If you’ve ever had the urge to go hug a cactus – well, that would probably be a painful experience. Some of them do look cute and cuddly – in a rugged, western, prickly kind of way. If the chance to see cacti up close makes you long for the Old West, Uncle Sam offers the Saguaro National Park, just outside of Tucson, Arizona.
One adventure that almost anyone can have anywhere in the world is “geocaching.” To the uninitiated, geocaching is using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate coordinates and find where someone has left a “treasure.” But, really, the fun is in the hunt. (more…)
Actually, the location is called Watson Lake Park just north of Prescott Arizona. Whatever it is called, I find it breathtaking. (more…)
Less than 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport heading east are three attractions well worth seeing when you’re visiting in the Phoenix area. Bring your camera, because you will want to record your views – they are unique! All are around the area called Papago Park. (more…)
One of the major attractions in Central Oregon for those who want fabulous scenery is Mt. Bachelor and the Cascades Lakes National Scenic Byway. And, if you ski, during the season, Mt. Bachelor is a very popular location.
Mt. Bachelor with ski lifts (not taken during the ski season)
First up on our Vancouver itinerary was a visit to the third largest park in North America, Stanley Park…
When the people of Vancouver British Columbia established Stanley Park in 1888, they created more than just a park. They provided a place for their citizens – and visitors – to enjoy the country right in their own city.
Totem Poles in Stanley Park - signify legends
Let’s face it, the name sounds like a disease. But, about two hundred years ago, Captain William Clark and his party came to the area now called Ecola State Park to salvage some whale oil and blubber they needed for survival. They also boiled seawater until they could gather enough to preserve food to make it back to the East Coast.
Inspiring scenery - the Pacific Coast with Haystack Rock is in the distance
When we visited Walnut Canyon National Monument this past weekend, we were alerted that there were 240 steps down – and up – from the visitor center to the Loop Trail where we could see the homes of ancient people carved out of steep hillsides.
240 steps – each way, up and down – was quite a strenuous trip to reach the top! When Sinagua people inhabited the cliff dwellings of Walnut Canyon 800 years ago, they must have been part mountain goat – and they didn’t have paved steps and paths! Although I consider myself fairly physically fit, the altitude, 7,000 feet, coupled with the demanding climb of 185 feet, I reached the visitor center panting with my heart pounding.
What to do when the wife is in a conference in Santa Fe? Abscond with the rental car and take a little trip around northern New Mexico, that’s what!
It was sort of a last minute idea, so I looked at a map to see what I could do in a day. Two towns, and a national monument sounded feasible, so I dropped her off and I headed out.
Almost 1,000 years ago, a volcano spewed hot magma – gases and rock – across the landscape in what would become Northern Arizona. What resulted is now called Sunset Crater National Monument.
Traveling to Sunset Crater is an easy drive from modern-day Flagstaff, Arizona. In some areas of the park, though, it feels as though you might be on the moon. (more…)
