The Gipper's Guide to America

[DieHardBrownsFan]

@the-gipper said:

Here is some food for thought as you plan your summer vacations. Some hints for your travels, all USA (incl. possessions):

Best Sunset: Cape Flattery, Washington

Best Sunrise: On top of Mt. Haleakala, Maui. (honorable mention: Quoddy Head, Maine)

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands

Best Patriotic site: Fort McHenry, Baltimore

Best Trees: California: Redwoods/Sequoias/Ancient Bristlecone pine/Joshua Trees

Best Single Vista: Inspiration Point, Yosemite NP (Multiple vistas: Grand Canyon)

Most Fun Town: New Orleans. (Honorable mention: Chicago)

Best Small Town: Woodstock, Vermont. (honorable mentions: Chatham, Mass. Seaside Fla.)

Best Consistent Architecture: Santa Fe, NM

Campiest Attraction: House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin

Nicest College Campus that is not Kenyon: Duke (honorable mention: Notre Dame)

Nicest State Capitol building: Olympia, Washington (more for it setting than the building itself)

Best Tall Building: Empire State Building

Best Statue not called Liberty: Mt. Rushmore

Best Scenic Town Setting: Sedona, Arizona

Best City Park System: Savannah, Georgia

Gawdiest Display of Wealth: Newport, Rhode Island

Best Stadium: Wrigley Field

Best preserved Western Town: Tombstone, Ariz. (honorable mention: Lincoln NM)

Best hiking for the average person: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Best Lake: Crater Lake

Best Mountain Range: The Grand Tetons

Best Casino: Lakeside Inn and Casino, Stateline Nevada (Tahoe)

Best Aquariam: National Aquariam, Baltimore

Best Breakfast/Dinner combination: Camellia Grill and Commander's Palace, New Orleans

Feel free to add your own

I think "best" relates to individual observations. Whats best to you, may be not so good to someone else. Where is the hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park? My wife and I were going to go hiking there last summer, but couldn't figure out where the hell the trails were. Please advise!

[Mr. T]

Berea has a nice trail you can hike or bike on.

What would be good is input on trips that can be made on less than a tank of gas, due to the economy.

[Kosar_For_President]

Best Wings: Old Tom's Tavern, Currituck, NC

Best Steak: Steakhouse 10, Englewood, CO

Best Looking Tits: TIE, Waikiki and Panama City, FL

Best Fresh Water Fishing: Thunder Lake, Northern Wisconsin

Best Weed: My Pipe....

[The Gipper]

@diehardbrownsfan said:

I think "best" relates to individual observations. Whats best to you, may be not so good to someone else. Where is the hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park? My wife and I were going to go hiking there last summer, but couldn't figure out where the hell the trails were. Please advise!

There are nearly 150 miles of trails in the Cuyahoga Valley. For one, the Towpath IS a hiking trail as well as a bike path. But that is only about 20 miles. I will give you the link here:

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

Fyi, if you are hiking in either the Bedford or Brecksville Metro park reservations, or certain of the Summit County Metro parks, or on the Buckeye Trail in the park, you ARE hicking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

And, if you pick up one of the park brochures anywhere, the trails are all marked on there

[Kosar_For_President]

@the-gipper said:

There are nearly 150 miles of trails in the Cuyahoga Valley. For one, the Towpath IS a hiking trail as well as a bike path. But that is only about 20 miles. I will give you the link here:

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

Fyi, if you are hiking in either the Bedford or Brecksville Metro park reservations, or certain of the Summit County Metro parks, or on the Buckeye Trail in the park, you ARE hicking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

And, if you pick up one of the park brochures anywhere, the trails are all marked on there

Love the trails in Bedford. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the US in fall.

[The Gipper]

@mr.-t said:

Berea has a nice trail you can hike or bike on.

What would be good is input on trips that can be made on less than a tank of gas, due to the economy.

I admit, my top travel spots are generally further away than one tank, but here are some suggestions for fairly close trips you can take within reasonable distance of the Cleveland area:

1. Obviously, go on out to Put-in-Bay and the Lake Erie Islands. And be sure to stop at the Crescent Tavern patio in the afternoon to say "F**K You, Westside" who performs there in the afternoons. He runs the movie critic forum on these boards. Go up the Perry Monument if it is open.

2. Niagra Falls is about a 4 hour drive. Despite the cliches, it is an awesome sight. And, believe it or not, there really are things to see and do in Buffalo.

3. Run over to South Bend and Notre Dame. Beautiful campus.

4. Go to Greenfield Village and the Ford Museum in Detroit/Dearborn.

5. Spend a few days in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in our back yard. It is, trust me, an absolute gem. NO other major metropolitan area can boast of an asset such as this so nearby.

6. Maybe a little far, but Louisville has some great things to see: The Louisville Slugger Museum, Churchill Downs, Ft. Knox is nearby.

7. Likewise, Lexington Ky. has some interesting sites, particularly the Kentucky Horse Farm.

8. Also maybe a bit beyond a one tank trip, but go to Cooperstown, NY for the baseball HOF.

9. As long as we are talking HOFs, there is of course, Canton and the Pro Football HOF. Also check out the McKinley Tomb and Museum and the First Ladies National Historic site.

10. You can always go to Mohican to canoe. And while in the vicinity go see Malabar Farm where Bogart and Bacall were married.

11. And of course there is Amish country if you are into that. The area from Millersberg over to Dover/New Philly etc.

12. You could go to the casinos in Wheeling, Detroit, and Presque Isle, Erie PA while you are waiting on the one in Cleveland to open. Wheeling also has that great Christmas Light exhibition. The name escapes me right now.

13. People say the Hocking Hills are great. Old Man's Cave etc. Oddly, I have never been there.

14. You could cross Ohio's eastern border and try to set up a tour of Falling Water in Mill Run Pa. This is Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous structure, or nearly. Also near there is OhioPyle and the Laurel region. There is supposed to be tremendous whitewater rafting there.

15. You can go to either Columbus or Cincinnati. They are big cities with a lot to do. Museums, attractions, restaurants, sports etc.

16. And, if all else fails, you could also visit Pittsburgh. If it weren't for the yumpin' yidiots that follow their football team, the town itself can be quite pretty, or at least, interesting.

[Pumpkin Eater]

I'm going to have to say the best sunset is at Mallory Square, Key West, Florida. Lots of cool street performers and bars/ restaurants to watch the sun set from.

Hocking Hills is fantastic. The entire area would be a national park if it weren't already a state park.

[Canton Mike]

For a one tank trip, I have a suggestion....Warther's Museum in Dover, Ohio.

Moony Warther was a wood carver of trains, etc & his carvings look MACHINED! For those of you who appreciate a skilled craftsman, this is a MUST SEE. The man had a grade school education but was truly a genius. If you have been there, you know what I mean.

As a side benefit, their gift shop sells their cutlery, which will stack up against others much more expensive. I own 3 different sizes of Warther's filet knives & they simply can't be beat. They make great gifts & are very affordable.

Mike

[cambridgeho]

Most Fun Town: New Orleans. (Honorable mention: Chicago)

I have been Bourboned faced on shit steet a time or two.

[calfoxwc]

Best Sunrise: On top of Mt. Haleakala, Maui. (honorable mention: Quoddy Head, Maine)

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands Gipp

*****************************************

Mt. Haleakala was an amazing place. I think we have pictures from it, I should post them sometime. It is absolutely breathtaking.

St. John, is a smaller island just off the American Virgin Islands' St. Thomas.

St. John is about 75 % national park, I think it was... and the beach is Trunk Bay.

It has an -underground- park underwater, with stones describing certain places and plants, etc.

two really outstanding places places to go see.

[Gidget]

Mt. Haleakala is a wonderful place! I have a picture hanging in my office that I took while we were there. Did you do the bike ride from the top down? That was one of my favorite parts of our trip....riding the bike through a cloud, amazing!!

[ballpeen]

Best Sunset: Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.

Best Sunrise: Duck, N.Carolina

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands.....no need to change your thought

Best Patriotic site: Arizona Memorial

Best Trees: Magnoila in bloom

Best Single Vista: Death Vally in April when the wildflowers are in bloom....multiple spots

Most Fun Town: New Orleans. (Honorable mention: Chicago) No arguments there.

Best Small Town: Blowing Rock, N.C.

Best Consistent Architecture: Santa Fe, NM.....I can stick with that

Campiest Attraction: International Tow Truck Museum, Chattanooga, Tn.

Nicest College Campus...University of Alabama

Nicest State Capitol building: Montpelier, NH

Best Tall Building: Empire State Building

Best Statue not called Liberty: Mt. Rushmore

Best Scenic Town Setting: Oxford, Mississippi

Best City Park System: Savannah, Georgia

Gawdiest Display of Wealth: Newport, Rhode Island....I agree

Best Stadium: Wrigley Field

Best preserved Western Town: Tombstone, Ariz. (honorable mention: Lincoln NM)

Best hiking for the average person: Great Smoky Mts

Best Lake: Lake George, NY

Best Mountain Range: The Grand Tetons

Best Casino: Bellagio

Best Aquariam: Tennessee aquarium, Chattanooga

Best Breakfast/Dinner combination: I'll go with Brennans, New Orleans

[The Gipper]

@pumpkin-eater said:

I'm going to have to say the best sunset is at Mallory Square, Key West, Florida. Lots of cool street performers and bars/ restaurants to watch the sun set from.

Hocking Hills is fantastic. The entire area would be a national park if it weren't already a state park.

I have been to the sunsets at Key West on 2-3 occasions. The party atmosphere is cool, but for the spectacular sunset itself, it cannot compare to Cape Flattery.

[The Gipper]

@canton-mike said:

For a one tank trip, I have a suggestion....Warther's Museum in Dover, Ohio.

Moony Warther was a wood carver of trains, etc & his carvings look MACHINED! For those of you who appreciate a skilled craftsman, this is a MUST SEE. The man had a grade school education but was truly a genius. If you have been there, you know what I mean.

As a side benefit, their gift shop sells their cutlery, which will stack up against others much more expensive. I own 3 different sizes of Warther's filet knives & they simply can't be beat. They make great gifts & are very affordable.

Mike

Yes, I have been there. The amazing part were the "trees" that he carved that folded down into themselves. Here is a photo:

[The Gipper]

@calfoxwc said:

Best Sunrise: On top of Mt. Haleakala, Maui. (honorable mention: Quoddy Head, Maine)

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands Gipp

*****************************************

Mt. Haleakala was an amazing place. I think we have pictures from it, I should post them sometime. It is absolutely breathtaking.

St. John, is a smaller island just off the American Virgin Islands' St. Thomas.

St. John is about 75 % national park, I think it was... and the beach is Trunk Bay.

It has an -underground- park underwater, with stones describing certain places and plants, etc.

two really outstanding places places to go see.

Trunk Bay is perhaps the best known of the St. John beaches, but there are several on that island, any of which are great.

[The Gipper]

@gidget said:

Mt. Haleakala is a wonderful place! I have a picture hanging in my office that I took while we were there. Did you do the bike ride from the top down? That was one of my favorite parts of our trip....riding the bike through a cloud, amazing!!

Yes, I took the bike ride, though it was clear the day I did it. No cloud. For those that don't know, you ride a bike from the top of the mountain, which is about 11,000 feet tall to sea level. And it is all downhill coasting, you really only have to pedal about twice.

[The Gipper]

@ballpeen said:

We agree on quite a few, don't we:

Best Sunset: Indian Rocks Beach, Fla....west coast of Fla. right? Its OK, I still prefer a Pacific sunset.

Best Sunrise: Duck, N.Carolina...I have not been to the Outer Banks at sunrise. Could be very nice.

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands.....no need to change your thought

Best Patriotic site: Arizona Memorial..this was a tough choice. AZ Memorial in my top 3, but I had to pick one.

Best Trees: Magnoila in bloom...I am a little prejudiced against the magnolia simply because I have one in my yard and it won't bloom for me. But I planted it for the very reason that they are beautiful in bloom.

Best Single Vista: Death Vally in April when the wildflowers are in bloom....multiple spots...I was there in the fall, so I didn't get the wildflower bloom. Great vista though.

Most Fun Town: New Orleans. (Honorable mention: Chicago) No arguments there.

Best Small Town: Blowing Rock, N.C...have not been there

Best Consistent Architecture: Santa Fe, NM.....I can stick with that

Campiest Attraction: International Tow Truck Museum, Chattanooga, Tn...not been there. Probably a hoot.

Nicest College Campus...University of Alabama..most bigger schools suffer in the "nicest campus" category merely because of their size. Duke and Notre Dame are much smaller in student body size than people realize. Kenyon is only 1600 students.

Nicest State Capitol building: Montpelier, NH..this could be. Like I said, I chose Olympia more for the setting than the building

Best Tall Building: Empire State Building

Best Statue not called Liberty: Mt. Rushmore

Best Scenic Town Setting: Oxford, Mississippi...I can't imagine any town in Mississipi being in a more scenic setting than the red rocks of Sedona....(and as a general rule, I think Mississippi is a much prettier state than most people give it credit for...though I have not been to Oxford)

Best City Park System: Savannah, Georgia

Gawdiest Display of Wealth: Newport, Rhode Island....I agree

Best Stadium: Wrigley Field

Best preserved Western Town: Tombstone, Ariz. (honorable mention: Lincoln NM)

Best hiking for the average person: Great Smoky Mts ...I stayed away from any true "mountainous" area in this category. I have no doubt that the Smokies and the Appalachian trail and many, many parts of the west are superior hiking than our local park...but they might be a bit rugged for an average person.....and I count as an average person a mid-50s overweight dude like me

Best Lake: Lake George, NY...that is a very good one for sure. I took a boat tour on Lake George.

Best Mountain Range: The Grand Tetons

Best Casino: Bellagio ....I was going for the out of way, stuck in a corner, homey style casino. For the grandiose Las Vegas casino I hear Bellagio is the cat's meow. But I have not been to it or the Venetian which may be its main competition.

Best Aquariam: Tennessee aquarium, Chattanooga ....have not been to that one, but I have been to many others, Monterray, Boston, New Orleans, Honolulu, Oregon coast, Seattle,etc. and of all those, Baltimore was best.

Best Breakfast/Dinner combination: I'll go with Brennans, New Orleans...Is that the place right on Bourbon St.? that has the champagne breakfast? If it is the place I am thinking of, we only stayed about a block from it, but did not eat there. We did the Cafe du Monde of course, the ACME Oyster House, Tipitina's, Pat O'Brien's, etc. but not Brennan's

[ballpeen]

Yes, that's it....Breakfast at Brennens is a must on your next visit.

I love Acme Oyster House...and do love Commanders palace....last time sat upstairs overlooking the courtyard.

Just talking NO has me wanting to go again...but I am not the foodie I once was...down about 50 lbs in the last year and a half and hope to be down close to 20 by fall.

On some of the ones I didn't change on the list, I have been to most you mention....I couldn't think of any better options or agreed in total...like the Savannah parks....I know they have parks all over the place....Clevelands Metro system is pretty nice as well....and the western town...there aren't that many to choose from.

As for the Smokies....there are lots of hiking areas that don't require great endurance and are more hollow walking than vigorous mountain trails..trust me...I don't do that.

As for Oxford....I could of...or in retrospect switched that with Blowing Rock...Blowing Rock is up in the Carolina mountains and Oxford is what you envision in old southern charm. Consider those a swap.

[hoorta]

QUOTE (ballpeen @ Apr 9 2010, 09:42 AM) *

We agree on quite a few, don't we:

Best Sunset: Indian Rocks Beach, Fla....west coast of Fla. right? Its OK, I still prefer a Pacific sunset.

How about right at home at Edgewater Park?

Best Sunrise: Duck, N.Carolina...I have not been to the Outer Banks at sunrise. Could be very nice.

Sorry, I don't get up before noon.

Best Beaches: St. John, US Virgin Islands.....no need to change your thought

I'm afraid of the water, and beaches in general.

Best Patriotic site: Arizona Memorial..this was a tough choice. AZ Memorial in my top 3, but I had to pick one.

Mount Rushmore

Best Trees: Magnoila in bloom...I am a little prejudiced against the magnolia simply because I have one in my yard and it won't bloom for me. But I planted it for the very reason that they are beautiful in bloom.

Crape Myrtle in bloom.

Best Single Vista: Death Vally in April when the wildflowers are in bloom....multiple spots...I was there in the fall, so I didn't get the wildflower bloom. Great vista though.

Top of Split Mountain, Wyoming. Sorry for us geriatric crowd- it's a 25 mile uphill hike, and then get to the top of a 13,500' mountain. Unforgettable view, even 30 years after the fact.

Most Fun Town: New Orleans. (Honorable mention: Chicago) No arguments there.

Love Chicago, never been to NO.

Best Small Town: Blowing Rock, N.C...have not been there

Talkeetna, Alaska.

Nicest College Campus...University of Alabama..most bigger schools suffer in the "nicest campus" category merely because of their size. Duke and Notre Dame are much smaller in student body size than people realize. Kenyon is only 1600 students.

Tossup: Wisconsin and University of Colorado

Gawdiest Display of Wealth: Newport, Rhode Island....I agree

Kennebunkport Maine has to be in the running....

Best Stadium: Wrigley Field

Never been.... I'll nominate Arrowhead for football.

Best hiking for the average person: Great Smoky Mts ...I stayed away from any true "mountainous" area in this category. I have no doubt that the Smokies and the Appalachian trail and many, many parts of the west are superior hiking than our local park...but they might be a bit rugged for an average person.....and I count as an average person a mid-50s overweight dude like me rolleyes.gif

Zion National Park, Utah. As adventurous or as flat as you like.

Best Lake: Lake George, NY...that is a very good one for sure. I took a boat tour on Lake George.

Crater Lake, hands down.

Best Mountain Range: The Grand Tetons

As a mountaineer, I'll qualify that as yeah FROM THE ROAD. Even so, when you hike the Lupine Meadows trail up to about the 9,000' level and break above the treeline, you don't even recognize the Tetons as being the same mountain range- whole 'nother world. You see all the details (like the Great Chimney on Middle Teton)-in case you're wondering- it's a tube of volcanic rock that got shot up 2,000' though granite way back when.

Details you miss even with binoculars from the Snake River overlook. That said IMHO, when you get off the road the Tetons aren't even the most spectacular mountain range in Wyoming. The Wind Rivers in the Gannett Peak area- most folks don't realize the Grand Teton isn't the highest mountain in the state- and further south the Cirque of the Towers region are every bit as spectacular- but you gotta do some serious hoofing to see the view.

And if you want to count Alaska as part of America, don't even get me started about the views you can get from a flightseeing tour of the Denali Wilderness. McKinley is such a huge mountain, it's visually bigger (from the nearest road outside the park 46 miles away) than the Grand Teton is from the Snake River overlook- you can see Denali from the Alpine Meadows overlook in Anchorage- 180 miles away on a clear day- I kid you not.

Best Casino: Bellagio ....I was going for the out of way, stuck in a corner, homey style casino. For the grandiose Las Vegas casino I hear Bellagio is the cat's meow. But I have not been to it or the Venetian which may be its main competition.

Been to Vegas once, and did a grand tour of all the Casinos- but I'm not the gambling type. If you're into betting on the Browns, the Sports Book at Harrah's may be of interest.

I'll throw in one extra that interests me- and that's Best Steakhouse. Tough Call, but I'll vote for Bern's in Tampa, Florida. I May be jaded because they have no competition when it comes to Best Wine list in America- actually, it's the best in the world. Honorable mention to the Heford House in Kansans City, and our local Pine Club here in Dayton.

[Mr. T]

Best Small Town: Blowing Rock, N.C...have not been there

I was there last weekend and I am ready to move there.

"Welcome to Rose Bud" ~ Funny Farm.