Dollywood, Conventions, and National Parks (Fall 2023)

Dollywood

It was a busy fall for travel. We started off in September with another trip to Dollywood but this time our daughter went with us. Can you tell we purchased a 1 year pass to Dollywood? I believe this was our 5th trip this year. Dollywood does a great job decorating with pumpkins for fall. We saw all the shows including the raptors, ate lots of food, rode a few rides, and enjoyed the day together.

West Virginia and New River Gorge National Park

As retirees, we were asked to represent Bob Jones University and the School of Education at two conventions this fall. Our first convention was in West Virginia. Tammie gave five or six workshops and helped out at the promotion booth. I was in charge of driving, setting up and tearing down the promotional booth, manning the promotional booth, and giving one workshop. It was fun to meet with a few of our former students who were now teaching in Christian schools in West Virginia.

West Virginia Convention

Before we got to the convention we stopped at New River Gorge National Park. The biggest attraction here is the bridge that crosses the New River Gorge. We booked a Bridge Tour, that allowed us to walk under the bridge on the 24 inch-wide catwalk. We walked the entire 3,030 foot length of the bridge while attached to a safety cable. We heard and felt the cars and trucks crossing the bridge just a few feet over our heads. It was a unique experience that we would recommend for everyone.

Pennsylvania and Flight 93 National Memorial

After completing the trip to West Virginia, we started heading north to a convention in Michigan. However, on the way we stopped in Pennsylvania to see the Flight 93 National Memorial. On September 11, 2001 40 every day Americans became heroes as they fought against terrorist in the skies over Pennsylvania on the way to Washington, DC. The terrorist crashed the plane in a field in Pennsylvania instead of hitting the US capitol. This is a solemn place that every American should visit. At this site you get to listen to the cockpit recorders, here about the heroes who died, see the monuments, and listen to the bell tower.

After leaving the Flight 93 Memorial we traveled to Fairchance, PA where my mom and dad were born and raised. We stopped by the house that my dad helped build when he was in elementary school and I remember visiting my grandmother. The last time I was at this house was in the late 1960s. It brought back some great memories.

Fairchance, PA (Grandma’s House)

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

On our way to Michigan we stopped near Cleveland, OH to visit another national park. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an urban national park located between the very industrialized cities of Akron and Cleveland. It is based around the Cuyahoga River which became famous in 1969 for catching on fire. Since then the river has been cleaned are revitalized. We hiked around the river then took a train trip from one end of the park to the other then back. It was a great way to see the scenery.

Michigan Convention and Dow Gardens

On the way to the Michigan Christian School Convention we stopped and stayed a few nights with my mom in Lincoln Park, MI. At the convention I did the set up and stood at the promotional booth and Tammie gave five or six workshops. While there we visited the Dow Gardens. Midland, MI is the home of the Dow Chemical family. They donated the gardens to the city of Midland. It is a very beautiful garden.

Indiana Dunes National Park

After the Michigan Convention was over, we drove 4 hours to Indiana Dunes National Park. This park is right on Lake Michigan and of course it has a lot of sand dunes. It is a strange national park because it is right in the middle of a highly industrialized area. Right next to the park is a steel plant. Also, it was a cold, rainy, and windy day. We drove to several areas of the park, did a few quick hikes, took some pictures, then got back into our dry and warm car. The dunes were amazing, the views of Lake Michigan, and even seeing the skyline of Chicago in the distance made this a fun place to visit. Perhaps we will come back some time in warmer weather.