You are currently browsing the daily archive for November 19, 2009.
I took 2 hours for a sight seeing trip while in San Diego to walk through
USS Midway Museum, which was just a short walk from my hotel. I took
a few photos of the flight deck, control tower and views around the
harbor. Hope you enjoy this brief tour.
I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to see how our Navy
crews lived through WWII, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.
In the Vietnam War, I flew Helicopters for the 155th Army Air Corps.
The Vietnam workhorse Huey helicopter, one very similar to what I
flew back in 1970 was on the flight deck. During the Vietnam War,
I’m sure the USS Midway provided air cover for several of the
Missions I was involved in while serving.
The runway and conning tower of the United States’ longest
serving carrier in the 20th century.
It was fascinating to learn that this ship burned 260 gallons of
oil for every mile and carried a 3.4 million gallon fuel capacity.
The new carriers are powered by a Nuclear reactor, so refueling
isn’t a problem anymore.
Another trivia tidbit that awed me – the USS Midway served
10 tons of food daily to the crew of 4500. 3000 potatoes and
1000 loaves of bread were served daily.
And 500 pies were served when offered.
If you would like to see all of my photos from the trip they
are all in this video montage:
Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate
Contact Terry 616-292-7263
Grand Rapids Michigan is a diverse metropolitan area comprised of
many local cities and communities that surround the city of
Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids metro area is the second largest
“city” in Michigan with a population around 1 million.
West Michigan is a beautiful 4 season area of Michigan that has lots
of hardwood forests, rolling hills, Lake Michigan shoreline, hundreds
of lakes and rivers, and a thriving, diverse work environment with
educated workers. We have 25 colleges and universities in our
area, including the new Michigan State Medical School on the
“Medical Mile” in downtown Grand Rapids with a student population
of around 32,000+ students.
Getting To Know Grand Rapids:
Since pictures speak louder than words, we have links to photos
& videos of some of our local communities:
Ada Michigan is a small community southeast of Grand Rapids with
an excellent school system and lots of suburban homes.
Caledonia Michigan is a small suburban community that has farms
and a rural setting.
East Grand Rapids is a city bordering on Grand Rapids that has
lovely older homes, an excellent school system, and excellent city services,
including community events, and over 100 miles of plowed city
sidewalks in the winter.
Kentwood Michigan is a suburban community southeast of Grand
Rapids with businesses, such as Steelcase, one of the nation’s largest
office furniture manufacturers and lots of suburban housing subdivisions,
both new and established, plus rental communities for housing options.
Lowell Michigan is a small community east of Grand Rapids with a
vibrant business community, excellent school system, and a mixture of
older homes and newer subdivisions, all centered around the Flat River.
Rockford Michigan is a small community north of Grand Rapids
on the Rogue River. It is home to the global shoe manufacturer, Wolverine
Worldwide [Merrell, Patagonia, Harley Davidson brands], but has a small
town feeling with unique boutiques, shops, and wonderful restaurants.
Many newer homes, established subdivisions and older homes populate
the Rockford area.
Quality of Life in Grand Rapids:
Grand Rapids Michigan Rated 5th Most Affordable Housing in US -
Aug 21, 2009 – CNN Money has rated the top cities in affordable housing.
Top Schools in West Michigan – 6-15-2009 – Six West Michigan public
Schools were rated in the top 1500 schools in the nation by Newsweek.
Spectrum Hospital Ranks in Nation’s Top 100
Restaurants in the Grand Rapids Area:
Good Eats – Marie Catrib’s in the East Hills Neighborhood of Grand Rapids offers
unusual fare in a friendly atmosphere.
The Thornapple Daily Grill in Ada, Michigan – March 9, 2008 –Nestled in
heart of downtown Ada near the Thornapple River, this Gilmore
Restaurant is a favorite with local patrons for lunch or dinner.
More than Tacos at Taquitos Mexican Grill – Aug 1, 20009 – Located in
the old Herkimer Hotel, no dark and dingy digs here.
First Choice for Chinese in Forest Hills = First Wok – Dec 4, 2009 – Located in
the heart of Cascade, this Chinese Restaurant is one of our favorites.
The Grille Restaurant at Watermark Country Club – March 9, 2008 -
Serving fresh local foods when possible, this restaurant is always
busy. Whether you stop in for a business lunch or have a quick
meal after you play nine holes, you can’t go wrong here.
The Monterey Grille in Caledonia – March 9,2009 – A great local place
for breakfast or an after work get-together at the sports bar.
Recreation in Grand Rapids:
Art Prize – Sept 24, 2009 – Planned to be an annual event in Grand Rapids,
Art Prize took the city by storm this year with over $250K in prizes,
artists from all over the world bringing their art creations to GR.
Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey – May 11, 2009 – A Night at a Griffins
Play-off Game
White Caps Baseball Signals Spring – March 15, 2009 – Opening day
for the local AA Team is much anticipated in Grand Rapids.
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – The Sculptures;
The Conservatory ; The Children’s Garden ; Butterfly Exhibit
Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series 2010 – April 26, 2010 –
16 concerts held at the Outdoor Amphitheater.
Grand Haven – Aug 24, 2009 – Coast Guard City is a great destination for
tourists and Michigan day trippers, like ourselves.
Golf in West Michigan -
Roselle Park – Nov 6, 2009 – Natural Habitat Refuge on the Grand River
with an observation tower, viewing deck, canoe/kayak launch, miles of
walking trails.
Grand Rapids Golf – With over 900 courses in West Michigan, it could
take a few months to play them all. A few local golf course articles &
photos.
Real Estate Information for Buyers & Sellers:
Which Mortgage Do I Choose? – Key questions to ask yourself and
lenders before you finalize your mortgage.
Buying Foreclosed Homes is NOT FUN! – May 6, 2008 –
A few buying tips on foreclosed properties. Be Aware. Be Prepared.
Use a Seasoned Buyer’s Agent.
Are you Looking for your Grand Rapids Dream Home? – May 13, 2008 –Lots
of internet searches for the perfect home are being done right now.
Sellers Beware! Avoid 11 Mistakes That Could Cost You Hundreds, even
Thousands of Dollars!
The difference between a profitable, seamless
transaction and a break even, miserable experience is often a fine line.
Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Before You List Your Home – Crucial
areas of expertise your Realtor should possess.
Homes in Greater Grand Rapids Area:
Grand Rapids Michigan Homes Search
East Grand Rapids Michigan Homes Search
Caledonia Michigan Homes Search
Kentwood Michigan Homes Search
Rockford Michigan Homes Search
Wyoming Michigan – Search for Homes
Search Luxury Grand Rapids Homes
Grand Rapids – Condos for Sale
Kentwood Condos for Sale
Waterfront Homes for Sale
