A tourist in your own town? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PaulC · #16 06-11-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

We blow out livers out tailgating football games and run our car/suv into deer.

It's actually not too bad here in the summer. Plenty of lakes nearby, so if you like boating or fishing, you're ok. Winter? Rent "Fargo" and you'll get the hint.

Medmech · #17 06-11-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

It's actually not too bad here in the summer. Plenty of lakes nearby, so if you like boating or fishing, you're ok. Winter? Rent "Fargo" and you'll get the hint.

Nothing like a nice 55 degree swim in Lake Michigan!

Mistress · #18 06-11-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

Nothing like a nice 55 degree swim in Lake Michigan!

shrinkage.....

Medmech · #19 06-11-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

shrinkage.....

More like disappear!

SwampYankee · #20 06-11-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

As I was posting something under the "Happy Spot" thread, it ocurred to me how little we often take advantage of the fun things to do and see in our own home towns.

I live in Wethersfield, CT which has the largest historic district in the state. The town was established in 1634 (oldest town in CT) and there are a couple houses in the neighborhood dating back to the mid-1600's, although most are in the 1700-1800 range. There are a number of historic houses/museums that depict colonial life. George Washington really did sleep in the Webb house (Museum) right down the street. Samuel Webb's commanding officer, Gen. George Washington, stayed with the Webb family while he met with the Comte de Rochambeau to plan what became the Yorktown campaign.

There are numerous other houses/museums depicting life throughout each of the last few centuries, including the wars and the witch trials (the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond was based in town). There are several encampment and war reenactments a year also.

The town used to be a big shipping port until the flood of 1692 swept most of the warehouses away and turned what used to be an oxbow in the river into a cove. One warehouse remains and has a little museum display in it. The cove is now used for recreation with moorings and town docks (I keep my boat there). The river is navigable up to Hartford and the cove is a nice, quiet, safe place to moor for the night. The mosquitos will carry you away however.

Mostly it's just neat old houses, most of which have been impeccably maintained or restored.

While squarely in the middle of suburbia, we are just 5 minutes south of Hartford (when there isn't any traffic) so it's easy access to the Wadsworth Atheneum, Bushnell Theater, the new CT Convention Center, the brand new, opening-soon CT Science Center (museum) and all of Hartford's other attractions. It really is a neat place to grown up in, although I never really appreciated it until I got out of college.

Mistress · #21 06-11-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Visiting the primary attractions in my community involve exposure to risk factors of developing liver failure and bending the family sedan around a telephone pole. No thanks, I'll take Manhattan.

I'll drink a Manhattan with you. I like going to DC to watch the gun fights on Saturday night.

Jim B. · #22 06-11-2007, 03:58 PM

I'm a 2nd gen. San Francisco native, and actually lived there till pretty recently, (over 25 years) so I know and love the place, and some of the secrets, and have given a whirlwind tour, in my car, to visiting friends, so are you ready? Here we go.....

First to the Coit tower and the WPA murals, then into little Italy (North Beach) for expresso & pastries and some amateur opera singing at Tosca's on Upper Grant Ave, a stop inside Alan Ginsberg's City Lights bookstore, then through old Chinatown, and through the Stockton St. tunnel to the Theatre District and Union Square. Up California St. to the top of Nob Hill, and a visit to the Fairmont Hotel and the Top o' the Mark. (Don't try this climb in a 240 Diesel, folks!!) A visit to Huntington Park and a look inside of Grace Cathedral. Over to Russian Hill for a 360 deg. photo op on the Vista Point, then flash down the "Crookedest Street in the World" and back up Russian Hill to plummet down the steepest Hill in the City.

Down Hyde Street to the Buena Vista Cafe, for a drink at the "Home of the Irish Coffee"
(invented 1953) and a trip through the Maritime Museum at Aquatic Park.
Then, a quick lap through Fort Mason, over to Doyle Drive and across the Golden Gate Bridge for more photos, then back into SF, through the Presidio and out to the Cliff House at Ocean Beach, to check out the abandoned Sutro Baths and the Camera Oscura, and the Musee Mechanique!

Then, over to the Haight Ashbury and through Golden Gate Park to see the buffalo, the aquarium, the Hall of Flowers, and the Japanese Tea Garden.

Then, up to the top of Twin Peaks for the best view there is in every direction, and then after that, through the premiere neighborhoods like Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, St. Francis Woods, and the Russian Hill nieghborhoods and the secret Presidio Terrace, home of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Israel)

the family/liberal/ labrador/Volvo/baby stroller neighborhood of Noe Valley, the Union Street Yuppieville and over to the Great Irish Way (Geary blvd) for a drink at Pat's Mad Hatter ("We cheat tourists & drunks") and then a visit to Japantown by Fillmore and Post, and through the gay ghetto at 18th & Castro...

And then, maybe it's time for dinner. Oh boy, pick your restaurant: Cambodian, French, Vietnamese, Peruvian, Polish, Swiss, Nicaraguan, Thai,
Salvadorean, Basque, German, Moroccan, Hawaiian, Burmese, Indian, Ethiopian, Hunan, Afghani, North Italian,House of Prime Rib, Max's Jewish, just about anything you'd please.

This driver WILL NOT go to Fisherman's Wharf the Disney Store, or ride on the Cable Cars. Not EVER!!! "First Dead" as they sometimes say in Peru

That $hit is for the typical tourists, I wouldn't EVER do it. You want that, you are on your own.

Ahh, I miss it. Come for a visit!!!

Dee8go · #23 06-11-2007, 04:09 PM

Jim, the next time I come to SF I'd like to take the "Bullitt Tour" in your SEC. Waddya say?

Jim B. · #24 06-11-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Jim, the next time I come to SF I'd like to take the "Bullitt Tour" in your SEC. Waddya say?

Si senor. Parking tickets are on "you*

Dee8go · #25 06-11-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

I'll drink a Manhattan with you. I like going to DC to watch the gun fights on Saturday night.

That just reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode in which people hired lawyers to resolve their problems.

Only the lawyers were gun fighters, they were literally hired guns. So, I guess the gun fighting really goes on in DC 24 hours a day. It just moves out into the streets in SE around 10 or 11 at night after most of the folks in the big domed building have either gone home or are already three sheets to the wind.

Dee8go · #26 06-11-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Si senor. Parking tickets are on "you*

Who said anything about parking? I want to catch some air on those hills, buddy!

John Doe · #27 06-11-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Comte de Rochambeau to plan what became the Yorktown campaign

.

Yes! Rochambeau was out in the river while GW was marching into the town of York. They had the Brits boxed in tight. Cornwallis had fled to York to be rescued by the Royal Navy, but one month before, Cmte. de Grasse had handed the British the only naval defeat they had ever suffered in 200 years of empire building---and thus sealed off the bay. Cornwallis surrendered in a tiny cave in the bluffs on the South side of the York River and I pay homage to the Seige of Yorktown by visiting his cave every year, as it is in the parking lot of my favorite bar in the world, the Yorktown Pub

byrdandcompany · #28 06-11-2007, 05:00 PM

Yeah, that would be the home of the blues. The place where millions of weirdo's come and light candles outside of Graceland and drop rivers of tears in honor of "the King." Home of some of the best BBQ in the world bar none. Home of a horrible Basketball team.....Hot, Humid, and pretty much smogville.....why, oh why, am I living in Memphis Tennessee? Oh, did I mentioned it smells really bad too?

Dee8go · #29 06-11-2007, 05:07 PM

Oh, you live on the banks of the mighty Mississippi. I've only passed through your town flying down I 40. Would love to go to Beale Street sometime though. You can keep Graceland.

byrdandcompany · #30 06-11-2007, 05:18 PM

I am very proud to say I have never been to Graceland. My wife tries to talk me into it but I don't see the point in paying $20 to see some dead guy's shag carpet...... As for beale street....it doesn't live up to the hype. The good section is about 4 blocks long. Usually a bunch of drunk idiots....you are much better off going north of beale to the Flying Saucer. 150 beers on tap and they usually have a good band playing. I tend to enjoy a place that isn't quite as loud as Beale tends to be...