Vacation 2009

We're home again after a great family vacation. Over the past week we drove through some part of 5 states not including our own, saw 3 museums, one aquarium, toured by bus and boat, and so much more. This more than made up for the lack of a real, all-out family vacation last year.

The focus of our vacation was Chicago. It is a fantastic city. Go if you can but allow lots of time because there is a ton of stuff to see. We missed way more than we saw but it wasn't for lack of trying. We went non-stop through most of our vacation. What's that they say about needing a vacation from your vacation? I'm so there - but in the best possible way.



As I said, Chicago was the focus but we saw a bunch of stuff before we got there. most of it was planned but as we started our trip, driving through Pennsylvania, we realized that we were really close to the Flight 93 Memorial and decided to stop. It's only a temporary memorial right now. There are benches to sit in while you listen to the volunteer speaker.



There are all kinds of markers and mementos there. It's a hard spot to find but many have made the trip and left tokens.



I'm not sure what I thought it would be like but this wasn't it. It was quiet and remote and pastoral. I took this picture from the temporary memorial site. Down there, off in the distance, you can see the American Flag. Just beind it is where the plane hit and just in front of it is where the permanent memorial will be built.



From here we kept drving and eventually arrived in Cleveland. More on that tomorrow.