Local Goes Local
Cemetery Walk RoundUp By Andrea Preziotti
By Diane Burns
My
father was famous for taking walks and whether at home or on vacation he would always find time to pull on his Rockports and venture out on a solitary adventure. He walked to familiarize himself with new places, to clear his mind, and to reflect on life and I’ve definitely inherited his love of the stroll. Walking is good for the mind, body and soul and has proven to effectively benefit your heart health. I find myself following in my father’s footsteps often. I discovered the pleasantry of walking through historic cemeteries when a friend suggested I visit Baudelaire’s grave in the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris. I was inexplicably hooked and have practiced this spiritual passeggiata both here in the US, and wherever I may be around the world. Cemeteries are living museums that connect us to the history of a city, town or village. They tell the stories of those buried--tales of love and war, victory and defeat, happiness and sorrow, stories that paint a picture of what life was like in the past. As you stroll through the cemetery grounds and read aloud the names in stone, admire the detail of the sculptures and mausoleums, you can almost imagine history retelling itself, whispering its secrets into your ear. Such is the magic of our past.
Lake Champlain, Vermont
T
he sizzling, hot days of summer are coming to an end and a new season will arrive shortly. A beautiful way to usher in this season is to take a trip to the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
From quaint villages to the fiery Green Mountains the beauty of the colors of foliage is a sight to behold. Yankee Magazine has claimed that Route 100 in the Valley is the “Best Fall Foliage” in New England. Thousands of “leaf peepers” arrive in Vermont every year to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the valley. There are four amazing driving “gaps” in the area. Gorgeous vistas and overlooks are yours to enjoy in the Appalachian, Middlebury, Lincoln and Roxbury gaps. The route stretches 138 miles connecting some of the best skiing and riding opportunities in New England.
choose, be sure to include some of the many other attractions along the way. Perhaps of interest to you is a trip to the Cabot Cheese Factory in the Green Mountains, “home of the best cheddar in New England.” Maybe a stop at Ben and Jerry’s on Route 100 for a scoop or two of their many flavors of ice cream is more to your liking. Of course one can’t forget to take home a bottle of Vermont’s maple syrup. If you happen to be in the Stowe area visit the Trappe Family Lodge. The lodge is owned and managed by the Trappe family that was portrayed in The Sound of Music. You may even want to view the foliage from the air as you glide by in a hot air balloon. Whether it is a balloon ride or a driving tour you will enjoy an experience you will never forget. Along the many roadways you’ll find numerous places for overnight stays from hotels to bed and breakfasts. Wonderful restaurants are sprinkled along Route 100. Take the time to partake of a meal from one of them after a day of sightseeing. For further information visit www.foliage-vermont.com.
In Middlebury take time to appreciate the natural beauty of the foliage that was the inspiration for many of Robert Frost’s poems. The first leaves of scarlet red and bright gold appear in mid-September in the northern part of the state; “peak” colors travel south after that until the end of October. Yellow birch-covered hills rise above green valleys. The colors are so vibrant they are a feast to your senses. Foliage season is a very popular time in Vermont so make your plans early. Decide whether you are going to drive yourself or take a tour; whichever you 98
Local Living September | October 2013
Diane Burns is a freelance writer currently residing in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Many cemeteries in the region host walking tours throughout the autumn months, revealing the local history of famous, as well as infamous, inhabitants from the past. Below is a selection of locations in our region.
• Delaware: Riverview (Wilmington) • Delaware: Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery (Wilmington) • New Jersey: Harleigh Cemetery (Camden)
• New Jersey: Princeton Cemetery (Princeton) • New Jersey: Jersey City Cemetery (Jersey City) • New York: Forest Lawn (Buffalo) • New York: Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn) • Pennsylvania: Laurel Hill (Philadelphia) • Pennsylvania: Beechwood Historic Cemetery (Bensalem) • Pennsylvania: Doylestown Cemetery (Doylestown)
A full list of historic cemeteries can be found on the Internet. For research purposes, I used the following sites as references: Wikipedia - List of cemeteries in the United States Names in Stone - Cemetery Maps Andrea Preziotti is a writer living in Brooklyn, NY. She has contributed articles as a freelance writer and editor for The Huffington Post, The Journal of Cultural Conversation and LA Splash. To learn more about Andrea, click here for her blog.