Lucky's Coffee Garage Lebanon NH 09 2021

 I wanted to give a quick mention to Lucky's Coffee Garage, easily my favorite coffee shop in New Hampshire!  This independent coffee shop has a lot of heart, its cute, and they have good coffee!  We were very lucky to have stumbled across it!

Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire September 2021

In September, while driving around New Hampshire, we stopped at several sites associated with President Franklin Pierce....  In my opinion, one of the most underappreciated Presidents.

Concord New Hampshire State House September 2021

 In September, we stopped by the New Hampshire State House in Concord!  They had announced that they would not be doing tours at this time, but the kind volunteers there still hooked us up!  Here is a video I posted to youtube.  There is a lot to see here, including a fabulous Civil War painting by an unknown artist, and battle flags!

West Baden Springs Hotel near French Lick Indiana

 Here is a short video on one of my all time favorite hotels, West Baden Springs in Indiana!

Concord New Hampshire September 2021

 We had a great road trip swinging through New Hampshire and Vermont recently!  Here is a video I posted to youtube about the great New Hampshire City of Concord!

"Ten years on the rock pile" and Instant Legends from the rock pile" by Lee Vincent

 We planned a trip to Vermont and New Hampshire recently.  Before a trip like this, I enjoy reading books about the area we are going to visit.  

ALSO, there are those places you want to visit, but, because of time budgeting, or the way the road trip plays out, you realize that you are going to have to save certain sites for another day.

So, I found myself reading the classic regional volumes "Instant Legends from the rock pile" and "Ten years on the rock pile" by Lee Vincent.  Both books about a state I would be visiting.  Both books about a site that I would not get to visit.

We really wanted to make it to Mt. Washington.....  it is legendary, but, because of our desire to see certain other places, we realized we would have to save Mt. Washington for another day.

Still, I tracked down these quick reads recently.  I first heard about Lee Vincent and his work in the OTHER legendary volume "Passing Strange" by Joseph A. Citro.  Citro gets into some of the ghostly and strange happenings in New England.  Lee Vincent's two books aren't supernatural focused, but he does mention an unseen force on the mountain.

Most of his stories are just fun essays on living on a massively tall mountain that can be cold, windy and isolated.

I was thrilled to find copies of these books, pretty much independently published in the 70s.

Hillbilly Hot Dogs Lesage West Virginia

 

Here is some video from a visit to Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lasage West Virginia!  I have mentioned this place before...  and I really love this place!

Wheelersburg Ohio Oct 2021

 We drove through Wheelersburg Ohio on a recent road trip!  

Bluegrass Railroad Museum Versailles KY Oct 2021

 We recently took a GREAT train ride at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles Kentucky!

Camp Nelson Kentucky August 2021

 He is a short video I posted to youtube recently about Camp Nelson here in Kentucky!

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train Bardstown KY Oct 2021

 Here is a video I posted to youtube of our recent experience on the Kentucky Dinner Train.....  They actually had to cancel the dinner the morning of the train ride.  We were given a refund, BUT they still offered us a free train ride with drink service!

"Wicked Salem: Exploring Lingering Lore & Legends" by Sam Baltrusis

You know I have been fascinated with Salem Massachusetts for some time.  The city is fascinating and weird.  AND, it has all of that strange history and lore.  I've read a ton of books on the place.

Well, I recently picked up a copy of Sam Baltrusis "Wicked Salem:  Exploring Lingering Lore and Legends".   Flipping through it, it looked like it had a lot going on.

In fact, I think thats a good way to describe this one.  Its got a lot of information and covers a lot of ground in its 230 plus pages.  It discusses the famous witch trials and current legends associated with the trials.  It also talks about more recent crimes and legends, unassociated with the trials.  AND, the author gives some biographical info on some of the more interesting modern characters in town.

What I liked about the book most though, is that the author kinda takes an old character from the towns passed, and pulls them into the present...  not literally, but he gets into the places and legends that that persons story affects in town now.

The writing style is original and sincere.  

Houses Decorated for Halloween 2021 in Kentucky!

 I posted this short video to youtube of some nicely decorated Halloween house around Kentucky!

Sky Lift Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, KY

Sky Lift from Dewey Lake Beach travels 4700 feet to top of Sugar Camp Mountain, offering a breathtaking 60 mile view of mist-hung peaks and valleys of Kentucky mountains.  Ferris Wheel (billed as world's highest) located at top of mountain.  Beautiful Dewey Lake in background.

This old postcard is undated.

Natural Bridge State Park, Slade KY

The top postcard is postmarked 1962, and I believe the other one is from about the same period.

The bottom one notes-

The park is named for Natural Bridge, an arched rock formation, formed millions of years ago by crumbling from temperature changes, wedge work of ice and vegetation, and water erosion.  The arched opening is 78 feet in length and 65 feet high.  Here in the Red River Valley area of Cumberland National Forest is one of Kentucky's most scenic parks.

Natural Bridge Skylift in Slade Kentucky August 2021

 Here is a video I put on youtube of us riding the Natural Bridge Skylift!

"Discover Salem: Your Guide to the Witch City" by Ron Martin

                                               I just picked up "Discover Salem:  Your Guide to the Witch City" by Ron Martin.  This book is readily available on Amazon for a little over $10.  If you have any interest in Salem at all, this is the book to get.  I totally wish that this book would have been available before our first trip to town many years ago.

AND....  this is a simple, fun to read, honest travel guide.  In fact, I would love to see more travel guides written in this style.

"Discover Salem" is separated into chapters about what you will want/need to do while you are in town.  There are separate entries on shopping, getting around, the witch trials, ghosts, Nathaniel Hawthorne, places to stay, etc.  In each section, Ron discusses all of the current options (though, he notes, businesses come and go in Salem constantly), and he tells you what he thinks about each one.

He's careful about his recommendations too.  He knows that some people may be on a tight budget- so he notes the hidden places to find cheap eats, and he also openly discusses some of the more economic hotels- some might pass on them, but they might be perfect for the traveler watching their pennies.

Ron is not a local, but he is an established expert tourist on the town- he makes his pilgrimage yearly in October.  October is a very busy month for the Witch City, as MANY visit at this festive time.  The author devotes an entire section to surviving during that crowded and chaotic month.

Ron talks a lot about his favorites (tours, souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, witch shops, etc) but he knows that the perfect time in Salem for one reader, might not be the perfect time in town for another.  He makes suggestions for the history lover, those interested in ghosts, witches, or seeing filming locations.  He knows that what I want to see while in Salem will likely be a bit different from what another might want to experience.  

Oh, he also lets you know all that neighboring Danvers has to offer as it has major ties to the events of 1692 too.  Sadly, Danvers is often neglected by tourists (and travel books), but it packs just as much of a witch trials/historic wallop as Salem!

I really enjoyed this book and plan to keep it around for reference before my next trip.  It gets my highest possible recommendation!

Kentucky Capitol Building Frankfort August 2021

 In August, we had a great tour of the Kentucky State Capitol Building in Frankfort!

Frankfort Cemetery Kentucky August 2021

 Here is a video I posted to youtube on the very historic cemetery in Frankfort Kentucky!

Mount Sterling Kentucky July 2021

 In July of this year, we drove through Mount Sterling Kentucky!

Lancaster Kentucky July 2021

 In July of this year, we drove through Lancaster Kentucky!  Here is the video I posted to youtube!

Gallipolis Ohio July 2021

 We also explored Gallipolis Ohio on our recent road trip....  This is a great little town that is forever linked to Point Pleasant West Virginia and the Silver Bridge dissaster.

Coffee at the Lofts, Portsmouth Ohio July 2021

 While driving near the Ohio River, we found an PERFECT coffee shop in Portsmouth Ohio!  Check out Coffee at the Lofts.

Lowe Hotel Point Pleasant West Virginia July 2021

 We recently spent some time in the old, historic, and haunted Lowe Hotel in Point Pleasant West Virginia.  We had a very nice time!

Point Pleasant West Virginia at night July 2021

 I have posted a LOT about Point Pleasnat West Virginia and the Mothman....   Well, recently we spent a night in town, and I made a short video of their downtown area at night.