Head over there now!  (I’ll wait!) http://hiking.forthecouchpotato.com

Take a quick look at image number 4 at the top of the page (just scroll over) and you’ll see a reddish, sandstone rock that seems to have some people tucked in an opening.

Okay, now that you’ve seen that truly unusual natural development, wouldn’t you like to know where it is?

That image is the closest of the four to my home in Arizona.

It’s – Papago Park in the Phoenix, Arizona area.  Of the many natural formations in the central Arizona area, Papago Park allows visitors to come and hike up (from the area behind the photo you’re seeing) and look out at the world.  The walk is not too challenging, but since it’s terraced with some built in “stairs,” it would be tough for someone in a wheelchair.  However, most other people would be able to walk up to see the view.

Papago Park also is well-located, as it is near both the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden.  Plan a day seeing all of those sights if you’re planning to come to Arizona.

And, despite the bad press Arizona is getting these days about guns, most of us are not gun-toting, wild west types spoiling for a fight.   You can expect to be treated well here as some of the most luxurious hotels and exotic scenery of the US southwest is right here in the Phoenix area.  And, the majority of people are well- behaved, law-abiding citizens.

Evolution of lights

Changing lights

Changing again

And changing yet again

Unfortunately, despite trying a number of settings on my digital camera, the photos don’t do justice to the inventiveness, whimsy and movement of the light displays that use over three million lights – mostly LED – we are assured, so they use less electricity.

An elephant

An elephant that playfully squirts water

There is a horse that seems to move, trotting along as each subsequent display is set up.  An elephant playfully squirts water. There are “dancing trees’ that are the most impressive display with colors flashing red, green, white.  There is an orb that changes colors while floating shimmering on the lake.

Dancing trees

There are hundreds of different sculptural lights displayed as everything from flowers to an enormous orangutan arch.   Children seem to be the most awed by the exhibits.  And, there are other things to experience –  Camel rides, a “Polar slide,” wagon rides, a merry-go-round and other rides.

However, in the entire zoo, only a real komodo dragon was available to be seen, since the other real animals were tucked away for the night.

ZooLights is held annually from around Thanksgiving until early in the new year during the evening hours after the zoo is closed.

Other cities have a zoolights event and it could be one of the more delightful family events that people can share.

Catch the light show next year!

With a population of over 200,000, Boise still seems like an accessible and people-friendly place to live, raise children, work, and enjoy leisure time.

Boise Zoo entrance

Within a few blocks, there is a lovely park with a rose garden, a zoo, both a historical and art museum, an impressive university campus, a river, and a very moving memorial.  The city has a 25-mile green belt, so there is space to breathe and stretch, as you walk along the river.

Rose Garden in Boise

We spent an afternoon trekking around, just walking and seeing the city.  We left our car behind and took in the sights, which we’ll share with you –

Idaho Historical Museum

After a quick visit to scope out the library, usually one of our first stops, we walked through the Julia Davis Park where we saw the Idaho Historical Museum, the Discovery Center (an interactive science museum) and the Boise Art Museum.  As we passed the Art Museum, they were setting up for a private party on the rear lawn.

The Municipal Rose Garden provided a few eye appealing minutes as we walked through the profusion of roses in bloom.

We walked by the Boise Zoo, but they were going to be closing soon, so we continued on.

Morrison Center for the Performing Art at Boise State

We crossed a bridge leading to Boise State University, where the architecture was modern and appealing.  In this day of budget cuts, it was good to see the campus, obviously well kept.

Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial

Our last stop before we headed to dinner was the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, a sculptural center with waterfalls, interactive exhibits, and evocative statements showing the evils of war from a human perspective.  It was a somber and moving experience to read the words of those whose lives have been less fortunate, the innocent victims of war.

Another child victim of war speaks

If you are in the northwest, don’t miss Boise.  When we have more time, we’ll be back to visit …

Come back next week for a visit to an impressive dam.

Papago Park

"Hole-in-the-Rock" - great view

An actual park, Papago Park has ramadas (covered picnic areas) and a rock formation that visitors can climb.  It is that rare stone in which nature has carved a window, called “Hole-in-the-Rock.”  Climb up from a path leading behind the opening and get a great view!  It is not a handicapped accessible visit – at least not the entire pathway. 

Other activities include hiking trails, fishing (license required), and archery.

In warm weather, you will want to bring water and a hat and arrive early in the day.  This time of year, the weather is perfect to take the several minute walk to the “window,” then go back and have a picnic lunch.

http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/papago.html – facilities

Next we talk to the animals… 

Phoenix Zoo

Next, you will want to visit the Phoenix Zoo.

Entrance to the zoo and all the fascinating creatures to visit

Until January 10, Phoenix Zoo has their “ZooLights” program running every evening from 6-10 P.M.   Thousands of lights and special exhibits make this a memorable event with the “Land of the Dragon” theme entrancing children of all ages.  Admission is $10 for a ticket good any day of the week; there are $9 tickets fro Sunday through Thursday nights.

Otherwise, there are many animals to see during the daytime.  There are monkeys to see, plus camel rides, a petting zoo, giraffes and many other animals to visit. A safari train can take you around and point out animals and things to

There’s a lot to do at the Phoenix Zoo!  So, allow several hours.  If you get hungry, they have several on premises food opportunities with pizza, burgers and the like.

There are handicapped accessible paths, but there is a lot of walking.  Both strollers and wheelchairs may be rented during your visit.

http://www.phoenixzoo.org/

And don’t leave yet…

Desert Botanical Garden

Entrance to Desert Botanical Garden with 3 Chihuly "agave"

If desert plants are new to you, a trip (in the vicinity of the zoo) to the Desert Botanical Garden will amaze and delight you.  Set out in a park-like area, DBG has some unusual desert plants, a butterfly garden, endangered plants and some wonderful paths to stroll to see the plants. 

This time of year, (until December 30), Las Noches de las Luminarias lights up the walkways with thousands of small candles, a shimmering, glowing experience. 

DBG has numerous events to see a new aspect of the gardens.  Food is also available on the premises.

One exhibit left from a multi-month display is the “agave” from the Dale Chihuly glass exhibit.  The agave greet people just as they walk into the entranceway.  Although they are not real, they add another dimension to your experience as art mimics nature. (See our blog on April 3, 2009 showing the Chihuly exhibit intermingled with DBG.)

Again, allow at least two hours to see the many areas of the park.

http://www.dbg.org/

These three locations will easily fill a day with memorable experiences and they are all within 20 minutes of Sky Harbor Airport. (traffic allowing)

More next week as we take you to other great places to see, things to do and places to shop in Phoenix and nearby locations in Arizona.

I love the ocean; my husband loves the mountains.  Oregon has both ocean and mountains plus waterfalls, hiking, and scenery that truly makes you want to stay.  So, Oregon has absolutely charmed us.  The Convention and Visitors Bureaus would be proud of us!

Haystack Rock with friend, Cannon Beach, Oregon

If you want to shop, there’s everything from cheese, the Tillamook Cheese Factory (in Tillamook, of course!), to the largest used book shop in the world, Powell’s (in Portland).  Go to the Saturday Market (which is also Sunday) in Portland (now in a new location and celebrating its grand opening on August 22 & 23) and spend the morning – artisans and food purveyors provide many choices.  Or, try one of the many Farmer’s Markets in several towns around the state.

If you care about the environment, Portland has a terrific, low cost light rail system, plus buses and many people use bicycles to commute.  

If you want to attend college or just have a chance to piggyback some cultural events onto your travels, Oregon has the University of Oregon (in Eugene) and Oregon State University (in Corvallis). Or spend time in Portland and go to the zoo, the festivals (check for what’s happening during different times of year), many museums and much more.

Outdoor adventures include seeing a live volcano, skiing in the winter, enjoying the ocean, hiking around forests, viewing waterfalls and much, much more.

That’s why – we’ll be going back!

However, we did promise recipes this week and we figured it would be great to end the week with how to grill planked salmon.  Salmon is offered at many restaurants in Oregon and, often, grilled on a plank.  Why, you ask, would you want to grill a salmon on a plank?  Because it offers extra flavor and the plank won’t burn if you follow our suggestions.

So, without further delay -

Recipe for  –

PLANKED SALMON

You will want to purchase  a cedar plank ahead of time (at least the day before).  Head to a home store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s or somewhere else that sells wood fencing by the piece.  We buy a five foot piece of cedar fencing and have them cut the plank into 12-inch sections.

The day you want to grill your salmon fillet, you will want to soak one of the sections of the board/plank.  In the morning, soak the cedar piece in water to cover in the sink or basin.  If the plank floats, hold it down by putting a can of food on it.  Let the plank/board soak for at least eight hours.

The Salmon - 

Purchase a 3 lb (about 1 1/2 kilo) skin-on salmon – it should be filleted with small bones removed. 

Also in the morning or at least two hours before grilling, immerse your salmon fillet  (3 lbs – about a 1 1/2 kilos) in a marinade, which can be a purchased variety or the following: 

Marinade 

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

2  Tablespoons of Balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon of olive oil (go lightly – you don’t want to add too much)

One squeeze of fresh lemon

1 teaspoon dill weed

1 Tablespoon of honey or maple syrup or other sweetener

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup of water

Mixture the above ingredients well and put in a container big enough to fit the salmon. Place the salmon in the marinade for at least 2 hours.

Dill Sauce

1 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt

1 Tablespoon of dill weed dried or a 1/4 cup of fresh dill weed, chopped up

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 lb. goat cheese, optional

Stir the ingredients together and chill until the salmon is ready to serve. 

Grilled Salmon

Prepare your grill and let the temperature heat to medium high. 

Place the salmon, skin side down on the plank (which you just removed from the water).  If the salmon does not fit, cut it into pieces so it will. 

Place the plank on the grill over the flame and cover the grill.  It should cook in 8-12 minutes, depending on the flame, thickness of the salmon, etc.  If the plank (when you peek, which you will do, of course) is getting a bit charred, move the board away from the direct flame and cover the grill again. Do not attempt to turn the salmon over.  The salmon is cooked when it flakes when poked with a fork.  

Remove the entire plank from the grill.  Make sure you use ovenproof mitts to remove the plank.  Then, scoop the salmon off of the plank with a spatula.  You can cut pieces first to make it easier.  The skin should come off easily.  Sadly, you probably cannot reuse the plank.  But, you have 4 more to use at a fraction of the cost of a fancy packaged board.

Now, serve the salmon with the dill sauce on the side and offer lemon slices to everyone.

Enjoy!

www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/

It’s All Happening at the Zoo

There is often a newborn – animal, that is – that creates quite a stir.  

The pandas are one of the prime attractions at the zoo.  With everyone jockeying for position, it may be hard to get some great photos.  It was fun watching the pandas, though, as they ate their bamboo and lumbered about.  They are so big and fluffy that you have to remind yourself that they are bears, so I was glad of the separation from them.

There are three pandas to view these days and they are playful and fun to watch, but sometimes, not totally active.  Hey, you wouldn’t want to move around a lot in the DC heat and humidity, either!

Playful Panda with Bamboo

Other Zoo Denizens

The Zoo has set up habitats where you can see animals in what seems like “natural” settings for their particular climate.  

You’ll see lions, tigers, elephants, gorillas and orangutans, fish, hippos, reptiles (snakes), and more and more and more.  Allow lots of time. (Enjoy some representative photos below.) My favorite are the orangutans who can travel above you, swinging 35 feet in the air, traveling to different parts of their domain.

For human animal visitors: There are places for snacks and fast food meals, if you do spend all day and get hungry watching the animals being fed.   

For the Kids

Kids will love to see all of the animals, but for a hands-on experience, head to the “Kids’ Farm” where children can pat and enjoy alpacas, cows, rabbits and other creatures and also learn about how pizza ingredients are grown. 

Elephant coming to visit

Tired tiger

Leopard

Drinking bear

Arriving at the Zoo

The metro does have stops to save parking issues. There is one stop in either direction and all involve a three -block walk, but you can take a bus that will then get you directly there. (See link below.)

Driving is possible, but parking fees reflect the fact that parking is relatively scarce, so public transportation is suggested.   If you simply must drive, use this address with Mapquest or Google to find your best route. 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

The zoo is open for viewing from 10 AM- 6 PM, April- October and 10 AM-5PM, November-March.  And, best of all, admission is FREE!!

The paths can be sloped and, if you’re out of shape, you might feel it.  But, it is handicapped accessible.

Links

National Zoo

Public Transportation to the Zoo

Zoo Map 

Kids’ Farm

You can also view animals online with a Webcam to get the flavor of the zoo’s inhabitants 

Tomorrow- Come back and learn what to watch out for when booking current air fare.