JERRY HENDRICKS
 |
 |
Top Ten Vacations - Domestic | ||
1. |
Yellowstone/Grand Tetons June 10 - 16, 2004 |
 |
|
 |
|
||
| A week in two of the most spectacular parks in the country. Got to spend a few days with the Strawns, experienced Old Faithful in the snow, and stayed at the Old Faithful Inn during it's 100 year anniversary. National Park site visits numbers 159, 160 and 161. | |||
2. |
Utah |
|
|
 |
 |
||
Twelve National Park sites in 10 days, back in the day when we could still sleep on the ground. Started in Logan, staying with the Grossls, and working our way south, and departing from Las Vegas, which was quite a cultural shock after the solitude of the red rocks. Park site visits 34 -45.
|
|||
3. |
Olympic Peninsula |
||
 |
 |
||
| Highlight was dipping in the Sol Duc hot springs after a cold rainy hike in the Hoh rain forest in Olympic National Park. Not far behind was a pre-breakfast hike from Mt. Rainier lodge when we witnessed the sunrise behind the mountain. For balance, we also spent in a few days in two of N. Americas' great cities, Seattle and Vancouver. National Park site visits number 93 and 94. | |||
4. |
Alaska |
||
 |
 |
||
A two week cruise/land tour through the Inside Passage to Sawyer Glacier and Glacier Bay followed by a train ride to Denali National Park. Highlights were a one way hike on the Chilkoot Trail, with a floating return by raft; sea kayaking in the Tongass National Forest; a whale watch; and getting a full view of Denali breaking through the clouds. Park sites 203 and 204.
|
|||
5. |
Disney World October 24-30, 2013 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| Visited numerous times, but the latest has been the best. Celebrating Jack's 8th birthday, which seems to be the perfect age. Tall enough to ride all the rides, yet young enough to still get excited seeing the characters. I'll lump together the Disney Cruise we took for Jack's 6th birthday in 2011 photos and the Disney World trip for his 4th birthday in October 2009 photos. | |||
6. |
Honeymoon May 9-15, 1993 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| For our honeymoon, we hit the road and traveled to 6 National Parks (numbers 6-11) stopping in Assateague, Williamsburg, Cape Hatteras, Charleston and Shenandoah, setting a precedent that we would always travel on our anniversary, and always strive to take in a National Park in the process. | |||
7. |
Acadia National Park July 3-7, 1992 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| Memorable in so many ways. Barbara's first time camping, the girls forced to sleep in the car after their tent leaked, and waking before dawn so we could watch the sunrise on the 4th of July on top of Cadillac Mountain, the first light to reach North America. To top it off, we had to get out of the tent while the temperature was below freezing. One of our favorite parks, small but amazingly diverse. Traveled with Yigal Salingar, a visiting scholar, and his wife Rachel and their kids. We watched fireworks over Bar Harbor, which frightened the poor kids since it reminded them of recent bombings in Israel. | |||
8. |
Four Corners May 6-13, 2006 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| Our 13th anniversary trip included 12 park sites in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, with Mesa Verde and Petrified Forest as highlights. Finished with a relaxing stay at Bishop's Lodge in Sante Fe, a luxurious ranch/lodge/spa. National Park site visits numbers 171 -181. | |||
9. |
New Orleans March 14-21, 1992 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| To celebrate Barbara's divorce we headed to N'Awlins to stay with friends, Rich and Annie. In addition to the decadence of the Big Easy, we visited our first National Park site together, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, where we canoed among the gators and snakes in the Barataria bayou. We also visited the two other units of Jean Lafitte, Chalmette and French Quarter, as well as park site number 2, Gulf Islands National Seashore. We also experienced a N'Awlins style St. Paddy's Day parade, toured Oak Alley Plantation, Lafayette Cemetery, dinner cruise on the steamboat Natchez, took in a set at Preservation Hall, and ate at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, among others. | |||
10. |
St. John January 12-18, 2008 |
|
|
 |
 |
||
| Return visit, this time with Jess and Jay to visit Annie while she was an islander. Stayed in a hilltop home overlooking Johns Folly Bay on desert end of the island, not far from Estate Concordia, Annie's first home on the island. Got to hike the Salt Pond Bay Trail, the Reef Bay Trail, and the Ram Head Trail, and snorkeled in Salt Pond Bay. | |||
| Honorable Mention | New York City numerous weekends |
||
 |
 |
||
| While we have never spent longer than a weekend in the Big Apple, it is always a thrill. Whether at Christmas, for a bike ride, or just to catch a show on Broadway, New York remains my favorite city. | |||
