tranman
07-28-2002, 02:57 AM
from a month long vacation, where I packed the whole family (including 2 kids under 5) in the car and set off across this great country of ours (USA), visiting relatives along the way. In 32 days we drove 6200 miles, visiting 17 states, from the Rocky Mountains through the Midwest, Northeast, and back again. What a sight! It took me quite a while to build up enough vacation leave to do something like this, but I highly recommend it. This is the second time that I've made the trip in the last five years, and I see new things every time. Here are some things that I've noticed:
And please, no offense is intended:
1. I love the Midwest. Even though I'm not from there, they have some of the friendliest, well-adjusted, comfortable people we encountered anywhere.
2. Towns and cities that we vistied that I wouldn't mind living in (I think): Wichita, Kansas; Des Moines, Iowa; Meredith, New Hampshire; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3. I've been away from the East Coast for a while, and from a distance the self-centeredness, go-go-go attitude really shows. I'm from CT originally, but man, someone needs to tell those people to skip the latte and back off on the gas pedal every once in a while. Love going back there, though.
4. Lake region / White mountains of New Hampshire: If you've never been there-go. And bring the kids.
5. Of all the 6200 miles that I drove, the hardest were in Chicago and its northern suburbs. Too many cars on too few farm roads designed to hold a hundreth of the volume that they get every day. Yikes! You don't want to risk a fender-bender either, because usually that fender is attached to a BMW or Mercedes that costs as much as my house.
6. This was my 3rd visit to Milwaukee. (Honorary cheesehead?) Milwaukee is one city who has really gotten their Downtown s*** together. Lots of people walking around, great parks on the lake, beautiful architecture. Other cities should be paying attention.
Well anyway, just wanted to share some experiences with you, and I urge you to try it yourself if you get the chance.
Happy to be home,
tranman:D
And please, no offense is intended:
1. I love the Midwest. Even though I'm not from there, they have some of the friendliest, well-adjusted, comfortable people we encountered anywhere.
2. Towns and cities that we vistied that I wouldn't mind living in (I think): Wichita, Kansas; Des Moines, Iowa; Meredith, New Hampshire; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3. I've been away from the East Coast for a while, and from a distance the self-centeredness, go-go-go attitude really shows. I'm from CT originally, but man, someone needs to tell those people to skip the latte and back off on the gas pedal every once in a while. Love going back there, though.
4. Lake region / White mountains of New Hampshire: If you've never been there-go. And bring the kids.
5. Of all the 6200 miles that I drove, the hardest were in Chicago and its northern suburbs. Too many cars on too few farm roads designed to hold a hundreth of the volume that they get every day. Yikes! You don't want to risk a fender-bender either, because usually that fender is attached to a BMW or Mercedes that costs as much as my house.
6. This was my 3rd visit to Milwaukee. (Honorary cheesehead?) Milwaukee is one city who has really gotten their Downtown s*** together. Lots of people walking around, great parks on the lake, beautiful architecture. Other cities should be paying attention.
Well anyway, just wanted to share some experiences with you, and I urge you to try it yourself if you get the chance.
Happy to be home,
tranman:D