In 1970 my best friend and I were able to plan a trip east to see her family and meet up with friends for a wonderful tour including Mackinac Island, New Jersey, New York City, Buffalo, Boston, Connecticut and Washington D.C. This would be the first time I took a trip that included flying in a plane. Here are my old photos from that trip.
I’m really not sure exactly where we started from and where we ended this trip. My friend Heidi and I traveled from Los Angeles. One of the spots we stayed was in Michigan at our friend Faye’s home. Faye’s dad was our pastor at Bethany Baptist in L.A. for several years. When they left L.A. they settled in Troy, Michigan. Faye and Heidi were best friends through high school. We also spent time on the lake at Peter and Ruth Leonovich’s home. Peter and Ruth took the three of us to Mackinac Island for a day.
We had loads of fun riding bikes around the island. On the way to the island there were threats of rain and I remember Pete stopping the car so the 3 of us could do sun dances instead of rain dances. Looks like it worked.
In New Jersey after we visited Heidi’s grandmother and uncles and aunts we were guests at Peter Leonovich’s brother’s home. Al and Babs treated us to wonderful meals and a trip into New York City to see the sights including the Statue of Liberty.
Somehow we also ended up in Buffalo New York with more “friends of friends” who took us to see Niagara Falls and we had the most delicious barbecued corn during a backyard barbecue that I had ever tasted.
Andy Semenchuk was our amazing tour guide to Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington D.C.
Boston was beautiful. I remember how shocked I was at seeing how small Plymouth Rock was.
Because we were from California we had to pose next to Junipero Serra in the National Statuary Room. Turns out the first school Dear and my two sons attended was Junipero Serra Elementary School in Ventura, California.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Looking back I’m so humbled at how hospitable everyone was to us. A place to lay our heads, food, sightseeing trips, and transportation everywhere we needed to go and didn’t need to go but these amazing people wanted to treat us to these sights. Thank you, thank you, to Andy Semenchuk, the Al Leonovich Family, Peter and Ruth Leonovich, and the Chechowich family. You broadened our horizons and our world view and modeled hospitality to us! I am forever grateful…
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
You are very welcome – it was fun. I can remember speeding like crazy in order to see the Plymouth Rock and couldn’t believe how small it was – I was shocked!!!!!!!!!!!
What a wonderful trip down memory lane. Thanks for sharing it with us. I love your pictures.
These are fantastic pictures and memories of hospitality! I love seeing the 70’s styles. What a fun trip that must have been!
Golden days make golden memories! Such lovely hospitality from so many people. The cheery picnic in front of the White House…without all the security fortressing: I still think the White House looks like that. Wish I could be like that again.
I cannot believe how much you look like Deb in the first picture!
Okay now that I look at the picture again, that’s Faye not you correct?
Yes, first photo is Faye, Heidi and Ruth…
I just love seeing these photos of you way back when and always think… she had the best clothes. I love your style. I also can see that even back then you loved taking pictures to remember wonderful times.
Fun photos and memories.
Wow…what a great trip and so many kind people!
I’m so enjoying taking these trips down memory lane with you…especially this one. It looks like you had the best time! It’s so fun to see the fashions of that day…and think back to similar outfits that I wore. My first flight was not until 1973.
How fun! I love the dresses you wore to Mt. Vernon!
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