The Great Outdoors

Camping has become a tradition with my family and I since I was very young. In the summer we would pack up things and go for the week or sometimes just one weekend. We didn't have a camper just our tent that we took with us every year. Sharing air mattresses seemed to be okay until the other person moved to much. I can remember so many times when we went camping in Caseville which is by the water so we could go to the beach as much as we wanted to.

One summer my mom, dad, sister, and I all went camping at our usual place. Campfires are one of my favorite things about camping. Just sitting there making smores and enjoying each others company. My sister and I would bike ride around to find new paths that would lead to something interesting. We would go to the beach and swim or just lay there soaking up the sun. One time there was a storm and when it was over the waves were huge so we would just into them.


My dad has a van that we would always take with us camping. We call it the hippie van because of it's mural of a lake and cabin on the side as well as the blue shag carpeting that covers the inside. He has gotten many complements on this can that carries all of our camping gear and so much more. My dad will pack the van with so much stuff that we will most likely not need. I'm never sure if its good that he's so prepare or bad that it takes up more room that I need so I can ride along.

The time I spent with my family helped us grow closer and helped us relax. We had time to get away from work or whatever stress seemed to be in our lives. Even if your not going too far from home its good to get away for awhile.

Pennsylvania

When I was in eighth grade my whole class went on a trip to Pennsylvania to learn about the history there and to just have some fun. We visited Gettysburg, Utz potato chip factory, and Hershey park.
This was a fun and interesting trip that seemed to go by too fast. There were many good times and only a few things that didn't go as planned. We all rode in a bus for many hours to get to Pennsylvania. Waking up early to get there on a decent hour.

Our first stop in Pennsylvania was Gettysburg. We went to the battlefield and museum to see the place where history took place. It was and amazing experience to see and learn everything about a place that you read about in history class. When we were done there we walked around the town and investigated all the historic buildings. It was amazing to see so much history in one place and how they preserved it. Trips like this help you learn so much more then you would just sitting in a classroom everyday.

 
On our second day in Pennsylvania we went to Utz potato chip factory where we saw how they were made. We got to go through the factory and see all the machines and what they did to make potato chips. There were many things there to buy including clothing that said Utz on it. I got a t-shirt then looked around at all the different snacks there. Potato chips, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate covered potato chips which were actually very good.

The last stop was Hershey park which was definitely the most exciting. We got to go on rides and that was when I road my first big roller coaster. I turned out to love them and go on them whenever I go to an amusement park now. The water park was closed that day and so was the tour of the Hershey factory. That made many of us disappointed but it was still fun.

When your younger and go on a field trip it's always very exciting. This trip in particular was great because it was somewhere new and different from the usual ski trip. Riding in a bus with your friends to keep you company the trip went fast. I think more schools should do more field trips for students so they can learn in a new way as well as have a good time.

Exploring the Bahamas

It's getting to that time of year in Michigan when many people begin to miss summer and its warmth. Many go to warmer places during this time for a vacation. So where would be the best place to go for a nice warm vacation? I would choose to go to the Bahamas for its warmth and beauty. Not only is it a big temperature difference from here in Michigan, but there is also so much to do. Clear blue water and beautiful beaches will make anyone feel great.

There are many retreats that are for luxury, history, and tourism. One of my friends went on a cruise to the Bahamas and that always seemed like a great idea. Though I don't know how long I'd be able to stay on a boat, it seems like a great way to enjoy a vacation and see more. Just going to the Bahamas would be fun and relaxing, especially with all the snow that is falling here. The retreats will have many activities to do and many things to discover.

The amazing view of the Bahamas can be a great experience but there is also so much to do. Scuba diving or snorkeling are just two of the many activities that will make for a excellent vacation. Seeing the ocean from a different point of view and all that inhabits it will make this amazing place come to life. There is so much to see in the clear blue water that most of the vacation can be spent exploring it. Swimming with dolphins or finding starfish and other underwater creatures can be an amazing experience.
  

The Bahamas has so much to explore and discover. Just taking a relaxing walk can lead to a great adventure. Much of the wild life is much different than found in the states. With so much to discover, this is a place that has so much to offer. Flamingos, parrots, woodpeckers, humming birds are just some of the many birds that inhabit the Bahamas. There are also many types of mammals that live here including dolphins, seals, wild horses, and pigs. The beauty of nature can lead to amazing experiences that create lasting memories.

Let's go to Italy

One of my best friends has always wanted to go to Italy. I know it is a beautiful place but I didn't know why she really wanted to go there. She liked their language as well as it's beauty even though she's never been there. As I looked more into it I have found there is a lot in Italy to do, learn, and see. There's the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Canals of Venice which are just a couple sites and experience.

The Tower of Pisa has an unintended tilt that is known world wide. This is a bell tower for the cathedral in the Italian city of Pisa. It's amazing to think that a mistake that made the tower lean also made it so well known. The building is made of marble and stone and is tilted at 3.99 degrees. It did lean lower but was restored between 1990 and 2001. It is an interesting structure and is one that I would like to see if I ever go to Italy.

The place I would most want to go if I ever visit Italy is the Canal of Venice. The canal goes right through the city and contributes to much of the water traffic there in Venice. At night the canal lights up for the ones traveling through. This would be the first place I'd see if I ever visit. This canal is the reason that Venice is often referred to as The City of Water. It has more tourist come to visit then residents but the romantic charm it holds makes it the most popular tourist attraction in Italy.


Rome holds the second most visited tourist attraction in Italy. The Colosseum an its architecture hold history from long ago. This building used to hold about 50,000 spectators. Many people come to visit and I would love to see it too if I ever visit Italy. You can see the history from just one look and I'm sure there's so much more to learn about it.

There is so much to see and learn from every new place you visit. I can't wait to travel across the country to all of the places I've talked about including Italy. Maybe one day I can go see what makes it so amazing.

Another New York Weekend

Spending twelve hours in a car with nothing to do but stare at the road ahead can be a bit boring, but once you get to where you're going it all seems worth it. Over the weekend my mom and I went to New York yet again to visit my sister. We drove through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and part of New Jersey. It was beautiful to see all the hills and open land in Pennsylvania. Stopping in New Jersey for gas we learned that you don't pump your own gas there, which I found very different than other states.

My sister is living in Lake Grove, New York which is about an hour from the city. On saturday we took the train to the city and then the subway to Manhattan where we went to the high line. This used to be a railroad but was turned into a path which looks down at the streets. It was a great veiw of the city and you didn't have to deal with all the people on the streets.

When we got off the high line we walked to times square to buy tickets for a broadway play. There were people everywhere and of course there was a long line. The line went pretty fast and soon we were at the front of the line where a huge cluster of people waited to get tickets like us. My mom ordered the tickets for Phantom of ther Opera and we made our way through the crowd. We decided to walk to Macy's which was about ten blocks away. Our legs were getting sore and it was cold so we went into a restuarant and sat down. As we were deciding on what to eat my mom realized that we only got two tickets instead of three. One of the slips was just a receipt for the other two tickets. We left the restuartant and walked as fast as we could trough the bustle. Once we got there they let us get another ticket but it would be somewhere else in the theater.

After we got over the frustration of the tickets we decided it was time to eat something. We walked to where the play would take place and decided to eat close by. The restaurant we ate at was called Roxy and had very good food. While waiting for the play to start we decided to check out the souvenir store. I got a sweatshirt and then browsed little snow globes with the Empire State Building in them.

It was about a half hour before the show when we decided to go to the theater. That's when we saw the line going from the theater and around the corner of the building next to it. The line went fast and we were soon inside the Majestic Theater. After a long day of walking around the city I was worn outbut the play was very good. By the time we got back to my sister's place it was late and we we're all tired from the long day. It was nice but it made me appreciate the small town that I am from.

Hollywood

Los Angeles is a place that make many think of Hollywood and fame. It seems so different from Michigan, which is where I have lived my whole life. I don't think I could ever live in LA but I am very curious to see what it is like. I could go to the walk of fame or maybe even see someone famous. There's so much going on there compared to Michigan and that's why I think it would be great to experience it.

The Hollywood sign is one thing I would love to see in person. It's one of the things it's most known for. This sign was originally put up as advertisement for a local real estate development in 1923. The original sign actually read Hollywoodland for this development but was later changed and restored. I've seen plenty of movies that include this landmark and it seems it's been there longer than I knew.

Another amazing attraction in LA is the walk of fame. This contains more than 2,500 five point stars in honor of actors, musicians, directors and producers. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions, having millions visit each year. Each star weighs about 300 pounds and a couple have been stolen over the years when they were temporarily removed for construction. There are many famous stars on this walk including many I probably don't know. It would be a great thing to see how all of those people were honored for there success and talent.
 

Well looking up interesting things about Hollywood and other places there to see, I found that you can take tours of celebrities homes. This seems like something many people would pay to do but I didn't know they did this. People go one tours through current homes of celebrities in La as well as former homes. I'm not sure I would ever go on one of these tours but it would be nice to see how they live.

Los Angeles has a very different atmosphere and lifestyle then here in Michigan. I hope that one day I can go there and see what it's all about and how they live there.

Sites To See

Though there are many places I would love to go, there are certain things I want to see in the world. Almost everyone has learned about the Berlin Wall and its role in history. This would be amazing to see and learn more about. The Taj Mahal in India is also a very amazing building that is a very big tourist attraction. When I was in art a few years ago I made a little clay sculpture of this beautiful building. The design and structure of the building is definitely exquisite. Another structure I would love to visit and learn more about  is the Great Wall of China. This wall is the longest in the world and stretches over 13,171 miles of land.

The Berlin Wall in Germany was used to separate East and West Berlin. Between 1961 and 1989, the wall stopped almost all emigration. When the wall went up a war had started and about 5,000 people tried to jump the border to emigrate to other European countries. In middle school I learned about the Berlin Wall but not a lot. It would be very interesting to see the structure and learn more about it. There's so much more to it that I could learn about.

In 1962 the construction of he Taj Mahal began. In 2001 there were about 2 million visitors and more than 200,000 were from over seas. This structure is a marble mausoleum brought up by Shah Jahan when his wife died. The beautifully made structure was made from his grief and love. Inside decoration is beyond traditional and I would love to see it. Calligraphy and abstract designs were used throughout the structure. Every picture I see contains an art of this structure that makes me want to visit this mausoleum. There is a great gate and a garden that contains pathways and flower beds that surround the structure.
 

Being the longest wall in the world doesn't seem like the most interesting thing, but the Great Wall of China does intrigue many people. This structure was made of several different wall that were connected. It was mostly used for border control and protection. Before the use of bricks they used rammed earth, stones, and wood. The use of brick later on helped construction move more quickly. I think it's amazing how long this wall is and it would be great to see in person.
 

Living in one place you become accustomed to what you see and know but getting out and seeing the world can create so much more knowledge. I hope that I one day get the chance to see all these places and many more as well.