The first list of A-Z Destinations took us to “L” – Lancaster and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It might surprise you to find that other Amish groups have also settled in or spread to Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Maine, and Ontario, Canada.

Amish Mennonites, descendents of the Swiss, began moving to Pennsylvania in the 18th century and settled mainly in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Their practices reject pride, arrogance, and haughtiness while placing value on humility and “Gelassenheit” – calmness and composure.

Horse and buggys on main streets, Amish handmade furniture and fresh produce – and usually in a beautiful and rural setting. All things “good” to recommend for a country vacation destination – with a disclaimer or two.

I grew up in Southern Maryland which has a fairly large Amish population. Although the Amish are a generally kind and friendly people – they do not care for overly forward approaches from strangers. Their purpose in life is also not to provide a side-show for gawkers. Chances are, while you are enjoying your Amish Country break, they are simply going about their daily activities in the clothes they normally wear and by the transportation they normally use.

So while observing and appreciating the differences in the Amish culture, please be considerate.

Also, when traveling through an area known for its Amish population please remember that many Amish travel not only in horse-drawn buggys, but by bicycle. Use caution and keep an eye out for cyclists and PLEASE do not traumatize the horses by blowing your car’s horn or by cutting sharply in front of a horse-drawn carriage. Remember there are families – often with infants and small children, riding inside.

Here are some State links to get you started planning your Amish Country vacation:

- Amish Country Bike Tour – Delaware
– Illinois
– Indiana
- Kentucky
- Farmer’s Market - Easton, Maryland
– Ohio
– Pennsylvania
-Tennessee

Further info:
Great resource for all things Amish
State Guide to Amish Settlements

In a “faster-faster” world we live in, a trip to Amish Country can be a nice way to make a planned effort at a slower and more relaxing vacation.

This 5 bedroom, “Southern Comfort” Beach House is a Mediterranean-style house with a gorgeous pool and waterfall set in a tropical landscape, ocean views from the balcony, and a charming self-contained in-law suite!

Just indoors from the pool area is the open-plan living room and dining area. One entire wall of the living room opens up to the outside, so you can merge the two areas. Featuring hardwood floors, ultra-comfortable sofas, and a TV with VCR and DVD player, the living room is the perfect place to unwind after a long day at the beach or sightseeing in historic St. Augustine, just minutes away.

For those needing less space, take a look at this 2 bedroom Beach-Front Condo.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the sea from several rooms in this oceanfront luxury condo. Beautifully appointed, immaculately maintained, and perfectly situated on one of northeast Florida’s best beaches, it’s the ideal sun-and-surf getaway!

This open-plan and spacious 2-story condo is set just beyond the lovely natural sand dunes of Crescent Beach, where sea and shore birds sail past and the sunrise puts on a private show for you every morning. The Intracoastal Waterway is not far in the opposite direction, so if you like, you can not only enjoy dawn breaking each morning, but also catch the sunset each evening!

It’s not fair for me to have all the fun! There are 63 more vacation rental properties available – in price ranges from $70 per night to $1250 per night. Something here for every vacation budget!

And if you can’t find your perfect “pad” there…

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A great place to start your 2012 vacation research!

Read some thoughts on the vacation home versus hotel options…

“Where was the movie, “War Horse” filmed?

Not only can we answer the question again, but we’ve also found you a perfect vacation rental from which to enjoy the same beautiful countryside! The UK Vacation Cottage of the Month for January is Owl’s Roost – at the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

Owls’ Roost, Tavistock

For a one bedroom one bath cottage, Owl’s Roost packs a lot of amenities in a quaint package. This character barn conversion has exposed beamed ceilings, a luxury bath with separate shower, fresh flowers, tea, and complimentary wine on arrival – and when available (hens willing!), fresh and very local eggs!

The large one bedroom is spacious and boasts a King-sized pine bed – clean linens are also provided.

The luxury bath will give you a great place to unwind after your walks or cycle rides on historic and scenic Dartmoor.

The living room has a large TV along with a DVD player and a CD/radio system. Relax next to the wood stove and review the provided maps and guidebooks of the local area. Free WiFi is available for your convenience.

And it gets even better!

One of your hosts is a fully qualified therapist in Reflexology, Holistic Massage, Healing/Reiki, and Bowen so why not enjoy a relaxing, rejuvenating treatment during your stay? Plan a long holiday at Owl’s Roost cottage for an exclusive country resort experience!

The Owls’ Roost kitchen has everything you’ll need – along with complimentary teas and coffee. With laundry facilities on site – all you need to bring is yourself, a beach towel or two, and some comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. You’ll need those to take advantage of Owls’ Roost’s incredible and scenic location…

Where “Joey” likes to run…

Much of the filming of Steve Spielberg’s “War Horse” took place in and around Dartmoor National Park. Anyone who has seen the film could not possibly miss the natural beauty of this historic area of England.

Fortunately for reader’s of Country Vacations & Resorts, you can not only stay near the filming location, but you can also take a guided “War Horse” walking tour with your host Nick and his “best friend, ” Sky!

Also in easy walking distance, above Tavistock, and right off a adjoining bridlepath is Cox Tor – a 1,450 foot summit from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of your spot at Owl’s Roost and the surrounding countryside. You might even get to see some paragliders if the wind is just right!

So…a luxurious English cottage, countryside good enough to suit a perfectionist like Steven Spielberg, therapeutic treatments, complimentary “goodies,” and the beautiful beaches of Devon nearby…

What more could you ask for from a “accommodating” country vacation?

More from our “Cottage of the Month” series…

I noticed Valentine’s Day products are already in stores which will then be replaced with Easter basket displays followed quickly by July 4th party items – probably by 1 June! Normally I find this sales push quite annoying but for vacation planning – the earlier you start the better.


If you’re running short on ideas for your 2012 vacation, spending some time at http://www.trustedtours.com might help.

They can provide tickets to top US sightseeing tours, world class attractions, museums and other amazing things to do while on vacation. The selection is huge and includes over 500 products in 23 top city destinations including New York City, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Key West, Miami, Chicago, Washington DC and more!

You can also get travel assistance with:

- Sightseeing Tours
- Helicopter Tours
- Whale Watching Excursions
- Airport Transfers
- Bicycle Tours and Rentals
- Dinner Theater Productions
- Rail Tours

If I had school-aged kids, I think I’d plop them in front of the Trusted Tours web site and let them propose some destination ideas for their own summer vacation!

As if that wasn’t enough, add the XXX Summer Olympic Games – held 27 July to 12 August 2012 in and around London. Think of the location of the 2012 Olympics as almost a gift to the Queen. Tourism will be HUGE for the Olympics and anyone planning to be anywhere in Great Britain during this particular time frame had better be making arrangements NOW!

Here’s something you will find very useful from our friends at My Favourite Holiday Cottages. You’ll recognize them from the UK Vacation Cottage of the Month series on this blog.

From their web site, simply click the red “My Favourites Favourites” logIn button and do a quick registration on the site – totally painless. You can then save the results of your searches for the perfect English cottage right on the site. I have a little insider info that there are now over 300 cottages listed. Make some coffee, or some tea, and plan a nice long visit – this will be fun!

Not ready to book today? Well, don’t wait too long if you’re just contemplating 2012 visits, and an even better reason to start working on your portfolio. Even though the Olympics are focused on London, the entire country will no doubt be a #1 travel destination for 2012.

Happy planning…and don’t forget new “Downton Abbey” and “Doc Martin” episodes are also coming up in 2012 for those in the US! I’m ready for a return to “Portwenn” – otherwise known as Port Issac, Cornwall. Here are a few cottages there to get you started…

Time in Office: January 1969 to August 1974
Terms: One +
Birthday: January 9, 1913
Birth Place: Yorba Linda, California
Date of Death: April 22, 1994
Place of Death: Cornell Medical Center, Manhattan, New York
Buried: Yorba Linda, California

Notes:

~ An avid walker
~ Played several musical instruments
~ “President” of his 8th grade class
~ Won numerous debating awards
~ Wrote the bestselling book “Six Crises” (1962)
~ Served 8 years as Vice President
~ First incumbent President to visit the People’s Republic of China
~ Established the Environmental Protection Agency
~ Wrote 10 books during his retirement

The 37th President of the United States, Richard Milhouse Nixon was born in a small farmhouse built by his father but was raised mainly in nearby Whittier, California.

Having moved and then transferring schools in his early years, Nixon graduated 3rd in his class from Whittier High School and was offered a grant to Harvard. He was unable to accept due to family responsibilities and instead attended Whittier College – graduating in 1934. Richard received a full scholarship to Duke University School of Law (North Carolina,) where he graduated near the top of his class in 1937.

Nixon had hoped to work for the FBI but instead found himself practicing law back in Whittier. Cast in a local theater production, Nixon met Thelma “Pat” Ryan whom he married in 1940. In 1942 Nixon accepted a job in Washington, DC and later in that same year he joined the US Navy – serving stateside and in the South West Pacific theater. He resigned from the Navy in 1946.

Most of the next 30+ years Nixon’s life was totally involved in politics. His political career began with his election to the US House of Representatives – January 1947 to December 1950. He was then elected US Senator from California – December 1950 to January 1953. Later in January 1953 he became the 36th Vice President of the United States – a office he held until January 1961.

From 1961 to 1967, Nixon traveled to Europe with his family, meeting with leaders in an unofficial capacity. He moved his family to New York where he was senior partner in the law firm Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & Alexander. Nixon had stated that he was not interested in a run for President and seemed disillusioned by politics but by the end of 1967 he had changed his mind and by January 20, 1969 he was President. He was re-elected in 1972 and impeached August 1974. Nixon is the only President ever forced to resign while in office.

Nixon – “Traveling Man”

It gets more difficult to cover Presidential travel now that Air Force One and air travel are the main means of transportation. Current era Presidents, unlike Jefferson and Jackson who got around either on horseback, by carriage, or by slow, ocean-going vessels – can and do visit several countries in the same week. As example, President Nixon visited the following countries in the year 1969 alone:

~ Belgium ~ UK ~ Italy ~ Germany ~ France ~ Indonesia ~ Phillipines ~ Thailand
~ Viet Nam ~ Pakistan ~ Romania ~ Mexico

In 1970, Nixon visited:

~Mexico ~Italy ~Yugoslavia ~Spain ~UK ~Ireland ~France ~Portugal ~Bermuda
~China ~Canada ~Austria ~USSR ~Iran ~Poland ~Iceland ~Egypt ~Saudi Arabia
~Israel ~Jordan ~Belgium

The purpose of most Presidential travel is State or “official visits,” or to attend memorial services for foreign dignitaries. Use of the radio call sign “Air Force One” began in 1953 when a plane carrying President Dwight Eisenhower had a near miss with a commercial plane using a prior, similar call sign. “Air Force One” is now notification to air traffic control as a plane transporting the President of the United States.

Flying via Air Force One, which Nixon named “The Spirit of ’76″ is now “standard procedure” for US Presidents. One of the two planes used during this timeframe was a Boeing 707 – tail number “26000″ which also flew John F. Kennedy to Dallas in 1963.

The U. S. S. Sequoia, placed in service in 1920, has been used by Presidents including Nixon – who played the piano while onboard. The Sequoia is docked near Washington, DC and is open for tours and even rentals! The Sequoia was possibly the first handicapped-accessible boat since it was outfitted to provide wheelchair access for Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Vacations and time off were spent at Camp David, Maryland. President Nixon used Camp David as much as his 5 predecessors combined. Nixon also spent much time at the “Florida White House” which was his private compound on Key Biscayne, Florida and which he visited more than 50 times while in office between 1969 and 1974.

“La Casa Pacifica” (The Pacific House), which overlooked the beach in San Clemente, California was also known as the “Western White House.” The home is now a private residence and closed to the public.

Time magazine reported that some $10.5 million tax dollars went in to the “refurbishment” of these two estates. The Key Biscayne property had a floating helicopter pad…and you can now rent it yourself…maybe for your next vacation?

Nixon suffered a severe stroke while at his home in New Jersey, April 1994. He died April 22, 1994 at the age of 81. His funeral was attended by 5 living Presidents. Nixon is buried next to his wife Pat – who had died in 1993, at the Nixon Library and Birthplace. He was survived by his two daughters, Tricia and Julie.

Links:

Nixon Library & Birthplace
An essay on Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon – The Politician
Nixon’s Resignation Speech

Prior President: Lyndon B. Johnson
Next: Gerald R. Ford

The Traveling with the Presidents Series.

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