My thought when we kind-of visited before was that it was too commercial. My thought after actually visiting was - the same. The movie is decent, the cyclorama is worthwhile, and the museum is OK (if re-using too much of the movie), but - it only took the next US Civil War NPS site before Gettysburg became not my favorite this trip. Worth seeing once; not the one I'd go back to.
Showing posts with label Revisited. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revisited. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Monday, September 21, 2020
103 Revisited) Glacier National Park
Revisited: Monday, September 14 2020-Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Glacier covered by wildfire smoke is - not quite the same. Still impressive, still beautiful, but - it turned out not to be the very best time to visit. In addition, while less busy overall than on our previous trip, the closure of the East entrance, along with the sights on that side (including Many Glacier), made the park feel _more_ busy.
Of course, it was still enjoyable, and there was a real highlight - we got to see a big horn sheep, an animal we missed the last time there.
I think the net result is mostly that I want to visit a third time...
Friday, September 4, 2020
23 Revisited) Minute Man National Historic Park
Revisited: Friday, September 4, 2020
For better or worse, Covid has had no impact so far upon our NPS site visitation. But that's changing this month - in a positive way; we'll be revisiting two sites, and visiting at least two we haven't seen before, directly as a result of not being able to do other things.
Today was a bonus wellness day as a result of Covid, and so Megan and I went to the North Bridge. It was a very nice, if a little warm, day for a walk, and the site was not busy at all. The visitor center was closed, with a ranger stationed outside to welcome visitors.
But today's visit was, in the end, just a nice place to have a walk.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
59 Revisited) Muir Woods National Monument
Visited: Friday, October 20, 2017
It was really nice to get back to Muir Woods - even if it seemed nearly as busy as when we visited during a weekend. We took a longer time this visit, even going off the main path to see the Kent monument, honoring the man who saved the park from development, over a century ago. It was peaceful and relaxing, and an ideal place to see after a long time on the road. I hadn't remembered just how far the park was from civilization - but it's a welcome separation.
It was really nice to get back to Muir Woods - even if it seemed nearly as busy as when we visited during a weekend. We took a longer time this visit, even going off the main path to see the Kent monument, honoring the man who saved the park from development, over a century ago. It was peaceful and relaxing, and an ideal place to see after a long time on the road. I hadn't remembered just how far the park was from civilization - but it's a welcome separation.
Monday, October 3, 2016
47 Revisited) Saugus Iron Works
Visited: Saturday, September 24th, 2016
We likely visited our final NPS site for the year with a return trip to the Saugus Iron Works. This time, we did the iron works house tour. Which - is historically odd, in that it post-dates the iron works (though it is from roughly the same era; it was built ~20 years after the iron works closed), and was remodeled to fit Wallace Nutting's view of what it _should_ look like. Not what it _did_ look like - though Nutting did make changes which brought the house closer to it's historic roots, he also added features to make it a better fit for how he felt it should look. Which, in retrospect, have little to do with the scant evidence that exists of how it did look.
But the tour was yet another reminder of the advantage of signing up for ranger talks at every opportunity...
We likely visited our final NPS site for the year with a return trip to the Saugus Iron Works. This time, we did the iron works house tour. Which - is historically odd, in that it post-dates the iron works (though it is from roughly the same era; it was built ~20 years after the iron works closed), and was remodeled to fit Wallace Nutting's view of what it _should_ look like. Not what it _did_ look like - though Nutting did make changes which brought the house closer to it's historic roots, he also added features to make it a better fit for how he felt it should look. Which, in retrospect, have little to do with the scant evidence that exists of how it did look.
But the tour was yet another reminder of the advantage of signing up for ranger talks at every opportunity...
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
23 Revisited) Minute Man National Historic Park
Visited: Monday, August 8, 2016
I really want to visit Minute Man sometime in April. The visitor center is simple, but well done at any point, but I'd love to see a reenactment, and to walk along the battle road. Of course, another April activity doesn't leave much time, so I'm not sure when or if it will happen, but it's definitely on the to-do list.
It was really nice to see the presentation - it's notably more than a simple movie - and to see the site of the farm where the leader at North Bridge lived, just up the hill from the bridge.
I really want to visit Minute Man sometime in April. The visitor center is simple, but well done at any point, but I'd love to see a reenactment, and to walk along the battle road. Of course, another April activity doesn't leave much time, so I'm not sure when or if it will happen, but it's definitely on the to-do list.
It was really nice to see the presentation - it's notably more than a simple movie - and to see the site of the farm where the leader at North Bridge lived, just up the hill from the bridge.
22 Revisited) Roger Williams National Memorial
Visited: Monday, August 8, 2016
Being in the area, and anxious to see more parks on the 100th anniversary of the NPS, we stopped by Roger Williams. There wasn't a need - but Williams really was a remarkable individual, and hearing about what he did - and how he did it - again was quite enjoyable. For such a small site, the memorial really is rather remarkable.
Being in the area, and anxious to see more parks on the 100th anniversary of the NPS, we stopped by Roger Williams. There wasn't a need - but Williams really was a remarkable individual, and hearing about what he did - and how he did it - again was quite enjoyable. For such a small site, the memorial really is rather remarkable.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
14 Revisited) Little Bighorn Battlefield
Visited: Friday, July 15, 2016
While there weren't hordes of bikers this time, the park was still very busy - particularly in contrast to Bighorn Canyon. But we got to hear a ranger talk, which we hadn't the previous time. Just too popular a site to really resonate with me as well as the smaller parks - the contrast to Big Hole stood out to me. I think a really fascinating Summer could be spent exploring the history of conflicts with Native Americans in the West, though I'm afraid the subject is too depressing for it to appeal sufficiently to me.
While there weren't hordes of bikers this time, the park was still very busy - particularly in contrast to Bighorn Canyon. But we got to hear a ranger talk, which we hadn't the previous time. Just too popular a site to really resonate with me as well as the smaller parks - the contrast to Big Hole stood out to me. I think a really fascinating Summer could be spent exploring the history of conflicts with Native Americans in the West, though I'm afraid the subject is too depressing for it to appeal sufficiently to me.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
13 Revisited) Yellowstone
Visited: Tuesday, July 12, 2016-Thursday, July 14, 2016
One of my great disappointments when we visited Yellowstone in 2009 was in not seeing Old Faithful. Well, I _saw_ Old Faithful, but it didn't really fire - it burbled.
This time, it fired - which was very impressive - and quite a relief. Yellowstone is an impressive park, and the geysers are fascinating, but it's just not my favorite park - Glacier, for instance, I found much more interesting. And I think I know why - Yellowstone has many fascinating places, but they're spread all over. Glacier (and Acadia) pack their wonders into a much smaller footprint. So there's less driving around, and more appreciating the parks. And Yellowstone felt far busier than Glacier, which didn't help my appreciation any.
We did see elk and mule deer and two wolves - and herds of bison, which seem to be the most common animals in the park. A mule deer and a wolf passed right in front of our car, an elk just in front of the car in front of us, and a bison was within 5 feet of our car. Oh, and for the second time we ended our trip to Yellowstone with a drive over the Beartooth Scenic Byway, one of my favorite drives ever. I can't recommend the byway strongly enough - it's not a difficult drive, but one climbs to nearly 11,000 feet, and the views are just sensational.
One of my great disappointments when we visited Yellowstone in 2009 was in not seeing Old Faithful. Well, I _saw_ Old Faithful, but it didn't really fire - it burbled.
This time, it fired - which was very impressive - and quite a relief. Yellowstone is an impressive park, and the geysers are fascinating, but it's just not my favorite park - Glacier, for instance, I found much more interesting. And I think I know why - Yellowstone has many fascinating places, but they're spread all over. Glacier (and Acadia) pack their wonders into a much smaller footprint. So there's less driving around, and more appreciating the parks. And Yellowstone felt far busier than Glacier, which didn't help my appreciation any.
We did see elk and mule deer and two wolves - and herds of bison, which seem to be the most common animals in the park. A mule deer and a wolf passed right in front of our car, an elk just in front of the car in front of us, and a bison was within 5 feet of our car. Oh, and for the second time we ended our trip to Yellowstone with a drive over the Beartooth Scenic Byway, one of my favorite drives ever. I can't recommend the byway strongly enough - it's not a difficult drive, but one climbs to nearly 11,000 feet, and the views are just sensational.
Monday, October 6, 2014
30 Revisited) Acadia NP
Visited: Saturday, October 4th, 2014
Hey, we made it three times before hitting another park twice...
This was a much more satisfying visit than our Winter sojourn, in spite of the misty rain than permeated the day (and our clothing). The top of Cadillac Mountain wasn't very receptive to sunset watching - not only was the wind fierce, getting the rain _everywhere_, but visibility was about 10 feet - but Thunder Hole was _amazing_. In spite of the rain, we stood there for about a half hour, just watching the dramatic waves and counter-waves. Definitely the highlight of the day.
Hey, we made it three times before hitting another park twice...
This was a much more satisfying visit than our Winter sojourn, in spite of the misty rain than permeated the day (and our clothing). The top of Cadillac Mountain wasn't very receptive to sunset watching - not only was the wind fierce, getting the rain _everywhere_, but visibility was about 10 feet - but Thunder Hole was _amazing_. In spite of the rain, we stood there for about a half hour, just watching the dramatic waves and counter-waves. Definitely the highlight of the day.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
30 Revisited) Acadia NP
Visited: Sunday, February 17th, 2013
A first - since we started this journey, this is the first time we've visited an NPS site on multiple occasions. Ben was interested in The University of Maine, so we were nearby, so...
Acadia is mostly closed in winter, so there was very little to do today - basically, we got to see Thunder Hole. Which was very impressive - the winter adds a starkness to the landscape that is impressive to see.
But on the whole I can't recommend the park in winter unless you love cross-country skiing. It did make me want to be back again in better weather, though...
A first - since we started this journey, this is the first time we've visited an NPS site on multiple occasions. Ben was interested in The University of Maine, so we were nearby, so...
Acadia is mostly closed in winter, so there was very little to do today - basically, we got to see Thunder Hole. Which was very impressive - the winter adds a starkness to the landscape that is impressive to see.
But on the whole I can't recommend the park in winter unless you love cross-country skiing. It did make me want to be back again in better weather, though...
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