Las Vegas, Nevada: Bellagio

Here's the obvious travel tip for Las Vegas: You don't have to stay at the fanciest hotels to see the fanciest hotels. You are more than welcome to stroll the ornate lobbies and look around. And if you happen to wander into the casino and leave a little money behind, well, you'll hear no objections.

The Bellagio definitely is one of the most upscale places on the strip. The old joke probably applies: this is what God would have done if He had had the money. It's a spectacular place. And the atrium is a great place for a wedding reception. As the photo shows, we sort of stumbled upon one during our visit, passing up the chance to get line for a free drink.

Make sure you pay a visit, if only to see the fountains.

Las Vegas, Nevada: Excaliber

Yes, it's another magical Las Vegas hotel. As you might have guessed, this theme dates back to the days of castles and knights, and makes quite an impression in terms of architecture.

As you might expect, Excaliber probably appeals to families with children a little more than some of the other places in Las Vegas. When we were there on a Memorial Day weekend, it was not exactly a restful place for adults. (It wasn't up to the noisy standards of Circus Circus, but you get the idea.) So keep that in mind when you are booking a room.

Excaliber didn't seem to have a great reputation for, um, being spotless. Supposedly a major renovation has been done, and the place is much better. And it still looks like the Magic Kingdom.  

Las Vegas, Nevada: Luxor

Where's my mummy? That's one big entrance to the Luxor at the south end of the strip in Las Vegas. I think you can figure out the theme of the place.

The hotel is also well-known for a couple of other features. It is located in a 30-story pyramid, which you have to admit is a unique idea. And a powerful searchlight is used on the skies, and can be seen from quite a distance. It's fairly cheap as hotels go, although there are some extra fees charged as usual. The idea is to get you into the room. 

And in the background is the Mandalay Bay, which has staged plenty of televised boxing matches over the years. The two hotels are connected. 

You just don't see this stuff in other parts of the country, which is why you should visit Las Vegas even if you don't gamble.

Las Vegas, Nevada: Red Rock Canyon

Casinos and hotels aren't the only thing to see in Las Vegas. The Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area certainly is worth a drive (maybe 20 miles west from the strip) if you are interested in interesting landforms, as the limestone and sandstone combine in unique ways. The rock shown at left almost looks a little gross, but that's what several centuries will do to a rock.

The contrast to striking. Las Vegas is known for its indoor casinos, etc., of course. But world class hiking is just down the road a ways. Rock climbing and other forms of outdoor recreational activities are available. Too bad the Red Rock Canyon doesn't advertise as much as the commercial places. 

There's a 13-mile scenic drive in the area that has several interesting stops. Just remember that flash floods can take place in low-lying areas, and that it can get really, really hot. So bring plenty of water if you are visiting in the warmer months (it was 99 degrees in May when we were there).

We might as well take a look at the place from the air, because we can. 

 

Las Vegas, Nevada: Venetian

Now this is a mall.

The Venetian spent lots and lots of money on its facility on the strip in Las Vegas, and it shows. The mall has ceilings painted to look like a sky, and there are many expensive stores. Plus, there are gondola rides around a man-made stream. It's a little more expensive to ride the gondola than it does to go on the swan boats in Boston, but the tourists line up just the same.

We didn't buy anything, but someone certainly is doing exactly that. And it's a great place to gawk.

As for the hotel, it is considered a 5-star facility ... and they don't give more stars than that. The theme centers on the the Italian city of Venice, and there are landmarks from there that are copied on this side of the Atlantic. Yes, you can take a gondola ride.  

Mount Washington, New Hampshire: Cog Railroad

There goes the Cog Railway, up to the top of Mount Washington. There are other ways of getting to the top, of course. There is driving, which is a little tough on the brakes, and walking, which is a little tough on the feet. So this isn't a bad alternative. Then again, it's kind of smelly and slow.

Here's a little travel tip for Mount Washington -- the weather at the bottom has little to do with the weather at the top. On our trip, it took only minutes before the train headed into a bank of fog. This led to a long train ride in which everyone looked at, well, nothing. It also was cold on the top -- no surprise there, since the place is famous for the nation's worst weather -- so we all ran inside as soon as possible and explored the gift shop.

The railroad has been going since 1869, and you can imagine how tough it was to build. The three-hour trip might be tough for kids, but it's worthwhile ... on a clear day.

Far Hills, New Jersey: USGA Golf Museum

This was one of the best surprises in our travels -- the USGA Golf House is quite nice. It makes a fine first impression, with a well-maintained, spreading lawn that looks something like a fairway. In addition to the administrative buildings, there is a museum that's open to the public.

The museum has a variety of exhibits, including this one of Alan Shepard's golf club used on the Moon. He got good distance with no atmosphere and one-sixth of Earth's gravity. There are tributes to golfers like Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan, and displays of the USGA trophies. In addition, they give out test golf balls sent in by manufacturers.

Even non-golfers in the group enjoyed this stop, and the expansion program will make it even better in the future.

Flemington, New Jersey: Northlandz

Words rarely fail me, but they do here.

Northlandz can do that to a person.

Picture a building about as big as a football field, three stories high. Then put miles and miles of model railroads in it, going over little bridges, chugging through towns, and going along carved-out mountains. Put a walking tour along it.

Then add a doll collection. And a music hall, complete with several church-style organs. Mix and stir for the two hours it takes to go through the place.

That's Northlandz. It was constructed by a software designer who loves model railroads and the church organ (he'll even play a song or two if you are lucky).

There is a larger train outside that can be ridden by visitors for an extra fee, but we found that to be a letdown after the inside of the place.

It's unique. You must go see it if you are in the area of Central New Jersey, period.

Morristown, New Jersey: Washington's Headquarters

This nice little town in the middle of New Jersey has been called "the military capital of the American Revolution." This requires a little explanation.

Morristown is nicely located between New York City and Philadelphia, where some of the action was taking place during the Revolution. General George Washington spent a couple of winters in the area - 1777 and 1779-80. As you'd expect, there wasn't much fighting taking place in that era during the winter. It was difficult to move men and their supplies too far. So this was the place where the Continental Army kept an eye on British forces, making sure they weren't up to any mischief. 

The Ford Mansion - where Washington and his wife stayed in the 1779-80 winter - is available for guided tours to see where he lived in that time. Of course, you have to get there before closing time (we didn't). Therefore, we had to be happy with seeing this spiffy if shady statue of Washington across the street. Alexander Hamilton is in the neighborhood too. 

here is an historical part a few miles away from the headquarters where the troops stayed; it's worth a visit if you want to learn more about the Continental Army.

Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Cemetery

We take a little satisfaction with seeing relatively famous people in a cemetery. If nothing else, you can tell something about the person by how he or she chose to be remembered. Besides, who know who might have stood on the same spot as you when looking at the gravesite. 

The one in Princeton is a good one for such purposes, as there are all sorts of celebrities buried in Princeton Cemetery. The biggest is President Grover Cleveland. Around my part of the world, he is remembered as a Buffalo mayor who went on to do big things. 

More important to candy-eaters is the fact that Grover's daughter, Ruth, was laid to rest by her father. That's right -- as in Baby Ruth. (You'll have to look carefully.) The confection was named after her, and not after baseball star Babe Ruth.

Aaron Burr isn't far from the Clevelands, and I would guess that he might have become much more popular in recent years. That's because of his role in the play "Hamilton." Pollster George Gallup is here, and so are a couple of relatively famous diplomats: George Ball and George Kennan (the guy who came up with containment policy concerning the Soviet Union after World War II). By George, that's a lot of Georges in one place. 

They along with others are covered in the video.  

Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University

Obviously, if you are in Princeton, New Jersey, you must see Princeton University.

I haven't been to all of the Ivy League colleges, but this one feels much like the the campus that hosts some of the ancient European universities, like Oxford. I wouldn't want to pay for the heat for the structures on either one, but that's not an issue for a tourist.  

The university was founded in 1746 as The College of New Jersey, which makes it the fourth-oldest such host of higher learning in the country. 

Nassau Hall, the original building on campus shown here, dates back to 1756 and was used during the Revolutionary War. Oddly, it was the home of the United States Capitol in 1783. There's a nice $300 million art museum that's new, and - better yet - there is no charge to see it.

The surrounding town is lovely as well. If you want to call it the most attractive college campus in America, I won't argue.

Albany, New York: The Egg

It's called the Center for the Performing Arts, officially. Most people just call it the Egg. 

It's part of Empire State Plaza, a giant complex built during the Rockefeller years. It's right in the middle of downtown, and certainly the Egg captures the imagination."Wait, that's a concert hall?"

The biggest theater has a capacity of almost 1,000 people. It is named in honor of Kitty Carlyle Hart, an actress and singer who turned up with the Marx Brothers in the classic movie, "A Night at the Opera." She was married to Moss Hart, and was active in promoting cultural affairs in New York.  

As you can see, it was not an era of small projects in state government. It took 12 years to build, and its support goes six stories underground. The Egg hosts a variety of cultural events during the year, and you can rent it out for your next wedding. 

Albany, New York: New York State Museum

As part of the Empire State Plaza complex, the State has set up a museum to give a crash course in all things New York. This dates back to 1836 as a concept, and is the oldest (and biggest) state museum in the country. 

Now, New York is a pretty big, diverse state, and the museum is pretty small. Most of it is devoted to two exhibits: New York City and the Adirondacks. Those who go through it probably will feel a little left out if they are from, say, Buffalo.

While most of the museum isn't particularly interesting, the exhibit devoted to Sept. 11, 2001 does jump out at the visitor. Here is what's left of a fire truck that was called into service in New York on that fateful day. There are other remains as part of the exhibit, which is moving.

By the way, there is no admission charge - although a donation of a few dollars would be appreciated. 

Bethel, New York: Woodstock Concert Site

This is far out, man.

Any baby boomer will want to make a trip to the site of the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, held in 1969 on Max Yasger's farm. It was one of the great cultural moments in history, remembered in part because it was all photographed and recorded so that the experience could be turned into a movie and a record album (or two). The proceeds from both of those projects made up for the fact that the huge crowd overwhelmed the promoters, who had to open it all up for free in order to avoid even bigger problems. 

Visitors should know, for starters, that Woodstock was held in Bethel, due to a last-minute switch in location. The farm forms something of a natural amphitheater, and it's pretty easy to imagine 30,000 to 40,000 people there. But 400,000? The traffic must have let up in about, oh, 1988.

By the way, Max is gone, but his dairy farm survives. You can still buy Max Yasger milk in the Catskills.

 

Buffalo, New York: Millard Fillmore Gravesite

Millard Fillmore doesn't get a great deal of respect. He took over the Presidency after Zachary Taylor died; perhaps being the 13th President was unlucky.

Then Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Act, as America continued to wrestle with the issue of slavery. Fillmore's actions didn't go over well in his own party, and he didn't even get the Whigs' nomination in 1852. Oops. Millard did the logical thing - went back home to Buffalo, and lived out the rest of his life. He was the President of the University of Buffalo, among other accomplishments. 

Fillmore refused to join the Republicans when the Whigs went into the ash heap of history. He opposed Abraham Lincoln but supported Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies, a sure way to get on the wrong side of history.

Fillmore was from upstate New York, and was a Congressman from Buffalo. That's where he is buried. Usually when we have visitors to the area, they are taken past Fillmore's grave to pay respects. He's actually not to far from funky musician Rick James.

Once a year, a ceremony to honor him is held by the grave. The White House sends some flowers along on his birthday, and some remarks are made. This happens for all of the deceased Presidents, and it's a nice tradition.  

Buffalo, New York: Al Boasberg's Gravesite

For those who are paying a visit to Millard Fillmore's grave in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, there's a far different type of celebrity only a few hundred yards away. And this isn't a plug for the grave site of musician Rick James, although it could be.

Meet Al Boasberg, one of the funniest men in show business in the 1930's. He was called "America's greatest natural gagmen," which seems like high praise. Let's put it this way. Remember the stateroom scene in the Marx Brothers' movie, "Night at the Opera"? Boasberg wrote it. He worked on other parts of that movie too, and of "Day at the Races." Studios hired him to add some fun to movie plots, giving him the title of "script doctor." 

By the way, it is said that Boasberg did his best work when he was sitting in a bathtub. He'd stay for hours at a time, speaking into a Dictaphone. 

The marker at left is correct. He died in 1945, and came back to Buffalo for a last visit. We're still laughing at one of the great comic minds of his generation. He'd like that.

Buffalo, New York: Rick James' Gravesite

Few were funkier than Rick James, one of Buffalo's top contribution to the music world. 

James first collected attention in the music world with his 1978 work, "Come Get It!" But three years later, Rick released what is considered his best work, "Street Songs." It spent 20 weeks as the No. 1 song on the R&B chart. The album's biggest single was "Super Freak." It was hard to top that, but success continued to follow him in the years to come.  

James had several other top-selling albums and even played in a band with Neil Young for a while. He went into producing later in his career. James died of a heart attack in Los Angeles in 2004. Rick always was a big supporter of his home town of Buffalo, so it is quite fitting that he's here.  

We still remember you, Rick.

And now, here's an interview with David Letterman.

Canastota, New York: Boxing Hall of Fame

You can't be a small town in upstate New York without having your own Hall of Fame. Cooperstown, Utica ... they have one. Oneonta used to have one for soccer.

Canastota didn't want to be left out of the fun, so it created the Boxing Hall of Fame. The little town is known in boxing circles for producing two champions, Carmen Basillo and Billy Backus. So it seemed like a natural.

There had been other attempts at boxing Halls, but this one caught on. The building itself is about as big as a typical house, so it's kind of cute. An extra hall has been added next door. It's mostly used on induction weekends, but the Hall sells memorabilia in there the rest of the year. A highlight is the ring used in Madison Square Garden in New York for main events for years. That's the ring where Joe Frazier fought Muhammad Ali in 1971. 

The Boxing Hall is right off the Thruway. It's not a big-budget production, and it doesn't take long to see, but it gives off a warm feeling in its own way. It might be worth a rest stop to look around and see who is inducted (exhibit pictured) if you have an interest in the sport. 

Castile, New York: Letchworth State Park (Winter)

Letchworth State Park obviously is a different place in the winter than the summer. For one thing, most of it is closed. The only accessible area is from the west, around Castile, and most of the road to the north and south is blocked off.

However, there is a nice hill for winter sledding with a warm lodge (big fireplace) at the bottom. There is cross-country skiing. And a few of the scenic outlooks are open to tourists, if you don't mind a little snow. Just walk carefully. The one above is from Big Bend; the ice on the sides of the rock is pretty impressive.

Letchworth isn't exactly around the corner for most people, who might appreciate a video to see the place at that time of year.

 

Castile, New York: Letchworth State Park (Summer)

Every state, it seems, would like to have its own Grand Canyon. Of course, there's only one, but that doesn't stop anyone. Pennsylvania has the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, Hawaii has the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and New York has the Grand Canyon of the East.

Here is New York's canyon, generally known as Letchworth State Park. The Genesee River did some nice carving in the region over the years, and the area was turned into park in 1907 by Governor Charles Evans Hughes. William Letchworth donated the land.

There are three major waterfalls in the park. There is an iron bridge a short distance from the Upper Falls, complete with a great view and a no trespassing sign. The view is shown here.

This is a particularly great spot to visit in the fall, as you'd imagine. Here are some highlights:

 

Cooperstown, New York: Baseball Hall of Fame

All was right with the world, at least with Red Sox Nation, when Cooperstown opened a display on a Boston championship in November, 2004. This contains bats, gloves, uniforms, dirt, etc. from the Red Sox championship.

The Hall of Fame is an almost magical place for fans, and it's easy to spend a day there. It's main industry is baseball ... although I suppose it could be argued that they are in the nostalgia business in a sense. 

The actual museum is quite interesting. The place opened in 1939 as part of a somewhat imaginary 100th anniversary of the sport. It honors some of the great players and managers as well as other figures, with plenty of memorabilia. Memorabilia is everywhere. If something significant happened in baseball, chances are good that the building has something related to it. The women's game also is represented nicely. 

In addition, Cooperstown itself is quite quaint and has plenty of baseball-related stores on its main street. Every baseball fan should go here at least once, and the non-fans will not be bored either.

This is the quick way around the building:

Elmira, New York: Sullivan's Monument

Sometimes, you have to visit a town that you once lived in to see one of its tourist attractions.

Here's a tribute to General John Sullivan in the form of Sullivan's Monument at Newtown Battlefield. It's located just east of Elmira, right off Route 17/Interstate 86, up the hill. (The Interstate made it a little tricky for those going East to find the road to the Monument, but there are signs that will help.) 

During the Revolutionary War, several soldiers fought the British and Indians in the Chemung Valley area. After the battle, some of the soldiers essentially decided they liked the place so much that they stayed there.

The monument has a nice view of the valley below on a good day, and there are some picnic grounds on the site. Too bad I don't remember going there when I attended five years of school there while I was growing up.

Here's a video about the place.

Elmira, New York; Mark Twain's Gravesite

Everyone wants to write the Great American Novel, but Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens probably already did it. Twain's Huckleberry Finn certainly ranks with the all-time greats, dealing with such issues as the frontier, escape, racism and regionalism.

Twain wrote several other books, and had a rather unique career otherwise. He worked for a newspaper, spoke about travel, etc. Could he be compared to Garrison Keillor? Dave Barry? Probably. A unique American by any standard.

Twain married a woman from Elmira, and spent some time there with her and her family. The two are buried in Elmira's Woodlawn Cemetery. It's pretty well marked once you find the cemetery, which by the way also has the grave of Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis.

Elmira has heavily promoted Twain in its tourism literature, in spite of the fact that Twain lived all over the place. His study, built for work during those summer visits, is still standing. It was moved to Elmira College's campus several decades ago. (You can see it in the video below)

Hawthorne, New York: Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven

Baseball fans have been paying a visit to the Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne for years. That's because Babe Ruth is buried there. A woman at the office estimated that more than half of the people who come to the cemetery (and who aren't there for personal reasons) are there to see the Babe. His gravestone is shown, with plenty of baseball trinkets left behind in tribute.

Interestingly enough, if you walk less than 100 feet from the Babe, you'll bump into Billy Martin's grave. More baseball objects have been left there; more Yankee fans apparently leave something for Martin than for the Babe based on that unscientific method.

The office has a map of the other celebrities there -- Fred Allen, Dorothy Kilgallen, Jimmy Cagney, Sal Mineo, Mayor Jimmy Walker, Fred Allen. Many people who had funerals at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York are here, leaving the cemetery beautiful but very crowded. And it's a little tough to find some of the big names, since the map is a bit general. Still, an interesting place to visit.

Howes Cave, New York: Howe Caverns

If you've driven along the New York State Thruway from Syracuse to Albany (or vice-versa), you've probably seen a sign for Howe Caverns. Not everyone gets off the road to stop, but enough have done so to keep this open for many years. This is the second-biggest (in terms of visitors) natural attraction in all of New York State, trailing - of course - Niagara Falls. It was discovered in 1842, and involves a 142-foot elevator ride down into the limestone tunnels.  

One of the problems of visiting caves involves photographs. There's no real up in a cave, so when a picture is taken it is difficult to know which way to turn the photo for display. The shot is a good example of that theory; you probably could look at it from any direction and it would have a similar effect.

Howe Caverns is part of a large complex southeast of Utica in Upstate New York. The tour takes about 90 minutes, and it's fun. There's actually a lake in these caves, and visitors take a boat ride on it, which is rather unusual. It's always in the low 50's underground, so dress appropriately.

Hyde Park, New York: Roosevelt National Historic Site

The Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site has plenty of attractions connected to it. There's a museum and library, complete with a review of FDR's life. The library, by the way, was the first for a President. There's an adjoining tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt, as she lived on the grounds for the final 17 years of her life. Their graves are here as well.

The best part for me, though, was the house tour. The place is essentially the way it was when Franklin died in 1945. It seems that Franklin was something of a mama's boy at heart, and Mom didn't like the idea of a wife stealing attention from her. No wonder Eleanor set up Val-Kill -- she was given the smallest room in the place. 

It's a great place to learn about the personal side of history.

Kinderhook, New York: Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

Care to guess who was the first President to be born under the United States flag?

Martin Van Buren, of course. If you knew that, head directly to "Jeopardy."

Van Buren's house, shown above, is in Kinderhook. It became known as Old Kinderhook, and clubs that supported Van Buren became known as O.K. Clubs. Somewhere along the way, O.K. became a way of expressing approval.

That's one of the facts that you'll learn on the tour of the facility. It's a nice old house, complete with indoor plumbing -- rather rare for that point in our history (mid-19th century). Be sure to check out the nicely painted toilet seats -- honest. During our tour, the guide to the building made it sound like Van Buren had just gone out for a minute but was due back so please don't touch anything.

The site is located right off Interstate 90, east of Albany and close to the Massachusetts border. His birthplace and grave site are also nearby, so it's practically one-stop shopping for all things Van Buren. If you can go in person, take a tour.

Lake Placid, New York: Art Devlin's Inn

For those who grew up on ABC's "Wide World of Sports" in the 1960's and 70's, there's only one place to stay when visiting Lake Placid: Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Inn. It's a cozy little place right on the main street of Lake Placid.

Devlin was ABC's expect on ski jumping, and he was known for his intelligent, informed and candid comments. That's not surprising, since he was one of the best ski jumpers in American history.

Devlin passed away a while ago, but his trophies are still on display in the lobby. And he had a bunch of them.

We still remember you, Art.

Lake Placid, New York: John Brown's Farm

Most people have at least heard of John Brown, the relatively famous pre-Civil War abolitionist. They just don't know much about him. A trip to his farm in Lake Placid, then, is instructive. Friendly guides (you get the idea they appreciate the company) are happy to tell Brown's life story. It's easy to conclude after hearing it that Brown was something of a nut.

Well, what would you call someone who heard about a fight in Kansas over the slavery issue, so he packed up a few belongings and headed west ... leaving his wife behind to run the farm? Maybe nut is extreme. Maybe "bad husband" works better. Brown was killed around Harper's Ferry, WV, in a celebrated incident (he apparently wrote some major newspapers and told his story while he was waiting for the court case) and he is buried by the farm here.

Lake Placid, New York: Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex

You don't get that many chances to go down a bobsled run, unless you live in an Olympic city. Lake Placid, luckily, is an Olympic city, and tourists can go for a ride in the winter or summer.

In the summer, the facility essentially puts a bobsled on wheels and sends customers down a small course. Left is part of that track. It is called the Cliffside Coaster. In the winter, you can actually go for a ride on the course with a trained professional. Close your eyes, and you can pretend that you were taking part in the 1932 or 1980 Winter Olympics. 

This is also the home of the biathlon and cross-country skiing areas. It's all centered on a large lodge.

One warning: If you want to try this, check in advance. The course is only open on certain days of the week, and we showed up on the wrong day. Oops.

Tours of the complex are available. It probably has a few more visitors in the winter, so we beat the crowds.

By the way, this used to be known as the Verizon Sports Complex - as in the phone company. So much for corporate sponsorship.  

Here's what it is like to go down the track in winter; hang on to your hats.

Lake Placid, New York: Olympic Ski Jumping Complex

Yikes!

Here's the view from the top of the ski jumping tower in Lake Placid. The picture was taken in September, so there's no snow. It's a year-round tourist attraction, although it's easier to get to this position for a photo in the non-snow months.

If you are wondering how to get up there from the bottom, there's a nice gondola that will carry you from the landing area to the base of the jump. Then, after a walk to the bottom of the tower, a relatively quick elevator ride gets you to the ski jump "entrance." The views are spectacular, and some fencing stops anyone who leans out a little too far. 

One look, and a question should come to your mind: How does anyone do this jump for the first time? I suppose "start on a smaller hill" would be an answer, but this is still an intimidating sight.

Leroy, New York: Jell-O Museum

There's always room for Jell-O during a vacation.

The dessert was invented in Leroy, exit 47 on the New York State Thruway near Rochester. The Jell-O Museum is part of a small little historical complex on the main street of the town. It is owned by the LeRoy Historical Society. 

Jell-O was invented in LeRoy back in the 19th century, and this is a nice little tribute to the stuff. There are old boxes and ads on display. There are even some examples of discontinued flavors. Coffee jello, anyone? Yes, ad spokesman Bill Cosby has been there.

Oh, and make sure you walk on the brick road that's in front of the building, shown.

That's right -- the Jell-O brick road.

Medina, New York: Culvert Road/Erie Canal

There aren't many chances to drive under a canal. This is one of them. The culvert was built in 1823, and it still is in use today. It's the only place on the Erie Canal in which you can drive under the water. 

The Culvert Road is about two miles east of Medina on Route 31 in Niagara County of upstate New York. I'm not sure how I stumbled on it, probably a sign, but I did indeed drive under the canal, took a picture, drove under the canal the other way, and headed on my way. As the sign reads, the place was written up in Ripley's Believe It or Not. I now believe it.

By the way, those fascinated by the concept of driving under a canal can head west to Canada. It's possible to drive under the Welland Canal, which is the easy way for boats to go from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The hard way is over Niagara Falls.

I'm impressed that someone put together a four-minute video about a place that takes 10 seconds to drive through.  

Menands, New York: Chester A. Arthur's Gravesite

This isn't the most impressive Presidential grave in the country, but it's not the least impressive either. It looks a little like an angel is watching over a piano, if you glance from a distance.

President Chester A. Arthur is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, NY. The area's children learn how Arthur's father moved to Albany when Chester was a small boy. It's a classic big old cemetery, with plenty of important state and local officials buried there. During a 2025 visit (I've been known to go running there), I discovered that the place wasn't particularly well groomed. It may have been a tough spring. But still. 

By the way, why is it always Chester A. Arthur? How many Chester Arthurs are out there? Did he get a tip from Rutherford B. Hayes?

New York, New York: Statue of Liberty

Anyone can take a picture of the front of the Statue of Liberty in New York. But how often have you seen the back?

Now you have.

The Statue has been welcoming people to New York since 1886. The story of its construction is pretty familiar -- donated by France to mark the centennial of the two countries' alliance in the American Revolution, unfinished until fund-raising generated enough funds to complete it. Now millions go see it in person every year, which ought to help with the cost of upkeep. 

There's a ferry ride to get there. You can go to the very top of the structure, but keep in mind that many people want to do that - so it sells out well in advance. Keep that in mind when making your travel plans. 

Access to the facility may depend on where we are in terms of security at a given moment, but it's still worth the ferry ride to see -- if only to view the front. The building was closed when we were there because of construction, but it was still nice to see it up close.

A drone actually is a good way to see this. So let's go to the video.

New York, New York: Ellis Island

Perhaps one of your relatives passed through here. If not, someone you know certainly had some relatives see this building when they first arrived in America.

Millions came through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954, and the facility has been turned into a historic site. There's a list of people that came through, and you can add your relatives to it, plus there is an ongoing oral history project. Now it's the home of National Museum of Immigration. 

Times have changed concerning attitudes toward immigration since my visit in 1995. We'll have to see if that's a short- or long-term situation. But there's no doubt that Ellis Island played an important role in our history. 

The ferry stops here and at the Statue of Liberty. That's a pretty good crash course in American history on one trip, and the view in New York Harbor is spectacular.

New York, New York: New York Stock Exchange

For those of you who collected passbook savings accounts instead of baseball cards or dolls, this is your kind of place.

The New York Stock Exchange makes an great first impression from its location on Wall Street, as billions of dollars change hands here. And you'll be happy to know that the actual address is 11 Wall Street, so all of those references to "Wall Street" are still true.

How did it get started? A bunch of investors got together in 1792 under a tree on Wall Street. They signed an agreement to create a stock market. Now billions of shares can change hands every day; it's a good thing we have computers to help that along. 

The Stock Exchange used to have a short tour available to visitors, and it included a view of the trading floor from above. However, those tours have been canceled in the post-9/11 world. You'll just have to settle for watching live reports on CNBC, and take photos of the outside. The building, at least, is terrific. It was made a National Historic Landmark in 1978. 

Niagara Falls, New York: Great Gorge Railway Trail

Shhhh. Can you keep a secret?

Niagara Falls has all sorts of interesting sites, but this is one that doesn't get much attention. 

The hiking trail actually goes into the gorge north of the Falls, eventually passing under the Whirlpool Bridge about two-thirds of the way down to the Niagara River. There are a few kiosks set up for views like the one shown. 

This used to be a trolley line, dating back to 1895. It was quite an attraction in its day. Then on September 17, 1935, a landslide took place in the area. Nothing like 5,000 tons of rock to land on the tracks in order to mess up a schedule. No repairs were made to the track, but the level bed is used by hikers to this day.  

The trail goes for about a mile and one-half, which makes it great for running. Just be prepared to stop a couple of times to look around - and to catch your breath.  

Niagara Falls, New York: Niagara Aquarium

Ever seen a penguin with a red eye? Here's your chance.

No, he wasn't out bending a few the night before. It's just the flash, although few probably knew it could to happen to animals.

The penguins are one of the attractions of the Aquarium of Niagara, located only a few blocks from the Falls in the downtown area. The sea lions are suitably cute and entertaining, seals greet you on the way in, and there are plenty of fish on display as well.

This is run by a non-profit organization, and it provides a good home for creatures who can't live in the wild any more. It came up with the funds a while back to expand the facility into a second building, one that's down the hill from the main one. Great Lakes 360 is dedicates to the ecology of that natural wonder. It smartly overlooks a body of water that connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, so it's nice to have that. 

It's a nice little place to visit when you've seen enough water going off a cliff. Tell 'em Sidney Crosby sent you.

Niagara Falls, New York: Devil's Hole State Park

Let's go on a little hike.

Devil's Hole State Park is a little place - 42 acres - tucked just south of Niagara University. A river once came out here and fed into the Niagara River, but only the remains are left now. 

If you go down about 400 steps, you can touch the waters of the Great Lakes. There's a nice trail along the river's edge. (Hint: Wear good shoes for hiking.)

Of course, after a while you have to go back up. Same number of steps. Those people are welcome to stay on the rim, where there's another, easier trail. 

This got its name from the Native population. It seems that the loud noise of the rapids in the Niagara River scared the population, who thought it evil spirits. This was also the site of the Devil's Hole Massacre in 1763, when the Seneca clobbered a British supply wagon.  

Niagara Falls, New York: Whirlpool State Park

Sure, you can stay on top of the Niagara Gorge and take in the view for a while -- maybe even have a picnic. After all, there's no better view of the whirlpool area of the Niagara River than from the top of the state park. But if you can, you really should go for a little walk.

There are steps leading down to the edge of the Niagara River. They haven't received a great deal of maintenance over the years, and I wouldn't do it after a rainstorm without hiking boots, but the steps (as shown) are pretty in a 1930's sort of way.

But it's a heck of a view once you get there. You can look up and see the gondola that goes over a portion of the gorge caused by a river that dried up a long, long time ago. The car actually goes from Canada to Canada. It's pretty breathtaking just to watch it cross.

It's possible to walk along the short line for a while at least. The more adventurous you are, the longer you can hike. But don't take any chances. If there's an accident, it would be difficult to get help down there. 

Either way, it's an easy drive along the edge of the gorge from Niagara Falls north. Look for the sign for Whirlpool State Park. There is enough parking to handle the crowds most of the time.  

Niagara Falls, New York: Luna Island

Everyone wants to see the big waterfall between the United States and Canada when visiting Niagara Falls, and deservedly so. Its power is almost overwhelming, and its beauty is surprising.

That leaves the American Falls a little underrated. On the other hand, you can get very, very close to that attraction with a little walking. 

Visitors simply have to cross over a small bridge from Goat Island (the big one on the American side), and then walk over the Bridal Veil Falls (small as these things go) to get to Luna Island. You can almost touch the water as it prepares to plunge to the pool below. 

Ever wonder how Luna Island got its name? When observers way back when used to stand on the island during a full moon, they could see a "lunar rainbow" caused by the mist. That was unusual enough to give it the name.  

Niagara Falls, New York: Maid of the Mist

Everyone's heard of the Maid of the Mist, but not everyone has been on it. Well, here it is, heading toward the Falls again. If you are in the area, you definitely should go. The American entrance is located near the Observation Tower on the mainland.

As you can see, everyone dresses up in rain slickers, and then hops on board. The boat seems to get impossibly close to the Horseshoe Falls -- you really need to see it from a distance to realize you aren't as close as you think you are -- and it's a great way to get a sense of how powerful the water is.

When we first rode this, the cost was $12.50 per adult. Now it's around $30, but it's still worth it. You'll never do anything quite like this. And there's a good souvenir stand to check out on the way out.

All aboard! 

 

Niagara Falls, New York: Goat Island

Niagara Falls has spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to move tourists in the area of the Falls themselves. Traffic patterns seem to change every few years, and roads are left unused. Maybe they'll get it right someday.

But in the meantime, most people figure out a way to see the sights. And it's worth the effort. 

The biggest attraction on Goat Island certainly is Terrapin Point, which overlooks the Horseshoe Falls. The State has doen some work on the area, so you can walk up to the edge of the water. It's an amazing feeling just standing there. 

There are other items of interest. Cave of the Winds goes down into the rock for a closer look at the bottom. The Three Sisters Islands are connected to each other by bridge a bit upstream, and are quite pretty. And the east end of Goat Island is relatively empty, as those strolling the edge usually only have cars in a lot for company. But, as the photo shows, you can get a great photo of birds resting on the rocks just off the shore. 

Rochester, New York: George Eastman House

If you were one of the great inventors of your time, wouldn't you want a nice house? George Eastman did. Eastman is linked to work in photography; you might have heard of Eastman Kodak.

You can see the entry into his mansion in Rochester, which has nicely landscaped grounds. The house itself isn't that huge, although there is room for guests and servants. It dates back to 1905. The star of the show is the Conservatory. It has a nice, airy feel to it.

Attached to the house is a museum of photography and film. There's a theater for the showing of old films -- good idea. Up to 500 people can watch movies there. There are galleries that are described as world-class that cover the history of photography and cinema. 

Rochester, New York: Strong National Museum of Play

Attention kids of all ages: this is a definite must-see stop for those visiting the Rochester area.

The Strong National Museum of Play has a rather ponderous title, but once inside visitors discover this is definitely a first-class attraction. There are all sorts of sections designed to stimulate children, including a tribute to Sesame Street, a reading area, doll collection, etc. An aquarium and butterfly garden are also on the grounds. That's not to mention exhibits designed to answer questions about, um, bodily functions ... like the one pictured above.

The great part about a place like this is that it's an obvious place to take the kids. However, adults will find something that will trigger memories of good times from their pass. That makes it tough to top as an attraction for entire families.

The National Toy Hall of Fame was brought in from another museum but fits in well. Some of the inductees are Barbie, Etch-A-Sketch, Lego, etc. It also has a World Video Game Hall of Fame, a replica of Sesame Street, and a Butterfly Garden.