The month of September was busy from a travel perspective.
I visited the four corners. No, not the point where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona intersect. (I was there in 2007 and it is boring...)
My scope is larger these days. I literally visited all four corners of the United States. After starting the month in Boston, I flew back to Chicago for a week in the office. From there, I spent a weekend in San Diego to see an old friend. The next week, I went back to Orlando for another work trip, followed by a long-weekend vacation in Seattle, before returning to Chicago once again. Eleven thousand domestic airline miles in one month. Crazy.
Northeast Corner: Boston is home. It's also the most historic and dynamic corner of the country. Read all about my trip here.
Southwest Corner: San Diego is one of those cities that just makes me feel relaxed. Everyone seems so happy and they have a casual quirkiness that makes me smile. My luggage didn't arrive on my flight, but I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I just picked up my rental car and drove to nearby Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego because of the Spanish architecture, the beautiful gardens, and all the activity there is to see while you walk around. There are also several museums in the area, but I have never bothered to go inside any of them. I could spend an entire day there, just soaking up the sun and people-watching.
There are countless street artists and exhibitors stationed along the grass, offering everything from stress tests to artwork. A few tents were harmlessly religious, some were zany (like the free hula-hoop area), and others were purely amusing. I talked to one exhibitor, who said the permit process for in Balboa Park is a frustrating lottery system with only 25 slots available per month (10 musicians, 10 performers, and 5 show acts). I can't even imagine the lifestyle of a street performer. It's certainly not my calling.
After a couple hours at the park, I met my friend for a late lunch at the famous Anthony's Fish Grotto. The restaurant decor reminds me of Red Lobster (it's very dated), but the food was tasty and the views of the water were beautiful. The entire afternoon/evening felt like a blur but it was nice to get back to San Diego for the first time in far too long.
Southeast Corner: I think Orlando is a perfect microcosm of America. It offers a diverse population, countless outlet malls that proliferate American lifestyle of consumerism, and everything is so spread out that a car is essentially required in order to travel anywhere. I don't particularly enjoy Orlando much and I would never live there, but it is always a fun place to visit.
My hotel was a massive convention-style complex, so everything felt very impersonal. Even the view from my room was about as bland as I have ever had in the past couple years of living in hotels.
Living up to its American stereotype, the hotel even had a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Normally, I don't watch much TV - especially in the morning - but this amenity was too good to pass up. I loved listening to the day's financial headlines on CNBC while I took a shower.
Throughout the week, our restaurant choices were seemingly endless, as all the national restaurant chains are located along International Drive. I have a love/hate relationship with chains. The food is normally generic-tasting, yet the flavors are undeniably appealing. Plus, the consistent menu offerings allow people to enter the restaurant knowing exactly what they will order.
As a global traveler, I can understand the appeal of comfort food but I also feel like the globalization of so many restaurants has contributed to the lack of local identity. One of my favorite aspects of the North End in Boston, for example, is that locally-owned restaurants that can only be found in one place. If you are craving a cannoli from Mike's pastry, you must go to Boston. Restaurants in other cities may offer something similar, but none will be able to match the sensory connection that I associate with this pastry shop in Boston.
Nothing against Orlando. All cities have fallen victim to national chains, but I feel like the problem is magnified in Orlando. I didn't eat a single thing on my trip that will inspire me to return.
One memory I will associate uniquely with Orlando is the Minus 5 Ice Bar, which is completely covered in ice (including the seats) and even serves drinks in ice glasses. The experience is undeniably overpriced but it is certainly unique from any other bar I have visited.
I always enjoy new experiences when I travel and I am glad that Minus 5 Ice Bar helped to add a unique memory from my week in Orlando.
Northwest Corner: The final stage of my trip across America involved a long weekend in Washington. The main reason I booked this part of the trip was to run in the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, which is located just south of the Canadian border. The city is historically known for coal and timber extraction but it is now a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. As such, I felt that Bellingham would be the perfect place to run my first race in the State of Washington.
The city's location along the bay allowed for some really nice views of the water and the many locally-owned businesses throughout the downtown area offered a complete contrast to the generic atmosphere in Orlando.
I may have watched too much of the Twilight series, but I could not help comparing Bellingham to the small town of Forks where the movies are set. The weather was misty on the day of the race and the town has quite a few historic (for west-coast standards) buildings with a really eerie vibe. Even the newer apartments in the downtown area have a very industrial feel to them.
Bellingham thrived during the industrial era but, like many other cities in America, was forced to redefine itself when the economy shifted. I really enjoyed seeing how the old buildings have been rescued and modernized for a new generation. I could never live in such a small city, but it was an excellent place for a quick stop-over.
After the race, I drove down to Seattle for a bonus day in Emerald City. My hotel was in a prime location - near the shopping district and the famous Pike Place Market. As I approached the market, I noticed several couples walking hand-in-hand, while the girl carried a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This is something I rarely see these days (perhaps because of my highly transient lifestyle), but I credit the nearby flower market for keeping such a traditional romantic gesture alive.
Across from the public market is the original Starbucks store - a landmark that attracts enough people to line up down the street. I had already been there on my last trip to Seattle and it is basically just like any other Starbucks, so I had no desire to wait in line again. As a credit to the locally-owned restaurants, there is also a famous piroshky bakery just a few doors down that attracted an even larger crowd...including me.
I walked around the corner from the market to a nearby park and was surprised by all the homeless (or homeless looking) people just hanging around, laying on the grass, and essentially crowding out anyone who may actually want to enjoy the public space without feeling like have stumbled into a shelter. There were some great views of both the city and the water, but it was difficult to appreciate them with so many sketchy people around.
Later in the evening, I went to Pioneer Square and found the homeless problem to be just as bad. Everyone was perfectly harmless so I was not afraid to walk around on my own. It's just a shame because I will forever associate Seattle with street people littering the public areas.
Many people people associate hills with San Francisco, but I would guess that Seattle has just as many. Walking through the neighborhoods in the downtown area, I got quite a nice calf workout. I would imagine that this is an even greater challenge during the snowy winter months! The hills are something I will keep in mind if I ever decide to run a full marathon in Seattle.
I didn't make it to some of the well-known tourist attractions in Seattle this time (such as the Space Needle), but I still managed to have a nice long weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I find this part of the country to be extremely beautiful with all the pine-covered mountains and Mount Rainier visible in the distance on particularly sunny days. The city of Seattle is not very cosmopolitan, but I think the non-pretentious element is a big part of its charm.
All of my travel throughout the month of September helped to remind me that there are so many interesting places to visit in the United States. Americans share a common national bond, but the people (and the landscapes) are so diverse. It was fun for me to experience these differences in such a short period of time. Having said that, there is so much mobility in today's society that the differences start to merge together.
Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, but people can purchase the same items in any Starbucks store across the country. The same idea holds true for any other national chain. While I was traveling across the United States in September, I made an effort to avoid the chains. I wanted to get the most unique experience in each city that I visited. Now, when I plan my future trips, I can get excited for Mike's Pastry in Boston, Anthony's Fish Grotto in San Diego, or Piroshky Piroshky in Seattle.
I visited the four corners. No, not the point where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona intersect. (I was there in 2007 and it is boring...)
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| Four Corners (UT, CO, NM, AZ) - 2007 |
My scope is larger these days. I literally visited all four corners of the United States. After starting the month in Boston, I flew back to Chicago for a week in the office. From there, I spent a weekend in San Diego to see an old friend. The next week, I went back to Orlando for another work trip, followed by a long-weekend vacation in Seattle, before returning to Chicago once again. Eleven thousand domestic airline miles in one month. Crazy.
 |
| September 2014 flights |
Northeast Corner: Boston is home. It's also the most historic and dynamic corner of the country. Read all about my trip here.
Southwest Corner: San Diego is one of those cities that just makes me feel relaxed. Everyone seems so happy and they have a casual quirkiness that makes me smile. My luggage didn't arrive on my flight, but I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I just picked up my rental car and drove to nearby Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego because of the Spanish architecture, the beautiful gardens, and all the activity there is to see while you walk around. There are also several museums in the area, but I have never bothered to go inside any of them. I could spend an entire day there, just soaking up the sun and people-watching.
 |
| Beautiful Spanish architecture |
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| Saint Francis Chapel |
There are countless street artists and exhibitors stationed along the grass, offering everything from stress tests to artwork. A few tents were harmlessly religious, some were zany (like the free hula-hoop area), and others were purely amusing. I talked to one exhibitor, who said the permit process for in Balboa Park is a frustrating lottery system with only 25 slots available per month (10 musicians, 10 performers, and 5 show acts). I can't even imagine the lifestyle of a street performer. It's certainly not my calling.
 |
| Caricaturist at Balboa Park |
After a couple hours at the park, I met my friend for a late lunch at the famous Anthony's Fish Grotto. The restaurant decor reminds me of Red Lobster (it's very dated), but the food was tasty and the views of the water were beautiful. The entire afternoon/evening felt like a blur but it was nice to get back to San Diego for the first time in far too long.
 |
| Dogs with shades...only in San Diego! |
Southeast Corner: I think Orlando is a perfect microcosm of America. It offers a diverse population, countless outlet malls that proliferate American lifestyle of consumerism, and everything is so spread out that a car is essentially required in order to travel anywhere. I don't particularly enjoy Orlando much and I would never live there, but it is always a fun place to visit.
My hotel was a massive convention-style complex, so everything felt very impersonal. Even the view from my room was about as bland as I have ever had in the past couple years of living in hotels.
 |
| View from my hotel in Orlando - convention city! |
Living up to its American stereotype, the hotel even had a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Normally, I don't watch much TV - especially in the morning - but this amenity was too good to pass up. I loved listening to the day's financial headlines on CNBC while I took a shower.
 |
| Watch TV while you brush your teeth! |
Throughout the week, our restaurant choices were seemingly endless, as all the national restaurant chains are located along International Drive. I have a love/hate relationship with chains. The food is normally generic-tasting, yet the flavors are undeniably appealing. Plus, the consistent menu offerings allow people to enter the restaurant knowing exactly what they will order.
As a global traveler, I can understand the appeal of comfort food but I also feel like the globalization of so many restaurants has contributed to the lack of local identity. One of my favorite aspects of the North End in Boston, for example, is that locally-owned restaurants that can only be found in one place. If you are craving a cannoli from Mike's pastry, you must go to Boston. Restaurants in other cities may offer something similar, but none will be able to match the sensory connection that I associate with this pastry shop in Boston.
Nothing against Orlando. All cities have fallen victim to national chains, but I feel like the problem is magnified in Orlando. I didn't eat a single thing on my trip that will inspire me to return.
One memory I will associate uniquely with Orlando is the Minus 5 Ice Bar, which is completely covered in ice (including the seats) and even serves drinks in ice glasses. The experience is undeniably overpriced but it is certainly unique from any other bar I have visited.
 |
| Minus 5 Ice Bar - Orlando |
I always enjoy new experiences when I travel and I am glad that Minus 5 Ice Bar helped to add a unique memory from my week in Orlando.
Northwest Corner: The final stage of my trip across America involved a long weekend in Washington. The main reason I booked this part of the trip was to run in the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, which is located just south of the Canadian border. The city is historically known for coal and timber extraction but it is now a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. As such, I felt that Bellingham would be the perfect place to run my first race in the State of Washington.
The city's location along the bay allowed for some really nice views of the water and the many locally-owned businesses throughout the downtown area offered a complete contrast to the generic atmosphere in Orlando.
 |
| Leaves are already starting to change colors in Bellingham. |
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| Is the not the cutest coffee shop ever? |
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| Bellingham Bay waterfront |
I may have watched too much of the Twilight series, but I could not help comparing Bellingham to the small town of Forks where the movies are set. The weather was misty on the day of the race and the town has quite a few historic (for west-coast standards) buildings with a really eerie vibe. Even the newer apartments in the downtown area have a very industrial feel to them.
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| Old Bellingham City Hall (now Whatcom Museum) |
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| Beautiful mural on the side of this building |
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| Another old building that looked cool to me |
Bellingham thrived during the industrial era but, like many other cities in America, was forced to redefine itself when the economy shifted. I really enjoyed seeing how the old buildings have been rescued and modernized for a new generation. I could never live in such a small city, but it was an excellent place for a quick stop-over.
After the race, I drove down to Seattle for a bonus day in Emerald City. My hotel was in a prime location - near the shopping district and the famous Pike Place Market. As I approached the market, I noticed several couples walking hand-in-hand, while the girl carried a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This is something I rarely see these days (perhaps because of my highly transient lifestyle), but I credit the nearby flower market for keeping such a traditional romantic gesture alive.
 |
| The famous (and over-photographed) Public Market sign |
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| Flower market in Seattle's Public Market |
Across from the public market is the original Starbucks store - a landmark that attracts enough people to line up down the street. I had already been there on my last trip to Seattle and it is basically just like any other Starbucks, so I had no desire to wait in line again. As a credit to the locally-owned restaurants, there is also a famous piroshky bakery just a few doors down that attracted an even larger crowd...including me.
 |
| First Starbucks store |
I walked around the corner from the market to a nearby park and was surprised by all the homeless (or homeless looking) people just hanging around, laying on the grass, and essentially crowding out anyone who may actually want to enjoy the public space without feeling like have stumbled into a shelter. There were some great views of both the city and the water, but it was difficult to appreciate them with so many sketchy people around.
Later in the evening, I went to Pioneer Square and found the homeless problem to be just as bad. Everyone was perfectly harmless so I was not afraid to walk around on my own. It's just a shame because I will forever associate Seattle with street people littering the public areas.
 |
| Hard to appreciate the public art with all the street people hanging around |
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| Another great neighborhood that is diminished by street people |
Many people people associate hills with San Francisco, but I would guess that Seattle has just as many. Walking through the neighborhoods in the downtown area, I got quite a nice calf workout. I would imagine that this is an even greater challenge during the snowy winter months! The hills are something I will keep in mind if I ever decide to run a full marathon in Seattle.
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| One of many hills in Seattle |
I didn't make it to some of the well-known tourist attractions in Seattle this time (such as the Space Needle), but I still managed to have a nice long weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I find this part of the country to be extremely beautiful with all the pine-covered mountains and Mount Rainier visible in the distance on particularly sunny days. The city of Seattle is not very cosmopolitan, but I think the non-pretentious element is a big part of its charm.
-- -- -- -- -- --
All of my travel throughout the month of September helped to remind me that there are so many interesting places to visit in the United States. Americans share a common national bond, but the people (and the landscapes) are so diverse. It was fun for me to experience these differences in such a short period of time. Having said that, there is so much mobility in today's society that the differences start to merge together.
Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, but people can purchase the same items in any Starbucks store across the country. The same idea holds true for any other national chain. While I was traveling across the United States in September, I made an effort to avoid the chains. I wanted to get the most unique experience in each city that I visited. Now, when I plan my future trips, I can get excited for Mike's Pastry in Boston, Anthony's Fish Grotto in San Diego, or Piroshky Piroshky in Seattle.
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| View from one of my many flights across the United States in September |
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