Worst Tourist Traps in America

 Moneywise has compiled the 30 worst tourist traps in America. 

Atop the Space Needle
Seattle, WA
August 26, 2023

I was appalled. I have managed to visit 15 of these places and some of them more than once. 

Wow!

Now I have to admit, I did not think the Space Needle was a tourist trap nor the Alamo or Times Square. It is really interesting the places that have made the list--like Mount Rushmore, a place that I have yet to visit. 

Sunset from the Empire State Building
New York City, NY
September 25, 2021

The list is presents an interesting collection of places. Yes, they may be tourist traps--but really, some of them are historically significant. I do think the Empire State Building is overpriced for the value--but, at sunset when I was last there it was pretty nice.

Now, I will admit places that I have had the misfortune to visit places on the list that are actual tourist traps or not worth the time, for example South of the Border. Yes, we stayed a night there--once, about 20 years ago. Also, Plymouth Rock is just that--a rock! And it is not even in the place where they came ashore. I admit, I was underwhelmed when I saw the rock. 

I recommend taking a look at the list. It is a classic-advertisement filled list and is cumbersome to navigate, but just for fun figuring out how many places on the list I actually visited was an interesting exercise. 

Enjoy!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#worsttouristtraps #touristtraps 

A Martyr?

 I heard a statement that really disturbed me yesterday on the news program that I was watching.

“I got indicted four times ... all because of the fact that I’m in politics,” Trump said. “They indicted me on things that are so ridiculous.”

“It is a form of Navalny,” Trump said. “It is a form of communism, of fascism.” (AP News)

Wow. 

So Trump thinks he is a martyr?

And he thinks the charges are ridiculous. Such are the insights into the mind of a dangerous authoritarian egomaniac. He got off light on the charges because in my mind he should be charged with treason, espionage, inciting an insurrection, and an accessory to murder.

And he continues to disparage the legal system of the U.S. and the rule of law for holding him accountable for his transgressions. 

His continued assertions that he is being prosecuted only because he is a political candidate, while it plays well with his base, are just not true. If he were not a political candidate he would be in jail pending trial on his classified document charges. Period. But because he is a candidate he is allowed to turn our legal justice system onto the theater of the macabre and a continual political rally. 

Why does Trump want immunity from his actions? Because he idolizes leaders like Putin who can have rivals eliminated without consequences.

Be afraid--be very afraid! Our country is founded upon the principle that no one is above the law! It has worked since the republic was founded. It is sad that somehow a man got elected as president who does not believe in these fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded as stated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Trump misleads hardworking people into believing that he is working for them, when in reality he is only working for himself. His Go Fund Me page is but another example of not taking responsibility for his own decisions and trying to get working Americans to pay for his transgressions. 

That so many are misled by what he says and do not look deeper into what he has done is truly disturbing. 

And now a martyr? 

Trump is not now and never will be a martyr for any cause other than himself.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#trumpdictator #trumpcriminal #trump #presidentalelection

And so it begins . . .

Our Sofa
Tequesta, FL
February 20, 2024

 Chris and I bought a sofa from La-Z-Boy which was delivered during December 2022. 

We are not happy with it. The fabric is not wearing up as it should. Mind you, there are only two of us, no kids and only a small 6 pound dog. 

Fabric Wear on Sofa

This is the second sofa we purchased from La-Z-Boy which has failed to meet wear expectations. The last one was about 20 years ago and we were totally dissed by the company when we tried to get some satisfaction. One of the representatives even went so far as to say, "you actually sat on the sofa?"

Well, they have not yet said that to us, but we found out that we are two months out of the fabric warranty. Yay! But, I persisted and a representative of the company is looking into what they can do for us. I sent them 23 images yesterday--including the two above. Some of the poor wear is visible on the footrest on the right of the top image. Most of the real problem is in the fabric wear. The sofa looks as if it is already 5 years old! That is not pilling, which is a normal part of fabric aging , I am told.

Very disappointing.

Well, we will see what La-Z-Boy will do for us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#lazboy #lazboypoorwear

Sunny, Cold and Springtime

Springtime is arriving in South Florida. 

Mango Tree in Bloom behind the Palm
Turtle Creek, Tequesta, FL
February 14, 2024

No, I can't say that Spring is springing because the snow has melted or the daffodils are popping up in gardens throughout the area--that just isn't happening. I don't expect to see daffodils, except in pots until Chris and I return to Maryland in early March. 

But, what is happening is that the trees are leafing--yes, while the trees do not all lose their leaves, the live oaks do shed many of their leaves and there are other trees that actually go dormant for a time. The leafs are getting thicker! There is more shade on the ground. 

What really brought home the idea of a South Florida springtime was when I saw the mango trees in bloom during my bike rides last week. And mangos are everywhere, it seems. 

Mangos are fun and they are a nuisance. They are fun because they are good to eat and they are fairly ubiquitous. They are a nuisance because people do not pick them up off the sidewalks and roadways and they become a hazard to walkers and bikers. 

But, I have discovered how to actually identify the arrival of Spring here in South Florida. Now if the temperature would crawl back up into the high 70s it would be ideal. The 49 degrees I am looking at right now is just cold! Too cold for a bike ride even though the sky is blue and the sun is warm.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 19, 2024

 

Happy Presidents' Day! 

1. And we are past the halfway mark of February. This is the third Monday of February and the end is in sight. There are 45 Mondays remaining in 2024. 

2. Yesterday was a weird Sunday, trapped in the house by the rain with neither football nor baseball to watch. 

Wilson at Carlin Park
Jupiter, FL
February 12, 2024

3. I know where everyone ventured to yesterday because of the rain: The Gardens Mall! The place was more crowded than at Christmas, I know because Chris and I, like many others, went to the mall to get out of the house. We walked around and shopped, but amazingly went home with nothing new. 

4. We found what appeared to be Wilson from the movie Cast Away the other day. He/it was at Carlin Park. He/it was just sitting there on the beach. I wonder where the tides have taken him/it? I admit, he/it did not look to much worse for the wear. 

5. Pop quiz. Which country is the world's biggest oil producer providing 21 percent of the world's total oil production? 

Answer:Oh wait, that would be the U.S. and we as a producer exceed the next largest producer of oil by 9 percent. See the chart.

6. Today in History. On February 19, 1847, the first rescuers reach surviving members of the Donner Party, a group of California-bound emigrants stranded by snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

In the summer of 1846, in the midst of a Western-bound fever sweeping the United States, 89 people—including 31 members of the Donner and Reed families—set out in a wagon train from Springfield, Illinois. After arriving at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the emigrants decided to avoid the usual route and try a new trail recently blazed by California promoter Lansford Hastings, the so-called “Hastings Cutoff.” After electing George Donner as their captain, the party departed Fort Bridger in mid-July. 

The Kremlin has never been richer, thanks to a US partner - CNN

 US conducts strikes against Houthi underwater vessel for the first time since Red Sea attacks began - CNN

China’s homegrown passenger jet makes international debut - CNN

Rafah attack: How Israel plans to hit Hamas and scale back war - Reuters

Russia takes full control of Avdiivka coke plant, defence ministry says - Reuters

Oil slips on demand jitters and profit-taking - Reuters

America’s Oil Power Might Be Near Its Peak - The Wall Street Journal

In Russia’s Far-Flung Cities, Navalny Inspired Average People to Challenge Putin - The Wall Street Journal

Neofascism in the United States takes the form of big money, big banks, big corporations, tied to xenophobic scapegoating of the vulnerable, like Mexicans and Muslims and women and black folk, and militaristic policies abroad, with strongman, charismatic, autocratic personality, and that's what Donald Trump is.

Cornel West

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#headlines #todayinhistory #mondaymusings

Jupiter Seafood Festival 2024

Jupiter Seafood Festival 2024
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
February 17, 2024

 Yesterday dawned beautiful. Chris and I decided that it was a great day to head to the 2024 offering of the Jupiter Seafood Festival. 

It is a classic Jupiter, Florida, event. Last year with the temperature approaching 90 degrees the fest was a bit unbearable, but this year with moderate temperatures reaching into the upper 70s it was a great and enjoyable event. 

Boat Looking
Jupiter Seafood Festival 2024
February 17, 2024

Chris and I headed out early, just after the festival opened, to enjoy the activities and the music before the crowds arrived. We felt that many others, like us, had read the weather report and knew that rain and poor weather would arrive during the afternoon.

Now, I ask, what is the most fun thing to do at a seafood festival? You might say eat, but in truth it is look at the boats. Now, I was amazed. I could buy a nice new boat with trailer and motor for less than a nicely equipped pick-up truck! Think about it! But wait, then I need a place to store it, pay the insurance, and maintain it. Wow! It makes my Freedom Boat Club membership look pretty good. I already have a vehicle capable of towing a fully loaded boat, so that did not factor into the equation.

We stopped to listen to some music and shopped at the merchants before heading back home for the rest of the day. 

And later, as forecasted, the rains came and this morning it is more like a monsoon. I'm thinking that day 2 of the festival will be a washout. Sadly. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Exclamation Point on the Week

 

Reflection of the Sunset
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
February 16, 2024

It was Friday night! 

And in memory of all of the Friday evening happy hours we have spent with friends, we gathered, with friends, on the beach to be entertained by the surfers and watch the daylight fade. 

Bundled up on the Beach
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
February 16, 2024

It was breezy and cool. But we managed to enjoy some adult beverages and food along with spirited conversation. As can be seen, we were bundled up sitting there on the beach, but I was amazed at the number of surfers who were out in the water braving the elements to get a one more ride on a wave.

The kite surfers were also out in force. There is a kite in the image of us sitting on the beach. The surfer had just come to shore and was calling it a day. 

Evening Surfer
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
February 16, 2024

I remember when Happy Hour was the exclamation point on the week. Since I've retired, however, that is not as true as it once was. It is still nice to enjoy a week ending happy hour with friends, however.

And now, without further ado, on to the weekend!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Along the Intracoastal (ICW)

Honey Fitz former Presidential Yacht
Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

 During our boat trip on Tuesday, we spied many interesting things along the ICW on our way south to Jupiter and return. 

One of them was the Honey Fitz, the former Presidential Yacht. It had moved from its previous location in Tequesta into the Jupiter inlet and was docked outside of the Pelican Club. The Pelican Club is where President Biden had his fundraising lunch about two weeks ago. Because the location was not published in advance and we could not gather outside the club to see and wish him well. 

Sea Bean coming out of the Barn
Port Salerno, FL
February 13, 2024

During our journey, Chris and I were able to point out many of the important sights along the way. The Jupiter Lighthouse, of course, was one. But we also traversed the US-1 bridge construction area which is a bit congested.

 

Beach Road Drawbridge
Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

They were able to see how a boat comes out of the barn at the marina and is set in the water and prepared for us. I just think it is so cool to see my boat being transported to the water and readied. 

We were also able to show them the drawbridges along the way. During our trip we passed under three drawbridges, one of them actually was opening as we transited. Of course the US-1 bridge construction will be the fourth drawbridge once it is completed. We also showed them the rail drawbridge along side of Alternate A1A. 

It was not just a lunch cruise. And with the manatee and dolphin sightings along with numerous ospreys, there was plenty of wildlife observed as well. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#boating #freedomboatclubsouthfl #intracoastalwaterway #honeyfitz

Abrupt End for the Stairs

 

Seaglass Condos
Jupiter Island, FL
February 12, 2024

It seems that even in buildings where the starting price for condos is about $6M, there can be interesting construction issues. 

Take, for instance, these stairs. The building is supposed to have beach access. And it sorta does, except they ended the stairs about 5 feet above the beach and then had to close the access. There are two sets of stairs from the building to the beach, and both are like this. 

It is an abrupt ending. 

Blowing Rocks
Jupiter Island, FL
January 2, 2022

Now, I know what happened. When the stairs were being constructed there was actually sand at the base of the stairs. But, since then the ocean has reclaimed the beach sand and the stairs no longer reach the beach. Clearly the contractor building the stairs was not familiar with beach conditions. The stars need to be build down into the sand to account for beach erosion.

The bigger problem is that the people living in the building do not have easy beach access right now. And the building is strategically positioned right near Blowing Rocks--which is beautiful. 

Note to self: Mind the Step!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#blowingrocks #jupiterisland #seglassjupiterisland #dangerousstairs

Going to Lunch on the Water

Sue in the Bow
Intracoastal Waterway, Stuart, FL
February 13, 2024

 Yesterday was a more normal South Florida February day. Fortunately, I had reserved a boat and the plan for the day was to motor on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) from Port Salerno south through to Jupiter, passing under three drawbridges, and have lunch the Dive Bar in Jupiter. The idea was to show off South Florida's ICW to visitors from Maryland. 

It was a good plan, well mostly. I did not factor the time required to motor all the way to Jupiter, given that about half the trip is at low speed with minimum wake which in Sea Bean is about 6 mph. I had hoped to get in some beach time on the way back, but we had to have the boat back at 3:30 PM and we pulled into the dock precisely at 3:15, which was the time I was aiming for when we departed the restaurant in Jupiter. So, there was no beach time, sadly. 

Sea Bean Tied Up
Dive Bar, Jupiter, FL
February 13, 2024

The a five hour roundtrip was my longest boating outing.

We departed the dock with five persons and one dog. Fortunately we returned with the same compliment. 

Along the way we spied a dolphin feeding in the shallows of the ICW and as we approached the Jupiter inlet we saw 10 manatees. That was very exciting. Unfortunately, there was not a picture that could be taken. On the return trip we saw an additional 2 or 3 manatees. I had to be very careful around the manatees and both avoided them and traveled very slowly. 

Bringing the boat into a relatively narrow channel with other traffic and tying up at an unfamiliar dock was a new experience.

Yesterday was one of the best weather days we have had in a few weeks and we were lucky to be out on the water enjoying the sun and relative warmth. 

It was another great day and Sea Bean was a perfect vessel.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#freedomboatclubsouthfl #boating #intracoastalwaterway