Category: Travel

Travel when I pack a suitcase

Ozark tourist at heart! Travel to the Ozarks

How to be an Ozark Tourist

My son on mule at Silver Dollar City, an Ozark visitor from 1970
Fun trip to Silver Dollar City, 1970 – nothing like a mule ride!

I am an Ozark tourist every day. It’s one of the perks of living in Harrison AR, a burgeoning city in the Ozarks.

Because I have lived in the Ozarks for over 30 years, I officially attribute “hillbilly” to my nomenclature.

Travelers flock to the Ozarks because  (1) it is an amazing place for family vacations  and (2) it is within a day’s drive from the big cities of St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, etc.

Over 71 million tourists have passed through the gates of  Silver Dollar City since it opened in 1960.

Shoe Essentials for an Ozark Tourist

Eric caught a trout on the White River
Trout, caught in the White River

Campers and RVs roll into Branson, filled with fishermen, nature lovers, golfers, and show goers. When the tourist season rolls around, I become a tourist, too — I throw on my flip flops and sun glasses and off I go. That’s the beauty of living in a tourist region.

Further, in a mountainous terrain filled with lakes and rivers means countless occasions for entertainment. Suggested shoe wear: cowboy boots, wading boots, hiking boots … flip-flops, boating shoes, water shoes, sandals, tennis shoes, loafers, golf shoes, pumps, slippers, and heels.

When you shop for a pair of travel shoes that seem comfortable at first try, ask yourself, “Are they comfortable enough for a day at Silver Dollar City?”

Continue reading Ozark tourist at heart! Travel to the Ozarks

Kokeshi Dolls Mailed to Canada

Kokeshi lipstick and perfumer
Silver Kokeshi lipstick and perfumer

Silver Kokeshi Lipstick Dolls

Kokeshi dolls, another fun sale on eBay.

Selling a Kokeshi doll lipstick and perfumer brought back memories of our travels to Cabo San Lucas and of Canada, the mailing destination for this sale on eBay.

It’s a small world

Filling out the shipping label to Canada brought back some dubious memories of two Canadian tourists we met in Cabo San Lucas on vacation in 2008.
Darrell and I took an eco-tour with the promise of seeing fossils on the Baja Peninsula. The brochure  had in big letters, Wear hiking boots or other well structured footwear.

When the shuttle stopped to pick-up two Canada tourists who were joining the group tour, they were sporting slip-on, wedge sandals. The tour guide looked disapprovingly at their flimsy footwear as they boarded.

“It’s all the shoes we have,” they said.

So, we fossil hunters were limited on our exploration. We could only hike so high up the mountain before it became too dangerous for the ballet shoes the Canadians were wearing, forcing us to abort our search.

That happening left an altered view in my mind of Canada as a country without hiking shoes or tennis shoes.

Flash forward to 2010 Winter Olympics and Canada

I had another glimpse into the heart of the Canadian people as I sat in front of the TV watching the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. I would have hopped a plane to Canada if I could.

NBC showcased the beautiful country and lifestyle and took viewers on nightly tours of restaurants.

Then I was reminded of Canada’s hospitality after 911 and was ready to sing Oh Canada.

NBC’s Tom Brokaw reported on Gander, Newfoundland, and how they welcomed 7,000 passengers in 2001 when U.S. closed air space over New York following the attack on the Twin Towers.

Now, 9-years later, watching the report and reunions of U.S. citizens with the generous Canadians who welcomed them into their homes in a time of national distress endeared Canada and its people to me.

Kokeshi dolls for the makeup table
Kokeshi dolls for your purse, a lipstick and perfumer

A note regarding the Kokeshi dolls: They are Japanese in origin. The taller one is a lipstick tube and the shorter one a perfumer that holds a lasting, rich perfume scent.

The outer canisters have remarkable craftsmanship, making them mini sculptures of art from a country of artisans.

All tourists aboard – fossil hunting in Cabo

Darrell hunting fossils
Darrell wearing fossil hunting gear
Fossil hunting in Mexico
Our guides referred to their rig as a Mexican limousine
Guide testing a fossil for authenticity
Guide says fossil is real if it sticks to your tongue
Tourist Alvin tests fossil for authenticity
Alvin, an engineer and  tourist from California, found a fossil that stuck to his tongue
external link to Estate Trinkets & Treasures
Visit Estate Trinkets & Treasures

Visit my Made in Japan page on Estate Trinkets & Treasures to see other objects of art, made in Japan.