyable stop, and a nice place to learn about the Spanish explorers. Definitely recommended if you're in San Diego...
Monday, June 18, 2012
50) Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Visited: Sunday, June 17th, 2012
Well, we got through the first 50 in just under 3 years. Putting us on track to get to all the NPS-run sites in - 2033. Though I fear that's far too optimistic; I suspect that 2043 is much more likely.
We only visited a single Island - George's Island - but IMHO it's easily the most interesting, holding the remains of a fort used from 1850-1950, Fort Warren. Now, at that, Fort Warren's history is - pretty dry; not all that much actually _happened_ there, other than training and - during the Civil War - holding prisoners. But it makes the island much more interesting for me than, for example, Spectacle Island, which has - nice trails.
Oddly, the patch for the site is about 30% smaller in each dimension than the standard Eastern park patches, even though it's the same style otherwise. It's actually closer in dimensions to the Western park patches.
One of the most interesting aspects of the trip for me was to get a feel, from ground level, about what goes on at Logan. Now I just need to fly out of Logan again to put the two aspects together in my mind. Fortunately, it won't be long until I get that chance; unfortunately, our flight is at 5:30AM...
Well, we got through the first 50 in just under 3 years. Putting us on track to get to all the NPS-run sites in - 2033. Though I fear that's far too optimistic; I suspect that 2043 is much more likely.
We only visited a single Island - George's Island - but IMHO it's easily the most interesting, holding the remains of a fort used from 1850-1950, Fort Warren. Now, at that, Fort Warren's history is - pretty dry; not all that much actually _happened_ there, other than training and - during the Civil War - holding prisoners. But it makes the island much more interesting for me than, for example, Spectacle Island, which has - nice trails.
Oddly, the patch for the site is about 30% smaller in each dimension than the standard Eastern park patches, even though it's the same style otherwise. It's actually closer in dimensions to the Western park patches.
One of the most interesting aspects of the trip for me was to get a feel, from ground level, about what goes on at Logan. Now I just need to fly out of Logan again to put the two aspects together in my mind. Fortunately, it won't be long until I get that chance; unfortunately, our flight is at 5:30AM...
Saturday, May 26, 2012
49) John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
Visited: Saturday, May 26th, 2012
Now this surprised me...
This is the house where JFK was born, and it's - very... normal. The first and second floors are set up as they were when the Kennedys lived there, through 1920. And the basement is 1/2 gift shop, 1/2 video presentation. On the whole, it's a very modest museum, particularly as compared to the LBJ site. Though I did find it very interesting to compare the openness of the LBJ site - noting both his successes and failures, strengths and weakness, in good balance. The JFK video, in contrast, focused on the positive, and excused the failures - and then ended very suddenly with Kennedy's death.
On the whole, it wasn't what I expected, but was rather enjoyable, and _much_ easier to find parking than I expected.
Now this surprised me...
This is the house where JFK was born, and it's - very... normal. The first and second floors are set up as they were when the Kennedys lived there, through 1920. And the basement is 1/2 gift shop, 1/2 video presentation. On the whole, it's a very modest museum, particularly as compared to the LBJ site. Though I did find it very interesting to compare the openness of the LBJ site - noting both his successes and failures, strengths and weakness, in good balance. The JFK video, in contrast, focused on the positive, and excused the failures - and then ended very suddenly with Kennedy's death.
On the whole, it wasn't what I expected, but was rather enjoyable, and _much_ easier to find parking than I expected.
48) Lowell National Historical Park
Visited: Saturday, May 26th, 2012
After not getting to an NPS site this winter, it was nice to start to get back into the swing with our first visit to the Lowell National Historical Park. And it's an interesting park - the visitor center isn't particularly important, though - if you have limited time, the Boott Cotton Mill. The earplugs aren't really optional - they run the looms, and it gets _loud_. But it's impressive - and the boys were fascinated to hear about the jobs children would typically do in the factory.
In addition, they had a DIckens display - I hadn't realized that Dickens had traveled extensively through the United States. And I only vaguely remembered than Kerouac was from Lowell; since I do need to read On The Road, I picked it up. But nothing really topped the working looms; at the gift store, they sell dish cloths made at the mill there.
After not getting to an NPS site this winter, it was nice to start to get back into the swing with our first visit to the Lowell National Historical Park. And it's an interesting park - the visitor center isn't particularly important, though - if you have limited time, the Boott Cotton Mill. The earplugs aren't really optional - they run the looms, and it gets _loud_. But it's impressive - and the boys were fascinated to hear about the jobs children would typically do in the factory.
In addition, they had a DIckens display - I hadn't realized that Dickens had traveled extensively through the United States. And I only vaguely remembered than Kerouac was from Lowell; since I do need to read On The Road, I picked it up. But nothing really topped the working looms; at the gift store, they sell dish cloths made at the mill there.
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