America, Countries

Take your Teddy on an RV tour of the US National Parks

And inspired by the Great Man himself the drive is on to take your Teddy on an RV tour of the US National Parks this year.

Particularly with the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the first US National Monument hoving into view next year.

Now dinner party bores will tell you that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure you can see from space.

So why then did aliens alight on the Devils Tower monolith in Wyoming in Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

Teddy’s Trail


Bear necessities: Joe Wiegand as Teddy

Now no president championed the Great American Outdoors more than its 26th, Teddy Roosevelt.

While nobody had his ear more than John Muir, the legendary Scots conservationist.

We heard first hand from the immortal Teddy at IPW, the American Travel Fair, in Chicago.

With the Great Raconteur waxing lyrical about the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library next year in North Dakota.

And alighting on a Scotlander about his own Scottish roots through his mother Martha.

Which mirrors another future NY President though Manhattan Man Teddy was quick to point out Donald Trump is a Queens Man.

Devil of a good time

Rock of ages: Devils Tower in Wyoming

Every June, the Devils Tower closes to rock climbers so that the tribes can celebrate their spiritual practices.

To truly appreciate the Tower, take the 1.3-mile Tower Trail, winding around the base for the best chance to see the rock from all sides.

Devils Tower National Monument is open for visitors year-round, and admission is $25/£19 per vehicle.

The West is best

Out of the Blue: The Denver Blue Bear

RV specialists Journeyscape have picked out The Close Encounters landmark as a topical highlight.

Of its Icons and National Parks of the Great American West by Motorhome.

The 15-day holiday costs from £2,950pp including motorhome rental (but excluding international flights). 

Traditionally, of course, pioneers would reach the Wild West by wagon, stagecoach and through the grand Denver Union Station.

And we’d certainly recommend that as we would flying into Denver International Airport, in the apron of the Rockies.

The open road

Salt of the Earth: Salt Lake City

Your Journeyscape tour will take in five states, your launch pad, Colorado and taking in four of the five states under the Great American West umbrella.

That’ll be Wyoming, Montana and North and South Dakota… you’ll arrange your own private Idaho in your own time.

But for a starter Badlands National Park, Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Salt Lake City ain’t bad, eh?

So take your Teddy on an RV tour of the US National Parks.

 

America, Countries

A big Maryland Tea Party too

There’s a reason why the English sip tea and Americans cwaffee, and having thrown the leaf into Boston Harbour I see that 250 years ago they held a big Maryland Tea Party too.

While up and down the east coast some 16 others which centred not around higher taxes but lower taxes.

All designed by King George III to bail out the struggling East India Company and stop the universal smuggling the colonists favoured.

Which brings us to the subject of the tea itself which is far from your favourite morning cuppa today.

Abigail’s party

The focus of the sujet de jour, Annapolis in Maryland, is the dozenth such party over the year between December 1773 and 1774.

And we confess that we didn’t get the cups out for the ten others.

Mainly because the tea of that time is a bit more bitter.

Bruce almighty: Tea blender Bruce Richardson

Which we discovered in Abigail’s Tea Room. named for the rebel Abigail Adams, in Boston.

And created and updated by Kentuckian tea blender Bruce Richardson.

His tea being made from a blend of Chinese black tea, Nilgiri India tea, and Kenyan and Assam India teas. 

Drone ranger

Crate expectations: Annapolis Tea Party

The Annapolis Tea Party surrounded the Burning of the Peggy Stewart on October 19, 1774.

And marks the moment colonists in Annapolis formally ushered Maryland into the revolt against Britain.

A drone show surrounding a replica of a colonial-era brig will provide a living history reenactment beginning at 7pm.

All of which be seen from locations with a view of Annapolis City Dock.

Our pals at Capital Region USA, which promotes Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, have flagged up too a trip that suits us down to a tea.

Drive on

Honest Jim: And Honest Abe in Washington

With Journeyscape offering a 15-day Classic Capital Region fly-drive from £3690pps.

And that includes highlights such as Washington DC, George Washington’s estate Mount Vernon, colonial time capsule Williamsburg and awesome Annapolis.

With the price including return international flights, 14-nights accommodation and car rental throughout.

Of course, those of us who have an inside in Maryland in Chevy Chase and Chesapeake Bay have our own stopping-off point.

Where we’re guaranteed the best beers, and for the year that’s in it, a big Maryland Tea Party too.