Long before the European invasion, in what is considered to be the “Early Woodland” period, there was a remarkable, pre-Columbian Native American culture, which existed between 1000 to 200 BCE, referred to as the Adena. Although all those who are considered Adena shared cultural similarities — such as sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system […]
Author: Jody Arneson
Stonewall Jackson Winchester Headquarters
Beginning with this post, I’m starting a series of posts about Frederick County and Winchester, VA. This is the first installment of this series. To see others in this series, click on the label “Winchester and Frederick County” below this post. Between November 1861 and March 1862, Confederate Major General Thomas J. Jackson — more famously […]
Adams County (PA) Photo Safari
This is the first of periodic “photo safaris” of places the Blog has visited! I hope you enjoy this vicarious visit to Gettysburg and Adams County, PA! An historic car show at one of the annuaal Apple Harvest Festivals. The backyard of the Shriver House Museum. Many Gettysburg houses still bear the scars of the […]
Tunnel of Green: Appalachian Trail to Weverton Cliffs
The hike from Gathland State Park to Weverton Cliffs is a lovely walk in the woods, and is an ideal day hike that provides a taste of what through-hiking the Appalachian Trail is like. Plus, you’re likely to encounter some AT through-hikers, and they’re always interesting to chat with. The plan for the hike was […]
Photo Safari at Gunston Hall
Janice, Danielle, and Rachel greeted us at the door. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I went on a second Washington Photo Safari, and it was amazing — I learned so much. The jaunt was led by David Luria, a professional photographer, who focused on getting us away from using the “automagic” setting on our cameras […]
Transcending the Everyday Annapolis
I’m constantly trying to improve the blog — coming up with new ideas for destinations or things to do, providing tips, improve the information, and yes, improve the photos. I recently discovered Washington Photography Safaris, with a variety of destinations (several of which you’ll see in upcoming posts over the next couple of months). I […]
Turning Abandoned Space into a Lovely Park: NYC’s High Line
Lisa Schwartz guest blogs this week about a relatively recent addition to NYC’s attractions. Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Plaza, etc. are all iconic and wonderful places to visit when touring New York City. I have visited each of these locations several times, and they are definitely worth checking out. A […]
Ten Great Ghost Tours You Shouldn’t Miss!
September and October are the season most folks check out ghost walks and ghost tours — one of my favorite activities! Ghost tours are always intriguing — they’re a little bit of sight-seeing, a little bit of ghost story, and usually a lot of history. It’s a good way to get to know a city or […]
Kykuit: Retreat of the Rockefellers
The John D. Rockefeller estate, Kykuit, is a 40-room National Trust house in Westchester County, NY, built by oil tycoon, capitalist and Rockefeller family patriarch John D. Rockefeller. Conceived largely by his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and enriched by the art collection of third-generation scion, Governor of New York and Vice President of the United […]
A House for the Masses That’s Perfectly Unique: Kentuck Knob
“[Kentuck Knob]…is of a spectacular beauty that never palls whatever the season and whatever the gap between visits, whether one month or ten minutes.” — Lord Peter Palumbo Kentuck Knob began in 1953 when the Hagans, owners of a major dairy company in Western Pennsylvania, purchased 80 acres of mountain land east of their native […]
Wetipquin Creek Kayaking Adventure
The Nanticoke River is the largest Chesapeake Bay tributary on the lower Delmarva Peninsula, meandering gently through marshland, forests and farmland, on its journey from southern Delaware to Tangier Sound in Maryland. The Nanticoke watershed is also the most biologically diverse watershed on the Delmarva, and is home to the highest concentration of bald eagles […]
Hiking at Jerusalem Village in Gunpowder Falls State Park
Established in 1959 to protect the Gunpowder River and the Big and Little Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls State Park is now one of Maryland’s largest state parks. With more than 18,000 acres in Harford and Baltimore counties, Gunpowder’s narrow corridors host a varied topography ranging from tidal wetlands to steep and rugged slopes. My first […]
Exploring the W&OD Rail Trail
The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park stretches almost 45 miles between the Potomac River in Alexandria and Purcellville. The park is approximately 100 feet wide, and of course, its primary feature is the rail trail, a paved path about 10 feet wide, that closely follows the original rail bed of, and derives […]
Painting Vineyards and Vistas
Wine. Lovely weather. Friends. Beautiful scenery. Painting. Seriously, those are all the ingredients for an incredible afternoon. Paint.Local.Social aims to bring this experience to everyone, no artistic talent needed! Vineyards and Vistas is a Plein Air painting experience at a local winery in Adams County. It will include all supplies and instruction along with wine samples. Andi […]
A New Look at a Lake Revisited
I’ve been visiting Lake Elkhorn, in Columbia, MD, for longer than two decades. Years of walking dogs around the lake has made the lake familiar and comforting. It’s one of my favorite places in Columbia, and despite its local popularity, it’s restful and relaxing. Lake Elkhorn is a 37-acre reservoir located in the Owen Brown […]