Travels in the 2nd half

  The southeast corner of the Adirondack Mountains is home to many small towns with long histories, and often quirky museums. One such place is Ballston Spa, NY and its National Bottle Museum . Ballston Spa was settled in 1771, and is about 30 miles (50 Km) north of Albany, NY. It is located near several of the natural springs that permeate the area, making it an early destination for those seeking a health cure. Ballston Spa became the county seat of Saratoga County, and was home to the first factory that produced flat bottomed paper bags. The historic center of town is lined with homes, businesses, and churches, some of which date back over 100 years, now repurposed to restaurants and antique stores.  Ballston Spa was also the center of local glass bottle manufacturing, before it became industrialized, back when all bottles were blown by hand. The process came to the area because of the world-wide demand for the naturally carbonated mineral water from the local springs. Dur...

Jack #3 and Jack #4 by Mel Kendrick   Sure, almost everyone who comes to Orlando wants to go to the amusement parks. But what is there to do on a rainy day? What if you want some time away from the hustle, bustle, and crowds of Disney and Universal? Well Orlando has some other really good options. The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) was founded in 1924, as the Orlando Art Association, a collective of artists who met regularly for group critique and to organize exhibitions. In 1960 they opened a gallery of their own. Their museum began to collect art for a permanent collection, and expanded several times, culminating with a $13.6 million renovation of their space in 1997. The permanent collection at OMA includes American art from the 18th century through 1945, African art, and art from Ancient America. But its main focus is on modern and contemporary art. Triptych by Clarice Smith and Albert Paley Scratch by Alison Elizabeth Taylor Modern Head 1 by Roy Lichtenstein Sound Suit by Nick C...

  When you visit the Mount Dora area in Florida, there are other lake towns it is worth stopping in, Eustis and Tavares. Both have a history in the area that stretches back over 100 years, and some interesting sights to visit. Eustis Eustis sits on the shore of Lake Eustis, about six miles from Mount Dora. In the 1870’s, before the railroads arrived in the area, Eustis was a major stop for the steamers that traveled through the lake district of Florida. The best place to park is at Ferran Park, which is lakeside. Here you will find the historic bandshell, and a beautiful place to relax and enjoy watching the water, and the birds that live there. The Bandshell Ferran Park is next to Eustis’ historic business district. The old buildings are great to look at, and filled with new stores that keep area going.  Tavares Tavares is on the northwest corner of Lake Dora, about halfway between Eustis and Mount Dora. It is the county seat of Lake County, Florida. Tavares was originally se...