Golf usually calls for warmer climes like Florida or Arizona or California but the distance requires too much travel time.  For my taste, the best bet is the Carolina’s. While the grass may still be brown (winter dormant) the play is exceptional and uncrowded. You may even catch an amazing sight or two like this magnificent tree waiting for spring to arrive. A perfect example of the tree of life in winter.

I arrived late in the afternoon and was instantly impressed by the architecture of the French Quarter. Visiting in March, it’s difficult to imagine how steamy the second and third stories of these buildings can get in the summertime’s oppressive heat and humidity.  Everything about their design works to capture the coolness of the lower levels and have it waif throughout the buildings upper floors. Usually, dormer windows are only used to provide circulation and ventilation.  The covered porches or galleys again are designed to protect occupants from the elements.

A stroll down Canal Street towards the Mississippi River is a must. One cannot imagine the enormity of the river without standing alongside it’s mighty currents. The commercial river traffic shuttles massive amounts of cargo up and down from the port of New Orleans. It is still possible to take a short ride on a paddle wheel boat to get a up close look at the commerce. Viewing the Domino sugar factory from the water provides a sweet reminder of the slave labor used to grow sugar cane in this region.

Many of the original buildings are still here today; the Saron (Sister’s House) and Saal (Meetinghouse) dominate the grounds of the Cloister.  From   1732 to 1750, nearly 300 individuals joined Beissel at Ephrata. Celibate members lived in either the Sister’s House or the Brother’s House and the   Householders lived on nearby farms contributing funds, products and assistance to the members of the Cloister.

They were an industrious community operating a printing press, recording musical compositions and practicing German calligraphic writing called Frakturschriften. The community became known for its charity, helping new settlers build homes, caring for the poor and elderly, operating a school for area children and offering free lodging to guests. During the winter of 1777-1778 the Cloister was the site of a Revolutionary War military hospital.

Both Hans and Elizabeth are buried at God’s Acre cemetery at Ephrata; both in unmarked graves.

This extraordinary airship traces its roots back to 1939 when Howard Hughes unveiled a plan for faster non-stop passenger service coast to coast.     The Constellation, or Connie as it was affectionately called, would enable his TWA airline to lead the way in air travel. Lockheed produced the plane from Hughes rough sketches and made it the most elegant aircraft of the time. 

As soon as the plane has been completely restored, it is destined to be relocated to Europe. If you want to get a glimpse, don’t delay!

In cooperation with the US Army Signal Corp and Northwest Airlines, the mission was set in motion to test instruments in near arctic conditions. Beginning on March 12, 1947, Mr. Onofrio made a total of 42 flights to the top delivering men and equipment in pursuit of air safety. Using the Glen House as a staging area, a record 14 flights were made in a single day.

There is no question that Mr. Onofrio had nerves of steel and a strong sense of adventure. No one has ever made another attempt at the summit.

Erin, Holly and I met for lunch at the Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater, VT at noon to check out the locally made Long Trail brews and catch up on each others latest news. Long Trail is located just west of Woodstock on Route 4 just a few hundred feet from the turn to Route 100 south. Blackberry Wheat and Belgian White Ale (our favorites) were delivered to our table along with sandwiches.  Before we left, we checked out the self-guided tour of the brewery and the girls decided on case purchases to take home. Holly headed back to Thetford and Erin and I took a side road up to Plymouth Notch on Route 100 to locate the birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge.

In less than 6 miles we arrived at the quaint village of Plymouth that has been lovingly restored. It is a page out of summer of the 1920′s, only the original residents are now long gone. We found President Coolidge’s birthplace to be intact right down to the original furnishings.  His childhood home, general store, post office, barns, cheese factory and church still grace the street that Coolidge learned his early lessons. He was vacationing here in the summer of 1923 when he received word that President Warren Harding had died. The call came in the wee hours of the morning and the only phone in town was located in the general store.  The storekeeper refused to answer the call and eventually someone from the telegraph office in nearby Bridgewater was sent up to Plymouth to arouse the then Vice President Coolidge. Within a few short hours, he was sworn into office as the 30th President by the local notary public, his dad, John Coolidge. When he later arrived in Washington, he was sworn into office again by a Federal Judge.

The State of Vermont acquired the premises from decentants of the President in 1968 and every effort has been made to preserve its authencitity. The hill farm countryside remains as it did over 100 years ago. The backroads and byways always hold more treasures than we could ever imagine. Coolidge was in office during the roaring 20′s but his roots were far from the excitment of the cities, his solace and final resting place was in returning to his home in Vermont.

The Trustees of the Park have arranged with various musical artists to perform on Sunday afternoons in the “Little Studio” building. Pending fair skies, visitors bring lawn chairs and picnic on the grounds. The season opening event featured Aine Minogue on Celtic harp and vocals and Eugene Freisen on cello. The studio was filled to overflowing with enthusiastic guests and many more spilled onto the lawns to enjoy two hours of sweet melodic tunes.

After spending an enjoyable afternoon at Saint-Gaudens, I headed south along Route 12A towards Windsor, VT. and home to the longest covered bridge in the United States, spanning an amazing 449’ 5”. The Cornish-Windsor Bridge, built in two sections as a lattice truss structure, is the longest two span bridge in the world and it has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

Just after crossing this enormous bridge, a right hand turn brings you onto Windsor’s Main Street. In a block or so look for the Firehouse Museum also known as the Cornish Colony Museum, home of many works of Maxfield Parrish. I had just enough time to have a quick look around and was delighted to learn that this summer’s feature is “The Artistry of the Women of the Cornish Colony.” Works by Bessie Potter Vonnoh, Helen Mears, Frances Grimes and Edith Mitchill Prellwitz are among those on display.

The afternoon flew by and I was enriched beyond expectation, well worth a repeat visit or two!