Wharf St. in the Historic Waterfront District in Portland, Maine
I know, I know, it doesn’t go as well with the tune as leaving my heart in San Francisco. I am telling the absolute truth, though, when I say that my heart lies in Portland, Maine.
I grew up in the teeny, tiny farming community of New Gloucester, Maine (population of people, 5,461; population of cows, at least three times that many), which is about 40 minutes due north of Portland. If you were looking for something “to do”, you went to Portland. If you had a job, it was probably in Portland. Even if you lived three hours away, you went “out Portland way” for a myriad of things – grocery shopping, the mall, the movies, dinner. It may not be the capital of the state (which is Augusta, by the way), but it’s the social, industrial, and economic hub of the state.
A street in the Old Port - Portland, Maine
And it is, in my most humble (but expert) opinion, one of the best towns on the PLANET. I’m not kidding. You need to go. And here’s why.
I lived in Maine for the first nineteen years of my life, and it’s the place that I still call “home”. The deserts of Arizona are lovely, to be sure, but Maine is where my heart is. During my annual or bi-annual trips back east, I never fail to stop at my favorite place on the entire planet, the Portland Head Light.
As you can see, the place is so darned picturesque that even rank amateur photographers (read: me) can take postcard-perfect pictures.
The Head Light is located in the town of Cape Elizabeth, a mere bridge-crossing from Portland’s Old Port Waterfront District. Entrance to the complex, which includes Fort Williams Park, is free, and admission to the park’s museum (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day) is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. The complex and park itself are open year-round.
Bring a picnic lunch (I suggest a local favorite, an Italian sandwich from one of the nearby Amato’s), and spend a lovely afternoon exploring Fort Williams, the green park grounds, the rocky shoreline, and the tidal pools.
I long for home, but for now I’m just going to have to content myself with pictures. Oh, and word to the wise, watch out for these guys – they’re bold and they’ll steal your lunch right out of your hands!
NCAA March Madness Logo (photo courtesy NCAA.com and CBSSports.com)
Zero. That is the collective number of college basketball games I have watched this season. Yet, come next week, I’m sure that I will be counted among the millions of Americans contributing to the estimated $1.7 billion dollar productivity drain (thanks NCAA.com and CBSSports.com) during this springtime basketball tournament frenzy known everywhere as March Madness.
Selection Sunday is March 15 and opening round games are scheduled around the country beginning in Dayton, OH with the “play-in” game March 17. The play-in game pits the 64th and 65th ranked teams against each other. The winner of that game goes on to the regular tournament where in all likelihood they shall be soundly beaten by a far superior team. That’s just how it works.
Here’s the tournament schedule at a glance. Although tickets may be scarce, your best bet for seeing any of the games live would be the first and second rounds or the regionals. Follow the city links below for lodging options in each of the host cities as well as interesting game alternatives while you’re there.
Games will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum. If you’re traveling with the kids, make sure to give them a break and head over to the Greensboro Children’s Museum for a fun filled, hands-on and interactive learning experience.
Games are scheduled at the Sprint Center. Allow some extra time to visit the Kansas City Zoo while you’re there. It was voted one of America’s 60 Best in 2008.
Games will be played at the Wachovia Center of St. Joseph’s University. No trip to Philly would be complete without a trip to Independence National Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where our Constitution was drafted.
The Liberty Bell in Independence National Historic Park (photo ushistory.org)
Games will be at the American Airlines Arena of Florida International University. Of course, Miami is a top Spring Break Destination so bring your trunks and floaties. Hit the beach with your downtime. That should go without saying.
Games to be held at the HHH Metrodome of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Two words: Mall of America. (Of doesn’t count.) While there, make sure to see the world’s largest underground aquarium Underwater Adventures.
Regionals: Thursday and Saturday March 26 and 28, 2009
Games will be held at the TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics. While in Boston be sure to check out the Freedom Trail a three mile walk through downtown Boston that links 16 historical sites.
The Old North Church Steeple Boston, MA (photo courtesy oldnorth.com)
Games will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az. I hear the South Mountain Park Scenic Drive is a great way to experience some of Arizona’s beautiful scenery and to boot–it’s free.
Regionals: Friday and Sunday March 27 and 29, 2009
Games are scheduled at the new (in 2008) Lucas Oil Stadium. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis ranks as one of the best in the country. It’s a definite if you go to Indy with the kids.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (photo via web public domain)
If your team has made it this far, congratulations. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations again. There’s much to see and do in the Motor City and while the games from here on out promise to be nothing short of spectacular make sure to take a break see some of what Detroit has to offer.
The Road Ends Here Detroit, MI 2009 NCAA Final Four
Oh, and coming off a perfect season (perfect 0 and 16, that is) I’m fairly certain you can get a pretty good deal on Lions Season Tickets while you’re there.
I would never suggest that you visit an airport with your children just for fun. However, if you are stranded at an airport on your way home from holiday travel, let it be known that some of them have incredibly cool features that will help you kill the time and burn off the kids’ energy so they will pass out on the airplane. Just don’t let them visit the ubiquitous airport candy store.
My holiday gift to you is a list, below, of links to the major US airlines and their hub airports. Chances are, if you are traveling across the country, you may have to set foot in one of them, and you may even have to spend many of your precious hours there. To all of our delight, I am sure, the city editors of Being Savvy, a guide for parents of preschoolers, have found interesting ways to kill time with children of all ages at many of these airports.
Do not be intimidated by the links. Find your airline, then find the airport you where you will be sleeping changing planes.
Two years ago we spent a fascinating weekend with a rumbling, gassy giant. No, it wasn’t with my Uncle Earl. We paid a visit to the most famous volcano in North America. Mount St. Helens, in Western Washington.
Everyone remembers when Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and devastating the landscape for miles around. Not long after the blast, the area was set aside for research, recreation, and education in the form of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Hiking a ridge trail near Mt. St. Helens
When we first arrived at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, less than six miles from the volcano’s crater, my kids were initially disappointed not to find rivers of lava everywhere, but they soon realized that the barren landscape held more than a few surprises.
First, though, we explored the Observatory, which is home to a stunning wide-screen multimedia presentation, after which the huge screen disappears to reveal a floor-to-ceiling panorama of the crater through the observatory’s windows. It feels like the volcano is right on top of you and, for a moment, you hope it’s not ready to erupt again. There are also fascinating geological exhibits throughout the building that explain everything you’d ever want to know about volcanoes, earthquakes, and geology. There are also sobering displays that tell of the lives lost in the blast.
All around the ridge, there are trails leading through a land that is still trying to recover some 28 years later. Massive trees were splintered like toothpicks and still lay where they fell. All the while we were walking these narrow ridge trails, Mount St. Helens loomed over us. My son said, “It looks evil.”
New pond, along the Hummocks Trail, Mount St. Helens
A few miles back down the main road, near Coldwater Lake, is a moderate 2.5-mile loop trail called The Hummocks Trail. This turned out to be our favorite hike. The Hummocks Trail winds through the debris field in the North Fork Toutle River Valley. The resulting erosion has created an eerie place of conical mounds and wetlands. The up and down trail was tough for the kids toward the end, but it was well worth the effort. In no other place around the volcano will you see all the different ecosystems that are returning to the area. You can imagine you’re walking on the moon and then, just around a corner, find yourself in a lush forest beside a pond that is teeming with new life.
There’s a movement to transform the Volcanic Monument into a full-fledged National Park, which would bring in more funding and services, as well as more tourists. One of our favorite stops along the highway, not far from the Hummocks Trail, was at the Coldwater RIdge Visitor’s Center. My daughter celebrated her 5th birthday with a chocolate ice cream cone on the balcony overlooking Coldwater Lake. Sadly, this facility was shut down by the Forest Service last year due to a lack of funding. Turning Mount St. Helens into a National Park would mean this popular center could be back in business.
Whatever it becomes, the current Monument is huge. It’s way too big to see everything in one weekend, but a family can certainly hit the highlights in a day or two. I recommend going in the summer when you can be assured of some good hiking weather. We were there in August and enjoyed cool temperatures and sunny skies. There are plenty of hotels along I-5, from Centralia to Longview, where you’re just a quick drive from the entrance to the Monument. If you’re coming from Seattle or Portland, it’s just a couple of hours away.
Hiking near Johnston Observatory, in the shadow of Mount St. Helens
