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Time Traveling: Planning Your Next Civil War Visit

Feb 282012

May is finally upon us, and summer will be here before we know it. And that can mean only one thing – vacation time! Backyard barbecues, splashing in the pool, lounging in the hammock, hiking around a Civil War park…

Hiking around a Civil War park? For summer vacation? Am I serious? You bet I am!

Visiting a Civil War park, or any historic site for that matter, can be a great addition to any summer vacation plans. In fact, planning a trip to one or more historic sites can make for a great vacation all by itself any time of year.

I’ve done this myself from time to time. During spring break my junior year in high school I flew out to meet my sister in Tennessee, after which the two of us drove to Virginia and crammed in as many Civil War sites as we could in one week. The following year, while most of my fellow graduates hit the beaches at South Padre Island the first week of June, I hit I-40 East in my sometimes reliable, no-air-conditioning Mustang II, headed back to more of those transfixing historic sites.

I must have had the Civil War bug pretty bad to choose monuments and markers over beaches and bikinis. To this day, that probably remains the most superbly disorganized trip I’ve ever taken. And I’m still amazed that that car held up long enough to get me home. I clearly remember the stops along the side of the road every 100 miles or so to add another quart of oil. And the relief I always felt when the engine actually started once again, when I was alone in some remote area of a park with the sun going down. But it was great fun. Well, most of it was.

Much of what I did and saw on that trip was spontaneous, “get out the map and let’s see where I’ll go today” sort of planning. And while that can be fun, a little more advanced planning isn’t a bad idea either. A visit to a Civil War site can be both enjoyable and educational, whether you’re by yourself or with a large group. It’s worth a little time to plan ahead.

Don’t think you’ll have a lot of time to visit? That’s okay – you can still plan ahead for the time that you will have. Don’t think you’re heading someplace that has any war-related history? You might be surprised! The war touched more areas of the country, including what today is the western United States, than is generally known. A little advanced snooping around might just turn up a site or two where you’re headed that is related to the war in some way. You just never know until you look. So let’s get started on planning your next (or first) Civil War visit.

Ready, Set… Where We Going?

Believe it or not, you’ve got several questions to answer when you start planning your visit. First off, where are you going to go? How much time will you have once you’re there? Will this be your first visit to the site, or have you been there many times before?

Are you going to spend all your time at a single historic site, or are you going to split what time you have between more than one? Are you more of a museum person, or would you rather spend your time tramping through woods and fields? Maybe a little of both? If you’re visiting a battlefield park, have you read up some on the battle? Or is it all brand new to you? Did you have a relative who fought there? If so, do you know what outfit he was in?

These are just a few things to get you started thinking. How you answer questions like this can help you decide how to plan your visit.

Take Gettysburg for example. Someone visiting America’s most popular Civil War attraction for the first time will probably have a much different agenda than someone making, say, their 20th trip to the area. Especially when it comes to Gettysburg, a first-time visitor could easily wind up feeling overwhelmed by all there is to see and do. Museums, bookstores, antique shops, gotcha shops, historic buildings, restaurants. And that’s just the town – we haven’t even made it to the park yet! (And did I mention that it’s a big park?)

Let’s say you’ll be in the Washington D.C. area for a few days and you’d like to drive up to Gettysburg when you have some free time. You’ve never been to the park before. You’ve recently become interested in the battle and know a little about it, but not a great deal. You figure you’ll have about half a day or so to spend there, and you have to decide what to see and what to leave out.

How to approach this? Well, you could just hop in the car and drive to Gettysburg, and wing it once you get there. Maybe you could just drive out in the park and look around, stopping every so often to read the various markers and monuments, and snap a few pictures.

Can you learn about a battle like this? Well yes, it’s possible. But it can take a lot of time. And unless you already have a reasonably good grasp of the events that took place, it might all be a bit confusing, especially at first. Even getting your directional bearings can be a challenge at some parks if you’re not familiar with the area. (Sometimes it’s a challenge even if you are familiar with the area. As many times as I’ve been to Shiloh for example, there are still times when I get turned around among all those trees.)

About the Author

Samet Bilir writes about antiques and collectibles, arts, paintings and a lot of other things, such as Civil War battlefield relics. To read more articles from him click this link.

Antarctic heroes: Exhibition for Captain Scott

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Feb 012012

Photo by EliDuke

The National Library of Scotland plays host to a new exhibition this January that is focused on the extraordinary race for the South Pole. The exhibition, which features artifacts as well as photographs and newspaper clippings, centres on the expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, an English adventurer who, along with his small team, tragically died before returning from his quest. Scott’s trials and heroism have been celebrated in the 100 years since the expedition.

Visitors heading to Edinburgh to see the National Library’s exhibition can stay in one of many good hotels Edinburgh has to offer. Once they have booked into their accommodation of choice, visitors can pay the National Library a visit and find out more about Captain Scott, his team and the expedition itself.

The exhibition displays collections of diary extracts from Scott, copies of letters and other materials that tell the expedition’s story and for the first time reveal more of the characters involved and the conditions they faced.

The exhibition also helps to provide a glimpse into the context of the story. At the time – 1912 – the South Pole had not been fully explored and remained a great challenge for adventurers. Getting there was a mission that couldn’t be taken lightly, but the idea of such a journey intrigued the general public. Many famous companies also wanted to be associated with such a spectacle of heroism.

Brands such as Heinz and Fry’s Chocolate were both involved in funding Scott’s final expedition in the hope of promoting their own products through this adventure. This association can be seen with the paraphernalia viewable at the exhibition.

The journey to reach the South Pole was long and harrowing. In total, the expedition sought to cover 1,600 miles of ground there and back. Scott’s final push towards his destination was to take in trekking, while hauling sledges, through a challenging frozen environment.

On his way to the Pole, Scott had support from groups of men who laid provisions in caches to provide for his return. By the time it came to the last push towards the Pole, Scott’s team consisted of five men. With Scott were Edgar Evans, army officer Captain Oates, Henry Bowers and Dr Edward Wilson.

Not only did Scott and his team have to contend with frostbite, harsh weather and gradually depleting rations and other supplies, but they were also caught in an international race to be the first group to reach the South Pole. Scott’s rival was a Norwegian explorer, Amundsen.

Unfortunately for Scott and British hopes, it was Amundsen’s team who reached the South Pole first and planted their flag before Scott could reach the area. When Scott got there, his team’s hopes sank and the journey back was even more laborious. Ultimately, physical exhaustion, illness and a lack of supplies proved the undoing of Scott’s team. Unable to continue and confined to their tents by a blizzard, Scott and the remainder of his party never made it home.

While the expedition ended in tragedy, Scott’s last journey was hugely significant to our understanding of the South Pole. For example, Scott’s team collected rocks later analysed by geologists. Scott and his men bravely faced extremely harsh conditions and their heroism helped to define a romantic era of adventure and exploration.

About the Author

This content has been created by Saul Malpass an aspiring travel writer who currently works on behalf of www.lodging-world.com. Saul strives to make his writing captivating and give information to the reader about upcoming events in the UK.

Five Great Adventure Holidays For The Whole Family

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Feb 012012

Trying to find the perfect holiday that will appeal to every member of your brood is a task that often requires the patience of a saint, the diplomacy of an ambassador and the Zen-like disposition of a Buddhist monk.

Photo by Buster Benson

As much as you love them all dearly the stresses and strains can sometimes be unbearable as everyone has their own preferences, and boy are they not afraid of making their voices heard.

But this year, why not surprise kith and kin by suggesting an exhilarating adventure that will get their spines tingling, pulses racing and gratitude centres working overtime as they lay garlands of appreciation at your feet.

So forget the snooze-fest of a beach and choose family holidays that have far greater appeal than a bucket and spade and a ton of ice cream with a giant-sized flake on top.

Here are five of the best:

Desert delights – take an inspiring journey into peace and solitude with a dune and desert holiday. Trek into a tranquil oasis, get close to nature and desert cultures, visit the world’s highest sand dunes, and admire prehistoric rock carvings. The Sahara is probably the world’s most famous desert, but destinations like Egypt’s Sinai Desert, Spain’s Tabernas Desert where many Spaghetti westerns were shot, and Namibia’s Namib Desert all offer unique experiences that the whole family will enjoy.

Wonderful wildlife – there’s just something special about the natural world that speaks to young, old and the not so old. Don your safari hat, pick up a good pair of binoculars and track gorillas in Uganda, follow tiger trails in India, count whales in Hawaii and spy on giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands. And you don’t have to wait until your children are teenagers before you can all go on a safari together. Children as young as five years old can retain vivid memories of watching a pack of lions or a slumbering rhino. Now that’s one “on my summer holiday” essay that the teacher is going to really want to read.

Egyptian excitement – see the treasures of Tutankhamen and get close to royal mummies. There can’t be many kids on the planet, and come to think of it, adults too, who aren’t fascinated by mummies and pharaohs. Sea the Sphinx, let the mind boggle at the engineering feats of the pyramids, and discover mighty temples. With ancient ruins to explore, the Nile River to cruise down and some late night bazaars to shop in, an Egyptian holiday screams, “this way for non-stop adventure” at the top of its lungs. You can’t say pharaoh than that (sorry, couldn’t resist).

Superb sailing – splice the main brace and weigh anchor – it’s time for adventure on the high seas! Whether you’re a salty sea dog or have never set foot off dry land, there are family sailing holidays to suit all backgrounds and experience levels. Explore hidden coves and deserted beaches, drop anchor by a medieval fishing village and cast your net overboard for the freshest fish that’ll cross your lips. The sheer variety of destinations will keep you all spellbound for the length of your trip. Sailing is also a fun and exciting learning experience for children as they are taught about ropes, sails and orienteering.

Wild water – not only will a white-water rafting holiday load you up to the gills with thrills and spills, but it’s a fantastic way for the family to bond even more as you tackle spectacular and challenging environments. Whether you’re negotiating rapids in Colorado, Canada or Chile your senses will be twitching and tingling as you feel just how alive the wilderness is. Camp on river islands, in alpine forests or under the canopy of a real rainforest, and swap yarns about the day’s escapades.

About the Author

Isha loves to travel with her family and enjoys holidays that are out of the ordinary

5 Most Scenic Locations in the World

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Nov 292011

If you’ve been around the world, you know exactly what I mean when I say that there are more magnificent sights on this planet than you could possibly imagine.

If you’ve ever wanted to drop everything for a couple of weeks and

Great Barrier Reef

visit one of the most gorgeous locations on earth, you’ll want to check out some of these places. Below is a list of some of the most scenic locations you’ll ever see.

Be sure to bring your camera. You will want to take lots of photographs to remember your travels by.

The Great Barrier Reef, AustraliaJust off the eastern coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef has over 600 islands to check out. Not only do all of the blues, greens and great beaches give you a lot to be amazed at, you’ll also have plenty of clear water to wallow in.
Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies, CanadaWith plenty of mountains, canyons, caves and open water to explore, you’ll think you’re in a picture it’s so beautiful. An extension of the North American Rockies mountain range, the Canadian Rockies are actually a bit older than the North American Rockies. Check out some pictures of them and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
Machu Picchu, PeruThis was the site of an ancient city that was discovered only about 100 years ago by an archeologist from Yale University. Machu
Machu Picchu

Picchu is believed to have once been a sacred place, but is now just a shell of its former self. This is a very popular tourist attraction, and you can see just how large and magnificent the city was and still is.
Sogne Fjord, NorwayQuite possibly the largest fjord in the world, Sogne Fjord is a must for nature and small village lovers. With a combination of gorgeous
Sogne Fjord

villages, equally nice cliffs and crystal clear water make this a great place to visit. If you ever wanted to visit an old-time sea and fishing village, this is it.
Yosemite Valley, CaliforniaCalifornia is always a great place to visit because of the warm climate and abundance of quality towns and scenery. Yosemite
Yosemite Valley

Valley is perhaps the best looking site out of them all. The lush landscape and mountains that accompany it add to the wondrous scenery. Since there are plenty of hiking trails and mountain faces to climb, the avid adventurer will have no trouble finding things to do.

These locations are some of the most beautiful locations you’ll ever lay eyes upon. If you’re planning a trip soon, don’t forget to check out some of these locations!

- Joe Petchonka, Michigan Buick dealers