Visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston

Chances are if you are visiting Boston, you are a fan of history. The city is full of history dating back centuries, most notably along the Freedom Trail. If you are looking to experience some world history from the early 1960s, then you must add a visit to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum to your Boston itinerary.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. I’ve lived less than two miles from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for over 14 years now. As a runner, my runs have taken me right by it a few times a month or more and I’ve said to myself on each of those runs, I really need to visit the museum someday.

When wondering what to do on my day off this past President’s Day, I decided to finally visit this museum I had been wanting to visit for so long and I’m so glad I finally made it there.

US Presidential Libraries

Run by the National Archives and Records Administration, there are 15 presidential libraries across the United States, one for every president from the 31st President Herbert Hoover to the 45th President Donald Trump. Each library is located in the home state of the president that it’s for.

These libraries were established to preserve the historical collections of documents and records from each presidency and the museums help to share these collections and the history of the presidency with the public.

The presidential documents were always the private property of the president until in 1939 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt donated his papers to the federal government of the United States and the first Presidential library was built in his name. In 1950, Herbert Hoover, who served as President prior to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, decided to have a library built to preserve his presidential documents.

The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955, established the federally run Presidential Library system and encouraged other presidents to donate their presidential documents. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 established that the presidential documents are the property of the United States and after the President leaves office, these documents are released to the custody of the Archivist of the United States to be included in a Presidential Library.

History of the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Less than a year into Kennedy’s presidency, he contacted the Archivist of the United States stating that he would like to establish a Presidential Library after he left office. Just a month before his death, he decided on the location to be in Cambridge, Massachusetts close to his alma mater, Harvard University.

Just a month after his death, his family met and decided that the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum would be the only official national memorial to President Kennedy. The library would include a museum, archive and educational institute.

In 1975, after delays in starting construction at the site, they abandoned the Cambridge site and chose the current site on the water next to University of Massachusetts Boston campus in Dorchester. Groundbreaking occurred in June 1977 and on October 20, 1979, the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum was opened.

Exhibits at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The visit to the museum starts with a short film that takes you thru John F Kennedy’s early life right up until his 1960 presidential campaign. Once you leave the film, you will go thru the exhibits, below are some of the exhibits you can experience at the museum:

  • 1960 Presidential Election – This exhibit features recreations of the Kennedy Presidential Campaign, including signs and handouts. It also included newspaper vending machines from around the country with the newspapers printed the morning after Kennedy was elected.
  • John F Kennedy Inauguration – At this exhibit, you can read and listen to Kennedy’s Inaugural Address from January 20, 1961. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address may have one of the most well-known lines from an Inaugural Address, “Ask not what your country will do for you, ask what you can do for your country”

On Inauguration Day, Kennedy took the oath with his hands on his family bible. The Fitzgerald Family Bible was brought over to the US from Kennedy’s Irish ancestors and includes a family chronicle dating back to 1857. It was really interesting to see such an old bible, reminded me of the old books in the Long Room at Trinity College in Dublin.

  • JFK and the Press – The first live televised press conference by a president was from John F Kennedy just days after his inauguration on January 25, 1961. The early 1960s was a very difficult time for the world and definitely kept the President busy. Through his three short years in office, John F Kennedy was dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis, a divided Berlin, The Cold War, Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement in the US. Due to all of this, it was very common for Kennedy to hold somewhat regular live televised press conferences, on average one every 16 days.
  • White House Corridor Gifts from Heads of State – In the hallway between the exhibits, on display were many of the gifts that the Kennedy’s received from 106 Heads of State from across the world. It has become a tradition for Heads of State and the President to exchange gifts when they meet. Over time these gifts started to become more extravagant and in 1966 a limit was put on the value of the gift the President could accept. The gifts consisted of things like porcelain vases to Michelangelo replicas. But it wasn’t just Heads of State that presented gifts to the Kennedys. I was really amazed with this replica inkstand that was used in signing the Declaration of Independence that the Kennedys received from the White House News Correspondents and Photographers.
  • The US Space Program – While there was a lot of conflict going on in the world, there were also amazing things happening at the time of Kennedy’s Presidency. In 1961, the US Space Program really started to gain some steam when Kennedy made it a priority for the United States to get a man to walk on the moon prior to Russia. In July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin accomplished this goal by being the first humans to walk on the moon.
  • The Peace Corps – One of the really great programs that started during Kennedy’s Presidency was the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps sends volunteers to developing countries to work alongside local citizens to help with projects in agriculture, environment, economic development, health education and youth development.
  • Special Olympics – There is also a small exhibit about the Special Olympics which were founded by John F Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The Special Olympics are a place for people with intellectual disabilities to compete in athletic events. This was a very personal organization for Eunice Kennedy Shriver to found as their sister Rosemary suffered from intellectual disabilities due to complications during her birth. It’s such a wonderful organization and it’s heartwarming reading about the Kennedy family’s involvement in it.

After going thru the exhibits, the last thing I passed was a piece of the Berlin Wall. It looked like a typical piece of the wall that I have seen in other museums with the graffiti on it. But then there was a mirror showing you the East Berlin side, which was completely blank, no graffiti at all. This was because people were not allowed to get close to the wall in East Berlin. I had not known this fact before and found it very interesting and it was an eye-opening sign of the differences between East and West Germany.

Outside of the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is located along the Boston Harborwalk, a series of walkways along the waterfront neighborhoods of Boston. I may be biased as I run and walk along this portion of the Boston Harborwalk, but I must say it has some really gorgeous views of the city of Boston.

If you walk out of the library and make a left, you will see a staircase that will lead you down to the Boston Harborwalk. After spending a couple of hours indoors, if it’s a nice day, it would be great to take a short walk and enjoy the fresh air and the views.

If you love history, this museum is definitely a must! It won’t take you long to go thru the museum, I think that two to three hours on average.

Looking for the perfect Boston itinerary that includes the John F Kennedy Presidential Library, contact Beyond The Miles Travel today.

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12 Great Things to Do in Chicago

As the third largest city by population in the United States, Chicago is a very popular city to visit. Being such a large city there is plenty to see and do.

Here are my top 12 things to do in Chicago.

1. Chicago River

The Chicago River goes right thru downtown Chicago before emptying into Lake Michigan. A walk along the river is a must all year long but especially in the warmer months of the year. On warm days, the combination of the river’s clay bottom, water coming from Lake Michigan and algae give the river an almost tropical color that will have you thinking you are somewhere in the Caribbean and not in the Midwest! Speaking of the color of the water, on St. Patrick’s Day they even dye the water green to celebrate the holiday.

Things to do along the river include:

  • Take a walk or a run along the Chicago Riverwalk.
  • Have a meal with river views – there are restaurants along the river with both indoor and outdoor dining.
  • Have a drink along the river – from regular bars to tiki bars in the summer, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a drink.
  • Watch the artists along the river – if you are lucky enough, you might be at the Chicago Riverwalk when the artists are out painting. They are really amazing to watch.
  • Take a kayak tour on the Chicago River.

While there is plenty to see and do along the river during the day, I also recommend seeing the river after dark as well. Of course, make sure to be safe after dark, the river can be viewed from spots downtown. The many bridges that cross the river are great spots to grab a great photo.

2. Lake and River Architecture Tour

While you are at the river, you must take one of the Architecture tours. These boat tours are probably one of the most popular tours in the city of Chicago. The city is known for it’s innovative architecture and famous architects that built these buildings. Wendella Boats offers a Lake and River Architecture Tour which I highly recommend. This 90-minute tour will take you down the Chicago River and give you the history of the buildings along the river.

From the river, the boat will go out into Lake Michigan. From here you will get a beautiful view of the Chicago Skyline.

3. Navy Pier

Navy Pier has drawn millions of visitors to the lakefront for over a hundred years. It’s a top family attraction in Chicago offering the following:

  • Shopping
  • Restaurants
  • Parks and outdoor public space
  • Chicago Children’s Museum
  • Amusement rides including the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
  • Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Navy Pier is a must visit for families with so much to keep both children and adults occupied.

One of the other great things to do at Navy Pier is to take in the views of the city from the Pier. Whether you are on the ground or 200 feet up in the Centennial Wheel, the views are stunning. It also makes for a great spot to see the sunset behind the Chicago skyline.

4. Grant Park

This 319-acre city park has tons to see and do. Some of the most popular things to do in the park are:

  • Buckingham Fountain – One of the largest fountains in the world, its actually twice the size of the fountain at Versailles in France that it was modeled after.
  • Millenium Park – I bet you didn’t know that Millenium Park is actually part of Grant Park as opposed to being its own separate park. I actually wasn’t aware of this myself until my second trip to Chicago. This is where you can see one of Chicago’s most well-known sites: Cloud Gate or more popularly known as The Bean. Millenium Park also features pieces of art, fountains and spot to hear live music and watch movies outdoors.

5. Willis Tower

The 110 story Willis Tower opened in 1973 as the Sears Tower and for 25 years it held the title of tallest skyscraper in the world. Located on the 103rd floor of the building is Skydeck. This observation deck is the perfect spot to get great views of the city. If you are daring enough, you can experience The Ledge. This glass box extends out 4.3 feet from the building to give you a bit of a different perspective of being 1, 353 feet above the ground with just glass beneath your feet. While I am not brave enough to try it, more than 1.7 million visitors each year do, so it’s obviously completely safe. Have you/will you try it?

6. Lincoln Park

On the north side of the city, along Lake Michigan, is the 1,208-acre park that was named after former President Abraham Lincoln. The park consists of multiple sports fields and a conservatory. But the main attraction is definitely the Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo opened in 1868 and is the only privately managed free zoo in the United States. Since it’s free it makes for a great activity for families visiting Chicago.

Lincoln Park is also a great park to just take a walk and check out the views of the skyline from the north side of the city.

7. Wrigley Field

Also located on the Northside of Chicago is the second-oldest baseball stadium in the US, Wrigley Field. Built in 1914, it was called Cubs Park until 1927 when it was bought by William Wrigley Jr. of the Wrigley chewing gum company and renamed Wrigley Field. One of the most unique features of Wrigley Field is that until 1988 it did not have lights which meant all games at Wrigley Field were played during the day even the midweek games. As someone who grew up attending games at the historic Fenway Park, I highly recommend seeing a game at such a historic stadium like Wrigley Field when you visit Chicago.

8. Chicago Tribune Tower

The Neo-gothic skyscraper on Michigan Avenue was built in the 1920s. The Chicago Tribune held a design competition to find the architect for the building, with the winner not only getting to design the building but also winning $50,000 which as we all know was a lot of money back in the 1920s. One of the most interesting aspects of the tower is the bricks from historic sites and events around the world. These bricks were brought back from Chicago Tribune correspondents in their travels covering news around the world. As a traveler, I really enjoyed seeing all these. bricks from around the world.

9. Chicago Theatre

There is no better place to see a show than in a historic theater and the Chicago Theatre is no exception. Opened in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the first lavish movie theater in the United States. The theater has many French influences, the exterior features a small replica of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the lobby was modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles.

While they started with playing movies here, they now have everything from concerts to comedy shows to children’s shows. They do also offer tours of the historic theatre although from what I’ve read, these are still on hold due to the pandemic.

10. Chicago Cultural Center

If you’re looking for somewhere to experience culture and architecture, then head to the Chicago Cultural Center. This beautiful building is located downtown and is on the National Register of Historic Places. At the Chicago Cultural Center, you can experience the following:

  • Art Exhibits by local and national artists
  • Concerts by local artists
  • Film Screenings
  • Dance shows
  • Workshops for both adults and children
  • Architecture including the Tiffany stained glass dome ceiling that is definitely a must see.

And the best part, admission to the Chicago Cultural Center is completely free.

11. Drinks at the Signature Lounge at the 96th

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is checking out the view of a city from above. I mentioned the Willis Tower earlier which has great views, but how about enjoying a drink with a view? 875 North Michigan Avenue features the 360 Chicago Observation Deck on the 94th floor. A floor above that is the restaurant, Signature Room at the 95th. And above that on the 96th floor is the Signature Lounge at the 96th.

The views from the Signature Lounge at the 96th are stunning. There is even a great view from the ladies restroom, sorry guys, you don’t get the stunning view from your restroom. In my opinion the lounge is the perfect spot to relax in the afternoon or have some pre or post dinner drinks. In fact, it the perfect spot to catch the sunset in Chicago.

12. Must Eat Chicago Food

One of the great things about traveling is to try the local food. Chicago is a great city for the foodie travelers out there. Some must try foods are:

  • Chicago style hot dogs – These all-beef hot dogs are served in a poppy seed bun and topped with yellow mustard, white onions, green sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled sport peppers and celery salt. They are a must try for hot dog lovers. There are many places to try them, one of the more famous is Portillos which has multiple locations throughout Chicago.
  • Deep Dish Pizza – Of all the food in Chicago, this is definitely my favorite! I’m sure most of you have tried deep dish pizza at Uno’s Pizzeria which has locations across the US. While Uno’s has been said to the first place to serve deep dish pizza, I recommend trying Giordano’s while in Chicago. If you want to try lots of deep-dish pizza from different pizzerias, I highly recommend taking a Pizza Tour while in Chicago.
  • Garrett Popcorn – Looking for the perfect snack while exploring Chicago, look no further than Garrett Popcorn which has multiple locations throughout Chicago. They offer regular buttered popcorn and such flavors as caramel, cheddar, nut caramel crisp, buffalo ranch and even the popular Garett mix which consists of a mix of cheddar and caramel.

Chicago should definitely be near the top of your list of places to visit in the United States. With so much to see and do, it’s somewhere you can travel to again and again and still experience something different each time you are there.

Bonus Tip: Another fun way to see Chicago and learn about its history is to take a ghost tour. Check out this link to book a ghost tour in Chicago and over 100 other cities across the US.

For help in planning your next trip and creating the perfect Chicago itinerary, contact Beyond The Miles Travel today.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Chicago.

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The World’s Most Magical Celebration

50 Years ago on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando Florida opened! Can you believe this magical place has been open for 50 years?

What started as a dream of Walt Disney who wanted a place that both young and old could enjoy together as a family has turned into one of the most popular vacation destinations in the entire world. Walt’s first park Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California on July 17, 1955. With the success of that park, he purchased a large amount of land in Florida in hopes of building a larger Disney Park. Sadly Walt Disney passed away in December 1966 but his brother Roy carried out his dream of the Florida park.

On Opening day, Walt Disney World consisted of just two hotels, The Contemporary and Polynesian hotels. Today there are over 25 hotels on Disney property. They opened with just the one park, Magic Kingdom which included less than 20 rides and attractions. With just one park, you could visit Disney Word for two days and enjoy each ride multiple times and spend the rest of your week exploring other things in Florida like the beach. There have since been 3 other theme parks opened and two water parks. You could probably spend a month inside the Walt Disney World Resort and still not be able to experience everything.

Opening Day October 1, 1971 (photo courtesy of my Walt Disney World book)

I have been coming to Walt Disney World for 42 years since I was 5 years old. It’s amazing just how much the parks have changed over the years. Some changes have been great, some make me sad since I get nostalgic for the past. Cinderella’s Castle has certainly evolved over the years.

Construction of the Castle
Original Castle Colors
25th Anniversary Cake Castle

While I get nostalgic for the classic white and blue castle, they have done a great job at sprucing it up for the 50th Anniversary celebration.

50th Anniversary Castle by day and night

The celebration officially begins on October1, 2021 and will last for 18 months. There have already been plenty of 50th Anniversary touches added to the park leading up to October 1st. As seen above, Cinderella’s Castle is all decked out for the 50th. A new fireworks show, Enchantment which opens on October 1st. In the Magic Kingdom and in Disney’s shopping, dining and entertainment district, Disney Springs, you can find new 50th Anniversary merchandise for all ages.

Walt Disney World has also released The Vault which is a collection of vintage merchandise from the early years of the park. Get classic tshirts, a vintage park map and other memorabilia.

The Vault

There are plenty of 50th anniversary decorations throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort. From birthday cakes to sparkly 50th banners, you can’t miss all these beautiful displays of the celebration!

50th Decorations

But the most impressive decorations to me where the Fab 50 Golden Character Statues. These beautiful statues are located in all four of the Walt Disney World theme parks, with at lease half them in the Magic Kingdom. While some of them are fairly easy to located in central areas of each theme park, there are a few you have to search for. I managed to find all but three, two of them I know where they are located but they had the area blocked off, but I still have yet to find Tink, she apparently is hidden in the trees. Next trip I’ll for sure find her! These statues are so beautiful and represent so many Disney characters from past and present movies.

Fab 50 Golden Character Statues

When you visit during the next 18 months, not only will you experience the excitement of the 50th Anniversary, there are also so many new attractions opening.

On October 1st, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot opens. This 4D trackless ride will shrink you down to Chef Remy’s size for a culinary adventure. This ride has been at Disneyland Paris for a number of years and it is such a fun ride, I can’t wait to ride it again at Epcot on my next trip.

Also at Epcot, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will open in 2022. And earlier this week, the new nighttime show, Harmonious opened. Make sure to get a spot front and center along the World Showcase lagoon to experience all this nighttime show has to offer.

Speaking of new nighttime spectaculars, Disney’s Happily Ever After had it’s last performance on September 29th and now there is a new nighttime spectacular in the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Enchantment. Enchantment will have a lot to live up to as Happily Ever After was one of Disney’s best nighttime shows in my opinion and evoked lots of emotions during it’s tenure since May 2017.

In March 2022, Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser will open. This totally immersive Star Wars hotel will put you right into the Star Wars universe. Reservations for this experience will include two nights in the hotel, 3 meals per day and admission into Disney’s Studios. It sounds like quite the once in a lifetime experience that also comes in a once in a lifetime price tag. Reservations open on October 28th.

Magic Band + will debut in 2022. These bands will bring you more than the typical park ticket, hotel room key and ability to pay for your purchases. Now the magic bands will be more interactive, with is lighting up along with the nighttime spectaculars and interacting with the Fab 50 Golden Character Statues.

With so much going on in the parks and with all the world has gone thru since March 2020, the next 18 months are the perfect time to visit Walt Disney World and take part in the celebrations. Contact your favorite Disney Travel Agent at Beyond the Miles Travel today, sue@beyondthemilestravel.com to book your 50th Anniversary Walt Disney World Trip. http://www.beyondthemilestravel.com.

Have a Magical Day!

Happy 50th Anniversary Walt Disney World, thank you for giving me the best memories over the past 42 years of my life. I hope every little kid has a chance to experience your magic like I did for the first time back when I was 5 years old.

My first Disney Trip

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Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts

There are many great resorts to stay at when visiting Walt Disney World. My personal favorite has always been Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is one of the moderate resorts at Walt Disney World and is split into two separate resorts, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

These two resorts feature southern theming and of course that wonderful southern hospitality. Located on the Sassagoula River, one of the biggest benefits of these resorts is its boat access to Disney Springs. While the bus transportation at Disney World is convenient, it can involve long waits and crowded buses, so it’s nice to be able and switch things up and take a nice little boat ride as transportation. The boats are also a great way to get between the two resorts if you aren’t up for more walking on top of all the walking you will be doing in the theme parks. If you are staying at one of these resorts, it’s definitely worth visiting the other as well, read more about each resort below.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

With it’s Mardi Gras theming, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will have you feeling like you are in New Orleans. Featured throughout the resort, you will find Mardi Gras characters, cobblestone walkways, gas lamps and wrought-iron balconies on the buildings.

One of the biggest advantages of this resort is its size. Unlike other moderate resorts, which are all very large and spread out, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter has just over 1,000 rooms located in just seven three-story buildings. This makes for a much more compact resort with less walking involved and just one bus stop for transportation to the theme parks.

The resort offers the following:

  • Rooms – One King or 2 Queen bed rooms with either standard, garden, river or pool views.
  • Dining Options – Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, a food court open for breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring a variety of food including Cajun and Creole classics such as Gumbo and Jambalaya. Scat Cat’s Club Cafe and Lounge is quite the popular spot at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. This is where you can get the famous Mickey Mouse Shaped Beignets. Not only do they have the regular beignets, but they also have specialty flavored ones like cinnamon and raspberry. You can even get beignets with Bailys, Kahlua or RumChata. At night, the Scat Cat’s Lounge serves drinks and appetizers and features live jazz music Wednesday thru Sunday nights.
  • Activities – If you are planning on taking a break from the theme parks and spending some time at the resort, there is so much to do at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. Spend your day swimming in the Doubloon Lagoon pool. This Mardi Gras themed pool is complete with a 51-foot-long water slide shaped as a sea serpent. There is even a life size King Neptune watching over the pool. Make sure to check out the pool bar, Mardi Grogs while you are enjoying the day at the pool. Each night you can also roast marshmallows at the Cajun Campfire and on select nights, catch a Disney movie under the stars.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

While I love Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is my absolute favorite resort at Walt Disney World. There is just something so peaceful and beautiful about this resort.

While the theming of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will have you dreaming of a trip to the city of New Orleans, at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, you will be dreaming of the more country locations in the southern state of Louisiana.

The resort has over 2,000 rooms in 20 buildings throughout the resort. There are also 4 bus stops located in the resort. As you can see this is a much more spread-out resort that will require more walking than at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

The resort rooms are divided into two separate sections:

  • Alligator Bayou – This section will take you to the rural bayou of Louisiana. Even the landscaping will have you feeling you are in the bayou. In this section, there are two story buildings which do not offer elevators, so this is something to keep in mind, it’s a good resort to request a first-floor room at.
  • Magnolia Bend – This section will take you to the stately mansions of the plantations of the south. These building are a mixture of two and three stories and do include elevators. The buildings are just beautiful and will have you feeling like you are staying in a mansion even though you are not.

The resort offers the following:

  • Rooms – Like Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, they offer One King or 2 Queen bed rooms with standard, woods, river or pool views. The woods view rooms are the ones that are located in the 2 story buildings in the Alligator Bayou section, so if you book this type of room be prepared for there not to be elevators in the building.
  • 5th Sleeper Rooms – One of the advantages of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is that they offer 5th Sleeper rooms which makes it very convenient for families with more than two children. These rooms come with an extra bed that pulls down like the one pictured below.
  • Royal Rooms – One of the many special things about Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside are the Royal Rooms. These rooms are the perfect way to make your little ones feel like they are a prince or princess. The rooms are the same size as a standard room but come with royal embellishments fit for a prince or princess. How cute are these rooms?
  • Dining Options – Riverside Mill Food Court is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves a variety of food options including southern favorites like Jambalaya and Shrimp and Grits. If you are looking for a sit-down meal in a full-service restaurant, make sure to try Boatwright’s Dining Hall specializing in delicious southern food like Cajun Chicken, Lowcountry Seafood Boil and Red Beans & Rice. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance.
  • Entertainment – Probably the most special thing about Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside is its nightly entertainment. Head over to the River Roost for one of the most fun live music performances in all of Walt Disney World. Since 1997, “Ye Haa” Bob has played his piano and sang to the delight of many. He performs nightly Wednesdays thru Saturdays starting at 8:30pm and you definitely should not miss him.

Bob truly makes the experience at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside so special. For a little preview of what to expect at one of “Ye Haa” Bob’s shows, check out this video below:

  • Activities – There is so much to do on a resort day at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. As I mentioned, this resort is quite large so there are actually 6 swimming pools throughout the resort. In the middle of the resort is Ol’ Man Island which includes the main swimming pool complete with a 95-foot-long waterslide, hot tub and kiddie pool. While enjoying the pool, grab a drink or a quick lunch at Muddy Rivers bar. The other 5 pools are more relaxing and quieter, 3 are located in Alligator Bayou and 2 in Magnolia Bend.

Other than swimming, you can spend your day fishing, renting surrey bikes or taking a horse drawn carriage ride. Like Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, you can spend your evenings roasting marshmallows at the Campfire on de Bayou or watch movies under the stars on select nights.

A Walt Disney World vacation can get tiring and it’s important to stay somewhere not just convenient but also relaxing. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is the perfect resort for that.

If you are looking for a resort within walking distance to some of the theme parks, make sure to check out my post on the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel .

Beyond The Miles Travel specializes in Disney travel, contact me today for help planning your next Disney vacation.

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Day Trips from Boston By Train – Martha’s Vineyard

It’s been a while since I’ve written a Day Trips from Boston by Train post. For those that don’t know I live in the city of Boston and do not own a car so I’m always looking for day trips to take by train from Boston, especially in the summer.

I know you must be thinking, isn’t Martha’s Vineyard an island? How are you getting there by train? Well, yes, it is an island, and a ferry is definitely involved after taking the train from Boston.

When visiting Boston, renting a car isn’t always a feasible option if you are staying downtown as parking is expensive and driving is more of a hassle than it’s worth since the city is very compact and walkable. Plus, if you want to head to Cape Cod to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard during the summer months, you very likely will spend a lot of time in traffic.

Getting to Martha’s Vineyard from Boston

So, taking the Cape Flyer train from Boston to Cape Cod is the perfect way to get to Martha’s Vineyard in my opinion. The Cape Flyer runs from Memorial Day to Labor day, three days a week, usually an evening trip on Fridays and morning trips on Saturdays and Sundays with return trips on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Make sure to check out the website for their current schedule. The train leaves from South Station which is right in downtown Boston. A roundtrip ticket will cost $40 per person (be sure to check the website for current pricing).

To get to Martha’s Vineyard, get off at the Bourne stop. From here there will be free shuttles waiting to take you to the Steamship Authority ferry terminal in Woods Hole.

Bourne Train Stop

The cape flyer website has suggested ferry times to take that work best with the train schedule. But you can also check the steamship authority website if you didn’t want to be too rushed and wanted to take a later ferry from Woods Hole. I do suggest taking the ferry to Oaks Bluff and then taking the ferry from Vineyard Haven back to Woods Hole.

Woods Hole

About Martha’s Vineyard

Located off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts is the island of Martha’s Vineyard, known by many as just “The Vineyard”. This island has less than 20,000 yearlong residents but in the summer months, the population of this 96 square mile island increases to over 100,000. It’s known a summer vacation home to many affluent people including some well-known people. Many members of John F Kennedy’s family have called the Vineyard home for years. Past presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama vacationed here during their time in office.

But it’s not just political families that love Martha Vineyards, celebrities also love the island, with many owning homes on the Vineyard. David Letterman, Meg Ryan and Carly Simon all own property on the Vineyard. But these famous people are not what helped to make Martha’s Vineyard a place most people have heard of, it’s the movie that was filmed here. Jaws not only took place but was actually filmed right here on the Vineyard.

Celebrities and movies aside, the Vineyard is full of things to see and do and the perfect summer day trip!

Views from the Ferry

Oak Bluffs

As mentioned earlier, there are two ferries, one that goes to Oaks Bluff and one that goes to Vineyard Haven. Oaks Bluff is the busiest town on the Vineyard and where most of the must-see sights are located. Once you get off the ferry, you will be right in the center of town. Some must-see sites while in Oak Bluffs include the following:

  • Flying Horses Carousel – Built in 1876 and originally located at New York’s Coney Island, this carousel came to Oak Bluffs in 1884 and has been in operation in Oaks Bluffs ever since then. It’s the Oldest Platform Carousel in operation in the US. Even if you aren’t interested in a ride on the carousel, it’s definitely worth taking a look at this historic carousel. It’s fascinating to see how different carousels looked over 100 years ago.
  • Gingerbread Cottages – A National Historic Landmark, the Gingerbread Cottages came about from the Methodist Church Camp Meeting. Starting in 1835, annual camp meetings started to be held on this site on Martha’s Vineyard. Over the years, many of the attendees of the camp meetings were staying on the island longer and would camp in tents on the site. Starting in the 1860s cottages began being built on the site. The colorful cottages are reminiscent of gingerbread houses. They are quite the sight to see. While they are privately owned, many are rented out to people visiting.

How cute would these houses be to stay in?

  • Ocean Park – some of the Gingerbread Cottages are located near Ocean Park. This beautiful park is right near the ferry docks and directly across the street from the beach. It’s a great spot to relax, have a picnic or toss a frisbee around.
  • Inkwell Beach – As mentioned, Ocean Park is located just across the street from the beach. This beach is called Inkwell Beach. If you are just here for the day, this is the perfect beach as it’s just a short walk from the ferry dock. Even if you aren’t a fan of sitting on the beach, it’s great to walk the sidewalk along the beach and take in the views.
  • Oak Bluffs Public Fishing Pier – located right by the ferry docks, is the public fishing pier. This is not only a great spot to fish, but also to take a walk. There is a nice little walking bridge by the water near the pier. Who doesn’t love spending some time on the pier during the summer.

Bus Tour of the Island

While there is so much to do in Oaks Bluff that you could spend the majority of the day there, if you wanted to venture out to other parts of the island, you could take a bus tour of the entire island. The tours take a few hours and leave from right across from the ferry docks. This is a great way to see the main sites on Martha’s Vineyard and hear the history of the island as well.

The majority of the tour involves driving by spots on the island and some of these spots may look familiar to you if you have seen the movie, Jaws. In between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is the Joseph Sylvia State Beach and the infamous “Jaws Bridge” from the movie. While driving by you will probably catch a few people jumping off the bridge.

Beach from Jaws

The whaling town of Edgartown was where they filmed the town of Amity scenes and the fishing village of Menemsha was also featured in the movie.

There is one stop on the tour where you can get off the bus and explore. It’s in my opinion one of the most beautiful spots on the island, Aquinnah. This town is on the western side of Martha’s Vineyard and features sweeping ocean views from atop the red clay cliffs. Located on top of the cliffs is Gay Head Light which is the first lighthouse built on Martha’s Vineyard.

My photo above does not even do the cliffs justice, they were more beautiful than I imagined, and it made me feel like I was somewhere other than Massachusetts. The views in Aquinnah made the 3 hours in the bus more than worth it!

Bike across Martha’s Vineyard

Want to see the whole island but don’t want to take a bus tour, why not see it by bike. Biking is extremely popular on the island. In fact, back when I was probably 11 or 12, I attempted biking the island with my girl scout troop. When I say attempt, it’s because I had quite the adventure, with two flat tires. The first one was right near where we started, so I was driven back to the bike shop for another bike, the other one was halfway thru the ride, so I ended up back in the car for the rest of the way to our accommodations for the night.

My eventful experience aside, seeing the island by bike is definitely a great idea. There are many bike trails, ranging from short trails just 3 miles long to longer trails of up to 25 miles. You can either bring your own bike over on the ferry or you can rent a bike at one of the bike shops in Oak Bluffs.

Vineyard Haven

As I mentioned earlier in the post, you can catch the ferry in either Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven. Located just a few miles from Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven is a much quieter and more relaxing town.

Things to do in Vineyard Haven include:

  • Martha’s Vineyard Museum – explore the history of the island.
  • Browse the many art galleries in town.
  • Shop in the local shops.
  • Take a bike ride to West Chop Lighthouse and maybe even visit East Chop Lighthouse on your way to Vineyard Haven from Oak Bluffs.
  • Enjoy one of the local beaches.
  • Just relax by the harbor.

Getting Around Martha’s Vineyard

If you aren’t one to get around by bike, you are in luck as the bus system on the island is very convenient and easy to use. Check out the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority’s website for updated bus schedules and fare information.

If you are wanting to get out of the city for a great summer day trip, Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect spot.

Looking for more day trips from Boston by train? Check out my posts on Newburyport, Manchester By The Sea and Rockport.

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Disneyland Hotel – Past, Present and Future

Last September I went to a conference that was held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Being able to stay at the Disneyland Hotel had been a dream of mine for quite some time. And I was even more excited to find out that they offered a free history tour of the hotel while I was there. As a huge Disney fan, learning the history of this hotel was something I was very excited about.

Disneyland Hotel – the Past

As part of Walt Disney’s plans for Disneyland was to have a hotel next door to attract not only guest from out of town but to also attract guests from around the country who would be coming to California for several days. While this was a great idea, with all of Walt’s financial resources going into building the theme park itself, he knew he had to find someone else to finance and build the hotel.

In 1954, Walt Disney met Jack Wrather who was a producer in Hollywood and owned television and radio stations across the US. Since Wrather had the financial means and the interest in real estate, Walt asked him to build a hotel complete with a restaurant and swimming pool next to Disneyland.

Jack and Bonita Wrather, founders of the Disneyland Hotel

They broke ground in March of 1955 and in October of that same year, just a few months after Disneyland opened, the hotel officially opened with just 7 hotel rooms completed. Shortly after opening, the number of rooms completed rose to just over 100 rooms in five 2-story buildings. With the success of Disneyland, this proved to not be enough rooms, so over the following five years, they added six additional buildings, which brought the total amount of guest rooms to over 300 by 1960, making it the largest hotel in Orange County.

Disneyland Hotel in the 50s and 60s

During the 60s and 70s, the hotel went thru quite the expansion, the three towers that make up the hotel today were built during these two decades and increased the amount of hotel rooms to over 1,400. In 1961, they added a monorail station to the hotel, so that hotel guests could go straight to Disneyland on the monorail. In 1970, the marina opened at the Disneyland Hotel. At the marina, they featured the Dancing Waters show which featured water fountains set to music similar to the fountain show currently at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. In 1979, Water Wonderland opened with an updated Dancing Waters Show, the first laser sculpture show in the US, a waterfall and a rain forest.

Disneyland Hotel in the 70s and 80s

During the 80s, the Walt Disney Company made several attempts to purchase the Disneyland Hotel from the Wrather Corporation and finally in 1988, some 33 years after the hotel opened, the Disneyland Hotel was finally owned by the Walt Disney Company.

In 1999, a major renovation of the Disneyland Hotel took place. This renovation included demolishing major portions of the hotel to make room for the second theme park, Disney’s California Adventure and the shopping and dining complex, Downtown Disney. All that remained were the three towers, lowering the number of hotel rooms from over 1400 to 990 rooms. This did not take away from the amount of hotel rooms on Disney property though as two additional hotels were built, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, eventually increasing the total number of hotel rooms on property to over 2,500 rooms.

Learning the history of the hotel was definitely my favorite part of the tour, it especially added to the nostalgia I had all week looking at the memorabilia and older photos that were located in the convention center of the hotel.

Disneyland Hotel – The Present

While there may be less rooms than in previous decades, the hotel is still a top spot for guests to stay while visiting Disneyland. As mentioned above, the three towers still remain. Today they are called the Fantasy, Frontier and Adventure Towers after three of the lands in Disneyland. The Fantasy Tower is where the lobby and gift shop are located. This tower is also connected to the convention center and the dining options at the hotel.

The Frontier Tower is located on the other side of the pool from the Fantasy Tower. Fitting with the frontier theme, this tower even has a water fall and it’s own Old Faithful geyser outside the tower. Unlike Yellowstone’s Old Faithful, this geyser does not erupt at a regular schedule like the real geyser. You just never know when this manmade geyser may erupt.

The Adventure Tower is closest to Downtown Disney and has an Adventureland theme that will make you think about the Jungle Cruise ride. This was the tower that I stayed in and I loved the adventurous looking lobby in the tower.

Adventure Tower

The adventure tower is also where the suites and club level rooms are located. The Disneyland Hotel has 5 signature themed suites: Adventureland Suite, Pirates of the Caribbean Suite, Big Thunder Mountain Suite, Fairytale Suite and the Mickey Mouse Penthouse. These themed suites come with one or two bedrooms and can sleep from 2 to 6 adults depending on the suite. Normally during the tour, they try to show you one of the suites, but the day I took the tour all five of the suites were occupied so we sadly did not get to see one of the suites.

We did get to see the E-ticket club which is available to everyone staying in club level rooms. Like many club or concierge levels in other hotels, the E-ticket club features a concierge, breakfast in the morning, hors d’oeuvres in the evening and snacks throughout the day. The E-ticket club is located on the 11th floor and offers beautiful views of both Disneyland and California Adventure.

While we may not all have the opportunity to stay in the signature suites or on club level with access to the E-ticket club, the standard hotel rooms are also very special.

There are so many special touches in the hotel rooms. From the fireworks on the carpet to the light up headboards that display fireworks and plays music!

I really loved the pillows they had on the bed, it seemed so fitting…

There were black and white photos of Disneyland on the wall and so many Mickey’s in everything from the bathroom faucets to the lamps.

Even though my room was on the second floor, I still ended up with this wonderful view of the pool area. I definitely enjoyed waking up to this view every morning!

Speaking of the pool area, there are two pools at the Disneyland Hotel. The 4,800 square foot E-Ticket pool features signs displaying theme park tickets of past years. The D-Ticket pool is a great pool if you are looking to swim laps. Being a family hotel, there is also a water play area for the smaller children.

There are also two waterslides available that feature replica monorail trains. They include a 25-foot high, 180-foot-long slide and a 13-foot high, 80-foot-long slide. And the youngest kids are not forgotten, there is also a mini slide for the smaller children.

The Disneyland Hotel offers multiple dining establishments to enjoy:

  • The Coffee House – featuring coffee, pastries and snacks, this is a great spot for a quick breakfast or a small lunch.
  • Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill – Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this quick service spot features American and Polynesian food and has both indoor and outdoor seating. They even have a to-go counter for drinks and the fan favorite Dole Whip!
  • Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar – This popular tiki bar is inspired by the Jungle Cruise ride in Disneyland and offers tropical beverages. Due to it’s popularity, advance reservations are definitely recommended.
  • Goofy’s Kitchen – Open for Breakfast and Dinner, this restaurant offers a buffet meal with your favorite Disney characters. A character meal is definitely a must for kids and adults alike.

Probably the best part about the Disneyland Hotel is its convenient location. Walk right out of the hotel grounds and you will be at the entrance to Downtown Disney and walk right thru Downtown Disney and you will be at the entrances to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Disneyland Hotel – The Future

Remember how the Disneyland Hotel used to have over 1,400 hotel rooms, well they have expanded to get closer to that number of rooms again. A new tower opened at the hotel in 2023.

This new tower is part of the Disney Vacation Club and features 350 rooms, consisting of mostly studios along with some one- and two-bedroom villas. There is also a new pool and splash pad area included. The name of this 12-story tower is the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. It’s good to see that this historic Disney hotel is still growing after almost 70 years in operation! Who knows what the future holds, whether they add on to the hotel or renovate. But just like Walt Disney said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world”

It’s definitely a very special place, like Disneyland Park, the Disneyland Hotel was Walt’s vision and he walked thru these grounds. If you are visiting Disneyland, even if you are not staying at the hotel, I encourage you to take a walk over and walk the grounds, have a meal or drink and search for the many hidden Mickey’s throughout the hotel.

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Weekend in Detroit

As the largest city in Michigan and with its location just across the river from Canada, Detroit offers a lot of things to see and do for both people from the US and Canada. If you don’t live too far away and can drive or take a flight that isn’t too long, it’s the perfect spot for a weekend trip.

Detroit had been known as a hub of industry and manufacturing for a number of years and then in 1896, Henry Ford built his first car in Detroit. He soon invented the moving assembly line to manufacture cars. With nearby iron and copper regions, other automobile companies joined Henry Ford in opening manufacturing facilities in Detroit. For this reason, Detroit became known as the Motor City.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Henry Ford did a lot for the city of Detroit and the surrounding area and it’s evident in the multiple attractions you can visit related to Henry Ford and the entire Ford family.

One of the top things to see in Detroit is the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, located outside of downtown Detroit in Dearborn Michigan. This museum explores the American innovations over the years. It’s a fun and educational museum for the entire family. While it explores many American innovations, there is a large part of the museum that explores the automobile, this is the Motor City, so it must.

The Driving America Exhibit displays cars from Ford’s first vehicle built in 1896, the Quadricycle to the famed Model T all the way thru the cars of today. It’s fun to look back at the evolution of vehicles thru the years. But it’s not just the everyday vehicles that are on display. There is also a full exhibit on race cars thru the years as well as the Presidential Vehicles thru the years.

The museum also reminds us that cars were not the only innovation along the American roads, there were also many other things like fast food restaurants and roadside motels which the museum pays homage to with a collection of roadside signs. There is even a great spot for lunch, Lamy’s Diner, in the midst of this exhibit, it’s the perfect example of a roadside diner.

Along with automobiles, you can also explore other means of transportation. The Heroes in the Sky exhibit features the evolution of flying from the early days of the Wright Brothers first flight to the planes of today. There are also exhibits for the railroad in America and agriculture vehicles throughout the years.

There are many other exhibits that do not relate to transportation. Some of these include:

  • Made in America: Power which explores innovations that powered the country, like the steam engine.
  • Clockwork featuring timepieces throughout the years
  • Mathematica which features thought provoking exhibits that help make math playful and fun.
  • With Liberty and Justice For All which features exhibits exploring the history of freedom in America. This exhibit reminded me alot of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
  • Fully Furnished which features furniture dating back to 1670 all the way to the present day.
  • Davidson-Gerson Modern Glass Gallery
  • Your Place in Time which features items that helped define the past century. I really enjoyed seeing all the 80s items from my childhood including the calculator pictured below which I used to own.
Fully Furnished Exhibit
Davidson-Gerson Modern Glass Gallery
Your Place in Time Exhibit

They also have temporary exhibits (check the website for the current temporary exhibit). While I was there in September 2022, they had the Art of the Disney Costume exhibit. As a huge Disney fan, I of course really enjoyed this exhibit. It featured costumes from some of Disney’s popular movies like Mary Poppins and Hocus Pocus.

This was one of the most comprehensive museums I have been to in a while. You could definitely spend the good majority of the day in this museum.

Greenfield Village

Located just outside of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is Greenfield Village. This 80-acre village consisting of 7 historic districts explores the formation of America. It’s a beautiful spot to walk around and take a step back in time.

The seven historic districts are as follows:

  • Working Farms – see the farms of the past including farm animals
  • Liberty Craftworks – Here you can view pottery being created and glass blowing demonstrations. There is even a store where you can buy products made right here at Greenfield Village.
  • Henry Ford’s Model T – Check out a replica of the first Ford Factory and even take a ride thru the village in a Model T (separate cost from admission).
  • Railroad Junction – Check out the locomotives and be sure to take a ride on one to get to other districts in the village (separate cost from admission).
  • Main Street – Visit the main street of yesteryear to see an old schoolhouse, post office, homes and shops. You can even take a ride on a horse drawn carriage (separate cost from admission).
  • Edison at Work – As pioneers of innovation in America, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were also great friends, they even had neighboring winter homes in Ft. Myers, Florida. So, it’s no surprise that there is a district dedicated to Edison at Greenfield Village. Here you can visit the laboratories and workshops of Thomas Edison.
  • Porches and Patios – Explore replica homes of some of the people who helped shape America including Thomas Edison, Robert Frost and the writer of the dictionary, Noah Webster.

Greenfield Village is great for everyone who enjoys taking a step back in time to experience history firsthand.

Fairlane – Home of Henry and Clara Ford

Also located in Dearborn is the home of Henry and Clara Ford, Fairlane. The Fords lived here from 1915 until each of their deaths in 1947 and 1950.

Fairlane includes the family home, the powerhouse which supplied energy for the home and the 1,300 acres it sits on.

When I visited and also at the time of writing this, the home and powerhouse were both closed for restoration. You can still visit the 1,300 acres of grounds and gardens at Fairlane. Visit their website to see if the home is open before you visit.

Ford House

While I was not able to visit Fairlane, I was able to visit Ford House, which is the home of Henry’s son who took over the company from him, Edsel and his wife Eleanor’s home.

Located about a half hour drive north of Detroit along the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores Michigan, the Ford House is definitely worth the drive to see.

Edsel and Eleanor moved into Ford House in 1928. They designed their home to look like the cottages of Cotswold in England, but on a slightly larger scale. During their time in the home, they had many updates that took place including as late as 1950 after Edsel’s passing. This led to some fairly modern looking rooms in the home that you don’t tend to see in other historic mansions in the US.

Along with touring the home, there is also a visitors’ center which includes a restaurant, exhibits and event space. The 87-acre grounds are also worth exploring. Located on Lake St. Clair, the grounds are a relaxing spot to enjoy the day. Not only can you take in the lake views, but there is also a rose garden and many other flowers around the grounds to enjoy.

Motown Museum

While I was not able to visit the Motown Museum when I was in Detroit, I would be remiss if I did not mention it. Detroit was not just famous for their part in the automobile industry, but they were also the birthplace of Motown music.

In the midst of the civil rights movement in America, in 1959, Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in Detroit. The museum is located in the original recording studio of Motown Records.

The museum explores the history and legacy of Motown music. Due to general maintenance and an anticipated expansion, the museum is currently closed, but does plan to reopen in February 2023. Make sure to visit their website prior to your visit.

Belle Isle

Located in the Detroit River between Downtown Detroit and Canada is Belle Isle. This 982-acre island is the perfect spot to escape downtown without having to go very far. With picnic areas, trails, and gorgeous views of Downtown Detroit, it’s a great spot to spend a couple of hours or a day.

Located on Belle Isle is the Belle Isle Aquarium. Opened in 1904, it’s the oldest aquarium in the US. It’s a great spot to take the family as admission is free with an encouraged $5 donation.

There is also a racetrack located on Belle Isle and each June the Detroit Grand Prix takes place there. As you can imagine this is the biggest draw to Belle Isle.

Downtown Detroit

There are many things to see in Downtown Detroit. There are plenty of parks to visit, restaurants to dine at and shops to explore. Throughout the year, many events take place right downtown, like the Detroit Auto Show which took place the weekend I visited, bringing a lot of excitement to downtown.

If you are a sports fan, you can root for Detroit in all four of the major sports. Little Caesars Arena (home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings), Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions) and Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers) are all located right downtown.

When I visited, I attended a Tigers game at Comerica Park. Not only was the game a lot of fun, but the stadium was just beautiful with lots of special touches. The tiger statues outside of the park were very impressive and as a huge ferris wheel fan, I now think that all baseball stadiums deserve a ferris wheel.

Also located downtown is Fox Theatre. This National Historic Landmark is the largest surviving movie palace of the 1920s. Today it’s home to many live performances including concerts, comedians and children’s shows. The interior of the theatre is supposedly beautiful, I wish I had a chance to take a look inside. The exterior reminded me of Broadway. If you have an opportunity to catch a live performance here while in Detroit, I would definitely do so.

I do wish I had a bit more time to walk around downtown, there was a lot of street art and sculptures to see as well. One of the great things about downtown is they also have a monorail which runs a circular loop thru the city, making it convenient to get between places in poor weather or if you are just sick of walking (although I always suggest walking as a great way to explore the city if it’s feasible).

There is definitely plenty to keep you busy for a weekend in Detroit. So much that a longer trip is definitely possible. Detroit was one of those cities I never thought to visit but was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy it. Definitely a bit of a hidden gem among US cities.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Detroit.

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My 2022 Travels

As 2022 comes to a close, I’m looking back on my travels from this year. It was a busy year of travel and one where things seemed just a bit more normal than 2021. I finally did get to take some trips that were originally scheduled for 2020. I can’t believe I was still making up travel from that crazy year, but it definitely did feel great to take these long-awaited trips.

January 2022

I started the year in the Big Apple! Somewhat last-minute, at the end of November 2021, I was thinking of how to spend New Year’s (you know something different than sitting on my couch alone) and realized I had enough Hilton points for a free hotel room in New York City and that Amtrak had some cheap train fares. So, I did something I have been wanting to do for a while and signed up for the Midnight Run.

The Midnight Run is a 4-mile race thru Central Park that starts right at midnight. I had all these plans on being healthier in 2022, so I thought it would be a great way to start the year. Still need to work on the being healthier part, hopefully 2023 is the year for that!

The race was a lot of fun and I definitely lucked out with great weather, it was still 50 degrees at midnight when the race started! On New Year’s Day, I was treated to a quiet and much less busy than normal NYC which was so nice, especially since we were in the midst of Omicron wreaking havoc in the world. It was a lot of fun to see the New Year’s Eve ball the following day minus all the New Year’s Eve crowds.

In mid-January, I headed to Disney World for a long weekend trip with my sister and brother-in-law. It was a well-timed trip as one of my best friends also happened to be there at the same time.

We had a lot of fun in the parks and especially checking out Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts. There was a lot of great food and art at the festival, and we definitely made sure to take advantage of all the fun photo ops.

February 2022

In February, I headed south to Alabama to run state number 38 in my quest to run a half marathon in all 50 states. The Mercedes Half Marathon took place in Birmingham, Alabama. After a flight delay (lots of these issues in 2022) that left me in Reagan National Airport in DC for hours, I finally arrived in Alabama very late Friday night (or really early Saturday morning).

I spent Saturday visiting the Civil Rights sites in Birmingham. It was a very educational experience visiting Birmingham and I highly recommend people visit.

Sunday, I ran the half marathon that was as always, hilly than I expected and then headed home.

At the end of February, I headed back to Disney World for my favorite weekend of the year, Princess Half Marathon Weekend!

It was the first Princess Half Marathon since the one in February 2020, just weeks before the world shut down. I cannot even express just how happy I was to be running down Main Street USA and thru Cinderella’s Castle again for the first time in two years!

March 2022

Finally in March I was able to take my trip to Ireland that I had originally planned for May 2020. It ended up that postponing the trip meant that I would end up arriving in Dublin on my birthday, this definitely made it worth the two year wait!

I celebrated my birthday in Dublin with a lot of Guinness and Irish Whiskey. During my weekend in Dublin, I visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells and the Long Room, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Phoenix Park.

Since I’m not comfortable driving on the left side of the road, I decided to visit Ireland as part of a tour. I must say I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. As a solo traveler, my favorite part of traveling is meeting new people and a tour is a great place to meet and really get to know some wonderful people.

Our tour left Dublin and headed west to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. I had dreamed of visiting the Cliffs of Moher for years, so this was definitely my favorite day of the week (minus the motion sickness on the bus getting there, biggest downfall to a bus tour). It definitely lived up to my expectations!

The next day we headed out for a ride along the Ring of Kerry before spending the night in Killarney. I loved seeing the scenery along the Ring of Kerry, it was just like I dreamed Ireland would look. We took a Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney which was a lot of fun.

As you can see from the pictures, we luckily did not get the typical grey rainy Ireland weather you hear about, not one drop of rain the whole week and a lot of time with sunny skies!

The next couple of days were spent in Blarney, Waterford and Kilkenny before heading back to Dublin for a night and then flying home. While I didn’t kiss the Blarney Stone, I did walk to the top of the castle to see it. In Waterford we were treated to a great private concert in an old historic pub and in Kilkenny, I explored the castle.

Hard to believe, but back in March, we still had to take a covid test before flying home. One man in my tour group tested positive. He ended up stuck in Ireland for 7 days. Even though I tested negative and also did 3 other times at home, I started feeling a bit sick on the flight home and was sick for the next few days. I’m going to guess it was covid even though I never had a positive test, no matter what illness it was, thank god it waited til after the trip!

April 2022

I started April back at Disney for a brand-new race weekend, the Springtime Surprise race weekend. Each year they offer a different theme, in 2022, the theme was races from the past. I ran the Tower of Terror 10 Miler. I had always wanted to run this race as the Tower of Terror is one of my favorite rides. While it wasn’t a night race like it used to be (which I would have loved as a night owl!), it was still so much fun. The course was one of the best runDisney courses I had ever run.

At the end of April, I took the train down to Wilmington Delaware to run state 39. I spent the first day there enjoying the Wilmington Riverfront. It was a great spot on a cool spring day, I might have to head back there in the summer, it would be even better to explore it then. The next day I ran the half marathon at the Delaware Running Festival which started at the riverfront and went thru some really beautiful parks in Wilmington.

May 2022

In May, I headed south to Connecticut to run my 40th state at the Mystic Half Marathon. I spent the day before the race carb loading on beer by exploring some breweries in town, including Bank & Bridge Brewing Co. which is located in a former bank, it was a pretty interesting place. But I didn’t only carb load on beer, I also made sure to hit up Mystic Pizza because you just must when visiting Mystic! The weather for the race was pretty gloomy but definitely made for some pretty New England scenery.

I also headed back to Disney again at the end of the month for the International Flower and Garden Festival. The weather was pretty perfect when I was there and I finally got to hug my fav Mexican Donald Duck for the first time in 2 years!

June 2022

June came with the dreaded flight delays that plagued the US and I was not immune to this. I headed to Minnesota to finally run the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon in Duluth, my 41st state! I was supposed to run this race in 2020 and was really excited to finally be able to visit Minnesota! Well, my morning flight ended up being delayed due to flight crew who had arrived late the night before. And then we were delayed even further due to some fuel they needed to get rid of as the plane we were taking was originally supposed to go to the west coast the previous night.

Finally, three hours late, I arrived in Minneapolis. I managed to take a quick stop to see Minnehaha Falls and then headed up to Duluth.

It was a whirlwind weekend in Duluth with a mixture of weather. Luckily the race weather was perfect. But later that day, the clouds moved in and by evening it was not only raining but also quite cold for June, in the 40s, while it was supposed to be in the 90s the next day when I was in Minneapolis just two hours south. I was happy to see the sites near Duluth though, it’s a beautiful area to visit with so much outdoor activities on Lake Superior. I enjoyed visiting Split Rock Lighthouse and kayaking at Glensheen Mansion.

The next day I headed back to Minneapolis for a whirlwind afternoon and evening of trying to see as much as I could. My flight was to leave the following evening, but I had a connection and had just started a new job 4 days before this trip and with all the flight delays and cancellations, I just couldn’t risk it, so I changed to a non-stop flight in the morning instead. I did manage to see Mall of America, Sculpture Garden and Mill Ruins Park.

July 2022

July started out with a big family trip to Chicago for the 4th of July weekend for my cousins wedding (another long awaited trip, it was originally supposed to be in 2021).

The weekend started with seeing the Red Sox play the Cubs at Wrigley Field on my father’s birthday. It was definitely a fun coincidence that they were in town that day!

The wedding was beautiful, and it was the first time that all nine of us cousins were together in years! The views from the venue that the wedding was at were stunning.

There was definitely a lot of sightseeing that took place that weekend. Long walks along the Chicago River, a ride on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and a visit to the bean. And I really enjoyed all the skyline views all over the city.

I ended the month with a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard. I took the train down to Cape Cod and then headed over to the Vineyard on the ferry. It was a fun day trip with time seeing the sites on the island, like the Gingerbread Houses and relaxing on the beach.

August 2022

I tend to not travel as much during the summer as others. Summer travel is hectic and since I don’t have kids and can travel most of the year, I avoid the busy summer travel season if I can. It’s also so beautiful at home in Boston with so much to do nearby, why leave then.

In August I set off on a day trip to Old Orchard Beach in Maine. I hadn’t been there since I was a child and had been wanting to take the train up there for quite some time. So, I took the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston and 2 hours later it dropped me off right across from the beach, very convenient! I have a feeling I’ll be making this an annual day trip.

While most people love Cape Cod, I much prefer a beach like Old Orchard Beach. There is so much to do right at the beach, it’s more than just the sand and the surf. The pier is great to walk along and check out the shops and restaurants. There are also many shops and restaurants on the blocks leading up to the beach. Getting beach pizza is a must while here, something about pizza at a beach just makes it taste better.

There are also amusement rides and games right next to the beach. It’s definitely a great family location, with plenty to do for people of all ages.

September 2022

September was a pretty busy travel month. It started with a Labor Day Weekend trip to Disney World. For the first time, I stayed at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and I really loved it. It’s a great place to stay if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member and want the points but also want to stay on Walt Disney World property. Bonus it’s just a short walk from Epcot, which was very convenient since I spent a lot of time there that weekend for the Food and Wine Festival.

In mid-September, I headed to Detroit to run state 42. The day before the race I visited the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. This was such an interesting museum that displayed many of the innovative inventions in the US and the full cycle of different types of cars in America starting with the first cars from Ford. They also had a temporary exhibit featuring Disney costumes.

Also located at the museum is Greenfield Village which will take you back in time. I even got to take a ride in a Model T, which was a lot of fun. Later that night I attended a Detroit Tigers game.

The next day after running the half marathon, I headed outside the city to visit Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s House and have a great dinner outside by the water to soak up the remaining warm weather up north.

From Detroit, I headed west to California for my annual travel agent conference. It was so great to catch up with fellow travel agents and the suppliers and learn more to help build my business. The conference was located at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Along with the informative workshops and general sessions at the conference there was also an opening party complete with Disney characters and also time in Disneyland of course.

I really enjoyed staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the week. I even got to take a free tour of the hotel and learned a lot about its history. It was definitely very convenient just walking to Disneyland and California Adventure from the hotel, so much easier than at Disney World.

As a frequent Disney World visitor, I must admit, Disneyland is better in so many ways. First off, the fact that the two parks are so close, and you can easily walk between the two. But also, the rides at Disneyland are superior to those at Disney World. Being there in September, I was able experience Haunted Mansion Holiday. Each year from September until January, they redo the Haunted Mansion to a Nightmare Before Christmas theme. It was such a fun retheme of the ride and something they just don’t do at Disney World.

September also means Halloween at Disneyland and I absolutely loved all of the Halloween decorations and activities around the parks and resorts. I mean, I got to take my photo with the cutest Donald Duck dressed as a candy corn!

October 2022

In mid-October, I headed west to New Mexico to run state 43. While in New Mexico I visited Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

In Albuquerque, I first headed to the mountains to take the Sandia Peak Tramway which is the longest aerial tram in the Americas. The views were stunning and there were even some fall colors which I hadn’t expected in New Mexico. After that I explored Old Town to get a taste of the Spanish and Mexican culture and take a ghost tour in one of the most haunted areas in the Southwest US.

In Santa Fe, I explored their Old Town, the historic churches and buildings downtown and browsed the many sculptures around town, including the sculpture garden at the capitol building. Since I was at a popular art city, I visited the immersive art experience, Meow Wolf. I didn’t quite understand it, but it was a fun way to spend a few hours. I also learned more about the Pueblo people at the Poeh Cultural Center and went on an unexpected hike to see some petroglyphs.

The following weekend, I headed to Nebraska to run my 44th state. While in Nebraska, I explored downtown Omaha and saw my second capitol building of the week in Lincoln.

November 2022

I started the month with you guessed it another trip to Disney World. This time it was for the Wine and Dine 10K. The weekend was busy with the typical 3am wake up for the race and lots of food and drinks at the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. This was the first trip I took where I flew into the new terminal at Orlando International Airport. I’ll be seeing this terminal quite a lot as it’s the terminal JetBlue flies in and out of. It’s a large terminal that requires a lot of walking but it’s beautiful and so great to have so much space.

Just before Thanksgiving I took a long weekend trip to New York City. The main purpose of the trip was to see some Broadway shows. I was lucky that I had booked the trip and show tickets just before they announced that Phantom of the Opera on Broadway would be closing in early 2023. I had dreamed of seeing this show for years and it was so good to finally see it. But the real highlight of the weekend was seeing Funny Girl, it was probably one of the best Broadway shows I’ve seen so far.

I also started the holidays early by seeing the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Before I saw it, I took and art and architecture tour of Rockefeller Center which was really interesting.

December 2022

And of course, I had to end the year with one more visit to my favorite place, Disney World. I headed down there the weekend before Christmas to soak in all the holiday spirit. There truly is nothing like celebrating the most magical time of year at the most magical place on earth!

While there I spent a lot of time at Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays where I saw Neil Patrick Harris narrate the Candlelight Processional and enjoyed lots of cookies while participating in the cookie stroll.

I also made sure to head over to Disney Springs to check out all the trees on the Christmas Tree Stroll. It was definitely a great way to get more into the holiday spirit.

It was a great year of travel. I’m looking forward to my future travels in 2023. I have just 6 more states to run in and only 2 new ones to visit. I also hope to head over to Europe for a long vacation in the fall. Wishing happy travels to all in 2023!

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Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays

Throughout the year, there are four festivals that take place at Epcot Center at Walt Disney World. The final festival of the year is the Festival of the Holidays. Taking place from the day after Thanksgiving until December 30th, it’s the perfect festival to get you in the holiday spirit.

Holiday Decorations

As you can imagine Disney definitely goes all out with their holiday decorations and Epcot is no exception. While the Magic Kingdom starts getting all decked out for the holidays at the stroke of midnight on Halloween, Epcot waits until the holiday season officially begins later in November.

As you walk in, you will notice the festival displays both in front and in back of Spaceship Earth. They change from year to year and feature some of you favorite Disney characters in winter and holiday scenes.

Even the rides get into the holiday spirit. When you ride Living with the Land you are treated to the Glimmering Greenhouses Holiday overlay. While this overlay truly shines at night (pun intended) with the lights throughout, it’s also beautiful to see during the day as well. The holiday overlay features lights, holiday displays, snowmen and wreathes made out of produce. There are even signs that note some of the items grown in these greenhouses that are used in some of the food that you can purchase at the festival kitchens (more on these later).

Some of the most impressive decorations though are located within the countries of the World Showcase. They really showcase the different countries and how they decorate for the holidays.

Italy
United Kingdom
France

Holiday Traditions Around the World

While you check out the different holiday decorations around the World Showcase, make sure to also learn about the holiday traditions of each country.

Throughout the day, they have scheduled performances by holiday representatives from each country. Learn about the holiday traditions from such people as Father Christmas in the United Kingdom and from La Befana in Italy.

This is definitely one of my favorite parts of the festival. Like most people who love travel, I very much enjoy learning about different cultures and learning how they celebrate the holidays differently than we do here in the US is so interesting to me. It’s a great learning experience for children and adults alike.

The holiday traditions around the world showcase are not just about Christmas. There is also a section outside of Morocco where the story of Hanukkah is told. They also have a Menorah that they light each night of Hanukkah.

Holiday Festival Kitchens

It just would not be a festival at Epcot without festival kitchens! The Festival of the Holidays is no different. You can eat and drink your way around the world experiencing holiday eats and sips from the different countries. While there are not as many festival kitchens as there are at the Food and Wine Festival, there are still many to choose from. Being that it’s holiday food, there are plenty of warm winter foods to choose from like the cheese fondue and turkey poutine below. The holidays definitely aren’t known as a time for healthy eating, but the food is just so good, it’s worth the extra calories.

The drinks are holiday themed as well. From warm drinks like hot cocoa (with or without alcohol) to dark beers like stouts and porters. Like many of the other festivals at Epcot, France also has a delicious martini available for the Festival of the Holidays, the Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini. It was definitely a festival favorite and a must try especially for chocolate lovers. My favorite drink at the festival is the Peppermint Chocolate Stout by Florida’s Playalinda Brewing Company. If you are a big mint and chocolate fan like me, I highly recommend trying it.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

No matter what country you are celebrating the holidays in, chances are that desserts are a big part of the celebration. There are many different treats to buy at the holiday festival kitchens including a cookie stroll.

To participate in the holiday cookie stroll, pick up a festival passport. On the last page of the passport are a list of 8 cookies that are available for purchase at the festival kitchens throughout the park.

Purchase 5 of the 8 cookies and have the cast member stamp the inside of the back cover with each purchase. It’s a lot of cookies and they are pretty large. I recommend sharing them with people you are traveling with, purchasing them over multiple days if you are in the park for more than one day or bring ziploc bags so you can bring some home with you. Cookies make for a great breakfast during the holiday season, especially while traveling!

The cookies are delicious, I purchased the Linzer Cookie, Black and White Cookie, Gingerbread Cookie, Jingle Sugar Cookie (not pictured, apparently I was in a rush to eat this one!) and the Snickers Doodle Cookie.

My favorites were the Linzer Cookie and the Snickers Doodle Cookie.

When you have purchased all 5 cookies, bring your stamped festival passport to the Holiday Sweets and Treats festival kitchen to get your festival treat for completing the cookie stroll. In 2022, the treat was a Festival of the Holidays decorated sugar cookie and a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Pin. Thankfully this cookie is wrapped, making it easy to take with you and enjoy later.

Candlelight Processional

The star of the show at the Festival of the Holidays is definitely the Candlelight Processional. Three times each night, the America Gardens Theatre comes alive with holiday music and the story of Christmas.

Alongside a 50 piece orchestra, celebrity narrators such as Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Josh Gad and Marie Osmond, read the story of Christmas interspersed with songs sung by a choir made up of Disney’s own Voices of Liberty, cast members and local high school students. The choir enters the theatre singing by candlelight. It’s quite the moving experience to see.

The three shows are quite popular with people lining up hours ahead of time. To be guaranteed a seat without having to stand in line for hours, you can reserve a candlelight processional dining package, which will give you a ticket for guaranteed seating with your lunch or dinner but act fast these sell out quickly after they go on sale 60 days ahead. Being that the theater is outside, you can still hear the performance from outside the theater if you are unable to get a seat.

I highly recommend checking out the Festival of the Holidays specifically to see the Candlelight Processional, it’s that good! For a taste of it, check out the video below:

Visiting Epcot during the Festival of the Holidays is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. It’s just one of the many holiday experiences you can have at Walt Disney World during the holiday season. Check out my post on the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll and the Gingerbread Houses at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels to learn about some of the other holiday experiences at Walt Disney World.

As mentioned this is the final festival of the year at Epcot, make sure to check out all four of them! The year starts with the Festival of the Arts in January and February. During the spring months, Epcot is in full bloom with the Flower and Garden Festival. And then in the fall, Epcot becomes a foodie paradise with the Food and Wine Festival.

Need help planning your trip to Walt Disney World to experience any of these festivals, contact Beyond The Miles Travel for my expert help in Disney travel planning.

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Boston Holiday Favorites

Updated November 2023

Welcome to another holiday post, this one from my home city of Boston!

Boston is a beautiful city during the holiday season. Here are my favorite things to see in Boston during the holidays.

Faneuil Hall: Looking for somewhere to do some shopping, grab something to eat and see one of the largest trees in the United States, then Faneuil Hall is THE place to be in Boston.

At Faneuil Hall you will find popular retail stores like Coach, Sephora and Urban Outfitters as well as numerous pushcarts selling Boston souvenirs and unique one of kind gifts. A must visit, is the Christmas in Boston store with multiple floors of holiday ornaments and decor.

There are many restaurants available for a sit down meal and multiple options in the food hall, a great place to try some local seafood, pizza and baked goods.

Faneuil Hall Christmas tree and holiday decorations

But the star of Faneuil Hall during the holidays is the Christmas tree. At 65 feet tall, it’s the largest tree in the city and also one of the largest in the country. Definitely visit the tree at night to check out Blink. Blink is a holiday light show where the lights on the tree dance along to holiday music. It runs every half hour starting at 4:30pm each night and is a must see! Once again, the Christmas tree will be in a different location in Faneuil Hall, and unfortunately, they will not be having Blink again this year. Thankfully I have this video to get a bit of a taste of Blink this year.

Downtown Crossing: A major shopping area, Downtown Crossing, is a must visit during the holiday season. Here you will find stores like Macy’s, Old Navy, Primark, DSW, Home Goods and Marshalls to name a few. Other than shopping, you can get in the Christmas spirit by seeing the Macy’s Christmas tree or listening the carolers walking the streets. Definitely a festive atmosphere!

Macy’s Christmas Tree and Carolers in Downtown Crossing

Boston Common: While the Boston Common Christmas tree may not be as large as the one in Faneuil Hall, it certainly has a great story behind it.

There has been a tree on the common since 1941, but since 1971 it’s been gifted to the City of Boston by the people of Nova Scotia each year. Nova Scotia donates the tree as a thank you for Boston’s help during the Halifax Explosion in 1917. In December 1917, there was an explosion that destroyed much of the city of Halifax. Boston sent a relief train up to Halifax to help their first responders. And even though the relief train was delayed due to blizzard conditions, they were one of the first cities to respond and were considered a life saver. Not only is there a tree lighting ceremony here in Boston, there is also a tree cutting ceremony in Nova Scotia each year.

But the tree is not the only thing to check out in the Boston Common during the holiday season. There is also the popular outdoor ice rink, Frog Pond. Every year, there is a line to get into this popular Boston attraction as it’s such a beautiful place to lace up your skates. As with many other things, it is closed this year due to covid.

Boston Common Tree
Frog Pond

Seaport Boston: One of Boston’s newer neighborhoods is the Seaport. The past couple of years they have added more and more seasonal activities to this area. Nicknamed Snowport during the holiday season, this year they are offering a tree lot, Christmas tree, holiday decorations, curling lessons and a European style holiday market which started in 2021 featuring local businesses.

Seaport Common Tree
Curling

New Years Eve Ice Sculptures: The holiday season ends over New Years and what better way to end the season than to check out the numerous ice sculptures throughout the city. If you go early enough, you can see the artist sculpting away at the ice. It is so amazing to actually watch them at work, I could only dream of being that talented.

The ice sculptures have mainly been located in the Boston Common and Copley Square, but the past few years, the Seaport has joined in the fun with a ice sculpture trail of their own.

Seaport Ice Sculptures

As someone who loves sea life, the ice sculptures outside of the Aquarium are usually my favorite.

Aquarium Ice Sculptures
Boston Common Ice Sculptures

Copley Square is definitely where the largest and most impressive ice sculptures are located. This is also were the big First Night festivities take place each New Years. If you want to miss the crowds, I definitely recommend checking these ones out on New Years Day instead.

What are some of your favorite holiday locations and activities in your home city?

Holiday lights in Christopher Columbus Park in the North End

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