What's One Cool Thing About Your City?

Bobby Steurer

Hi!


My favorite thing about the Blackbaud Community is the diversity of its members, especially when it comes to how far we spread across the globe.

I'm curious to hear where everyone comes from and one unique, cool thing about your home city. What would you recommend doing for a first-time visitor?


I live in Louisville, KY, and while most people think of horse racing when they think of this state, I'd have to recommend Museum Row (https://www.museumrowonmain.com/). It's enough for a first-timer to get a taste of Louisville, and can also lead you to discover the many great restaurants and other lesser-known (and extremely cool) venues nearby.


Let's hear about your city!

Crystal Bruce

Love this! I live in Charleston, South Carolina. I think the city itself is marvelously beautiful, but more importantly full of history. Probably most well known for being where the Civil War started, but it also has a rich history in the Revolutionary War. I recommend everyone come and visit all of the historical sites, but also enjoy some good regional food like Shrimp and Grits.





Can't wait to read about everyone's city!

Annie Neveau

I live in the small town of Peru, NE (population 850).  We are home to Nebraska's oldest college, Peru State College.  I'd definitely recommend touring campus!


We had this great hiking, biking, walking trail on which a resident had carved several sculptures into the rock cliffs along it.  I would have definitely recommended seeing those, but unfortunately the spring flooding here in Nebraska (in 2019), washed the trail out.  They're working on getting it fixed, so fingers crosses, we'll be able to utilize that trail again.  (On that note, we're still flooded.  Don't forget about us!)

Rachel Cavalier

I'm not sure I what I would recommend to a first-time visitor to my town - other than getting the bus over to the Harry Potter Studio Tour just outside town, or the train to either St Albans (or right on down to London)!


St Albans has a lot of history - there's St Albans Abbey, which has the longest nave out of the cathedrals in England and where they're currently digging up all sorts of fascinating things in the archaeological site there. There's also a lot of ancient Roman sites as St Albans is built on top of one of the larger Roman towns, Verulamium, and was one of the places sacked by Boudica back in the day!

Diana Turner

I live in Toledo, Ohio...there are lots of great attractions for visitors and natives alike. I would recommend for a start, a walk down the riverfront to see the park like area and the Maumee River. 

Brenda Smith

Cool! I am from the small rural town of Scotland Neck, NC (Halifax County; population 2,100+, about an hour & 1/2 drive NE of Raleigh (state's capital)).


The coolEST thing about our lil' ole town is our most distinguished feature of parking in the middle of Main St. We clearly get teased about it a lot and it never fails when mentioned on being from Scotland Neck, the response is "oh, that's where you guys park in the middle of the street." Yes, we LOVE it.....at least my generation (I'm a 70s baby) and those before us. 


We're known as "An Outdoor Paradise" embracing the agri/eco-tourism that is continually growing. Hwy 258 is a well-traveled highway that runs from Jacksonville, NC (through Scotland Neck) up to Hampton/Newport News, VA. Se we get a lot of travelers passing through our town.


We are also very excited to house the largest bird park known as Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Bird Park (http://www.shwpark.com/), established around the late 1980's. There is a collection of over 3,000 birds of different varieties. This is a truly a must-see for one of the greatest experiences you will ever have....and also don't forget about good ole' southern cooking. 


Please do drop in anytime whenever you are near the northeast end of NC. Contact me and I'll be happy to join you and hang out with my BB Community family. 

Brenda Smith

Oh I forgot (how could I) to mention that we host an annual car show and are also home to the Crepe Myrtle festival, celebrating over 500 crepe myrtles every year. Unfortunately, the festival was discontinued last year. 

Crystal Bruce

Brenda Smith:

Cool! I am from the small rural town of Scotland Neck, NC (Halifax County; population 2,100+, about an hour & 1/2 drive NE of Raleigh (state's capital)).


The coolEST thing about our lil' ole town is our most distinguished feature of parking in the middle of Main St. We clearly get teased about it a lot and it never fails when mentioned on being from Scotland Neck, the response is "oh, that's where you guys park in the middle of the street." Yes, we LOVE it.....at least my generation (I'm a 70s baby) and those before us. 


We're known as "An Outdoor Paradise" embracing the agri/eco-tourism that is continually growing. Hwy 258 is a well-traveled highway that runs from Jacksonville, NC (through Scotland Neck) up to Hampton/Newport News, VA. Se we get a lot of travelers passing through our town.


We are also very excited to house the largest bird park known as Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Bird Park (http://www.shwpark.com/), established around the late 1980's. There is a collection of over 3,000 birds of different varieties. This is a truly a must-see for one of the greatest experiences you will ever have....and also don't forget about good ole' southern cooking. 


Please do drop in anytime whenever you are near the northeast end of NC. Contact me and I'll be happy to join you and hang out with my BB Community family. 

I read this and saw "Scotland Neck" and then read the part about parking in the middle of the street and thought about my time in Scotland and how in Scotland, a lot of people park in the middle of the street. I wonder if that's intertwined somehow!

Brenda Smith

Awesome post. Thanks Bobby for getting this one started.

Brenda Smith

Hi Crystal, I'm not sure but that is definitely interesting. I will have to research that one.

Rob Fitler

I live in Braselton, GA about 50 miles north of Atlanta. There is a cute and developing town area with a concert/greenspace some shops, restaurants and a speakeasy hangout. However, the one place to visit in Braselton is Chateau Elan (https://www.chateauelan.com/). A beautiful resort with a hotel and winery...come check it out! 

Marie Stark

I live in Miami, FL.  Of course everyone thinks of the beaches here.  I would recommend going in the opposite direction and visit the Everglades. Or Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Elizabeth Perron

Bobby Steurer‍ great question!!


My favorite thing about where I live is the pirate playground.  It lets all ages play while keeping the pirate history alive in Folly Beach, SC.

Jan Brand

I live in Eatontown, NJ, hardly a city.  We are a town of about 12,000 residents, located about an hour south of NYC.  I think the coolest thing about Eatontown is we are about 4 miles from the ocean.  I love being able to take a ride along the beach whenever I want!  We do have a beautiful arboretum that is a great place to walk the dogs.  

Elizabeth Perron

Bobby Steurer‍ your question is posted on the spinning content wheel on the dashboard.  To see your question advertised..go to My Community > My Community Dashboard, then just watch the spinning content until you see your question!


Hope your family is doing well.  Thank you for posting an engaging question the whole community can enjoy.

Bobby Steurer

Elizabeth Perron:
Bobby Steurer‍ your question is posted on the spinning content wheel on the dashboard.  To see your question advertised..go to My Community > My Community Dashboard, then just watch the spinning content until you see your question!


Hope your family is doing well.  Thank you for posting an engaging question the whole community can enjoy.

Thanks, Elizabeth Perron‍ ! Can't wait to hear where our Community members are!

Judy Spigarelli

I'm in Concord NH, a simply beautiful and picturesque area to visit.  Although there's plenty to do in Concord, when visiting NH, I suggest taking advantage of our landscape. Within one hour's drive, you can visit the seacoast, mountains, lakes region, and Boston.  Each direction gives you the versatility to enjoy history, nature, shopping, and New England comfort food - including some of the best seafood around!

JoAnn Strommen

"City of Presidents" - statues of all the presidents can be found on downtown street corners.  Ties in with Mount Rushmore located nearby.

Kim Berry

I live in Round Lake, NY. It is a small village of about 600 people. The village originated as a Methodist camp and many of the houses grew from summer cottages into year-round homes. We have an auditorium in the center of the village that houses an 1847 Ferris Tracker Organ which is a National Historic Landmark. Each summer we have a Night of Illumination where we hang paper lanterns on our porches (we admit it, stole the idea from Martha's Vineyard) and gather in the auditorium to honor a citizen of the year and have a good old fashioned sing along before walking through the village to admire the lighted lanterns. In 2016 a new tradition was started - Fun Beer Friday! We basically have a BYO happy hour hosted by a different resident every Friday during the summer. I love where I live!

Judy Spigarelli

Kim Berry‍ - your town sounds like a very magical place!

Kim Berry

Judy Spigarelli:
Kim Berry‍ - your town sounds like a very magical place!

It is! My friend Adrianne (who conceived the Fun Beer Friday idea) actually uses that word to describe our village frequently. We're just 15 minutes south of Saratoga Springs so if you are ever in the area, take a little detour down the Northway to Exit 11 and head east - you can't miss it.

Regina Holten

I work in Baltimore City and live fifteen minutes outside of the city in Catonsville, Baltimore County, Maryland.  And the uniqueness of the areas are that there are numerous amazing culinary and cultural happenings throughout! A first time visitor may want to be closer to the water, so plan a stroll on the Inner Harbor Promenade  - a stroll that can take you as far as historical Fells Point.  Landlubber?  Take a former streetcar/trolley trail to Ellicott City.  Fells Point and Ellicott City both have gorgeous architecture, delicious restaurants and exciting ghost tours.  So much more to do, I'll reserve a longer list for when you visit!


Here's another fun thing it sorta took me a bit to discover - cooking classes!  There are so many - based on trends, ethnicity.  I've signed up for a few at the Polish National Council Association branch in Baltimore City.  This is not likely published in a tourist guide.  It is a series I found from speaking with a Polish American true Marylander.  This is what I love too - the uniquely Marylander, friendly fun events you learn about kind of on the sly...

Regina

Grace Rose Khalsa

We're in Boston Massachusetts, which, as everyone knows ;-) is the "Hub of the Universe" - nickname, the Hub. What's cool about Boston? Hmmm... what isn't??! We have some highly-winning sports teams (and some highly reviled as well, hahah!); we'll probably be completely under water in another 50 years if climate change isn't addressed pretty quickly; we have the Freedom Trail spotlighting lots of Revolutionary War history. We have the Duck Boats (take a tourist trip around the city in comfort and then splash into the Charles River for a boat ride!) And now I've gone on way too long - just come visit (spring is wonderful!) and you'll see for yourself all the cool stuff Boston can offer.

Patti Hommes

I'm in Fort Lauderdale, FL, just a hop, skip and jump North of Marie Stark‍. I agree that everyone thinks BEACH, but there is so much more! I love kayaking in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. And there's Butterfly World and Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens!