Atlantic to Pacific Coast Travel

Traveling from Pennsylvania and New York to Mid America Oregon and Washington

The Northeast has an illustrious history and culture; in the 21^st century, it is a trend setter on the technological and environmental fronts along with agricultural innovations that accompany unique, local food, wine and brew traditions. 

The Lehigh and Delaware River Valley are ideal anchor location if your interests include New York City and the Hudson Valley, Philadelphia and South Central Pennsylvania.

The Hudson and the Delaware were originally called the North and South Rivers

Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by William Penn in 1682. Bristol is the third oldest town in Pennsylvania and southern terminus of the D&L Trail characterized by coal yards, shipyards, warehouses and textile mills. Its Delaware Riverfront resembles a New England seaport.

Mid America

The Upper Mississippi is the portion of the river from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois where it joins the Ohio River. Chicago is the starting point for the Historic Route 66 and the base from which you can reach the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa as well as journey to Alton along the Great River Road and explore Mississippi River Towns. 

Traveling across America

from the Atlantic to the
 Pacific Coast with

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The Pacific Northwest from South Dakota and Minnesota you can follow the route of the Empire Builder and the Missouri River to explore the Northern Plains and the US Northwest.

Oregon is an ideal winter destination where you can ski on volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains; a nature lover’s paradise as you watch hundreds of gray whales spout and storms over the Pacific; a connoisseur destination where you can sip award-winning Oregon wines and micro beers; an environmentalist’s delight with Portland’s green lifestyle, free downtown transport and local distinctive neighborhoods.

Environment Friendly Destinations and Vacations

Portland is located between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the Willamette Valley and river which flows through the city and links with the Columbia River. The citizens and their local government are notable for: land-use planning, local transport, environment conscious policies, high walkability, a large number bicyclists and ten thousand acres of public parks Read More

Neighborhoods Planning Development Sustainability and Local Transport

Seattle’s first major industry was logging; by the late 19^th century the city also became a commercial and shipbuilding center as a gateway to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. In the 1940s, Boeing established Seattle as a center for aircraft manufacturing and, beginning in the 1980s, the area developed as a technology center with companies like Microsoft and Amazon.

Social Networking, Southern Italian Style!

family travel Italy small towns Naples

A travel client from my home town of Philadelphia visited for the first time the place in Southern Italy where his parents came from; he was accompanied on the trip by 14 family members spanning three generations.

One of the objectives of the trip was to find and meet his relatives and, over the course of several months, we inquired without success by phone and in person with the local officials of this small town to identify these relations. We were told to seek additional documentation such as marriage certificates to speed-up the search, which we did, but without results.

When our client finally arrived in the town, he went to the municipality where he was promptly invited to return in the afternoon. More of the same! While waiting to return, he and several family members decided to go to a nearby restaurant; here, over a leisurely Southern Italian lunch, he explained his predicament to the host who volunteered to accompany him to his afternoon appointment as well as ask around regarding his relatives.

At the town hall, prompted by the restaurant owner it was finally revealed that most paper records were lost in a flood some years back! Meanwhile, the informal Southern Italian style search quickly paid off as a few relatives where identified and contacted. It turns out the family house in the town was in the same neighborhood as the restaurant and the town hall - a small town and a small world!

When my patient and savvy client recounted this experience and how his family went on to have a pleasant stay getting together on numerous occasions with the local family members, I said to myself all is well that ends well; but there is more to this story.

I have heard this happen over and over in Italy and elsewhere; it once happened to me too in Naples when a shopkeeper left a store full of customers and personally escorted me to one of those impossible to find addresses in the old quarter of the city. When I reminded him of his store full of customers, he just shrugged and replied that they could wait!

What is it about these people! Why are they so gracious and attentive in these times of unreturned calls and emails, unresponsive bureaucrats and others who think they can “app” their way around town and life?

I can think of several reasons; they all revolve around words and themes such as respect, responsibility, values and culture. You are cordially invited to post your views and true stories on communities, travel and related topics.

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Pennsylvania Counties Cities Boroughs and Townships

traditions dating back to William Penn

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tradition of local government rule that dates back to a charter from King Charles II of England to William Penn who divided the colony into counties, boroughs, townships and cities, each with unique characteristics.

Pennsylvania state law determines the type of municipality on the basis of population with nine classes of counties, four classes of cities, and two classes of townships. Boroughs are not classified. Each municipality class operates under its own laws, determining its structure and powers.

Home Rule Charters determine the operating structure of a community. A home rule municipality drafts and amends its own charter and exercises powers not denied by the Pennsylvania state constitution.

Over 70 Pennsylvania Municipalities have Home Rule Charters

William Penn established Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester Counties in 1682. Lancaster was established in 1729; the 67^th and last county dates back to 1878. Today, each commonwealth resident lives in and comes under the jurisdiction of one county with Lycoming County the largest in size and the city-county of Philadelphia is the smallest geographically but the largest in population. 

County Government governing bodies are typically three-member board of county commissioners with many other elected officials independent of the commissioners who form the legislative and executive branches of the county, authorized to administer human services, land use planning and local law enforcement. They also pass ordinances, assess all real and personal property for tax purposes, register voters, and maintain county buildings.

Townships were the First Political Subdivision in the New World

Townships are the oldest form of organized government in the United States, dating back to the 17^th century. William Penn began establishing townships in Pennsylvania as early as 1683, with about 10 families to each. The Industrial Revolution brought development around cities and boroughs that began to annex the developed portions of adjacent townships without the need for citizen approval. Today, 1,456 second class townships represent nearly one-half of Pennsylvania’s residents.

Boroughs before the American Revolution, one borough was established in each of the three original counties. Since then, the number of boroughs has increased to 961, making them the second most common form of municipal government in Pennsylvania. A borough mayor has no power to hire employees or direct programs but can veto decisions of the borough council. Responsibilities include executing and enforcing borough ordinances and regulations, representing the borough at community events and other functions, and taking charge of the police department. The governing body is an elected council of seven members that serve four-year overlapping terms.

Philadelphia Pittsburgh and Scranton have Elected Mayor with Broad Powers

Cities Philadelphia, Chester, Lancaster, Easton and York were the state’s first cities; Altoona and Reading grew with the railroad industry, while Johnstown, Bethlehem, Clairton, and Coatesville became steel industry towns. The other 53 remaining cities are operate mostly under a government commission in which residents elect a mayor to serve as commission chairman with four other council members, each heading one commission department.

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