Tag: san-antonio

Great places I’ve seen, and places I want to go

by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

I took this photo in Nassau, Bahamas, when we went there on a cruise in 2023.

We live in an amazing world, and one lifetime is not enough to see all I’d like to see. After all, life has been full of responsibilities and busyness, not to mention financial considerations, so to think that anyone outside of the very rich could go everywhere they’d like to go is unlikely. Notice I didn’t say impossible.

Some people don’t like to travel to new places. I know many who prefer to go to the beach every year on vacation, and that’s fine.

But that’s not me. Maybe it’s not you. Maybe you’re still dreaming of all the places you want to go. Maybe you “visit” them by watching YouTube videos. Maybe you wonder if going there would be worth it.

Allow me to make a few recommendations:

  1. The Grand Canyon, specifically the south rim. No video or photograph can do it justice. It is a feeling as much as a view.
  2. Washington, D.C. Don’t think I’m crazy, but seeing our nation’s capital (and Capitol) is a must. The museums, the historical buildings, Arlington Cemetery, the house where President Lincoln died…be sure to go to Alexandria, Virginia, and ride the trolley down King (or is it King’s) Road (Street?) and hang out by the Potomac
  3. The Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you are into nature or into commercialization, you can pick and choose. Whether you choose to hike, go tubing or rafting, ride zip lines and mountain coasters, or spend hours shopping in one specialty/touristy shop after another, it’s all there. And rent a cabin. They have amenities to keep you busy or comfort to allow you to be lazy.
  4. The Outer Banks, North Carolina. Stay in Southern Shores or Duck. Go to Manteo to explore a replica of The Lost Colony, go to Kitty Hawk (well, Kill Devil Hills) to see the site of the Wright brothers’ first flight, and enjoy time on a beach NOT lined with condos but rather private residences and not as crowded as Florida beaches. By the way, I’m not a fan of Florida. It’s okay, but just not a fan.
  5. Sedona ad Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. Enjoy Sedona’s shops, restaurants, red rock beauty, and surreal atmosphere. Enjoy an upscale old west environment in Scottsdale. Shop at Gilbert Ortega Galleries in Scottsdale, but be prepared to pay a high amount for anything you buy. Still, it’s fun to look at what they have to offer.
  6. San Antonio, Texas. Six Flags Fiesta Texas for the kiddos, and the whole family will enjoy Sea World. Be sure to eat at Mi Tierra and shop in El Mercado, take a boat ride on the San Antonio River by the mall across from the Alamo. And, oh, of course, visit The Alamo. It’s not very big.

I could continue with more, but I’ll move along to where I would like to go.

  1. All over Europe, specifically France, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria. Yes, blame “The Sound of Music” for Austria. Blame “Heidi” for Switzerland. Blame my majoring in Spanish for Spain. And blame my ancestry and minoring in French for France.
  2. New York City. Not a long stay. Just enough to see all the must-see stuff.
  3. Boston, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard.
  4. Wyoming and Montana.
  5. I once had a desire to go to Israel, but the area is too unsafe, so I am content watching “Drive-Thru History: The Gospels” and “Drive-Thru History: Acts to Revelation” on Prime Video. It’s free, by the way.

Now you know my top picks. What about yours?