Country Vacations & Resorts

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Time in Office: 1809 to 1817
Terms: Two
Birthday: March 16, 1751
Birth Place: Belle Grove Plantation, Port Conway, King George County, Virginia
Date of Death: June 28, 1836
Place of Death: Montpelier, Virginia
Buried: Madison Family Cemetery, Montpelier, Virginia

Notes:

~ Often called the “Father of the Constitution.”
~ Oldest of 12 children.
~ Graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), in 1771.
~ First President to have served in the United States Congress.
~ Madison’s famous wife Dolley was expelled from the “Society of Friends” for marrying James, a non-Quaker.

Often known as a protege of Thomas Jefferson, America’s fourth President, like most of the other “Founding Fathers” of the United States, spent little of his life idle. After spending several years with local tutors, Madison entered the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1769. He graduated in 1771 and then spent an additional year there studying Hebrew and political philosophy.

Young James Madison

Returning to his home Montpelier, Madison then made numerous trips to both Fredericksburg and Richmond, Virginia while working with Jefferson on the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. 1787 found James at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Madison’s draft of the “Virginia Plan” is known to be the basis of what was to become the American Constitution. His political interest and personal diligence made him an important leader in the First to Fourth Congress, (1787 – 1797), held at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. He was United States Secretary of State from 1801-1809 and was President of the United States from 1809 to 1817.

Today, it is difficult to even imagine travel for Madison in his time frame. Although the majority of his travel was from Montepelier to other locations in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and eventually Washington, DC, think about this travel on horseback. Eight day’s trip by horse from Virginia to Philadelphia with stops at taverns for food, water, lodgings, and care and feeding of the all important horses. This is also “uncovered” travel most of the time.

The Mid-Atlantic States, home to most of the Founding Father’s travels, can have very harsh winters – with snow, hail, high winds, and icy roads. There were no “big city” lights to look for heading into a town down a dark lane. No DOT (Department of Transportation), crews to call if a large tree happens to fall and blocks your one entrance path to the next town.

Madison would have been “on travel” almost constantly from around 1785 to 1817. It is remarkable to think of his political accomplishments in this 32 years when you consider time on the road with no electricity, no automobile, no phone, no email, no fax machine, and no advance internet reservations for hotels with room service!

You have to contrast, looking at all the legislation, bills and important amendments Madison wrote, our current fast-traveling politicians – many who have publicly declared that they often sign what they haven’t even read.

By the time Madison left the Presidency in 1817 and retired to Montpelier, he was 65 years old.

Aerial view (artist’s rendering) – Montpelier

Some 30 miles and a day’s ride away from Jefferson’s Monticello lies James Madison’s Virginia plantation – Montpelier. It is here that Madison spent the majority of the rest of his life outside his position as President of the University of Virginia – a role he took over on the death of Thomas Jefferson, and that he held until his own death in 1836.

Both Madison and his plantation were both in financial trouble at the time of his return there in 1817 – no doubt enhanced by the fact that he had spent so little time there during the preceding years. Having devoted so much of his physical and mental strength to the governing of the country, Madison was actually bedridden and could barely speak for nearly a year in 1831 and 1832.

Montpelier today, in the Piedmont area of Virginia, is a National Historic Landmark of over 2,650 acres which is connected to the James Madison Forest – 200 acres of old growth Piedmont forest – the largest in the eastern United States.

Montpelier provides a beautiful backdrop to many events during the year such as the Montpelier Hunt Races – held this year on November 6, 2010, Montpelier Wine Weekends, or a Candlelight Christmas at Montpelier held December 3-5th.

On travel next with America’s fifth President, James Monroe.

“Traveling with American Presidents” list.

Time in Office: 1801 to 1809
Terms: Two
Birthday: April 13, 1743
Birth Place: Shadwell plantation, Albemarle County, Virginia.
Date of Death: July 4, 1826
Place of Death: Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia
Buried: Monticello Estate, Charlottesville, Virginia

Notes:

~ Vice President to John Adams. Both died on the same day.
~ One of the United States most intelligent and well-traveled Presidents.
~ When his father died, Jefferson, then only 14, inherited nearly 5000 acres of land and dozens of slaves.
~ His original tombstone is located on the campus in the University of Missouri’s Francis Quadrangle.
~ Governor of Virginia (1779-1781)
~ First United States Secretary of State (1789-1793)
~ Second Vice President of the United States (1797-1801)

Jefferson bronze statue
University of Missouri

How can one say enough about Thomas Jefferson, and not only as a two-term President of the United States? This founder of the University of Virginia focused his attention and curious mind on politics, architecture, music, horticulture, new inventions, and a host of other interests.

College of William and Mary, Virginia

In 1760, at the age of 16, Jefferson began his formal education at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. In 1775 he attended the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was first tasked with writing the Declaration of Independence. As a state legislator, Governor of Virginia, and member of congress, Jefferson made numerous 8-day trips from Virginia. In 1765, he was appointed Minister to France.

Arriving in Paris, Jefferson found a home on the Champs-Élysées. He enjoyed the local cuisine so much he paid to have one of his accompanying slaves trained to be a proper French chef. Due to his love of wine, Jefferson also visited many of Europe’s most famous vineyards. Jefferson remained in Paris, where he became fluent in French, until the Revolution in 1789. To travel some of the same paths Jefferson did while in France, visit Jefferson in Paris, 1784-1789.

Jefferson remained politically active and by the end of 1793 decided to take a break and returned to his then under-construction plantation, Monticello. By 1801 he was the third President of the United States. As President, Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France – doubling the size of the United States and opening up numerous new opportunities for American travelers.

Thomas Jefferson left Washington by horse March, 1809 with three wagons containing his belongings from his years in Washington. Through a trip and snow storm lasting four days, he arrived at Monticello

Jefferson Memorial

Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks system. Completed in 1943 and dedicated on Thomas Jefferson’s April 13th, 200th birthday, the bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947. It is home to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

It might be said that even when Thomas Jefferson was not physically traveling, his mind was always on the move. For the 17 years after his retirement (in 1809), Jefferson never left the State of Virginia – occasionally visiting his second home, Poplar Forest, when things got too hectic at Monticello. But even from Jefferson’s “down time,” today’s society still reaps the benefits.

Next – travels with the 4th President on our hit parade, James Madison.

“Traveling with American Presidents” list.

A Tale of Two Presidents – and a Sesquicentennial Anniversary

The year 2011 will mark the Sesquicentennial or 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War. This historic anniversary offers current generation Americans a chance to understand and commemorate one of this country’s greatest national events.

What better place to be than Vicksburg, Mississippi?

Abraham Lincoln

Vicksburg, Mississippi is 234 miles northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers. The area which is now Vicksburg was originally part of the Natchez Native Americans’ territory.

Vicksburg’s Past

Vicksburg, a location under seige for 47 days during the Civil War, and site of a critical battle to control the Mississippi River is today, a vacation spot sure to please history buffs and travelers alike. The surrender of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, along with the capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana four days later, split the South and gave control of the Mississippi River to the Union. To gain an understanding of America during the hardships of the Civil War, Vicksburg provides a time machine to the past.

Jefferson Davis

It is hard to imagine now, but during this time in American history, the country actually had two Presidents: Abraham Lincoln was the President of the United States, but Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865.

Vicksburg, due to its prime historic location – both geographic and political, provides a glimpse back to this troubled time in America. The Vicksburg National Military Park has a fantastic virtual tour of the museum.

The Vicksburg National Military Park, with over 1,330 monuments, is America’s most monumented national military park, and the largest National Military Cemetery of Union dead in the United States. Soldier’s Rest, at City Cemetery is the final resting place for over 5,000 Confederates. The USS Cairo (Union) Gunboat and Museum gives visitors a rare opportunity to view a vessel that hit two sunken torpedoes and then sank, December 1862, but was lifted in 1956 and fully restored by 1964. Mud and silt at the bottom of the Yazoo River preserved many of the ship’s artifacts.

Vicksburg Today…

Visitors to Vicksburg will discover an inviting downtown district with unique shops and quaint restaurants, numerous historical landmarks, and gambling at venues such as land-based Riverwalk and AmeriStar casinos. Take an hour’s scenic drive up the Natchez Trace Parkway to view the antebellum mansions.

Summers in Vicksburg are sunny, hot, and humid – with occasional and sudden thunderstorms. Winters are mild though sometimes rainy. Fall would be my pick for the best time to visit. View the color, beat the worst of the heat and crowds, and enjoy a quiet and peaceful commemorative stroll through the National Park.

Interesting facts about Vicksburg (map)

~ On March 12, 1894, the popular soft drink Coca-Cola was bottled for the first time in Vicksburg by Joseph Biedenharn, a local confectioner. Today, surviving nineteenth-century Biedenharn soda bottles are prized by collectors of Coca-Cola memorabilia. His original candy store has been renovated as the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum.

~ Believe it or not, shoes were first sold in pairs in Vicksburg at Phil Gilbert’s Shoe Parlor.

~ Dock side gaming was legalized in Mississippi in 1990 and today the Vicksburg waterfront is home to five world-class casinos offering table games, slot machines, video poker and a variety of other attractions.

By the way…who won the Battle of Vicksburg?

General John C. Pemberton and the Confederate Army surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant’s Union forces on July 4, 1863.

“H” stands for History. 

A huge subject and some great destinations.

History, as a subject, gets a bum rap – partially from the uninspired way it is often taught in schools.  Not sure who said it first, but if you don’t know where you have been, how do you know where you are going???  Take control of the situation and plan some history travel for yourself and your family.

In the United States…

National Park Service – National Register of Historic Places

US taxpayer – here are some of your dollars at work, providing interesting and comprehensive information on historic destinations in the US. Why not take advantage of this research for your next vacation?

Governor’s Palace, Williamsburg, Virginia, US

From the NPS home page, you can develop your own travel itinerary by state, region, or theme. Each itinerary provides:

- Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American history, plus contextual essays.

- Tourist information for historic places open to the public including hours of operation, tour possibilities, phone numbers, and website links.

- Interactive maps.

- Color and vintage photographs.

- Links to related preservation and tourism web sites.

Take a step further and plan a trip to a Preserve America community. Read more details here.

A list of Preserve America communities can be found here. I can’t think of a better way to research and plan a true “country” vacation in a true “country” location.

Need even more historic travel ideas? Spend some time with National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine. Interested in tours with a military focus? Get some unique military and historic destination ideas at Valor Tours Ltd.

National Trust – UK

If you are looking for historic travel in the UK, why not start with the National Trust. With hundreds of options for walking tours, focus on wildlife venues, garden and historic homes tours, cycling tours, and group travel, the National Trust is a great place to start your UK vacation adventure. The Trust’s strong focus on conservation also makes this an ideal source of “green travel” information.

Search here for properties, venues, themes and destinations listed via the National Trust.

Special values for US visitors to the UK…

Planning travel to the UK? Want to streamline the process and get special savings at the same time? Why not become a member of the Royal Oak Foundation?

The Royal Oak Foundation offers regular opportunities for premium quality international travel. Destinations include, but are not limited to, Europe and British Commonwealth countries. Each tour is unique and staffed by experienced guides – accompanied by experts in relevant fields.

Trips to consider include: Historic House Hotels Garden Tours, and a tour of Italian Gardens and Villas . You’ll have to hurry to catch the gardens at Bruges we discussed in a prior post. This particular tour of the Dutch & Flemish Landscapes, The Netherlands & Belgium aboard The Amadolce begins April 8th, 2010, so hurry if interested…

Find membership info on the Royal Oak Foundation here.

History, whether about your native country, or about any country in the world, can provide fascinating vacation options. Learning about the past can be fun – if you make it so…

And a few vacation rental options in Williamsburg, Virginia. Click anywhere on the image to view additional rentals.