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.

Yellowstone National Park southern entrance

Getting there

Entering Yellowstone from the south via Grand Tetons (more on that park another week) we drove in on Route 89/191/297.  We had paid for a park pass at Grand Teton that was good for both parks for seven days.  ($25 in our case, an annual pass is $50)

In late May, as we headed past Lewis Lake, the water was still frozen and it was still cold outside, as evidenced by our need to use the car’s defroster.  According to the map, the road on which we entered was actually closed until mid-May.  Apparently, only the two east and one north entrances are open year round.

First stop: Old Faithful and more

Everyone has heard about Old Faithful, so we decided we’d see that iconic natural feature first.  We could just imagine how busy the area would be in the middle of summer, with a big parking area very crowded in late May!  Heading in to the drive to Old Faithful, we saw several buffalo on the roadside, but couldn’t stop because of traffic.  We regretted not being able to spend time viewing the bison, but more than made up for that later on…more on that in another blog.

We followed the path to Old Faithful once we’d parked and found low benches in a giant semi-circle surrounding the area where Old Faithful spews once every- approximately – 70 minutes.  A posted sign said that the next spouting would be at approximately 3:57 PM, plus or minus 10 minutes.  The Parks Service is very clear that they are predicting, no scheduling.

We had a lot of time to spare, so we wandered about, getting a feel for the area.  In the distance, many small geysers seemed to be steaming, but on the particular day we were there, another geyser, Castle Geyser, seemed to be spewing and throwing giant clouds of steam into the air northwest of Old Faithful.  We were informed by the Park Ranger that Castle Geyser is unpredictable.  However, unpredictable as it may have been, it was more amazing than we expected.  Especially when…

Old Faithful- faithful, but maybe not as impressive as others

We finally saw Old Faithful do its performance. After a long 45 minutes of little gassy clouds, almost at the end of the predicted time, the geyser began foaming slightly and then raised a cloud of steam into the air, before calming down.  With Castle Geyser going off over 10 times as high in the distance, Old Faithful was a disappointment to everyone. You could tell because the end of the quick time of eruption and the almost instantaneous departure of the crowd made it apparent that no one was entranced.

Old Faithful does its thing (click here for video)

The numbers in the Park newsletter for Old Faithful were more impressive as they state that Old Faithful averages heights of 130 feet in the air and spews out between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of water per eruption. The water temperature at the vent at the start of eruption is 204 degrees F. (95.6 C)

We were spoiled by Castle Geyser’s spectacular performance!

Castle Geyser - less often, but more spectacular!

So, take a look at the photos and picture yourself surrounded by geysers steaming and spewing in many places around the park and, then, you can understand why Yellowstone was originally called after early explorer John Colter’s observation,”Colter’s Hell.”

More in next week’s blog on Yellowstone.  Anyone who can get there will find it an amazing place. Plan to spend a couple of days or more to see the many sights.

We have thoughts of migrating ourselves.  We have a short trip to LA coming up, but we’re also planning a longer stay.

But, where to go?  We have nine days and we want a new place –“somewhere where we’ve never been before.”

We had several ideas.  First, we’ll stay stateside since we’re not in the mood for customs and dealing with currency conversions.

Also, we don’t want an enormous plane ride.  We’re open to the possibility of a drive, but we don’t want to spend most of the vacation getting there.

I voted for open spaces, but I need to see water.  My husband also likes open spaces, but he likes mountains.

California?  Been there, done a lot of it.

Colorado?  Maybe.  I keep hearing about Durango and picturesque mountains.

Wyoming?  Certainly, it has the open spaces!

Idaho?  The scenery looks great in the brochures!

Washington (the state)?  We drove through on our way to Vancouver.  I’d get my water and my husband his mountains.

We’ve sent for new brochures.  Yes, I know, the mountains and natural features don’t change too much in a few years.  But, hotels and manmade items do change.

With visions of exploration and open vistas dancing in my head, I will sign off for now.

Come back next week, and we’ll share more about our plans.  Out west for sure!

We’re trying out Allegiant Airlines for the first time. They serve really small markets and are frill-free. You pay for everything – except they haven’t gotten yet to charging for use of the airline toilets.  If they do that, we might reconsider.  In general, our experience was positive.

Arriving at our departure terminal in “Mesa-Phoenix”– well, it is not what you expect when you’ve flown into major airports in NYC, California, and Chicago. The terminal is very small. One security line with one gate. Once you’ve been through the security rigmarole, you exit that building, walk across a courtyard, and find yourself in the departure lounge.

In the departure lounge, there is a shop that sells the typical magazines, snacks, bottled water and other drinks at exorbitant prices. That is the only location to purchase “stuff” before you board.

While you wait, you can be entertained while you watch the airline personnel pull up a giant boarding ramp to the airplane. No enclosed ramps.

When they call you for boarding, you walk across the tarmac, climb up the ramp, find your seat and settle in.

Take off

We took off from the gate fifteen minutes after our scheduled departure, but ten minutes later we were up, soon flying at an altitude of 32,000 feet. Clouds skimmed by as we passed Laughlin, Nevada and Lake Tahoe. The puffy clouds looked like cotton candy, tufted and white, not the pink you find at a circus.

Jet trail at 32,000 feet

The flight attendants efficiently canvassed our almost full flight (I only saw about six empty seats on a flight with 120 seats) and provided everyone with drinks and snacks – for which they charged. Then, they held raffles, to the pleasure of several passengers who won money and gifts.

Landing

Patchwork quilt of farmland near Eugene Airport

We landed on time in Eugene, Oregon. The terminal, which was not impressive from the air, was more luxurious than Mesa-Phoenix by far. Clean, with quite a few food vendors and car rentals, Eugene Airport was a great place to fly into. We got our checked baggage fairly quickly, our rental car as well, and headed out quickly.

The "Duck" at the Eugene, Oregon airport

Alamo Car Rental provided us with a very updated car – a hybrid that puzzled us at first. The “key” did not go in an ignition. Instead, the driver pushes a button when the key is inside the vehicle. It doesn’t seem like the car is on because it is very quiet. The weirdest feeling is the total quiet when you stop at an intersection. No noise – at all. The great thing was the mileage the dashboard told us we were getting – 40 miles per gallon – going up a hill! Wow.

All in all, a good start to our trip.

We headed to the Comfort Suites we had booked and landed in a great room. Many amenities are included in the hotel: fridge and microwave in each room, an indoor hot tub and pool, fitness center, free breakfast and free internet. No real hassles and an almost new hotel. Just off exit 191 on Interstate 5, the Comfort Suites is a great place to stay if you’re in the Eugene, Oregon area.

Tomorrow… Our visit with the sea lions.

When I first got off of the airplane at Deadhorse, Alaska, I wanted to get right back on and fly away. It was 33 degrees and it was June 23, summer solstice, and the wind was blowing at least 30-40 miles an hour. We all climbed onto a tour bus (which was warm) and were taken to the motel where we would be staying, the Arctic Caribou Inn, while we experienced our unique visit to the oil fields of the North Slope of Alaska.

Summer thermometer reading in Deadhorse, Alaska

I can’t think of any way to describe the Arctic Caribou Inn. It is beyond quaint. It started out to be living quarters for the men working on the Alaskan pipeline and is now a motel, not only for the men, but for tourists as well. It also has a chow hall. It’s in the form of a buffet line, but that doesn’t come close to describing it. The food is served out of large metal pans in large oil-field-worker size portions, complete with salad and desert bar, and almost any kind of beverage you could want. There is no alcohol served around the oilfields. The dining area consists of a large room filled with tables and benches. The motel rooms are small, totally unique and, if you want to be pampered, I don’t recommend that you go there.

We rode several miles across the oilfields in an old school bus owned by one of the oil companies, crossing the treeless tundra that is the Northern Slope of Alaska. Then we arrived at the Arctic Ocean and climbed off the bus. Our intent was to dip a toe or a finger in the ocean just to say we had done it. The temperature was still in the thirties and the wind speed had increased to about 50 miles an hour, making it almost impossible to walk, or to breathe, for that matter. We buttoned our coats up to the neck and put on our hoods or stocking caps and ventured forth to accomplish our task at hand. For every step we took forward, we were blown back two! Our noses and cheeks felt like they were frost-bitten because the wind-chill factor was below zero!

Arctic Ocean with ice shelf in distance

We never did dip anything in the Arctic Ocean. It was hard enough to walk to the beach at the water’s edge. We gathered a few rocks as souvenirs. Our visit to Prudhoe Bay, Deadhorse and the Arctic Caribou Inn was probably the most outstanding adventure I have ever had, and, yes, I would go again in a heartbeat. Why would anyone want to go to Prudhoe Bay? To have the time of their lives is all.

When we first arrived at Mt. Vernon, I didn’t realize it was going to be as extensive as it was. From the outside, the visitor center looks like any other visitor center, with its statues, gift shop and counters full of brochures and people to inform you of the wonders of the place you are about to see. Once you get through the visitor center, it is a whole other world outside.

Mt. Vernon visitor Center - with statues of George, Martha and the children

There are guides to show you around or you can look around on your own. It is best to tag along with one of the guides, because they are very knowledgeable about George and Martha Washington and all the buildings on the estate and what went on in each and every one. There is usually a line to walk through the main house, but the wait is never too long. They only take small groups through at a time, because of the narrow hallways and small rooms within the mansion.

Mt. Vernon

We were not allowed to take pictures within the mansion, but could at any other place on the grounds. The mansion has been restored to as close to original as possible and the furniture and fixtures, which did not originally belong to the Washingtons, are true to the period. The colors in the rooms were as authentic as possible as chosen by Martha and George. Your can purchase reproductions in the Lady Washington Shop in the visitor center.

George Washington's carriage

We wandered around the plantation, which is built on rolling hills and overlooks the Potomac River, located about 16 miles southwest of Washington, DC. We toured important outbuildings such as the wash and ironing houses, the stables and the carriage house, which houses one of Washington’s original carriages. The slave quarters can also be viewed, along with the shops that they toiled in – the blacksmith shop, the shoemaking shop, and the meat smoking house. Washington’s tomb is also on the grounds, along with the tombs and gravesites of relatives of George and Martha.

The Mt. Vernon Ladies Association saved and preserved the estate in 1853 and oversees the day-to-day operations yet today. The original estate contained over 8,000 acres; today only 500 are preserved. To walk the paths and grounds of Mt. Vernon is a trip back in time and walking shoes are recommended!

http://www.mountvernon.org/

Tomorrow – Travel to the Museum of the Pacific – which is in Texas – go figure!

By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw

Photos by George Bradshaw

I can’t decide if I have a favorite RV park or not. There are many that I like because of different reasons. Most RV Parks and campgrounds have their own Web sites, complete with pictures for viewing.

One of my favorite parks is the Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD, not only for its location but for its beauty and amenities. It is the closest RV Park to Washington, DC, and tour buses leave daily for tours of the DC area and bring you back.The park itself is tree-lined with great interior roads and parking spaces, and has a spacious clubhouse with a pool, and a deli with great and inexpensive food. The general store is well stocked with things you might need for your rig and souvenirs to take home.

The Rocky Top Campground in Kingsport, TN is built in the woods on a mountainside; however, the parking spaces are easily accessible to park your rig. We were there in August and it was cool. The general store is very quaint looking but is well stocked, and the owner is very personable and makes you feel welcome. They also have cabins for rent.

To find the Tom Sawyer’s Mississippi River Park takes a little bit of wandering through the woods on a dirt road, but is worth the effort. Our space was about fifty feet from the Mississippi River and we watched the tugboats hauling barges up and down the river in the evening. You would never know you were right across the river from the big city of Memphis. They have laundry facilities in case you want to stay for a while and watch the river go by.

Cross Creek Camping Resort near Columbus, Ohio

The Cross Creek Camping Resort is right next to the Cross Creek State Park so don’t get the two confused. This is a roomy RV Park with trees and barbeque pits at every site. The general store has everything you could want in it. Most parks have pools and saunas and this one is no exception.

The Shady Pines RV Park in Texarkana, TX comes with its own lake with a fountain in the middle and also has conference facilities in case your RV club wants to hold a rendezvous there. It has paved interior roads and the parking spots are cement. It is out of the way from the interstate, but easy to find.

The Liberty Harbor Marina and RV Park is located in Jersey City, across the river from New York City. You can schedule a tour of the city in the park office and the tour bus will pick you up at the entrance. It is also right next to the ferry landing to NYC in case you want to go into the city. It is the closest park to the city and the Statue of Liberty is easily spotted.

Niagara Falls RV Park

The Niagara Falls Campground and Lodging is located six miles from the falls and is the closest campground to the falls in the U.S. They have large, level and shaded sites with a large pool and picnic tables at each site. Don’t worry about what to do with your rig while you visit the falls as the parking lots in the area of the falls all have designated parking spaces for your RV.

Every RV Park and Campground is unique. They all take reservations, which is the recommended way to go. They all knew we were coming and were ready for us.

Tomorrow – Return tomorrow to visit Mt Vernon, George Washington’s home

My favorite War Memorial in Washington, DC is the Korean War Veterans Memorial with its band of realistic bronze soldiers warily and wearily crossing a field headed into harm’s way. Dedicated on the 42nd anniversary of the armistice, July 27, 1995, the memorial honors the more than 54,000 who died there, and the thousands of veterans of this conflict.

Korean War Memorial - Photo by George Bradshaw

The most popular memorial is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with its polished, black granite walls honoring the deceased and missing who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. There are also the bronze figures of three soldiers who stand guard over their fallen comrades. The Vietnam Wall is decorated with flowers, letters, books, pictures and other mementoes left by people in remembrance of their loved ones.

One of the most beautiful memorials is the World War II Memorial, set in a plaza centered by a reflecting pool. There are the Atlantic and the Pacific Pavilions and each state is represented by a pillar. The most unique thing that we discovered about this memorial was set in an out-of-the-way corner – the Kilroy Was Here sign etched in cement. Everyone remembers that little guy with the big nose!

Kilroy was here - WWII memorial - Photo by George Bradshaw

The Marine or Iwo Jima Memorial is awe inspiring and brings chills to your body and tears to your eyes. It is the most famous of the WWII memorials and is enormous. The rocks surrounding the feet of the soldiers raising the flag were brought from the island of Iwo Jima. The figures of the men are so detailed that you can see the veins in their hands, the stubble on their faces and the worn condition of their shoes.

The day we went to the Tomb of the Unknowns it was raining, but it did not dampen our spirits or our reverence for this memorial located within the Arlington National Cemetery. The men who guard these tombs are members of an elite group called the “Old Guard.” Buried there are unknown soldiers from WWI and WWII and the Korean War. There is no unknown from the Vietnam War because of modern medical advances; the soldier was identified by his DNA and the remains returned to his family.

All of these war memorials should be on your list of “must sees” when you visit the US Capitol.

Beyond the physical place, New York City, where theater is the center of the universe and 40 theaters are in a concentrated area, Broadway is a state of mind. Once you’ve been treated to a Broadway show, you’re hooked for life – at least I was.
My very first Broadway show, a special occasion with my grandmother, was The Sound of Music, starring Mary Martin. Dressed up, as people used to be to attend the performances, I settled into my plush seat. The house lights went down. Then, the enchantment began. Acting, sets, the orchestra, songs – they all combined magically. I left the theater singing one of the tunes and a confirmed theater-lover.
My husband prefers movies, because he says that movies can show many locations and real scenery. To me, the imagination is what it is all about, so I prefer to have the actors create the world. Theater sets work well to create a backdrop so the actors can make me laugh, cry, and identify–or not-with their world.

Modern Broadway

Tickets to theater productions have gotten expensive. A ticket can cost as much as $125. However, if you are visiting New York and don’t mind standing in line, you can snag as much as a 50% discount on a ticket for that day by heading to the TKTS booth. There is a booth in Times Square, plus two others (one in lower Manhattan and one in Brooklyn), where you can pick up whatever seats are not sold for that day and save money. Note: You must pay with cash or traveler’s checks – no credit cards or checks are accepted.
See hours and details of the three locations of TKTS –
http://www.nytix.com/Broadway/DiscountBroadwayTickets/TKTS/hoursofoperation.html

If you get in line at the TKTS booth hours before the performance, you can land seats for some good shows. My experience was that the “hot” tickets of the time were not on the list, but everything I saw was still a great performance.
If you have a connection to a theater class, you might be able to get reduced price student tickets.
If you “know” someone in a production, you might get “comped” –offered free tickets.
There are also online locations, where you can reserve ahead of time. For instance, the following online source offers a discount code so you can buy your discounted tickets in advance, a nice timesaver.

http://www.nytix.com/Broadway/DiscountBroadwayTickets/TKTS/
And, last resort, if you can’t get to Broadway, see shows in your community. Local theater companies need support and touring companies often have Broadway actors out on tour. I have seen Rent, Spring Awakening, Wicked and other great plays or musicals where I live in Arizona.
So, even if you’re a movie fan, which I am, too, see a show. Watching the actors work up a sweat, sing, dance and perform their hearts out right in front of you is an experience you should have. If you have children, take them, too. (Make sure they can sit still for two hours before you attempt this!) Everyone should be part of the theater world. It has existed for most of the history of mankind. Shakespeare was the Broadway of his day in England. People thronged to be entertained. And, if you go to a play or musical, you will be entertained.
That’s worth a lot these days!
(Sorry not to have photos to share. Take a look at this link if you’ve never seen Broadway. They do not let people take photos in the theater. I wouldn’t think of trying to take photos during a performance – it could totally rattle an actor and ruin an actor’s hard work.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_theatre

By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw

When you are traveling to all of these great places out west, if you want to be economical, you might bring your RV.  Here are some places to stay…

The KOA Campgrounds across the country are usually very nice and well run.  One of the nicest is the one in Las Cruces, NM.  There are trees and a cement pad at every site and most are pull-thru, making it easier to get your rig in and out.   The Las Cruces campground has a wonderful pool and picnic/barbeque area, and a grassy area for those with tents.  The general store and gift shop offers western and native wares for purchase, along with restocking your rig.

In Custer, South Dakota we stayed at the Crazy Horse Campground, situated right down the highway from the Crazy Horse Monument which is in the process of being carved out of the mountain.  The campground is in the middle of the forest and trees abound everywhere.  There were also deer that visited us every day.  Keep your door and windows open so the smell of pine trees can freshen the air inside.

Deer Visitors at Crazy Horse Campground in Custer, WY

The sites within the Rockwell RV Park in Oklahoma City are situated among many big trees which shade the picnic area that is beside each space.  Their swimming pool is located in the interior of the clubhouse so that swimming and relaxing beside the pool are out of the sun.  It looks like it is out in the country but it is close to shopping, including a Campers World and a Wal-Mart.

The KOA Campground in Fredericksburg, Texas is located next to an animal preserve with deer and wild donkeys and also a few gazelles which are the only residents who do not come up to the fence to beg for food.  The park has shaded sites with picnic areas at each one.  They also have cabins that you can rent and spaces for tents.  The management is very friendly and the general store offers western and Texas items.

Greer's Pine Shadows RV Park, Flagstaff, AZ

In Flagstaff, Arizona the Greer’s Pine Shadows campground is a very beautiful spot and you soon forget that you are staying right on the highway through town.  They rent spaces and trailers to many people who spend the summer in Flagstaff, away from the heat of the desert below the mountains.  Great place for pine air.

The Sioux City North RV Park is just across the Iowa state line in South Dakota.  They are located on a frontage road, off of the highway and is a quiet restful park with lots of big trees and grass.

Junction West RV Park in Grand Junction, Co is also located on a side road away from the noise of the interstate.  The staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable about the events and activities going on in the region.  The park has shade trees and a park-like atmosphere.

All RV parks have general stores that sell supplies for your rig, some groceries and most have gift shops specializing in trinkets and knick-knacks representing the surrounding area.  All are fun to stay in and most make you feel like you want to stay there forever.

Looking for doodads and knick knacks?  Take a look at the TravelTipsandAdventures shop for goodies to wear and use.