Information Blog Regarding Travel

Introduction

Nova Scotia is a province located on the eastern coast of Canada. Its name means “New Scotland” in Latin, reflecting its historical connections to Scotland. Nova Scotia doesn’t need any enchanted marketing to promote itself because it is known for its stunning coastline, rich maritime heritage, and vibrant cultural scene. The province is characterized by its mix of urban centers, quaint towns, and picturesque landscapes.

History

Nova Scotia has a rich history dating back to Indigenous peoples who inhabited the region for thousands of years. The province played a significant role in European exploration and colonization, with the arrival of the French and later the British. It was a strategic location during conflicts between these colonial powers. The province was a founding member of the Canadian Confederation in 1867.

Year-Round Weather

Nova Scotia experiences a temperate maritime climate with four distinct seasons. The weather varies across the province, but generally, summers are mild and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging from 15-25°C (59-77°F). Winters are relatively cold, with average temperatures between -10 to 0°C (14-32°F). Coastal areas are often milder due to the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean.

Biggest Cities and Towns

The largest city in Nova Scotia is Halifax, which is also the provincial capital. Other significant cities include:

• Dartmouth (adjacent to Halifax)
• Sydney
• Truro
• New Glasgow
• Kentville
• Yarmouth

Getting to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is accessible by air, land, and sea. The province has several airports, with Halifax Stanfield International Airport being the largest and most well-connected. It’s also possible to reach Nova Scotia by road via the Trans-Canada Highway or by ferry from other provinces.

Major Attractions and Places to Visit

1. Peggy’s Cove: A charming fishing village famous for its iconic lighthouse and stunning coastal scenery.
2. Cabot Trail: A scenic highway that winds through the Cape Breton Highlands, offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
3. Halifax: The capital city offers a mix of history, culture, and urban attractions. Visit the historic waterfront, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and the Halifax Citadel.
4. Annapolis Valley: Known for its fertile farmland, this region offers vineyards, apple orchards, and charming towns like Wolfville.
5. Lunenburg: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this town is known for its well-preserved historic architecture and seafaring heritage.
6. Kejimkujik National Park: A wilderness area offering hiking, camping, canoeing, and a chance to experience the natural beauty of Nova Scotia.
7. Cape Breton Highlands National Park: Offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
8. Yarmouth: A historic town known for its maritime heritage and the Yarmouth County Museum.
9. The Bay of Fundy: Witness the highest tides in the world and explore coastal landscapes and rock formations.
10. Fortress of Louisbourg: A reconstructed 18th-century French fortress that provides insight into the colonial history of the region.

Summary

Nova Scotia’s mix of natural beauty, historical sites, and vibrant cultural scene makes it a compelling destination for both locals and visitors. Whether you’re interested in exploring coastal vistas, experiencing maritime traditions, or immersing yourself in cultural events, Nova Scotia offers a diverse range of experiences.…

Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the US. It is a vibrant city of 2.5 million inhabitants that throbs with life, fun, excitement, and crazy adventures. Clark Weeks loves the city because of his love of the oil industry. Houston is the US capital of the oil industry and has museums and exhibits about the industry you will see nowhere else. If you want to visit Houston anytime soon be sure to check out the following attractions for a wholesome time:

Museum District

The museum district is home to 19 museums of different themes and concepts. These include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Children’s Museum of Houston. A part of the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences is the Wiess Energy Hall, the most modern and largest exhibition hall on the science and technology of energy in the world. Eleven of these museums have no entry fee at all. Many of these museums are situated close to each other and you can easily cover them all by walking from one to another, but you might need a few days to see them all.

Space Center, Houston

It is probably the best-known attraction of Houston. It is part of NASA’s Johnson Space Centre and is the official area of the center that is open for public visits. You can walk through the replica of a space shuttle, a space station, see and touch a rock from the moon, and other such displays. A Rocket Park is also in the center where real rockets are displayed. You can also book a VIP tour that lasts 4-5 hours and takes you behind the scenes of the Johnson Space Centre.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum (Clark Weeks’ Favorite)

It is an actual oil rig that was built in 1969 for an offshore oil drilling expedition. This is one of Clark Weeks’ favorites. It is now a celebrated museum about oil drilling and exploration. It is located in Galveston that is situated less than an hour away from Houston. Galveston, by the way, is a major tourist attraction on its own. You can take a day-long trip from Houston and enjoy this museum and other recreational activities at Galveston.

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

A 2.77-acre park that is famed for its uniquely designed fountain. It is a 64 feet high semi-circular structure and has a large arch in front of it. The gushing water rushing down on it is truly a sight to behold. The park is a great space for a fun family outing and is surrounded by 186 oak trees.

Downtown Aquarium

This world-class aquarium houses some 200-exotic sea-creatures in its sprawling six-acre complex. Besides an aquarium, there is a shopping area, a restaurant, a bar, and a ballroom as well. It promises full fun for the entire family. Although Clark Weeks loves to scuba dive, so far, he hasn’t tried scuba diving in the aquarium. However, many aquariums allow people to sign up and dive among their many fish. They usually don’t let people dive in the shark tank though.

Cockerel Butterfly Center

A great place to learn a thing or two about butterflies and other bugs. It is a great place for kids and adults alike. You will find a butterfly habitat inside and learn about them through quizzes and interactive games. There are many other places to visit in Houston for example, The Galleria, Hobby Centre for the Performing Arts, Toyota Centre, Texas Rock Gym, The Music Box Theatre, Discovery Green, Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Air Terminal Museum, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Topgolf, and many others. You will surely have a gala time visiting Houston.…

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia and has something unique to offer for every type of tourist who visits here. Clark Weeks’ lives nearby and is proud to show off this great American city. Rebuilt after the American Civil war in 1865, the city attracted a wide variety of new residents. This diversity is still visible in its culture and cuisine. So, here is a list of sights that must be visited when you are in Atlanta.

Atlanta History Center

Garden trials with a variety of native plants of Georgia and historic homes spread over 33 acres narrate a unique history of the state of Georgia. The Atlanta History Museum located within the center is a place of immense interest that exhibits the region’s history right from the native American culture to the pre-Civil War antebellum era to more recent history.

Piedmont Park

This rich expanse of greenery is located in the heart of Atlanta’s midtown area. The park serves as a favorite spot to have a picnic for the locals as well as tourists. Equipped with tennis courts, dog parks, a public-use swimming pool, as well as Farmer’s markets every Saturday this tourist attraction is entirely free of cost and is open to all. Atlanta Pride, Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival are all held here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

This national historical park is dedicated to the life and history of one of America’s foremost civil rights leader. The King Center has an ongoing exhibit of the civil rights movement and the monument also houses Martin Luther King, Jr.’s gravesite. You could say it has the alpha and omega of Reverend King since it not only has his gravesite but also the home where he was born and grew up. Nearby is also the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was a pastor.

Atlanta Beltline

The Atlanta Beltline is one of the more recent tourist attractions of this city. This mammoth project includes 33 miles of walking and bike trails, 22 miles of streetcar rails, as well as nearly 2,000 acres of green spaces maintained as parks. While the entire project is scheduled to be completed by 2030, tourists and locals can still enjoy 5 trails and 7 parks that have been finished.

Georgia Aquarium

With over 100,000 animals belonging to over 700 species, the Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. It is a perfect place to spend an entire day enjoying the many mysterious beings that our oceans hold.

Fox Theatre

Rated as one of the top 4 must-visit sights in Atlanta, the Fox Theatre is certainly an iconic Georgian landmark. You don’t have to buy tickets for a performance to experience the ornate building interior and exterior architecture of this building. The theatre conducts tours on selected days of the week and this will not take more than 1-2 hours of your time. It is based on Egypt and Spain, in particular the Alhambra in Granada Spain and the Karnak Temple in Luxor Egypt.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

While there is no dearth of parks in Atlanta, the Botanical garden should be on every flora lover’s checklist. With a Children’s Garden, a Tropical Rotunda, an Edible Garden, the Fuqua Orchid Centre, you are spoiled with choices.

Fernbank Museum of National History

This National History Museum offers exhibits ranging from prehistoric to modern times. The indoor as well as outdoor experiences are a perfect way to spend your holiday and learn at the same time.

Ponce City Market

The Ponce city market is in complete contrast to the serenity of Atlanta’s parks and museums. The commercial center boasts of an interesting shopping and eating experience.

Centennial Olympic Park

Last but not least, the Centennial Olympic Park, developed for the 1996 Olympic games is another interesting site to visit. It is located in downtown Atlanta and includes parks, fountains, pools, and art pieces. We believe when you visit you will fall in love with Atlanta and understand why Clark Weeks is so proud to call it home.

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Clark Weeks travelled to Cookeville and Putnam County on business and found it an interesting location. A beautiful experience can never be put in words, it just needs to be felt and fulfilled. Cookeville is one such place to be visited and experienced. Cookeville is one of the largest micropolitan cities in Tennessee state with a significant contribution to the economy of the state. Named after Richard Fielding Cooke who had a vital role in developing Putnam county, Cookeville has many attractions and places to visit and to be cherished.

Cookeville is a combination of nature, fun, and entertainment. A perfect plan to spend a day in Cookeville will be like a smooth ride over the city with minimal traffic. Beginning the day with coffee at Poet’s Coffee and heading your way to the market on the square where you can shop in your favorite stores like Broadway boutique mall, Cigi’s, Old town T-Shirt company and many more. Next to this shopping hub lies Cream City Ice Cream and coffee shop where you get to taste delicious smoothies and icecreams.

Places Clark Weeks Recommends You Visit in Cookeville:

Cookeville is a culmination of beautiful waterfalls for nature lovers and museums for the love of arts and history. Some of the must-visits are

Cummins Falls State Park:

Cummins Falls State Park has been awarded as the 8^th largest waterfalls in Tennessee. Hiking and swimming are the most loved and enjoyable activities here. Cummins Falls State Park is located in Jackson County which is at the northwest of Cookeville.

Burgess Falls State Park:

The state park includes activities like hiking, fishing, and birding. It is located in Putnam County and White county of Tennessee.

Cookeville Depot Museum:

For the love of historical train item displays, this is the best and must-visit place in Cookeville. The museum is located in the middle of shopping hubs and exotic culinary stores. Take your little ones along and let them enjoy the toy train rides in the museum.

Dogwood Park:

A place to walk around, sit and relax, Dogwood Park also counts to one of the must-visits in Cookeville.

Cookville History Museum:

Cookeville history museum is a very well organized and interesting place where you get to view many antiques from the early days to now.

In addition to the places that are serene, beautiful and entertaining Cookeville is also significant for its arts and culture. The Cookeville art studio and gallery hold magnificient pieces of art and exhibits them. You also get a chance to learn and create your art in the gallery. Also don’t forget to give a short visit to Bee Rock where with a bit of hiking, we get to see the most beautiful view during the fall season. Apart from all the exceptional beauties of Cookeville, another pride of the town is its extraordinary Murals which you get to see across the streets. While perhaps not as spectacular as the Rockies or Paris, Clark Weeks likes the charm of Cookeville and Putnam County and the beauty of the parks and natural areas. …

Clark Weeks is interested in oil wells but he hasn’t looked at the fracking areas of Pennsylvania yet to our knowledge. So, we thought we would give Clark Weeks a tour of this part of Pennsylvania.

The section of Pennsylvania where fracking is most prevalent is the western part of the state. There is an area just south of Pittsburgh with a large concentration of wells and another smaller grouping just north of Pittsburgh. Then there is an even larger concentration of wells in between the towns of Williamsport, Scranton and Binghamton. There are also a scattering of oil wells between those two concentrations.

Believe it or not, Pennsylvania has almost 130,000 oil and gas wells. Most are conventional. But just over 10,000 of these were fracking wells. They are concentrated in the areas mentioned above.

Pittsburgh

So we will take you on a tour of Pittsburgh and the other towns. The city has some odd and interesting museums and also has sports venues, shopping and more.

Bicycle Heaven Museum

That may sound a bit crazy to have a museum dedicated to bicycles and motor bikes but they do and there are hundreds, possibly thousands of them. From the very earliest bikes made to the latest models. Incredibly, it is the collection of a single man who still runs the museum.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

They have a gem collection and a top flight dinosaur collection. You can argue whether it should be called an apatosaurus or a brontosaurus but they have one. There are also sections on Egyptology, the Polar regions of the world, Native Americans and more.

Carnegie Museum of Art

Beginning to get the idea that Andrew Carnegie was a major force and benefactor in Pittsburgh? They have a large collection of impressionist art which is always a favorite, but also old masters and modern as well.

Duquesne Incline

These are cable cars built in 1877 that go up Mt. Washington. The view at the top is a stunning panorama that allows you to see Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.

Andy Warhol Museum

You would never guess what is in this museum. Lots of paintings by Andy Warhol.

Frick Art and Historical Center

This is highly recommended. There is a garage that is not your typical two car garage. No, this is a garage befitting a robber baron. There is a whole car museum inside this garage. You can tour the house which also has an art collection. This is the same Frick that also owned the Frick Gallery in New York City.

Sports

You can go to Heinz field and see the Steelers play or PNC park and see the Pirates play. You could also go to PPG Paints Arena to see the Penguins play.

There are other parks, museums, restaurants, shopping and things to do in Pittsburgh. We continue our Clark Weeks tour of the fracking and oil well region of Pennsylvania for your enjoyment and education.

Williamsport

Since Williamsport is a much smaller city than Pittsburgh, there isn’t as much to see and do. However it is easier to get around.

Little League Museum

Williamsport is where they hold the Little League World Series each year. There is the original field and a museum which is free. There is also the Williamsport Crosscutters minor league team that you could go and see.

Thomas Taber Museum

It has a lot of exhibits about local history but the section that will probably appeal to kids of all ages is the model train room. They have a lot of them on display but the piece de resistance is the working train set-up. It should keep your kids occupied for a while.

Scranton

There are a lot of interesting museums in Scranton as well as parks and other natural things to explore.

Museums

There is the Steamtown National Historic Site with a variety of locomotives to explore. There is the Electric City Trolley Station and Museum. Some more unusual museums include the Antracite Heritage Museum and the Houdini Museum which has magic shows as part of its repertoire. The Everhart Museum has a collection of art of primarily local artists as well as a stuffed bird collection and gems.

Aquarium

The Electric City Aquarium also has a reptile den. They have an exhibit of predatory reptiles which you can watch do their thing and prey.

Binghamton

This is also a small town but there are some things to do here. They include the Bundy Museum of History and Art, the Cutler Botanic Garden, the Roberson Museum and Science Center, the Binghamton Zoo, and the Phelps Mansion Museum.

We hope our Clark Weeks tour of the area will give you some ideas for a tour of your own. Perhaps Mr. Weeks will come here and check it out. For more travel blog posts go here …

If you want to have a great time Clark Weeks, an avid skier recommends Steamboat. https://www.steamboat.com/

Skiing at Steamboat

What makes Steamboat special according to Clark Weeks are the amazing number of trails. The lifts run to 4 or 5 peaks maybe more. It seems like you could ski for a week and not ski the same slope twice. There is a wide selection of slope difficulty with enough double black diamond trails to make an expert skier like Clark Weeks happy.

Besides the beautifully groomed slopes, you can also ski through the woods. Don’t try it unless you are a pretty good skier though. Running into a tree isn’t fun. Ask Sonny Bono. There are cafes and restaurants at different spots on the mountain. The area is so large this is necessary. If you are at the far end away from the main lodge it would take quite a while to get back there to eat and then a long time to get back to where you were. So, they have wisely provided places to rest and eat at different spots on the different peaks.

Clark Weeks Recommends Chalets for Lodging

There are a variety of choices for lodging at Steamboat. You can stay at the hotel there or you can rent one of the chalets and have you own little home away from home. You can cook in if you want or you can go out to the different restaurants. Clark prefers to stay in the chalets so you can ski right to the lift and get a quick start on the day.

Right around the main lodge and hotel are a number of shops selling clothing, ski equipment and a variety of other items.

Dining and Entertainment

There are restaurants as well as shops around the main lodge and hotel. Restaurants in the hotel too of course. But you might want to take a drive in to the town of Steamboat which is nearby. They have a greater selection of restaurants and stores. One of Clark Weeks favorites is a store that has an amazing variety of fossils and various interesting stones. You can also take a ride on a sleigh just outside of town and it takes you through the woods and then serve you dinner in a quaint building.

If you can’t figure out how to have a good time in Steamboat, Clark Weeks says you need to get a life. Loosen up and have some fun! Steamboat is a great place to relax or to play hard and party hard. Your preference, your choice.

For more travel blog posts go here…

For Clark Weeks trip to India he went to Wayanad. Kerala is a state in southern India that attracts thousands of tourists each year, both domestic and international. Also called “The God’s Own Country”, Kerala has beautiful beaches, peaceful backwaters, exotic wildlife, enchanting hill stations and much more to offer.

This article highlights the key places one could visit while in Wayanad, a district located in the serene Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While all of Kerala is beautiful, Wayanad is especially so. For instance, Wayanad is home to diverse types of flora and fauna, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

How did Clark Weeks reach Wayanad India?

As they say, you can’t get there from here. For Clark Weeks to get from the US to Wayanad he of course flew to India.But once in India it takes further effort to get there. To get to Wayanad, you need to go to Kozhikode, which has the nearest airport and railway station and it is only about 100 kilometers from Wayanad city. Therefore, the journey from Kozhikode to Wayanad has to be by road. It is generally agreed that the best time to visit is between October and March.

What to see?

Edakkal Caves:

Pointing to existence of a prehistoric civilization in this region, the wall drawings in the Edakkal caves are believed to be more than 8000 years old.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

Spread over an area of 350 square kilometers, this sanctuary is home to Asiatic tigers, elephants, Indian Bison, several types of deer and a large variety of birds.

Soochipara and Meenmutty Falls:

Wayanad has a number of glorious and breathtaking waterfalls out of which Soochipara and Meenmutty are definitely worth seeing. The small treks to both falls are thrilling and fascinating experiences in themselves. At Meenmutty, ones with an adventurous streak can also indulge in rope climbing to the top of the fall.

Chembra Peak:

With its summit at 2100 meters above sea level, the Chembra Peak offers a great hike from the town of Meppadi amidst stunning views all along the trek. The hike to the top and back can be completed in a single day.

Banasura Sagar Dam:

This vast waterbody, one of India’s largest earth dams, comprises of several small islets and is surrounded by beautiful nature. One can partake in a number of adventure activities here.

Kuruva Island:

Spread over close to 4 square kilometers, Kuruva Island is a heaven for nature lovers. Just the amount of different natural colors around you is a sight to behold.

Tea Estates and Tea Tasting Experience:

Wayanad has acres and acres of tea and coffee plantations. Many tea estates include tea tasting as part of their guided tours, which could be a unique and memorable experience.

Uravu, the Bamboo Village:

Wayanad is famous for its art and craft made using bamboo. One can have a first-hand experience of seeing the craft making process in one of the bamboo factories in village of Uravu.

Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary:

Ornithologists and people who love bird watching must visit this bird sanctuary, which is home to several rare bird species.

Summary

The places above are just a few of several attractions Wayanad has to offer. Combine the beautiful nature with heartwarming hospitality of the locals, and Wayanad becomes an unforgettable travel experience. We hope Clark Weeks trip to India has given you some ideas for your next trip abroad.

For more blog posts on travel, go here.

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America, Love It or Leave It

It seems the country is so divided these days. People say if you don’t love the country you should go somewhere else, or “go back where you came from”. Ironically, that kind of statement is very un-American. Just because you don’t agree with what is going on and you speak up about it doesn’t mean you hate America. Quite likely it means you love America and want to see it be better than it already is. If more people traveled, they might get a different perspective.

Eyes opened in the Soviet Union

Just after college I traveled to Europe and spent some time in Finland. Part of that trip was a side trip for a few days to Leningrad in the Soviet Union. (The name has now reverted to St. Petersburg.) I was with a group of students and recent college graduates. They warned us not to bring any anti-Soviet printed material into the country. At the border, Soviet soldiers came on the train to check passports and sometimes check through luggage. One person had a Time magazine and it had a page advertising a bunch of books, each with a picture about an inch by an inch. One of these was a book that was critical of the Soviet Union. The guard tore that little part out of the magazine. We figured he must have been alerted to look for that issue of Time.

The trip organizers told us to be careful what we said because our rooms were likely bugged and that they would be searched when we were out sightseeing. If all of that doesn’t give you an appreciation for the freedom of speech and thought that we have, I don’t know what will. We should not be trying to shut down other viewpoints in the US but instead be encouraging dialogue. As the Germans found, you can too easily fall into a dictatorship that doesn’t allow dissent.

Eyes Opened Further in Poland

While in Finland I met a Polish girl who was an engineering student. (She later managed to get to Canada and is now a professor of engineering there.) After my time in Finland I spent some time in Belgium. While there I got a visa and managed to visit her in Poland for a few days and stay with her family. They generously shared what they had while I was there even though the country was very poor at the time while under Soviet domination.

Almost every night I was there some of her friends came over. We talked until late into the night. It was fascinating hearing about their experiences and debating politics. They longed for the freedoms that we had.

We talked about anything and everything. But then during the day as she showed me the sights, several times she shushed me and said you don’t know who is listening, we will talk about that when we get home. It was like something out of George Orwell’s 1984. That really gets your attention and makes you glad to live in America.

Embrace Our Differences

No one here in the US wants to experience on a daily basis what I saw in the Soviet Union and communist Poland. So please, think before saying America, love it or leave it. Be open to listening to other people. Try listening to different news channels. Just listening to one news channel or news channels that all have the same point of view is just as bad as the controlled media in the Soviet Union.

When I was in the Soviet Union, our two tour guides were speaking in Russian and I heard one use the word Pravda. (It caught my ear because that was the name of the Communist Party newspaper which was known for giving very biased information. In today’s lexicon, it was famous for fake news.) I asked her what pravda meant and she said “truth”. I cracked up laughing that Truth was the name of the newspaper.

So welcome diversity, look for various opinions. Usually one side is not all right and the other is not all wrong. We only make ourselves better by working through our differences and compromising rather than sticking to one ideology. Sticking to rigid ideologies will destroy this great country over time.

More travel ideas…

If you think that traveling is just for rich people, then you should think again. Clark Weeks has some great budget travel tips for you. This is something that everyone can do. You might need to do a bit more research, and need to make sure that you consider everything before you are traveling on a tight budget, but this is possible to travel on a budget. These are just the things that you should consider to ensure that your experience is going to be great. 

Do your research

The first thing that you should do, is to do research. Make sure that you know what countries and cities are the cheapest to travel to. There are some countries that are really cheaper, and then there are some countries that are really expensive to travel to. Where a tight budget will not work.

This is why you should do research. You should make sure that you are finding a country that won’t be a problem when you have a tight budget that you should consider.

Cheaper accommodation is key

Most of the budget is going to accommodation. And, you really don’t need to have 5-star accommodation in order for you to have while you are traveling. When you have a tight budget, you should consider going cheaper with the budget. To make sure that you have more money left for the more important things.

A four- or three-star hotel will also give you a place to sleep and some amenities. But, you will have more money left to enjoy your trip.

Most countries have great public transport

By making use of private taxi services, you are going to spend a lot of money unnecessary. Most of the countries in the world have great public transport. And, this public transport is a lot cheaper than hiring a private taxi service.

You can also make sure that your accommodation is in the heart of the city, where all the tourist attractions are. Then, you can even walk to everything and you don’t need to pay for transportation. 

You don’t need to have a huge budget in order for you to be able to travel to other countries. You just need to make sure that you know where you can go with a tight budget. Traveling on a tight budget can be just as fun as with an unlimited budget. The only secret is that you should make sure that you plan everything beforehand and that you stick to the plan, no matter what.

One place you can travel inexpensively is covered in another blog post about Clark Weeks skiing Steamboat Springs .

We hope that these Clark Weeks budget travel tips have been helpful.

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