My favorite destination in Michigan is by far, Mackinaw Island.
I have been countless times and never ever tire of it. It’s
a bit of everything, beautiful, tranquil, touristy, scenic, I could
go on and on. So on September 8, 2013, my friend and I packed
the car and was off to Mackinaw Island for a two night stay.
With a quick breakfast stop at a Bob Evans restaurant, we
arrived in Mackinaw City, almost six hours later to a beautiful
crystal clear day. We parked our car in the secured lot of
Shepler’s Ferry, bought our tickets for parking the two nights
and the ferry ride to the island, and almost immediately
boarded the ferry for the 16 minute ride to the island.

The approach to the island always puts a smile on my face.
It’s so beautiful and unique, that I sometimes forget that this
wonderful island is so close to home.

In our traditional style, we jump immediately into the pleasures of
The islands Main Street, going in our favorite shops. No need to
worry about our luggage, you check it in when you board the
ferry and they deliver it to your hotel by bicycle.

I always stay at the Harbor View Hotel. A charming inn that was
once called Chateau LaFramboise, owned by Madame Magdelain
LaFramboise, a successful fur trader in 1822. She would retire
to the island and built the Chateau, that we now know as the
Harbor View Inn.

The Inn has three buildings, including the main Chateau. It is said,
it is one of the best places to stay on the island. The rooms are quite
large, decorated in a mixture of French, Victorian, and a Shabby Chic.
The rooms are spotless and the hospitality is superb.

The view from our room was great. We were able to overlook
the small Lighthouse and a portion of the Harbor.

The harbor of Mackinaw Island is lovely. A portion of it is open to
the public and a portion is private.

The Mackinaw Island Yacht Clubhouse. There are over 300
members, many of whom are residents of the island. Notice
the immaculate groomed landscaping.

One of our absolute must when coming to the island, is to have
lunch at the Iroquois Hotel in the Carriage House restaurant.
The lovely glassed in dining room is overlooking a beautiful
garden patio, that runs down to the edge of the water.
In our tradition, after lunch, we ordered a Grasshopper drink.
It is one of the best I have ever had. It is a mixture of dessert
and drink. I have never had one that matches this. Mmmm
I like! I am not really a drinker, but I do look forward to this treat
when coming to the island.

In walking the little streets of the island, I think, what is different
today than other times I have visited? It finally dawns on me that
today the colors are the most brilliant and vibrant I have ever seen
on the island. I have been so many times and always thought
it was beautiful, but today was exceptional. Was it my imagination,
was it the Grasshopper making me tipsy, or was it for real.
I say it was the real deal. The color of the flowers, the bluest
blue of sky, and the trees with their stark colored flowers, was
undeniable.

This is the lovely Metivier Inn on the island. It is a charming
welcoming place to stay. The rooms are decorated in a homey
feel of colorful prints and absolutely spotless. One of these
times I would like to stay here. The landscaping is always
beautiful.

See how vibrant the colors are in the grass, trees and flowers.

A pretty street with blossoming trees. The island has no motorized
vehicles, except for emergencies. The only way to get around is
by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage. This is what makes the
island so unique.

The Little Stone Church is a beautiful small church that is made
of local field stone dating back to 1904. It is a popular setting
for many weddings. The church seats 200 people and has
exceptional stained glass windows. I feel like I am in the English
Countryside whenever I visit this church.

The Grand Hotel is a spectacular setting with a 660 ft front
porch. The yellow gold awnings that compliments the stark white
exterior is beautiful. The hotel has more than 2,500 red geraniums,
making it the hotels trademark. There are 260 flower boxes adding
to the colorful facade.

The hotel opened in 1887 for a rate of $3 to $5.00 a night. In 1890
the grand porch was added, making it the longest porch in the
world. In 1897 the West Wing was added. In 1989 the East Wing
was added, and in 2001 the Millennium Wing opened on the east
side of the hotel. In 1919 the rates would go up to $6.00 a night.

In 1947, a movie was filmed on the island and at the Grand Hotel,
This Time is for Keeps, with Jimmy Durante and Esther Williams.
In 1980 the film, Somewhere in Time, with Christopher Reeves and
Jane Seymour was filmed here. Every October, it hosts a festival
celebrating this movie. It is also home for the Detroit Regional
Chamber of Commerce Conference, attracting politicians, labor
leaders and businessmen.
It is a historic hotel that has hosted 5 U.S. presidents, the Russian
Prime Minister and President, Mark Twain and Thomas Edison.
It is on Conde Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure Magazine’s Gold
List as “One of the Best Places to Stay”. Also, Gourmet Magazine
lists it as “The Top 25 places in the World”. In 1972 it was registered
on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1989 it became a
National Historic Landmark. This is truly a Michigan treasure.

This is the Island House, another great hotel with a good restaurant.
We rented bicycles and rode the 8 mile perimeter around the island.
It was early morning the next day and the streets were almost empty,
making this a peaceful and scenic ride. Passing many trails and paths,
along with gorgeous views of the water and eventually the Mackinaw
Island Bridge, makes this a must when visiting the island.

Let’s talk food. A favorite of ours is Woods Restaurant, owned
by the Grand Hotel. Located a short horse-drawn carriage ride into
the wooded interior of the island, makes this a very unique experience.
The opulent Tudor mansion with Bavarian charm provides a casual
dining experience.

A venison dish made to perfection. Their menu is a little limited,
but the food is excellent.

Is this Creme brûlée? Am I in Paris? No, but good anyways.

Another delightful restaurant on the island is Mary’s Bistro.
They specialize in wood grilled and spitfire entrees. It is at the
end of the Main Street and sits right on the water. We were
lucky enough to get a picture perfect table overlooking the
Harbor.

There are almost 500 residents that live on the island year round.
Their only mode of transportation are snowmobiles, allowed in the
winter months when the island is pretty much empty. There are
a handful of stores that stay open during this time for the residents.

The little post office that serves the island.

All of Mackinaw Island became a National Historic Landmark in
October, 1960.

There are so many more places I would love to tell you about
regarding this island. They are just too numerous. All I can
say is that, this is a very special place, that I am so proud to have
in my State. Kathy Lee Gifford, The Today Show, visited here
several years ago and said it is one of the most beautiful places
she has ever seen and would love to live here. Even showing a
short video of the island. How cool is that.

“I’m going back to dignity and grace. I’m going
back to Charleston” Rhett Butler, Gone with the Wind 1939

Charleston is one of the prettiest cities in the South,
if not, in all of the United States, at least that is
my opinion. The City has received many accolades
including “Americas most friendly city” by Travel
and Leisure magazine and also Conde Nast Traveler
magazine. Southern Living magazine says “the most
polite and hospitable city in America”.
The Gardens of Charleston are beautifully manicured with statues
and flowers adorning many.

The hidden courtyards are so special. A lot of the garden areas
are like this, peeking out of areas you would not expect.

So many beautiful flowers in bloom throughout the city

Just look at the beautiful flower boxes adorning the homes

Strolling down the streets, makes you think you have stepped back
in time, maybe I am on a movie set. It’s so unique that sometimes
you wonder, is this really real.

There are countless blooming trees that compliment the backdrop
of the homes

So many of these homes are behind beautiful wrought iron fences
like this

The lovely gates that are so plentiful in this city.

Now how would you like to have that in your driveway

One of my favorite places is the Historic Charleston Market. Steep
in history and charm, it is a popular destination for those of us
visiting the city. I remember many years ago buying a blue and
white afghan, decorated with the historic homes of Charleston.
It is one of my favorites.

Outside the Market and along the streets, you can always find
vendors selling their handmade sweet grass baskets. They are
lovely.

There are many Parks scattered throughout Charleston, many have
beautiful fountains such as this. Palmetto Fountain, Battery Park.

A statue stands tall of George Washington in Washington Square
Park, Charleston’s first public park. George Washington first visited
this city in 1791 and was honored in grand fashion with a parade
and other festive activities. Notice the replica of the Washington
Monument behind his statue

Charleston is one of those rare places where you can enjoy the
beaches (they have three of them) and still stroll through a historic
downtown area.

A walkway along the pier and across the street from Battery Park.

For four nights, I was able to call the Andrew Pinckney Inn home.
It’s a 41 room elegant but causal hotel. If you are looking for a
unique hotel with historic charm, this is the one. It’s a boutique
style inn with gracious hospitality and undeniable charm, located
in the Charleston Historical District. It’s a short walk to the scores
of retail shops and street vendors selling their handcrafted
jewelry, art and the lovely Sweet Grass Baskets. There are also
numerous restaurants surrounding the area with the best
seafood around.

The presentation and taste was superb.

Charleston is the oldest and second largest city in the Southeast
State of South Carolina. Known for its rich history, well
preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants and mannerly
people, it continues to attract hundreds of visitors daily.
It is like stepping back in time, perhaps reliving the many movies
that have been filmed here, The Notebook, The Patriot, The Jackal,
The Prince of Tides, or just remembering the history of the
Civil War days. Whatever the reason, you will always remember
and long to return.

One of my favorite cities in Michigan is Petoskey. It
is a part of lower northern Michigan, on the northwest
shore of Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. It is
about 267 miles from Detroit and a very popular
destination with a list of many things to see and do
around the area, such as golfing, camping, boating,
wineries, shopping, and great restaurants, just to
name a few. It also has Petoskey State Park nearby
and is close to Bar Harbor, Traverse City, Mackinaw
City and Charlevoix.

It has a lovely downtown area, Gaslight District, where
all the stores, restaurants, and artist boutiques are.
It’s a charming place to spend several hours just enjoying
the area with Lake Michigan in sight.

One of my favorite lunch spots in town is Jespersons.
It is a 110 years old, a place where Ernest Hemingway
would often eat, earning him his own stool at the counter.
It is a plain, but unique place, that satisfies your palette
with its homemade food. It specializes in chicken pot pies,
meatloaf and homemade fruit pies. I usually will grab a
sandwich and a piece of pie with a scoop of ice cream.
Their food is always good and it’s a must when you are
in the city.

One of the hotels I stay at in Petoskey is, The Apple Tree
Inn. It’s a large yellow painted hotel that is reasonably
priced and always meets my satisfaction. The rooms are
clean and spacious and has a pool and complete fitness
area.

Less than two miles from the downtown area is a village
called Bay View. It is filled with Victorian homes dating
back to the 1800’s. It is a very prestigious area known
for its history of who’s who that lives there. It became
very popular in 1873, when a Grand Rapids newspaper proclaimed
The Petoskey area “Land of a Million Dollar Sunset”. In
1874 it was a regular stop on the rail system for city folks
to escape the noise and smog of the big cities.

Ernest Hemingway spent his childhood summers in this area,
in nearby Walloon Lake, making this area the settings for
his Nick Adams stories.

A wonderful charming inn in this area is Stafford Bayview
Inn. Built in 1886, it is like stepping back in time as
you enter the lobby. It is decorated in a Victorian style
with charming furniture to enhance this feeling. It has
a wonderful enclosed sunroom that is made comfortable with
it’s wicker and Victorian mixture. It is an elegant and
charming inn with a wonderful view of the gardens and Lake
Michigan. The rooms are decorated with that same decor and
is void of TV or Phone, which enhances this tranquil stay.

The Roselawn Dining Room at the inn is divine. The food
is great and the lovely setting overlooking Lake Michigan
is perfection. You must treat yourself to this experience
at least once.

Another favorite of mine when I am in this area, is to
drive the famed scenic route M119, along the lake passing
beautiful homes and vast forest like areas. You will
eventually drive through a tunnel of trees, which is formed
exactly as its name. It is very unique. You will eventually
reach Cross Village, a tiny town with a very well-known
restaurant, Legs Inn. It is a mixture of polish meets
Indian, with heavy wood carvings scattered throughout the
rooms. It specializes in Polish food with waiters actually
here from Poland to work the summers. The food is great.
I will usually get the polish combination plate with a variety
of polish favorites.
The garden area in the back is breathtaking. It’s on a bluff
overlooking Lake Michigan. The Detroit Free Press rates
Legs Inn as one of the 14 best restaurants in Michigan.
It has been written up in the Chicago Tribune Travel
section “Legs Inn in Cross Village is a must”. It is
also known for a place of beautiful sunsets. It’s on a bluff
casual place that can get very crowded. If you time your
visit right, you can get right in, if not, you can sit with
a drink in hand in the garden area, looking out into Lake
Michigan and know that this is a special place.

I love the State of Michigan. Being born and raised
here, I have never wanted to live anywhere else. Yes,
I would love to see mountains everyday, maybe wake up
to the sights and sounds of the sea surrounding me, but
when I travel, I do love to eventually come back to Michigan,
where my heart is.
In saying this, I would love to share with you some of
my favorite places to visit in Michigan.

So on Saturday, May 31st, my friend and I decided to take
a short little road trip for the day to Chesaning, Mi.,
a small little town in Saginaw County, about an hour and a
half away, a mere 99 miles from the Detroit area.
It is a small village like atmosphere, with some boutique
stores, placed in a handful of Historical Homes on the
Main Street of town. Through the years, I have been there
several times, but my last visit was at least 8 years ago.
I had always wanted to return and today was the perfect
time.

I remembered a great Bed and Breakfast, The Bonniemill Inn
Hotel, a charming quaint like atmosphere, with adorable
rooms to sleep and a restaurant. I had always said, I would
stay here for a night, and would make a reservation today,
for another time.
Also, there is a great restaurant in one of the Historical
Homes, I can’t remember the name, but it was a big white
house, that was just charming inside, with great food. I
think we will lunch there today.

Chesaning is also on the Shiawassee River and every July,
for one week, they have the famous Showboat Music Festival.
It would host many singing entertainers including, Sandi
Patty, Lone Star, Bret Michaels, Alabama, and many more.
Each night the Shiawassee Queen River Boat would float down
the River, rounding the bend, with the entertainers on board,
singing and playing their music, making their grand entrance
with thousands of people on shore. They would then dock at
at the outdoor theatre for the evening performance.

Imagine my surprise as we entered town, first approaching
The Bonniemill Inn. Closed for Business. I was stunned,
was it true, was this adorable Hotel closed and because I
procrastinated, I would never get to stay here.

Ok, after that shock, we drove through town, when suddenly
I realized I was now on the approach out of town. Did I
miss something. I turned the car around and drove back
down the Main Street of town, only to realize the Historical
Homes that held the Boutiques were also closed for business.
They were still standing, but completely empty, no more
cute little stores with unique items to be sold. Yes, there
was still a gas station, a hardware store, a neighborhood
restaurant, a Burger King, a Library, all the necessities
a small town would have. Even the charming restaurant,in
the big white Historical Home, was no longer opened.

We then drove to the river and the Shiawassee River Queen
Boat stood dry docked with a closed sign on it. No
longer opened for business. We just sat there amazed,
that this little village, that had once entertained so
many thousands of people for so many years, was no longer.

Was it the economy, was it the lack of interest, or was it
just a sign of the times, that places like this sometimes
just go away.
Is it better to find a wonderful delightful place and just
cherish the memories or to return and be disappointed that
it is either gone or just not the same. I wonder.

“No man ever steps in the same River twice, for it’s not the
same River and he’s not the same man”. Heraclitus

P.S. Now in saying all this, this is only one place,on my
list of favorite Michigan places, that I would be disappointed.
There are countless others to be enjoyed.

If you knew me well, you would know, I am obsessed with
luggage. Always trying to find just the right one.
Sort of like us women trying to find the perfect pair of
jeans or the perfect purse. Sometimes you are
successful and sometimes not.

I can be anywhere, a Department Store or small Boutique,
watching HSN or QVC, the internet, airport, or even
a hospital gift shop, if they sell luggage, I’m right
there looking. Will this be it, will this finally be
the perfect piece of luggage?

Do I want 2 wheels or 4 wheels, spin or not spin, hard
or soft? How about the size, 20 inch or 25 inch?
Then there is the matter of the inside of the luggage.
Do I want drawers that slide out like a commode, (yes
I have one of those) or do I want two separate
compartments in the lid or one full size zippered
compartment, the entire size of the inner lid, that
way I could put several tops, a lightweight sweater
and even a nightgown or two?.

I guess this all started in 1993, when I went with a
friend to Europe for three weeks. We would be
traveling by train to different countries and I needed
a new piece of luggage. I bought a 28 inch rolling
suitcase that cost over $300.00, which was a lot in
those days. I didn’t know better than, so I didn’t
think much of the fact that it was pretty heavy
empty, let alone filled with clothes.

In those days, packing for three weeks for me, was
what I thought, pretty simple. I would pack
at least 12 complete outfits, maybe wearing them each
twice, with a few extra thrown in. Let’s not forget
about the shoes, but I won’t even go there. Needless
to say, by the time we arrived to our first hotel
in Amsterdam, I knew I would not be leaving this
Country with this luggage. There would be no way
I could lift it on or off a train for the three weeks,
not to mention up and down hotel stairs.

I went into a department store in Amsterdam and
bought a lightweight rolling duffel bag. I spent
the rest of the evening going through my clothes,
making choices, what would I take and what would I
leave behind. In the end, I left behind not only
the luggage, but several outfits and tons of
toiletries, trying to make it manageable. I am
sure the maid was shocked and thrilled when she
cleaned the room the next day. Jackpot. I would
continue to leave clothes behind in almost every
country, trying to continue to lighten the load.
By the time I would return home from the trip, I
would have left over half my clothes and shoes in
Europe. I could almost picture my cute little outfits
walking the canals of Amsterdam, crossing over the
little bridges of Venice, or maybe even walking
along the River Seine in Paris.

This was a lesson well learned and an experience I will
never forget. Now don’t get me wrong, I have on
occasion overpacked a time or two since, but being
older and wiser these days, I packed differently.
I’ve learned it’s not a fashion show, it’s a vacation.

That experience in the 90’s was probably the start of my
obsession with trying to find the perfect piece of
luggage. Throughout the years, my quest for this has
always continued and because of that, I have collected
many pieces of different types of luggage. Let’s just
say, I will probably never use them all.

These days, I’ve narrowed this all down to a 21 inch spinner,
lightweight with a full zippered compartment in the lid.
I realize now, maybe it’s not really finding the perfect
piece of luggage, maybe, just maybe, it’s my packing skills.

After breakfast, we went into downtown Perrysburg,
an attractive historic town set right on the Maumee
River. The Main Street of town is approximately
three blocks of shops and restaurants leading
directly to a small park, Hood Park, ending at
the Maumee River on Front Street. The park sits
right on the River, with a dock and benches to
sit and admire the view.

Walking through this park was made comfortable by the
paved walking path for joggers and walkers. We walked
around enjoying this beautiful morning, admiring the
flowers and Statue of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry,
who cleared the British from Lake Erie.

We then walked along Front Street, going in and out
of some very nice shops. The downtown area also has
many Historical Homes with beautiful architecture.

We later went to an outdoor mall area, Levi Commons,
on the edge of town. This was a great shopping
destination with plenty of stores, restaurants, and
even a hotel.

Perrysburg is a lovely town that I have been back to a few
times and have always enjoyed my time here.

This has been a short, but great trip. We saw everything
on our list for this trip and I came away with the thought,
Ok, I need to get back to Pittsburg again and wouldn’t Berlin
be spectacular at Christmas time.

We were up early and back on the road by 9:30 a.m. anxious to
get to Amish country. We eventually made our way to Hwy. 39
which would take us directly to Berlin, Ohio.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brightly and not
a cloud in the sky. We really had no specific plans today,
except to just make this a laid back day, stopping in a few
towns here and there.

Within 40 minutes we were in Berlin. It’s a small attractive
country town with shops, markets, antiques, quilt stores,
bakeries, cheese shops, and flea markets. We parked our car
and began walking the town going in and out of the many stores.

I have been to many Amish towns in the past, but this was
certainly the most unique. The population of Amish in Ohio
is the largest in the world. A lot of them were working in
the stores, doing their marketing, or just enjoying the day
chatting with their neighbors and friends. It was pretty
amazing to see the parking lots full of horse drawn carriages
amongst the cars.
We grabbed a quick-lunch and headed out-of-town, back on Hwy.
39.

Now being from Michigan, I have been to Ohio countless times,
but never to the Northeast area and was amazed at how beautiful
it was. The rolling hills, the meticulously kept farms, the
occasional horse-drawn carriage along the way, makes this seem
like you have stepped back in time. I was trying to drink in
the scenery, enjoying the relaxing pace, and beauty.
I cannot say enough about the loveliness of this area of Ohio
in Holmes County. Was this a well-kept secret that no one ever
told me?

We stopped at a working farm, Yoders Amish Home, it’s a 116
acre farm opened to the public in 1983. It has conducted tours
of two Amish homes and a working barn with animals.

Driving down this scenic highway, my thoughts went to this
amazing day in Amish country. Not only for the beauty of this
area, but where old fashion living, hard work, and honesty
are a way of life for these people. It’s more than a simple
destination, it’s a getaway you absolutely must experience.

We made our way to Perrysburg, Ohio to spend the night at a
Holiday Inn Express.

We were up early, had breakfast, and walked two blocks to
the Andy Warhol Museum. It is the largest museum in the
country, dedicated to a single artist. The museum holds an
extensive permanent collection of art and archives from this
Pittsburg born, pop art icon, Andy Warhol.

Born in 1928, in Pittsburg, he showed his artistic talent by
9 years old. He took free art lessons from The Carnegie Art
School and completed his college years at The Carnegie
Institute of Technology. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Pictorial Design. After college, he moved to
New York City and was working as an Illustrator. In the
late 1950’s he began Pop Paintings, and the rest is history.

Throughout the years, he was commissioned to paint many
Celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and
Elizabeth Taylor, just to name a few. Whether you like his
paintings or not, you can see his art almost everywhere.
It was an extensive 8 floors of exhibits with a media room
that was quite impressive.

After spending several hours in this museum, we were now
headed to the Carnegie Museum of Art, a couple of miles away.
This museum was also quite extensive with a collection of
more than 35,000 objects. We knew our time would be limited,
so we concentrated on the galleries we were most interested in.
We headed first to the Impressionist Paintings. As luck would
have it, they were setting up for a special exhibit and a lot
of the paintings were off the wall, some sitting on the floor
with the area roped off. We saw as much as we could, but
were disappointed we could not view the entire collection.
We then went to the Contemporary Art Gallery. I am not a big
fan of a lot of Contemporary Art, but will say, it was very
interesting.

After spending several hours in this museum, we grabbed a
quick-lunch and was back on the road leaving Pittsburg.

I really enjoyed this city in the short time I was here and
decided I would need to come back. It’s an easy drive from
the Detroit area and would be perfect for a weekend trip.

We drove to Dover, Ohio and stopped at a Comfort Inn for the
night. Another great day!!

Arriving in downtown Pittsburg was quite a pleasant surprise.
The city is actually very pretty with a large Waterfront.
I was surprised by how many bridges it has, 446 to be exact.
It is known as “The City of Bridges”. According to, Places
Rated Almanac, Forbes, and The Economist, it is titled America’s Most Livable City”.

We checked into a great downtown hotel, The Marriott Residence
Inn, next to PNC Park and a block from the Andy Warhol Museum.
The hotel was very nice, our suite was lovely, with a fully
equipped kitchen, overlooking PNC Park.

After an early dinner, we walked along the waterfront, very
impressed with the loveliness of this city. We than decided
to go to an area of Downtown, where we would ride a tram up
a 400 ft incline overlooking the city. The Duquesne Incline,
offers a panoramic view of the city and it’s three rivers.
USA Today Magazine, writes, it is the most beautiful view in
America. It is very impressive, and a great way to end our
second day on our road trip.

We were up early, had breakfast, and on the road by 9:00 a.m..
After a short time on the turnpike, we were now heading on
Hwy. 381 towards Mill Run, Pa., to tour the famous
Fallingwater House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, summer
retreat of Edgar Kaufmann, a successful businessman and
President of Kaufmann Department Store in Pittsburg.

After driving through some small towns along the highway,
we arrived at the entrance of the property. We purchased
our tickets for the tour and made our way through a forest
like area that led us to Fallingwater.

Looking closely at the house, it doesn’t appear to be on
solid ground, but instead stretches over a 30 ft waterfall
nestled in the lush wooded Bear Run Nature Reserve. It is
decorated, very uniquely, with a lot of contemporary
Japanese influence and architecture. The house was started in
1935 and finished in 1939, with an addition built on.
It is a very interesting house with numerous terraces, and
unexpected views of the trees and water, as you move through
the house. It’s uniqueness,certainly sets it apart from
anything we have ever seen.

This is the only Frank Lloyd Wright house that is opened
to the public. It was hailed by Time Magazine as “most
beautiful job” and on Smithsonian’s list of 28 Places to
See Before You Die. In 1966, it was designated a National
Historic Landmark. It is a fascinating house to tour.

After a good two hours of touring the house and vast grounds,
We were ready to get back on the road. We would drive 43
miles to Pittsburg for the night.