Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

Set in the heart of the Silicon Valley is Sarah Winchester's Mystery House. Sarah was married to William Wirt Winchester and when he died in 1881, she inherited more that $20 million. She also received 50% ownership of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. She had more money than she knew what to do with! After her husband died, she visited a medium who claimed to be channeling her husband and he advised her to leave the East Coast and head out West to start a new life. He also told her to build this grand mansion continuously to confuse the spirits of the victims that had died due to the Winchester rifles.

In 1884, Sarah purchased a small unfinished home in Santa Clara Valley and started to add on to it. Workers worked day and night on the house adding all kinds of oddities. They say that each morning she would present the workers with her "blueprints" and have them build. Some of the odd things she has in the house are stairs that lead to nowhere, doors that open to walls, and windows that opened into other rooms.

Originally the house had been 7 stories tall. When the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 struck, the house was destroyed in some parts and today it is only 4 stories tall. The home has nearly 160 rooms and 40 of them are bedrooms. It also has two ballrooms (one finished and the other not), 47 fireplaces, 17 chimneys, two basements (which are not common in California) and three elevators. Mrs. Winchester was obsessed with the number "13" are there is evidence of this throughout the house such as glass window designs, coat hooks, and sink drains all somehow having their own touch of 13. When you tour the house, one of the very first things you see is her "storage room" filled with many building supplies such as stained glass windows, extra wallpapers, and other necessary objects to help build this grand home. It is estimated at the time that the items in this room were worth about $25,000 in her time but today are inestimable.

Sarah Winchester died in 1922. It was said that as soon as her death was announced, all of the workers stopped immediately. You can see evidence of that statement by nails that have not been nailed all the way in in some areas of the house. Having no heirs of her own, her niece inherited everything. She took the items she wanted and sold everything else at an auction. Not to spook people, the niece changed the name on the auction so people wouldn't be uneasy about purchasing Sarah Winchester's belongings.

Today the house is open daily for tours. The house is much to grand to completely tour everything, so you are given a tour of only certain parts. There's also a part of the tour where you can visit her horse stable and work sheds on the property. On Friday the 13th, they do special nighttime tours of the mansion where it is completely dark except for the flashlights you are given.

I went here years ago with one of my very best friends, Cassandra. We were looking for an adventure and had more fun than we expected at the Mystery House. Cassandra has been such an amazing friend to me over these past 8 years and has always been so supportive of me and my dreams. I had mentioned before that I was interested in starting up a blog about my crazy travels and she has been the most encouraging factor when it came to starting this up. So, Cassandra, I dedicate my 20th blog to you and the adventure that started it all! Thank you so much for being my friend over the years. My life would be incomplete without you and your family in it!

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Travel Facts about Me

1. I've been to 42 states. It was my goal to see all 50 by 30, and I'm SO close! So, we shall see what happens!

2. I've also been to Canada, The Bahamas, Japan, France, and Germany. I've never been to Mexico, but I've seen it on numerous occasions.

3. My first time on an airplane, I was 8. I flew to Hawaii with my mom, grandma, and aunt.

4. I have this theory that if you've been somewhere three times, then you are a lifetime member. So far, I am a lifetime member of Graceland, Alcatraz, Winchester Mystery House, Tao Restaurant in Las Vegas, and a few other random places. The rules are simple. As long as you've been somewhere three times that you wouldn't normally visit, then you are a lifetime member! So, even though I've been to places like Disneyland and Las Vegas numerous times, they don't count for me because they are places that I enjoy visiting often.

5. I always have my camera on me. Not my iPhone camera, but an actual digital camera. You never know what you may come across on a road trip and you should always be camera ready!

6. I have a small travel kit that is always fully stocked with everything I need. I can be ready to go at any minute someone says "let's go!" Instead of packing before I go someplace, I restock when I return home so that way I'm always ready to go!

7. My first time going out of state, I was two years old. My parents took me to Arizona, New Mexico, and Las Vegas. Go figure.

8. I absolutely love taking pictures in front of "Welcome to (state's name)" signs. I TRY to do it everywhere I go. I have so many from the time I was a kid!

9. When we were younger, my mom had an RV and she would load up me, my brothers, and my grandma and they would pick a destination and we would just start driving! Some of the destinations have been Vancouver, Mount Rushmore, Nashville, New Orleans, and St. Louis. This is a big part of my life growing up and I firmly believe that this is where my brothers and I get our independence and sense of adventure.

10. I can find anything anywhere interesting. I can find some sort of infamous event, a historical piece of trivia, a famous grave, or any other type of pop-culture phenomenon that happened. I love to read up on the event and then go and do some exploring! Reading is the BEST way to not miss anything!

Winnie-the-Pooh, New York Public Library, New York

I once heard that a cool, free souvenir while traveling was to get a local library card! So, naturally while in New York City, I had to get one for the New York Public Library! While being directed to where to get the card, my brother and I completely accidentally stumbled across the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed teddy bear! The very real one that Christopher Robin Milne played with as a little boy!

On Christopher Robin's first birthday, he was presented with this teddy bear that was bought at Harrods in London. He named the bear "Edward Bear" and the later renamed him Winnie-the-Pooh. Not long after, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and Kanga joined the gang and he loved playing with them throughout his childhood. His father, A.A. Milne, created many wonderful stories about the stuffed animals which have become the classic, well loved children's books that we read today. In 1987, Pooh and his friends were donated to the New York Public Library and have remained on display here ever since. In 1998, London tried to get them back, but it was decided that Pooh and his friends were very happy here in America!

Anyone can visit this marvelous library and see the wonderful many artifacts that are housed in this building. The New York Public Library is located on 5th Ave and 42nd Street and in order to see Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, you must go down to the children's section where they are on display.

Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Betsy Ross lived here from 1777-1779 after her husband, John Ross's death. It is believed that she created our very first American Flag here in this house. Although she did not live here until her death, this home is dedicated to her life and this symbolic image that she created for our country.

The house is located at 239 Arch Street in Philadelphia. It's not too far from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. I can't remember exactly, but I am pretty sure that we walked the short distance from Independence Hall to her house.

Over the years, the house itself has changed a little bit on the exterior and the plot next to it was purchased to make a courtyard for visitors. You can tour the house and it takes you through her life in Philadelphia and you can also "meet" Betsy Ross. There is a very historically accurate actress who will explain to you how "she" designed the 5 point star to put on the flag because it was easier to make than a 6 pointed star! When Ross died in 1836, she was buried in Philadelphia but in preparations for the United States bicentennial, her remains were moved to the property and you can visit her grave in the courtyard.

Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas

Okay. I love Texas. It's one of my favorite places to visit and is my personal Grand Central Station. Almost anytime that I've had to fly somewhere, I fly through Dallas. I have a very close friend of mine who lives there so it's naturally a place that I gravitate to and visit often.

So here's the story. Back when I was living in Mississippi, it was Thanksgiving time and I didn't want to stay home alone for a week! So, I went to visit my very good friend, Jason, and his wonderful parents in Texas. I'm a big San Jose Sharks fan and I saw that they would be playing the Dallas Stars so I called Jason and begged him to go with me! Being that he would do anything for me, of course we went! Jason moved to Texas when we were kids and I learned something that I NEVER knew or even thought to think about until that night we drove to Dallas from him.

On November 22, 1963, President John F Kennedy was assassinated right here in downtown Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was in the old Texas School Book Depository building on the 6th floor. While The President and The First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, were riding in the back of their car, Oswald fired a rifle from the building that killed Kennedy.

Today the "grassy knoll" and the building are still there. The building has been turned into a museum called The Sixth Floor Museum. It is available for touring but since I came at night, we didn't get to take a tour. However, Jason had informed me that he had been there on field trips in school and pointed out to me the building and when we were at the grassy knoll, he showed me the two x's on the street that marked where Kennedy was shot.

While doing research on Kennedy's assassination, I came across so many different facts and theories about the infamous event. There was suspicion of a second gunman and of course, there's the blood stained, pink Chanel suit that Jackie wore that has become a historical outfit. (According to what I've read, the suit is in the National Archives and not on display at this time.) Kennedy was buried 3 days later on November 25, 1963 in Arlington National Cemetery. Coincidentally, it was his son, "John-John's" 3rd birthday.

The old Depository Building

Me and my "brother", Jason. Thank you for taking me that day. It's honestly a memory that I have cherished for years and will continue to forever!

Small little bit of trivia for you! Do you understand this clock? Dr. Pepper was created in Texas and one of their old advertising slogan was that you should have a Dr. Pepper at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM! Your blood sugar is the lowest at this time and having a Dr. Pepper gives you that extra boost of energy that you need to get through the day! 10, 2, and 4!