If you ever find yourself in the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pa. you will likely be impressed by the variety of things to see and appreciate.
There’s one in particular piece you should look for while exploring. In a rather unremarkable stairwell, there is a large Dale Chihuly glass chandelier. You can stand under it on the stairs or you can appreciate it at eye level from a hallway.
Chihuly’s work is recognizable because it’s so different than what most glass artists are doing. He mimics shapes found in nature, the colors are brilliant even when he’s using a monochromatic scheme, and the scale is typically quite large.
A lot of places would be tempted to hang this piece in their lobby so you can’t help to see it. They would want to show it off . At Westmoreland, it’s placed somewhere quiet, somewhere that you feel like you’re discovering it, and where you can quietly contemplate how the glass handles the light.
Last Fall, my western adventure pal and I were exiting the Yellowstone Visitors’ Center having successfully viewed Old Faithful and, interestingly, another nearby geyser that doesn’t erupt on a consistent schedule. We were hungry but the line at the cafe was a mile long and not moving thanks to a government shutdown. Luckily, we had snacks in the car because we always have snacks in the car. That’s just responsible adventuring, friends.
And look how healthy – almonds and an apple! Pay no attention to the M&Ms and Diet Coke.
Anyway, I heard Johnna gasp and looked up to see something that’s a cross between a truck, a camper, and a tank ready for battle. It’s a Mercedes truck of some kind with German plates.
The owners weren’t within sight but we figured anyone who puts their Instagram handle on the side of this particular not so average vehicle wouldn’t mind us walking up for a closer look.
However big it appears in the pictures, it is massively larger.
It looks like they’ve been everywhere and, if they haven’t been, it’s either on their list or just not worth seeing.
I like that they have a sense of humor. Haha. Turtle truck!
Part of me wonders what kind of mileage they get but part of me doesn’t want to know so we will just move on. I did visit their Instagram profile. Their pictures are great and their travels are wide and varied but the words are all in German.
I hope they are enjoying themselves.
I always think it is strange when someone visits this country and experiences more of it than most Americans would ever think to go see. Hopefully they met some nice people and saw some wondrous things, creating memories they can carry with them to wherever they are headed next.
I do enjoy seeing ghost murals and find that the alley side of an old building is often the best places for spotting them.
This one is in Bedford, PA just a few doors down from Rebellion Books, a bookshop that took a lot of my money in exchange for a wonderful book shopping experience.
Bedford is a neat little town filled with history, fun shops, and charm. I have nothing but fond memories of this place and only regret we didn’t have more time.
I am plotting a return someday because we only hit the highlights like this historic tavern and the big coffee pot. I want to see more of what’s hiding along the side streets and alleyways. After all, it’s usually off the beaten path where we find the real magic happens.
Anyone else ready to drive a road that looks like this? Holy cow. I feel like I’m stuck in the eighth week of August and desperately want to be rid of summer.
Fall can’t get here quickly enough.
This photo is from several years ago on a road out of Thomas, West Virginia. That’s the gorgeous Blackwater Falls region if you’re familiar and I was there on Columbus Day. Most businesses were closed because it was Monday but the roads were wide open and I was delighted that this area was enjoying a vibrant fall foliage season.
I’m ready for pumpkins and sweaters, cozy blankets and the crunch of leaves under my feet. Not to mention the hot chocolate, azure blue October skies, and road trips to nowhere in particular.
There’s so much to see and do in October I feel like I need to rest up so I’m prepared to not miss a thing when it finally arrives.
Glass and steel. Light and dark. I appreciate contrasts. Maybe that’s why I like this picture so well.
The place in this picture is a pedestrian walkway just off Chinatown in Washington DC. The orange pieces are 28,000 ribbons hanging down from a sort of pergola. I showed you another perspective shortly after this trip. You can see that image at this link.
I’m not sure why I have been thinking about this place lately. After all, this was a few years ago and the art pieces are certainly long gone by now.
Maybe it s because it was just such a beautiful space that practically glowed with, not just light, but a vibrant explosion of colors that’s hard to explain.
Maybe it’s because it’s just so different than where I live. For someone who happily lives in the country with trees that are bigger than our tallest buildings, there’s something almost mesmerizing about the way this building lights up against the night sky.
This is one of the reasons we travel – because the places we visit became a part of us. They become a part of our memories.
Important travel memories can come from a conversation with a local, an important artifact overhead in a museum, or the smell of fresh donuts at a local bakery. It can also be an early September breeze softly tickling 28,000 ribbons while the glow of electric light makes them seem to explode with color from within.
Don’t just go from Point A to Point B when you travel. Leave the resort. Do something outside your comfort zone. Stop to admire something unfamiliar. Make a memory.
And, on some dreary day years later, pull out the pictures and remember that near magical moment that helped to define that trip. Know that in some way, it helped to reshape a part of you too.
Travel isn’t just going places. It’s bringing those places with you wherever you go.
This year has been mostly void of travel so I have spent more time reminiscing about amazing sunrises on the road and charmed days of discovery. Recently, my brain has been on a loop of Michigan fun with my cousin Sherrie a few years ago.
That trip was defined by gorgeous sunsets, classic cars, and a willingness to go where the wind blew. I wrote about many of our adventures but realized this week that I never told you about one very special place we visited.
Have you heard of the Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix, Michigan?
Charlevoix is a charming lakeside town of about 3,000 that benefits from the many visitors who wish for a quiet vacation on Lake Michigan.
Once upon a time, one of those residents was a self taught architect named Earl Young who designed and built what are now referred to as “Mushroom Houses.”
These whimsical homes are built of native stone with sort of wavy rooflines are reminiscent of the cap of a mushroom. They look a little like they just grew out of the ground and are some of the most picturesque storybook cottages you’ve ever seen.
We didn’t see them all but did see several during our morning walk around the neighborhood. There are about two dozen in total so we just parked the car and went for a stroll.
Mind you, these are private residences but the neighborhood is accustomed to folks on organized tours and those of us armed with self guided tour maps roaming around to appreciate the uniqueness of their homes.
Because they are low to the ground, these houses do look a little like they grew out of a hill rather than dominate the land like modern homes tend to do. I appreciate the way they become part of the landscape and they remind me a little of hobbit houses for this reason.
According to the Charlevoix Historical Society, they were built by Earl Young and the endeavor began with a home he built for himself.
Charlevoix’s “Master Builder in Stone” Earl Young was born March 31, 1889, in Mancelona, Michigan and moved to Charlevoix with his family at age 11. An insurance and real estate agent by trade, this self-taught builder began his craft in 1919. His first project was his personal home located on Park Avenue. He would continue to build for the next fifty years, completing 26 residential and 4 commercial properties, most of which remain today.
My desire to respect the privacy of the residents outweighed my desire to snap a bunch of photos but I did get some. Honestly though, I am dying to see inside one and desperately hope it feels as much like a gnome’s home on the inside as it does from the street.
This was about the extent of our visit to Charlevoix other than a stop at the public beach and a chat with an employee at the thrift store. We accessed the beach by walking down these rustic steps.
We did agree the town would be a nice place to return to for a lemonade and a rest along the shore. Some of the Mushroom Houses and other neighborhood homes were available on Airbnb at the time and it seems to be like a delightful place for a rest with a stack of books and nowhere to be. Although, we all know this is not how I travel so it’s foolish to think I would stop to rest here any better than I do other places when on a trip.
Charlevoix is less than thirty minutes from Petoskey, another town that I wrote about a good bit and would return to in a heartbeat. Honestly, that whole area is gorgeous and there’s a lot to do as well as friendly people to meet. Sleeping Bear Dunes was a favorite stop. We also went up to Mackinaw Island and came home through Frankenmuth. We loved it all. Use the search bar to find some of those stories.
Perhaps I’ll make it back someday!
Visit the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page to see a few more pictures from the neighborhood.
