Mystic Seaport - Tall Ships, Whaling, And Preservation
A day at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut is a link to the glorious seafaring past of New England. The Museum of America and the Sea is an entertaining journey through 19th century nautical life as you visit the three main exhibits at Mystic Seaport: the historic ships, the authentic seaport village and exhibits, and the preservation shipyard. The coastline in this part of New England was once home to huge whaling fleets and many where built along these shores. The area of Mystic had its share of shipbuilding yards and the recreation of the seaport village is an authentic and accurate depiction of life in a New England seafaring town. Open year-round Mystic Seaport is on the Mystic River a short hop from the historic downtown area. Here?s what you?ll see and how to get the best out of your trip… THE JEWELS AT THE DOCK Tall ships still fascinate people and Mystic Seaport has an amazing collection in the museum dock area. I?m drawn like a magnet to these magnificent vessels, and the most popular to tour is the Charles W. Morgan - a wonderful example of a wooden whaling ship. It made 37 whaling trips from its launch in 1841 and before retiring in 1921. Other exquisite Tall Ships in the Mystic museum collection are the Joseph Conrad and L.A.Dunton. Additional ships beautifully restored with a rich legacy include the Sabino and Emma C. Berry. The Emma C. first launched in 1866, and since then has undergone many changes as a fishing vessel and a coastal freighter. Allocate plenty of time to tour all the ships as they remain the centerpiece of the Mystic Seaport Museum. And when you?re finally ready for a rest take a 30 or 90 minute cruise on the Sabino steamboat as she travels up and down the Mystic River. THE AUTHENTIC VILLAGE AND EXHIBITS… A short walk from the ships is the village exhibits and galleries. Painstakingly recreated and authentic, the village consists of many buildings moved from other locations in New England and the Northeast. Stroll around the nautical shops and discover rope making, rigging, cooperage, and the sail loft. There are over 40 delightful exhibits for you to enjoy, but two must-see displays are the Mystic River Scale Model, and the Shipsmith shop. Further down from the village check out the galleries and make sure you spend time inside both the Voyages and Figurehead exhibits. The three-floor exhibit of Voyages celebrates the legacy of America and the sea, and how it continues to impact our lives in many subtle ways. And across the street is the Figurehead exhibit, and a wonderful collection of ship carvings. Unfortunately, these carvings are a bittersweet display. The desire for these on ships has dwindled and it?s now become an endangered art form. THE PRESERVATION SHIPYARD… In the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard many of the old mastercraft shipbuilding skills are still practiced to keep the museum ships in tip top shape. Unfortunately many of these skills are being lost as the economics of our time reduce the need for them. Wooden ships are a thing of the past, and so the wonderful carpentry and shipwright skills have dwindled throughout the world. But in this corner of the world they are practiced and preserved. In the yard you?ll see a rigging loft, a paint shop, carpenters and metalworking shops, a lumber shed, and an old-fashioned sawmill. The documentation shop contains vital records used by the museum?s craftsmen to maintain accuracy as they work on preserving the ships. At the nearby shipbuilding display you?ll not only see the keel of the whale ship Thames, but take in a revealing exhibit of the many stages of building a ship. Mystic Seaport celebrates the historic seafaring past of New England. Its one of my favorite three living museums in New England. The other two are Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Central Massachusetts, and Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower at Plymouth, Eastern Massachusetts. All three for different reasons are marvelous experiences of New England?s contribution to American history. To discover more about each visit my web site at www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/ For more details on these and other <a href="http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/connecticut-vacations.html">attractions on Connecticut vacations</a> and to pick up your free vacation reports go to Cliff Calderwood's <a href="http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/">New England Vacation site</a> at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/
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A Guide To Traveling London Through King?s Cross Station
For visiting London, proximity to King?s Cross is the perfect location. An intersection of six tube lines, including the Northern, Picadilly, and Circle Lines, to name a few, can get you virtually anywhere from King?s Cross. King?s Cross is also a train terminal, in the case that you are planning to visit the north of the UK. But let?s not get off track and get back to seeing London via King?s Cross. London, the cultural melting pot that it is, offers amazing and varied shops of anything you could desire. Located near the major shopping zones of London, both commercial and artisan, King?s Cross is a convenient place for a shopping tour in London. The city is also a magnet for great and creative minds, as is well known by all the thinkers, writers and artists who both came to and from London. The wide range of museums and galleries reflects this intellectual breeding ground, and again, King?s Cross is a skip, hop and a jump away from many of these world-class museums. Less conventional tours to start from King?s Cross could include a round of the city?s parks, exploring the wide web of the tube itself, or the nearby nightlife hotspots. So, whether it?s shopping, rich culture, or any fun explorations that you?re after, King?s Cross will guide you there quickly and efficiently. For the shoppers! Have an early and hearty breakfast (you will need the energy) and put yourself on the Northern Line, heading for Camden Town, where you will find open air markets selling art, crafts, clothes, accessories and much more. It?s best to spend time here in the morning, as the area isn?t the safest at night. After you?ve stocked up on original craft gifts at the market, head back to your hotel, drop them off, and back on the tube! Via the Picadilly Line, head towards Covent Garden, a famous indoor market, and the surrounding area, full of boutiques, shops, and nice cafes. This picturesque market makes a nice lunch stop, with some cozy restaurants nearby. Picadilly Circus comes next: very commercialized, with many well-known brand stores. Picadilly is a fun place to return to at night, as the lights and pubs draw partiers to them like moths to the flame! Head on to Knightsbridge to see the world famous Harrod?s Department store. After this detour, it?s on to Oxford Circus to join the crowded throng admiring and buying the riches of Oxford Street, which is equivalent to New York?s Fifth Ave, a street of fancy department stores interspersed with chic shopping boutiques. If your spending needs are still not satiated, check out other markets, such as Portobello, or just by walking through London, you will find hidden gems of stores throughout the city. If, however, Oxford Street sums up the shopping day nicely for you, head back into the Oxford Circus tube, and the Victoria Line will conveniently take you right back to King?s Cross. For the culture seeker, you will start your day heading in the opposite direction of the shopper. Head south on the Picadilly Line to Russell Square, and just a few blocks south of the shady square is the British Museum. After your explorations, you may also enjoy Covent Garden for its history and theater ? check out the listings as they may draw you back in the evening. Nearby is Trafalgar Square, home of the National Gallery. From here, continue on to Green Park, and gasp at the size and beauty of Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guard takes place nearby, so check the season?s schedule if you are interested. Slide down the Jubilee Line to Southwark, and enjoy the neighboring Tate Modern and Globe Theatre. Make your way back north of the river to Tower Hill, and explore London?s Tower. Take the Circle line back to King?s Cross to conclude the cultural loop. The adventurer who wants to learn the city by randomly coming across the interesting things may enjoy traveling from park to park, always great for people watching and discovering the wide variety of London?s inhabitants. Regents, Hyde, Green, and St. James Parks are the main ones, each with distinctive personalities. The Tube itself is extremely interesting, and it?s worth reading the entertaining advertisements of the tube, listen to some talented and not-so-talented musicians, pick out who the tourists are and who the natives are? the tube can be really enjoyable during your voyage. Take advantage of being in this unique London sub world! King?s Cross is also nearby to Leicester Square and Picadilly, both popular night out areas. Or try traveling round Circle line and seeing how many pubs you can manage to stop at? after which, see if you manage to find your way back to King?s Cross on this concentric line! King?s Cross, recently made famous through Harry Potter?s platform 9 3/4, is more than a fictitious train platform. It?s a station that literally will get you anywhere in London (and beyond) very conveniently. If you?re visiting London to shop, to learn its culture, or just to explore it for face value, King?s Cross is the best starting and ending point. You will get to where you need to go quickly, and at the end of the long day, you won?t have to wait long to be back at your London home, sweet home. This article was written by Pat Stevens with support from The Jesmond Dene Hotel, an inviting bed and breakfast conveniently located in close proximity to King?s Cross station. To learn more about how bed and breakfasts can add to your travel experience, please visit <a href="http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/" title="http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/</a>
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