Martha’s Vineyard Is Unexpectedly Memorable!

(Me on South Beach, Martha’s Vineyard)

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Martha’s Vineyard (MV), Massachusetts, this summer in July. With preconceived notions, I expected to see fancy cars and rude, rich people everywhere. However, I experienced the exact opposite. The blue-collar workers and business owners presented pleasant encounters with normal people (not rich vagabonds) – kind folks trying to succeed in a place of paradise. I will elaborate on these cordial meetings throughout this blog entry.

Politicians have given MV a stench where even the original residents have grown tired of their visits by reputation. The notoriety of the island’s name created a pop culture trend for celebrity tourists that caused prices and living costs to rise. Locals are irritated by the fame and attention of a select few individuals who broadcast that they live at MV. On the other hand, the generational residents and seasonal workers warmly welcome sincere personalities and unpretentious visitors.

I often wondered why Martha’s Vineyard is called Martha’s Vineyard. MV is historically associated with the English explorer, Bartholomew Gosnold. Gosnold named the island in honor of his daughter, whose name was either Martha or Mary. The term “Vineyard" is thought to have been used because of the abundant wild grapes on the island. Gosnold was an early English explorer who visited the island in 1602. He established one of the first English settlements in North America on MV, although this dwelling was short-lived.

Before European settlers arrived, MV was inhabited by the Wampanoag people, a Native American tribe. The Wampanoag relied on fishing, hunting, farming, and gathering as their primary sustenance. During the 18th and 19th centuries, MV became a prominent center for the whaling industry. The island's location was an ideal base for whaling vessels. The profits from whaling contributed to the island's growth, reputation, and prosperity.

On the day of my adventure, I drove from Boston to Falmouth, where the ferry then took me to MV. We landed in the small town of Oaks Bluff. It is a beautiful coastal town with the whispers of ocean air, tasteful cuisine, local coffee shops, several green spaces, and New England colonial homes. I arrived on the island at about 10:00 a.m. ET. The original ferry ride from Falmouth to Oaks Bluff lasted about 35-40 minutes. This ferry ride only included people and bikes, no motorized vehicles. I met an older couple named Barry and Bernice who also planned to visit the island for the day. They were from New Hampshire. They brought a two-person bike to ride together. For the long boat trip, they were wonderful company! They provided valuable information about the Vineyard and tips on what sites to see. We mostly talked about our families. They showed me pictures of the grandkids on their cell phones. I showed them pictures of Lisa, Annabelle, and Jace on my phone. I actually saw them throughout the day on different parts of the island, sometimes passing each other on our bikes.

I rented an electric bike from All-Star Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals. Robert, the owner and manager of this business, outlined my entire day of where to go and what to see with the local island sites. Before my self-tour began, I walked across the street from All-Star Bike Rentals to discover Vineyard's Best Ice Cream and Coffee Company. While not advertised, this business served freshly made bagels. For five dollars (a reasonable price for MV vendors), I bought three bagels to fuel my day. Those bagels sustained me throughout the day under a brutal July summer sun. I had not originally planned to bike the 37 miles I covered in this one day. 

I started riding down Seaview Avenue alongside Alley-Waban Park and Inkwell Beach. Alley-Waban Park was a large open field park with several sidewalks with people walking dogs and enjoying the sunshine-filled day. The previously described colonial homes surrounded the park. Many of these residences had balconies with ocean views on the second or third floor. 

From Oaks Bluff, Robert directed me toward Edgartown. This road hugged the seashore with breathtaking coastal vistas. The ride along these beaches and waves felt refreshing. I am about to begin my fourth and final year of a Ph.D. program in Communication. While very enjoyable, the workload in a doctoral program can sometimes be intensive and all-consuming. The gust of ocean air melted these workload worries away. There was an enchanting essence to this island. It became evident within my first few miles of riding why so many people from all over the world ventured to visit this paradise. The bike ride on this coastal road from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown was six miles to begin a long day’s journey.

MV is extremely accessible by bike. In fact, by mid-afternoon, the traffic is bad enough that bikes move faster than cars sitting in traffic, depending on where you are on the island. About halfway to Edgartown on Seaview Avenue, I rode across a short bridge titled the American Legion Memorial Bridge. Locally, this bridge is also known as the Jaws Bridge. Many scenes in the first movie of this series were filmed at MV. 

Many young adults and even parents with kids were jumping off this bridge into a canal that linked marsh and open ocean waters. The jump into the water below was probably about 12-13 feet high, and several individuals leaped without hesitation, sometimes several times. I admired the youthful energy of these daredevils. However, I decided ultimately to stay dry. I prefer to avoid testing the strong ocean currents. In local newspapers, concerning Jaws Bridge, I read that one person died in 2023 after jumping off the bridge. Two others experienced the same fate in 2022. I doubt these eager divers researched these facts before their stunts. On the bridge, a warning sign cautions people not to jump off the bridge since the activity is considered illegal. I heeded this advice closely. I took some photos of these valiant jumpers and continued my bike journey.

After the six-mile stretch on Seaview Avenue, I arrived in Edgartown. First, I visited the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse. As mentioned in previous blog entries, I am fascinated by lighthouses. Lighthouses offer photogenic portraits amidst beautiful beaches and landscapes. The lighthouse was shorter than some of the other lighthouses I visited in the past. The building includes a museum and the opportunity to climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. The views at the top were lovely. It was a nice place to reflect on life, with a small beach on a peninsula surrounded by water. After appreciating the moment and reciting some short prayers, I descended the lighthouse and admired the marvelous features of the Harbor View Hotel. The hotel had a wraparound porch with scenic views in all directions, including the lighthouse across the street. The building resembles a house that might be considered a mansion. The hotel reminds me of a place you might read about in a romance novel. Like an interesting person, the hotel knows viewers admire its beauty, almost like the hotel possesses a personality within itself.

Compared to my first ferry ride, I encountered a second ferry that connected Edgartown and Chappaquiddick Island (CI). This ferry was much smaller than my previous ride as a passenger from Falmouth. The boat could hold three cars and ten people with two to three bicycles. The small ferry ride intrigued me. So, I paid a small fee and walked my bike onto the ferry. I was unfamiliar with MV, CI, or any of the surrounding islands in the Cape Cod area. For the day in MV, I was on vacation to enjoy the scenery without a defined schedule. I was exploring for the sole sake of exploring.  

After reaching CI, I rode my bike from the ferry another four miles to East Beach. Then, I had to ride another four miles to ride the ferry back into Edgartown. It was evident that CI was the quieter side of this paradise. One small convenience store and deli existed on CI with some souvenirs and light groceries. I stopped at this local business to buy some cold refreshments. I also encountered a Japanese Garden that was small but quaint.

After getting off the ferry, I stepped into Old Sculpin Gallery, an upscale store of splendid artwork. Many pieces of art were available for purchase, including paintings, sculptures, and photography. Honestly, I sought relief from the sun in an air-conditioned building. I was soaked in sweat like I had just worked out at the gym. Of course, I had just biked another eight miles across CI. However, two nicely dressed women greeted me cordially, asking me where I was from and if I was enjoying the Vineyard. I commented on the fantastic works of photography in the gallery. One of the two girls inquired about my poetry and photography books. She asked me to write down the titles of my books and published photos. This demeanor is generally what I encountered in the Vineyard throughout the day. People were exceptionally polite and genuinely wanted island visitors to enjoy their experiences there.   

In addition to discussing my poetry books, I conversed with the art gallery sales clerk about local bookstores with regional authors, including some that might have lived at MV during the entire annual year or at least during the warm season. For weather reasons, many local residents live at the Vineyard during the warmer months of the year. Then they retreat to southern regions of the United States during the harshest months of the winter. The winter conditions at MV can be quite severe.

The sales clerk recommended Edgartown Books, a locally owned business and independent bookstore. A coffee shop restaurant named Behind the Bookstore literally sat in the back of Edgartown Books. You could walk through the bookstore into a courtyard garden between the two businesses. Several people sat at tables in the courtyard, eating food and drinking their lattes from the coffee shop. It was a charming setup! I bought two books by authors from MV who wrote about experiences at the Vineyard. I still felt somewhat overheated from the sun and the long-distance bike ride. I sat inside the coffee shop for a good hour, drinking several glasses of water, a cold brew coffee, and eating a peach muffin. I glimpsed through my two purchased local reads. Again, like the art gallery, the coffee shop was air-conditioned! I really enjoyed the local beach town feel of the bookstore and coffee shop. I quickly observed that both tourists and permanent residents of the island enjoyed these two businesses.

From Edgartown, I rode my bike to Katama and South Beaches. Barry and Bernice advised that these beaches were the most scenic on the island. I took their advice to heart and walked on South Beach to soak in the splendid views. I rode past the Katama Farm, which encompassed many acres of crops and other greenery. Again, I was surprised to observe these fields in the middle of the island….a working farm with barns, silos, animals, and machinery. 

It was getting later in the day, and I knew I had about 12-13 miles to return to Oaks Bluff. Rather than taking Seaview Avenue along the ocean beaches, I took roads on the interior of the island through the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. This route permitted me to see other parts of the Vineyard that I had not witnessed earlier in the day. The interior marshes and woods possessed their own natural wonders. While I knew I needed to head back to Boston eventually, I would have enjoyed camping on the beach at MV to truly soak in the moment and spiritual essence of this gorgeous place.

Perhaps I was more tired after baking in the sun and riding several miles across the island to visit all the mentioned landmarks. The last leg of my biking journey was very challenging! I was hungry and ready to rest with a beer in my hand. I eventually returned to All-Star Bikes, where Robert kept calling me "The Professor." Robert inquired about my higher education teaching and research interests. I informed him that I was close to finishing my Ph.D. in Communication. One of his summer seasonal employees majored in Communication and asked me some questions about the discipline. Robert and his staff provided an excellent example of positive customer service experiences. Beyond the day’s adventure, they tried to know more about my life beyond the surface-level small talk. All-Star Bikes employed workers with great attitudes who genuinely wanted to serve visitors of the Vineyard.

I asked for Robert’s recommendation for a restaurant where I could eat some of the best local cuisine. Robert directed me to Lookout Tavern, just around the corner from his shop. He further recommended that I order the lobster tacos. His insights proved to be delicious! This restaurant has ocean views, located next to the water. I also ordered a couple of local beers made by microbreweries on the island. After dinner, I quickly visited some souvenir shops for last-minute purchases and gifts. On the return trip with the ferry, I was blessed to enjoy the company of Barry and Bernice once again. I had hoped to see them again. We conversed more about each other’s families and sat on the upper deck of the ferry. Together we savored the sunset over the island silhouette of the Vineyard in the background.

I arrived back at the docks in Falmouth at about 6:30 p.m. ET. I took the remainder of the day to drive around downtown Falmouth and observe the early evening nightlife. I drove by Aquatic Brewing Company. I decided to turn around and check out the inside of the microbrewery. Rather than drinking full-size pints of beer, I tried a sampler order. These servings allow a patron to try four to five beers with about six ounces in each glass. You take time to enjoy the taste of each beer rather than only drinking beverages for consumption reasons. I was impressed with the tastings. While enjoying the atmosphere, I sat next to a group of young men who appeared to have just gotten off work from a construction site. They wore construction clothes and told me about their many carpentry projects on both residential and commercial properties. It sounded like Falmouth and the surrounding Cape Cod towns were growing faster than residences could be built. I appreciated the friendliness of local conversations. I soon got back into my car and made my way back to Boston, where I was staying at a close friend’s residence.

For several days to come, I knew I would feel the positive vibes of the Vineyard long after my ferry returned to Falmouth. MV was much larger in square mileage than I initially speculated. I am still reminiscing how magnificent the Vineyard’s natural wonders were. While maybe a pop culture fad to visit, Martha's Vineyard greatly exceeded my expectations! It was clear why so many people visited the island every year and paid the absorbent prices to stay there overnight. Like a Taylor Swift Eras concert, the experience of island adventures might be worth the abhorrent prices to marvel at the Vineyard’s vastness and majestic grandeur.  

(Edgartown Cinema)

(Busy Main Street in Edgartown)

(Despite the warnings, people still jump off Jaw’s Bridge.)

(This sign serves as a warning not to jump off the bridge.) 

(The Harbor View Hotel)

(Lighthouse Beach, near the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse)

(Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse)

(The sunset greeted me as I departed Martha’s Vineyard.)

#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #blog #family #travel #traveling #MarthasVineyard #VineyardLiving #TheVineyard #adventures #escapades #destinations #memories #story #inspiration #JamesCartee #goodness #lessons #CapeCod #Boston #adventures #beaches #lighthouses

Adventures in Wales and England with Calhoun (Part Two of Two Blog Entries)

(Mathew and I reached the summit of Mount Snowdon, the last of the peaks in the Welsh 3000s hike.)

In case you missed it, to catch up on the first week of our trip, please read the first of these two blog entries: Escapades inIreland and the UK with Calhoun (Part One of Two Blog Entries).

This blog entry documents the second half of my summer trip with Mathew Calhoun last year In Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). During this leg of our two-week adventure in August, we explored England and Wales.

After our time in Ireland, we boarded a 6:00 am flight to Liverpool, England, via RyanAir, arriving at the airport shortly after 3:00 am. Multiple locals advised us to arrive on time due to a shortage of workers and thousands of visitors traveling through the Dublin airport.   

Of all the places we visited on this trip, Liverpool was my favorite area. Some features of Liverpool shared common traits with London, however, Liverpool possessed its own identity and rich history. Since we arrived so early in the day, Matthew and I explored much of the city. Our first landmarks included stops at St. Luke's Bombed Out Church and the Liverpool Cathedral. St Luke's Church was air raided by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Ironically, the church foundation and walls still stood erect, everything except for the roof. The edifice was open-air, and the architecture possessed its own unique charm. In addition to some statues, gardens with several blooming roses surrounded the grounds.

Next, the Liverpool Cathedral seemed like its own country. It was massive both inside and outside! The church exhibited some large-scale artworks by Peter Walker. While Walker's pieces were quite interesting, I found the display of these pieces to be a little odd inside the structures of a holy place. It made the church feel touristy rather than reverent. For a small donation, Mathew and I climbed two elevators and several steps to reach the summit of the bell tower, where the views of Liverpool appeared spectacular. The clear skies presented the ideal imagery for a panoramic photograph. You could also observe the other known landmarks of the city from high above.

Mathew and I ventured to find the Beatles statue, near the Albert Docks. The famous English boy band was from Liverpool. Mathew was intrigued by the narrative of how this known trio emerged with a clear mark on history. In addition to the Beatles, Liverpool possesses a strong past as a port town, shipping trade goods all over the world. While commerce still seems rampant through Liverpool, it appears reduced compared to past levels in the city’s maritime history. The Albert Docks consists of elegant restaurants, souvenir stores, art galleries, several museums (all free to enter), and a spectacular view of the waterways. We then visited The Cavern Club and Mathew Street, where the Beatles played close to three hundred times. Resembling an underground cave, The Cavern plays music around the clock. Mid-afternoon, we grabbed a few beers and enjoyed the live music. For quick viewing of the local sites, we rode in a twenty-four-hour drop-off/pick-up bus meant to route visitors to the tourist attractions throughout the city. After a full day of activities, we ate dinner at MADRE Liverpool. This Mexican establishment maintained a flare of American Tex-Mex spice. 

We stayed one night in the Posh Pad Apartments. Rather than a traditional hotel room, we occupied a spacious, clean apartment with a kitchen, dining area, and den. For the rate, it was an exceptional stay! The rates for every activity and accommodation in Liverpool were a fraction of the price of our time in London. Ian, the driver and entrepreneur of MADD Day Out Beatles Tours, chauffeured us around for approximately three and a half hours to visit many historical sites of the band around Liverpool. These sites included the childhood homes of each band member and Strawberry Fields. After the excellent tour ride with Ian, we made one last stop at the Maritime Museum at the Albert Docks. The museum showed two immense exhibits of the famous shipwrecks, the RSS Titanic and the RSS Lusitania. The Titanic ship was designed in the Albion House, the previous headquarters of The White Star Line. This company was known for building state-of-the-art cargo and passenger ships.        

After we visited the naval museum, Mathew and I caught a train from Liverpool, England to Bangor, Wales. In Bangor, we ate dinner at the Wood Fired Shack, a pleasant pizza eatery for those with casual travel wear. The restaurant was nestled next to ancient churches and castles. Near the town square (close to the restaurant) was a large, abandoned cathedral. It seemed out-of-place that this landmark stood empty in the middle of a noteworthy Wales town. It still functions to some degree, yet it resembled a barren warehouse without stored products. A university administration building was just beyond this church on a hill overlooking the town. This campus structure resembled a modern castle. While appearing somewhat like a ghost town, Bangor possessed its own appeal.  

Our trail guide eventually picked us up at the restaurant in her caravan, which could comfortably sit 10-12 people with her larger groups. We stayed in a private room at Totters Hostel in Caernarfon during our first night in Wales. This accommodation was clean and comfortable. The building was previously a residence that the owner now turned into a hostel. Most of the town stood within the walls of the historic and still-standing Caernarfon Castle. In other words, the town was the castle. The town sat on the edge of a body of water. The surrounding hills of the countryside made for a picturesque image of what medieval times might have looked like. Shortly after arriving at Totters, we ventured to the Black Boy Inn, another local establishment. The Welsh pub within this inn felt like a scene in a movie. The inn was built circa 1522 and is still family-owned. Multiple theories exist as to why the name fits the inn. One story relates to a black navigational buoy in the nearby harbor. According to another account, a known black boy was brought on a ship into the country through the nearby waterside and worked several years at the inn. 

Over three days, we planned to complete the Welsh 3000s in Snowdonia National Park. This hike encompassed fifteen summits of mountains over 3000 feet, covering approximately thirty-two miles. For the trek, we hired a private guiding company that offered a glamping experience with mattresses and a circus-sized tent for two nights during the hike. We covered eighteen miles on the first day, thus finishing most of the hike on our first day.

Our main guide was concerned with making good time, however sometimes overlooked our enjoyment of the actual hiking experience (breathing, absorbing the moment, and marveling at the scenery). This adventure was my first time in the national parks of Wales, and I sought to gaze at the majesty of these green mountains. This creation appreciation mentality is not an approach I typically rush through.

To better enjoy these junctures and maybe because I was a little annoyed with our guide, I asked if I could take an alternate shorter route the next day with some waterfalls (not just hills, rocks, and goats). There is not a wide selection of wildlife in Snowdonia National Park, literally birds, bugs, and goats. Mathew and I split up for most of the second day of our hike, and he completed the middle section of the full trail route. 

On the final day, due to rain conditions (and for safety reasons), the guide suggested that we start at 1:00 pm and hike into the evening. This delay permitted us to revisit Caenarfon and tour the inside of the castle. Of the many castles and architectural wonders we visited, this site was the most impressive with the well-maintained grounds and the museum collection. All aspects and parts of the castle were open for exploration. Some castles in the UK have limited viewings with residents still living in the structures. I also had some extra time for light shopping near the town square.

I again decided to take another alternate route that mounted the last three peaks on the trek the third day. Mathew took a path that required several hours of free climbing, bouldering, and generally some unsafe situations that involved risks. In some places, Mathew was free climbing without a rope and a harness.

To carry mountaineering gear and physically climb in Wales, this qualification necessitates a license our leading guide did not possess. However, there were sections of the trek that would have been safer with rope, a harness, and some other climbing essentials. If you seek to hike the Welsh 3000s route, check your guide's credentials. Make sure they are certified in both trail guiding and rock climbing with the right gear.

We all finished the last portion of our trek at the summit of Snowdonia. Upon later reflection, Mathew and I could have self-guided the last three peaks, stayed in the town of Snowdonia, and had a similar quality experience for a fraction of the price for a guide. It depends on what you seek to do with your time while visiting the UK.

I covered about twenty-five miles of the trails in the Welsh 3000s. Mathew covered the entire thirty-two miles, crossing all included summits. We stayed the last night of our trip at the Royal Hotel Victoria Snowdonia, which was a splendid choice after three long days of hiking. The beds felt like cushioned heavenly clouds, and the warmth of mountain water in a real shower brought new meaning to missing these first-world luxuries. The breakfast we had the following day was pristine! For a moderate price, we had many choices for a traditional Welsh morning cuisine.

With five days remaining in our trip, we went to London. Riding the train from Wales to London was problematic because it was overcrowded and operationally unsafe. People stood in every available space, even between cars next to the bathrooms and doors to get on and off the train. Many of the train operators were said to be on strike for unknown reasons, which made the journey very uncomfortable. Clean and fluid transportation was a challenge throughout the UK. On the other hand, public transportation in Ireland was smooth and much less expensive than in the UK.

Because of the constant train delays, we arrived at our hotel, Melbourne House, much later than expected. Melbourne House was in the Westminster neighborhood, central to all the major sites in London. It was sweltering in London when we visited, and the humidity remained throughout the late evening and early morning. The heat made it a little hard to sleep each night.

Once settled in, Mathew’s immediate question sunk in, “What would you like to do?” In less than an hour, Back to the Future, The Musical, would set the stage and begin with a memorable performance. I really wanted to go to the play; however, Mathew and I delayed buying tickets, knowing and expecting the multiple issues with transportation in the UK. In other words, we did not want to purchase tickets and miss the play due to these unnecessary delays. We decided to grab a quick taxi to see if we could buy tickets and catch the play a few minutes before it started. We were successful in doing so! And it provided for a fascinating first evening in London!

I love the three movies that make up the Back to the Future trilogy with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd! Both characters in the musical played the depicted movie characters with precision and personality. The same Huey Lewis and the News tunes on the movie soundtrack resounded on the stage with a strong presence of special effects and dance numbers from the cast. The historic Adelphi Theater provided a beautiful backdrop for the DMC DeLorean time machine to appear as if flying just above the audience and under the ceiling of the building. The flux capacitor abilities impressed the audience of science fiction fans!

For our first full day in London, we stopped at the London Eye, the world-famous cantilevered observation wheel. It is the tallest of its kind in Europe. The wheel moves very slowly, so individuals take advantage of the views and vistas from various high points. Groups of people stand or sit in a large glass room that looks like a pill of medicine. Several of these glass caravans on the Ferris wheel rotate through the entire wheel. The London Eye sits in an area on the Thames River called the Southbank Centre. There are some green spaces and other smaller tourist attractions here as well. During our walk to the London Eye, we stopped to admire Big Ben (nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster at the north end of the Palace of Westminster) and Westminster Abbey Church. The Great Clock of Westminster resembles a historic tower with a noticeable clock at the top of the building, viewable from miles around. 

Our next stop was the Charles Dickens House and Museum. Of course, as many book lovers know, Charles Dickens is the author of The Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and many other literary texts. I marveled at how many words Dickens could write in a short period. I enjoyed seeing one of his main writing desks and learning about the Dickens family. Mathew desired to see a Champion League soccer game (more popularly known as football in Europe). The home team, West Hamn United F. C., was playing Manchester City F. C. 

The game served to mark a task off my personal bucket list. It was one of those luxuries you do once to say you did it. West Hamn played their games in the London Games Olympic Stadium, which was an impressive building on its own. I am not a steady soccer fan, yet I was still surprised at how cynical West Hamn fans were towards their team. I partially expected an electric environment with cheers from the crowd, however, the fans could have been more enthusiastic. At the time, Manchester City was one of the best teams in the league, and maybe fans knew they lost the game before it even started.     

Perhaps on a more exciting note, Mathew and I planned to visit Stonehenge, Oxford University, and Windsor Castle the next day. Stonehenge was the famous circle inlay of stones in the middle of nowhere. Imagine fields for miles. In the middle of these fields, there stand rocks as large as modern buildings. Since the stones are approximately 5,000 years old, historians wonder how the stones were moved to the present-day location. Many explanations also exist for why the structures were created in historic times. First, many people have been buried at Stonehenge and near the circle of grandiose rocks. So, it could be a burial site. Second, some findings suggest Stonehenge was used for ceremonial purposes in medieval eras with royalty, knights, and celebrations for other individual achievements. Third, many theorized astronomical purposes exist for the grounds, such as tracking the movement of the moon, sun, and planets. Some have even claimed the stones possess supernatural powers, perhaps once used for spiritual purposes in life and death rituals. Regardless of the reason for its existence, Stonehenge was magical! While some visitors only notice large rocks in the middle of the field, I see a landmark built for wonderous purposes (and maybe some tragedies) through many ages for those who lived there.        

Windsor Castle limited what sections visitors were previewed to as one of the royal residential sites. No photographs were allowed within the castle. So, viewing the few rooms experienced seemed minimal for the hours one could really spend touring the buildings. One part of the castle included an impressive weapons collection – spears, knives, swords, javelins, and multiple sets of armor for combat. This collection was pristine, well-maintained, and shiny.  

Oxford University was made up of several colleges within the system, however, these smaller colleges were not limited to only specific majors like higher education in the United States. They operated as their own mini colleges, integrated into the overall Oxford University as an institution. The mini campuses were stunning, but many were closed to the general public. Walking around the campus, you could get an overall picture of how the university operated. Several scenes in the Harry Potter movies were filmed in the buildings and on the campus. 

I visited the Winston Churchill War Rooms on our last day in London. These underground bunkers served as a historical landmark where Churchill spent most of his time as commander-in-chief during World War II. The Germans constantly bombed London throughout the war, and Churchill remained protected in these chambers from the constant bombardment. Now a museum, the tour of the facility presented a unique lens into the experiences of London citizens at the time. I cannot imagine living in this heated environment, fearing for my life daily. I walked through Hyde Park and St. James's Park to appreciate the natural scenery amidst the city. I stopped by to peak through the gates of Buckingham Palace, the home and administrative center for the British royal family. The surrounding gardens and gates of Buckingham Palace looked heavenly, literally some parts with statues of angels and trumpets. I walked across Tower Bridge and toured the inside workings of the draw bridge. Depending on the ship coming through on the Thames River, the bridge still operates to open up and down. Then boats can go through while cars wait on each end. At the top of Tower Bridge were glass floors that you could look down through and see the river below. Tower Bridge was built between 1886 and 1894. It was designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry. The mechanical operations of the bridge were an impressive feat for these men at the time of its creation. Once across the bridge, I walked by the Tower of London (different from Tower Bridge), a historic castle built by William the Conqueror. Between 1100 and 1952, part of this structure was utilized as a prison. 

The stunning architecture, scenery, and history are magnificent in London! London is truly one of the greatest cities in the world! You must visit this city in person to fathom its illustriousness.

The original intent of our trip was to celebrate my fortieth birthday with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I would say we did that. For a birthday gift, Mathew surprised me with tickets to the play, Les Misérables. The play was much different from what I remember and closer to the book's plot than the movies. It was a wonderful last night to a spectacular experience!

I was away from my family for about two and a half weeks while visiting these previous sites with Mathew. While Annabelle is only two and half years of age and Jace is now eight months old, taking them on longer trips is logistically more challenging. Rather than travel solo, I prefer to share these golden moments with my family. So, I look forward to sharing these international travels with the kids as they get older.

In my many adventures, I have learned that life is not necessarily gratifying if one focuses on how much money or stuff a person accumulates. Instead, I enjoy the key moments I can revisit with family and friends, sharing these experiences with those I love. If you wait for your "maybe one-day" timeframe, you may realize that day never comes for you to seize the moment and live out some of your dreams. I encourage you to live out some of your heart’s desires today! Do not wait! Because one day, it may be too late to do so.

(This is a view of the city from the top of the Liverpool Cathedral.)

(Boats floating at the Albert Docks in Liverpool.)

(The inside of the Liverpool Cathedral is breathtaking!)

(City walls in Caernarfon at night,)

(Housing on the streets of Caernarfon.) 

(Near the start of our three-day trek in Snowdonia National Park.)

(Near our first peak summit of the Welsh 3000s.)

(Sunset during our last day of the Welsh 3000s hike.)

(Finally, a hike with a decent waterfall source.)

(The scenery in Snowdonia National Park is stunning! As you might notice in the pictures, there are no trees anywhere.)

(The view of the town from Caernarfon Castle). 

(Big Ben of the Great Clock of Westminster.)

(The box atop the London Eye cantilevered observation wheel.)

(Looking up at the London Eye from the bottom of the wheel.)

(Charles Dickens’ desk in his home museum.)

(Royal Naval Division War Memorial.)

(View of Tower Bridge from one side of the Thames River.)

(Windsor Castle and surrounding gardens.)

(The King’s Guard in Windsor Castle conducting his famous march.)

(Pictures cannot adequately capture the magical sensations of Stonehenge.) 

#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #blog #family #travel #internationaltravels #adventures #escapades #destinations #memories #story #inspiration #JamesCartee #goodness #lessons #Ireland #Wales #England #TheUnitedKingdom #UK #adventures