Ah, if only everyone could be Carefree – or travel there. It’s a town in Arizona north of Phoenix, by the way, but it is also a state of mind.
On a recent stay at the Carefree Resort & Villas in Carefree, the experience lived up to the name.
Carefree Resort & Villas entrance
Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw; Photos by George Bradshaw
Stepping onto the dome car of the Alaska Railroad you do not realize that this train is not just a tourist train.
Domed car of the Alaskan Railroad
Besides our visit to the Sea Lion Caves (see the September 15 blog), we stopped for lunch and a little sightseeing in Florence, Oregon. On the coast just a few miles south of the Sea Lion Caves, Florence just happened to have a Mo’s Restaurant, a regional chain with a waterside restaurant. We were hungry and headed to Mo’s.
There are branches of the chain in many towns and the advertising, including giant billboards, really pays off. The restaurant was extremely busy. We waited briefly and were seated way near the back. The wait staff moves briskly and so do the prep people, who were industriously sprinkling toppings on some entrees when I passed by.
"Greeter" at Mo's
We were staying in the downtown area on Robson Street – the center of commerce…
In our downtown hotel location on Robson Street, there are shops (like Guess, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger) with upscale names and glamorous window displays. The prices were glamorous, too, except for a modest Chinese Restaurant, Hon’s Wun-Tun House, which whipped out our food very quickly for takeout. The menu was enormous and we had a hard time choosing, but the prices were generally under the $10 (Canadian) price range for each entrée.
In contrast, we spent considerably more – $40-plus with tip – at O’Doul’s (Listel Hotel) for a corned beef hash and Eggs Benedict breakfast.
Sculpture on Robson Street
A sculpture, appearing to be a whimsical orange twisted wire, was in front of O’Doul’s. We saw other interesting art around Vancouver. (more…)
Think of Scottsdale on the ocean, less heat and no malls — You’ve got Cannon Beach on Oregon’s Pacific Coast.
An upscale beach community, Cannon Beach was the second resort town on Oregon’s coast. (Seaside was the first.) Art galleries, boutique shops, unique toy stores, candy makers and specialty restaurants abound.
Shops on Hemlock Street
By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw
Photos by George Bradshaw
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. (more…)
By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw
Photos by George Bradshaw
Glacier Bay is part of the National Park Service and vessel permits are required before entering Glacier Bay from June 1 to August 31. You can request a permit by contacting the National Park Service at Bartlett Cove. Comrprised of 3.3 million acres of mountains, glaciers, forests, and waterways, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve are a highlight of the Inside Passage and part of a 25-million-acre World Heritage Site – one of the world’s largest protected natural areas – designated by UNESCO. (more…)
In no particular order, I plan to review places I’ve been, things I’ve seen and restaurants where I’ve dined that have stuck with me – favorites. Some of the places already reviewed are favorites, but I’ll be highlighting some new places, as well as adding new details about those we’ve already shared.
Although I have a great fondness for many places on the East Coast of the US, I returned to Ogunquit, Maine several times. I loved the mix of sun, sand, waves, theater, seafood and a certain peaceful attitude you don’t find in every resort town.
Walking on the beach, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean was a restful, meditative experience. Choosing lobsters, then sitting down in a very easy-going way to enjoy our food was another fun experience. The arts community’s work in Ogunquit is a pleasure to see. (more…)
Traveling to New Orleans is a treat. The sights, the food and the people make the “Big Easy” an irresistible destination for families and adults. Mardi Gras, well known for its festivities, is not the only time it is fun to be in New Orleans.
French Quarter street scene, early in the day
Although, I’ve been to New Orleans twice, I haven’t seen everything yet. But, even though I’ve been there, any visit is not complete until you visit the French Quarter, which is the quintessential place where everything comes together. There is music, excess, great food and amazing architecture. (more…)
When you travel to the National Parks in the Southwest and start with Zion, as we did, you find yourself overwhelmed and feeling very small. The cliffs tower over you and you can get lost on the trails.
Part of the “Grand Circle” of National Parks, we really enjoyed the diversity of the trails. One moment, walking along a nice level path, you might see a deer grazing not too far away.
Red cliffs of Zion National Park
