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Summer Plans
This is the final official week of school. I remember those days! A few days of tests, a few days of paperwork, and the "end-of-the-year" ceremony or graduation. It was always the time of year when I would look at my summer calendar and plan a few summer trips.
I've never been known as a traveler. My friends have been to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Las Vegas several times, even Europe. Not me. I have traveled twice to California, to visit Uncle Ralphe and Aunt Peggy and my cousins, and to worship at the Mecca of Baseball, Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have won 4 and lost none with Fox in the building. When Laura the Travel Agent won a free airplane trip for two to anyplace in the United States, she chose Nashville and I tagged along. It was fun. I have the videotapes to prove it.
But, overall, I like to travel by car, journey a day here, a day there, and I have no interest in faraway places. That's why when I made my list of places to visit this summer they are all within reach in one day by car. But I can guarantee that I will have fun this summer! I'll share my list with you, and perhaps our paths will cross at one of the spots this summer. These are listed in random order, of course, because they are all equally fun to visit.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES - If you are a baseball fan, you know that nothing beats minor league baseball. The field, the players, the game - all just a few feet away. For just a few bucks per ticket, you can hear a fastball pop in the catcher's mitt and hear the argument between the manager and the umpire over a call at first base. And you can buy a couple of hot dogs and a couple of sodas and still get change from a ten-dollar bill. The closest minor league baseball is played in Burlington at Centennial Field. Formerly known as the Vermont Reds and the Vermont Mariners, they were the Vermont Expos from 1994 through the end of last season. This year they are the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Class A short-season affiliate of the Washington Nationals. A few hours away are the Tri-City Valley Cats, who, like the Lake Monsters, compete in the New York-Penn League. They are affiliated with the Houston Astros and play at Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, New York, just a few hours south of Plattsburgh. My first minor league game this season will be with my son Erik on June 29 as the Valley Cats sponsor "Blues Brothers Night." Maybe I'll be Elwood and Erik will be Jake.
THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME - Yes, baseball has always been a big part of my summers. As Erik was growing up it would be a day trip to Cooperstown every other summer. We'd spend hours in the Hall of Fame Museum, going floor-by-floor, room-by-room, reliving so many moments of baseball history. Then it would be time for a walk down Main Street, stopping at each memorabilia store, searching for special Dodgers or Mets items, until we'd get to Doubleday Field. Sometimes there would be a game being played and sometimes the field would be empty. Didn't matter. We always took time to look at the green field and soak in the history of the old stadium.
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE - Ah, the ocean. The salt water and the fresh lobsters. The gigantic waves and hot sun. I always liked Old Orchard Beach because it isn't a big city. It's just a small town on the ocean. We'd always stay at the same place with a room less than a minute's walk from the ocean. You can enjoy a four-day stay and never have to get in the car until the day you leave. In just minutes you can walk to great restaurants or the amusement park. Old Orchard Beach is versatile. It's a great family place or, as night falls, there's nothing like walking the ocean hand-in-hand with someone you love. Or dining on the pier with the ocean below you and "Lady in Red" playing on the jukebox. Leave Plattsburgh at 7 in the morning and you can be sitting oceanside before noontime.
A RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL - I've never been to one, but Erik and his wife Sarah have. I'm planning on attending my first one this summer. Participants and visitors dressed in costume, entertainment of all kinds, and plenty of food. I figure that my beard and new ponytail will be just the thing to be a man of Renaissance times. Somebody might even think I'm a relic from the past. You can bet there will be a blog about this event upon my return.
PICKLE FESTIVAL - This is cheating a bit, because it doesn't take place until November. But it's on my calendar. On Sunday, November 19th, in Rosendale, New York, not far from Kingston, I'll be at the 9th Annual International Pickle Festival. Maybe I'll even enter one of the contests, such as the Pickle Toss Contest, or the Pickle Eating Contest or the Pickle Juice Drinking Contest. Now that I think about it, I better reserve a room at Erik's house for that night. I may need a day to recover from this event!
CLINTON COUNTY FAIR - Now don't laugh at this choice. I love the Clinton County Fair. And the Essex County Fair, as well. What would the summer be without walking the fairgrounds and soaking in the atmosphere? There's a wide variety of people and you can bet that you will see someone there that you haven't seen in years. There's also a wide variety of smells, whether you're strolling by the cotton candy vendor or strolling by the building where they sell those sausages with peppers and onions or strolling by the cow barn. People, entertainment, rides for kids of all ages, and, of course, food!! See you at the Clinton County Fair from July 18-23.
Alright, I admit I've omitted a few summer trips that I enjoy, but these are much shorter ones, such as to Harrigan's in West Plattsburgh or the Beekmantown Road ice cream place for a butterscotch sundae. Or sitting on the back deck of the Naked Turtle with a good friend late at night. Or taking a ride around Cumberland Head on a muggy summer night -- although now with that new connector road it's like a maze out there. I'd probably get lost and end up in South Hero, Vermont. Scratch that trip off my list!
Comments
Foxy,
We did all that stuff before retiring and we were also transferred to other parts of the world. Once, having learned to sail as a kid on Chazy Lake and Lake Champlain, we even sailed off to the South Pacific. Now, we are retired to the shores of Mexico's largest lake and have lived in Chapala, Jalisco for almost five years of perfect springlike weather all year long and the company of smiling people. We're never going home to Plattsburgh, but we do stay in contact for old time's sake.
Posted by: Bob Glenn | June 17, 2006 5:37 PM