Woodlands Nature Station 'Turtles & Kids'

LBL encourages visitors to celebrate nature with an up-close look at all sorts of creatures, especially those that are often under-appreciated. Cool & Crawly Critters Day will be at Woodlands Nature Station, Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The day’s events include games, crafts, entertainment, and lots of cool and crawly critters such as bugs, snakes, turtles, and more.  Throughout the day, scientists and naturalists who study these animals will be on hand to conduct programs and answer questions.

“The Nature Station will be buzzing with opportunities for children to learn first-hand about the benefits of critters that sometimes give us the creeps,” explained NS employee Carrie Szwed.  “Families will experience a full day of discovery!”

Featured programs for the day include:

10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.        For Goodness Snakes
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.       Animal Tales
3:30 p.m.                         Insect Olympics

Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and come ready for a day of fun while learning about these amazingly cool animals.  The day offers a variety of activities for all ages, but is especially geared for ages 5-12. Activities are ongoing throughout the day from 10am to 4pm.  Event admission fee is $4 ages 13 and up, $3 ages 5-12, and free 4 and under.  Cool and Crawly Critters Day is perfect for Home Educators.  All programs are included with event admission.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.

 Additional LBL information is also available on their website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

New "Green Cabin" at David Crockett State Park

LAWRENCEBURG, TN: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke and Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan joined several state and local officials in unveiling David Crockett State Park’s seven new, energy efficient Green Cabins. The dedication ceremony featured the introduction of special guests and project partners. Following the dedication, personal tours offered an up-close look at the unique environmental features found in the new cabins.

The Green Cabins at David Crockett State Park offer new technologies addressing energy efficiency, pollution prevention, children’s health and storm water management, in addition to easily transferable energy conservation practices.  Upon silver certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the new cabins will mark the first of their kind in a Tennessee State Park.

An environmental focal point of the Green Cabin project is its geothermal system, which provides heating and cooling for the seven new cabins and the park’s 1,974-square-foot restaurant – using “heat sink” techniques and cooling coils that run under Lindsay Lake. Among many other benefits, the geothermal system also produces free hot water in the summer.  The geothermal system is expected to reduce the cost of heating and cooling of these structures by approximately 40 to 60 percent, while minimizing energy-driven pollution.

Other notable environmental practices at the Green Cabins include the use of previous concrete to help manage automotive fluids and manage storm water; ENERGY STAR and LEED-certified insulation, lighting and windows; cork flooring; recycled plastic decking; low-flow plumbing fixtures; radon restraint construction; native plants and low-maintenance trees for landscaping; low volatile organic compound paints; concrete and recycled coal ash exterior siding; and rain gardens to also help manage storm water.

David Crockett’s Green Cabins bring the total of Tennessee State Parks’ environmentally friendly accommodations to 15 – joining Montgomery Bell State Park’s eight energy efficient villas, which premiered in October 2009.

“These contemporary, LEED cabins further demonstrate Tennessee State Parks’ commitment to ensure our visitors enjoy outstanding accommodations, while leaving a lighter footprint on our natural resources,” said Fyke.  “The Green Cabin project included the talents and expertise of a number of individuals and we are very appreciative of their hard work and dedication.”

The new Green Cabins will be available to rent beginning Monday, June 14, and reservations can be made by contacting the David Crockett State Park office at (931) 762-9408 or (877) 804-2681. Funding for the seven new Green Cabins was allocated through a $2.5 million capital project in fiscal year 2005-2006, including design, total construction costs, furnishings and fixtures.

David Crockett State Park is located at 1400 West Gaines, just off of Highway 64, one half-mile west of Lawrenceburg.  David Crockett was a pioneer, soldier, politician and industrialist born near Limestone, Tenn. in 1786. He moved to Lawrence County in 1817 and served as a justice of the peace, a colonel of the militia and as a state representative. Along the banks of Shoal Creek, he established a diversified industry consisting of a powdermill, gristmill and distillery – losing all three operations to a flood in 1821. Financial difficulties from these losses prompted Crockett to move to West Tennessee, where he was elected to Congress. Crockett died at the Alamo Mission in March 1836, while aiding the Texans in their fight for independence from Mexico.

For more information about David Crockett State Park’s new Green Cabins, please visit the Web site at www.tnstateparks.com/greenvillas.  Additional information about the park can be found at www.tnstateparks.com/DavidCrockettSP.

LBL Customer Service Manager Brian Beisel encourages visitors to come out and take advantage of the fee waiver weekend. “We want to take this opportunity to give back to our communities and celebrate the special places we all care about. By encouraging a shared sense of wonder, we can contribute to the stewardship of national forests and recreation areas such as LBL.”

Kids learn about turtles and other wildlife at Woodlands Nature Station

Also during the fee waiver weekend, visitors will be able to pick up a “Buy One, Get One Free” coupon at NS, HP or GPP. The coupon will be valid for a return visit for ages 13 and up. The return visit coupon expires August 31, 2010 and will be good for a future one-time admission to either NS or HP. The US Forestry Service is participating in the fee waiver weekend along with the National Park Service, The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The public is encouraged to be on the look out for another fee waiver weekend in August to celebrate the back-to-school season.

Land Between the Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, US Dept. of Agriculture in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. Info and maps are available at www.lbl.org or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000. Visitors are encouraged to review the website each season for updates and the Calendar of Events for special programs and special notices and changes.

The month of June is full of outdoor activities and events sure to appeal to the outdoor person in all of us. First on the list is an opportunity for budding nature lovers on June 4, when children can  join the Kids Critter Club: Session 1. For more information, call 270-924-2020.

Water sports fans will want to catch the Drag Boat Races at Pisagh Bay on June 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 800-732-0088 or visit www.kdba.net for more info.

Saturday is  Children’s Day at LBL; it is a full day of activities just for the young ones. “All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy” is a slate of activities at The Homeplace which highlight a farm child’s world of play and fun. Mother Goose will be on hand with stories and games from pioneer days to delight young minds and hearts. The program schedule has events scheduled for 9:30 a.m. til 4 p.m.

National Trails Day also has a Children’s Day focus with its “Be an Outdoors Kid” Hike. The hike will start at 2:15 p.m. beginning at The Woodlands Nature Station.

Evening time on National Trails Day offers another opportunity to appreciate nature’s wonders. End out the day with the Hematite Lake Evening Walk. This is an evening walk on the 2.2 mile loop around Hematite Lake. Among the many natural wonders to be seen is possibly nature’s greatest free fireworks show- the dazzling mystery of lightning bugs along the lake shores.

Or maybe you’re more the indoor type. Saturday the Golden Pond Planetarium will present two Laser Light Music Shows, 7 and 8:30 p.m. The 7 p.m show will feature Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. The 8:30 p.m. will feature Lasermania. The Saturday shows are by advance tickets only. Call 1-270-924-2154 to reserve yours. Doors open 30 minutes before each show. Don’t be late. There will be no late admissions. Visit www.lbl.org or www.friendsoflbl.org for show details.

Land Between the Lakes staff has planned several projects and events for its participation in the 18th annual National Trails Day on  June 5. Staff and volunteers from LBL and “Friends of LBL”  are planning a National Trails Day project  near Smith Bay on the North/South Trail.  The beginning stages of a 1.5-mile re-route is scheduled, including flagging the new trail and brush removal.  Staff and volunteers will meet at Gray Cemetery on Road 130 (2 miles west of The Trace) at 8:30 a.m. and working from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

“Trails are a great way to get active and get outdoors, this workday is an opportunity to give back to the places you enjoy,” explains Kyle Varel, LBL Assistant Trails Manager.

LBL offers hikers, bikers, and riders, both four-legged and four-wheeled, hundreds of miles of scenic trails along green forests, open lands, and tranquil shoreline.  In addition to trail work opportunities there will be guided hikes led by LBL staff.  At 2:15 p.m., Woodlands Nature Station will host “Be an Outdoors Kid” hike to teach basic outdoor skills. Atwo-mile evening walk is slated for  7-8:30 pm at Hematite Lake Trailhead.

“Volunteers are very important to public lands, and we welcome anyone who is interested.  This is a wonderful way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts and learn more about LBL and other volunteer opportunities that are available here,” said Emily Schmadeke, Volunteer Coordinator with Friends of LBL.

Participants volunteering to help out on the hiking or biking trails are encouraged to pre-register by calling 270-924-2007.  Bottled water and Permethrin insect repellant will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, sturdy boots, and work gloves with them.

For more information, contact Emily Schmadeke at 800-455-5897 or 270-924-2007, or by email at eschmadeke@friendsoflbl.org or Kyle Varel at 270-924-2031 or email at kvarel@fs.fed.us.

Additional LBL volunteer opportunities available

Additional volunteer opportunities at LBL include the Adopt-A-Trail Program.  For volunteers who have an interest in equestrian trail riding at LBL, there are several areas of LBL’s trails now available for adoption!  For more information, contact Emily Schmadeke at the number above.

Additional LBL information is also available by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

Before you plan a visit, check for updates on the ‘Travel Flash’ page on their website at www.lbl.org or “Call Before You Haul,” 270-924-2000, for current information and details.

Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area 2010 summer activities provide the opportunity to celebrate the simple pleasures of exploring, learning, and simply being outdoors in LBL’s beautiful, natural scenery.

The Homeplace season takes off with the Pickin’ Party Old Time Music Festival coming up on May 29-30.  Live music, open mic, great food, and a festival atmosphere will bring the hollow to life with live music. Children’s Play Day will be held  June 5, with stories., games and more.   The Homeplace will also offer the traditional Independence Day Celebration on July 4, complete with a visit from Kentucky statesman Henry Clay.

The Woodlands Nature Station will kick off summer with River Days, May 29-31.  This festival gives families the opportunity to learn about animals that make lakes and rivers their homes, participate in fun activities, and even take excursions out on the water.  The station will offer staff interpreter led canoe trips along the LBL shoreline throughout the summer.  Cool and Crawly Critters Day will be held July 10; this event will give kids the chance to get an up close look at bugs, snakes, turtles, and more.  The ever popular Hummingbird Weekend to be held August 6-8 will feature ruby throated hummingbird programs, workshops, and even dinner with these vibrant creatures.

Celebrate the 2^nd Annual National Get Outdoors Day on June 12, with activities all over LBL and an Expo at the Golden Pond Visitor Center.  Stop by the Planetarium anytime to cool off after spending a fun filled day in the sun.  Laser Light Music Shows, featuring a variety of musical hits, will begin May 28.  The Summer Nights planetarium and astronomy program will begin June 12.  Both of these events will run throughout the summer season.

Wrap up summer at LBL with activities and a visit from Smokey Bear during Summer Finale September 3-6, at the Nature Station.  The HP will host an 1850’s County Fair and Storytelling Festival September 4-5.  LBL offers a variety of programs throughout the season that are ideal for families and home educators.  For more information on these programs, visit the Calendar of Events at www.lbl.org. Load the RV or pack the tent, bring the bikes or fuel up the boat, and experience summer at LBL!

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. Additional LBL information is also available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

Young eaglets making their public debut at Fort Donelson National Park

This year’s brood of eagle hatchlings at Fort Donelson are making their public debut. The eaglets are now regularly perching at the top of the nest in full view of appreciative visitors and birdwatchers. The parenting pair have been seen feeding the youngsters in the morning but are not making repeated feeding runs during the day. The eaglets appear to be about eighteen inches or more in height and about fifteen to twenty pounds in weight.

According to Fort Donelson park rangers, the eaglets usually take flight around Memorial Day weekend and they think that pattern will be true this year as well. Eagle parenting means that while the adults are not sitting right at the nest, they are not far away from their young charges. The eagle observation point in Fort Donelson affords birdwatchers a great view of the nest and eagles activities.

Visitors are reminded that it is illegal to approach the actual nest. Binoculars and long-range photography at the observation point are approved. Visitors are also not permitted to feed the eagles or other wildlife in the park. More information on park regulations is available at the visitors center at the park entrance.

Adult eagle and eaglet looking forward

Over the past month, Business Clarksville Photographer Turner McCullough Jr. and Editor Christine Anne Piesyk have been tracking Fort Donelson’s nesting eagles.

The nest, a nearly ten foot wide mass of branches and twigs topping a tree with a view of the Cumberland River, is currently occupied by a mature pair of bald eagles and at least two hatchlings, that in the past month have grown large  enough to be seen from time to time peering above the rim of their nest.

A steady stream of birdwatchers, photographers and eagle enthusiasts (which included on Friday a group of energetic Montgomery County students on a field trip) venture to the viewing site, several hundred yards from the base of the “Eagle tree.” It’s as close as one can get.

There are no strangers at the viewing station, just people sharing the eagle spotting notes and angling for ever better views and photos. Even binoculars are passed around in an effort to share the view.

Eagle Nesting Site at Fort Donelson National Park

As for the eagles, they can from time to time be seen sweeping from the nest, soaring in

flight, or, one at a time, perching on several of the other high trees in the rural landscape. There’s always, though, one parent minding the nest.

On Friday, McCullough was able to snap a shot of one of the eaglets beside its mom.

Spotting eagles this closely is no less than a complete thrill; we stand in awe of the majesty of these winged creatures.

To view these eagles is a privilege carefully monitored by a highly protective Fort Donelson staff, who take great pride in housing these magnificent birds.

GOLDEN POND, KY: The West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers (WKAA) and Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area will host National Astronomy Day on Saturday, April 24, at the Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium. WKAA club members will be available throughout the day to answer questions, distribute information, and share telescopes for solar observing.

“The planetarium offers a variety of shows  to enjoy and it’s an exciting way for children to learn about astronomy,” said Al Ogar, planetarium interpreter.  “This experience is also a good way to teach children how the planets affect earth’s climate and environment.”

In addition to opportunities to observe the sun, the day includes free planetarium shows at 10 & 11a.m., and 12, 1, 2, & 3 p.m.  Planetarium doors open at 9 amm.  Featured shows include Blown Away: Wild World of Weather, Journey to the Edge of Space & Time, Far Out Space Places, Two Small Pieces of Glass (new this year), and The Skies Above. LBL’s Golden Pond Planetarium is a recently-upgraded, state-of-the-art, air conditioned facility with new theatre style seats allowing visitors to enjoy our shows in comfort.

At noon, WKAA members will present a lecture titled “Getting Started in Astronomy.”  In the past, this presentation has included tips on observing the night sky, buying your first scope, and safety viewing the sun.

Astronomy Day is held annually nationwide to promote and encourage astronomy as a science and hobby.  For more information or directions to the Golden Pond Visitor Center, visit WKAA’s website at www.wkaa.net, LBL’s website at www.lbl.org, or “Friends of LBL” (LBL Association) at www.friendsoflbl.org.  Returning this year to the Golden Pond Planetarium will be our Saturday Summer Nights June through August, and the popular Laser Light Shows Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.  LBL information and maps are available  at www.lbl.org or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  Visitors are encouraged  to review the website each season, and throughout the season, for the Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  Find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

GOLDEN POND, KY — All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riders are being offered the opportunity to learn the skills they need to ride safe while having fun. Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is offering ATV training at Turkey Bay OHV Area.

The first two courses take place April 24 at 8am and 12pm (weather permitting).  Participants must arrive one-half hour early (7:30 and 11:30am) to prepare for the course.  Each course should last approximately four hours.  Classes will be offered again in June, August, and October.  Those planning to attend do not have to be pre-scheduled.  Walk-ins, as well as guests of scheduled students, are encouraged to take part.  All participants are required to wear boots, long sleeve shirt and pants, and a helmet.  In the event of inclement weather, training may be cancelled; therefore, we recommend participants “Call Before You Haul.”

For up-to-date information, call 270-924-2000 or visit our website at www.lbl.org, then click on “Trip Planning” and “Trails Update.” If you have additional ATV Safety Course questions, please feel free to call Connie Hathorn at 270-753-1902.  You may also visit www.atvsafety.org for more information.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.  LBL information and maps are available on our website at www.lbl.org or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  We encourage visitors to review our website each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

Wondering what to do during Spring Break? Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area offers a variety of exciting events for all ages during Spring Break Week at Nature Station–A Celebration of Our Critters!

Spring break is a great time to visit Woodlands Nature Station (NS), located in the North end of LBL.  “Come on out and enjoy our wildlife programs and outdoor activities.  Our unique programs are designed for families looking for fun and exciting things to do with their children during spring break,” said Carrie Szwed, public programs coordinator for NS.  “These programs offer family outdoor excitement, while providing a learning experience.”

Easter Sunday, April 4, The Homeplace and Nature Station open at 1pm.
Programs offered during Spring Break Week at Nature Station include:

Purchase an LBL Fun Card this spring for discounted general admissions to our day-use facilities.  Fun Cards with 10 visits are $30 and can be used at The Homeplace, Golden Pond Planetarium, and Nature Station in any combination of visits.  During special events, when additional fees are charged for admission, the Fun Card can be used toward the total admission cost.  The cardholder simply pays the difference for either an adult or child admission for the special program.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.  LBL information and maps are available on our website at <www.lbl.org> or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  We encourage visitors to review our website each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

Prescribed Fire Program

Have you ever wanted to see a prescribed fire up close?  Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area will offer a chance to do just that on March 27. The program, Prescribed Fire on the Farm at 12 p.m., offers a unique opportunity for visitors to safely observe a Forest Service fire crew set a prescribed fire on The Homeplace grounds (weather permitting).

Visitors will learn what steps must be taken for a safe burn and why fire is such an important part of managing the ecosystem.  “Fire was an important part of life on a 19th century farm, but it is also an important land management tool today,” stated Jim McCoy, LBL’s Fire Management Officer.  “In fact, up until the time period of European settlement, fire was a very important tool in managing the land.”

Oak-Grassland Restoration Project

If you have ever wondered what LBL would have looked like if you had been the first explorer to the area?  The Forest Service is working to make that dream a reality through the development of two separate Oak-Grassland Restoration Demonstration Areas which will  replicate what the area may have looked like during European settlement.  Enjoy a Homeplace theater presentation at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., to learn more about LBL Oak-Grassland Restoration Demonstration Areas, find out what these projects mean for the land, and what recreational and educational opportunities they will offer.

For more information on these programs call 931-232-6457.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.Visitors can review our website at www.lbl.org throughout the season for a Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  Additional LBL information is available by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.  You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

GOLDEN POND, KY: Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area will re-open Rushing Bay, Duncan Bay, Duncan Lake, Smith Bay, Fulton/Honker Bay, Honker Lake Refuge, Long Creek Waterfowl Refuge, and portions of Energy Lake on March 16.  Hematite Lake will also be open March 16 for bank fishing only.

“These areas are closed November 1 through March 15, primarily as waterfowl and eagle refuges.  We appreciate public cooperation in protecting these areas for wildlife,” said Steve Bloemer, LBL Wildlife Biologist.  ”The majority of wintering eagles and waterfowl will have begun migrating back north by early to mid-March, permitting the refuges to be re-opened.”

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.  LBL information and maps are available at www.lbl.org or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000. Visitors can review the LBL website each season, and throughout the season, for the Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  For more information, visit www.friendsoflbl.org.

US 441 retaining wall

KNOXVILLE, TN: The Tennessee Department of Transportation re-opened one lane of US 441 (The Spur) southbound in Sevier County shortly before 3:30 p.m. this afternoon, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.  TDOT was forced to close the southbound lanes of the roadway after a rockslide threatened the stability of the mountainside on January 25.

“We understand this has been an inconvenience to many people traveling to and from Gatlinburg and are pleased to see the contractor reopening the roadway ahead of schedule,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

Since the rockslide occurred, motorists traveling southbound into Gatlinburg have been utilizing one of the northbound lanes.  With the southbound lane now reopened, TDOT expects to remove the detour and reopen both northbound lanes to northbound traffic by Tuesday, March 9, weather permitting.

“It has been our goal since day one to reopen both the north and southbound lanes to free flowing traffic as quickly as possible,” Region One Director Steve Borden said.  “We are pleased to reopen one lane of the roadway nearly two weeks early, but there is still much work to be completed on this project.”

TDOT awarded Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. a $713,909 emergency repair contract on February 8 with a provision that the southbound roadway must be safely reopened by March 12.  The project was broken into two phases.  Phase one included clearing and stabilizing the slope, constructing a retaining wall and reopening the southbound lanes to traffic.

US 441 Retaining Wal

TDOT incorporated a $5,000 per day incentive into the contract for the completion of phase one by no later than March 12.  The contractor also faced a disincentive of $5,000 per day for failure to reopen the roadway by March 12. Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. has now finished phase one of the clean-up and repair of the rockslide, which included constructing a 100 ft. wide and 20 ft. high retaining wall.

Phase two of the project will begin immediately which will include the installation of a stained rock facade, re-striping and repaving of the impacted area.  In order to reduce the impact to weekend travelers along the route, the contractor will be required to keep two lanes of traffic open in each direction beginning at 6 a.m. on Fridays through 12:01 a.m. on Mondays.

The entire emergency project is scheduled to be finished on or before April 30, 2010.

For more information on TDOT road construction projects, visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at <www.tdot.state.tn.us/tdotsmartway/>. People may also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access travel conditions anytime.

TDOT is now on Twitter.  For up to the minute traffic information in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, or for statewide travel,  follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Knoxville511.

GOLDEN POND, KY

The Golden Pond Planetarium and North & South Welcome Stations open their doors March 1, along with Hillman Ferry, Piney, and Energy Lake Campgrounds. Beginning March 3, The Homeplace and Woodlands Nature Station will be open Wednesday through Sunday during March, and then open seven days a week beginning April 1.

Snowbound pond at LBL's Elk and Bison Prairie- photo by Turner McCullough Jr.

The Elk & Bison Prairie remains open from dawn until dusk every day, year-round. The Golden Pond Visitor Center, Wranglers Campground, and Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area remain open year-round as well.

“At LBL the spring season brings new opportunity for environmental education. We are excited about the programs we have planned for 2010, such as the Spring Break Programs at Nature Station, as it is an excellent way for children to connect with the natural world,” stated Sharon Waltrip, Environmental Education Program Manager. “Our facilities provide opportunities for hands-on learning, and encourage visitors to explore and experience nature and history.”

The Golden Pond Planetarium, open daily beginning March 1, provides a full dome viewing experience with digital multimedia equipment. New to the planetarium this year is Two Small Pieces of Glass. Join us to experience how a simple adjustment to a child’s telescope 400 years ago allows us to gaze even further into the distant past and into our future. Returning to the planetarium in 2010 will be Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather, Far Out Space Places, and The Skies Above.

LBL’s spring calendar is full of a variety of fun programs for visitors of all ages and interests. The popular Discount Package, which offers a 25% discount on admission to multiple attractions, will be available again this year, as well as the LBL Fun Card, a discount opportunity that primarily benefits area residents and others who frequent LBL. The LBL Fun Card provides your choice of 10 admissions to The Homeplace, Nature Station, Planetarium, or a combination of all three. With no expiration date, the LBL Fun Card is good until all 10 visits have been used.

LBL honors the National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access and Senior Passes along with the Golden Age and Access Passports. In addition to the 50% discount offered for the basic campsites, the Passes and Passports will also be honored at The Homeplace, Nature Station, and Golden Pond Planetarium for 50% off general admission for the card holder.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. We encourage visitors to review our website at www.lbl.org each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures. Additional LBL information is also available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000. You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

The stunning beauty that surrounds U.S. Highway 441 near Cherokee, N.C. draws thousands of tourists each year who come to enjoy the cool mountain summers or marvel at the vivid fall foliage along the route. But come winter, the crowds fall away and a layer of peace and quiet descends over the peaks and valleys – making this season the perfect time to enjoy a serene experience on the state’s newest Scenic Byway.

The 17-mile Smoky Mountain Scenic Byway begins at the intersection of U.S. 441 and the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Reservation and snakes north through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park until it hits the Tennessee border. Also known as Newfound Gap Road, the byway possesses an abundance of scenic views, historical features and recreational opportunities to enjoy during the winter months.

The road begins next to the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, which features a bookstore and exhibits dedicated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An on-duty park ranger is available here to provide information about the Park and the people who once lived there. Don’t miss the Mountain Farm Museum next door, comprised of pioneer buildings moved from throughout the park and permanently preserved at this location.

Located about one half mile down the road is Mingus Mill, an 1886 turbine mill that for more than 50 years ground corn into meal and wheat for the Mingus community. The mill’s water wheel often freezes during the colder months, turning the structure into a beautiful and unique ice sculpture.

Past the mill, the byway starts its ascent through cove hardwood, pine-oak and northern hardwood forest, eventually climbing a total of about 3,000 feet. The lack of foliage on the trees only serves to enhance the spectacular mountain vistas along the drive, and clearer visibility during the winter months allows visitors to see a further distance than at any other time of year. Take in the view about 11.5 miles up the road at the Webb Overlook, named for Sen. Charles Webb of North Carolina, a staunch supporter of the park’s establishment. Or journey another two miles up the road to the Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, which boasts spectacular views of the Oconaluftee River Valley below.

The Smoky Mountain Scenic Byway culminates at Newfound Gap, an evergreen spruce-fir forest that straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It was here that President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the park in 1940. The location is now the site of the Rockefeller Memorial, built to memorialize the support and $5 million donated by the Rockefeller family to help establish the park.

Immediately south of Newfound Gap is Clingman’s Dome Road, closed to vehicles from Dec. 1 to March 31. Many people use the road during the winter months for walking and cross-country skiing. Hiking opportunities can also be found at several other points along the byway.

Fewer crowds and bare trees make winter the perfect season to admire the stunning backdrop of the Smoky Mountain Scenic Byway. Though Interstate 40 through the mountains is currently closed due to a rockslide, the byway is still easily accessible. To get there, take I-40 West to exit 27. From U.S. 74, travel approximately 30 miles to exit 74 towards Cherokee. Follow U.S. 441 past town.

Traveling from Knoxville or Chattanooga, Tenn., take Interstate 40 east to TN-66 (exit 407). Drive south to Sevierville and pick up US 441 South. Continue south on US 441 through Gatlinburg until reaching the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The scenic byway begins at the North Carolina border about 13 miles from Gatlinburg.

From Atlanta, Ga., take I-85 North to I-985 which becomes U.S. 23 North, and eventually becomes U.S. 23/441 North. Continue into North Carolina and follow the road until it intersects with U.S. 74. Take U.S. 74 West to exit 74 towards Cherokee and continue to follow U.S. 441 North. The scenic byway begins just north of the Oconaluftee Visitors Center.

Snow does fall in the Smokies during the winter and sometimes results in road closures. Visitors should check weather and road conditions prior to making the trip by calling the National Park Service hotline at (865) 436-1200.

For additional information on the North Carolina Scenic Byways Program, visit www.ncdot.org/~scenic.

New Program Works to Identify and Address Potential Rockfall Sites

The video of a Tennessee mountainside crashing down onto U.S. 64 in Polk County on November 10th was indeed spectacular and made national news. A rockslide that closed I-40 in North Carolina has also garnered its share of headlines and impacted thousands of motorists. With clean-up at both sites expected to take months, these events show the impact rockslides in mountainous areas can have on our transportation system, local economies and the commuters who rely on these routes.

Given Tennessee’s terrain and the vagaries of weather and other factors, the threat of such rockslides is ever present. Several years ago, TDOT began implementing a Rockfall Mitigation Program to address these transportation pitfalls. The program first identifies potential rockfall sites, and then assigns a hazard rating to each location. The hazard rating is based on the potential for a rockfall event and the impacts to travelers and surrounding communities.

I-40 along the Cumberland Plateau

By 2005, we developed a list of nearly 2,000 locations vulnerable to rockslides. From that initial list, 36 sites were identified as high priority. In 2008, TDOT launched the first three projects to address high priority areas. One early project was located along I-40 in Cocke County, just four miles west of the rockslide that closed the interstate in North Carolina in late October. A second dealt with an area on I-75 in Campbell County where a slide had already occurred, and another involved the busy I-440 corridor in Nashville, where loose, overhanging and unstable rock was removed from a slope near Hillsboro Road. Today, two additional projects are underway on another section of I-40 in Cocke County and a stretch of I-40 in Putnam County.

Topographical characteristics make some areas harder to address than others. TDOT has identified eleven sites along U.S. 64 in Polk County that have a high potential for rockfall events, including the site where the rockslide occurred on Nov. 10th, but addressing these sites is both costly and would negatively impact motorists and communities. U.S. 64 is a narrow corridor. In order to safely address all ten remaining high priority sites the road would have to be closed for as much as a year and the cost would be more than $40 million, not to mention the negative consequences to local economies. That’s why it’s important to continue development of an alternative route through this area.

Watching the video of the slide in Polk County it’s hard not to imagine the “what if’s.” While the risk of injury or death for motorists is low for any rockslide incident, as we’ve seen in recent weeks the economic and traffic impacts are very high.

We have no guarantees against these natural forces, but TDOT isn’t waiting for rockslides to make headlines. Our approach will remain aggressive. We will continue to closely monitor these areas, initiate preventative maintenance and projects, and dedicate the funds necessary to keep Tennesseans safe and in motion.

The “Four Freedoms” gallery at Norman Rockwell Museum. Photo courtesy of Berkshire Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.

In thinking of Americana and the art that captured a nation one life and one family at a time, Norman Rockwell is the name that comes to mind. In the first half of the 20th century, Rockwell’s images of small town life that captured the antics of children and and characterizations of everyday Americans graced the covers of dozens of the Saturday Evening Post magazine issues. In the 1950s and 60s, he turned his eye to issues of social justice and freedom, creating portraits of de-segregation and racism that mirrored the turbulent social and political climate.

The legacy of Norman Rockwell lives on  in a stunning new Museum tucked away in the Berkshire landscape of Western Massachusetts, a four-season destination resplendent in art and scenic beauty.

Having often visited the downtown Stockbridge Rockwell museum, on the quaint “Main Street” of his famous painting, I was curious as to how the “new” museum would capture the essence and charm of the older quarters. The designers juxtaposed traditional architectural forms with the spaciousness of a world class gallery, setting the whole on a hillside with spectacular four season views. On its opening day, I toured the galleries, moving from room to room and from one historical period to another.

Confronted by the otherwise stark  walls upon which The Four Freedoms are mounted, I joined other visitors standing in silent awe.

Inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1943 address to Congress, Rockwell created the Four Freedoms paintings, which appeared in four consecutive issues of The Saturday Evening Post in tandem with essays by contemporary writers. Rockwell’s quartet — Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear — captured the hearts of the American public even as America was entrenched in a world war on two fronts. The paintings captured the ideals America’s soldiers were fighting for.  The Four Freedoms toured the United States in an exhibition that was jointly sponsored by the Post and the U.S. Treasury Department and, through the sale of war bonds, raised more than $130 million for the war effort.

Located in the small town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, The Norman Rockwell Museum, holds the world’s largest and most significant collection of works by Norman Rockwell, including more than 570 paintings and drawings and an archive of more than 100,000 photographs, letters, and materials. The Museum’s campus includes the artist’s original Stockbridge studio, moved from the center of town, which stands today much as it did in Rockwell’s lifetime, complete with easel, brushes, books, and furnishings.

By popular demand…Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell Museum (exterior). Photo by Walt Engels. ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

The Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the few museums in the country to have grown, literally, out of popular demand. In 1967, an historic home on Main Street in Stockbridge was threatened with demolition. A group of local citizens, including Norman and Molly Rockwell, joined the effort to save the classic white-clapboard building by raising funds for its purchase. The Old Corner House became the Stockbridge Historical Society in 1969, and the historical collection from the town’s public library was exhibited there.

Norman Rockwell agreed to lend some of his paintings to add variety in drawing visitors to the site. Primarily through word of mouth, people learned about the original Rockwell paintings on display in Stockbridge and attendance began to swell. Soon, the Old Corner House was identified primarily as a center for the exhibition of Rockwell’s works.

Located on Stockbridge’s historic Main Street for its first 24 years, the Museum moved in 1993 to its present home, which was designed by the renowned architect Robert A. M. Stern and is situated on 36 picturesque acres overlooking the Housatonic River Valley. Since moving to its new location and greatly expanding its educational programming, exhibition schedule, and special events, the Museum has become the most popular year-round destination in the culturally rich Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Norman Rockwell’s original Stockbridge studio (interior). ©Brownie Harris. Courtesy of GE

“The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge must be one of the most popular museums in the world,” wrote art critic Paul Johnson in London’s The Spectator (August 1, 1998), “crammed from dawn till dusk with delighted visitors crowding round the originals of much-loved paintings. And one of the further pleasures of this enchanting place is that in the nearby little towns you can recognize among the locals the children and grandchildren of the originals whom Rockwell painted with dedicated veracity.”

The Museum is devoted to education and new scholarship that illuminates Rockwell’s unique contributions to art, society, and popular culture. “Visual communication is the language and currency of contemporary culture – Norman Rockwell was among the most powerful and beloved communicators of the 20th century,” says Museum Director Laurie Norton Moffatt. “His paintings continue to touch people in a way that transcends age and culture. The goal of the Norman Rockwell Museum is to take a broad view of Rockwell, showing his endurance as an important artist and an American icon.”

About Norman Rockwell…

Born in New York City in 1894, Norman Rockwell always wanted to be an artist. At age 14, Rockwell enrolled in art classes at The New York School of Art (formerly The Chase School of Art). Two years later, in 1910, he left high school to study art at The National Academy of  Design. He soon transferred to The Art Students League, where he
studied with Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman. Fogarty’s instruction in illustration prepared Rockwell for his first commercial commissions.

From Bridgman, Rockwell learned the technical skills on which he relied throughout his long career. Rockwell found success early. He painted his first commission of four Christmas cards before his sixteenth birthday. While still in his teens, he was hired as art director of Boys’ Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, and began a successful freelance career illustrating a variety of young people’s publications.

At age 21, Rockwell’s family moved to New Rochelle, New York, a community whose residents included such famous illustrators as J.C. and Frank Leyendecker and Howard Chandler Christy. There, Rockwell set up a studio with the cartoonist Clyde Forsythe and produced work for such magazines as Life, Literary Digest, and Country Gentleman. In 1916, the 22-year-old Rockwell painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, the magazine considered by Rockwell to be the “greatest show window in America.” Over the next 47 years, another 321 Rockwell covers would appear on the cover of the Post. Also in 1916, Rockwell married Irene O’Connor; they divorced in 1930.

The 1930s and 1940s are generally considered to be the most fruitful decades of Rockwell’s career. In 1930 he married Mary Barstow, a schoolteacher, and the couple had three sons, Jarvis, Thomas, and Peter. The family moved to Arlington, Vermont, in 1939, and Rockwell’s work began to reflect small-town American life.

Although the WWII era creation of the Four Freedoms series was a great success, 1943 also brought Rockwell an enormous loss. A fire destroyed his Arlington studio as well as numerous paintings and his collection of historical costumes and props.

In 1953, the Rockwell family moved from Arlington, Vermont, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Six years later, Mary Barstow Rockwell died unexpectedly. In collaboration with his son Thomas, Rockwell published his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960. The Saturday Evening Post carried excerpts from the best-selling book in eight consecutive issues, with Rockwell’s Triple Self-Portrait on the cover of the first.

Rockwell raises social conscience with images of reflective of national news. Norman Rockwell Museum (interior). Photo by Art Evans. ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

In 1953, the Rockwell family moved from Arlington, Vermont, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Six years later, Mary Barstow Rockwell died unexpectedly. In collaboration with his son Thomas, Rockwell published his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960. The Saturday Evening Post carried excerpts from the best-selling book in eight consecutive issues, with Rockwell’s Triple Self-Portrait on the cover of the first.

In 1961, Rockwell married Molly Punderson, a retired teacher. Two years later, he ended his 47-year association with The Saturday Evening Post and began to work for Look magazine. During his 10-year association with Look, Rockwell painted pictures illustrating some of his deepest concerns and interests, including civil rights, America’s war on poverty, and the exploration of space.In 1973, Rockwell established a trust to preserve his artistic legacy by placing his works in the custodianship of the Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society, later to become Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge. The trust now forms the core of the Museum’s permanent collections. In 1976, in failing health, Rockwell became concerned about the future of his studio. He arranged to have his studio and its contents added to the trust. In 1977, Rockwell received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal.

The Museum and the field of illustration

“Our Babe Ruth is and always will be Norman Rockwell,” said illustrator C.F. Payne, speaking to the importance of Norman Rockwell as the standard of excellence for American illustrators.

“Rockwell’s paintings reflected American society and influenced generations of illustrators,” says Norton Moffatt. “He chronicled life in the United States during most of the 20th century and showed us America’s fundamental ideals of democracy, freedom, and human dignity. And he is fun! As the Museum dedicated to Rockwell’s legacy, we want to
show how his work fits into the greater scheme of modern culture and illustration.”

As a Museum devoted to the field of illustration, Norman Rockwell Museum is a rarity at a time when the visual communications field is becoming more dominant. As part of its mission, Norman Rockwell Museum is committed to exhibiting the work of such modern illustrators as David Macaulay and James Gurney, as well as such masters as Frederic Remington, Winslow Homer, Howard Pyle, J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, and Rockwell Kent.

Four seasons at the Norman Rockwell Museum

The Norman Rockwell Museum is required visiting on vacation on any Stockbridge/Berkshire (Western Massachusetts) vacation, with each season bringing its own splendor (and artistic/photographic opportunities).

Springtime: Norman Rockwell’s original Stockbridge studio (exterior). Photo by Art Evans. ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Radiant Autumn: Norman Rockwell’s original Stockbridge studio (exterior). Photo by Art Evans. ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Winter wonderland: Norman Rockwell’s original Stockbridge studio (exterior). Photo by Art Evans. ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

While visiting this area, several other attractions might beckon as well:

Chesterwood (just down the road from the Rockwell museum, is the estate of sculptor Daniel Chester French, creator of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Visit his home, gardens (including  summer outdoor sculpture garden) and studio, where the stages of design and creation of the Lincoln piece can be examined.

Main Street in Stockbridge — yes, the street immortalized by Rockwell — replete with shops, boutiques, arts, jewelry, candles, and the resplendence of the regal Red Lion Inn (nothing beats spiced cider by the red Lion  fireplace, with an old fashioned Christmas tree, live music (piano or harp), ornate gingerbread houses (seasonal), and light early winter snowfall.

Outdoor installation: Devries' Innocence (Large) 65"h 56"w 16"d Edition 6 ©2009 Andrew DeVries

The Andrew Devries Studio in neighboring Lenox is an equisite display of this bronze artist’s favorite and new works. Many of DeVries pieces portray dancers, and his sense of the body and the body in motion is that of a master artist.

David Garrison as Red Barber in Berkshire Theatre Festival's Unicorn Production of "Red Remembers" by Andrew Guerdat. Directed by John Rando. Photo by Jaime Davidson

In the summer, theatre and music abound. Check the  for more information on Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Symphony), Jacob’s Pillow (world class summer dance festival), Miniature Theatre of Chester (superior performances of “small plays”), Berkshire Theatre Festival, a tradition of theatre excellence, and many more.

Within a few hours in any direction , all around the Berkshires, west to New York States Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, or north to Vermont’s Green Mountains) visitors can find great winter skiing and snow-machining as well.

The Empire State Building dominates the view from 34th Street even on a cloudy day. Photo by David W. Shelton.

When I told a friend of mine that I was going to visit New York City, he poked at me a bit: “Oh, there’s nothing there but socialists and liberals.” I smiled and said, “Then it’ll be a refreshing change.”

All kidding aside, there’s plenty to say about visiting our country’s most populated city. Its history is replete with everything that makes for great movies — including making movies. New York was Hollywood before Hollywood. The country’s comic book industry began there. Skyscrapers became the norm in NYC as early as the 1920s, and they hit their heyday in the early 1930s, when the Chrysler Building and the legendary Empire State Building went up.

Sure, I knew all this before we arrived in Manhattan. But no matter how much I thought I knew about the Big Apple, I could never have been fully prepared for the staggering reality that it would present.

Legendary Empire

The main lobby of the Empire State Building in March of 2008.

We only had a few days to see the City that Never Sleeps. My time was even more limited, since I had to attend a seminar while in town. I didn’t complain a whole lot, since the class was held inside the Empire State Building.

I admit, I was a bit nostalgic the entire time. One of my favorite books is Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-Prize winner, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. It’s a story of two Jewish boys, living in 1930s New York City. They create their own comic book that is eventually published by Empire Comics, with an office in — you guessed it — the Empire State Building. (If you’re even half the comic book nerd I was as a kid, you’ll not be able to put this book down.)

My best friend of 30 years called while I was in the elevator, the very same friend who suggested  — no, demanded — that I read Kavalier. He asked what I was doing. “Oh, I’m getting off an elevator in the Empire State Building.” His response was immediate.

“You suck!” he said. I knew he had been to New York before, but he never made it to the Empire. We talked a little about the book, and he reiterated just how much he hated me at that moment. I never felt better. (By the way, there’s a comic book store right across from the ESB on 33rd Street, called “Empire Comics.” I resisted the temptation to go into that store; my bank account can only take so much!)

The Elephant in the Room

My seminar was in itself an experience, as it was a class called “Train the Trainer.” Part of my profession is to conduct training classes in Photoshop and other Adobe products, so this is a step toward the needed certifications. The class itself was small, with seven other training professionals (including the instructor), all from New York. Once they knew I was from out of town – a Southerner, even – they went out of their way to welcome me. I enjoyed telling them about my home state as much as they enjoyed telling me about all their favorite eateries and hangouts.

The conversation migrated to the events of September 11, a topic I really didn’t want to broach. After all, those atrocities happened right there in New York City. I felt a ping in my spine the first time I saw the skyline from the George Washington bridge, a skyline without the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

A man named Obinna Nwoke, whose family hailed from Nigeria, told with teary eyes how he went to work mere days after the 11th. “The smell from the buildings, it was horrible,” he said. “It lasted for months.” He told of how he had to go through several checkpoints in order to get to his job at the time, which happened to be in Lower Manhattan. “I just wanted to go to work,” Nwoke said, “but we were scared every time we went into a building.”

I finally began to grasp what that line in Rent means: “I’m a New Yorker. Fear is my life.” I couldn’t imagine what these people went through during that horribly dark time. The people I got to know in that room all had their own story to tell. Ultimately, they were stories of overcoming. They overcame their fear, their anxieties, and found a renewed strength and passion to do their jobs — terrorism be damned. I felt a sense of pride as an American as I heard their stories.

There was a sense of even greater urgency as we discussed these events in another of the city’s tallest buildings, which had itself been hit by a plane once. When I left the Empire later that afternoon, I did so not as a visitor but as someone who had been welcomed as a fellow New Yorker, even if it was to be just for a few days.

Subway – Which Way?

Aside from big buildings, New York has one major challenge for all visitors from out of town: public transportation. The city boasts one of the world’s best public transportation systems, and arguably the most taxis per capita I’ve ever seen. Whether you want to take a bus or the subway, you’re sure to get around town very quickly – that is, once you figure out where the hell you want to go. Central Park? Downtown? Crosstown? Whew! Thank heaven the NYPD officers are so helpful (and patient) with visitors’ questions.

The subway has a mystique of its own, and it presented me with a new experience: the subway preacher. One afternoon, I took a train headed toward Columbus Circle. An African-American man entered the car with a huge duffel bag and began his inspiring message by asking for donations to help his church feed the homeless. After a few “God bless yous,” he began talking about how he was once a crackhead but now is filled with the Holy Spirit, changed by the power of God. He spoke with passion and power. Interestingly, the entire car largely ignored the man. They listened to their iPods, they read their copies of the New York Post. To me, the preacher was fascinating; to everyone else, he was just part of another day on the subway.

Times Square is possibly the world's most famous intersection. Even sunlight doesn't dim the lights of this magnificent scene.

Lights, Camera, M&Ms!

If any particular place in New York is overwhelming to this Southern boy, it’s Times Square. We’ve all seen films that feature this legendary intersection, as well as the annual New Year’s Eve events. But there’s seeing it on TV, and then there’s actually seeing it. The lights are as dazzling as they are breathtaking; they move, they dance. There are 40-foot video screens. The Coca-Cola sign, in its latest incarnation, is a computerized gizmo that has dozens of smaller screens making up the whole.

In short, the experience of Times Square for me was “Bambi, meet headlights.” I’ll freely admit it: I gawked the entire time. No matter how mentally prepared I was, the dazzle of the Times Square lights was enough to give me a sense of being incredibly small.

I don’t know what came over me: I was instantly on a beeline to some place special, irresistibly drawn to the M&M World store. Call it curiosity or just call me a “sucker,” but I couldn’t help myself. I just had to see that store. My sister had told me of it, so I knew it was going to be an unique experience. Boy, was it ever! The place features a myriad of M&M-themed items. Along two inner walls are vast, transparent columns, each filled with M&Ms of a different color. Combined, they form a confection spectrum that draws dozens of people at a time, each filling a bag with their favorite color M&Ms. I created a red, white, and-blue bag for myself, while my partner chose purple and teal candies.

Now, the big question is whether we want to eat them. I suspect that if I bring the M&Ms to the office, my fellow artists will devour them in just a few minutes

The Big Apple in the Big Apple

The view of the famous Apple Store cube on 5th Avenue in New York City highlights the glass staircase.

I admit it: I’m an Apple nerd. I’ve turned over a new leaf. This former Windoze-only guy has now been converted into a Mac evangelist! Want to play? Windoze is fine. But if you want to get real work done, get a Mac, and you can be cool like the rest of us. But I digress.

I’ll introduce you, dear reader, to why an Apple store is so important. When you have a Mac, you get misty-eyed every time you walk into an Apple store. It’s like a kind of temple that has every sacred element of your computing life. There’s a sense of belonging. You’re surrounded by Mac nerds in every corner. And that’s just any Apple store.

There are Apple stores, and then there’s THE Apple store —  the flagship store —located on 5th Avenue near Central Park. It’s heralded by a giant glass cube with a simple apple logo hovering in the middle of it. A friend of ours offered to meet us at this store on Wednesday before we went to dinner, and we quickly agreed.

The 5th Avenue Apple Store is wall-to-wall with Macs and people. This store is one of the highest-grossing retail stores per square foot in the world.

We deliberately arrived an hour early so we could drool over all the new Macs, especially that nifty little new (at the time) MacBook Air. It’s small, it’s sleek, it’s incredibly light — but no optical drive. Oh, well. I’ll stick with my two-week-old MacBook Pro.

There I was, a Mac nerd in a store full of fellow Mac nerds. It was Mac heaven. I actually felt a little depressed that I was already content in my Mac ownership and didn’t even need to get that mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter.

Everything is Rent

One simply cannot visit New York without taking in one of the many Broadway shows. I found out that Rent, the popular musical that opened in 1996 to rave reviews, was due to close late last year (our visit was in March of 2008). The show has become a cultural phenomenon, creating a whole new class of theater attendees called “RentHeads.” These people wait outside the theater in the hope of getting a chance to sit in the first two rows for only $20 a ticket. After all, what good is a story about Bohemia if bohemians can’t see it?

This adaptation of La Bohéme tells the tale of a group of friends who endure the impact of HIV and AIDS in the late 1980s. What makes the story so universal in its appeal is that, while there are indeed some gay subplots, they are merely part of the overall story.

Rent was written by the late Jonathan Larson, who died of an aortic aneurysm the night before the first performance of the musical downtown at the New York Theater Workshop. His death cast a huge, dark shadow over the entire production, but it also became part of the mythos of this great show and helped focus attention on it, as if Larson were giving it a boost from beyond. Rent moved to Broadway’s Nederlander Theater shortly after its run downtown, and it had been playing there ever since.

If you’ve seen the movie or heard the music, you know that there’s a scene in which Maureen encourages the audience to “moo” with her. Yes, we mooed. It was the icing on a very rich cake of entertainment.

An Unexpected Pleasure

Tucked away on 6th Avenue is this small diner, which welcomes patrons with a warm ambiance and hot coffee.

One of the most unanticipated delights of the trip was an impromptu visit to a diner located just across from an ornate French restaurant that looked too expensive for me to bother to read the menu. (Maybe that’s why I don’t remember the name of the restaurant.) This quaint little diner has a classic 1950s décor that offered relief from the cold and rain.

I ordered a cup of hot tea, with milk instead of lemon, and a Greek salad. I didn’t realize it came with anchovies, but I figured “What the hell?” and tasted one. My dad loves them, so why not? My taste buds apparently haven’t changed very much since the last time I tasted anchovies when I was a child. They’re revolting. Not wanting to be an unwelcome guest, I simply moved the rest of them off my plate. Yuck! No more anchovies for David.

The diner itself looked a little out of place in modern New York City, but that was part of its charm. Anchovies aside (literally), there’s nothing like a cup of hot tea on a cold evening, especially after miles of walking in this storied city.

Oh, the walking. How could I forget? I remembered how much I felt the “burn” after walking through the Sequoia National Forest last year, but that paled in comparison. We walked so much in the city that even my rear end hurt. I had forgotten there are muscles back there!

A Day at the Museum

In all, the trip was entirely too short. We visited the Museum of Natural History, only to be chased out after a couple of hours since it was near closing time. I chuckled at the sight of an ad for the Ben Stiller film Night at the Museum, which was set here. The planetarium featured a film titled Cosmic Collisions, narrated by Robert Redford, and a short film about the Big Bang, narrated by Maya Angelou.

On the other side of the museum were large dioramas and life-size replicas of animals that populate the globe. One room had a full-size model of a blue whale. Another exhibit featured a cutting from a giant Sequoia. It stretched from floor to ceiling — over 14 feet in diameter — a small one. “Been there,” I thought to myself.

We took the subway back to the parking garage and began our gridlocked trip out of town. I’m really glad we weren’t in a hurry, since it was plainly evident that we were going nowhere fast. I started to understand why there’s so much advertising plastered all over the walls in New York. What else are drivers going to look at while stuck in traffic while dodging taxis?

This high-tech sphere inside the world-famous Museum of Natural History contains a planetarium, theatre, and a Big Bang exhibit.

The Exclamation Point

We left town via the Holland Tunnel, located on the south side of town. It’s a mile-long tunnel under the mighty Hudson River. We emerged on the New Jersey side and began the journey to our next destination. When we crested a hill a couple of miles later, we saw her: Lady Liberty. Sure, she was a good mile or two away, but there she was in all her glory. The sun had begun to set by then, and the statue’s lights had been turned on, so she appeared to glow over the horizon.

My breath was completely taken away. Nothing in New York was as amazing as seeing the Statue of Liberty. I didn’t even think I’d be able to, but there she was. I can only imagine the gasps that  immigrants to the city in the early years of the 20th century must have released upon seeing her for the first time after a long sea voyage.

This trip was one experience in delight after another. To see Lady Liberty at its closure was as fitting an exclamation point as I could imagine. Leaving New York City was like leaving a new friend. I don’t think I’ll ever want to live there, but I sure want to go back.

Editor’s note: This article previously appeared on Clarksville Online.

Needless to say, I was in no way prepared for the world that I was to encounter. My first indicator that the scenery was about to take a dramatic turn was the sudden onset of hills as I drove along highway 198 toward the park. The instructions to get there were pretty simple: “Get on 198 and keep going.”

Once I reached the entry of the park, I opted for the $20 one-time visit fee, which would have allowed me to come back any point in a seven-day period. Oh, if I only had that much time! I was directed to the welcome center, which was about a mile down the road. I didn’t make it that far before I was distracted by one of nature’s spectacles.

I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw a sprawling vista of rocks and a valley to my right, so I spun the car around to check out the scene. To my sheer delight, I found a small path that led to the river below. I grabbed my camera and began the trek. It was a winding, beaten down path that was perfect for a late-morning short hike.

The riverbed was a bubbling creek of crystal-clear water that trickled by. The rocks were rounded from erosion, but rough enough to walk on without slipping. Since it hadn’t rained in quite some time in the area, the river wasn’t the hazard that it could have been. It was the perfect beginning to an incredible day.

After the hike back up the hill, I was painfully reminded of just how out of shape I really am. I then drove to the welcome center which was staffed with several guides and at least one ranger. They were more than happy to point out the best places to go for nature photography. Of course, their first suggestion was the General Sherman tree, which is the largest and oldest living thing on this planet.

I purchased a map for $3.50 and began the winding drive deeper into the park. Based on my experience at the riverbed, I knew that I’d have to be willing to stop at a moment’s notice to experience the incredible views that changed with every turn. One of these distractions was “Tunnel Rock,” which is a formation of a large rock under which motorist were at one time able to drive. The road has since been diverted around the rock since larger SUVs and campers would not be able to pass through.

After a solid forty-five minutes of driving, I entered the “Giant Forest” area, where the giant sequoias reside. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, could have prepared me for the sheer magnitude of these incredible trees. They are noted for not only their size, but also their burnt-sienna colored bark.

I stopped to take a shot of one of these majestic trees when a couple from Ohio pulled in right behind me. “Gordon” and his wife were just as awe-struck as I was, and he was more than willing to stand in front of a pair of sequoias so I could get a shot that would show the scale of these grand conifer trees. The trunks were wider than a passing camper.

And these were the “small” ones.

I continued on toward the parking area for the General Sherman tree. Once I arrived, I was met with another half-mile hike which was, again, downhill. The parking area is at an elevation of 7,000 feet, so the air is very thin; once again a reminder that I’m out of shape! It was a fifteen-minute walk to the General, and my first glimpse was as I entered a clearing about half-way down the path.

The path was paved and had steps so it was very easy to navigate on foot. For those who are handicapped or disabled, there’s another parking area that’s much closer to the tree and is accessible by wheelchair. This is an added benefit, because anyone should be able to see the General.

When I reached the giant sequoia’s base, I ran into “Gordon” again. We were once again awe-struck by the General’s 102-foot circumference and its 40-foot diameter. This tree is wider than my house! At 275 feet, it’s certainly not the tallest of the great trees, but it is unquestionably the largest.

Giant sequoias do not taper the way redwoods do, and maintain most of their mass nearly all the way to the top. The General Sherman tree is said to be heavier than ten blue whales. It’s so large, that if it were a container of water, it would supply an average family’s water need for three and a half years. If it were laid down flat, it would be as long as a full football field.

No, didn’t ask how much firewood it would make.

There were plenty of other giant sequoias in the area, most of which paled by comparison to the General. Just a short walk away, there was a section of a sequoia that had been cut down. It was from a much smaller tree, but it still dwarfed the man who was trying to reach the center spot with his cane.

No matter how much I can describe the magnitude of these trees, it could never compare to the staggering reality of just how large they are. Once I had my fill of taking in the view of the General, I began the half-mile, 24-story hike back up to the car. Did I mention how out of shape I am? The air was so thin that I was panting just a few dozen yards up the hill. I had to stop a few times to catch my breath.

I thought for a moment of taking some of the other many trails in the vicinity, but realized that I was just not physically prepared to endure them. Next purchase: a treadmill. The Congress Trail is a 2 mile path from the Sherman tree which takes visitors past the House and Senate groups of sequoias, as well as past the President, Chief Sequoyah, General Lee and McKinley trees. Alas, I was out of breath, and limited on time.

A word to the wise: if you don’t exercise regularly, you WILL feel it here. I sure did. Once I reached the top, I was exhausted. I downed several gulps of water at the facility near the parking area, and drove to the visitor’s center a couple of miles further down the road.

The Lodgepole visitor’s center has a deli, a snack bar, a gift shop, a small museum and bookstore, and bathrooms with showers for campers. After a hamburger and a few glasses of lemonade, I began the trip back down the mountain.

All along the paths and visitor centers, there are signs galore to be “bear aware.” Bears thrive in the park, and are common especially in meadows. Visitors are urged to keep their food out of sight, even if they leave food in their cars. Boxes should always be kept hidden, and trash receptacles are designed to keep bears out.

Cougars are also common in the mountains, and visitors are warned to never approach or antagonize the big cats. Heck, I know never to antagonize my housecats, so I can’t imagine what an irritated cougar would be like. Through it all, humans and wildlife have coexisted remarkably well in the park.

I took the time to stop by the Sequoia National Park Museum on my way back down since I drove past it on the way to see the General Sherman. In front of the museum is an “average” sized sequoia, the Sentinel. It’s clearly the poster-child for sequoia beauty, and even though its trunk is “just” 29 feet wide at its base, it’s still a big honkin’ bit of wood.

As I discovered early on, big trees aren’t all that Sequoia National Park has to offer. Right across the street from the museum lies Beetle Rock, which offers a view of the sprawling landscape that reveals the lower part of the Sierras in all their glory. I noticed a few small, bright purple flowers that grew right out of the rock. When asked what they were, a ranger said that they were the “pride of the mountain” flowers. I smiled.

My only disappointment of the day was that this view of the Sierras was clouded by the haze from pollution that had blown in from the bay area. Clear views are rare in the present day, and during the summer, the pollution only gets worse. Even still, the view was stunning.

My drive back down to the entrance of the park was met with still more stops as I took a few shots along the way. My final excursion was back down to the river as I took in the sights of the water as it bubbled right by. It was the perfect end to a perfect day among the big trees.

If you go, I recommend staying in a hotel in Visalia since there are literally hundreds of restaurants, and plenty of shopping. There is an airstrip in Visalia, but the best way to get a good airfare is by flying into Fresno, which is about 45 minutes away.

Editor’s Note: This article was previously published on Clarksville Online.