Gozaic is Here!

I’m very happy to announce the launch of Gozaic, the brand new online travel community for people seeking heritage- and culture-rich experiences. You can now browse through the site, and you can register to become a member at www.gozaic.com.

You can also find out more about the launch of Gozaic on the new “Go With a Purpose” blog. If you have this blog bookmarked, please be sure to bookmark the new blog address, http://blog.gozaic.com.

I hope you’ll also join the conversation by following Gozaic on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.

I hope to see you soon at Gozaic.com!

Regards,

John I. Williams, Jr.
President & CEO

Looking for Last-Minute Labor Day Weekend Ideas?

Alas, Labor Day weekend — the unofficial end of summer — is upon us. For many, especially those with school-aged kids, it’s the last opportunity to take a few days and embark on a long weekend getaway while the temperatures are still warm. If you’ve been procrastinating about making your Labor Day weekend plans and are in the market for some last-minute ideas, look no farther. Below is a list of special historic, heritage and cultural Labor Day events taking place in cities, towns and sites across America, listed alphabetically by state. Whether you are staying close to home or traveling, I hope this list helps you find an interesting way to celebrate the last days of summer vacation.

Bigfoot Days Celebration
Willow Creek, California, Sept. 5-7
Celebrate the legend of Bigfoot in the place where the legend was born (and where the infamous footage of Bigfoot was filmed in 1967). This free event will have a parade, barbecue, an ice cream social and games and activities for kids. While in Willow Creek, don’t forget to check out the impressive Bigfoot collection at the Willow Creek/China Flat Museum.

Four Corners Folk Festival
Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Sept. 4-6
Why not spend your Labor Day weekend camped out under the stars while listening to an eclectic mix of “folk” sounds— an acoustical buffet of bluegrass, jazz, pop and Latin.

Ouray County Rodeo
Ridgway, Colorado, Sept. 6-7
Experience the rodeo in a place where the spirit of the Old West lives on. Ridgway is known as the “Gateway to the San Juans” and provides the perfect, rugged mountain setting for the Ouray County Rodeo.

Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival
Geneva, Illinois Sept. 6-7
This festival offers folk music and stories on eight stages, plus master classes and a special workshop from “songmaker” Peggy Seeger, half-sister of folk music legend Pete Seeger.

Wabash & Erie Canal Boat Rides
Delphi, Indiana, Sept. 5-7
This is the last weekend of the canal boat season at Wabash & Erie Canal, so this is a great time to hop on board and enjoy a lazy ride through history.

7th Annual WorldFest
Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 4-5
WorldFest celebrates the cultural diversity of the city of Louisville and hosts the largest collection of ethnic restaurants, vendors and exhibitors at any one event in the state of Kentucky. Enjoy a wide variety of international cuisine, entertainment and crafts at this multicultural event.

Goldonna Drake Salt Works Festival
Goldonna, Louisiana, Sept. 5
Located deep in the heart of the Kisatchie National Forest, Goldonna was an important trade center during the Civil War, providing salt to Confederate troops. The Goldonna Drake Salt Works Festival celebrates this rich heritage with entertainment, food and arts and crafts.

Cane River Zydeco Festival
Natchitoches, Louisiana, Sept. 4-5
If you enjoy roots music of the South and Cajun/Creole culture, then you’ll definitely enjoy attending the Cane River Zydeco Festival. Held on the banks of the Cane River in historic Downtown Natchitoches, the festival is two days of Zydeco music, dancing and good times.

Blues Block Party in the Park
Natchez, Mississippi, Sept. 4
Join the celebration at 7pm in Jack Waite Park to dedicate a Mississippi Blue Trail Marker to Natchez native George “Papa” Lightfoot. Enjoy live blues music by the Natchez Bluff Blues Band featuring Y.Z. Ealey.

Harvest Craft Festival at the Amherst Museum
Amherst, New York, Sept. 5-6
Take your family back in time with a visit to Western New York’s fastest growing family festival. This two-day event has more than 80 artisans selling handmade items on the grounds of the Amherst Museum.

Western New York German American Heritage Festival
Cheektowaga, New York, Sept. 5-6
For just $3, you can immerse yourself in the German heritage of the region at Cheektowaga Town Park in Cheektowaga, near Buffalo. Celebrate with German food, beer and entertainment, as well as games and activities for the kids. For more info, email GAMBusinessManager@msn.com.

Labor Day Fireworks Extravaganza at the Genesee Country Village & Museum
Mumford, New York, Sept. 5
This annual evening display is one of only two of its kind in the country and is set to the theme “Building a Nation.” It tops off a day of live music, food and activities — you can even visit the museum to learn more about 19th-century life.

Blackstone River Tour, Blackstone River Valley
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Sept. 6
Here’s a relaxing way to spend your Labor Day weekend: floating lazily down a beautiful Northeastern river. Explore the natural and cultural heritage of the Blackstone River with a 45-minute narrated river cruise aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer. By the way, river tours on this Labor Day Sunday are FREE!

Pawtucket Arts Festival
Pawtucket, Rhode Island Sept. 4-7
The Pawtucket Arts Festival features all forms of art (like music, visual arts and literature) as well as culture from around the world. It’s actually a two-month-long event, and Labor Day weekend is the second to last weekend to enjoy all the festival has to offer. If you love film, check out the Pawtucket Film Festival, happening all weekend.

11th Annual Labor Day Open House at the Museum of Work & Culture
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Sept. 7
The museum’s signature event commemorates Woonsocket’s first Labor Day celebration in 1899 and seeks to enrich the public on the history of labor and Labor Day in the region. Admission to both the museum and the open house event is free on Labor Day, and includes a special commemorative play entitled “The ITU Meeting.”

Kerrville Wine & Music Festival
Kerrville, Texas, Sept. 4-6
The Hill Country of Central Texas has a growing wine culture (both growing and tasting), and Kerrville is right in the heart of it. Enjoy the wines, music, and spectacular scenery the region has to offer at this annual Labor Day weekend festival.

Herndon Labor Day Jazz & Wine Festival
Herndon, Virginia, Sept. 7
Held in the Town Green of historic downtown Herndon in Northern Virginia, this festival offers visitors a taste of local jazz artists and wine favorites from the region's wineries.

Basement to Attic Tours of Liberia Mansion
Manassas, Virginia, Sept. 5
The Liberia Mansion, a Civil War-era plantation house that served as military headquarters for generals of both the North and South, is opening its doors for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at its ongoing restoration.

BugOut 66 at the Old Dominion Speedway
Manassas, Virginia, Sept. 6
Can’t get enough of bugs? Not those kind of bugs — VW Bugs! BugOut 66 is one of the largest Volkswagen car show events in the world and treats enthusiasts to drag races, rare and exotic VWs and more.

GrahamFestUSA at Grahams Mansion
Max Meadows, Virginia, Sept. 5-6
Currently in its 3rd year, GrahamFest is an annual music festival celebrating “our founding families, our unique music, the spirit of the American people” with rock, bluegrass and country music. Regular tours are held of the Major Grahams Mansion, which was voted by the Sci Fi Channel as being one of the top four haunted places in America.

Blanding Famers’ Market
Blanding, Utah, Sept. 5
Mark the end of summer—and get ready for fall—with a trip the Blanding Farmer’s Market, which offers fresh produce, music, crafts and more in the cool mountain air. What could be better?

“Labor & Leisure” at Billings Farm Museum
Woodstock, Vermont, Sept. 7
Spend your Labor Day doing some housework — 1800s-style. Take a trip back in time to learn the latest techniques in woodcutting, ice cream making, and fence building — right on the grounds of an operating dairy farm.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Photo Credit: Bigfoot Days Celebration, Flickr, by redwoodcoaster

34 More Twittering Historic Hotels, Inns and Lodges

As promised in Part 1, 32 Twittering Historic Hotels, Inns and Lodges, we now offer you Part 2 with 34 more properties. This list is of historic hotels, inns and lodges in the states Maryland through West Virginia (alphabetically).

Once again, these properties are keeping their guests connected with information regarding not only their own offerings but those of the surrounding areas — the sites, activities and events that their guests may be interested in experiencing.

Without further delay, here are 34 more historic hotels, inns and lodges on Twitter:

*Member of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a brand of Preferred Hotel Group.

Inns of Annapolis*
Annapolis, Maryland
http://twitter.com/historicinns

Portland Regency Hotel*
Portland, Maine
http://twitter.com/PortlandRegency

Grand Hotel*
Mackinac Island, Michigan
http://twitter.com/GrandHotelMI

Island House Hotel*
Mackinac Island, Michigan
http://twitter.com/TheIslandHouse

Firelight Inn
Duluth, Minnesota
http://twitter.com/firelightinn

Raphael Hotel*
Kansas City, Missouri
http://twitter.com/RaphaelHotelKC

Monmouth Plantation*
Natchez, Mississippi
http://twitter.com/monmouthp

The Carolina Inn*
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
http://twitter.com/CarolinaInn

Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa*
Asheville, North Carolina
http://twitter.com/ewgrove

Old Edwards Inn*
Highlands, North Carolina
http://twitter.com/OldEdwardsInn

Mast Farm Inn
Valle Crucis, North Carolina
http://twitter.com/mast_farm_inn

Eagle Mountain House*
Jackson, New Hampshire
http://twitter.com/EaglelManager

Hancock Inn
Hancock, New Hampshire
http://twitter.com/hancockinn

The Governors Inn
Rochester, New Hampshire
http://twitter.com/GovInnRoch

Algonquin*
New York
http://twitter.com/Algonqueen (tweets from the Algonquin’s resident cat, Matilda)

Otesaga Resort Hotel*
Cooperstown, New York
http://twitter.com/Otesaga

Greenville Arms
Greenville, New York
http://twitter.com/GreenvilleArms

The Cincinnatian*
Cincinnati, Ohio
http://twitter.com/TheCincinnatian

Timberline Lodge
Mt. Hood, Oregon
http://twitter.com/timberlinelodge

Lancaster Arts Hotel*
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
http://twitter.com/ARTSHOTEL

Skytop Lodge*
Skytop, Pennsylvania
http://twitter.com/SkytopLodge

Yorktowne Hotel*
York, Pennsylvania
http://twitter.com/YorktowneHotel

Fern Hall Inn
Clifford Township, Pennsylvania
http://twitter.com/fernhallinn

Hotel El Convento*
San Juan, Puerto Rico
http://twitter.com/ElConvento

Vanderbilt Hall*
Newport, Rhode Island
http://twitter.com/Vanderbilt_Hall

Francis Marion Hotel*
Charleston, South Carolina
http://twitter.com/FMHCharleston

Peabody*
Memphis, Tennessee
http://twitter.com/PeabodyMemphis

Driskill*
Austin, Texas
http://twitter.com/DriskillHotel

LaSalle Hotel*
Bryan, Texas
http://twitter.com/LasalleHotel

Stonewall Jackson Hotel*
Staunton, Virginia
http://twitter.com/SWJ_Hotel

Holladay House
Orange, Virginia
http://twitter.com/HolladayHouse

Middlebury Inn*
Middlebury, Vermont
http://twitter.com/MiddleburyInn

Pfister Hotel*
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
http://twitter.com/PfisterHotel

Elkhorn Inn
Landgraff, West Virginia
http://twitter.com/elkhorninn

What is your favorite historic hotel, inn, B&B or lodge on Twitter? Post your suggestions in the comments section below!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.



Photo credit: Flickr, “Grand Hotel Fountain,” by yark64

32 Twittering Historic Hotels, Inns and Lodges

Continuing our blog series on Twitter resources for heritage- and culture-minded travelers (for previous posts, read 90+ Twittering Towns that Speak to Your Travel Interests, Part 1 and Part 2), I’ve compiled a list of historic hotels, inns and lodges that are actively tweeting on Twitter.

These hotels are doing a wonderful job of staying connected to travelers who are not just seeking a hotel stay but an enriching experience in a historic building or house. Historically, the properties are significant in many ways and play vital roles in the history of their cities or regions. Those tweeting on behalf of the hotels aren’t just talking about their own properties but also about area sites, activities and events that may interest their guests.

Here are 32 historic hotels, inns and lodges that are tweeting away with information that could help you on your travels. This is just half of the list — Arizona through Massachusetts (alphabetically). Part 2 will be published in the coming days, so stay tuned!

*Member of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a brand of Preferred Hotel Group.

Arizona Biltmore*
Phoenix, Arizona
http://twitter.com/ArizonaBiltmore

Inn at Carnall Hall*
Fayetteville, Arkansas
http://twitter.com/CarnallHall

Cavallo Point*
San Francisco, California
http://twitter.com/CavalloPoint

Grande Colonial*
La Jolla, California
http://twitter.com/grandecolonial

Paso Robles Inn*
Paso Robles, California
http://twitter.com/pasoroblesinn

The Sofia Hotel*
San Diego, California
http://twitter.com/TheSofiaHotel

Biltmore Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
http://twitter.com/BiltmoreLA

Cardinal Hotel
Palo Alto, California
http://twitter.com/cardinalhotel

Gunn House Hotel
Sonora, California
http://twitter.com/Gunnhouse

Hotel del Coronado*
Coronado, California
http://twitter.com/delcoronado

1906 Lodge
Coronado, California
http://twitter.com/1906Lodge

Hotel Boulderado*
Boulder, Colorado
http://twitter.com/HotelBoulderado

The Broadmoor*
Colorado Springs, Colorado
http://twitter.com/TheBroadmoor

Brown Palace Hotel*
Denver, Colorado
http://twitter.com/BrownPalace

The Oxford Hotel
Denver, Colorado
http://twitter.com/theoxfordhotel

Stanley Hotel*
Estes Park, Colorado
http://twitter.com/StanleyHotel

The Spa at Norwich Inn*
Norwich, Connecticut
http://twitter.com/TheSpaatNorwich

The Whaler’s Inn
Mystic, Connecticut
http://twitter.com/TheWhalersInn

Phoenix Park Hotel*
Washington, D.C.
http://twitter.com/PhoenixParkHtl

Casa Monica Hotel*
St. Augustine, Florida
http://twitter.com/CasaMonicaHotel

Brazilian Court Hotel*
Palm Beach, Florida
http://twitter.com/BrazilianCourt

The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort*
St. Simons Island, Georgia
http://twitter.com/kingandprince

River Street Inn*
Savannah, Georgia
http://twitter.com/riverstreetinn

Stone Mountain Inn
Stone Mountain, Georgia
http://twitter.com/StnMtnInn

Hotel Pattee
Perry, Iowa
http://twitter.com/HotelPattee

Palmer House Hilton*
Chicago, Illinois
http://twitter.com/PalmerHouse

Eldridge Hotel*
Lawrence, Kansas
http://twitter.com/TheEldridge

The Brown Hotel*
Louisvlle, Kentucky
http://twitter.com/TheBrownHotel

Boston Park Plaza Hotel*
Boston, Massachusetts
http://twitter.com/BostonParkPlaza

Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club*
Lenox, Massachusetts
http://twitter.com/SpaAtCranwell

Hawthorne Hotel*
Salem, Massachusetts
http://twitter.com/HawthorneHotel

Century House
Nantucket, Massachusetts
http://twitter.com/chnantucket

What is your favorite historic hotel, inn, B&B or lodge on Twitter? Post your suggestions in the comments section below!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.



Photo credit: Flickr, “Hotel Del Coronado,” by Rennett Stowe

10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate America on the 4th of July

We all have our traditional ways of celebrating the 4th of July — parades along Main Street, backyard barbecues, patriotic festivals and, to cap off the day, all-important fireworks. These are all wonderful ways to celebrate our nation’s independence and all that is great about America. But there are many other ways to celebrate what is truly great and meaningful about living in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Why not break from the old traditions this Independence Day and start some new ones?

Here are 10 heritage-rich and meaningful alternatives to consider:

Drive along a historic trail — There are many historic trails in the United States, each telling a tale of a different period in American history. Whether you spend just one day or the entire 4th of July weekend driving along one of these trails, it will be an immersive, historically rich experience you won’t soon forget. Read more about some of the nation’s best historic trails...



Visit a battlefield — Visiting a battlefield is a poignant way to remember those who fought for our country on American soil. There are many battlefields from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Texas Revolution, and other American wars peppered throughout the country. See a list of American battlefields across the nation...




Visit an historic cemetery — Learn more about our country’s history and honor those who fell in battle by visiting an historic cemetery. There are a vast number of historic cemeteries in the United States that offer tours. You can check with your local or state government to find cemeteries near you.





Go on a walking tour of a city’s history — Walking tours are an excellent and interactive way to experience the history of a particular city, town, or neighborhood. Check with the local convention and visitors’ bureau or tourism organization to find out about historic walking tours for a particular location.




Go on a picnic at a national heritage area — Move the 4th of July picnic from your backyard or city park to a more scenic and heritage-rich locale. Check out a list and map from the Alliance of National Heritage Areas.






Learn more about great Americans — Visit local historic sites and museums dedicated to the lives and works of the people who made America what it is today. Many of these places have special 4th of July programs and events.





Become a “voluntourist” — Voluntourism combines travel with volunteer service and has been gaining popularity recently. What better way to celebrate America than by giving back to the country through volunteerism. Try looking for volunteer opportunities with festivals, events held by nonprofit organizations, or other area programs. The VolunTourism.org Web site is a great place to start finding voluntourism opportunities.



Spend the day at the shore — While many people will be heading to the nearest public beach, you could enjoy the serene beauty of one of America’s national seashores or lakeshores. Bring a picnic lunch, visit nearby lighthouses, stroll through nearby towns. Make a weekend of it! Find a national seashore or lakeshore near you!



Enjoy the scenery ... from a hot-air balloon — Many towns and cities hold hot-air balloon festivals on Independence Day. If you enjoy spectacular views (and aren’t afraid of heights or flying), a hot-air balloon ride is an ideal way to experience America’s majestic beauty. You can browse the state-by-state directory at HotAirBallooning.com.



Go out to a ball game — Whether it’s Major League, Minor League, or even Little League, there is nothing more American than America’s Pastime. Baseball has a rich and storied history that can bring out the best (and worst) in its fans. There’s no denying that the sport holds a special, beloved place in the hearts of Americans. Take yourself out to a ball game and "root, root, root for the home team!"


What is your favorite way to celebrate the 4th of July? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Enjoy your holiday!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.


photo credits:
Flickr, "St. Louis 4th of July Fireworks," by Creativity+ Timothy Hamilton
Flickr, "Old Route 66, " by Swiv
Flickr, "Canon at Parkers Crossroads Battlefield," by J. Stephen Conn
Flickr, "St. Andrew's Church and Cemetery, Gallion, Alabama," by jimmywayne
Monticello, by Cole Stryker
Flickr, "Rosedale Walking Tour," by victoriabernal
Flickr, "Picnic area at Mashamoquet Brook, State Park, Connecticut," by J. Stephen Conn
Flickr, "Construction Site Voluntourism Project," by thomaswanhoff
National Park Service, "Assateague Island"
Flickr, "Hot Air Balloons Idaho," by Gerry Slabaugh
Flickr, "Baseball at Wrigley Field," by kberberi

Links to Places That Matter: Road Trips Edition

As the end of June arrives, many of us can’t wait to indulge in that time-honored tradition we’ve spent months feverishly working toward: the summer vacation. If you’re looking for a fun, economical and meaningful adventure without having to board an airplane, please allow me to extol the benefits of the road trip.

Road trips are a great way to travel because they give you the opportunity to really experience the journey and see things that you would miss if you were traveling by airplane. The other big advantage of road trips is the utter freedom — from crowds, claustrophobic airplane cabins, and that overall feeling of anxiety many experience when traveling high in the sky. It’s just you, your car and the road — with nothing but new places and experiences waiting right beyond the next mile marker. Now is the time to cue up — and crank up — Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” in your mind’s soundtrack.

Here are a few links to resources that can help you plan your road trip this summer as well as ideas for some of the best road trips America has to offer:

• Sold on the idea of a summer road trip but not sure where to begin? Read “Road Trip Planning 101” from SmarterTravel.com for some great tips to get you started on the road (trip) to happiness.

• Craig Wilson at USA Today talks about the book “The Little Road Trip Handbook,” some of his own road trip memories, and what not to take with you on the road.

• Gas prices may be decreasing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch how much gas you’ll be guzzling during your next trip. Cost to Drive has a nifty tool that calculates your approximate gas costs based on your mileage and the kind of car you’re driving.

• Road-tripping by RV might just be the best way to travel, allowing you to take all the comforts of home on the road with you. The “Road Tripper Blog” offers some excellent advice for planning an RV trip as well as ideas for great RV drives.

• Looking for a historic road trip through the American West? Byron Marlowe of the Phoenix East Valley Tribune recommends the Trail of Many Tracks road trip for heritage travelers, which is located in northeastern Arizona.

• Speaking of historic road trips, America's many national historic trails offer rich opportunities to take long drives through the country's heritage. Here are just a few of the best historic trails that are best experienced by car.

• Texas has many road trip opportunities for heritage and cultural travelers — where else can you find rugged mountains, sweeping plains, majestic green hills and pristine coasts all in one state? Read “The Road Trip Destination Guide” to get a little inspiration for your next Texas road trip.
  

Enjoy your summer vacation!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation


Photo Credit: More Scenes from an Unintended Road Trip, Flickr, jayRaz

Did You Hear the News?

We have some very exciting news — did you hear about it?

If you are a registered member at Go With a Purpose, you may have already seen the special announcement that was emailed today exclusively to registered members. If you are not a member yet, you can still find out about what has been causing all the excitement!

Hint: The name of the new Web site and its logo have been revealed!

The new online community for heritage and cultural travelers is ready to launch in the coming weeks, and you can be among the first to receive exclusive updates (including today’s big announcement, which you can see once you have signed up and logged in).

Don’t miss out on the latest news — become a part of something exciting and sign up today at Go With a Purpose!

A Special Announcement is Coming Soon…

The excitement has been building for weeks, and the launch of the new online heritage-travel community is growing ever closer! We will be making a special announcement tomorrow, June 9; however, the announcement will be made via email exclusively to registered community members.

Don’t miss this announcement — it will offer a sneak peek of the new Web site and what it will offer! By signing up for free, you become a founding member of a dynamic community for people passionate about heritage- and culture-rich travel experiences. Become a part of something exciting and sign up today!

Links to Places That Matter: Museum Edition

Heritage Travel, Inc. recently visited Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love,” for the annual American Association of Museums (AAM) conference. It was a great experience, and we met many people from a broad range of interesting museums located all over the world.

Our biggest takeaway from AAM was the understanding of how many different museums cover a wide plethora of interests, taking visitors on multifaceted journeys through history and heritage. This is the inspiration for this week’s edition of Links to Places That Matter.

Here are a few places that may peak your interest:

• The Museumist blog reviews the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture located in Spokane, Washington. The MAC (as it’s affectionately known) has a diverse collection of exhibits, covering regional history as well as other interesting facets of culture.

• Did you know that the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. reopened in November 2008 following a two-year-long renovation? Mary Billingsley, Director of Media Relations for Heritage Travel, shared her experiences during a recent visit there with a gaggle of third-graders. In her blog post, Mary highlighted some of the museum’s new interactive exhibits that her group of kids really enjoyed.

• RoadsideAmerica.com features sites and museums that are more offbeat. For instance, two museums that were featured recently are the Titanic Museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, which is the first Titanic museum in the U.S. and home to a collection of artifacts and memorabilia (many donated by actual survivors), all packed into a couple of rooms at the back of a jewelry store. The other is the Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, featuring one man’s collection of thousands of toy robots – old and new, big and small. Visitors can even play with some of these robots!

• If you have never used Twitter before (or have been avoiding it), you may want to try it out as you plan your next museum visit. More and more museums are using Twitter to get the word out about new exhibits, upcoming events, and even special discounts and offers. Read more about tweeting museums on Worldhum.

Enjoy!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation


Photo Credit: Philadelphia, Flickr, vic15

Heritage Q&A With Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

With today’s post we begin a new series of Q&As with people dedicated to finding meaning in heritage- and culture-related travel. Writer and photographer Kathryn O’Shea-Evans is the first to share her thoughts and experiences for this new feature. Kathryn has written for Travel + Leisure, GOOD, and National Geographic Traveler magazines. She loves trying new foods, spending time in nature, and going to the same museums over and over again. Learn more about Kathryn's work on her Web site.

1. Where have you found inspiration and/or life-enrichment during your travels?
Museums are musts, but I always find the most inspiration through the people I meet—not just friends or tour outfitters, but everyday folks: the chatty kid sitting next to you on the train; the old woman who gives you a lift, tells you she’s won the lottery, and hands you and your friends a wad of cash (It’s happened to me! In Ireland, the most welcoming of countries).

2. Heritage Travel: Tell us about your most recent trip. What heritage or cultural sites did you visit?
My last big trip was on Thanksgiving weekend, when a friend and I headed to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. We made lots of jokes en route about wearing bonnets and ogling blacksmiths, but in truth the trip was totally fantastic—we ate our turkey dinner in an 18th-century tavern, explored a working farm that was organic centuries before the term "global warming" existed, went on a candlelit ghost tour, and learned a favorite new (ancient) buzzword: Huzzah!

3. What is your most memorable heritage or cultural travel experience?
Impossible to pick, thank you very much! I can tell you that I’ve loved sitting on William Faulkner’s front porch in Oxford, Mississippi; sneaking around an abandoned castle in Northern Ireland; and singing folk music in the stone-walled basement of a church in Harlem. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of memorable experiences, but I know they’re less about the destination than how you approach what you’re doing.

4. Where is one heritage or cultural destination you think everyone who shares your interests should visit?
I’ve lived in New York City for a couple years now. It’s chockablock with heritage, and the stories of that heritage evolve further every day. Don’t miss the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, where you can experience what daily life was like for waves of immigrants who once packed into its perfectly-preserved 1863 building.

5. What sorts of things do you like to learn during your travels?
How people live (or lived) there, and what their daily lives are (were) like. Those are the things I really take with me, and often incorporate into my own life.

6. What does heritage travel mean to you?
Going to a new place with an open mind to learning about its past, present and future. To me, “heritage” shouldn’t just translate to “history”—our future will be our past soon enough.

7. What are your favorite heritage- and culture-rich destinations?
Honestly I can’t possibly pick favorites—the entire earth is heritage and culture-rich, wherever you roam. The important thing is to get going!

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming Heritage Q&A, or know someone who travels with a purpose and finds meaning in heritage- and culture-related travel experiences, please contact us.

One Week Left to Enter the Heritage Travel "Reviews" Contest

Time certainly flies, and the Heritage Travel “Reviews” contest May 1st deadline is right around the corner.

You still have time to submit your reviews of U.S. heritage- and culture-related sites and enter to win a guided New York City theater tour. Even if you have already submitted a review, submitting more than one increases your chance of winning.


Tour highlights include:

• A private performance by current Broadway entertainers.
• A behind-the-scenes tour of Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (you can even perform on stage!)
• Tickets to 2 Broadway shows of your choice.
• Privileged access to the New Amsterdam Theater.
• A special visit to The Players, the theater world's most prestigious private club.
• A private meeting with the president of the National Arts Club.

Your reviews will be among the first featured on the new Web site when it launches in late spring.

Need some inspiration? Here are excerpts from a few recently submitted reviews selected at random:

"During a trip to Memphis, you have to make time for the National Civil Rights Museum. Going into it, I thought I knew a good bit about the Civil Rights Movement. But I learned so much more from my visit. It's also a very emotional experience. The museum's use of life-sized exhibits allows you to participate in the sit-ins, join in the bus seat next to Rosa Parks, and march side-by-side with others to make change…It's like stepping back in time. Absolutely something that everyone must experience!"

"Tucked away in downtown Saint Joseph, Missouri is the final home of the outlaw Jesse James. No matter what your personal opinion, you must agree that Jesse is a true celebrity -- both during his lifetime and now. And the best thing about the Jesse James house? You can still see the bullet hole! (Although after years of visitors taking souvenir splinters, you'd think Jesse was killed by a bazooka.)"

"Esteemed for its cheap cost and blue-collar image, Pabst is the perennial favorite of college kids and your average patriotic red-white-blue beer guzzlers. Behind the legendary product, however, is the unique life of a somewhat forgotten character known as Captain Frederick Pabst an enterprising immigrant, industrialist and philanthropist... Pabst Brewing Company closed its Milwaukee brewery in 1996, and now conducts operations out of corporate headquarters in suburban Chicago. The mansion exists today as one of Milwaukee’s great architectural landmarks, and towers as a prominent link to the Captain’s life and times, bridging three centuries in the process."

So, with one week left, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance. Submit your review today!

Kari Rippetoe is the marketing manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Heritage Travel: Connecting Through Places That Matter

When I spend even a few minutes perusing the list of places on the Save America’s Treasures Web site I’m reminded of the sheer breadth and diversity of heritage- and culture-rich destinations and sites in the U.S. alone. I find myself reflecting that, from sea to shining sea, such sites comprise a mosaic of heritage and culture that shapes our collective experience and gives greater meaning to our lives every time we visit.




"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness."

President Barack Obama
Inaugural Address
January 20, 2009



Heritage Travel, Inc. was created recently by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to provide a unique and new service: helping people find and explore the places that matter to them. Our mission is to help people who are curious about the world enrich their lives through heritage and cultural experiences.

Now, the task of creating this online community is humbling, perhaps even a bit daunting, as “heritage” and “culture” are broad terms indeed! Yet, our mission could not be more inspiring because in exploring the diversity of our heritage and culture we discover what we have in common and what brings us together.

The new Heritage Travel Web site will be launched soon. Its powerful search engine and extensive catalog of destinations and sites will help us all discover heritage- and culture-rich experiences that we never knew existed – both across town and around the world. We will have a place online to review the destination photos and recommendations of others who, like Lewis and Clark, have paved the way. Then, we’ll be able to pay it forward by contributing our own trip journals so others may trace our steps and share the joys that result from our unique heritage travel experiences. The hundreds of reviews already contributed to this prelaunch, mini-site – GoWithaPurpose.com – are just the beginning. As we engage with one another online, we will find ourselves connecting more and more through places that matter and re-discovering the common denominators that shape our shared heritage.

Heritage Travel is a global idea. Any place that people have ever lived, toiled, explored the wilderness, waged war, yearned for peace, erected great monuments, created art forms or aspired to bring meaning to life is a part of this rich landscape. Our heritage journey drives us always to follow our truth, wherever it may lead, and to discover more about ourselves and how we relate to those around us.

All of us at Heritage Travel are thrilled to contribute to this collective journey. We look forward to connecting with you as we embark together on this never-ending exploration of heritage and culture.

John I. Williams, Jr., is President and CEO of Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

photo credit: Eric Purcell (ep_jhu) from Flickr.com