Here’s what I saw:

I also took this video – I like it better as a soundscape… close your eyes and just listen:

Today I celebrated my 34th birthday in Woodstock, New York.

The legendary music festival of ’69 actually took place in nearby Bethel, but Woodstock was also quite a hippie haven. A brochure for the town promises a celebration of creativity and the arts, and it’s hard to walk a block without encountering a gallery or some kind of public sculpture. It’s also a place where it’s hard to see where the symbolism of the past ends and authentic modern culture begins. We saw street vendors selling tie-dye:

…as well as Tibetan peace flags, posters for home-brew classes, and a lot of gray-haired people who looked like they probably smoked their share of peace pipes back in the day. There were also young couples walking beagles and boxers, and a home décor store selling items I’ve seen on Etsy.

So far, the most compelling part of Woodstock is the cabin we’re renting:

There’s a claw-foot tub in the living room:

…and this is the view from the bed:

I wrote this blog post at a huge wooden desk in the bedroom, whose beautiful luster is interrupted only by the occasional paint stain, evidence of creativity past. Right now I’m at Joshua’s, a cafe with free wifi where we stopped on the way to dinner so I could post this. And who should we see here but…Scott Ian, of Anthrax, one of Jordan‘s teenage heroes. His other band, Pearl, is playing in town this weekend. Not quite Janis Joplin – a different Pearl…for a different Woodstock.

Tod and Justin Purvis

My friend Justin Purvis (who I met through Washington Improv Theater) suffers from Choroideremia, a degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness. His brother, Tod, was recently diagnosed with the condition, as well, and the two of them have decided to do something to raise awareness of the disease, while undertaking a sight-seeing trip that they may not be able to enjoy in the future. In Justin’s words:

“It is our intention before we lose our sight completely to see this great nation with our own eyes. Since Choroideremia starts with the peripheral vision, we’ve decided to start with the peripheral states of America. This summer, we’re going to circumnavigate the contiguous United States, seeing the great sights that make America beautiful. We’ll be documenting the entire trip on film in the hopes of raising awareness of Choroideremia and other degenerative eye diseases. All donations will go towards trip costs and expenses, with all remaining proceeds going to the Choroideremia Research Foundation. We are calling this journey Driving Blind.“

Please consider helping Justin and Tod out. Visit the Driving Blind website to follow their journey and make a donation. Become a fan on Facebook, and help spread the word to others who might be willing to lend a hand. You can also learn more about their condition at the Choroideremia Research Foundation website.

Their latest fundraising idea: a “ride along” contest, whereby they create a life-size photo cut-out of the winner and take it with them on the trip, taking pictures of it at stops along the way. What else should they do to raise money and awareness?

Related Posts:

• “Food, Inc.” and Creative Activism
• Creative Philanthropy
• From Creative DC: When Life Gives You Lemons

See Also: Roadtrip Nation, a project that helps 20-somethings travel the country in a green RV to meet and interview people who love their lives.

(Jet lag) reminds us not just that we have bodies, but that we are bodies. Flout the time zones and you will feel unusual. You may even feel depressed, as gravity reasserts its claim upon your person. But so what? Be the depression. Lay aside the melatonin. Sweet hamster, forgo that Viagra. Don’t, please, start rising like a monk in the predawn hours, fours days before your trip.

And this:

Because really, if you’re not lagged to a standstill, how can you tell that you’ve gone somewhere? This is, in a phrase I intend to copyright, “the wisdom of jet lag.”

Do yourself a favor and read the article – especially if you’re traveling anytime soon. It’s lovely, and a very quick read.

A number of small farms in New York State are offering “haycations.” For about the price of a nice hotel room in Manhattan, you can stay on a farm and even perform some farming duties.

That’s the Village Voice’s Fork in the Road blog, summarizing a longer article in the New York Times. Here’s a peek at what your accomodations might look like:

Photo of Feather Down farm tent

If farm chores aren’t your idea of a great escape, here are some other non-traditional trips my friends have taken:

• Cedar Creek Tree House – Stay in a tree house! My friends Molly and Colin did this and had a grand time. If you’re not big on heights, may I recommend a yurt vacation? I remember a colleague of mine booking a couple nights in a yurt overlooking the San Francisco Bay after a conference we attended in San Fran – the perfect antidote to being “on” and “corporate” for 5 days straight. Plus, it’s just fun to say: “Yurt.”
• Cross-Cultural Solutions – A guide to international volunteer opportunities. Why spend your vacation volunteering? My friend Christa explains her reasons (she’s done it twice) here.
• It’s a Creekmore World – My friend Trisha Creekmore and her husband, David, travel the world with their two daughters, and chronicle their experiences on this blog. Recent trips include Old City Jerusalem and Yucatan, Mexico. In addition to offering non-traditional ideas for family travel, the site and related Facebook page show you how two working adults with school-age children are able to fit so much family travel into their lives.

What’s the most unusual trip you’ve ever taken – either a quick getaway or a longer excursion?