The Timucuan Preserve encompasses a huge area and there are several different “parts” to this preserve. We visited the park near the Fort Caroline National Memorial; though, sand dunes, plantations, and beautiful natural areas of the park exist as well. We’d love to check them all out one day.

We stopped at the Visitors Center closest to Fort Caroline. Fort Caroline was only accessible via foot and was about a 1/2 mile walk from the Visitors Center. The rangers told us to make sure to keep our eyes on the water because dolphin, manatee, and sea otters had all been spotted there. I hoped we’d get to see some sea life, but thought our chances of seeing some were slim. I was wrong! Sure enough, there were a few dolphin playing a few hundred feet from the shore! They played there for at least 15 minutes jumping in and out of the water and flipping over on their bellies. It was a lot of fun to watch and was definitely my highlight at this park!

As for Fort Caroline itself, it exists as a reminder of the short time that the French had a presence in Florida back in the 16th century. A “room” with a grass floor, wooden walls, and a large door exists and marks what we think must have been the location of an actual fort. Wooden steps that allow visitors the opportunity to peer over the wall and into the water exists and is one of the places along this path that you could look for sea life.

After visiting the fort, we got in our car and drove approximately one mile to  St. Johns Bluff to the Ribault Monument. The Ribault Monument is located atop St. Johns Bluff and overlooks the St. Johns River. For someone who is not much of a history buff, the views from the monument were more exciting to me than the monument itself. It overlooked some beautiful homes and water. Supposedly on a clear day, visitors are able to see a naval base in the distance. According to the Park’s literature, this monument exists to commemorate the landing of Jean Ribault near the mouth of St. Johns River in 1562. Apparently Ribault erected a stone column there and claimed Florida for France at that time. Due to various reasons, the actual monument has been moved several times, but has been in its current location since 1958.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/foca/

For those into “stamping,” you will need to collect this stamp at the Cemetery’s Visitor Center, as a Visitor Center for this specific site does not exist.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/marinecorpswarmemorial.htm
National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/nethcarillon.htm

Multiple stamps are available at or nearby Arlington National.   Arlington, itself, reportedly has 25+ funerals every day, though this was not the case on Labor Day weekend.  In addition to obtaining the stamps described below, we spent our time wandering the grounds.  We visited the graves of JFK, Howard Taft, Lincoln’s wife and read the tombstones of just a few of the thousands of veterans laid to rest at the cemetery.   We also witnessed the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and learned more about the history of this memorial.

Website: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/

Arlington House/Robert E. Lee Memorial
Did you know that Robert E. Lee was related to George Washington?  I did not.  When George Washington married Martha, she was a widow with a son and daughter.  George and Martha not only raised those two children, but two of their grandchildren after their son (the children’s father) died.  Their grandson/adopted son named George Washington Parke Custis  had only one daughter who survived into adulthood.  She married Robert E. Lee.  So, although circumstances would have made them seem more closely related, I guess you’d stay Lee was Washington’s step-great grandson-in-law

George Washington Parke Custis became very attached to the first President during his childhood.  He built the Arlington House as both a home and as a memorial to George Washington.  The mansion sits high upon a hill in the present-day cemetery and overlooks the Capital.  Robert E. Lee and Custis’ daughter would later marry in this house and reside in it for over 30 years.  We stood in the spot where Robert E. Lee was married, peered in the rooms of his children, walked through their slave quarters, and looked into his bedroom where in 1861, he announced his resignation from the US/Union Army.  Within weeks of his resignation, the Lee family would leave the Arlington House and the Union Army would move onto the Arlington grounds.

According to a park ranger, there was some controversy regarding the decision to dedicate the home as a memorial to Lee given that many viewed him as a traitor, but nonetheless the Arlington house was designated as a memorial by Congress in 1955.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/arho/

Civil War Defenses of Washington
This stamp was available at the Arlington House.  Apparently, given that the 150th anniversary of the Civil War will soon be upon us, the park ranger stated that many “new Civil War things are popping up.”  I guess this may be one such example.  As the ranger described it, the Arlington House qualifies for this stamp because the Union Army used it and the surrounding property to monitor for Confederate Army attacks/invasions given the House’s location that overlooks the Capital area.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/cwdw/

Women in Military Service for America Memorial
A relatively new exhibit, this memorial was opened in 1997 and is housed in a building of its own on the property of the Cemetery.  It is dedicated to the over 2.5 million women who have served or currently serve with the US Armed Forces.  A great deal of memorabilia, war artifacts, videos, and photographs are available for viewing.

Website: http://www.womensmemorial.org/

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In any regard, since we were in the Detroit area visiting family, we decided to take a day trip down to Ohio and were accompanied by Janet’s youngest brother, sister-in-law, and their 15-month old.  Read about our niece’s experience here.

Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial is located on South Bass, a small island located off the coast of Ohio in Lake Erie.  This island is only accessible by boat and a ferry is available to take passengers and/or vehicles to the island.  We opted to spend the extra $30 to take the car, given we had a toddler.  We were pleased with our decision as we later learned that Perry’s Memorial is about two miles from the ferry docking location.

We were intrigued to find out that this is the only international peace memorial in the National Park System. It was also very interesting to learn more about the war of 1812, one that is seemingly skimmed over in history classes.  We were previously unaware of the purpose or outcome of the War of 1812, however,  after visiting the park we are well informed about this war and its ultimate success in gaining respect for our early forming nation.

Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to go inside the Memorial during this visit as it had closed for many months due to planned reconstruction.  That said, we felt like it was an odd year for this park to be selected as one of the  2010 Featured Parks.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/pevi/

In any regard, this is the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, which is located a few miles away from where I grew up.   Admission is $8 for adults and coupons are often available on their website.  This three-story museum details the history of the Chrysler company and has many interesting antique and concept cars for viewing.  I enjoyed the displays detailing changes in the auto industry across time, such as the invention of power steering and the creation of the minivan.   Many of these exhibits were interactive and/or included the advertisements that were used at the time to market these developments.  My dad always enjoys seeing the Chrysler turbine engine cars, two of which are housed at this museum.   Of course, the museum also highlights how the auto companies have been integral to the American way of life, particularly during World War II.

For people with interest in automobiles and machinery or for those from the area, the Chrysler museum is a must-see.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/auto/

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Seeing as we are hooked, we decided to join. We have only been members for a few days and are very impressed with the quality and magnitude of information the small membership fee ($10.00) brings. Being a Google Earth Pro trainer, I was very familiar with KMZ files. They offer a KMZ of all of the national parks to paid members.  A KMZ is a file that can be imported into Google Earth (not to be confused with the web version google maps). This file can contain information on various locations. That being said the KMZ that National Parks Travelers Club provides is wonderful. See the image below for a zoomed out example of the KMZ imported into Google Earth. The membership also includes access to an Excel spreadsheet with a listing all stamping sites that is updated regularly.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jazz/

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/

Chalmette Battlefield
We visited Chalmette Battlefield first; this was not our favorite in the group, but it still had a lot of information. The highlight for Janet, who is not into battlefields, was seeing crawfish mud holes for the first time. The park is currently undergoing renovations due to Katrina. The site is where the famous “Battle of New Orleans” was fought during the war of 1812. While some believe the battle was fought after the war was over, the treaty was signed but had not been ratified by Congress yet. A small technicality I agree. Also on the site stands the Malus-Beauregard House, built in the 1830. It is a wonderful example of French-Louisiana architecture.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-battlefield.htm

Barataria Preserve
This was our favorite out of the four we visited. This park highlights Louisiana’s wetlands. Janet had never really been inside a swamp before, and the trails right outside of  the visitor center lead you straight into a swamp. We were able to experience cypress knees, alligators and snakes in this park’s 20,000 acres. Of course, we did not trek through all of them. Check out our pictures below to see our surprise encounter with an alligator.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/barataria-preserve.htm

Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center
After a day of rest and visiting family in Larose, LA, we decided to visit more National Parks. The first on our list for the day was the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. I am a little ashamed to say I have never been here, as I lived in Thibodaux for a few years and I passed by it dozens of times. This park follows the lives of the Acadians, or Cajuns, on their journey and struggles to find a home for themselves. A large number of them settled in the bayous of southern Louisiana. My great, great grandfather was one of them, so this story is dear to my heart. I was excited and happy to be able to share this wonderful culture with my wife.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/wetlands-acadian-cultural-center.htm

French Quarter Visitor Center
This was the last of the group that we visited on this trip to Louisiana. This location is the headquarters for the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. It sits in the heart of the city of New Orleans. This center has several displays and films on the heritage of southern Louisiana and the founding of the city of New Orleans, which sprawled out from this area. A added benefit or curse (it is very hard to find a parking spot) depending on who you ask is that this site is in the French Quarter, a very popular tourist attraction for all visitors of New Orleans. If you are in the French Quarter be sure to stop by the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. It is only a few blocks away.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jela/french-quarter-site.htm

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We spent our time in and around the Visitor Center where we learned about the formation and ever- changing nature of the islands, sea turtles, and the building and use of Fort Massachusetts.  Next time we return, we will be sure to plan ahead and allow time to travel out to the barrier islands to spend some time enjoying and exploring them!

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/guis/

In talking about the National Park System with friends in Georgia, many mentioned visiting Andersonville in the past.  Not only does this park commemorate the Union Soldiers once held captive on these grounds in Camp Sumter, but it also serves as a memorial to all American Prisoners of War.  With only an hour before closing, we arrived at the National Prisoner of War Museum.  There was far more to see and learn than we had the chance to experience.  After wandering the museum and learning of the bravery exhibited and tragedy endured by many American POW’s across time, we watched a brief video about the history of Camp Sumter.  This was both a very sad and interesting learning experience. We learned about how Camp Sumter became so overcrowded and how poor sanitation, malnutrition, and disease ran rampant. As closing time drew closer, we left the museum with much left to visit, and made our way out to the field that once served as Camp Sumter.  Today, the lush grass covering the area makes it hard to visualize the horror experienced by the men imprisoned there.  Here, pouring rain made it challenging to read the signs posted around the prison area and soon we  left to visit the Andersonville National Cemetery.  This, too, was a somber experience.

The cemetery is beautifully maintained and is adorned with American Flags.   We learned that due to the incredibly high death rate in Camp Sumter, many Union soldiers were buried in trenches shoulder-to-shoulder.  As such, the headstones that were later erected nearly touch one another.  In other areas of the cemetery, the headstones are more spread out.  These soldiers either passed away very soon after Camp Sumter opened or in subsequent wars.  While fourteen national cemeteries exist nationwide, Andersonville National Cemetery is one of only two that remain active today.

Without a doubt, there was more to be seen in Andersonville than we were able to see.  But due to pouring rain and a late arrival, we did not have the opportunity to fully experience all this site had to offer.  Luckily, Andersonville is within driving distance of our home in Atlanta so it will not be difficult for us to arrange a return visit.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/ande/

Plains, Georgia held quite a surprise for us.  To be quite honest, I am pretty sure that Plains is the smallest town I have ever visited.  As you enter this close-knit town, you are greeted by a giant smiling peanut.  Apparently, the peanut was made by three Indiana residents in preparation for Carter’s 1976 political visit and donated to the city of Plains afterward.  Plains High School, which was actually an elementary school as well, was the public school that Jimmy, his wife, all of their siblings and some of their children attended.  A segregated school at the time Jimmy attended, the school closed it’s doors in 1979.  Today it stands as the park’s headquarters, and contains a restored classroom and auditorium as well as a great deal of information about Mr. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.  As I visited and learned about the Carters, I was not only impressed by the amazing accomplishments and impact that they have had worldwide, but I also greatly admired the their seemingly humble and unassuming nature.

In addition to visiting Jimmy’s boyhood home, driving past his current residence (mainly just a view of the Secret Service quarters), and other parts of his hometown, our highlight occurred at our original stop – the high school.  Damon overheard the park ranger saying that Mr. Carter would be at the school auditorium in a couple hours to speak to a tour group arriving by train from Cordele, Georgia.  Apparently, anyone was welcome to join in!  We were VERY excited!  So, we ate lunch in Plains at Mom’s Kitchen and hurried back to the school.

Mr. Carter arrived in jeans and tennis shoes and spoke to us in a personal and casual manner about his childhood, life in Plains, and his family.  According to another visitor, Mr. Carter rode his bicycle to the school to speak with us that day!  The way Mr. Carter spoke and the “normalcy” he exudes made it easy to forget that the man standing 20 feet from me was accompanied by Secret Service agents, won a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and once led our country (in addition to many other things).  It was enjoyable and reminded me of talks with my own grandfather.

Below is a short clip that Damon recorded during his 20-minute talk.  In the clip, Mr. Carter is initially talking about some of his  farms and then he shares how he met and came to marry his wife.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/jica/

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Another site within King’s old neighborhood in Atlanta is Ebenezer Baptist Church.  This is the church from which King, Jr., his father, and grandfather all preached.  The church remains active today, with three weekly services.  There is a lot to see and learn at the MLK, Jr. National Historical Site – make sure to plan accordingly, allow ample time, and arrive early to reserve a tour spot if interested in seeing MLK’s childhood home!

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/malu/

As are many of the sites in this area, Kennesaw Mountain marks the site of a Civil War battlefield.  The battles here took place in the summer of 1864 and marked the last battle before Union troops reached the city of Atlanta.  We toured the Visitors’ Center and drove to a look out point near the top of the mountain.  As a whole, Civil War history is not a topic that intrigues me very much, so I am not a great judge of the interest level of this park.  The park was well-maintained, and comparison to the Chickamauga Battlefield headquarters, this center was nicer and contained more  Civil War information and memorabilia.  The majority of visitors that we encountered at the park seemed to be using the Mountain for exercise, either in the form of walking, running, or hiking.

It was at Kennesaw Mountain that Damon and I we also learned the National Stamp Passport collectors “rule” that one should always check the stamp’s date for accuracy prior to stamping your book. Today was actually June 4th, however, given that it did not really bother us having the incorrect date stamped, we gathered that it wouldn’t phase anyone reading our blog or looking at our book either:)  From here, Damon, my mom, grandma, and I headed back into the city to downtown Atlanta and a visit the the MLK, Jr. Museum for our second, and final, stamp of the day.

National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/kemo/