Archive for the ‘Weekend Road Trip’ Category

North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a long stretch of barrier islands, is not only beautiful, serene, and a fantastic vacation destination, it’s also the spot—Kill Devil Hills—where the Wright brothers first took to the air.

Of particular interest to writers and Nicholas Sparks fans, Rodanthe (Nights in Rodanthe) is a town on the Outer Banks. In fact, portions of the film adaptation of Sparks’ book were filmed in Rodanthe.

Our first stop on the islands is Jockey’s Ridge (above photo), the tallest sand dune in the eastern United States. The height of the dunes vary from 80 to 120 feet depending upon the weather and winds.

Jockey’s Ridge is located in Nags Head, N.C., home of world-record fishing, shipwreck remains, and the pirate, Blackbeard.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the country. Standing at 208 feet tall, it’s also the tallest brick lighthouse. The light’s beacon can be seen from 20 miles out to sea, warning sailors of the dangerous Diamond Shoals off the coast of Hatteras.

The waters off Cape Hatteras are so dangerous to passing ships, the area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

In 1999, the 6,250 ton Hatteras Lighthouse was moved further inland due to an ever-eroding shoreline. A circle of stones marks the lighthouse’s orignal site. In the photo above, the lighthouse can be seen in it’s new location. By the way, Cape Hatteras is the nearest point of land to Bermuda (563 miles as the pelican flies).

Names of former lighthouse keepers are engraved in each stone in the circle.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, N.C. was first lit on December 1, 1875. It remains unpainted to distinguish it between the two nearby black-and-white-striped lighthouses.

The marsh near the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

Walkway through the marsh.

A family of geese enjoy their protected status.

Beach at Nags Head.

Nags Head coastline.

Footprints in the sand are the only sign of human presence. Part of the attraction to Nags Head is the seclusion.

Our Weekend Road Trip this week takes us to Little Rock, Arkansas for a tour of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The 150,000 square foot structure cost approximately $165 million to construct, and it sits within the boundaries of a 28 acre park. The Clinton Library is the second largest Presidential Library. The Ronald Reagan Library is the largest.

And, I know a secret about the library that no one else does! Soon, you’ll know it too.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library

Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham—the college years

A full-size replica of the Oval Office.

Gibson Lucille-style guitar signed by B.B. King, Jonh Fogerty, Eric Clapton, Gloria Estephan, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, John Mellencamp, Garth Brooks, and Lenny Kravitz.

Okay, here’s the secret. I noticed this guitar was hanging upside down (it’s a right-handed guitar positioned as if a left-handed guitarist was about to play it)  and it was bugging the heck out me, assuming a non-musician hung it that way. And you know me, I went straight to the top for answers. Well, I was correct, they didn’t know it was upside down. Not a clue. So the head honcho sent a message to someone else who forwarded it to someone else…well, you get the idea. Finally, though, I did receive the information I sought…sort of. Here’s what they told me (basically, they passed the buck). Still, this is great “inside” information that no one knows but you and me.

“This guitar was part of our temporary exhibit “World of Music” which ran from May, 2005 to January, 2006. This exhibit was designed by Ralph Appelbaum and Associates from New York and our museum staff had little to do with the installation.

Because we had little involvement, we can only guess why it was hung that way (it kind of looks like two of the signatures are right side up when you hang it this way, one is sideways and one is upside down) but we cannot say for sure.

One thing I want to make sure you know: This item is no longer on exhibit at the Clinton Library. When it came down in 2006, it was returned to storage.

The guitar was a gift to President Clinton from Hootie and the Blowfish and it is signed by that band.”

Actual presidential limousine. It’s heavily armored.

Ballet shoes worn by a young Hillary Rodham.