Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, Part 3

If you don’t have a hankering to go see this museum after the first two posts about our trip (read Part 1 here and Part 2 here), I don’t know what to tell you. It took us two full days (and then some) to see this museum and we had a BLAST. My kids’ heads are officially stuffed with Adirondack information. By the time we pulled out of the parking lot at closing time, we were ready to haul out a boatload of cash to buy our own little cabin in the woods!

In the previous posts, I yakked on about the Adirondack hermits, Adirondack stuff and paraphernalia (aka, junk) that previous campers and residents left behind for us to ooo and aaa about, and I talked about the wonderful methods of transportation back in the ‘ol days (and you think modern potholes are bad, check out the old plank road!). For this post, I’ll talk about the modern Adirondacks– the Winter Olympics and Smokey the Bear, woo hoo!

Twice, Lake Placid in the Adirondacks has hosted the Winter Olympics, in 1932 and 1980. I remember watching the 1980 games on TV and feeling that tremendous surge of pride as a New Yorker. Lake Placid (where we hope to visit very soon) is a wonderful little community of sports enthusiasts. Dozens of winter athletes have come from this little town, including Jack Shea, winner of the 1932 gold for speed skating and his grandson Jimmy Shea for skeleton sledding in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

The museum has a small section devoted to Olympic history. This is the sled on which Francis Paul Stevens won his silver medal in 1932.

A little bit of trivia– did you know that the Lake Placid High School is the only school in the United States to have been issued an alcohol license? During the 1980 Olympics, the school served as a private bar. Lake Placid was also one of the first communities in the U.S. to build a golf course, in 1898.

Moving along, we wandered through another very large building dedicated to the various industries in the Adirondacks. Logging was the biggest, and there was so much to see and learn. We all found it extremely fascinating, with many old tools, displays, plaques and stories of the loggers and their families. What a tough, tough job. I’m amazed at the strength of these guys.

This is one of the many gigantic piece of equipment the loggers used. It’s a Barienger brake, a huge piece of machinery that controlled logs (and horses and men!) as they were transported down the steep slopes of the Adirondack mountains.

Men also transported logs by the many waterways of the ADKs. I loved this diorama.

After spending over an hour in this one building, we ventured outside to the old Whiteface Mountain fire tower.

The view is so cool.

Obviously, these fire towers could make or break a community. To heighten awareness of the threats of fire to visitors, Smokey the Bear was invented by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1942. This is a genuine old Smokey suit. Did you know that Smokey was named for Smokey Joe Martin, a New York City assistant fire chief?

The last moments of our visit were spent enjoying the various outbuildings. Many were reproductions of typical ADK cottages and summer camps, all sporting unique and quirky objects, like chain rain gutters, rustic playhouses and furniture made from twigs.

Giant Adirondack Chair.

TV, Adirondack style!

Before the sun set and the museum closed, we scampered over to the back of the museum to take one final glimpse of Blue Mountain Lake. As dusk approached, a couple of loons trumpeted over the lake. It was absolutely beautiful. I miss it so much.

Thanks for reading. If you are ever in the Adirondack region, check out the museum. It’s a blast!

Free Museum Admission This Weekend Only!

I got this press release yesterday– it’s a great way to enjoy some of New York City’s finest museums for free this weekend! Here’s the scoop:

KICK OFF THE FALL SEASON WITH A TRIP TO YOUR LOCAL MUSEUM

THROUGH MUSEUMS ON US®, BANK OF AMERICA AND MERRILL LYNCH CARDHOLDERS IN NEW YORK CITY AND NATIONWIDE RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO MORE THAN 150 MUSEUMS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

EVENT: Bank of America’s Museums on Us offers free access to New York City cardholders

DATES: Saturday, October 1, 2011 and Sunday, October 2, 2011; the first full weekend of each month through December 2011

TIMES: Check participating museums’ days and hours of operation

LOCATIONS:

Bronx Zoo
El Museo del Barrio
International Center of Photography
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum**
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum of the City of New York
New York Aquarium
New York Hall of Science
Staten Island Children’s Museum

DETAILS:

On October 1-2, Bank of America is helping its customers kick off the fall season with Museums on Us, giving bank cardholders free admission to some of the most exciting cultural venues in New York City.

As part of Museums on Us, more than 150 leading U.S. cultural institutions, in 87 cities across the country, open their doors to bank cardholders on the first full weekend of each month. Participating institutions include museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, science centers and zoos.

Now in its 14^th season, Museums on Us – a national program – includes some of the country’s premier cultural institutions like the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, PA, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville, NJ and Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA.

The offer is valid the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of each month. Photo ID and a valid Bank of America/Merrill Lynch credit or debit card must be presented. One free general admission limited to cardholder at participating institution, excluding fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows. Not to be combined with other offers.

For more information about Museums on Us, visit: http://museums.bankofamerica.com.

** Program not available on Sundays

A Spring Getaway Quiz and Attractions

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

All right, you traveling fiends, I have a little trivia quiz for you. Tell me if you can Name that Location.

• Where is the location of the “Live Music Show Capital of the World,” sporting more theatre seats than New York’s Broadway?
• Where can you watch an enjoy a hot air balloon show underground?
• Where can you enjoy a lavish, luxurious stay at a world class hotel and resort, shop numerous boutiques and bazaars, enjoy urban night life and entertainment, and be only minutes away from the breathtaking wilderness of the Ozark Mountains?
• Where can you enjoy Gospel music concerts, water fountain light shows, and conventions all in the same place?

Have you guessed yet? It’s Branson, Missouri! The more I look into Branson, the more I am totally impressed. Branson is THE place to be in the MidWest (and maybe in the entire United States) for tourism. Tourism is the biggest industry there and this small town generates over $1.5 billion PER YEAR through its tourism industry alone! I think many, many other locations in the United States could learn from Branson’s incredible success. You can do anything in Branson- anything– and it’s all just a matter of a few minutes drive or shuttle. Wow! We hope to visit this part of Missouri in a year or two. You bet I’m going to check out Branson’s shining jewel, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. It’s like a city within a city. Plus, the prices are exceptional, especially for traveling families and couples. Here is just a tiny smidgen of the various things you can do in Branson:

The Titanic Museum
We studied the history of the Titanic, it’s sinking, and it’s discovery in 1999. I would absolutely love to see this museum. The museum offers visitors a personal experience, too- upon entering the life-sized replica of RMS Titanic, each visitor is given a name badge with one of Titanic’s passengers on that fateful voyage. Walking through the museum, you discover what happened to that person. There are gallery rooms with rare historical artifacts, a real iceberg to handle, the boat to explore, and much more. This museum is for the serious Titanic fan– a lifetime, memorable experience.

Silver Dollar City
Another spectacular place to take the kids– it’s a 55-acre theme park with loads to do: a water park, Marvel Cave to explore, an 1880s MidWestern town to experience with activities and museums, and loads more. We love this kind of stuff. The closest I have ever been to this kind of theme park is Erie Canal Village in Rome, NY. That was fun! Silver Dollar City is HUGE, though– the tourist department recommends you plan for spending an entire, exhausting day (or two) there. Make cozy accommodations at Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, because the kids will be wiped out after a day spent here! Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day is coming up, too.

Payne Stewart Golf Course
This is a golfer’s dream. Payne Stewart was a fellow Scot. So I like him. There’s a golf course in his honor, and it’s beautiful. The golf course is exquisitely picturesque, like something out of a fairy tale. The courses are styled beautifully– I don’t play golf but I’d visit just to walk the amazing course (and maybe hear the strains of a bagpipe or two). The Payne Stewart Golf Course was rated by Golf Week Magazine as one of the Top 40 new course layouts in 2009. Even the pictures will take your breath away.

Marvel Cave
Marvel Cave is part of the Silver Dollar City theme park, but it a deserves mention all its own. I’ve been to Howes Cave in Cobleskill, NY; I think Marvel Cave is ?? According to tradition, the caves were discovered by the Osage Indians around 1500 AD. It remained virtually unexplored until 1869; explorers thought the ceiling was marble, and so they started a business called Marble Cave Mining Company. Well, there’s no marble! So I guess that’s why it’s called “Marvel Cave.” lol. Rumors have it that Missouri outlaws of long ago, the Bald Knobbers, threw victims into the cave’s sinkhole. I wonder if this is where Mark Twain came up with the idea about Indian Jim and the cave in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? After all, Mark Twain was from Missouri. The history is very appealing!

Well, I’m very tempted to go on and on about Branson, Missouri. Like I said, I’m very impressed with everything! You can roam the parks of the Ozarks one day, and enjoy a Christian concert or show at the Hilton Branson Convention Center the next! And I’ve checked the rates of the hotels (you readers know what a cheapskate I am)– the rates are outstanding! As a matter of fact, I think we could afford a vacation in Branson before we could afford a vacation in New York! No wonder Branson is called the entertainment capital of the MidWest. I think it’s earned it’s status.

So click on the links to learn more about Branson and getting accommodations. There are a ton of spring events going on there right now. For example (and this is just a small example):

• 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show
• NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament
• Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show
• Young Christian’s Weekend, which sounds great!
• The Nashvegas All Stars
• David Letterman’s Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions

You can see that Branson offers wholesome, exciting, memorable things to do. And the rates for rooms at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing are family-friendly, too! Thumbs up to the folks at Branson for making such little town a big success!

GOTTA See Branson, Missouri!

I have GOT to get to Branson, Missouri someday. Why, you ask?

——->

The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is here!! LOL! The kids and I recently saw a photograph of this museum, and that was IT for us! We just love quirky things like this. And I love the museum’s tagline: “After visiting us, your relatives won’t seem quite so strange!”

Of course, Ripley’s Museums are everywhere around the world, but Branson, Missouri, is a spectacular place to visit, and there is the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, which is one of the most luxurious and affordable places to stay. The area is perfectly suited for family activities, especially of the kind that we Mecombers love (quirky attractions, historical places, and wholesome family activities like parades and festivals). We’ve had our eye on the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, too, because many of our favorite Christian music artists and speakers go to Branson to hold their concerts and conventions.

The Branson area also has shops, a variety of diverse restaurants, a lovely river walk and more. We’ve been making plans to see the MidWest on a big vacation, and a trip to Branson, Missouri, is a definite destination. The rates at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing are very affordable, too– if you are interested, you can check out their rates online, search for availability dates, and even place your reservation online! The Branson Hilton often has spectacular summer deals, too. For example, save up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” when you book in advance this summer; use a Visa Signature or Infinite Card and get 25% off the “Best Available Rate”; get discounts on rates when you combine air and/or car reservations with the hotel reservations. See the website and look for “Specials & Packages” at the top.

Branson is terrific AND affordable– “believe it or not”!!

Photo Hunters: Nautical

The theme this week is “nautical.” We’ve been to our share of nautical sites and museums, at least a dozen since we have been traveling seriously. This week, I’ll focus on a place I haven’t mentioned much: The H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego, NY. This small museum is located at the harbor, on Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is a very old, historic area (as far as North America goes). Battles for the French and Indian War in 1757, the American Revolution in 1776, and the War of 1812 (in, uh, 1813, haha) were fought here. And that doesn’t even take into account all the Indian (Huron and Iroquois) battles and fur trading post fights that occurred here.

So we visited the museum, which was stuffed to the gills with nautical items and history. Outisde the museum is a little tugboat. Tours are allowed on it, but when we visited, the tug was roped off. ‘

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