What would you think if you sat down at a restaurant and the server brought you peanut butter and crackers? At Weidmann's Restaurant in Meridian, Mississippi, that's not a mistake. It's a tradition that goes back more than 80 years. And the restaurant itself goes back considerably further. In 1870, Swiss immigrant Felix Weidmann and his wife, Clara, opened a little café with just four stools. It was called the European House and was located in Meridian's Union Hotel. That was 156 years ago....
just now • 1 min read
New Hampshire's State House in Concord has something that sets it apart from most other state capitols. It's the oldest state capitol in the country where both houses of the legislature still meet in their original chambers. The building opened on June 2, 1819. That means New Hampshire lawmakers have been conducting business in the same rooms for more than 200 years. Think about that. James Monroe was president when the legislature first moved in! I've visited quite a few state capitols...
7 days ago • 1 min read
I did it! My daughters and grandkids made up a scavenger hunt for me to take along on my September road trip. Of course, I completed the trip AND published a blog post on The Driveby Tourist. I purchased items in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Want to read about it? Here's the link. Thanks for reading The Driveby Tourist.
12 days ago • 1 min read
On our last evening in Boston, Ms. Driveby Tourist and I decided to enjoy dinner outdoors. October weather in Boston can be a little iffy, but we were willing to take our chances. We chose the Bell in Hand Tavern, which bills itself as America's oldest continuously operating tavern. Founded in 1795, it has an interesting history. Its founder, Jimmy Wilson, had been Boston's town crier. For years, he walked the streets announcing news while ringing his bell. When he retired, he opened a tavern...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Five days in Boston with Ms. Driveby Tourist gave us plenty of history, good food, interesting people, and a few surprises. We stayed in the North End, Boston's Little Italy, within walking distance of the Freedom Trail, Boston Harbor, and more Italian restaurants than we could possibly visit. Not that we didn't try. Five National Park Service Sites I managed to visit five National Park Service units, although a couple required some creative interpretation of the word visit. They included...
21 days ago • 2 min read
When someone mentions the National Park Service, most people think of Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon. Wonderful places, all of them. But you're missing a lot if those are the only places on your list. The National Park Service currently manages 433 units, including 63 officially designated National Parks. That number could soon reach 64, with Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument awaiting final approval. That leaves 370 other places worth exploring! There are 87 National...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Twenty-three days and nearly 6,000 miles gave me plenty of opportunities to explore two of my favorite parts of American history: presidents and National Park Service sites. Of all the presidential stops, Calvin Coolidge’s Plymouth Notch in Vermont intrigued me the most. This wasn’t a grand presidential mansion. It was a small Vermont village where Coolidge grew up and returned throughout his life. His father administered the presidential oath of office there after President Harding died in...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Today was Day 23, the final day of my road trip. After more than three weeks, everything was finally pointing toward home. Go #1 was crossing Lake Michigan aboard the S.S. Badger from Ludington to Manitowoc. The four-hour crossing was a little rough, but my seasickness wristbands worked. I skipped bingo, although the 80-year-old caller told more than enough dad jokes. Instead, I played trivia. I scored 7 of 10 in the first round and 8 of 10 in the second. That tied me for first. Then came the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello from Michigan! I’m nearing the end of this road trip, so I wanted to send a quick update before my regularly scheduled newsletter arrives next Tuesday. The last two days have certainly given me some stories! Yesterday included a quick drive through Detroit, followed by a visit to The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. From there, I stopped at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. But the most memorable stop came next: Hell, Michigan. Yes, I can now say I’ve been to...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Today took me across Michigan with several very different stops. I started with a drive through Detroit, then visited The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. From there, I headed to Lansing for the Michigan State Capitol. I finished my sightseeing with a stop connected to the North Country National Scenic Trail. It was another day of history, highways, and adding experiences to my continuing quest to visit all 50 states for the third time. But the stop I’ll probably remember...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read