Twelve Mile Circle – An Appreciation of Unusual Places

Category: Miscellaneous

  • Carolina Wetlands, Part 8 (Rounding It Out)

    Well, we did it. We made it to the final article in the Carolina Wetlands series. Thank you for following along vicariously on my journey. Often I use the final article as a catch-all, a way to catalog stories that don’t fit anywhere else. It also lets me add a few items to my lists,…

  • Carolina Wetlands, Part 7 (Breweries During COVID)

    This is the part where I get to talk about breweries. Longtime Twelve Mile Circle readers know I’ve been to a lot of them over the years. Those same readers also know I write beer pages more for myself than for them. In fact, they’re probably the least popular pages on the site. That’s alright;…

  • Scottish Breweriana

    Breweriana from Scotland (January 2000) I like good beer, and we found plenty of exceptionally good beer in Scotland. We conducted a fair amount of research to find a representative sample of breweries and pubs recognized for their Real Ales. Additionally, we took great pride in not drinking a single massed-produced beer during our visit.…

  • Historic Cantillon Brewery and Museum

    Brussels, Belgium (November 2003) Deep in the heart of Brussels, not far from the Grand’ Place, sits a small throwback to a simpler time. In ages past, people maintained a more intimate connection with the food and beverages they consumed. The Cantillon Brewery preserves this aesthetic. It serves a working museum (map) open for guided…

  • Belgian Brewery Coasters and Glasses

    Anyone who appreciates good beer understands Belgium’s reputation for excellent brewing. As well, anyone who know me likely realizes my feelings towards the brewing arts. The ability to sample a large contingent of Belgian beers conveniently and inexpensively was definitely a bonus to our several visits. Each beer has its own distinctive glass and anyone…

  • Exploring the Mitten, Part 5 (Keeping Stock)

    We stayed put more than usual during this adventure. Nonetheless, I managed grow my various lists in modest ways. The Twelve Mile Circle audience knows what I like so none of this will be a surprise. I thought it might be a nice way to wrap-up the series. Lighthouses I’ve been captivated by lighthouses for…

  • Exploring the Mitten, Part 4 (On the Road)

    We took only one substantial day-trip during the week. It followed a loop focused on Sleeping Bear Dunes designed to captured as many counties along the way as possible. Obviously, I wanted to see more than big piles of sand in return for a 270 mile (435 kilometre) drive. I consulted my article map for…

  • Australian Brewery Coasters

    Coasters Collected in the Wild (October 1997) Anyone who knows me understands that I like fine tasting beers. Naturally we had to visit brewpubs and breweries, and try as many different varieties as available. Lord Nelson The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel bills itself as the oldest hotel in Sydney, dating back to the 1840’s (map).…

  • Old World Wisconsin

    Eagle, Wisconsin, USA (August 10, 2002) The Wisconsin Historical Society operates Old World Wisconsin, south of the town of Eagle, an outdoor living history museum (map). The society collected vintage buildings from throughout the state and carefully transported them to the site. Experts then reassembled the buildings in their historical context. Different locations in Old…

  • The House on the Rock

    Spring Green, Wisconsin, USA (August 12, 2002) I am not even sure how to describe The House on the Rock near Spring Green, Wisconsin (map). Is it a house? Or is it a museum? Maybe it’s a cluttered attic on steroids? Did some ancient flea market suffer a devastating explosion and leave its detritus in…