You are here: Home / Archives for Events

Traveling with a Teen

When your child gets to be a teenager you figure traveling with them is easy. And while it is significantly easier than traveling with a small child, it will likely have its own struggles.

One battle that you are likely to fight with your child is the battle over the radio. Chances are you may not agree on what radio station to listen to. If your normal stations are on completely different wavelengths maybe you want to try something completely different for the trip. Oldies or Country music are often interesting enough to entertain everyone in the car. If you can’t agree on a radio station maybe a book on tape would be appropriate. There are many great classics or fantasy type novels that can entertain everyone in the car from age 8 to 80.

Another problem you may have when traveling with a teen is where to stop and eat. They may be happy with fast food every meal, but your taste buds want something a bit more refined. There are many choices that may satisfy both parties. A restaurant like Applebee’s or Chili’s will have some more refined options for the adults, but they also offer hamburgers and cheese sticks for the kids.

There will likely be some arguments, but traveling with your teen is a great way to bond. Playing car games may seem lame, but I bet after a few hours they will be ready to try something to pass the time. The classic alphabet game or car bingo are always hits but there are tons of games available on the internet if you do a quick browse on a search engine. No matter what you choose to do during the ride, you will have a great trip and connect with your child if you both come into the trip with open minds. This trip may be one that makes memories that last a lifetime.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: , , ,

Harrisburg: A City of Museums

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is a city rich in history and tradition as depicted so well in its many museums.

Perhaps the quintessential museum in the city is the renowned National Civil War Museum, a beautifully designed tribute to the human side of the country’s struggle against itself. The museum, which features more than 4,400 artifacts and 21,000 archival pieces, prides itself on showing a balanced portrayal of Union and Confederate soldiers as well as the men and women during this time period.

Right from the start, you will be drawn into the history and people of this significant time in American history with the focus on slavery. You will be enlightened, whether walking through the museum yourself, taking a guided tour or watching one of the educational presentations with actors depicting that time period.

One of the lesser-known gems of Harrisburg’s museums is the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, dedicated to the history of firefighting and fire prevention. You will be impressed by the fire engines on display and captivated by the historical information focusing on the Harrisburg area without ignoring the work of firefighters throughout the nation, including those who served in New York City on Sept.  11,2001.

For those interested specifically in the history and culture of Pennsylvania stands the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The four-floor museum is full of artifacts, innovations, and military objects illustrating the history of the state. An added feature is a multi-media planetarium.

There are options for those more interested in the artistic culture of the city and state at the Susquehanna Art Museum, which displays four seasonal exhibits each year. A unique attraction is the Doll House Museum, open from June through the end of the year, presenting more than 5,000 dolls from as far back as 1840 in a life-sized Victorian Doll House.

No matter what your area of interest, there is a museum for you in historic Harrisburg.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With:

Discovering History in Hartford

Hartford once inspired the writing of Mark Twain, and the natural splendor of the city remains despite the changes caused by time. Hartford is a blend of the past and the future. The Phoenix Life Insurance Company, the boat-shaped headquarters and the world’s original two-sided building, is only a short walk away from the Ancient Burying Ground. Build in 1640, the Ancient Burying Ground is the oldest site in Hartford and the only one surviving from the 1600s.

Although the ghosts of the 1600 souls buried at the ground remain an important part of the history of Hartford, the city would not exist without its ties to the insurance industry. Founded a Dutch trading post 1633, Hartford was transformed to an English settlement in 1636 by Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone. Stone is believed to have named the city after his hometown of Hertford, England.

Hartford is a vital place to visit form travelers with an interest in early American history. The capitol of Connecticut was the local of some of the earliest efforts to resist English rule. As early as 1687, the English governor tried to force the residents to give up a charter that granted the colony its independence. Rather than present the King Charles II signed document to the governor the residents hid it in the trunk of an oak tree for three days. A stone marker now sits on the Charter Oak Place to mark the location where the tree stood until 1856.

The independence streak seemed to provide Hartford with acute business acumen. The city became one of the richest in the nation in the late 19th century . By 1871 Hartford had the highest per capita income of anywhere in the country. It drew in famous philanthropists and literary figures including Twain. This period in its history is part of the reason to include Hartford as a place to visit to understand the American experience.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: , , ,

Financial History Destination.

Hartford Riverfront Dragon Boat Races & Asian ...
Image by rbglasson via Flickr

Financial history might not be the most sexy topic to some people, but for people seeking to understand how the United States grew to become the dominate economic power in the world a stop in Hartford, Connecticut is necessary.

While Hartford might be met with a confusing look, the city was once one of the most important financial centers in the world. In the 1870s it was one of the richest cities in the United States and an important enough place to draw in celebrities.

The town maintains its sense of history. The same newspaper that citizens read on Hartford’s rise to power remains in circulation to this day. The Hartford Courant was first published in 1764, and it is the oldest continuous name and circulation of any newspaper in the United States.

Hartford might be a place of history significance based on this period alone, but its strength remains to this day due to the insurance industry. Hartford got a jump on the competition with the founding of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company in 1810.The company grew and expanded to become large enough to place a permanent stamp on American history. The Travelers Tower is one of the tallest buildings in New England. Another example of insurance industry paid for buildings is the green headquarters of the Phoenix Home Mutual Insurance Company that is housed at Constitutional Plaza. These buildings show the legacy of a multi-billion dollar industry that build much of the city.

It is difficult to imagine Hartford without the insurance industry, which transformed modern commerce and became a part of the lived of nearly every citizen in the industrialized world. Without Hartford would the insurance industry still exist? Probably. But would it exist in the same form? Almost, certainly not. Hartford provides a glimpse of how economies are built and grow.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: , , , ,