Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one of the original 13 colonies and became the 9th state on June 21, 1788. The capital is Concord.
Before we began our RV adventures, during an early spring trip to New England we traveled along some scenic back roads in New Hampshire. Instead of spending the nights in RV Parks, we spent our nights in inns along the way. We came across three historic covered bridges as we wandered through the beautiful countryside.
Covered Bridge in Bath, New HampshireCovered Bridge in Bath, New HampshireSwiftwater Covered BridgeCovered Bridge in Jackson, New Hampshire
We picked up some New Hampshire cheese at Harman’s Cheese and Country Store in Sugar Hill and fudge and other goodies at the Brick Store in Bath.
The Brick Store in Bath, NH
There was spectacular scenery as we drove along the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains. A hike on snow and ice beside a partially frozen creek was worth it for a close up view of Sabbaday Falls.
White Mountains
White Mountains
We took a scenic drive on the Kancamagus Highway
Hike to Sabbaday Falls
We took a hike in the snow and ice to Sabbaday Falls
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
Montana
Montana became the 41st state on November 8, 1889. The capital is Helena.
We visited Glacier National Park in 2006 on our very first cross country RV trip. The National Park had just opened back up after a wildfire when we arrived at Johnson’s RV Park. The smell of smoke was heavy in the air and many firefighters were still in the area. Our campsite sat on top of a hill overlooking St. Mary’s Lake.
St. Mary’s Lake
Driving from the eastern entrance of Glacier National Park to the western entrance in West Glacier on the 55 mile long steep and curvy Going to the Sun Road was the highlight of our visit. After wandering around West Glacier we turned around and returned to St. Mary the same way we came. We also enjoyed exploring the St. Mary side of Glacier.
Glacier National Park, MontanaGlacier National Park, MontanaGlacier National Park, MontanaGlacier National Park, Montana
The next year we traveled to Montana again, this time to visit the Little Big Horn National Monument near Hardin. While we were in the area we made a day trip to Big Horn Canyon.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, MontanaLittle Bighorn BattlefieldBighorn Canyon
Earlier in that same trip we had gone through snow storms in Minnesota so we kept an eye out the weather after we left Hardin. We made a quick overnight stop in Garrison, Montana. Everything was fine when we went to sleep that night. The next day we woke up to several inches of snow. We were headed west with more snow moving towards us from the east so we skedaddled out of there as fast as we could and arrived safely at our next destination in Washington.
After the storm in Garrison, Montana
Several years later we enjoyed spectacular scenery as we traveled through Montana on the way to Alaska. We spent a night at Cardwell Store and Campground and three nights in Great Falls before crossing into Alberta, Canada about 120 miles north of Great Falls.
Mountains in the distance in Cardwell, MontanaOur Lady of the Rockies overlooking Butte, MTIt was snowing over the mountains between Butte and Great Falls
In Great Falls we took care of some business and stocked up on supplies before continuing north to Canada and Alaska. We also got to do a little sightseeing.
Statue honoring Lewis and Clark at the Visitor’s CenterRainbow Falls and Dam
On our way home from Alaska two and a half months later we spent two more nights in Montana as we traveled east towards Georgia.
A Bear cub with fish in our campsite in St. Regis, MontanaMontana Sunrise at Camp Three Forks
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
Missouri
Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821. The capital is Jefferson City.
From the Mississippi River to the Lake of the Ozarks and many places in between, we had great adventures while in Missouri.
High on our bucket list of things to see in Missouri was the Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis. Henry rode the elevator up to the top of the arch while I strolled along outside. We hopped on the MetroLink to explore some of the other sights in the city.
Gateway Arch
Looking up at the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch as seen from across the river in Illinois
Old Courthouse in St. Louis
St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
Gateway Arch Riverboat on the mighty Mississippi River
St. Louis Cardinal baseball stadium during a home game as seen from the top of the Gateway Arch
What fun it was to explore Hannibal and see so many places where Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer had their adventures.
Tom and Huck Statue at the foot of Cardiff Hill
Mark Twain’s boyhood home and Tom Sawyer’s Fence
Lover’s Leap on the Mississippi in Hannibal, Missouri
We took a ride up the Mississippi River on the Mark Twain Riverboat
Mark Twain Cave
Mark Twain Cave
We climbed 244 steps up Cardiff Hill to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse
Harry Truman State Park was a great place for camping and taking a walk on a nature trail.
Great Blue Heron on Harry Truman Lake
On the Western Wildflower Train in Harry Truman State Park
On the Western Wildflower Train in Harry Truman State Park
Our home base for visiting Branson was Table Rock State Park.
Moon rising over the Mississippi River at Trail of Tears State ParkA barge went by right before sunset at Trail of Tears State ParkThere are 24 different Mississippi River Tales Murals on the floodwall in Cape GiradeauUniversity of Missouri Logo in the grass at the Mizzou StadiumFall colors at Lake of the OzarksThe original and largest Bass Pro Shops
The campground in F. D. Roosevelt State Park was a great home base to explore nearby Warm Springs, Georgia.
Franklin D. Roosevelt served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until 1945. He died at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia on April 12, 1945 after suffering a stroke while posing for a portrait.
FDR was born in New York and was diagnosed with polio in 1921. In 1924 he made his first visit to Warm Springs to receive physical therapy in the warm waters of the springs (88 degrees year round). He returned many times to Warm Springs to receive therapy and although it did help it did not cure his disease. The pools are no longer used for therapy. They are now part of a museum with displays about their history and how they were used to help polio patients.
These pictures show what the pools were like when FDR used themTherapy pool in Warm Springs, GA
He loved coming to Warm Springs and built a home overlooking the mountains just a short distance from the pools. A tour of The Little White House begins in the museum with many artifacts and interesting displays telling about the time he spent in Georgia.
FDR drove around Georgia in this carFDR’s carriage in Warm Springs
The Little White House was even smaller than I imagined. It had a tiny kitchen, living room, dining room, one bathroom and two small bedrooms. The best part of the home was the veranda overlooking the mountains. I was so busy enjoying the view I forgot to take a picture!
Around the house were Sentry Posts for Secret Service and Marines. Servants quarters and a guest house were also on the property. Everything in his home has been restored and everything is original to the house.
Dogwoods blooming at the Little White HouseMarine Corps Sentry Post at Little White HouseServants Quarters and Guest House at The Little White HouseOne of the many boats built by FDR while at the Little White House“The Unfinished Portrait” – FDR had a stroke and died while having this portrait paintedPink Dogwood blossoms on the grounds of the Little White House
One of his favorite spots to get away was Dowdell’s Knob. He even had a barbeque pit built there that is still on the property. There is bronze statue of him on a bench looking out at the view.
FDR enjoyed the view at Dowdell’s KnobDowdell’s Knob with FDR’s barbeque pit
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
Iowa
Iowa became the 29th state on December 28, 1846 and the capital is Des Moines.
Iowa is another state we have driven through numerous times while wandering around America. On one of our trips we planned our journey through Iowa around two bucket list destinations.
Our first bucket list destination was the Field of Dreams Movie Site near Dyersville. (We actually camped across the Mississippi River in Wisconsin but that is for another post).
As we walked around the bases I couldn’t help but think of the famous line from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan:
“If you build it he will come.”
The corn was high when we were there, just like in the movie. I could just imagine the ghosts of famous baseball players walking out of the cornfield onto the baseball diamond to play. Another famous line went through my head the entire time we were there.
“Is this heaven?”
“No. It’s Iowa”
Kids were batting and running around the bases
It was easy to imagine the players coming out of the corn to play ball
View from behind home plate – If you build it he will come
Field of Dreams Farm House
The next Iowa destination was Winterset and it also had a movie theme. We fell in love with the town with it’s six covered bridges, John Wayne’s birthplace (and a street named after him), movie locations from “The Bridges of Madison County” starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, and a pizza place that delivered to our campsite in the City of Winterset campground.
Driving along the gravel country roads in search of the six covered bridges was a wonderful way to spend the day. As we went from one bridge to the next we passed by acres and acres of cornfields.
Cutler-Donahoe Bridge, built in 1870
Hogback Covered Bridge, Madison County, Iowa
Cedar Covered Bridge, Madison County, Iowa
Holliwell Covered Bridge, Madison County, Iowa
Imes Covered Bridge, Madison County, Iowa
Roseman Covered Bridge, Madison County, Iowa
The stone bridge located in the park next to the city campground was featured in one of the movie scenes. Another scene was filmed inside the Northside Cafe where the walls were covered with photographs of scenes from the movie.
Stone Bridge in Winterset, Iowa
We enjoyed breakfast at the Northside Cafe – over 100 years old and featured in “The Bridges of Madison County”
John Wayne was born in Winterset and The John Wayne Home is filled with memorabilia.
John Wayne’s birthplace in Winterset, Iowa
Winterset, IA – Birthplace of John Wayne
A few years later as we traveled through Iowa we decided on the spur of the moment to take a break from driving to explore around Coralville Dam. Before we got there, we crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and stopped at the Iowa 80, the world’s largest truck stop.
The World’s Largest Truck Stop
A little later that day we set up camp at the Dam Complex, a Corps of Engineers Park on Coralville Lake near Iowa City. In addition to taking a look at the Coralville Dam, we discovered fossils at the Delvonian Fossil Gorge and later took a walk on a nature trail for a view of Coralville Lake.
Wandering Dawgs 