Every geographical area seems to do its own special version of a hot dog, and for a tasty dog Hawaiian-style, Puka Dog is the place to go. What is a Puka Dog?  It’s a special bun-sized loaf of bread with a hole at one end, pierced through the length of the bun, forming a hole throughout.  Secret-sauces, relishes, or just the usual mustard and catsup, are then poured into this hollowed out bun creating a soft nestling area for a Polish-type sausage.  Take a look a the photo to get an idea of what it looks like. To order a Puka Dog you specify sausage or veggie, followed by your choice of garlic lemon sauce (mild original, spicy jalapeno, hot chili pepper, or hot hot habanero), followed by your choice of relish (mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, starfruit, or catsup, […]

Most of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major British-Colonial battle of the Revolutionary War, didn’t take place on Bunker Hill at all — most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill.  But the geographical error continues to this day, and the 221 foot tall Bunker Hill Monument stands proudly on Breed’s Hill. Construction of the monument was an on again, off again process, building furiously when funds were available, then halted when funds were gone.  Eventually, battlefield grounds had to be sold off to help complete the monument, leaving only the summit where the monument stands.  The monument was dedicated in 1843, with remarks from noted orator, Daniel Webster. The Monument is an obelisk, that is, its tall, narrow, granite sides taper into a pyramid at the top.  In front, is a statue of William Prescott, memorable for […]

The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is one of the oldest science museums in the country.  Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the Institute consists of three centers, The Science Center, The Franklin Center, and The Center for Innovation in Science Learning, with a mission to create an understanding of, and passion for, science and technology.  I visited The Franklin Institute Science Museum earlier this year when I visited Philadelphia to see the King Tut Exhibit.  The Science Center is hosting the traveling exhibit Tutankhamen And The Golden Age of The Pharaohs, which will run through September 30th. There are lots of things to see at the Science Museum, and while we were waiting to get into the Tut exhibit, we wandered around looking at the other exhibits.  The exhibits are simply presented, and designed for young minds to learn about and develop […]

The weekly Thursday night Villagefest is one of my favorite events in Palm Springs.  The event was originated by former mayor Sonny Bono, and for over 16 years has been the home for local vendors of food, fresh produce (straight from the farms), music, art, handicrafts, and entertainment. Villagefest operates year round, from 6 – 10 pm, October – May, and 7 – 10 pm, June – September, along Palm Canyon Drive between Baristo and Amado.  This weekly event has become as popular with local area residents as it is with tourists and visitors.  Many of the shops and galleries along Palm Canyon Drive stay open late on Thursday nights, and the Palm Springs Art Museum offers free admission. Over the many years that I’ve been going to Villagefest, I’ve purchased tasty local produce, a couple of pieces of art (including one large, stunning, […]

Catalina Island is located off the coast of southern California, about 22 miles southwest of San Pedro, near Los Angeles. It is part of the Channel Islands. The only city on the island is Avalon, and although over a million tourists visit the island every year, the population hovers around five thousand people. When I’ve visited Catalina, I’ve taken the ferry from Long Beach. You can also get there by ferry from Newport Beach, Dana Point, San Pedro, and Marina del Rey. The last time I took the ferry to Catalina, I had a very serious case of sea sickness, so I don’t have a terribly fond memory of the boat trip. I think, however, that it took a little over an hour to get to the island from Long Beach. You can also get there by helicopter. Motor vehicles […]

Today is Admission Day for Arkansas, our 25th state, admitted to the Union on June 15th, 1836 Arkansas is one of those states that I just don’t know much about. Yeah, I know that it’s in the south, and I know that President Clinton was from there. Oh yeah, and Little Rock is the capital. Other than that, Arkansas just hasn’t been on my radar scope much. Calling itself the Natural State, Arkansas tourism focuses on its outdoor activities: camping, fishing, National Parks, hunting, watersports, and hiking. Arkansas geography has a little of everything — mountains and valleys, forests, plains, rivers and lowlands, and even a number of underground caverns — so it offers a little something for everyone in terms of outdoor activities. This variety also makes for some pretty dramatic scenery, as with the Royal Gorge (in photo). […]

Today is Admission Day for Kentucky, the 15th state, admitted to the Union on June 1st, 1792. The first time I was in Kentucky, I thought I was in Ohio. If you’ve been to the Cincinnati airport (airport code CVG), you know what I’m talking about. The Cincinnati airport, which I foolishly believed was in Cincinnati, Ohio is actually located 13 miles south of that city. Not in Cincinnati (which I could understand), but not even in Ohio. Nope, it’s in northern Kentucky. Since I spent time in the surrounding area, during some very long time on the ground, I can say that I have been in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky is one of four states established as a Commonwealth (the others are Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts), and while that designation has no constitution significance, it means that its […]

Today is Admission Day for Tennessee, our 16th state, admitted to the Union on June 1st, 1796. Long before I knew all the states, or had visions of traveling to all of them, I knew about Tennessee. Although I may be dating myself here, it all goes back to watching the Disney movie, Davy Crockett, who was “Born on a mountain top in Tennessee, The greenest state in the land of the free. . . .” (If you’re not familiar with the song you can listen to it here.) Well, maybe that didn’t tell me much about the state, but the belief that it was lush and verdant stuck with me. Tennessee is a southern state, bordered by eight other states. (Missouri also borders eight states.) It’s been known as the “Volunteer State,” a nickname going back to the War […]