I was warned about the Plymouth Rock Landmark in Massachusetts. I heard that it takes 30 seconds to visit and that it is underwhelming.

This did’t deter me.  I walked along the harbor and I saw the shore as the Pilgrims did. I felt the salt wind cutting into my face and imagined the emotion of seeing land after a long, hard voyage

Hundreds of years later it felt real. I'm glad that I went.

What goes through your mind when you're at a landmark? 

For years I’ve wondered what a slice of the famous Mystic Pizza was like. I passed by the shop by accident on my way home from Massachusetts so I stopped in. When my slice was served, I asked, “Do you have one less burned?” The crust was fine, but the cheese was more well done than usual.

The waitress said the pies are pretty much all this way, if you want less done pizza , then special order a small pie and request it. I asked about beverages on tap and Mystic Seaport Ale, a popular brew.

The...

Growing up, one of the highlights of a trip to Macy’s 34th Street in New York was riding the old fashioned wooden escalators. On a whim I decided to visit the store for the purpose of discovering whether or not they stood the test of time.

I began by asking a store clerk and she confirmed there are a number of them, but could only direct us to one, which was wood, but not as aged as the ones I remembered. At the elevator banks I announced what I was hunting for. The suggestion was to begin...