Virtual Travel – Alberta

 

Welcome to Alberta

2017 09 03 20 Southwest Alberta

 

 

 

Where the prairies meet the mountains.

 

 

Calgary is the largest city in the province.

2017 09 03 89 Calgary

 

 

Edmonton is nearly as large as Calgary. They have a strong hockey rivalry.

Oil is the business of Edmonton, and is reflected in the hockey team’s name.  (photos of Edmonton from Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

Banff was Canada’s first national park, and remains a beautiful area.

2017 09 04 88 Banff Alberta

 

 

 

Lake Louise is renown for the turquoise water, and tourists.

2017 09 05 33 Lake Louise

 

 

 

The Icefields Parkway is a 140 mile long road from Banff to Jasper, passing numerous glaciers and waterfalls. It is one of the best drives in the world.

2017 09 05 181 Columbia Icefields Alberta

 

 

 

Jasper is home to Athabasca Falls. Tomorrow is our final stop in Canada – British Columbia.

2017 09 05 212 Athabasca Falls Alberta

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Ontario

Welcome to Ontario – Canada’s largest province by population, and the center of the country’s media.

It is also home to more NHL hockey players than any other place in the world.

2019 07 28 174 Toronto

 

Government/History

1931     1946     1948     1952     1955 – Parliment Buildings     1968     1970     1973    1996 – Yonge Street

 

 

 

 

Ottawa

The Canadian National Capital is in Ottawa. The collection of buildings are on what is known as Parliament Hill. They were built between 1859 and 1927.

The metro area is the 5th largest in the country with 1.3 million people.

2019 07 29 185 Ottawa

 

Many of the buildings are open for tours. The main assembly hall has started a 10 year reconstruction effort, so a new hall was built in what was previously an open space between buildings.

 

 

The city is located at the confluence of the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River.

 

 

During the summer the buildings are lit up in the evenings with an impressive light show.

 

 

 

 

Roads and Bridges

1957     1958     1959     1960     1962     1964     1965     1967    1986 – Ivy Lea Bridge    2010 – Highway 406 St Catharines

 

 

Toronto is by far the largest city in Canada, and one of the major cities in North America. It is also one of my favorite cities in the world.

2019 07 28 6 Toronto

 

 

The CN Tower was completed in 1973 as the worldest tallest freestanding structure, a record it held until 2007.

 

 

The railroads and the lakes built the city. Today the city still has long distance train travel, as well as an extensive subway and streetcar network.

 

 

The lakeshore was once an industrial area, but is now filled with luxury condos and apartments.

 

 

The entire downtown area is filled with great architecture.

 

 

 

 

Toronto is the center of the hockey universe, including the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

Hamilton is located 50 miles from Toronto, but it is one continuous city. Once a steel town, it still has some industry, but has transition to a more diverse economy today.

It is also home to Tim Horton’s #1!!

2019 07 27 5 Hamilton ON

 

 

 

Windsor is across the river from downtown Detroit.

2017 06 17 116 Windsor ON

 

 

 

 

Countryside

1966     1974     1978     1980     1990 – Highway 17 – Wawa      1992 – Algonquin Provincial Park           2001 – Algonquin Provincial Park      2003 – Pancake Bay     2005 – Pancake Bay Provincial Park      2006 – Highway 118 Muskoka      2008 – Highway 141 – Muskoka     2014 – Highway 69 French River

 

 

Niagara Falls is shared with New York, but the Ontario side is much nicer.

2016 09 11 4 Niagara Falls

 

 

 

Scarborough is now part of the city of Toronto but was for many years a separate suburb. It is home to Guild Park – home of relics from down demolished buildings in downtown Toronto.

 

2019 07 29 38 Toronto Guild Park

 

 

It is also home to the RC Harris Water Treatment Facility AKA – Palace of Purification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Wyoming

We have arrived at the last state in this tour – but fear not there are other maps and places to visit tomorrow….

But for now we are in Wyoming.

 

2015 09 10 3

 

 

State Capitol in Cheyenne. It was completed in 1890. (photos from Wikipedia)

Wyoming State Capitol Photograph by Mountain Dreams

 

 

State Symbol

State Code of Ethics. From the book Cowboy Ethics  by James Owen.

1.  Live each day with courage.
 2.  Take pride in your work.
 3.  Always finish what you start.
 4.  Do what has to be done.
 5.  Be tough, but fair.
 6.  When you make a promise, keep it.
 7.  Ride for the brand
 8.  Talk less, say more.
 9.  Remember that some things are not for sale.
10. Know where to draw the line.
State Mammal – American Bison

 

 

Culture

1947 – Cowgirl    1955 – Cowgirl    1960 – Rodeo    1982 – Pioneers    2002 – Cowboys     2003 – Cowboys    2010 – Cows     2011 – Bison

 

While the European descendants culture of Wyoming is the cowboy, the Native American’s have been here for thousands of years. Evidence of this culture is found in the Legend Rock Petroglyphs. This is one of the best collections we have ever seen.

2015 09 10 169 Legend Rocks WY

 

 

Roads

1948 – Wind River Canyon    1963 – Giant Lincoln along Lincoln Highway    1996 – Scenic Mountain Routes    1997 – Wildflowers     1998 – Scenic Routes    2009 – Scenic Routes     2014 – Battle Pass Scenic Byway

 

 

The drive from Cody to Yellowstone is unique.

 

 

The area around Thermopolis has it’s own unique look.

 

 

 

 

National Parks and Forests

1952 – Yellowstone    1958 – Palisades between Cody and Yellowstone      1968 – Tetons     1970 – Tetons    1985 – Big Horn National Forest    2004 – Rock Climbing in Grand Tetons    2006 – Buttes – Devils Tower    2016 – Yellowstone

 

 

Arguably one of the most interesting places in the world is Yellowstone National Park.

2015 09 12 25 Yellowstone National Park WY

 

 

 

 

 

Nature and the Outdoors

1954 – Snake River     1966 – Mountains     1967 – Ayers Natural Bridge     1969 – Sunset     1971 – Brooks Lake Creek Falls     1972 – Belle Fourche River Red Cliffs     1974 – Deep Lake and Temple Peaks     1978 – Cattle Ranch near Sheridan     1983 – Gros Ventre River near Jackson     1984 – Cody Fall Colors     1994 – Flowers     2001 – Fishing     2005 – Skiing     2008 – Native Americans     2012 – Outdoor Activities      2013 – Wildlife and Lincoln Highway 100th anniversary

 

 

The Northern Wyoming mountains are very colorful.

2015 09 10 77 Northern Wyoming Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Wisconsin

You are in Wisconsin doncha know. Our state tours are coming to an end but there is plenty to see and do in Wisconsin, and beyond.

 

2015 09 06 108 Hurley WI

 

 

State Capitol

1947     1953     1966

 

 

Madison is the State Capital. The Capitol building dates from 1917.

2012 07 15 1 Madison WI

 

 

State Symbols

State Dance – It seems nearly every state has square dancing as the state dance, but not Wisconsin. Let’s play the Beer Barrel Polka

 

State Pastry – Kringle

 

 

Madison is a pretty city situated between two lakes. The state animal, and nickname for the University of Wisconsin sports teams are the Badgers.

 

 

 

 

Towns and Cities

1940     1967     1972     1983     1997     2001    2003    2008     2017

 

Milwaukee – Wisconsin’s largest city is a Lake Michigan port city. There are a number of museums and parks along the lakeshore.

2014 09 20 8 Milwaukee

 

 

Racine is a smaller port city near the Illinois border.

2014 09 20 96 Racine WI

 

 

Ashland is located in northern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior.

 

 

 

 

Wisconsin Cultures

1948     1958     1969     1987

Government State Wisconsin 1948

 

 

The Northern Great Lakes visitor center celebrates life on the Great Lakes.

2015 09 06 146 Ashland WI

 

 

The German culture thrives throughout the state. Beer, brats and cheeseheads! (photos from the internet)

Bavarian Bierhaus | © VISIT Milwaukee

look at that cute cheesehead!"-a packers fan #greenBAE #greenbay ...

 

 

 

Wisconsin Roads and Attractions

1970     1971     1973     1976     2006     2010     2011     2012     2013

 

Government State Wisconsin 2006

 

 

Wisconsin Dells – A popular tourist attraction in south central Wisconsin. While there is natural scenery there is an abundance of man made attractions. (photos from the internet)

Trips on a Tank: Wisconsin

Facts | Wisconsin Dells | Media Information

 

 

Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee

2014 09 20 34 Harley Davidson Museum Milwaukee

 

 

Wingspread – A Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece in Racine.

2014 09 20 102 FLW Wingspread House Racine WI

 

 

 

House on the Rock is located in Spring Green. This amazingly quirky structure was built as a result of a feud between a man named Alex Jordan and Frank Lloyd Wright. When Wright told him he wasn’t qualified to build a crate, Jordan set out to build this home.

Many question if this story is true or not, but regardless this place is like nowhere else. It is filled with automated musical instruments, strange collections, circus features including a massive carousel, and many other collections. The highlight is the ‘Infinity Room’, cantilevered out over the valley below.

2012 07 14 92 Spring Green WI House on a Rock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Virginia

Today’s visit is Virginia, starting in the Washington DC Suburbs.

2016 11 05 148 Arlington VA

 

History

1962     1972 – State Capitol     1975 – Houdon Statue of Washington in the Virgnia Captiol     1977 – St Johns Church Richmond     1981 – Yorktown Battlefield     1982 – Stratford Hall  Plantation Westmoreland County Robert E Lee Birthplace     1984 – Monticello     1988/1989     1990/1991 – Appamattox Court House     1998 – Mount Vernon     2000