— travel —

JOSEPH SMITH FAMILY FARM: finding the spark of Mormonism in upstate New York

October 21, 2021
Smith farm

The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that swept through parts of the American frontier region in the early 19th century. Against this backdrop, Joseph Smith, Sr., moved his wife Lucy and their nine surviving children from Vermont to western New York in 1816.  Joseph was born in Massachusetts and had tried a… Read More JOSEPH SMITH FAMILY FARM: finding the spark of Mormonism in upstate New York

— travel —

H. LEE WHITE MARITIME MUSEUM: discovering America’s past in Oswego, New York

October 7, 2021
LT-5

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego, New York, is a treasure trove of artifacts that show the glories and the dangers of life and death on the water.  H. Lee White was a local shipper who became Assistant Secretary of the Air Force under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The small museum sits at… Read More H. LEE WHITE MARITIME MUSEUM: discovering America’s past in Oswego, New York

— travel —

FENIMORE ART MUSEUM: exploring America’s culture in Cooperstown, New York

September 30, 2021
New York

Cooperstown might be metaphorically synonymous with the Baseball Hall of Fame, but it’s literally the namesake of William Cooper, who founded the Village in 1786 and was the father of writer James Fenimore Cooper. This post contains affiliate links.  For more information, click here. The younger Cooper lived an eventful life.  Legend has it that he… Read More FENIMORE ART MUSEUM: exploring America’s culture in Cooperstown, New York

— travel —

NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL of FAME & MUSEUM: honoring America’s pastime in upstate New York

September 20, 2021
New York

There’s nothing like a night at the ballpark.  It’s a few precious hours of escape into a great and simple American tradition.  It’s connection to something that was here before you were and will be here long after you’re gone.  It’s memories–the family ones from your childhood, and the legendary ones from before you were… Read More NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL of FAME & MUSEUM: honoring America’s pastime in upstate New York

— travel —

SARATOGA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: exploring Revolutionary history in New York

September 16, 2021
New York

You don’t often see monuments to Benedict Arnold. But Saratoga National Historical Park is one place where such a thing makes sense. The Battle (or Battles) of Saratoga in 1777 comprised two primary confrontations:  the (First) Battle of Freeman’s Farm on September 19 and the Battle of Bemis Heights (also known as the Second Battle… Read More SARATOGA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: exploring Revolutionary history in New York

— food, travel —

Where to Eat on Pickering Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts

September 6, 2021
Pickering Wharf

Pickering Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts, is a 1970s-built waterfront district with a 19th-century feel.  It boasts a marina, boutique shops selling everything from the obligatory witch kitsch to bags made from recycled sails, and lots of restaurants featuring an array of fabulous fresh seafood.  Here are my favorites: Sea Level Oyster Bar offers so much… Read More Where to Eat on Pickering Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts