My family made it to the United States mostly in the 1800s. They came from Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland. Specifically from Leer Germany, Frauenfeld Switzerland, and Cork Ireland. And then all of my close relatives made it to Southern California between 100 and 116 years ago. My mother’s side came out the first year Route 66 opened in 1926. They drove a model T and mostly camped along the way. They had been living about 60 miles west of Chicago. My fathers’s side came from Paxico Kansas in 1915. My grandfather got a job in Los Angeles in the meat packing business and moved the whole family there. I came along shortly after the end of WWII and was born in the Naval Hospital in Alameda California. My father was a Naval officer and was a pilot in the second World War. We moved a fair amount when I was young and I have lived in Berkley CA, Providence RI, Maine, San Diego, Japan, Norfolk VA, Arlington VA, back to San Diego, Orange County CA, and Santa Barbara, CA., back to Orange County, then San Diego again. My father loved travel and adventure, and often said “when I drive I am always curious whats around the next bend”. I have always had that same call to see and explore whenever possible. After getting out of UC Santa Barbara in 1971 I soon had a job that required travel in Southern California to find buyers for industrial machines mostly in the printing and publishing area. And in a couple of years I was getting very successful and had an opportunity to move to Sydney Australia with my wife and young daughter. Paid for by the people I worked for. So we packed up and moved to Sydney.
PHOTOGRAPHY – PHOTOGRAPHY – Besides my family’s love for travel and adventure, there’s also a lineage of photographers in our clan. I have photographs dating back almost to the Civil War and many from the years in between. As a child, I watched my father, grandfather, and many other family members capturing moments with their cameras. In 1953, my father purchased a beautiful Voightlander Prominent 35mm rangefinder equipped with three lenses: a 50mm f1.5, a 35mm f3.5, and a 100mm f4. During our time in Japan, my father had ample subjects to photograph. When I was about 18, he began allowing me to borrow the Prominent. My son is undoubtedly the most skilled photographer and videographer among us. At the age of 24, he made a significant decision by leaving a well-paying corporate job to pursue a career in video production. He has achieved great success in creating videos, working as a cameraman for TV and movies, and even producing several commercials. While I may not be a professional photographer or videographer, I’ve always been an amateur who enjoys documenting my travels and capturing interesting places and sights that pique my curiosity.
TRAVEL AND ALL 50 CLUB – After returning from Australia, I worked for a large company in my area of industrial equipment, responsible for the western USA and Canada. Consequently, I traveled extensively at no cost to myself, visiting that vast region in great detail. Subsequently, I transitioned to a Swiss company and became the USA manager, traveling across the entire country and spending considerable time in Switzerland and the rest of Europe, all on an expense account . Despite my hard work and success, I still had ample time to explore the numerous points of interest in a vast area. In 2009, I purchased a large motorhome and embarked on a journey nearly everywhere in the United States. By August 2018, I had visited all 50 US states, thereby qualifying for membership in the All 50 Club. Interestingly, my fiancé, Susan, became an All 50 State member a year prior to my achievement. Notably, my final State to visit was North Dakota, which was also Susan’s last State.
WHAT ARE MY SOME OF MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLACES TO VISIT IN THE UNITED STATES. The reason I am writing this post, which is the first of a number of posts on Travel and Relocation in the United States is to pass on some of what I have learned in my travels.
Travel is a personal preference, just like food, art, jobs, and so on. You simply enjoy what you enjoy. In my opinion, the most significant advantage of traveling within the United States is its vastness and remarkable diversity. Additionally, it’s generally considered relatively safe. However, it’s important to note that there are certain places in this country where you need to exercise caution, such as visiting the desert or Death Valley during July or Yellowstone in January. Similarly, some larger cities have certain areas where you should be cautious.
MY NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR A DESTINATION ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.
Parks, in general, aren’t for everyone, but Yellowstone stands out as a unique destination. As our first National Park, it boasts numerous points of interest that are unparalleled in the United States. From majestic mountains and large wildlife to geysers, rivers, waterfalls, and lakes, Yellowstone offers a diverse range of natural wonders. The park’s historic lodges and breathtaking landscapes provide a glimpse into nature’s grandeur, unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the world. Moreover, the surrounding area is equally captivating, with charming towns like Nevada City, Livingstone, Cody, West Yellowstone, and Ennis, each offering its own unique attractions.
You can visit Yellowstone in every season, but likely the best overall time is in the Spring and Fall. I will be following this post up with some of the other good places to visit in this area while you are there. And I will make some suggestions as to where to stay.
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