Visitors viewing the World Series winners display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, will learn that the Philadelphia Phillies have taken the prize twice, in 1980 and 2008.

Visitors viewing the World Series winners display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, will learn that the Philadelphia Phillies have taken the prize twice, in 1980 and 2008.

As I steered my car into Oxford, Maryland (population about 600), I began to relax. My breathing slowed, my body eased.

When I first heard mention of Greenville, South Carolina, I had to look at a map to learn exactly where it is. Little did I know that it has received rave reviews from the likes of The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure.

One day, during a recent journey through several southeastern states, I knocked on an unmarked wood door, uttered a password, and was admitted into the throwback of a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Countless people dream of visiting New York City’s Times Square, and many do. That’s one reason why the neighborhood is included on lists of “Most overrated places in the United States.”

Nadine was excited. She scampered along a haphazard route, pausing now and then to sniff at the ground. Occasionally she began to dig in the dirt, her breath quickening and eyes widening.

A stretch of golden sand lies against a backdrop of colorful Art Deco architecture. Further north, people stroll, jog, and pedal bicycles along a boardwalk that parallels an oceanfront beach and passes amusement parks, fast-food eateries, and gambling casinos. 

Our room was spacious and comfortable. The food was delicious. The list of activities in our temporary home-away-from-home covered a diversity of interests.

Entering the town of Winchester, Virginia, is like taking a time-travel trip. My recent visit echoed that of Shawnee and other Native tribes that lived for thousands of years in what today is Frederick County and, more recently, by European explorers who came as early as 1606.

Arriving in Lee County, Florida, weeks after Hurricane Ian devastated the destination, I expected the worst, and my first impression supported that fear.

In the morning, my wife, Fyllis, and I walked along a path in the middle of town that skirts a series of waterfalls that tumble through the bottom of a deep gorge. That was followed by a stroll in a lovely botanical garden set in an expansive natural environment.

Every member of the Taylor family found something of interest and entertainment. Bob tried his hand at the miniature golf course and checked his accuracy throwing an axe at a target.

Model boats are decorated with brightly glimmering lights. Women sprinkle water scented with basil around their house, which they believe will keep bad spirits away. Families dine on spit-roasted pork and fried pastry.

Last month, I described world-famous sites that earn Egypt a place on many people’s Travel Bucket List. This month, we’ll meet the people and delve into the culture of that country, which add other dimensions to a visit there.

My first impression on the ride from the airport to my hotel was: Big city.

Mention New York City and “islands” in the same breath, and it’s likely that Liberty and Ellis will come to mind.

Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes, as others explore history from days of Native Americans to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight, while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water.

As the Civil War drew to a close, soldiers of the 55^th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiments occupied a plantation on James Island, South Carolina, which earlier had been held by Confederate forces. They were among the approximately 185,000 U.S. Colored Troops, as they were called, who fought with the North.

Granted, it would be challenging now to take a truly cross-country drive, or even follow a scenic road that meanders through several states, stopping at tourist attractions along the way.