Monday, January 5, 2009

NOT like I remember

I'm eager to revisit Natural Bridge, Va., a natural rock formation
connecting two mountains (well, hills) in southwestern Virginia.
When I was here last, I clung to my grandfather's knees (that's about
how tall I was) and was fascinated by the park rangers, the history,
the lush natural surroundings. Thomas Jefferson had owned the bridge
at one time and George Washington initialed it.

What a difference marketing makes.

My excitement ebbs as I drive past tons of aging fake stuff geared
toward making kids and parents miserable because it's all touristy
kitsch: a zoo, a safari, an enchanted forest, a wax museum,
FOAMHENGE!! and, alas, right at the visitor's center for the famed
natural landmark, a fake cowboy riding a fake dinosaur. Blekk.

We're outta here. No one's getting our dollar.



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

nancy: we took our boys there in about 1986, and those things weren't there. i agree with you....TACKY, and totally unnecessary. The natural beauty was enough. Tory

Anonymous said...

nancy: we took our boys there in about 1986, and those things weren't there. i agree with you....TACKY, and totally unnecessary. The natural beauty was enough. Tory