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Hartberger RV 2024-2025
  • Michael Hartberger
  • Michael Hartberger

Hartberger RV 2024-2025

2yr RV trip across the US and Canada Read more
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  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 1/14 – National Naval Aviation

    January 14, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest Naval Aviation Museum. More than 150 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation are on display. These historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum’s over 350,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds.

    I was thankful that Amanda gave me a "Hall Pass" for the day to go and spend 5 hrs. I have a personal connection to someone who was a 2 time Blue Angel (1997 Slot Pilot #4) and 2000 (Slot Pilot #4). The latter rotation was due to the death of two Blue Angels in 1999. He retired from his decorated navy career (Rank Commander) in 2006 and left with over 4,600 flight hours, 725 carrier landings, over 80 combat mission, a Flying Cross with Combat Valor, the 1999 Atlantic Fleet Pilot of the Year, the Meritorious Service Medal, seven Combat Air Medals    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 1/16 – Fort Morgan, AL

    January 16, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Fort Morgan is located on Mobile Point, near the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach which are two places we would recommend for a visit 👍🏻

    The fort a Third System masonry type fort built between 1819 and 1833. The fort was named after Revolutionary War Hero Daniel Morgan. Standing guard where the bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, the fort played a significant role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Used intermittently through the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II.

    Fort Morgan was the last Confederate stronghold on Mobile Bay.

    Battery Duportail is one of several structures added to historic Fort Morgan after the Spanish-American War (1898) to bolster defenses. The huge concrete structures were designed to hold heavy defensive guns aimed into the waters of the Gulf Coast.

    Union Admiral David Farragut led his fleet to charge the bay, famously saying "Damn the torpedoes!".    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 1/26 – Biloxi, MS

    January 26, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The Beauvoir estate, built in Biloxi, Mississippi, along the Gulf of Mexico, was the post-war home (1876–1889) of the former President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis. The National Park Service designated the house and plantation as a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

    Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum - Step into the irresistible, glamorous story of Mardi Gras as it is celebrated along the Mississippi Coast. The museum features dazzling costumes; exhibits of Carnival mementos, including glass beads, doubloons, krewe favors and crowns and scepters; an informative video and artwork related to this beloved annual celebration.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/3 Super Bowl LIX (#59) Openi

    February 3, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We had the luck of being within 2 hours of New Orleans, so we decided to head down to Opening Night and support the B-I-R-D-S.

    It was a lot of fun to be part of the craziness. Unfortunately, we missed seeing Mahomes give Ramon George (NFL Vice President, Officiating Training and Development) his weekly off-book payment 😲 Sorry Randy!Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/5 Avery Island, LA

    February 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We visited the Tabasco factory today and what a cool location and history!

    Tabasco Brand products are made by the McIlhenny Company, founded by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868 on Avery Island, Louisiana. It is here that he developed the recipe for Tabasco -the Original Red Pepper Sauce that's been passed down from generation to generation. To this day, the company is still family-owned and -operated on that very same island. Which in today’s world of buy- outs and consolidation is AMAZING 🤩

    The diet of the Reconstruction South was bland and monotonous, especially by Louisiana standards. So Edmund McIlhenny decided to create a pepper sauce to give the food some flavor and excitement.
    Like all successful innovations, he solved a problem 😁

    Fun facts:
    Process starts with grinding the peppers into what they refer to as Pepper Mash

    The mash is barreled for three years

    The barrels have a layer of salt on top
    5 years seed to sauce

    Also on the Island Jungle Gardens which Edmund created to preserve the area 170 acres. He brought in 65 varieties of Bamboo which about 35 are still living. It’s the largest population of Bamboo grass outside of China. Also imported Holly trees and Camellias shrubs. You drive through the gardens which are lined with all the plants listed above and of course Oak trees.
    We recommend visiting 👍🏻    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/7 Atchafalaya Basin,LA

    February 7, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Today we went to the Atchafalaya Basin Landing and did an Airboat Swamp Tour!

    It took us along the Louisiana wetlands which have been referred to as nature's amusement park. I would describe the swamp tours as an authentic adventures. Thrilling, enlightening and, most importantly, real.

    We got up close and personal to quite a few alligators. Our tour guide has actually named some of the gators 😁! Fun fact, LA has the highest alligator 🐊 population of any state (more than FL). The locals call it “going into the woods “ Which is lined with Cypress trees popping out everywhere and the water carpeted with Hisense flowers that yield lavender flowers in the spring. The boat glided us through lakes and bayous. It was like a maze and we never experienced anything like it.👍🏻    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/14 Vicksburg, Mississippi

    February 14, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Vicksburg National Military Park
    Vicksburg is known as the site of a key Civil War battle. The Siege of Vicksburg is commemorated at the vast Vicksburg National Military Park. To Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Vicksburg was the "nailhead that holds the South's two halves together." President Abraham Lincoln remarked "Vicksburg is the key" to victory and could be the North's lifeline into the South.

    We drove through the well-maintained grounds which are filled with large monuments and clearly marked battlefields. A great opportunity to learn about this significant battle in American history.

    USS Cairo
    We visited the salvaged ship on display. It was one of seven shallow-draft City Class river Ironclads, which was commissioned in January 1862. Named after towns along the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers (Cairo, Illinois in this instance), the seven formidable City Class gunboats prowled the Mississippi River and connected shallow waterways, menacing Confederate supply lines and shore batteries.

    Cairo’s career was short, seeing limited action. On December 12, 1862, it was on a mission to destroy Confederate batteries and clear the river of torpedoes but was hit by one (torpedo) and sunk within 12 minutes. The entire crew made it out alive. The ship was slowly and piece by piece salvaged from the Mississippi River in the 1960s and is on display. A pretty cool ship to see and the museum did a great job with the display.

    Coca-Cola Museum - Right in the middle of downtown Vicksburg is the candy store which is the location where the soda was bottled for the first time in 1894. We were a bit confused since we knew that the first Coca-Cola bottling plant was in Chattanooga. The guide explained that the Vicksburg candy shop had a small operation turning the syrup into soda on a limited scale. The Chattanooga group opened a full bottling plant in 1899 with the approval of the president of Coca-Cola. The group in Vicksburg did not actually tell Coca-Cola about their small/limited operation.

    The candy store has a wide variety of original Coca-Cola advertising and memorabilia is on display. The restored candy shop and office area will take you back to a simpler, sweeter time with furnishings and displays from the 1890s.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP update 2/11-2/16 Historic Antebellum

    February 16, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    FP update 2/11-2/16 Historic Antebellum Homes Natchez, MS

    In the 1800s (pre-civil war ~ Antebellum Period) Natchez was a city with many millionaires. Some say it is the largest amount in the US, but right up there with New York City. This was due mainly to 3 things: Cotton, Location- right on the Mississippi River, and enslaved people (cheap labor)

    With this period, came a boom of mansions, which they called “townhomes” because they were located in “town”.. About 18 are still standing and they are historic sites you can visit. We visited the following: Rosalie, Stanton Hall, Melrose, and Longwood.

    There are many common themes with the original owners of the mansions. RAGS to RICHES to RAGS (pre-to-post civil war) due to the Civil War that freed the enslaved people. Also, most of the initial owners died either before the homes were completed or shortly thereafter. The homes still have the majority of the original furnishings like drapes, dining tables, beds, and chairs. For that reason, a few places did not allow pictures.

    There is a really interesting contraption in a few of the houses called a Punkah. It’s a large fancy piece of carved wood that hangs from the ceiling above the dining table. Someone would have stood and pulled a rope to swing the wood back and forth keeping the dinner guests cool. This was the South and pre-air conditioning so very much needed.

    We enjoyed the stories of the family and the history told by the guides. Amazing building with some not-so-secret and colorful history. It's important these stories are told and heard.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/17 - Emerald Mound/Loess Blu

    February 17, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    FP Update 2/17 - Emerald Mound/Loess Bluff/Windsor Ruins

    We traveled a little North of Natchez to see what is called the ceremonial mounds. Over 800 years ago the native people in this region began to transform a natural hill into what is called Emerald Mound. The mounds in general were built to support temples and ceremonial structures. For perspective the largest one measures190 feet by 160 feet by 30 feet high. We had to keep the height in width in mind when we read how they were built…by hand and baskets.

    Imagine groups of people walking with empty baskets, looking for the perfect location to collect soil for building the mounds. Once found, they may have used digging sticks or their own two hands to collect soil, load up their baskets, and walk back to their village. Baskets would have been emptied, soil stomped down, and the process repeated to create a mound. So, this didn’t happen overnight.

    Loess Bluff - Natchez Trace Pkwy - Mother Nature created this one. This bluff shows a deep deposit of windblown topsoil known as loess. It was formed during the Ice Age when glaciers covered the northern half of the United States. At this time nearly continuous dust storms swept in from the western plains and covered this area with windblown dust to a depth of thirty to ninety feet. Here it rests on the sand and clay of an ancient sea.

    Windsor Ruins, Port Gibson, MS - We journeyed to the site where 27 huge pillars stand surrounded by nothing else but Trees. They are all that remain from a 23-room mansion that was built in 1861. The owner died 2 weeks after it was finished and during the Civil War, it was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. However, after the Civil War, during a house party on February 17, 1890, a guest left a lighted cigar on the upper balcony and Windsor burned to the ground. Everything was destroyed except the columns, balustrades, and iron stairs. It is quite a sight that these large pillars stand prominently in this forested area.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler
    My Princess😬

    FP Update 2/19 Magnolia Hall-Natchez, MS

    February 19, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 -1 °C

    FP Update 2/19 Magnolia Hall-Natchez, MS

    Today with the temperature barely reaching 29 degrees here in the South, we decided to visit one more Antebellum home. Unlike the other mansions we visited, the original millionaire owner was actually from Natchez.
    Our guide said it well when she captured that the size of the homes built in this area during the1800s, displayed their wealth. The bigger the better.

    The original owner (cotton grower) Mr. Henderson, like the others died only a few years after completion. And he too went broke after the civil war. A continuous theme. Had a few owners but in the end was a school for about 10 years. It was eventually restored by the Natchez Garden Club as a house museum and hosts parties and weddings.

    The fun part of this tour is you can try on period costumes. Of course, I participated 😆    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/25 The Grotto/Cullman, AL

    February 25, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    If you ever happen to be in North Central Alabama, Cullman city, there is a very special place to visit- The Ave Maria Grotto!

    This is the home to the fruitful labor of Brother Joseph Zoettl. Joseph was a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey. Originally from Landschutt, Bavaria-Germany, a young Br. Joseph headed to America to become a Monk at Alabama's only Benedictine Abbey. The young Bavarian would end up leaving the Abbey its greatest legacy and in an incredibly humble way. Since 1934, people from around the world visit the Ave Maria Grotto to see famous locations of the world in miniature. From The Great Wall of China to St. Peter's Basilica, we enjoyed the labor of love he put into these little buildings. He constructed about 125 miniature buildings out of scraps over 25 years. They are detailed and amazing! 🤩Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/26 Vulcan Park - Birmingham,

    February 26, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    VULCAN PARK - Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama’s large statue is the world’s largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, Vulcan has overlooked Alabama’s largest city from atop Red Mountain since the 1930s. From where he is located, you get a perfect overview of Birmingham’s landscape.Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP Update 2/26 SLOSS Furnaces - Birmingh

    February 26, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    SLOSS Furnaces - Today on our adventure, we visited SLOSS Furnaces, which is a National Historic Landmark.

    Birmingham’s economy was founded on iron, limestone and coal. SLOSS operated as a pig-iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. After closing, it became one of the first industrial sites (and the only blast furnace) in the U.S. to be preserved and restored for public use.

    The majority of the machinery, which includes furnaces, auxiliary machines and other structures (pump blowers, stoves and boilers) are still standing and give you a glimpse of the huge production it took to make the iron. We took a self guided tour. The spanning facility is used today for metal classes and even concerts.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP update 3/8 Ruby Falls Chattanooga, TN

    March 8, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We visited a “Miracle of Nature” right outside of Chattanooga. Even though we lived here 18 years ago we never visited Ruby Falls until now 😁

    It was accidentally discovered by Leo Lambert in 1928 deep inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Leo named the waterfall and cave after his wife, Ruby, and opened the iconic Chattanooga attraction to the public in 1929.

    It is home to the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States. You descend 260 feet by glass-front elevator into the cavern hidden deep within Lookout Mountain. That is where the fun begins as we explore on foot with a guided walk along the scenic path to the breathtaking waterfall. A must see when in the area. 👍🏻💜    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP update 3/13 Mega Caverns Louisville,

    March 13, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We spent today beneath the city of Louisville, Kentucky 😁 where lies an underground adventure like nowhere else in the world! Louisville Mega Cavern is a one-of-a-kind place, and you truly have to visit it to get the full experience! It is pretty wild what is happening below the city. 🏙️

    Here are some fun facts about the Mega Cavern:

    (*) The cavern was mined from the early 1930s to the early 1970s.
    (*) The Mega Cavern is approximately 100 acres.
    (*) It is classified by the Metro Louisville Government and the State of Kentucky as a building. As a matter of fact, it is the largest building in the State of Kentucky.
    (*) The underground is privately owned.
    (*) Approximately 70% of the Louisville Zoo is located above the cavern.
    (*) If you filled the Mega Cavern with boats, it could hold up to 16,000 units.
    (*) During the Cuban missile crisis in the early 1960s, state officials made plans in case of nuclear attack to house 50,000 people in the cavern because it’s a natural bomb shelter.

    Today you can experience the caverns with a historic tram tour, zip lines, challenging rope courses, and educational walking tours. We partook in the walking tour.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler
    1

    FP update 3/14 Lincoln Museum, Hodgenvil

    March 14, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    We visited this small town that is the birthplace of one of the most important US Presidents! The Lincoln Museum highlights his humble beginnings and the journey to the Presidency when he became our 16th Commander in Chief.

    Here are some fun facts about him:
    (*) President during one of our most difficult times as a country, The Civil War.
    (*) He was a Republican
    (*) Wrote the Emancipation Proclamation
    (*) The infamous Gettysburg address - “Four Score and seven years ago….” It was a speech that was adlibbed. He pitched his prepared remarks and spoke from the heart ♥️
    (*) There are 77,000 published books about his life
    (*) His influence and admiration stretch far beyond our borders…he has Global impact. There are Statues of Lincoln in many countries outside of the USA.
    (*) He is one of the most sculpted, photographed, and painted individuals in history

    We meandered over to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. This is where Abraham Lincoln was born and lived until he headed North to Illinois. The large building encompasses a symbolic log cabin that is representative of the times Lincoln grew up. There are 56 steps to get to the top which represent his 56 years of life.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler

    FP update 3/15 General Patton Museum & F

    March 15, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    We drove to the Fort Knox base and did a drive by the US Bullion Depository. Also known as Fort Knox, which is a fortified vault building adjacent to the Fort Knox Army Post. It is operated by the US Department of the Treasury, and stores over half the country's gold reserves as well as other precious items belonging to or in custody of the federal government. It currently holds 147.3 million ounces of gold bullion. Knocked on the front door seeing if we could get in before Trump and Musk…no luck.

    The General George Patton Museum of Leadership is right around the corner from the Depository. We got to journey through military history and the life and legacy of one of America’s most celebrated military leaders. A few things we learned about the great General:

    (*) “Lead me, follow me or get out of my way “- GP

    (*) Established the first military football team to keep soldiers busy.

    (*) Motto was “Attack, attack and attack again “.

    (*) Many people think he was not empathetic but throughout the museum it is reinforced he felt deeply about his men!

    (*) Honoring and acknowledging his men was very important to him and wanted it done promptly
    🥇

    (*) He wore the same uniform that soldiers did despite having warmer garments that he could have worn.

    (*) Died from injuries in a car accident months after the war


    We learned a lot about Patton and saw quite a few of his artifacts but the museum is also about. Explore over 140 years of transformative leadership and military history. If you are a military history buff, we recommend a visit if in the area.    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler
    2

    FP update 3/16 Louisville Slugger Museum

    March 16, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    For the love of baseball…

    We traveled to the heart of downtown Louisville to view the world's largest baseball bat which of course is in front of The Slugger Museum! The Bat is an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth's 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat.

    It is an active factory so on our tour we viewed the workings of actual bats being made.

    The company, H&B, started out as a woodworking shop in 1856. It wasn’t until 1884; did they start producing bats.

    A few fun factoids we learned:

    The company plants more trees then they cut down

    Trees need to be at least 65 years old

    Procure trees from Pennsylvania (east of Erie) and New York. That is because these trees have the most dense wood and therefore, are perfect for LS bats

    1 tree yields 60 billets which become bats

    #1 Maple & Birch wood

    Manufactures 2.1 M bats per year

    Max length of a bat is 42 inches per MLB regulations

    Must visit The Bat Vault, which houses more than 3,000 original bat models — created for some of the game’s greatest and most legendary players. Feel the history in the room!!!    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler
    Notice black fungus

    FP update 3/17 James “Jim” Beam Bourbon

    March 17, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Since we are in the land of Whiskey and Bourbon we had to visit at least one distillery 😁

    One thing right out of the gate was cleared up for us, all Bourbon is a Whisky and not the other way around. Whiskey 🥃 is the broader group of distilled alcohol.

    Jim Beam has been making bourbon for over 200 years - since 1795 with eight generations of Beams & Noes.

    The tour was great. Our guide was informative and everyone was friendly. We got to walk through the actual facility where all the magic happens and taste a variety of bourbons 🥃😁

    Fun facts we learned:

    (*) The best-selling version in the world is the “White Label”

    (*) Can only use barrels ONCE

    (*) The barrels are charred

    (*) Most of the flavor comes from the barrel

    (*) All Bourbon has to be 51% corn

    (*) Grains used: Corn, rye and barley

    (*) Located by a Limestone shelf where they source the water. The limestone naturally removes iron from the water, and you could say is their “special ingredient”.

    (*) Their Knob Creek Bourbon is named in honor of Abraham Lincoln. Located not too far from the distillery and where he spent his childhood - Knob Creek.

    (*) The distillery process has a fungus that evaporates into the air leaving everything in the immediate area black. The trees and buildings at the location are all black - crazy!    Read more

  • Michael HartbergerHartberger RV 2024-2025Traveler
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    FP update 3/25-28 Chicago, IL <1 of 2>

    March 25, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    While the Dutchess was in the shop for a week, we took the opportunity to explore the Windy City. Overall, we spent our days walking around and soaking it up.

    We decided to take the Shoreline Sightseeing Chicago River 🛥️. Highly recommend if in the city. It is so cool to the old architecture right next to new and modern buildings. I would venture to say that there is no other city in the US where you can get this experience and views.

    Here are a few fun factoids we learned:

    Chicago was a swamp land back in the 1700s
    DuSable Bridge- first double ever built
    Chicago has more moveable bridges than any other city in North America, and only Amsterdam, has more movable bridges in the world.
    1871 there was the Great Chicago fire. Caused by lack of rain and rumor is the fire started in barn. It burned the city to the ground
    After the fire began the rebuilding of Chicago resulting in what you see today 🤩with many parks and no buildings along Michigan Lake.
    There is always an exception and Lake Point Tower is the ONLY building on Lake Michigan. The builder found a loophole and after this was done the details of what could be built were amended so it couldn’t happen again!
    In recent years, Chicago spent a pot of money to build The Chicago River walk which you can walk for 9.25 miles! Really cool 😎

    Of course, we had to visit The Bean 🫘 which is really Cloud Gate. It is one of Chicago’s most popular sights. The monumental work of art anchors downtown Millennium Park and reflects the city’s famous skyline and the surrounding green space.    Read more