Wherein we document and discuss the excursion of the Smith Family to points East in Massachusetts and New York State, their collective observances of early American history, and the importance of the Annual Great American Vacation.
This is not a scholarly work.
Illustrations by Apple iPhone
No day-trip to points nearby to Lansing, nor even a much-discussed "long weekend" in which a summery Friday of work is otherwise skipped in lieu of going to some closely-distant place within Michigan to dine or drink gallons of beer or swim in some majestic but perpetually frigid lake, the Smith Family embarks on a wild adventure to some distant place in this giant Nation. We drive hour upon long hour to arrive at some far-flung destination all in the name of family bonding and a seeing of things not seen locally; an eating of things not normally eaten locally.
And so it happens, on a Friday in July, that the Smiths dine in scenic Port Huron, Michigan, and trek across the foreign nation of Canada, and from Canada back into our lovely and broad Nation to Buffalo, NY. It should be noted, however, that Canada is not the Smiths' destination, and neither is Buffalo (though a lovely place); rather, it's a convenient road on our way to what is our destination: Boston, Massachusetts.
These week- or two-week-long journeys are important bonding moments for the Smith Family. Our lives are otherwise filled with: hasty dinners with one or possibly two or occasionally all three boys, and even sometimes both parents; sports; sports practice; busy work schedules; sports practice; weekend sports tournaments; band performances; school; homework; school stuff; work; and sports. Thus: we get this annual moment wherein we are all together, shoved into the same confined space - be it a car or hotel room - and forced to do things like discuss, relate, and communicate. It's novel, especially in that vacation gives us a list of things to discuss other than work and sports and why the Hell aren't you eating. And we find, much to our delight as parents, that our offspring are up to the task. In fact: arguments are largely at a minimum; squabbles generally occur when the boys are "hangry," which can be quickly overcome with a snack from some peddler of snacks; fist-fights are nearly nonexistent; and the boys are generally cooperative and largely follow parental advice, especially during those moments of ass-clenching fear (i.e. when they're mind is in outer space, but it's time to get off the subway right now).
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| Dessert in Boston's lovely Public Garden; cannolis and other sweets from a North-End bakery |
Having crossed through Canada, excitedly pointing-out Lake Ontario's momentary glimpses along the QEW to an audience who, by the time they lifted their faces away from their distractions, missed the glorious views entirely, we stopped in lovely Buffalo, NY, to sleep. Nothing remarkable here (nice enough city); just a note on choosing to break the journey in half so we had a mere 6-hour slog to get to Boston as opposed to a 12-hour death march.
I envy our forebears. Though it would have taken them a week or more to go from Michigan to Massachusetts, they'd have camped, stopped in more towns, seen more sights. But it's the modern era: let's just get there and get on with it.
A note: the scenery along I-90 and other freeways we took was beautiful. The mountains (foothills more rightly) provided stunning vistas, sweeping valleys, gorgeous rivers. For hours, one drives along the Eerie Canal, itself both historic and quite beautiful. Though long, the drive is far from monotonous.
We arrived early evening in Boston, foraged for food (found a wonderful Belgian-themed restaurant with amazing mussels and a beer list that nearly made me cry), and prepared ourselves for the Onslaught of History for the next 7 days.
At this point, this post could be a book in its own right. I'll save you my self-indulgence, and summarize and provide pictures:
Day 1
A tour of Boston by garish and very touristy "Duck Boat," which even the locals insist is worthy (and the jokes are awful and of very "dad" nature); a visit to the wonderful Boston Science Museum; the majesty of the Old Statehouse on the way to Boston Common (not, as we learned, Commons-with-an-S, but Common-no-S; it's "common land," not a "commons area," though it is, in effect, a commons area); a leisurely stroll through one of my favorite spots in Boston - the Public Garden; sightings of both G. Washington and A. Ham.
Day 2
Day 1 of the Freedom Trail: an historic and stunning State House (the Senate sits together in a circle!); some famous dead people, including a rebellious rider and 3 victims of a massacre; a modern tex-mex restaurant where a place of knowledge stood (progress!); a picture across from a plaza where an important tree once stood.
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| An important and historic book shop and printer is now: Chipotle! Progress! |
Day 3
Day 2 of the Freedom Trail: a rebellious silversmith's house; more famous dead people from illegibly-old graves; a church that doubled as a signal tower and thrice lost its steeple; a creepy crypt that starred in a video game; a flotilla of cannons; a mis-named hill important to our common cause; dinner so good it changed a kid's palate; dessert with some ducks and geese.
Day 4
A late-morning dip on common land (it was already north of 80 degrees...); a world-class aquarium; dinner where the rebels ate and plotted.
Day 5
Remembering the 35th President, his words and deeds, his human-ness, and his drive to make America, well...great; documents written on sheep's skin and signed by a King; other documents written on similar material that proclaimed America Free; some good old-fashioned American-style treason; some dead crustaceans, a giant library and a church.
Day 6
Where it all began: a small, homey green in a quaint little town and an unremarkable bridge in a farm field exactly in the center of Nowhere in Particular, a series of shots and commands that set in inexorable motion the events that started a consequential nation.
Day 7
A State Capitol as immense as the state's nickname; Wealthy Dutchmen, their homes, and their contributions to both a famous modern musical and a war for Independence; a battle around some farms that brought fortune and friends to one side.
As I said, I could go on. Isaac, Jacob, and Dominic are in the middle of learning about our collective earliest years. Trips to places like Boston really makes tangible and real the things their fantastic public school system is teaching them. To see the old buildings as they were (and still are) and the names of the people they've read about on real graves impressed them and made them feel the history as much as learn it. Last year's trip to Philadelphia, and this year's trips to Montpelier, Monticello, Boston, and Saratoga have made them even more curious about the realities of our "origin story" (as we comic book nerds term our beginnings). And I will admit to a giant amount of pride as all three boys impressed various Park rangers and Tour Guides with their history knowledge.
If you missed it, you can follow our Social Media journey here.
And most importantly, all 235 illustrations of our Great American Vacation will be found here.
One will be glad to know the Smith Family returned, safe and sound, to their domicile outside of Lansing; the kids unharmed, the parents still happily married.
And there we have it. Discussion, if any, in the comments.
