New experience

What to Know about the Summit Skyride at Stone Mountain Park

by Deb C February 1, 2022

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The Summit Skyride is a Must at Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Park is a 3200 acre complex near Atlanta Georgia. It’s so big that there are two entrances. The park has numerous attractions, including two golf courses, a train ride, a riverboat ride, a campground, restaurants, a hotel, and gift shops. There are also natural attractions including waterfront access to lakes and several nature trails. The central and commanding attraction is the massive bare stone mountain that rises out of the ground, like a huge fossilized whale. And on that rock is the largest bas-relief stone carving in the world. Here’s what to know about the Summit Skyride at Stone Mountain Park: Of all the many things to do, taking it is a must at Stone Mountain Park.

You can golf, camp, take a train ride, shop, hike, and eat out at thousands of other places. What you can’t do is get up close to the side of a bare mountain and the historic and controversial sculpture on it. There are also some rare plants and organisms that you may never see anywhere else.

Stone Mountain Itself

Stone Mountain is one of the most unusual naturally occurring attractions that I’ve seen. I’ve enjoyed viewing plenty of mountains, waterfalls, geysers, oceans, etc., but to see this huge bare and barren rock formation as you’re driving along the highway is something else.

Stone Mountain is mostly quartz monzonite and granite and more than 5 miles around. There was a quarry at one part of it. It’s granite blocks were shipped all over the country and the world. It’s a monadnock, meaning, it’s a lone rock formation, not part of a range, and rises out of a mostly level surrounding area. That’s one of the reasons that it is so eye-catching.

Depressions in the rock serve as vernal pools for unusual clam shrimp and fairy shrimp as well as rare plants. Over 120 wildflowers, some very rare, grow on and around the mountain. The Stone Mountain Yellow Daisy is unique to the area. It grows in shallow patches of dirt on stone outcroppings and blooms in late summer. The photo above shows some of the pools and vegetation on the summit.

The Stone Mountain Summit Skyride

Under the Stone Mountain Summit Skyride supports looking up at the mountain.

Views of the cable apparatus that supports the tram operation up and down the mountain.

The Stone Mountain Summit Skyride is a Swiss cable car tram that whisks visitors up and down the mountain. While riding along the side and walking the top of the mountain, the Stone Mountain Georgia Skyride provides a natural and historic adventure for all ages. It’s like a biology, geology, and history lesson rolled into one.

Offseason, except when closed for annual maintenance or extreme weather conditions, it usually operates even when most other attractions are closed. You can check the Stone Mountain Calendar for operating hours.

What else to know about the Summit Skyride at Stone Mountain Park:

– The top of the mountain is uneven and mostly bare rock so those with balance issues need to be cautious. There are fences to prevent visitors from slipping down the sides.

– There is a small complex on the Summit where visitors get in and out of the cable cars. The complex includes restrooms, a snack bar, and small gift shop. I needed batteries for my camera and I was able to buy them there.

– When we visited during off season, we paid to enter the park and then bought tickets to ride the Skyride. Other ticket options may be available, depending upon time of year and any special events. Check the Stone Mountain Park website for the latest information so you won’t be disappointed. I recommend calling too, as we did, to make sure that the Skyride was running.

– You get a view like no other of the mountain and the sculpture on the side of it.

– Rather than take the Skyride, you can hike to the Summit up a one mile trail. If you do that you won’t have the same experience and won’t get a view of the bas-relief sculpture.

– There is a parking lot conveniently adjacent to the part of the park where the Summit Skyride is located. That area, called Park Central, also has other attractions and eateries.

Basecamp BBQ House at Stone Mountain Georgia

More about Stone Mountain Park:

There is an admission fee to get in, but once inside, there are many things that are free, including nature trails, including a songbird habitat, and the Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center.

There is an 1867 Old Grist Mill that was dismantled, moved to the park, and rebuilt on a creek. It is a picturesque place to have a picnic.

An historic wooden bridge was also relocated to Stone Mountain park and connects the park to an island where visitors can explore and picnic.

Other attractions at the park are an Ante-bellum plantation and a custom-made carillon.

Prior to the Pandemic, Stone Mountain Park held many festivals and events. A Laser Show on the Memorial Lawn during the summer has been a staple for several decades. The mountain provides a great backdrop for the laser show and digital graphics of Southern and Georgia history, accompanied by music and fireworks. For current information visit the website.

The Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center

The Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center is where to learn about the geology, ecology and history of Stone Mountain and its surrounding area. It faces and has a great view of the rock carving on the side of Stone Mountain.

The building houses interactive science exhibits, classrooms, and a small theater showing historical documentaries about the Civil War, including The Battle for Georgia and “The Men Who Carved the Mountain,” which is about the creation of the confederate memorial carving. Admission is free of charge.

During the Christmas season, Stone Mountain Park creates a snow park. Workers install elevated platforms and adds man-made snow creating a temporary snow tubing area. The snow park is on the Memorial Lawn in front of the Confederate Hall, which you can make out beyond the red and white platforms.

The Carving on Stone Mountain

The sculpture on the side of Stone Mountain is the largest Confederate Monument in the world. It is a bas-relief of three leaders of the Confederacy on their horses: President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. As the carving is of Confederate heroes, it is the subject of controversy. Aside from who it depicts, it is one of the larger and more unusual sculptures you may ever see. According to Wikipedia, it’s the largest bas-relief artwork in the world.

The carving measures 90 feet tall, 190 feet wide and 11 feet deep. It’s surrounding oval is cut 42 feet deep into the mountain and 400 feet above the ground. It spans 3 acres and is larger than Mount Rushmore. A man can stand up inside one of the horse’s mouths. Yet, when you see a photo of it, or from below, yo may not realize that it covers a very small portion of the side of the bare mountain that it graces. This postcard shows the carving seen from the Memorial Lawn area. There’s actually quite a distance between the top or the carving to the summit.

More about the carving

It took decades before the current carving was completed in the 1970’s. Originally sculptor Gutzon Borglum was hired in the 1915 for the project. There was a falling out in the 1920’st and he left Georgia under a cloud. His work on it was a precursor to taking on Mount Rushmore. For both projects, he relied on an Italian-American sculptor, Luigi Del Bianco, for much of the actual carving. It’s only recently that Del Bianco is credited for his skilled workmanship. There are two books about Del Bianco and a plaque honoring him at Mount Rushmore. His grandson Lou Del Bianco, researched his grandfather’s life and worked for years to get him recognition. Lou gives talks about his grandfather and his life as a stone carver which includes lots of insights into what goes into carving on the side of a mountain.

The New York Adventure Club sometimes offers a webinar for $10 about Luigi, “The Untold Story about Mount Rushmore’s Chief Carver” given by grandson Lou.

The Summit Skyride is a Must at Stone Mountain Park

I repeat this, because, although we have relatives near Atlanta and been to Stone Mountain Park a couple of times before, and seen the fantastic Laser Show, we never considered taking the tram up the mountain. It’s an entirely different place from the Rockies in Colorado, or the Great Tetons, or the White Mountains.

Perhaps it is because the mountain carving is of Confederate leaders, we had never been aware of the Park, and Stone Mountain, until our relatives made their home there. It wasn’t on our radar screen, like the Coca-Cola Museum and plantations were. Now that we know about it, it isn’t shocking that over 4 million people visit the park every year.

While you are in Georgia, do check out Noah’s Ark, an animal sanctuary in Locust Grove, Georgia. Unlike a zoo, it’s residents are rescue animals and there’s no admission or commercialization. It’s a great place to be outside with children.

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February 1, 2022 0 comment

Grandma est. 2021 gift mug for first time grandparent

Budget-minded Family Fun Grandparents New experience

Becoming A Grandparent

by Deb C November 5, 2021

Becoming a grandparent is among the best joys of being 50-plus. Just the lead up before the baby arrives has lots of joyful moments.

The Announcement by the Parents-to-Be

In our case, while there were hints by our older son, we were still surprised when he and his wife showed an ultrasound of our first grandson. That was the beginning of our journey to becoming a grandparent for the first time.

Our younger son and his wife were very coy about their pregnancy, not announcing until midway into the sixth month. The announcement came about a month and a half after our first grandson was born. They may have been keeping quiet so his brother and wife could bask in the glow of their new little one without competition.

They coyly announced the pregnancy by giving me a “grandkids make life grand” picture frame with my daughter-in-law’s ultrasound in it for Mother’s Day.

Now, with instant messaging, and Facebook, the word spreads fast. Our older son staged a gender reveal video and shared the moment with family and friends via our phones.

Baby Stuff Buying Spree

When I knew I was becoming a grandparent, my buying habits changed. I started looking for baby gear, instead of things for the house or my husband, or my self. Wow! the selection, and the prices have gone up. The variety is amazing, too. I tried to go for items that would be used for a while, and have multiple features. A playpen isn’t just a playpen anymore, it can have music and lights, and levels and attachments like a changing table and bassinet with a handle.

The windup baby swing that our kids had has been replaced by expensive multi-hundred dollar gently moving electronic seats and swings with dangling toys to catch the baby’s attention. Generous friends and family bought those for our grandsons. I discovered that the babies grow out of them by about seven months. My thrifty soul cringes at that.

One place that you may not think of for baby items, new as well as used, is eBay. Everytime I look there I am surprised at the prices and variety.

My chief buying has been books and clothes. I look for the slightly larger sizes as I figured both grandsons would grow out of the newborn/6 months clothing pretty quickly. I found a lot of great buys on brand names like Oshkosh and Carter’s by browsing the clearance racks and online clearance listings. We’ve had a lot of packages delivered in the last year that were mostly children’s items. Some things are just so darn cute. I show my husband things like little overalls or an outfit with a tiny bowtie, and he sucks in his breath, and says “God, yeah!”

I’ve particularly done well with buying from stores like Kohl’s and Macy’s where they give you rewards, and in Kohl’s case, Kohl’s cash, that I’ve used to buy more items for the babies, or for ourselves. Kohl’s even rewards you $5 for in-store pickup and Wednesday they give a discount to Seniors, which helps if your coupons don’t cover the day you shop. We live under 10 minutes away from those stores so pickups and returns aren’t a chore.

I mailed a box of clothes to South Carolina for grandson number one, which cost about $30, but I saved so much that it more than covered the postage.

Oh, and one place you might not think of for baby clothing is Tractor Supply. They have the cutest John Deer baby sox and baby clothes. They also have farm related toys. I’ve bought some not only for my grandkids, but also for my friends’ grandchildren there.

While I’ve found baby and kids books at thrift stores, I’ve also found some great buys online at The Book Outlet, too.

Baby Showers and Becoming a Grandparent

Well, as far as the baby showers, my daughter-in-laws mothers organized them. I helped mostly with the RSVP’s. Sadly, people aren’t good about replying to invitations, so you have to reach out to get a reply from those who you think would be more courteous. Sigh.

Many of the decorations for both showers were found on Etsy. This was great, due to shopping and availability of supplies being limited due to COVID19 restrictions.

One shower was in the cooler weather during the height of the COVID epidemic. It was a drive-by, stop for a few minutes, outdoor event. My daughter-in-law’s mother worked very hard on it. She beautifully decorated tables for refreshments and gifts. Boxed lunches, individual appetizers, and desserts were appealingly set up. Hot coffee and hot cocoa were made on demand. She even provided masks for everyone.

The second shower was held in July under a tent at a function facility on the waterfront. As the mother-to-be loves the beach and water, it was a nautical theme featuring whales, anchors, and blue for the baby. The mother of the mother-to-be found a lot of ideas and items on Etsy, like invitations and signs, to buy and download and print.

Day-of I helped with deploying balloons and taking photos of all the decorations and gifts. The signs, decorations, games, and favor bags and tags were all found on Etsy. Whoopie Pies are a New England favorite food, and one that my daughter-in-law likes, so I covered the cost of providing those treats as a take home treat.

Baby Gear for Babysitting

When becoming a grandparent, I started to think about getting ready for grandchildren.

As we live close to one of the grandsons, I do look for some items that will be helpful when they visit or we babysit. I did happen to see an electronic baby swing by Graco on the NextDoor app offered for free. The owner told me his daughter was seven months and had outgrown it. The cloth seat is removable and the cute little teddy bears that dangle above the seat and I took them off and washed them on the gentle cycle in the washing machine. I also washed the frame. The seat also detaches and has a rocker like stand so you can carry the baby around the house in it. It worked out great when one time we decided to eat dinner out on the patio. We just detached the seat and our grandson sat in it on the patio and was very comfortable and content.

I also found someone on NextDoor who offered a Graco carseat with the base that also came with a stroller with a toddler seat. So you can use either the carseat or the toddler seat in the stroller frame. The owner said his wife is nurse and they checked everything before offering them on NextDoor. The carseat still has four years to go, as far as recommended use by the manufacturer. Everything was very gently used and without stains. I washed and sanitized all surfaces.

Having a car seat is one thing, making sure that it is still O.K. to use and correctly installing it is another. They have changed a lot since our kids were babies. And now cars are equipped with tethers to better secure them and their bases, rather than just using a seat belt.

I found a lot of information on this U.S. Department of Transportation website. You can go to your local police department and ask them for help in correctly installing a car seat.

Note: I found both of the above on NextDoor by happenstance. I wasn’t looking for them. They both came from very nice and well kept homes in nicer neighborhoods.

Other Sources for Baby Items

You might not think it, but Aldi Supermarket has baby and children’s items. I saw some cute raincoat and hats that I wish I had bought. At Aldi’s, you have to buy things when you see them, as they keep changing their hard good “finds.” I just bought a splash pad on clearance for only $4.50. It’s November and chilly here. I will put it away until next summer when the grandkids are old enough to play in it.

As for books, I keep my eyes open for them at the library book sale, local shops, and thrift shops. I look for classics, like “Make Way for Ducklings” and Dr. Seuss books. As I was becoming a grandparent, I’ve started a library for when the boys visit. Being a new grandparent is a lot of fun.

Naming the Baby

Baby name plaque for hospital newborn photo

Sample Plaque for Hospital Newborn Photo

They shared some possible names for our first grandson with us. They ordered a plaque with the name and didn’t say what they chose. When the baby arrived, they added the date, height, and weight to the plaque and took a photo to share. That’s how they made it official. The name is a family name and the middle name of our son. It turns out it ranks 96 on one of the lists of most popular names. Who knew?

Well, that’s part of becoming a grandparent. You learn a lot about trends for children.

A name for grandson number two wasn’t chosen until a couple of days before he was born. My daughter-in-law downloaded a thousand boy’s names onto a spreadsheet and asked my son to keep narrowing down the list. He came up with two possibilities that they were happy with and chose one after the baby was born.

So, in each case, we really didn’t know the name until the baby was born.

Sharing with Other Grandparents

So far, as the grandsons are so young, we are still randomly seeing them. As one lives in South Carolina, we see him more through FaceTime than in person. We visit when we can, as do his other grandparents who live in Massachusetts as we do.

Our other grandson lives close by but he is still very young so his age is in weeks, not months so we are still not in any kind of routine yet. His other grandparents live about 45 minutes away so it can be a toss up who may be visiting or babysitting.

Grandparent Names

Grammy, Gramma, Grammie, Grandma, Granny, Gran, Grams, Nana, Mimi, Gigi, Gaga, Nonna, Gran-Gran, Noni, Yaya, Mammy, Memaw, Nanny, Abuela

Grampa, Grampy, Pop, Pop-Pop, Papa, Grandy, Grandpa, Poppa, Grandpaw, Grampsy, Granddad, Papi, Paw-Paw, Pappy, Grandpop, Poppa…

Wow! I didn’t realize how many different variations there are for grandparents. And spellings.

I started making mugs with the various names on them and put them on Etsy. It was a lot of fun. I’ve starting making more for 2022.

Of course, there are also those that the grandkids come up with, if they can’t manage a name, and they stick.

I know of one grandmother known as “Reeba.” Her name is Rita, but her grandchild calls her “Reeba” and so “Reeba” it is. Then there’s a grandma “Marma” and a grandpa named Bernie is “Barn” because the first grandchild in the family dubbed them with those names.

Our “grandparent” names are still a bit up in the air. We are trying out simple “Grammy” and “Grampy” but as the grandsons begin talking, that may change. Just being grandparents is a joy.

Looking Ahead

We can’t wait to take them on outings, especially outdoor sites, and zoos and animal sanctuaries like Noah’s Ark. We also hope to take them to various fun events, like the Lubec Pirate Invasion, the quirky New Year’s Eve in Eastport, Maine, and museums, like the Norman Rockwell Museum.

We also will share with them our family history, including the New England roots of the Clevelands who populate the U.S. On my side of the family, we will share researching the Regan and Dahlquist family histories in and around Boston, Mass.

Are you a grandparent? How did you choose a name to be called by your grandchild(ren)?

What seems the most different about welcoming a new baby into the family today?

What would you like to share about becoming a grandparent?

Check out our Etsy shop for more mugs for grandparents: GrandmothersTrunkUS.

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Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

November 5, 2021 0 comment

Front of Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary brochure

Budget-minded Coping with Coronavirus Pandemic Family Fun New experience Travel in the United States

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary Brings Children and Animals Together

by Deb C August 3, 2021

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Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children, families, and animals together

Noah’s Ark, an animal sanctuary in Locust Grove, Georgia, brings children and animals together on 250 scenic acres. Located about 30 miles south of Atlanta, Noah’s Ark offers a peaceful outdoor experience for all ages. It’s like a cross between a zoo, a farm, and a nature preserve. Unlike a zoo, it’s residents are rescue animals and there’s no admission or commercialization. It was a new experience.

Our party of all adults had a great time leisurely strolling through the outdoor sanctuary, enjoying the educational signage and the exotic and domestic animals, reptiles, and birds. We also enjoyed watching the families with young children that joyfully wandered the grounds. It’s a great place for grandparents to bring their grandchildren.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together for free

If you are looking for a free or low-cost and low key healthy family outing, Noah’s Ark is for you. Tuesday through Saturday Noah’s Ark is open from noon to 3 p.m. for self-guided tours on the paved pathways that wind through the animal habitat area. Maps like the one below are available in The Welcome Center. The paved walkways make it easy to navigate strollers and walkers from one area to another. There is lots of signage identifying the rescued animals. The signs are all with large fonts so it’s easier for young and older eyes to read.

It’s also a great place for a family outing if you are trying to have fun together while keeping your distance and avoiding crowds while COVID19 is still a concern.

In addition to enjoying the animals, you can use the picnic area and playground, if open. There is plenty of free parking and there are many restroom facilities through out the areas open to the public. Vending machines offer bottled water, soda, and juice.

The self-guided tours are free, but the sanctuary hopes that you will make a donation towards the care and feeding of the animals.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: all kinds of animals

Noah’s Ark has about 1500 rescued residents from over 100 species. It is a destination for confiscated and rescued animals through local law enforcement as well as the U.S. Dept. of Natural Resources, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of the Interior, and Georgia Dept. of Agriculture, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Often, the animals are illegal pets, pets grown too big for their owners to care for, or from circuses, petting zoos, or research laboratories.

What kinds of animals might you see at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary? All kinds! Just when you think you’ve seen all there is to see, you can round a corner or move to another area and see even more birds or reptiles, too.

Across a stream in a fenced in area, there were even some alligators.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: even Lions, and Tigers, and Bears

Noah’s Ark is a refuge to many exotic animals, especially from circuses. This is the case for several lions and tigers. While they don’t have the free range they would have in their natural habitat, they live in natural surroundings within large fenced off areas. They are provided with plenty of water, toys, and places to bathe and shelter.

Noah’s Ark is known for a trio of unlikely friends, a bear, a lion, and a tiger, nicknamed “BLT” who lived together in the same enclosure. Baloo the Bear, Leo the Lion, and Shere Khan, the Tiger, all males, were rescued as cubs from a drug dealer’s house. When they were brought to Noah’s Ark, they showed their affection for each other, so they were housed together until Leo and Shere Khan died. Ordinarily, these three species would not have tolerated each other. It is a lesson for all about tolerance.

Here are signs with the story about BLT:

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: Peacocks and Tortoises and Farm animals

You can’t help but notice the peacocks wandering by the Welcoming Center. They look at you with curiosity, but they mind their own business. All the ones we saw had lost their feathers. Some feathers were for sale in the Welcome Center.

Not far away is a pen full of tortoises. They actually move faster than you might expect. You can get close to them, unlike the exotic animals and bears, which have two fences between you and them to secure them and keep you safe. The toddlers visiting Noah’s Ark seemed quite enthralled with the tortoises.

On a hill overlooking the Welcome Center are ponies and horses of all kinds and sizes placidly grazing.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: Farm and non-native animals petting area

While there are many animals that are not suitable for petting, like the “Big Cats” and bears, there is one large area where farm animals and some docile wild species may be patted. The animals we saw looked healthy, but the sign cautioned that the animals had some special needs. There’s an emu who is best friends with a cow. Goats, sheep, pigs, and ponies share the space with some llamas wandering amongst them. One goat stakes a claim to a flat rock and watches visitors and animals alike.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: monkeys and more

What’s a place with animals without monkeys? Noah’s Ark also has some rescue animals from research facilities.

The adorable Capuchins that are fun to watch. There are many more primates I didn’t get photos of.

The Silver Foxes seem to enjoy being on platforms.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: Special Tours

WOW Tour

Be WOWed! Noah’s Ark offers guests the opportunity to take a “Walk On The Wild Side” Tour! This is an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience for those 11 and up. This professionally-guided 1.5 hour, three mile tour allows guests go to between the fences so you are just one fence away from the animals, including exotic cats, bears, wolves, and primates. Tickets are $75 per person tax deductible donation and you need 48 hour advanced reservations. You can find out more and sign up here.

Big Cat Feeding Tour

Are you ready for the BIG cats!?! Noah’s Ark offers their guests the opportunity to witness first hand the feeding of the Big Cats! Reserve a “Big Cat Feeding” tour for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience. This professionally-guided tour is for 12 and up. They require reservations and there’s a $150 per participant which allows you to go in between the double fencing to view the animals up close. These tours are only in the summer and weather permitting. Find out more and sign up here.

Educational Tours/Field Trips

Noah’s Ark welcomes groups. They require a chaperone for every 10 children. A suggested donation is $5 per person. Or, you can donate an item to help the animals, such as dog food, cat food, timothy hay, or copy paper. No child is turned away. The hours for these tours are the same as others: Tuesday – Saturday 12 to 3 p.m. The playground does open at 9, provided it isn’t muddy, and the picnic area opens at 10 so that groups can make more of a day out. This is if COVID restrictions are lifted and weather permitting. Reservations are required. Find out more and sign up here.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary brings children and animals together: Know before you go

Noah’s Ark is an non-profit animal sanctuary and not a zoo. There’s no glitz, just simple enclosures.

Bring your own food and drink if you want to picnic. You won’t find food or drink vendors and there’s only a limited number of souvenirs in the Welcome Center. There are first come, first served picnic tables. Note that you can’t take food into the animal areas.

Comfortable walking shoes and bug spray are recommended. You should be reasonably fit to walk the one mile pathway.

Noah’s Ark is open to the public, weather and COVID restrictions, permitting. If in doubt, call 770-957-0888 before you go.

Noah’s Ark is not only a sanctuary, but also a rehabilitation center and as well as rescuing dogs and cats, especially from local shelters when their time is running out. Noah’s Ark Pet Adoption Center vets and evaluates all animals’ behaviors before offering them for adoption. Noah’s Ark relies on a small dedicated staff and a large pool of volunteers. Donations at any level are welcome, as well as in kind donations – see list on the website and their wish list on Amazon.com.

While you are in Georgia, I highly recommend that you check out Stone Mountain Park, with its mountainside sculpture, and the Summit Skyride.

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August 3, 2021 0 comment

Craft Beer Adventures Family Fun Quirky Finds Travel in the United States

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun

by Deb C July 1, 2021

Head to Way Downeast Maine for Fourth of July fun, fireworks, and patriotism.

If you like to celebrate the Fourth of July while skipping crowds, head to small town Downeast Maine, for fun, fireworks, and patriotism. The local Fourth of July committees put together a surprising number of events to enjoy. There are enough parades and fireworks that you can see several during a July 4th weekend. There’s even one town where you can see two fireworks displays on the waterfront at the same time.

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun for All

There’s something for everyone to enjoy during Downeast Maine Fourth of July celebrations. From crate and lobster boat races to frog jumping contests. There’s doll carriage and bike decorating contests and Miss Fourth of July contests. Plus lots of music by local musicians. There’s also plenty of local food and Farmer’s Markets. For a very small town of about 1300, Lubec, Maine offers an incredible amount of home town style events. You can find the schedule for 2022 here.

And, there’s also local breweries, for those who like craft beer. Lubec’s brewery has a beer garden, to boot. There’s a new brewery on Eastport’s waterfront, Hornrun Brewing, that we look forward to trying.

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun includes good food

Look for signs like this one along Rt. 1 and outside churches for a great and memorable meal.

Churches, like the West Methodist Church in Lubec, offer up a special lunch or bean supper. The West Methodist Church is known for having it’s annual fish chowder and pie sale on July 3rd. Except for 2020, during the Pandemic, they also have a Bazaar and offer sandwiches for a dollar. In 2020 they cleverly offered chowder and pie through a drive-thru set-up. The chowder came with crackers and you had a slice from a choice of a couple of pies. The chowder is always full of fish and very flavorful. Here are photos of the chowder and pie we brought back to our cabin to enjoy. The chowder came in a plastic tub hot and fresh from the pot and we couldn’t wait to enjoy it.

Usually at the West Methodist United they have tables set and you can sit down and enjoy the chowder in the lower church hall, as well as the camaraderie of the church volunteers and other chowder lovers. In 2021 and 2022 they are back to sit-down serving. And, they have a mouth-watering, really, selection of slices of homemade pies to chose from. You can’t just chose one and walk away. And it’s hard, so hard to choose. We usually buy four to go and cut them in half to share over the next two meals. Maybe.

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun includes parades, lots of them

Even the very small towns in Downeast Maine seem to muster enough participation for a parade. They may not be long, they may not have a band, but they have heart, humor, and patriotism. Many of the floats reflect the fishing culture and some local subjects to maybe slyly poke fun at. They may have them at different times, or on July 3rd, not the 4th, so that you can take in more than one in a day, or weekend.

Some towns have a “horribles” or in Lubec’s case, a shirttail parade in addition to a traditional parade. Eastport has a torchlight parade the night of July 3rd in addition to it’s big parade. Click here for Eastport’s 4th of July weekend schedule.

Different years, we try to see different parades. We’ve enjoyed the Jonesport parades, Cutler, Machias, Eastport and Lubec. We hope to see Pembroke’s parade some year. It has conflicted with some other events we like to attend.

Here’s photos from the 2020 Machias fourth of July parade:

Unfortunately I didn’t think to cross the road and take photos with the sun at my back. But this was also during COVID and we were keeping our distance.

The Downeast parades often have groups of go-carts and other mini-sized vehicles manned by groups that are part of the Anah Shriners of Bangor, Maine. Machias had several last year. The go-carts sometimes do tricks going up and over a ramp mounted on a car.

Here’s some pictures of Lubec parades:

The float above was a creature made from beach trash.

Eagle Float in Lubec, ME July 4

Depending upon the timing and transportation, you can see both the Lubec and Eastport parades. They are about 45 minutes apart by car, 20 -25 by boat. Then there’s by air. Both Lubec and Eastport have small airports. In 2020, Senator Susan Collins made use of air and water to participate in both parades as well as the one in Jackman Maine.

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun Fireworks

What’s the Fourth of July without fireworks and Maine has lots of them. The newspapers print lists of them. Eastport is known for having the biggest of all in Maine. Not only can you see them while in Eastport, but also from Campobello Island and Lubec. In addition, private parties also have their own displays along Eastport’s waterfront so there’s lots to enjoy. On Campobello, people congregate on the beaches to watch.

If you go down to Lubec’s waterfront, you can see in the distance the area where the fireworks are set off. While some may say it’s not as good as being in Eastport, or on Campobello, it’s still a good experience. Unfortunately, in 2021, U.S. citizens can’t go to Campobello until the Canadian and U.S. governments allow it, due to COVID.

On Johnson St., which winds along Lubec’s waterfront, you can see Eastport across the Bay. About midway on the horizon in the above photo is about where the fireworks are set off in Eastport.

Some years Lubec and Eastport have fireworks on the same night, weather permitting, and that is when you can see two town’s fireworks at the same time. It’s a great experience as the fireworks are reflected on the water.

The area is known for its fog, the Quoddy Mist, and it has caused fireworks to be postponed more than once. In 2020, as the clear sky was growing pink as the sun set, the mist silently started rolling in.

Someone must have made the decision to start the fireworks early due to the sudden appearance of the mist. The result was a very different effect, but very engaging. I tried to capture some photos of the fireworks in the mist.

Downeast Maine Fourth of July Fun worth the trip

This post touches on just some of the many delights and activities that you can enjoy while Downeast, especially the eastern most part, around the Fourth of July. One local source is The Quoddy Tides newspaper, which is published twice a month and provides news about the most eastern part of Washington County, and adjacent Canadian towns plus Campobello and Grand Manan. As you drive along Rt. 1 there are so many beautiful as well as funky things to see. I’ll write about some of them in another post.

Have you visited Downeast Maine during the Fourth of July? What do you like about the celebrations? Please comment.

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Keeping track of your craft beer adventures

The Maine Brewers Guild distributes a free Maine Beer Trail brochure. You can either download one from their website or pick up a hard copy at member breweries. Get rewarded for visiting breweries if you have a brewery staff member checkoff, sign and date the brochure when you visit. You can earn a hat, t-shirt, or a prize pack, if you visit 10 or more breweries.

If you want to keep more detailed records of where you went and what beer you enjoyed, you might like Keeping Up with Craft Beers: A Journal for Your Tasting Adventures. You can list up to 100 beers, as well as list breweries and brew pubs you liked as well as beer festivals.

July 1, 2021 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts New experience

Hooked on Aldi Supermarket

by Deb C May 26, 2021

How we got hooked on Aldi Supermarket

An Aldi supermarket opened up five minutes away from our house and, after a few trips, we became hooked.

We had vaguely heard of Aldi’s and for a long time there was only one in our state and it wasn’t close to us. We’d heard it was a place where you could save money, but we didn’t make the trip.

Out of curiosity, we stopped in at one in South Carolina about two years ago. We weren’t terribly impressed. We thought it had a limited selection. We thought it was a store for odd lots, especially as most of the goods are displayed in the corrugated boxes they are shipped in. It just seemed an off-price, close-out store and not all that attractive.

Our attitude changed. Below explains how we got hooked on Aldi Supermarket.

Getting Hooked on a neighborhood Aldi Supermarket

As Aldi started opening up more stores in our state, we stopped in one we happened to spy while out exploring some of the sights in our state. Our impression kicked up a couple of notches, and we bought a few things.

Fast forward a year, and Aldi’s is open in our general neighborhood. Not only that, it is right next to one of my husband’s favorite stores: Harbor Freight. And, talk about one-stop shopping, one store over is a Total Wine & More store, where we scout craft beer to try. It also happens that my husband’s “mistress,” The Home Depot, is along the way. Talk about a convenient store for husbands to go grocery shopping!

Trial run to “our” Aldi

Our first visit to our new neighborhood Aldi was at night. We tried to take a cart, but it was chained up to a row of them. We thought this odd, but shrugged and went inside without one. When we visited in daylight we noticed the sign explaining that you put a quarter into the handle of the cart to free the chain.

We wandered around the store, getting acclimatized. During COVID, we also followed the directional arrows through the aisles. Some of the produce prices are amazing. That day Dole Celery was only 99 cents. Avocadoes were 69 cents. The prices of the salad kits are generally under what we might pay elsewhere. Aldi’s is a place to save on groceries.

Learning the “ropes” of shopping at Aldi grocery stores

We admit that getting in the habit of shopping at Aldi took a little while.

First, we learned that Aldi charges 10 cents for their bags. They are a sturdy reusable plastic, so not a bad thing. We try to remember to bring our reusable bags when we shop. Second, or neck and neck with first, we need to bring a quarter for the shopping cart, or risk tired arm syndrome. Third, you have to bag your own groceries.

The cashiers quickly ring up your goods and place them into a second cart and then they take your empty cart. After paying, you push your cart to a nearby bagging platform and bag up your purchases. Or, you can just take your cart to your car and unload it. if you want your quarter back, you need to return your cart to the lineup and reattach the chain, which then releases your quarter.

We slowly got a feel for layout, and what we can expect. While we can’t always buy all that we need, it’s close.

We look forward to getting the weekly flyer in the mail. Not only for the specials in groceries, but also for their special hard goods. They offer some hard goods that are one week specials and in an aisle leading to the registers.

Learning about Aldi Supermarkets

Thanks to an online article about Aldi’s we learned that the supermarket sells it’s own brands as well as name brands and isn’t an off price or odd lot store. We also now know that it’s exclusive brand food products don’t have certified synthetic colors, added MSG, or partially hydrogenated oils. So, we are buying healthier food at Aldi’s.

Definitely hooked on Aldi Supermarket

About two months after we started shopping at Aldi’s, my husband came home, triumphant. He burst into my office with two tote bags full of groceries. He said, “I can’t believe it! Look at all I bought for only $20 at Aldi’s!”

Then I saw in the flyer that they were selling an exercise bike for $89.99. I use a so-called under desk bike, but wanted a full model. I found a positive review online, which also explained how to put it together. The review mentioned that the Crane Foldable Exercise Bike came with a two year warranty. The reviewer had bought the bike at Aldi and used the bike for over a year and was very happy with it.

What did I have to lose if the bike had a two year warranty? So far we are happy with everything else from Aldi.

Buying an exercise bike from Aldi

The day the bike was available I went over and bought one. It was in a smaller box than I expected. I got it into my car without a problem.

It is a slightly different one from the one in the review. Actually better. More of the bike is pre-assembled. The screen with all the data about speed, distance, calories, pulse rate, etc. seems better than described in the review. There’s a drink holder that’s already attached to the bike, too.

It took me perhaps a half an hour to assemble it just using the tools that come with it. While you can pull out a pin and fold it up to move or store it, I just tip it and roll it from room to room as needed.

The only drawback, is that I am short and it is a bit challenging to raise my leg up over the crosspiece. I use a step stool to mount the bike.

What I really like about the bike is the lip or ledge that can hold not only a tablet or cellphone, but also a book. As I prefer to read a physical book over a digital one, this is a plus. I love to read and I can pedal for miles without effort while reading. Love it!

Oh, and now the bike comes with a three year warranty, instead of two, as mentioned in the review. I put the receipt, booklet with assembly instructions, and warranty page into a folder. I filed them with other product manuals and warranties of our larger purchases.

Aldi also features lots of garden and summer items

Just as the hot weather started, Aldi featured a gazebo with netting for $169.00. After having a good experience with the exercise bike, we bought it. Assembly is pretty simple. One thing is that we used tiewraps to help keep the corner shelves attached to the corner supports.

Here’s the gazebo. We haven’t added the netting yet. It measures 10′ x 10′ and the top is water resistant, like a tent. It’s not as sturdy as some that we’ve seen, but it should be fine for the amount of time that we will use it.

Aldi’s hard goods aisles have featured gardening clogs, tools, and gloves as well as summer backyard fun items at very reasonable prices. They also sell potted plants and cut flowers. I bought some hosts plants and hanging flower baskets for under $7 each. They are thriving.

Here is another big thing to know about Aldi: things like the bike, and a gazebo, are available for a limited window. Also, if you want plants, go early on the day the flyer says they will be available. Shoppers pick them up quickly. So he or she who hesitates, may lose out.

Shopping at Aldi saves you money

If inflation has made a dent in your grocery shopping budget, try Aldi. Even though some items at Aldi have increased a bit in price, overall, it is very competitive with other supermarkets. Where can you buy a dozen eggs for under $2.00? Or a package of hotdogs for 99 cents and hotdog rolls for 89 cents? Large bags of snacks, like wavy rippled chips and tortilla chips are still under $2, as of April, 2022. Baby food is competitively priced, as is produce. Yes, variety is somewhat limited, but you also spend less because there are less temptations. Although, the baked goods, and many frozen entrees and side dishes may find their way into your cart. Whether you need to budget, or just like saving money, check out Aldi. You may find yourself hooked on Aldi like we are.

Do you like shopping at Aldi? What products do you like?

Leave comments below.

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May 26, 2021 0 comment