The Floating White House
The thing that is really great about traveling is finding places, finding things that you can’t do back home. While in Oakland I ran across one that I was positive I can’t do back home and that is take a cruise on the USS Potomac. This boat has about as much history as the Mayflower and it might ring some bells because it was once called the “Floating White house” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used this Yacht as his own personally White House on the water. The boat served him well right up to his death in 1945. The ship over the years took quite a long adventure and there is a bit of resurrection n the story as well. The boat changed hands many times one of the most notable owners was Elvis Presley. The next time it popped up in history was when it was seized in 1980 as a drug smuggling ship. A long way from being F.D.R.’s Floating White House. It was impounded where it eventually sunk, was raised from East Bay Estuary and sat there where it was going to be scrabbled. Just days before it was going to hauled away the Port of Oakland bought the ship, saw its true value. Over 12 years and 5 millions dollars later the ship has been restored to hits former glory and today charters cruises to show and teach people about F.D.R.’s Floating White House. It’s a great treat for the family or check out their holiday cruises I’ve heard they are rather amazing.
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Traveling can be tough and especially with a car full of kids. Everyone wants out and wants to do something different. One of the things I’ve found that seem to please the crowds is a good Zoo. The exotic animals that call zoo’s home are a great way to take your mind off traveling and relax. While traveling through California and more specifically Oakland we stopped at the Oakland Zoo for a day of relaxation on a long trip. It was lots of fun and a really exciting zoo there were animals from all over the world over 660 current residents ranging from tiny Beatles and snakes to giant elephants and lions. My favorite animals at the zoo were the Giraffe. They are always my favorite I think it has something to do with those long legs and long legs. It cracks me up to see them run around, they look clumsy but at the same time they are graceful. The animals aren’t everything the staff at the Oakland Zoo was one in a million they made the trip something that my family won’t soon forget. It was the perfect vacation from you vacation.
