The kids are all wet at Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is a great getaway for everyone. Seriously, how fun does this look?

Let’s go with very.

(Photo by Lisa Romano)

Have you ever found yourself in a place or predicament of sorts and wondered…”Self!  What in the Wide-wide World of Sports is a-goin’ on with your good senses?!”  Well, I have.  On countless occasions.

But his particular occasion was on the Rockcastle River.  Set deep in the lush, humid, Kudzu infested hills of, Rockcastle County, Kentucky.  One of those places so beautiful and peaceful, a fella could stay there for days and days and days.  Until the Banjo music starts playing too close for comfort, that is.  When that happens, one must take to the River.  And even then……all bets are off.

The phone rang very early in the a.m., and my friend Towley said “You ready for this?”.  To which I responded, in my best John Wayne voice, “Let’s saddle up, Pilgrim.”  And off we went.  South.  The wind whistling over the boats anchored, hopefully securely, to the tops of the automobiles and no Idea what was in store for us.

The Rockcastle River is a Kentucky State protected river

A false sense of Calm

so access to a put in is few and far between.  My copy of “A Canoe and Kayaking Guide to Kentucky“, says that if one so desires, to shorten the trip, one has access via “the old Howard Place”.  This put-in allows quick access to the class III, VI, and sometimes V rapids that we had no business being on.  We wanted no part of that though.  We wanted the Long, 20 mile trip.  What fools we were.  It would have been better to take our beatings early and be gone.  Like ripping off a Band-Aid.  But no.  We had to paddle, after putting in at the Rockcastle Adventure Canoe Livery, the eight miles of slack, sometimes (but very seldom) Class I chutes.  Fools, I tell you brothers and sister.  Fools.

I have to take pause here to mention the fine People at

No banjo music at all, oddly enough

Rockcastle Adventure Canoe Livery.  Nice folks.  And informative.  John, the owner, took us in the “shed” and gave us a look via an old USGS map, of what we had to look forward to.  John grinned as we took in the Canoe outside that had been twisted around a tree down stream where we would find ourselves in a few short hours.  “We found that’un there just last week,” he remarked.  Awesome.

We said our goodbyes to John, donned our helmets (you will need helmets.  steak tastes so much better when you don’t have to pulse it in a Blender first) dressed in our PFDs (this equipment, too, is a must.  unless you can hold your breath a very, very long time) and shot out into the calm, olive waters.

The rest, well, was just Highballs with the Devil.

This is the part when you get Wet

Note: This river is foul tempered, friends and neighbors.  Do not make the mistake of being ill-prepared here.  Please, please, pretty-please wear a helmet and a proper PFD (personal flotation device).  After the first “wet exit”, you’ll thank me. Also, there are many blind turns along the way.  Scouting is advisable.  And portaging is always acceptable.

All photos by Charles A. Downs III

Like many travelers, I’ve often taken for granted the vacation attractions in my own backyard.  For this post however, I’m going with a no-place-like-home approach and sharing some family destinations close to my own home in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

With bright fall colors, farm harvests, crisp days and cool nights, autumn is an especially excellent time to visit New England.  Because of milder temperatures, the sharp colors of foliage in southern New England often last into early November. During this time of year, Litchfield County in Northwest Connecticut may even be one of the most scenic destinations in America.

Actually a northern part of the Appalachian Trail, the Litchfield Hills contain hills (obviously), lakes, rivers, small towns and villages, and dozens of state parks and natural attractions.  While adults may enjoy the scenic roads and views themselves, kids will love stops at spots like Kent Falls—one of New England’s highest waterfalls with kid-friendly climbing trails offering frequent spots for resting and overlooking the falls.  The White Memorial Conservation Center, a private organization in Litchfield, offers trails, wildlife sanctuaries and observation platforms, and a nature center with programs and exhibits focusing on natural history, conservation and ecology.  Kids might also love the surprises at Action Wildlife Foundation in nearby Goshen where more than 350 exotic animals are found on “safari” and in a petting zoo for domesticated animals and their babies.  A Museum and Exploration Center includes additional displays and exhibits of animal life. For local produce and more activities, farms like March Farm in Bethlehem offer quite a few pick-your-own items, scenic trails, cornstalk mazes in the fall, farm-themed playscapes for the kids, and shops offering food and gifts.

Most area parks and nature centers include picnic areas, hiking trails of various levels, scenic views, and are close to accommodations and dining.  For families who want to immerse themselves in nature, several parks offer camping facilities.  Others—who think roughing it means no room service—can find rooms at motels, bed and breakfasts, and some of the most attractive and luxurious inns in New England including the Litchfield Inn and Washington’s Mayflower Inn and Spa which has been voted the finest destination spa in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler.  From family luncheonettes and grilles to extravagant romantic dining, restaurant choices are also plentiful and diverse throughout the county.

For a family-friendly vacation that can provide both relaxation and dramatic natural surroundings for adults as well as an endless supply of outdoor activities to wear out the kids, the Litchfield Hills are an easily-reached destination from anywhere in the Northeast or from any location by flying into either Hartford or nearby Boston or New York.  Even any pocketbook can be accommodated from the most modest budget to expense accounts that would make corporate executives proud.  The real attraction, however, is that money can’t buy the stunning natural surroundings and activities that you’ll find in the Litchfield Hills in a Connecticut autumn. I’m not much of an autumn lover (I’m more of a summer guy), but I think I even just convinced myself that my home at this time of year is a sweet place to be.

Photos courtesy and copyright of Darren Farrington.