Tag: Tunnels

Virtual Travel – British Columbia

Architecture, Art, History, Museum, Nature, Sciences, Transportation, Water Features

Our last province, British Columbia. As the saying goes, we saved the best for last!

2017 09 06 34 Rearguard Falls BC - Copy

 

 

We start out in far southeastern BC at the town of Sparwood. Named for the lumber that went into making spars (poles) for ships, Sparwood is a mining town. As you enter town you can’t miss Terex Titan, one of the largest trucks in the world, now retired in front of the visitor center.

 

 

Eastern BC has a number of great waterfalls including those below: Helmcken, Dawson and Rearguard Falls.

2017 09 06 50 Helmcken Falls BC - Copy

 

 

The town of Lake Country BC is home to a Kangaroo Farm! It was very cool, especially holding a baby kangaroo.

2017 09 07 62 Lake Country BC Kangaroo Farm - Copy

 

 

High above the town of Kamloops is the Myrna Canyon Trestle Trail. Once a railway, now one of the best bike paths anywhere.

2017 09 07 111 Kelowna BC Myrna Canyon Tresle Trail - Copy

 

 

In Hope BC there is another path, much lower that goes through the Othello Tunnels. Nearby is the Bridal Veil Falls.

2017 09 08 23 Hope BC Othello Tunnels Trail - Copy

 

 

The Vancouver suburb of Burnaby has a great park with these native statues. The persistent rain and fog added to the atmosphere.

2017 09 08 60 Burnaby BC - Copy

 

 

Capilano Park in North Vancouver has an amazing bridge (that bounces!) and a forest canopy walk, along with more totem poles.

2017 09 08 121d Vancouver Capilano Park - Copy

 

 

Vancouver is one of the world’s great cities. Situated on a bay, with islands and the mountains, the views are fantastic. They have height limits on the buildings so that they don’t block the views.

 

 

The Museum of Anthropology has the largest native sculpture collection anywhere.

2017 09 09 16 Vancouver MOA

 

 

Vancouver is even better from the ‘Lookout’, especially after a nice walk along the harbour.

2017 09 09 293 Vancouver

 

 

Vancouver has character!

 

 

 

Our final stop is Victoria, on Vancouver Island (which Vancouver is not). BC Ferries will get you there.

2017 09 10 25 Ferry to Victoria BC

 

 

 

The city is the capital of the province, and has a great history.

2017 09 10 233 Victoria BC

 

 

It is also home to numerous gardens, including Hartley Castle and Gardens.

2017 09 10 50 Victoria BC Hatley Castle & Gardens

 

 

 

Our virtual trips across North America has come to an end, but there is more coming – up next Chicago – History through Maps and Photos…. stay tuned.

 

 

Virtual Travel – Virginia

Architecture, History, Museum, Nature, Sciences, Transportation, Water Features

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

 

The Virginia State Capitol dates from the 1780s, housing the Virginia General Assembly. This group is known as the oldest elected legislative body in North America, having been founded as the House of Burgesses in 1619. (Photo from Wikipedia)

Virginia State Capitol - BCWH

 

State Symbol

State Spirit – George Washington Rye Whiskey.  George was a whiskey producer, and this product is in tribute to that.

 

 

Jamestown – The first permanent English settlement in the New World.

2016 11 08 92 Jamestown VA

 

 

Antietam Battlefield – The Battle of Antietam is one of the costliest day in American history, with over 22,000 dead and wounded in the battle.

 

 

Roads & Bridges

1954     1958 – Hampton Bridge and Tunnel     1964     1965     1966     1967     1970     1973 – Interstate 64     1992

 

 

Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnels. The area around Norfolk has numerous bridges and tunnels, including the 23 mile long Bay Bridge and Tunnels.

 

 

Udvar Hazy Air Museum. The National Air and Space Museum at Dulles International Airport in suburban Washington DC.

 

 

 

Oceans

1980 – Norfolk     1986- Sailing ship The Godspeed     1994 – Assateague Island Lighthouse     2004 – Eastern Shore     2006 – Jamestown Settlement ship Susan Constant     2012 – Virginia Beach     2016 – Chesapeake Bay – Tangier Island

 

 

Assateague Island & Lighthouse. This island is shared with Maryland, and contains wilderness area and the feral horses.

2016 11 07 148 Chincoteague VA

 

 

 

 

Mountains

1978 – Mabry Mill     1992 – Bicycling     1996 – Grayson Highlands State Park     2008 – Mountains Ravens Roost Overlook blue Ridge Parkway Nelson County     2010 – Blue Ridge Parkway  Crabtree Falls      2014 – Virginia Forestry 100th anniversary. Swinging Bridge Willis River Trail – Cumberland National Forest

 

 

The Skyline Drive was one of the earliest scenic parkways completed in the United States. It opened in 1935, and runs for 105 miles along the mountains in western Virginia.

 

Mary's Rock Tunnel on Skyline Drive Shenandoah National Pa… | Flickr

 

 

Virtual Travel – Pennsylvania

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Museum, Nature, Sciences, Sports, Transportation, Water Features

As with Ohio I have spent considerable time in Pennsylvania, with Pittsburgh feeling like a ‘hometown’ (Go Pens/Pirates/Steelers!)

 

History & State Capitol

1938     1955     1956     1986     2013

 

 

As with most states, the state capital is located (somewhat) in the middle of the state. Given that the vast majority of the people of Pennsylvania live on the ends, this meant a smaller city has been the capital – Harrisburg.

While outside the Pennsylvania Capitol looks like many others, inside is amazing!

2018 05 07 282 Harrisburg PA State Capital - Copy

 

 

Unusual State Symbols

Official State Aircraft – Piper J-3 Cub. For decades Piper Cubs were built in Lock Haven, PA.

Piper J-3 Cub

 

State Colors – Blue and Gold Featured on the flag and every license plate ever.

Blue and gold PA license plate with keystone symbol

But in Pittsburgh the colors are Black & Gold! All the sports teams follow this color scheme.

Flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.svg

Amazon.com : Outerstuff Youth NHL Replica Home-Team Jersey ... Pittsburgh Steelers NFL 2020 Draft Chase Claypool Men's Nike ...   Amazon.com: Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates Black Youth ...

 

 

 

Pennsylvania has a long industrial history, much of which has been lost. The city of Bethlehem has a vacant steel mill that is now a National Park site that serves as a reminder of this legacy.

 

 

 

Roads

1952     1960     1964     1973     1974

 

 

It is impossible to find a city with more cool bridges and tunnels than Pittsburgh. While it makes the commutes tough, it is a great visual experience driving around the city

 

 

 

The Pennsylvania Railroad was the largest, and most famous railroad in the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This history is celebrated at two major rail museums, Steamtown in Scranton, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

 

 

Not to be outdone the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, PA has a great collection of streetcars and interurbans.

 

 

 

 

1976 – Philadelphia

 

 

There is another large city in Pennsylvania other than Pittsburgh 🙂

Philadelphia of course is the seat of the independence movement in the 1700s. That history is on evidence everywhere in the city. Trivia moment of the day – there are only 2 cities that have been in the top 10 in population for every official United States Census – New York and Philadelphia.

 

 

 

 

 

Near Philadelphia is one of the world’s best gardens – Longwood.

 

 

1989 – Seasons

 

 

Most of Pennsylvania is beautiful rolling hills and mountains. Much of this area is filled with small towns and wooded countryside.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous structure is located in these hills – Fallingwater. Nearby is a second FLW house – Kentuck Knob. Both are stunning.

2008 09 06 29 Fallingwater.JPG

 

 

U.S. Route 6 traverses Northern Pennsylvania, and passes a number of interesting venues including Kinzua Bridge. When completed in 1882 it was the tallest bridge in the world, towering 300′ above the valley. It was decommissioned in the early 1960s and sold to the state with the purpose of becoming a park.

In 2003 a tornado struck the bridge and destroyed a large portion of it, but the remainder makes for a great walk.

 

 

As you make your way along U.S. 6 you pass the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Galeton, the Coudersport Ice Cave, and the Zippo Lighter Museum in Bradford.

 

 

 

1995 – Hunseckers Mill Bridge – Lancaster County

 

 

It is thought that Pennsylvania has more named places than any other states as each hill and valley seems to be another named small town. Some are more famous than others such as Punxsutawney – home of Phil! Each February 2nd this little town is overrun by 40,000 people coming to see a groundhog pulled out of it’s fake home to see it’s shadow.

It is celebrated with another collection of fiberglass statues.

 

 

The town of Ridgway has an annual Chainsaw Carving contest that draws artists from all over the world.

 

 

The C.F. Martin & Company has built outstanding guitars since 1833. Their factory is open for tours, and they welcome photography throughout! We have been of many tours of facilities over the years and this was one of the best.