Travel – Page 9 – …on the B.L.

The National Arboretum

April 22, 2018September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

So it’s been a week and a half since I was in DC… I meant to do more writing while I was in Arkansas, so that I wouldn’t be so behind. BUT I was having too much fun living. Better late than never I guess.

My best friend, Kelsey, and I decided to visit some beautiful sites during my visit to Washington DC. You’ve already read… Or at least, I’ve already written about seeing the cherry blossoms along Tidal Basin. Next on the list of gorgeous places in DC that are incredibly Instagrammable: The National Columns at The National Arboretum. Bonkers, it was pretty.

We found out the National Columns and the Arboretum itself is a beautiful secret kept from the tourists and maybe even DC itself. While the cherry blossoms at Tidal Basin and the National Mall were packed with people, the arboretum was all but empty. A few cars and a few people with their dogs dotted the landscape. Trees were in bloom everywhere.

I was a little disappointed because the columns were under construction or something. Whatever it was, there was an orange plastic fence around them. When it came to taking pictures, we had to get a little creative with the camera angles. Voila, no ugly fence in the background… Although, I have some cute scrapes on my legs still to prove I’ll work for the pictures I take! I can’t wait to go back and see the columns when they’re up and running with the water and everything.

A little history lesson…. Because I, personally, enjoy knowing the whens, whos, whats, and hows of a place. I’m weird like that. In 1926, the National Arboretum came to be through an act of Congress after a campaign by botanist Frederick Vernon Coville. It is a part of the U.S.’s Department of Agriculture and their Agricultural Research Service. It is home to gardens, public art, walking trails, and more. Today, it functions as a hub for botany research as well as a beautiful place to walk around and take pictures for Instagram.

The Capitol Columns are one of the most recognizable features of the Arboretum, and the place I spent the most time. Partially because by the time I was done… I was so itchy from kneeling in the grass, it was time to go. Yay allergies! There are 22 columns in the Corinthian style placed in the Ellipse Meadow. The columns were originally meant to support the East Portico of the Capitol Building when they were built in 1822 before the dome, in existence now, was finished. The columns were unable to hold the mass of the dome and were removed in 1958. Ethel Garrett was an Arboretum benefactor in the 1980’s, and she wanted to find a permanent place for the columns. In 1984 with the consultation of Russell Page, the two decided where to place the columns and a reflecting pond to capitalize on the beauty of the area. Suffice to say, everything worked out and the Capitol Columns are happily situated in one of the most serene spots I have ever seen.

Basically, if you like the outdoors or are a blogger looking for something beautiful and not so DC-cliché, you should definitely visit the National Arboretum. It’s beautiful to walk around, and if you’re not fond of walking around, you can drive through the park. It’s amazing and worth the visit.

Experiences, Travel

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

April 18, 2018September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

In the middle of February, my best friend, Kelsey, texted me: You need to come visit the beginning of April! We need to take cherry blossom pictures. You HAVE TO COME! It so happens, I was putting plans into action that I would be on the East coast then… coincidentally.

Kelsey lives just outside of DC, so we woke up early – for us, put on our pretty faces, packed a bag of books, hopped in the car, and drove the twenty minutes to a parking garage close to the Mall. Basically, she is a great friend to have for the touristing!!! And her photography skills… And her friendship, I just like her. She’s stuck with me for always because I have too many ugly photos for her to ever ditch me! *insert evil witch laugh here*

The famous DC cherry blossoms are planted along Tidal Basin, which is adjacent to the Mall and features the Jefferson Memorial. Suffice to say, it’s down right gorgeous. I was there the last weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Holy Bajeezus, there were bunches of people. Absolutely a ton of people dressed in varying shades of pink, white, and other cherry blossom complementing pastels. (I would be a bold faced liar if I told you I accidentally picked out a white dress with light pink flowers to wear. Because I too wore cherry blossom complementing clothes.) Old, young, tourists, bloggers, families, solos everyone was out with their cameras to take pictures of the beautifully, short lived blooms.

The amount of blossoms is breathtaking. I was there at the end of the season, so petals fell from the trees with a light breeze in what can only be described as “made for the climax of a romantic comedy.” Definitely cliche. Definitely gorgeous. Definitely worth a trip.

The blossoms are white on the edges with pink centers giving the illusion they’re pale pink. Their season is short and highly dependent on the weather. It was surprising they were still there by the time I made it to DC because there had been a big freeze the weekend prior. This year, they lasted from March 17 – April 15. It’s an amazing site to see. Tidal Basin is surrounded by cherry blossoms. At one point in your walk, you’ll look one way to see the Jefferson Memorial across the water, and looking the other way, you’ll see the Washington Memorial over the tops of the cherry trees. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is nestled into the cherry trees and is quite stunning all by itself.

You could spend all day walking around looking at the cherry blossoms, and I think it would be worth it. If that’s not for you, the Mall with all the Memorials and museums is quite literally across the street. So if you’re bored… I don’t know what to tell you. There’s tons of options for pretty much anything anyone could possibly enjoy.

If you ever have the chance to see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC, I highly suggest you do. It’s not quite like anything else I’ve ever seen.

Of course, as the blogger I am, I had to do more than just walk around and enjoy the blossoms. I also had to create content. Honestly, it was not a burden. I would have made Kelsey take pictures of me with the flowers any ways! I just had to take a little extra time to make sure I enjoyed being there on top of working. So this is me not complaining.

I was there on April 13, and the trees were gorgeous. The blossoms quite literally fell off two days later… I guess my timing could not have been better. This year, Washington DC cherry blossoms. Next year, cherry blossoms in Japan! (Just kidding, unless someone wants to sponsor me! I would totally trade posts for a trip to Japan next spring. Please email me!)

Travel, Travel Guides

San Antonio Day Trip

April 4, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Attention!!! Books are no longer my only friends in Houston. I have human friends in my most recent home city. It’s a very exciting development for me.

Even better, I’m growing close with another blogger. A business blogger and digital nomad (goals) from New Zealand. Elise runs the blog House of Brazen! She has limited time in the US, and we’re exploring as much of it as we can before she’s off on her next adventure. Where? No one knows.

On Thursday, we hopped in the car early heading West on I-10 until we ran into the San Antonio River Walk…. There were a couple turns, but not many. Being the non-early birds that we are. Starbucks was our first stop. Quickly followed by the first Buc-ee’s we saw. If you’re not from Texas and happen to be in Southern Texas, find a Buc-ee’s, go to the bathroom, buy a kolache, and try some beef jerky. I guarantee you have never seen anything like it before. It’s the most Texas gas station you’ll ever encounter, and we are absolutely bonkers over them.

Three hours later, we hopped out of the car and headed right to the river walk. We walked along the river looking at the beautiful architecture, bridges, art, and people watching.

The river walk is such a beautiful place. It stretches on a long while in several directions. There are areas where the tourists congregate, and areas where you hardly pass anyone. Sidewalks, usually, run on both sides of the river. They aren’t very wide, so you often have to “think thin” as people pass. Restaurant patios spill into sidewalks. You won’t have to search far for food, and everything smells amazing.

The river walk is teaming with life. People. Flowers. Water. Wild life. I really can’t tell you how gorgeous it is. The architecture is beautiful and varies. The bridges across the river keep changing. My favorite, however, was a bridge covered in bright green ivy… I don’t know if it was ivy, but that is what I’m going with.

Elise and I headed to the Alamo because, well, it’s the Alamo. It’s not very big. It’s beautiful. It’s always crowded. You could probably walk around reading every plaque for hours if you wanted. There are guided tours and audio tours. We weren’t that concerned with more than strolling through, which is free! Save money where you can to spend it on things like day trips to cool places or saving to visit her in New Zealand. (Fingers crossed you’ll all follow my adventures there.)

After the Alamo, we went to lunch at Rita’s. Elise threw chips for the birdies to eat. I stared at a gorgeous dog who sat next to us. We ate Mexican food completely content with our lives. Finishing up, we walked around the river walk for a little while longer.

After a fun day in San Antonio, we hopped back in the car for the three hours home… But also another stop at Buc-ee’s because duh. More kolaches were consumed. Beef jerky was bought to be taken home – I highly suggest the Bohemian Garlic. I dropped Elise at her place before heading to mine. Beau was ecstatic to see me. I – the non-morning person I am – crawled straight into bed.

Experiences, Travel

San Antonio

October 9, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I was not supposed to go to San Antonio at all this year. Not that I was avoiding it, but my travels were taking me elsewhere. Time is limited, and all I had managed to do was drive through San Antonio on my way to other destinations. Instead, I ended up in San Antonio twice! Once in August and once in October. In August, I joined my best friend in San Antonio for a day and a half. In October, I joined my mother on a trip she had planned. Both last minute trips, but those are the best sometimes!

San Antonio has a lot to offer. I ended up staying around the River Walk mostly. Since I was just a tag along, I followed their plans. With my mom, I stayed at the Marriott overlooking the River Walk and downtown San Antonio. The patio was lovely and provided the perfect reading nook in between tourist activities. It really couldn’t have been a better view.

San Antonio is a historic city with events dating all the way back to 1536 when the river was discovered by the Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca. Although, the history does not end their. San Antonio is now well known for their River Walk and The Alamo. The city has a lot more to offer, but these are the most notable features. San Antonio was founded in 1716, when the Spanish War Council approved a fort on the San Antonio river. In 1820, Americans are allowed to settle in the Spanish territory of Texas, but it isn’t until 1825 that Americans settle in San Antonio. However, in 1830, Mexico declares American immigration to Texas illegal. In 1836, the Alamo falls after Americans lay siege on the city, at which point it becomes the Republic of Texas until American annexation in 1845. Due to devastating flooding in the early twentieth century, the city of San Antonio begins petitioning for the construction of dams, which leads to the River Walk as we know it.

The River Walk is located in the center of San Antonio with downtown incorporated into the scenery. One must walk down a flight of stairs or take an elevator to get to the river because the street runs above the river walk. The River Walk is miles long with restaurants, shops, and hotels on either side. The buildings have two main entrances one at river level and one at street level. Along the river, there are bridges connecting the two sides. At street level, there are bigger bridges running over everything. Walking along the river, fountains run into the water. People are all around bustling with the happiness which comes with tourism. The River Walk would not be a lovely place to settle in for a good, quiet read, but it is a wonderful place full of photo opportunities.

When you ascend the stairs up to the street level, another equally busy scene unfolds. The streets are filled with shops geared toward tourists and San Antonians alike. Downtown is lovely.

As a non-native Texan, I had an image of the Alamo, which did not hold up when compared to reality. In my mind’s eye, the Alamo was in the middle of the country taking up an enormous amount of land because “everything’s bigger in Texas.” The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio just across the street from the River Walk. It was as beautiful as I thought it would be, but it was far less imposing. Instead it had the quaint beauty of a small stone church, which is exactly what it was once upon a time.

I think most of us know the Alamo from the saying “Remember the Alamo,” but we don’t exactly know what that means. The Alamo is located along the San Antonio river. The land changed hands between the Spanish, Mexicans, Texans, and Americans. The Alamo started out as a church; however, it quickly transitioned into a military garrison because of it’s strategic position. “Remember the Alamo” was the battle cry during the fight for independence from Mexico, which came to the Republic of Texas in 1836. There you go!

The Alamo is gorgeous and historical. The gardens are beautiful. It was an incredibly hot day in the beginning of October when I visited. It was around 96 degrees Fahrenheit, but inside the stone walls making up the church it was incredibly cool. No wonder ye people of olden days built everything with stone: kept the heat at bay. The Alamo, though beautiful, is not an ideal place to read. Tons of great reading nooks, but the people are overwhelmingly everywhere.

Over all, San Antonio is a great place to visit, but if you’re looking to get some reading done, book a hotel with a patio overlooking the River Walk.

Experiences, Travel

Ames Public Library

September 14, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I grew up in Ames, Iowa. Growing up the library was a mainstay in my life, and it often comes up when discussing childhood memories. The house I spent my first eight years in was located about half a mile from the library, so my mother, brother, and I would regularly go for walks to return and check out books.

When I was in Ames last month, I revisited the library for the first time in almost a decade. The library I remember as a child does not exist anymore. It has the same location, a lot of the same exterior, and the same name, but it went under an extensive renovation and expansion a few years ago. Walking through the library, I recognized nothing. It had vastly changed for the better. I think the expansion and renovation is amazing. It was a little bittersweet for me, but I think money is best spent on books and knowledge and community outreach, which a library epitomizes. I wandered around with my parents enjoying the newness of the building until I wandered into the kid’s section of the library.

As a little girl, there was a display case made of wood. Every month or few weeks, the display behind glass would change to reflect the season, activities, or holidays. It was the first, the last, and my favorite thing I looked at whenever I went to the library. Even as a teenager, I would stop by the display to take a peak. I had forgotten about the display. Like childhood, it had disappeared into a fuzzy haze I like to call the past. When I walked into the children’s section at the library, the first thing I saw was the display. In a library I no longer recognized, the display had remained the same. So many memories came rushing back all at once. I am normally a very level headed and non-emotional person. I do not cry often. As I stood there looking at the display with my Mom and Dad, I started to tear up. We were taking pictures for this article, and unfortunately, there are no pictures where I was not teary eyed. It’s funny how childhood memories can do that to you: sneak up and pounce out of nowhere.

Libraries hold memories for a lot of people I am sure. The library holds so many memories from my childhood. I grew up in that library in a way. For me, the library was the epitome of the world. Knowledge was always the key to everything. If I could access the knowledge the library held, I would have access to the world. Or at least, that’s how it felt when I was little.

I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream in second grade. I was inspired. When I was done, the first place I went was the library. I had no idea how to navigate the library, so my mother taught me. This was in the era when the card catalogue still existed next to the computer while everything was digitized. My mother taught me how to look up books in the card catalogue and then through the computer. At first, it was difficult, and I kept having to ask my Mom for help. Eventually, I got the hang of things. It was the clouds parting and the sun shining through moment for me. I was able to find books about history, literature, language, and more.

The library was the beginning of the story of my life that would unfold.

In college, I worked all four years at the library. I enjoyed it immensely. It was a wonderful way to spend my academic career surrounded by the books I had worshiped my entire life. At Cornell, I studied Literature, French, and Russian, which is basically a triple degree in how to read well. In my life after college, I am now a freelance literary translator and editor and writer, a senior editor at a literary magazine, a rampant reader, and a book blogger – obviously, you are here reading this.

The Ames Public Library founded a passion that will stay with me forever just like the memories I cherish.

Experiences, Travel

Week in Hot Springs Village

September 10, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I’m getting around to this post so late!!! I’ve been busy with life. There’s no other excuse.

I ended up going to Hot Springs Village because of Hurricane Harvey hitting Houston hard. I like to call this time my hurrication. Luckily, my grandparents live six and half hours away in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. I planned on being there for three days. Unfortunately, I ended up staying nine days. Oh well! I had lots to keep me busy, and many books were read while I was away.

Hot Springs Village is a gated golfing community twenty minutes outside of Hot Springs. It’s a beautiful area. My grandparents moved there from New Orleans when I was fifteen. They’re always surprised I love visiting them. It’s a golfing community, and I hate golfing. The residents are mostly retired, so no distracting activities for a young person. The entire time I’m there, I entertain myself by walking in the mountains and reading. So mostly reading because I’m not a huge fan of exercise. It’s really a reader’s paradise. So much outdoor space and very few people make for a fabulous back drop for a reading marathon.

If you get bored of reading inside or around the village, you can always wander your way into Hot Springs, which is full of fun things to do.

Hot Springs is a tourist town with lots of national parks to adventure through. Hot Springs is a city with quite the history. It was first explored in 1673. The land was a part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Prudhomme became the first settler of what would become Hot Springs in 1807. In 1818, the United States gained the land from the Quapaw tribe; you can find many businesses and landmarks named after the Quapaws including a Bathhouse. Hot Springs was a renowned destination for bathers drawn to the healing thermal waters bubbling up from the underground springs. An area of downtown Hot Springs became known as Bathhouse Row for their beautiful spas. During the Civil War, there was a decline in bathers coming to the springs, and many citizens of the city fled as troops neared Little Rock. Post-Civil War era saw a surge in population as the city rebuilt and expanded. In the early 20th century, Hot Springs was attractive to the rich and famous, as well as, the rich and infamous. It became a hotbed for gangsters and illegal gambling.

Hot Springs is now a tourist destination attracting those who want a piece of Americana and to experience the lovely spas fed by the hot springs. The architecture in historic Hot Springs is absolutely gorgeous. Only a few bathhouses are still functional, but many still stand and house museums, shops, and even a brewery. I have experienced the spas at the Quapaw Bathhouse, and they are gorgeous! The floor in the basement is warm because of the heat radiating from the springs, which run underneath the ground.

I love shopping in the historic district. I can’t go to Hot Springs without frequenting the Bathhouse Soapery. Though they ship and have other stores, they are headquartered in Hot Springs. There shop is beautiful, light, and smells like heaven. Their products are the only ones I use! There’s a great candy store next door called Pour Some Sugar on Me Sweet Shoppe. It was definitely difficult for me to leave without handing them my wallet because of my addiction to sweets! There’s a great place called The Pancake House. It’s only open until 12:45 pm, so get there early. I highly recommend the sausage; it’s homemade. There are gorgeous fountains throughout the historic district fed by the springs; you can see steam rising off the water. The historic Arlington Hotel is a must see. It’s huge and you can’t miss it!

If you’ve had enough of the historic district, there is more than enough to do for the outdoorsy folks. Hot Springs is surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains. Everywhere you look you’ll find gorgeous views of the mountains and forests. Lake Ouachita is amazing for those who enjoy the water! It’s huge, and you could spend days exploring it. It’s great for those who want a break from technology. There is no reception in that area… At least, for me anyways. If you’re into kayaking, this is an amazing destination. There is also Hot Springs National Park, which is awe inspiring.

Arkansas may not be at the top of everyone’s must see list, but Hot Springs is a beautiful place to visit, relax, and read. It has good food, good views, and enough history and activities to keep everyone happy. If you’re every in the area, let me know! I’m happy to lend a suggestion or twelve.