My Second News Article

With summer vacation approaching faster than you may think, many of you may have already started planning your annual summer vacation trip. While others may have decided that there will be no trip at all this year due to the economic crisis that has parlayed many Americas and forced them to cut out needless spending. Many of you are probably planning trips to well known places like Disneyland, Disney World, Virginia Beach, or Las Vegas. And although I have never had the pleasure of visiting many of these popular tourist destinations, I have been to many places across the Northeastern United States, and Canada; all of which have a much lower price tag than many of the tourist hot spots.

For as long as I can remember, my parents have always shown my brother and I new places. What started with simply driving around Western Massachusetts, soon extended to the infamous Cape Cod, and eventually the boundaries of discovery had no limits too them. I have traveled everywhere from Prince Edward Island in Canada, to Niagara Falls, to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina. I have been to thirteen states, and five Canadian provinces, experiencing the culture and history of each. People tend to find it surprising to know that I have never been in an airplane before. However, I simply have no desire to ever take a plane as a means of travel. I feel that when you fly high above the land you are passing over, you miss out on that feeling of discovery and adventure. And most of all, you miss out on any sort of learning experience that you can get from driving in a car.

One of my favorite trips that I took with my family was when we visited the White Mountains in New Hampshire, then continued up into Quebec, Canada. Unfortunately, nearly a week before we left for our trip, we heard the news that The Old Man on the Mountain had collapsed into the rock pile below. And although we were deeply saddened that we would not be able to see a famous rock formation that had stood for nearly seven million years, our time spent in the White Mountains was still enjoyable. After our stay in New Hampshire, we traveled further north into the barren woods of northern New Hampshire. While traveling, we came upon the lakes where the Connecticut River starts, and even drove over a stream no wider than seven feet that had a sign saying “Conn. River” next to it. At the Canadian boarder we were greeted by a jolly, Canadian customs agent that seemed happy to see any sort of human life during his long day of waiting in the woods of southern Canada. Once we entered into Quebec though, things started to go downhill. Every sign was in French only, many of the people we met were rude to us, and no matter where you went in Quebec the air had the stench of sulfur that was emanating from the numerous asbestos mines. We learned later that this section of Quebec happened to be one of the leading producers of asbestos in the world. While in Quebec we visited the towns where my ancestors came from, as well as visited the graves of various family members. After that, we went to Quebec City, which is typically seen as the cultural hub of Quebec. In Quebec City we visited the parliament building where Quebec governs its province. We also visited the citadel and fort that was used during the French and Indian War. Although I think my favorite part was walking down the narrow, stone paved streets of the historical district in Quebec City. Buildings with stunning architecture that once housed everything from blacksmiths to bakers, have now become home to gift shops, fancy restaurants, or high class housing. Over all, I feel that Quebec gave me a cultural experience that no other place in North America could possibly give. Being a French Canadian myself, I enjoyed seeing the places where my ancestors once called home and seeing the culture that they grew up in. Although I'm still wondering how they dealt with that horrible smell.

No matter where you travel to, you are bound to learn something about that place. Whether it be the geography, history, or culture of that land, traveling is always the best way to learn something in a hands on manner. Now imagine just how much more you could experience if you got out and explored more. For example, say you took a plane down to Orlando for your summer vacation trip to go to Disneyworld. Although you would get there much faster than you would by car, you are also missing out on some of the most historical and beautiful land this country has. You would have missed places like Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where one of the most exciting, and decisive battles in the Civil War was fought. You would miss our nations capital, Washington DC and all its rich history and architecture. You would pass by lesser known, yet equally as important places like Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where the first airplane was flown. Or Independence Hall in Philadelphia where our Declaration of Independence was signed. Not to mention the countless towns, rivers, and mountains you would simply fly right over, oblivious to their existence and picturesque beauty. With gas prices at low prices, the possibilities are almost endless for where you can travel to by car.

Family trips however, do not have to be to far and distance places across the country. In fact they can be right here in your own backyard in Western Massachusetts. If you are simply looking for something to do on a lazy weekend, there are countless spots scattered across Western Massachusetts, that are just waiting for someone to explore them. Places like Mt. Holyoke offer a beautiful view of the Connecticut Valley. While places like Deerfield are rich in history from the French and Indian War. Or take a visit to Florida. Florida, Massachusetts that is, where you can see the Hoosac Tunnel, which still remains one of the longest tunnels in the country. All of these, and many more are all within a days drive from you, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed by any of them. So this summer, I dare everyone to take a trip someplace that doesn't have a theme park, expensive hotels, or casinos. Go someplace that not only will keep money in your wallet, but also a place that will put knowledge and experience into your heart and mind.

This was the second article I've written for the paper. It has yet to be published, but it's looking promising. Once more, even though many of the local spots I mentioned will be alien to anyone not from Massachusetts, the message still remains the same.