Taking Family Trips Before School Begins

A few days before my granddaughter left for college, she and her brother spent a fun day hiking together. They were pleased it didn't rain as predicted, so they could hike to the highest waterfalls in NH's White Mountains rather than going to the movies. They came home tired but exhilarated and with many photos to remember this day.

(They referred to AMC's Best Day Hikes in the White Mountains before deciding where to go.)

I rode along recently when my daughter took my grandson to the orthodontist, an hour and a half drive each way. We came home the longer route, through the mountains, and had a great time traveling at a slower pace, enjoying the scenery and reminiscing about former trips to this area where my daughter once worked at a youth conservation job.

Many families have been taking short trips, often day trips in their local area, before the youngsters go back to school. What have you been doing for family fun before school starts?

(Hiking image: sxc.hu)

American Roads...a Fun Online Magazine

American Roads Travel Magazine features travel and food articles related to the United States.  I've been writing for this online publication for several years and enjoy the opportunity.  My two columns are Vagabond Traveler and Potluck. 

In this current issue, I write about Exploring Stone Walls & Old Homesteads and Finding Foods on the Trails of Ancestors.

Where do you like to travel in this country?  Do you have any favorite places?  Perhaps you can find more by checking out American Roads!

Travel Writing as a Home Business

If you'd like to learn more about travel writing, you may want to visit my Home Biz Notes blog for a post on this topic. Yvonne Russell, of Grow Your Writing Business, added a comment about finding travel writing stories in one's local area, which is actually how I got started in this field.

I've also taught workshops, online and off, about travel writing. These include information about finding topics and markets locally as well as when you travel.

Visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument

As Jim and I gazed at the ancient dwelling cut into the Arizona mountainside, we felt a sense of awe that earlier people could construct such an elaborate habitation. Montezuma Castle, as this cliff dwelling along Beaver Creek in central Arizona is known, dates back to around 1150 AD, with the height of development occurring in the 1300s.

Not far away are the ruins of another native dwelling that hasn’t been preserved and reconstructed. Destroyed by fire, the crumbled ruins nevertheless give you an idea of this extensive community with its multi-family home.

Restored and maintained by the US Park Service, Montezuma Castle National Monument provides an interesting stop as you travel the Southwest. Although it’s not as well known, nor as large as Mesa Verde, Montezuma Castle provides you with insight into how the Native Americans lived in that area many years ago around 1300 AD.

Mystery Included

Montezuma Castle includes a mystery, too. Although we know who lived there and when, the reason for the Sinagua leaving has remained unknown. In fact, archeologists have been unable to find out what happened to these farmers of the Verde Valley.

The first known inhabitants were the Hohokam. Another group, the Sinagua, were the cliff dwellers who moved there about 1125. By then, many of the Hohodam had migrated to more fertile lands. The Sinagua used the Hohodam’s irrigation system and built their dwelling, or pueblo, on the cliffs.

It appears that the Sinagua first built six rooms on the cliff. Eventually they added to this until there were five storys and 20 rooms.

Walking along the path maintained by the Park Service provides a fascinating tour. We gazed up at the cliff dwellings, explored it and Beaver Creek area. Displays at the Park Service building gave us further insight into the life of the tribes who once lived here.

Montezuma Well

About six miles upstream from the castle site, you’ll find Montezuma Well. This warm spring emerging from the earth has been here for centuries and provided water for the native farmers. They diverted the water and developed irrigation systems from it and Beaver Creek for their crops.

Both the well and the accompanying cliff dwellings are located on the 800-acre tract preserved by the National Park Service.

Discovered by explorers to the Beaver Creek and Verde River area in 1864, Montezuma Castle and Well were visited by a succession of travelers looking for artifacts and anything of value. Much was destroyed and vandalized before the National Park Service took over in 1906.

Since then it’s become a fascinating place to visit and attracts many people each year who want to learn more about early life and nature in the Southwest.

For more information about Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well and the surrounding Verde River area, visit www.montezumacastle.com .

©2006 Mary Emma Allen

(Mary Emma Allen researches many areas as she and her husband travel throughout the US. They’ve recently visited Utah, South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. E-mail: me.allen@juno.com ; web sites: www.maryemmallen.blogspot.com, )www.quiltingandpatchwork.com, www.alzheimersnotes.com )

Weekend Getaways Close to Home

So often we think we must wait for the time and money to take a trip far from home to enjoy a vacation or getaway. However, frequently there are places to visit, relax, and have fun closer to home that can provide a brief breather in one’s busy life.

These might involve a place in a nearby town that offers weekend specials. Or it may even entail day trips to local attractions while you spend the nights at home. Instead of letting your budget get in the way of mini-vacations, become creative in finding recreation and relaxation that will bring a couple or family closer together.

When I was editor of a weekly travel publication in New Hampshire, I discovered that my state had much to offer. Before that, when I thought of taking a trip or vacation, my thoughts roamed to places further away.

Regional Explorations

Below are some ideas I discovered for exploring our state. Use the general concept for discovering your area. If you don’t have a seacoast, of course, you won’t plan that type of trip. If you live on the plains with no mountains, substitute some other regional recreation idea.

*Capital Tour – Most state capital cities offer a variety of interesting places to visit or explore. The capitol and other state government buildings provide a learning experience and often are full of history. In New Hampshire’s capital city of Concord, in addition to those locations, there are old homes of state leaders, former governors, and historic figures.

If you like dining, generally there are unique places to visit. In Concord you’ll find a Mexican restaurant in a renovated city jail. My daughter and I discovered it fun to have a meal in a jail cell…with door unlocked, of course!

Sometimes shopping areas are located at historic sites. An old hotel and surrounding outbuildings have been transformed into a shopping mall with courtyard, exclusive stores, and restaurants.

*Mountain Trip – If your state has mountains and you enjoy hiking and/or camping, this can be a pleasurable weekend or few days. The White Mountains of New Hampshire also are near the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Historic old homesteads and deserted villages (or “ghost” towns) provide appeal for the archeology buff.

An auto tour of the scenic mountains can include stops at Santa’s Village, Six Gun City, Story Land, Heritage and other attractions. These will provide a number of fun-filled days.

*Seacoast Jaunt – New Hampshire is one of the states having both mountains and seacoast, even though the coast is only about 18 miles long. That’s one of the places for an enjoyable outing, whether you go to the ocean for a day of frolicking on the beach or decide to stay over at a motel or cottage, too.

Building sand castles, looking for seashells, studying sea life and climbing over rocks along the shore provide inexpensive yet relaxing activities. There also are shops and restaurants at towns like Hampton Beach.

*Lakes Region Round-Up – New Hampshire also has a region of lakes in the middle of the state, highlighted by the larger Lake Winnipesaukee. Boating, swimming, staying at a cottage along the shore, and taking side tours of nearby villages with shops and entertainment provide much to fill your time.

Regional recreational opportunities abound in one’s home area, whether a day trip, weekend or mid-week escape from your busy routine. If you’re unsure what your state or a nearby one has to offer, contact the state’s department of tourism or regional tourist associations. Usually these will have an online site.

Whatever you do, find time for a short escape from your busy schedule and discover what your town, region, and state has to offer.

©2005 Mary Emma Allen

Following the Trails of Ancestors

The search for one’s ancestors and family history can lead you on fascinating jaunts and adventures of discovery. As I delve into the stories of my ancestors’ lives, I’m led to parts of the country, distant from where I grew up. Following the trails of my ancestors has enabled me to visit interesting places, make new friends, and meet relatives.

When I was growing up in southeastern New York State, my world mainly revolved around the family I lived with and my mom’s parents and cousins 45 miles away. One aunt and uncle lived in New Hampshire, so visits with them opened our world.

However, as I searched for ancestors, I was led to western New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Kansas, and Civil War sites of the South. My genealogy travels opened up new vistas and brought me to historic sites.

Ancestors in Binghamton, NY & Kansas

As I looked for Great Grandmother Olive’s origins, I discovered she grew up near Binghamton, NY, three hours’ drive west from where I spent my childhood. I’ve visited that area and discovered more about this branch of my family.

This research introduced me to Olive’s brother, mentioned only as Uncle William Mathewson in Grandma’s photo album. However, he was known in Kansas, where he settled, as the original Buffalo Bill. He left home and took up life in the West as a fur trapper and explorer.

Eventually Uncle Buffalo Bill Mathewson established trading posts on the Santa Fe Trail, married an adventurous English woman, helped found Wichita, Kansas, and was an Indian peacemaker requested by the natives at treaty talks.

Uncle George in a Civil War Cemetery

William and my Great Grandmother Olive’s half-brother, George, perished from dysentery during the Civil War. Research led me to a cemetery at Marietta, GA, north of Atlanta. On a sunny spring day, my husband and I visited the Union Cemetery, followed a description their mother’s letter, and found a marker with Uncle George’s name on it.

There also was a tall monument with a star on it, described by Great Great Grandmother Eliza. How interesting to find this evidence that Uncle George did fight in the War Between the States and was buried where his mother believed.

Early Settlers in Providence, RI

Tracing the Mathewson family to their beginnings in this country, led me to Providence, RI. There we find a street called Mathewson Street and a theatre named after this family. I’ve walked along this street, trying to visualize it as the area might have looked when the early Mathewsons lived there.

From Providence and nearby Johnstown, various Mathewsons headed westward like many other families in Rhode Island. First my direct ancestors moved to the Windsor, CT area, where William married Tabitha Chaffee. Some of their children were born there and others in Triangle, Broome County NY in the early 1800s. My family descended from them.

Tracing only one branch of my family, the Mathewsons, has led me to various parts of the country. Other areas I’ve researched from my parents’ families include Columbia County, NY, Quaker Hill, NY, Salina, KS, Welton, IA, Low Moor, IA and Seattle, WA.

Meeting Today’s Descendants

In my research I’ve discovered second and third cousins and we’ve shared information and memories. Friendships have evolved as we’ve gotten to know one another.

Following the trail of your ancestors’ lives can take you to many new areas of the country and to foreign countries. As you travel for genealogy purposes, you’ll also find other enjoyable aspects of these regions.

©2006

(Mary Emma Allen combines genealogy, scrapbooking, and travel into a fascinating aspect of her career. She also teaches classes on family history, scrapbooking, and travel writing. Visit her blogs: http://meafamilyhistory.blogspot.com and http://trailsendquilters.blogspot.com . E-mail: me.allen@juno.com )

Church Suppers - An American Tradition

As I sat midst friends and new acquaintances dining on chicken at a church supper in South Dakota recently, I was drawn back in memory to those events of my childhood. I recall most vividly the turkey suppers in November. The ladies of our community church pooled their talents and time to prepare this meal to raise funds.

Even though I grew up in a small farming community in the Hudson River Valley of New York State, the church supper on the South Dakota prairie seemed so similar. The ladies bustled around the church kitchen, where they had worked all afternoon, preparing chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, whole wheat and white rolls, and cranberry relish.

As we made our way along the buffet line, men and ladies spooned food onto our plates. More church members made sure we had juice, coffee, or water while we enjoyed our food and visited with others at our table.

Old friends stopped by the table, and we chatted with new ones who happened to be our tablemates. The lady beside me shared quilting news about her group of friends who made quilts as a church project. The men talked about crops, and then the old house a young couple was restoring.

Pie – the Dessert of Favor

It seems that the dessert of favor at country community dinners consists of a selection of pies. The ladies of the church contributed their favorites….”I made apple crumb. Mine was crustless coconut cream. I used my mother’s recipe for cherry pie. My pumpkin pie was made from one grown in our garden. I tried a new recipe for peach pie.”

The table was laden as we chose the pie to complete our meal. We also were offered a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Community Spirit

Whether they are harvest festivals, church socials, turkey or chicken dinners, ham and bean suppers or spaghetti dinners, these meals prepared by church groups or community organizations reflect an age-old tradition in our country and contribute to our heritage.

They provide an occasion for members of the town to gather, share ideas, catch up with one another’s’ lives, forget misunderstandings, and forge a sense of community.
A spirit develops that characterizes a region and makes it truly unique.

Suppers Throughout the USA

As one travels around our country, they’ll see signs in front of churches and town halls, announcing the Community Suppers…“Ham & Bean Supper,” “Annual Chicken Dinner,” “Community Turkey Dinner.”

Also, when looking at community calendar of events (often found in local newspapers or tourist hand-outs), you may find notices about these community suppers where visitors as well as church or organizational members are welcomed.

Church and Community Cookbooks

From these events also have evolved cookbooks with recipes from the community members who organize the suppers. Often these cookbooks are developed as fund raisers, sold to earn money for a church or community project.

I have a cookbook from the church in the community where I grew up, as well as one my mother-in-law contributed to at her church. As I read through the recipes and the names of the contributors, memories of days ago and church suppers come forth.

Some travelers like to collect these community cookbooks, whether church groups, quilting guilds or other organizations publish them. They give a flavor of the region and often contain recipes reminding you of the enjoyable time you spent at a community meal, whether in your hometown or one you visited in your travels.


©2005 Mary Emma Allen