Verbatim Column

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?

In case you have some travel dreaming to do or otherwise just like to hear what people consider beautiful, our colleagues answer this question with heart.

In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim.

 

Spectacular Vistas and Familiar Faces

My husband and I have been very fortunate that we have had the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Norway, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Russia on cruises.   Each spot has its own beauty.  The scenery in Norway was fantastic.  Even though those were all cruises, we saw many other beautiful spots such as the sunset sail with the NPGA Board of Directors in Key West.  We have taken our grandchildren on some short trips as well.  In my opinion, the beauty I have seen in all of our travels has come more from being with good friends and family that have accompanied us.  To be able to have these experiences with friends & family, and just to see the smiles on the faces of our grandchildren has brought more beauty and a lifetime of memories that I will always cherish.

Rosie Buschur

McMahan’s Bottle Gas

Dayton, Ohio

 

I’ve been fortunate to travel in my adult years.  My first trip to Florida to see the ocean was the most beautiful place I had ever been.  The sand and salt water was like nothing this Midwesterner had ever experienced in my life.  Then I went to Jamaica and experienced true beauty!  I had the opportunity to visit England and the architecture and scenery there is breathtaking.  Last year, our family vacation took us to Sedona and the Grand Canyon to see the mountains and I shed a tear as I realized how small we are in this world.  I can’t pick just one place because I think every new experience always seems to top the last one!  But I can say that after every trip, I’m always happy to get back home and see those beautiful Illinois sunrises over the cornfield behind our house…and that might just be my favorite view yet!

Tonya Crow

GROWMARK, Inc.

Bloomington, Illinois

 

The most beautiful place I have ever been is in the presence of my family as they laugh and enjoy each other’s company — catching a sunrise or sunset and appreciating it’s wonder or Sunday morning during a service that seems to be being preached just for me. All these things bring me to a place of Gratitude where it reminds me of all my blessings. There is no place more beautiful than knowing you are cared for by friends, family and most of all – my Heavenly Father! An attitude of Gratitude is a beautiful thing!!

Judy Taranovich

Proctor Gas

Proctor, Vermont

 

If I had to choose just one place, I would have to say Lake Tahoe. It’s such a refreshing place with crisp mountain air and the reflections of the trees off of the lake. It’s so serene and peaceful. There used to be a motorcycle rally during the WPGA show so we would ride around the lake and make pit stops at the scenic overlooks. The views are just stunning.

Jason Soulon

Westmor Industries

Shawnee, Kansas

 

Hands down this would have to be New Zealand!  I was lucky enough to get to travel there in 2014 for a two-week training session with our customer in New Zealand!  Part of the country reminded me of the lush green countryside of Ireland.  Other parts of the country reminded me of the Colorado mountains (for good reason, I found out later that the majority of their evergreens were imported from Colorado!).  Then throw in some beautiful hot springs, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit locations and it was a win all the way around!  Another part of the ‘beauty’ has to be the fabulous people that live and work there!    It’s a place I would go back to be able to see a lot more!

Susan Peterson

Rural Computer Consultants

Bird Island, Minnesota

 

Lake Louise, Canada.  The first view of the lake took my breath away! The serene water, surrounded by evergreen trees with a glacier in the background. It was so picturesque that I felt inspired to paint it.  The painting hangs proudly in my home as a reminder of God’s amazing handiwork.

Julie Johnson

Ted Johnson Propane

Baldwin Park, California

 

Badlands, Yellowstone, Mt. Washington (NH), Hoosac Tunnel and the area (MA), and Cape Cod.  I know the question is “what’s the most beautiful place you’ve been” — however I have to say these are all my first choice.

Richard Strycharz Jr.

Walter’s Propane

Sunderland, Massachusetts

 

The most beautiful place I have ever been is a place 12 million people also visit annually… Western North Carolina. Although it is my hometown, this gorgeous landscape of mountains, waterfalls, and endless forest never fails to take my breath away.

Jessica Johnson

ThompsonGas

Asheville, North Carolina

 

I finally have a question that I can answer very quickly. I have not had the opportunity to travel very much outside of the United States. I have never vacationed on a tropical island like Aruba or gone on a European tour, or even a cruise. My interpretation of a beautiful place is probably very different than others. Living in New England all my life provides me with numerous “local” destinations which I classify as beautiful. Here is my short list: Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine; Quonochontaug Beach, Rhode Island; Lake Champlain, Vermont; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; and Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. I could list 10 more in and outside of the Northeast that I have visited, but my goal was to keep it short.

Jerry Schimmel

P3 Propane Safety

Cumberland, Rhode Island

 

I actually just took a vacation to Hawaii.  The beaches there were just beautiful.  It was the first time I had been there.  I usually would see photos of the beaches and places of interest in Hawaii, but it was one of those moments where when you actually see it for yourself, it just blows away the perspective of looking at it through photos.

Sam Fung

Emerson Fisher LP Gas

McKinney, Texas

 

The most beautiful place I have ever been to is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris over 20 years ago. I was in awe at the detail in all of the building. The paintings and sculptures that took so long to make were inspiring. The detail in the wood carvings and moldings were very intricate. The gothic architecture built in the 1100’s is historic and inspired generations of people. It took almost 200 years to complete.

As a Catholic I appreciated seeing all this history and spending quiet time exploring all the building including the famous stairway with the rose window. Having been there to study this iconic place was truly an exhilarating experience and made me reflect on how dedicated and committed the people were to build this church. In a world where we live with expectations of immediate satisfaction and results, it is humbling to see what our ancestors went through and the pride they had.

Ed Varney

Topline Management, LLC

McKinney, Texas

 

The most beautiful place I have visited would be the Andaman Islands. Belonging to India but located only 81 miles off the coast of Thailand, the white sand beaches, mangroves, tropical rainforests, and surrounding coral reefs, are truly spectacular. I was fortunate enough to visit the Andaman Islands in 2019, and though the 22-hour journey home was arduous, the experience was truly worth it.

Leslie Woodward

Fairview Fittings

Oakville, Ontario, CANADA

 

Without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever visited is the Amalfi Coast of Italy! The cliffs, beaches and lemon trees with lemons the size of small footballs (do footballs come in sizes?) are all absolutely breathtaking! The picturesque villages along the coast are so enchanting to see and explore. I believe my favorite is Ravello, high on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Oh, and the limoncello there is the best!

Paula Moore

Blackburn Propane Service, Inc.

Durant, Oklahoma

 

Although I have traveled in and outside the US to many beautiful places, Northern Michigan has my heart. There are so many specific locations but Walloon Lake in Petoskey stands out—the color of the water and the sky in the summer, the trees in the fall, how it looks like you’re inside a snow globe in the winter—each season it takes my breath away.

Lauren Clark

Bergquist, Inc.

Toledo, Ohio

 

Without a doubt, the most beautiful place I’ve been to was Hawaii. My wife Karen and I spent two weeks visiting Oahu, Kauai and Maui and enjoying all of the unique characteristics of each of those islands. We’re hoping to see more of this beautiful world, too.

Bruce Swiecicki

National Propane Gas Association

Tinley Park, Illinois

 

Italy was the most beautiful place I have ever visited. About 6 years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit with a group of friends.  We toured about 2/3 of the country and experienced the history of areas like Rome and Florence to the beauty of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast.  We stayed a couple of days in Positano along the Amalfi coast, and I would say that area was the most beautiful place I have been.  The homes are built into the side of the hills overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, with spectacular views.  We took a boat ride out to the island of Capri, which was just the icing on the cake.  That is one trip that I would do again!

Tom Krupa

NGL Supply Terminals Co.

Richmond, Virginia

 

After traveling across the United States this spring, I can say every place is the most beautiful. So beautiful. It was hard to take all of it in without saying a million times, “Wow!”  Deserts, lakes, mountains, seashores, ranches, farms, redwoods…… and the wildlife! Our world is a beautiful place but I must say that living in the United States with its vast diversity in geography is the most beautiful because I can call it home.

Laurie Irish-Jones

Irish Propane

Buffalo, New York

 

In the eye of the beholder…

Beauty abounds in our back yards, our states, our country, our world. When you close your eyes to imagine the beauty awaiting you one day, what unique features come to your mind’s eye? Wishing you happy, safe, and beautiful trails.

Nancy Coop, Cetane Associates

 

This column was first published in Butane-Propane News in July 2023.


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