Israel…where never is not forever
In July of 2022, Melissa and I ventured to Israel. It was the first time there for both of us. We have traveled to many places over the last few years, to all corners of the United States, and half…
Karmel Knocking Around
Knocking Around the honky tonks of Nashville
Who’s Vince Gill? If it’s not Dolly Parton or Miley Cyrus, I don’t know who you are talking about. That’s Melissa. I’m the country music fan. Melissa is the hair band fan. She doesn’t know from Garth Brooks and Mary…
Why visit Mammoth Cave, one of the least visited National Parks?
A lot of our friends and relatives asked, “Why Mammoth Cave National Park?” Most, if not all, of them had never even heard of the place. It is actually one of the least visited National Parks in the United States.…
Melissa enters new chapter as an empty nester
For the past 20 years I’ve been a class mom, a Girl Scout co-leader, a cookie mom, a PTO Secretary, a PTO Vice President, a PTO President; I’ve sewn costumes for school plays, volunteered at field day, been a chairperson…
Wigwam Village No. 2 is a great Americana surprise near Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
On our tour of Mammoth Cave National Park, Ranger Nolan said that the National Parks are what make America great and beautiful. Humans are what destroy the natural beauty of this country. And the super highway has destroyed what was…
The youngest of the Karmel kids goes off to college
An open apology to University of New England President James D. Herbert – I swear I wasn’t trying to hit you with the car! More on this later. The end of the summer usually means one thing…college students are returning…
Karmel Knocking Around for a Sunday Hike and Slice™ in Bergen County
The draw for this Hike and Slice™ was getting to Kinchley’s Tavern in Ramsey so we looked and found that Ramapo Reservation – more formally known as Ramapo Valley County Reservation – was but a 10-minute drive down Route 17.…
We found more than just waterfalls Knocking Around Ricketts Glen State Park and Dushore, Pennsylvania
Ever since Melissa and I began writing and posting on Karmel Knocking Around, friends and relatives have asked us what our favorite place is that we have visited. And we have visited some really great places over the last few…
Knocking Around looking for nostalgia in the Adirondacks
Sometimes you just like to reminisce, and think about times that were so much easier when you had no responsibilities, no worries, and life was just about going to school, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and summer vacations with your…
Karmel Knocking Around for the ICE CREAM MAN!
ICE CREAM MAN! ICE CREAM MAN! Remember when you would get so excited hearing that music from off in the distance? You couldn’t hear your mother screaming at the top of her lungs for you to get your ass home…but…