Indianapolis at Christmas

One of my favorite cities outside of Kentucky is Indianapolis. I love this town. I have talked about it before, but I feel the need to mention it again now.

Indianapolis is a great city during Christmas. I try to make it down for a day or a whole weekend at some point between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year. Indianapolis really knows how to celebrate the season.

For anyone totally unfamiliar with Indy's downtown area, it is very photogenic. Their 284 foot tall Soldiers and Sailors monument is overwhelming. The statues that are attached to it alone really make a person feel small. This is a magnificent structure, and if you are driving through the area, please take a moment to get out of your car and actually walk up to it. Glancing at it as you loop around the round about does not do it justice. You can take an elevator to the top for a buck.

So, much of their downtown area is centered around the monument. There are a lot of cool things going on right in that area. Nice restaurants, hotels and shopping are common. You can easily drive down on a Friday, park, get a room, and not need your car again until Sunday when you leave.

Circle Center Mall is part of Indianapolis' glorious downtown. I really can't describe how cool the mall here is as it has a bit of an infinite feel. It is four stories, and is inside of four preexisting buildings. It is connected by walkways to many hotels downtown too. It is easy to spend an event filled weekend at a downtown hotel and never have to step foot outside.

There are a couple of glassed in areas at the mall that allow for some cool views of downtown. The Artsgarden is a fun architectural site on the outside and on the inside. It is maintained by the city's arts counsel ( http://www.artscouncilofindianapolis.org/uncilofindianapolis.org/ ). Something cool is usually going on in the Artsgarden. There is always information on cool events in the area here.

The day after Thanksgiving, the town host a huge event around the Soldiers and Sailors monument, lighting it up as a tree for the season. I have heard estimates of 100,000 people showing up for the lighting.

Indianapolis has another Christmas tradition that, in my books, trumps all others. Since 1947, a small Cherub has appeared for Christmas on the clock at the old L.S. Ayers building. I love looking up at the clock and seeing the Cherub there when I am in town before Christmas.

Across the street from the Cherub is the Border's Bookstore. I am usually not a huge fan of chain store (I must admit that I do like Border's) but this store has some true uniqueness to it. It is obvious that they built the store into an old bank, leaving up some of the old fixtures. I love their well stocked local interest section, and the staff there seems friendly and helpful. Also, I like the marriage of Border's Books and Seattle's Best Coffee, especially at this location. A big book store and a cozy coffee area in clean downtown Indianapolis is perfect.

I have been to Indianapolis on many summer days, but I seem to be making a tradition of getting downtown in December. In my mind, I associate downtown with Christmas and winter. If you are in downtown Indianapolis on a cold winter night, you MUST stop by the South Bend Chocolate Company Chocolate Cafe. Get some hot chocolate. Get the large. Trust me.
http://www.sbchocolate.com/

All of the major sporting venues (Victory Field, Conseco Fieldhouse, and Lucas Oil Stadium) are within the downtown area. The Convention Center is here. A cool place to catch a nice dinner and get a view of the entire city is the Eagle's Nest restaurant on top of the Hyatt (the place is very classy, and it rotates slowly, giving you a complete view of the town great skyline).

Getting away from downtown, Indy still has several NICE malls. Castleton Square Mall and the Keystone Fashion Mall are both worth a walk through, and they are close to each other. The Keystone Mall has a nice feel to it, and it has many unique stores. I REALLY love the Keystone Art Cinema here. It is worth taking a couple of hours to catch a movie here. They have a great selection of the usual movie theater snacks, plus some. The seats are the most comfortable seats ever in a theater. We had a great lunch at this malls "Fashion Cafe". Its like a cool nic nac store, plus a very nice cafe. We had some great sandwiches, desert and tea. This is a really unique place, and I hope people support this place.

I like Greenwood Mall too, and the area around there (I love that Half Price Books and pet store across the street). There are still many legitimate malls in Indy.

I have spent summer weekends in Indy downtown, walking to ballgames, monuments, etc. I have spent winter weekends downtown doing totally different things than what I did there during the summer. I have spent weekends in the Keystone area, not stepping foot in downtown and still had a nice time. Indy is a big town with a lot of nice things going on.

Bluegrass Stallions at the Kentucky Horse Park

I had the chance to check out the new pro basketball team in Lexington last night. I am glad to see another new team in the area, and I hope they do well. I had a good time but as a new team, in a new venue, they have a lot of little things to work out. There are good things, and bad things about this team right now.

The set up at the Horse Park, at this time anyway, is confusing. With the Southern Lights at the park, there is some additional chaos. I love the lights. In fact, getting to see the lights AND catching a basketball game is a bonus, but if you are simply hoping to catch the game the whole lights thing may be a problem.

We got to the Horse park, and went through the campground entrance. We stopped at the front and were told we still had to pay $15 (admission to see the lights through the park) but the Stallions would give us a buy one get one free ticket because of that, which was cool with us.

Also, there was a long line of vehicles forming to get into the park, for the game AND for the lights.

We were then told to look for the Stallions sign with the blinking light. The entire park is blinking lights! AND the stallions "sign" was a small cardboard yard sign with ONE small blinking light on it (not being familiar with the park, we came close to driving by this sign without noticing it).

I was the only one buying a ticket at the ticket window, but this was a long process. It took probably 20 minutes to get my ticket, as people were being trained in this area. Also, they were unable to provide me with a receipt. I really don't want to be too critical of this team starting out, but this was embarrassing and they really need to correct this problem soon.

My only other real problem with this team relates more to the rules of the ABA. I hate rule change gimmicks, and that's what the 3D rule is. I personally don't find it exciting. I remember an independent baseball league (one that folded) suggested making home runs count x2 after the 7th or 8th inning. These kind of rules don't seem necessary. It gets confusing. You know, with arena football, the rule modifications for the arena setting improved the game of football in my opinion. Smaller fields and smaller uprights make the game just as interesting, if not more.

Speaking of arena football, I was glad to see that a lot of the former Horsemen staff are running the new basketball team. In a way, it almost felt like the football playing Horsemen have continued on with the Stallions.

I really hate on field announcers or DJs finding their way into minor league sports these days. A mediocre one is a dime a dozen. The Stallions were lucky to get Steve from the Horsemen. Steve is fun, and has a great, original sense of humor. Steve had me laughing so hard I cried at some Horsemen games (flirting with cheerleaders when he thought he wasn't being filmed, egging participants on in hot dog eating contests, etc.). At the Stallion's game last night, he heckled a smaller player on the other team while they were at the free throw line. Steve is the only on field host that I actually look forward to seeing at a game.

There were other cool things about seeing this new team.

The new indoor stadium is very nice and cozy. I think it can hold around 6,000. It has a clean new feel to it. It has a dirt floor, but they put a basketball court over it. Oddly, it works and works well. I think this would be a fun venue for an arena football team too. Rupp is easily the most exciting indoor sports venue in the state, but this venue is probably a more affordable and ideal one for independent pro teams like the Stallions. I hope to catch many more sporting events (basketball and other) here.

Kyle Macy. The guy is a UK legend, and has a lot of pro playing time under his belt. I doubt he is coaching right now for the money. Every ABA fan that gets to see him owes him a sincere, "Thank You."

HOOPS the mascot. Big fluffy mascots are cool, I don't care what anyone else has to say about this. They are great. HOOPS is a new great one. I saw him all over the place, posing for pics, throwing popcorn, and harassing the cheerleaders. He is fun. I mean, I don't appreciate him as much as I appreciate coach Kyle, but the kids will love him. I love him.

Ale-8 was last nights sponsor and we got a free 6 pack on our way into the park. On the cool-giveaway-o-meter, that ranks at the top. I remember a couple of seasons ago, Chipotle would give out burrito coupons at Legends games on Tuesday nights. If Ale-8 and Chipotle are ever given away at the same time, my head will explode. I am MUCH more likely to buy a ticket if I know I am getting free Ale-8!

Also, if you love obscure and unusual occurrences, well, here you go. As far as I know, last night was the first time EVER that 2 pro basketball teams, both from Kentucky, played each other in Lexington! Think about that. Think about how much of a basketball town Lexington is. Pretty cool.

I do hope the area comes out to support the Stallions (and the Bisons too, playing for a second season in Owensboro). Pikeville is listed as having a team but I can't find current info on them.

Check out my links to the Stallions and Bisons at the left of this page.

Professional Kentucky Basketball

Please take a moment to look over my links to the left concerning pro sports teams in Kentucky. The Bisons in Owensboro and the Stallions in Lexington are playing! The Stallions play their 1st home game ever this weekend. The new arena at the Horsepark should be an exciting venue to catch a game!

For hockey fans, I know that Evansville Indiana, not far from Owensboro, has started their season too, I really hope to catch a game or two this year!

I have mentioned that the arena football Horsemen in Lexington are done. I did hear some vague rumors about trying to get some sort of an arena football team going again in the area in the next year or so, that would be great.

I really hope that the people in these areas get out and support these teams. The players, coaches and owners are not getting rich with these teams. Most enjoy being a part of the games, and being a part of their community. The players are quality (check out the rosters for the basketball teams, former UK players are listed). Tickets are affordable and merch is cheap. The teams appreciate the support too!

Lo-Watt Radio

I try to check out local and independent acts at coffee shops whenever I can. I have seen some fun acts recently, but I feel compelled to write about these guys out of Ohio. This is by far the best band I have seen at a small venue. They rocked.

Lo-Watt Radio has a great sound from a talented four piece band. They reminded me of the polished recent line-up of Fairport Convention, if you have seen them recently. Fairport is one of my favorite live acts, but pound for pound, Lo-Watt Radio might be able to blow the more senior act off the stage. Lo-Watt radio has been together for less than a year, but they sound like they have been doing this for at least a decade.

I love a solid sounding bass and drum combo. I have seen a lot of acts (stadium acts even) that sound flat in this area. Ron Cerosky's bass and Joel Eric Geiser on drums are flawless. They sound slow and smooth when needed, and they rock it up when appropriate. I could see this duo fitting in well with a mellow retro country act, or in a hard rock band. I can think of many major label acts that would upgrade with either of these guys in their lineup.

Doc Blankenhorn (banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, lap steel, and backing vocals, according to their EP) and Michael Harvan (lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, and keyboards) could each lead about any genre of band, and I bet they could do a heck of a solo show each.

Doc switched his instrument often. Watching him play his very unique steel guitar (Ron told me it was custom made for him) was worth the price of admission alone. Michael's joyful and energetic style of singing, playing guitar, and blowing on the harmonica reminded me of John Fogerty or Bob Weir.

These guys play a great set of mostly original tunes. They did throw in an amazing cover of Zevon's "Werewolves of London." I know, some songs have been played to death, and Werewolves might be considered one of those songs. This was no karaoke reading of the song though. It was true to the original but lost some of the bar room sing along feel other readings have. It was done with more passion and more heart. Lo-Watt did to Zevon's Werewolves what Hendrix did to Dylan's Watchtower.

I caught these guys at a small but packed coffee shop in the Akron Ohio area recently. They are developing a following, and if I lived in the area, I would be a part of it. They have a great live sound and obviously enjoy what they are doing.

I talked to some of the guys after their 2 hours or so on stage. Ron and Joel said that they might try to get some Kentucky dates in, and maybe some southern Ohio shows. I sure hope to catch Lo-Watt Radio again soon. Check out their Myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/lowattradio

Also, check out Sonnet's Coffee if you are near the Akron area. That's where I caught this act, and had some great coffee. The acoustics are perfect here too. This is the perfect coffee shop to catch a great indy act.

http://www.sonnetscoffee.com/

Executive Inn, Owensboro KY. implosion

WOW! I have just caught up on reading about the destruction of this Owensboro landmark earlier this month.

I have my own personal memories of the place, mostly centered around catching classic rock acts in concert there. I saw Foreigner, 38 Special, Canned Heat, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and others there. I recall one very novel show with "the Byrds" opening for Survivor. Actually, I believe it was one of the Byrds drummers with a bunch of young guys using the name. It was a fun show. I remember Foreigner, Kansas and the Fabulous Thunderbirds all sounding great at the Big E.

I remember my cousin working there, doing sound and light stuff for shows. He lurked around that place for a long time, becoming a bit of a fixture.

I remember going there when I was young. My family would eat at the restaurant there. The place seemed endless, with hallways full of rooms leading to more hallways.

It seems like it was just a few months ago that they suddenly closed it up. You heard rumors about what was to become of it.

I will try to get a few pictures I took up soon. My friend Karen Owen-Phelps has done a great job of covering the implosion. Check out her articles at the Evansville Courier & Press site:
http://btop.courierpress.com/staff/karen-owen-phelps/

Check out Karen's other articles too. There is a fun article about paranormal research groups in the area.

Kentucky Horsemen Football

For anyone that follows the Horsemen in Lexington, I have read that they have folded. I actually heard this several days ago, and just hoped it was a nasty rumor. I hoped that they might come back a few days later and announce that they were actually still functioning (like they did a couple of years ago, saying that they were no more, but then announcing a week or two later that they would actually be back in a new league).

Well, it looks like they could not swing the fees that the new Arena 1 League required. I am very sad to hear about this, they really put on a good show at Rupp, and I loved going to the games.

Their web site still appears current, though it hasn't been updated lately. I know the Lexington area will have a new pro basketball team and that's great, but I will really miss the Horsemen. I think they stuck around a lot longer than anyone expected.

The Gelato Fiasco, Brunswick Maine

We covered a lot of ground on our trip to Maine. Sure, I know most people wouldn't drive out of their way for a coffee/ gelato place, but this place is worth driving out of your way for.

I must say that I am not a big gelato person. In fact, I have come across it rarely. Its like ice cream. Thats my knowledge of it.

The Gelato Fiasco has a unique way of making it, and people were loving it.

I must confess though, I went in for coffee. I had their "God of Thunder" coffee. Well, the coffee smelled great when I went to get it. This is one of those rare coffee shops where the coffee tastes just as good as it smells.

If you are ever near Brunswick or the Portland area, check this place out. It is on a nice street with other cool shops near by.

http://www.gelatofiasco.com/

This might be hard to visualize, but they literally pour hot water directly into a free standing strainer with coffee in it. Your very own cup is placed under the filter, and it is brewed right into your cup. It was delicious!!

I sent an email to Josh at the Gelato Fiasco and asked him about how they make this great coffee. Here is how he explained it:

"We call it a 'Brew Bar'. It's basically a custom-made structure that holds four melita-like filter holders. The key is grinding the beans moments before brewing and using a correct grind with enough coffee beans. It's a little slower than an airport obviously, but the results speak for themselves. I'd say the only downside has been not being able to have coffee any other way or at any other place since we're the only ones I know of in Maine using this system".

I have been to hundreds of coffee shops. Seriously. I love good coffee. I can think of a couple of great places that make a distinct, perfect cup of coffee. This was easily one of the three best cups of coffee I have ever had. Ever.

If you are serious about good coffee and you are within an hour or so of Brunswick Maine make a point to get to this great place. If you are travelling with non-coffee people that's fine, they can have some gelato.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Weston, WV.

Yes, I know the name is not really politically correct, but that's what they call it. While operating, it was generally called Weston State Hospital.

This is an amazing place. I try not to write about facts that can be found on wikipedia, or on a locations homepage, so I will try to stick with the info our tour guide gave us.

They started working on building this place BEFORE the Civil War! It was in use until 1994 as a mental health facility. Our guide, Kathy Turner, worked there from 1970 until 1994, when it closed.

It was great fun having a guide with such a personal connection to the place. Kathy may have been the best tour guide we have ever had. I love historic tours, but rarely do you have the opportunity to have a guide with such an authentic connection.

There are two tours you can take. For $10 you get a tour of the entire first floor, and there is a $30 four floor tour. They have a late night ghost tour going on too, which is also fun, but I do like getting the actual historical info.

Kathy talked to us about the criteria for getting someone admitted, the number of patients housed there at different times, the role Weston played in the Civil War, and she did a great job of discussing some of the barbaric practices that mental health has utilized.

The architecture is stunning. The main building is huge. The history is endless.

I did watch the Ghost Adventures Live show from there over Halloween weekend. That was a lot of fun. The site deserves that kind of attention and publicity. I was happy to see Dean Haglund hosting it.

This is a great place to visit for many reasons, and it is a day trip drive from the Eastern Kentucky area.

This month

There is a LOT going on in and around the state right now! There are several events I won't be able to attend, but I would like to. In fact, there are a few things this weekend that I was hoping to check out, but I won't be able to.

The Miamitown Ghost Walk guys are doing their Paranormal Convention this Saturday AND they have several other cool events happening. I am sure they will be busy with their tour this season too. I have been to a lot of places and done a lot of "Ghost Walks." This one is more isolated and secluded than most, giving it a very authentic feel. This one gets a 10 on my creep-o-meter.
http://www.miamitownghosttours.com/events.html

The Louisville Science Center is hosting an exhibit on the Titanic. I was able to check out the exhibit when it was in Cleveland and Columbus (I hear there are several different traveling exhibits). I can't wait to see it again right here in Kentucky. Almost 100 years later and we are still fascinated about the sinking of this ship, the story of the passengers, and even the rediscovery of it. At one of the exhibit locations, there were even period actors discussing the ship, staying in character!
Louisville should have the exhibit from now until February.
http://www.louisvillescience.org/site/exhibits-temporary-article/titanic-the-artifact-exhibition.html

While you are in Louisville this October, I think "Evil Dead the Musical" is a must. A day trip to Louisville to see the Titanic exhibit during the day, and Evil Dead the Musical in the evening sounds perfect. Getting a room for the night and going to the Louisville Zoo and the new Mega Cavern the next day would be a great weekend adventure in Louisville this October.
http://www.louevildead.com/index3.html

In Lexington, there is the Downtown Ghost Walk and Creepy Crawl. Kevin Steele is a heck of a story teller. This is a fun event. Many of the locals participate (one haunted fire station seemed happy to let those on the walk take a look inside). This is a fun tour. It was a bit crowded the night I went last year, as this is a popular event. I did go on Halloween though. Anyway, check out Kevin's site.
http://lexingtonghostwalk.com/

In Owensboro, David Wolfe is doing his "Haunts of Owensboro" ghost walk. Like the Miamitown guys, his is run all year long on Fridays and Saturdays at 8. I have not been on his tour yet, but I hear he does a great job and he is excited about his tour that he has put together in Owensboro. Plus, the tour meets at one of my new favorite hang outs in the 'Boro, the Creme Coffee House. Owensboro is really lucky to have a great indy coffee shop and a year round ghost tour!
http://www.hauntsofowensboro.com/

Next month, Frankfort is hosting their book fair again on November 7th. If you love books, especially books with a Kentucky connection, this is the place! Last year, there were around 200 authors signing their works. I love signed books, and I love chatting with authors about their books. This is a very exciting event.
http://www.kybookfair.org/

Falling in line with the Halloween Season, but also occurring in November is the HorrorHound Weekend event in Cincinnati. This should be a fun event for horror movie fans.
http://www.horrorhoundweekend.com/

Autumn Festivals

There are plenty of festivals going on at the moment. Apple fests, ghost walks, and haunted houses. I love this time of the year!
Last weekend, there were festivals all over the state. The Chicken Festival, according to the local news, drew hundreds of thousands of visitors! The actors who played Bo and Luke Duke were there. I really need to get down to that festival next year.
Last year I went to the Lebanon Ohio Apple festival. I passed on that one this weekend to hit Ham Days in Lebanon Kentucky.
This was a nice, family oriented event. It was rainy, and the event seemed under attended. I still had a great time.
They had a parade, vendors, and all sorts of carnival type food stands. Their prime rib sandwiches were better than I heard they would be.
This might be a good festival for a family that enjoys the occasional festival event without shoulder to shoulder crowds.
I know Paducah also had a big festival this past weekend. I will try to get some Ham Days pics up soon.

Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT.

We had a great time at the Mark Twain House in Hartford CT. This is an amazing and big house that Clemens lived in for about 20 years. He wrote the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn stuff here, which I thought was pretty cool.

In a nut shell, he and his family were having financial problems in 1891 so they left the country. He did eventually move back to the area, but he lived in a smaller house.

Our tour was great, we had a fun, knowledgeable tour guide too, which is a plus. The staff was very friendly and they all seemed excited about contributing to the Mark Twain legacy (the staff at the House of the Seven Gables should come here and take notes).

We took the servants entrance tour, which was a shorter tour of the working areas of the servants.

We then toured the entire house. Check out my pictures.

I do know that the house has had some financial concerns, which is sad. I think they will pull through, the Mark Twain House seems to really be a part of the area.

Portland Head Light, Maine

We did visit the Portland Head Light. Very nice light house. I can't say a lot about it, but there is plenty of info around the net. Here are some pictures.

The Scare Fest

The Scare Fest is happening in Lexington this weekend. Went last year and had a great time! I am really glad the area is getting an event like this. This is a horror/paranormal convention and they have some interesting guests. It is always great seeing personal favorites-and very friendly guys Kane Hodder (Jason), Doug Bradley (Pinhead) and Gunnar Hansen (the original Leather Face). There are many others.
Check out their great site:

http://thescarefest.com/

Gloucester, MA. Seven Seas Whale Watch

To be honest, I really had no major interest in whale watching. I assumed whale watching involved going out on a boat for a few hours, feeling a little sea sick, and maybe seeing a very brief glimpse of a whale from a distance.

I was wrong.

We made our plans to go whale watching early on. It was pretty much on our way, and Jenn had a coworker from the town of Gloucester who suggested specifically using Seven Seas Whale watch.

I guess, in all fairness, the first 45 minutes of the boat ride were uneventful. Staff on the boat made some announcements, and did a little presentation on whales, the city, etc.

I believe the crew said that the trip was pretty much a 17 mile ride out to where the whales feed. It took a little less than an hour to get to that area.

The ride was relaxing. Many people took a nap. The hum of the boat, and the endless views of water were pleasant.

I really didn't know what to expect. For the most part, I was just along for the ride.

Then, there was an announcement that 2 whales had been spotted ahead. The boat turned just a little and went up a bit. Th entire group on the boat went from relaxed and calm to excited and anxious. Everyone jumped up.

The boat was very spacious and had 2 decks, so there wasn't as much crowding as I had anticipated. There was a pretty good view for everyone.

So, before we even arrived at the feeding ground area, we had a sighting. It was cool. You could see a tail, and the side of a whale. "That was very nice" I thought to myself." I immediately felt that I had gotten my money's worth on the trip.

The crew was bold. Instead of sticking around to watch this one whale, they announced that they wanted to get to the feeding area. I think most whale watchers would have tried to milk this sighting for all it was worth. Not the Seven Seas guys. They knew their stuff. They knew that more and better sighting opportunities were up ahead.

Well, shortly after that sighting, we saw more. Three whales were around the boat at one time! You could literally be anywhere on the boat and see a whale!

A couple of personal highlights for me included just seeing their tails hang in the air, just out of the water. Another exciting moment was when one slowly swam under the boat, and we could see him under the surface of the water. I was even able to get a great picture of Jenn with a whale in the background twice!

The crew detoured a bit a couple of times to make sure we saw all we could. Even on the way back, they mentioned a sighting on the side, and they went over so everyone could check it out.

More than once crew came over to ask us about our experience and to answer questions. The informative (but by no means intrusive) crew told us about their research. At the end of our trip, they even informed all on the boat about how many whales we saw, what they did, etc. They keep stats on this. They were even able to identify some of the whales by name!

They told an amazing story from the 70s. A little older fisherman came to their research facility. He said that he had pictures of whales he had taken going back to the 30s! He asked if they would like them. They were able to identify one of the whales they had been observing in one of his photos!

I really enjoyed spending about 5 hours with the Seven Seas crew. The boat was very comfortable and uncrowded. On the first level, there were several tables and a snack bar in an inside area. In no way did the crew or the boat feel restrictive. I almost felt like I was out with some very knowledgeable friends watching whales more than being out with a professional company.

After we got back, we stopped in the gift shop. Even the nice people running the Seven Seas gift shop enthusiastically asked about our sitings!

After watching for whales, we were advised by our local informant to check out Sugar Magnolias. Any restaurant named after a Grateful Dead song is a must stop!

This place was slammed, even though the lunch rush should have been over by the time we arrived. We were able to get a table. I had a great tuna melt and some broccoli slaw. I could have eaten a gallon of the slaw. It was easy to see why the locals love this place.

We had coffee at the Lone Gull coffee house which was very pleasant too. If I lived in Gloucester, Sugar Mags and Lone Gull would be my hang outs.

The shops around town were perfect. Lots of touristy stuff, nice shirts, postcards, etc. I really hope to make it back to this town soon.

http://www.7seas-whalewatch.com/

Haunted Footsteps Ghost Walk, Salem Mass.

I can't stress enough just how strange of a city Salem is, and I mean that in a very good way. Sure, it has the distinction of the whole witch trial thing in 1692. It has the very defined dark, rainy New England feel. It is bursting with oddness.

I love historical strangeness too. I love documented, official, authentic weird places.
I also appreciate odd urban legend type locations. Sure, I want to know the facts, but often legends without any proof start somewhere, and I want to hear about those too.

Salem has both. We know about the documented witch trials, ships, pirates, etc. associated with the area. This is fascinating stuff in its own right to research. Out of that, you get the other legends too.

I was told when going through the Witch Dungeon that the original jail where the "witches" were was, for some time, lost. They weren't sure where the jail was located. Well, in 1955, when digging was done in the area where the bank was being built, they stumbled on to it. Instead of trying to preserve the area or do anything historical with it, they went ahead and built the bank.

That is an often heard story in the area, and it seems to be pretty true. There are other legends in the area too. It seems that most agree that Gallows Hill is the area where the actual executions occurred, but I have heard people debate this. I have also heard other rumors about Salem and mysteries in the area. Like most any town, if you talk to locals you will hear various haunted house stories and urban legends.

We went on the "Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour" and we got a big old dose of all of the above. Tara was our guide, and she was amazing! This was the kind of tour where you have to set and think for a few hours afterwards- there is a lot of bizarre information! We were told the tour would be about 90 minutes long. Well, Tara was very talkative. The tour went over 2 and a half hours and everyone on the tour listened to every work (I was going to make a joke about hanging on every word but then I changed my mind). It was such a great tour, I don't think anyone wanted it to end.

Our guide covered the local legends and some of the basics, but most of her knowledge was "little known" stuff. Her story telling was animated and creepy (the perfect combo). She told some truly disturbing tales. There are a number of things I am going to have to research further myself. I did not know anything about catacombs or about the local modern jail.

The Haunted Footsteps people sell a combo ticket with the Spirits Trolley Tours. The trolley can be used all day and it goes on about a 1 hour loop around the city. It is also very informative, with a bit more of a historic emphasis. With your ticket, you can get on and off of the trolley as often as you need. We ended up getting on two different trolleys through the day, and, just like with the ghost tour, our guides were informative and fun. They pointed out all of the significant sights.

Salem is just such a strange fun town. Like other cool areas with a touch of strangeness, the balance here is just a little off. It is a nice city on its own. It is comfortable and pleasant. Then, there is that knowledge in the back of your mind about its past.

Salem Mass- Henry Derby House

I think a lot of people aren't aware of just how easy and affordable staying at a bed and breakfast can be when they travel. Staying at a B&B can be a great way to get a better feel of an area, and there are many benefits over a hotel.

We stayed at the Henry Derby House on our recent trip to Salem. As travelers on a budget and on a strict schedule, we really needed to make the most of our time and expenses. Staying at this cozy B&B was a good idea on many levels.

The price to stay here was similar to many hotels in the area. There was also the added benefit having a place to stay very close to all of the attractions. Many traditional hotels are a little out of town. With the Henry Derby House, we were right in the middle of everything. There was the added bonus of parking our car when we arrived in Salem, and not worrying about it again until leaving town.

Not having to worry about your car (paying to park, remembering to feed the meter, etc.) is nice. Also, being right in the middle of all of the sites and shops was very convenient. After visiting a museum we were tired, but still had a little over an hour until our next tour. Well, we were able to go to our room at the Derby House and relax.

One of the many benefits to staying at a bed and breakfast that I love the most is the local feel you get to experience. You can go to sleep with the windows open and listen to the sounds of the area. You can take a walk around the block in the morning. You can mingle with the locals. You really are a part of that area while you are there. When staying at a hotel, you mingle with other travelers from wherever. You wake up in a generic room in a generic bed, just like the one you were in the night before, and the night before that. Sometimes that generic room is all that you need. But, if you are going to hang around a historic or interesting town for a few days, a bed and breakfast is perfect.

We had a very nice time at the Henry Derby House on this trip. The rates were comparable to some chain hotels a little bit out of the area (which again would have required more travel time and car hassle).

Peg at the Derby House seemed excited about having us and appreciative of our business. When we arrived, she was great about making sure our room was ready (even though we were significantly early). She took the time to draw out a map for us, to make suggestions, and to let us know about some other areas of interest in town. She encouraged us to call her while we were out and about if we needed anything.We did leave early in the morning, and we weren't able to take advantage of the breakfast (which would have been nicer than a continental breakfast at a chain hotel I am sure) but that was OK. I have a feeling we will be back to see Peg at the Derby House again.
http://www.henryderby.com/

Salem Massachusetts Museums and other attractions

We have been through Salem four times. I love this town. It is actually pretty small, but jam packed with history. Anyone who appreciates history and especially weird history will love this place!

I will try not to rehash what most people already know. There are many books covering the events of the 1692 Salem witch trials. It is still a fascinating and mysterious point in American history.

The town has capitalized on it in a big way too. There are several museums, gift shops and other attractions relating to the trials and the general historical strangeness of the area.

As we have been through this area, as travelers several times, I will try to give a brief review of some of the attractions we have enjoyed the most.

I should take a moment to say that the town is very touristy with many novel tourist stops. Expect to pay $8-$15 at each museum or attraction on admission, even the smaller ones. Take a few extra dollars to each stop for post cards and gifts.

One thing that surprised me on our first visit was the use of the word "museum." I expected to see many artifacts and actual items from the witch trials. That is not the case. Few actual relics still exist, and the best ones are the obvious ones in the cemetery and the "Witch House" (the only building still standing directly linked to the trials).

The New England Pirate Museum, The Witch Dungeon Museum, and The Witch History Museum are three separate museums that offer a deal when you buy passes to all 3. They are within walking distance of each other and the other main attractions.

All three pretty much involve period dressed actors leading tours through life sized scenes of historical figures and events. The actors do a great job, and the scenes are pretty fun too. The Witch Dungeon Museum did have a piece of wood from the actual witch jail. The pirate one was just a lot of fun too. Our pirate guide really got into the part.

There are other cool museums in the area too, including the most noticeable one, the Salem Witch Museum. There is the newer Lizzie Borden Museum too. I can't get enough Lizzie Borden (more on her later). There is a traditional haunted house attraction there too, I can't think of the name at the moment, but we had fun taking their tour.

I love Nathaniel Hawthorne. The part in the House of the Seven Gables where Judge Pyncheon is setting in the house dead is about some of the creepiest writing ever. Hawthorne was born in Salem and spent a lot of time here. There are several references to him in Salem. Obviously, one of the big attractions in Salem, especially relating to Hawthorne is the actual House of Seven Gables. As much as I love Hawthorne and the preservation of historical houses, I must say that the house tour is disappointing, in my opinion. I would suggest going only if you are a huge fan of the novel, and really feel the need. It is the House of the Seven Gables though, and many people will see it just because of the name. Unfortunately, I get the impression that it is being managed with that same kind of attitude.

The Peabody Essex Museum is huge, and can take up a day or so on your travel schedule by itself. It is the oldest continuously operating museum in the US and has impressive collections of Asian and maritime art. The museum is also in control of many historically significant buildings in Salem.

Depending on your time and budget, I would pretty much suggest seeing all of the museums and attractions. Even if you think the period dressed actors and the life size scene museums are cheesy, they are fun.

Charleston WV.

OK. I haven't spent a lot of time here, but I have been through a few times lately. I don't have a lot to say about Charleston, but I am interested in getting back soon. It did take a second visit for me to realize it, as the area seems to not have a lot going on at first.

First off, this is a bit of a neglected area for day trips from the Eastern Kentucky area. Sure, I think most of us might pass on Charleston West Virginia opting instead for a day in Louisville or a bigger town with more going on in general.

Charleston does have a really cool SAL minor league baseball park that I have mentioned on my other blog. They have a Quaker Steak and Lube. If you are a buffalo wing fan, this is a great chain that I would love to see hit Kentucky.

Charleston has a nice mall too. I know many people hate malls, but, as they become more scarce by the moment, I am really developing an appreciation for them. The Charleston Town Center Mall seems is nice and spacious, and it is maintained well. They have a nice food court on the third story where you can look out over the other stories on the mall. This is very relaxing.

Huntington and Marshall University are also close by. We stopped briefly in Huntington and hit their mall too. They have a nice one. I don't know why, but I love those big mall book stores with a Seattle's Best Coffee in them. I would like to see more of these too. Also, on the same exit at the Huntington Mall we went to, there is the Billy Bob's Pizza place that I mentioned before.

The area does have a bit of a X-Files vibe going on, and I love areas with that kind of feel. Flatwoods (birthplace of the "Flatwoods Monster") and Point Pleasant which is associated with Mothman are close by. Also, and I plan on talking about this later, the Weston State Hospital (aka the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum) is not too far off either. That is a cool place I will need to talk about more!

New England

I originally wanted to write mostly about the great state of Kentucky and other areas close by. I still want to keep the theme here pretty much related to Kentucky or areas outside of Kentucky that can easily be visited in a day or weekend trip. For the moment, I hope my reader(s) won't mind my writing about my travels through New England and the states between there and Kentucky.

I know, this is a pretty big stretch for a Kentucky Travel blog, but, for what it is worth, I did the entire trip, there and back, in my car within about 1 week. We left Friday evening around 5 and got back the following Saturday pretty late. We made it a little north of Portland Maine. We made notable stops in several cities.

I will write over the next few weeks about some of our favorite stops. This was our 4th time making this specific trip, so a few areas are becoming pretty familiar to me as a traveller. We did visit 10 minor league baseball parks, seeing games at 5 of them. Feel free to check out my mentions of them on my other blog, kentuckybaseball.blogspot.com.

I love Kentucky and I love the entire country. Getting in my car and just going somewhere is such a treat and a privilege. Not many decades ago, it was an event for someone to travel just a few miles. A trip for my grandfather in to town was somewhat of an event. Now, it is no big deal for me to make a 2500 mile trip in a week just for the fun of it!