Gastronomy – Travel – Culture
My travels throughout the United States
I am not shy when it comes to road tripping and exploring on my own, within reason of course. While I was checking out the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, I decided to head into the Cherokee Indian Reservation and explore Mingo Falls. Also known as Big Bear Falls by the Cherokees, heading to this… Continue reading Mingo Falls | Exploring North Carolina
For us people who road trip, we also day trip. There are towns or cities along the way that we can only spend a waking day in. While I was exploring The Great Smoky Mountains, the city of Gatlinburg was that day trip for me. I had started off in Cherokee, North Carolina and drove… Continue reading A Day in Gatlinburg | Exploring Tennessee
There are a lot of interesting sights in the Napa Valley beyond the grapevines and fine restaurants. Although those are a few of my favorite Napa sights! If you find yourself in Napa Valley with younger family members or looking for interesting natural sights, I suggest driving a few minutes to Calistoga. There you will… Continue reading Calistoga’s Geyser and Petrified Forest | Exploring Napa Valley, California
One of my favorite road trip agendas in the Untied States is driving through the Southwest. I have been fortunate enough to take that long road, Highway 40/ Route 66, numerous times in the last couple decades. Sometimes I would drive it with my family and other times on my own. I have also driven… Continue reading SANTA FE – My Favorite Southwest Town | Exploring New Mexico
Listed on the National Historic Registry Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to stay a night at this hotel. I am not sure if I saw it on TV or a magazine, I genuinely do not remember. I just knew it was out there for me to stay in for a night during… Continue reading Wigwam Village Motel #6 | A kitschy stay along Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona
Alcatraz Island, AKA "The Rock", has seen several incarnations and has been reinvented over the last two centuries. This small island located in the bay of San Francisco was initially developed with a lighthouse, which is considered the oldest lighthouse on the west coast. It was also a military fortification and a military prison, from the… Continue reading “The Rock” Alcatraz Island – San Francisco | Exploring, California
The first time I read about Watts Towers I was in grade school and living in Glendale, which is a suburb of Los Angeles. Even at a young age, I was intrigued by this public art work display and the artist behind it, Simon Rodia. Although I am not an artist, I have always had… Continue reading The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia – State Historic Park | Exploring Los Angeles, California
Welcome to Cayo Costa! This unspoiled Gulf Coast island in Florida is a nature lovers paradise. It is peaceful, secluded and can feel like you are on a private island. There are wind shaped trees, miles of white sand beaches, wildlife, and crystal blue waters. The best part of all is the freedom to explore… Continue reading Cayo Costa State Park | Exploring Florida
Located on the small Florida island of Key West, the Hemingway house and museum is the most popular tourist attraction on the island. This French Colonial home was the residence of Ernest and Pauline Hemingway during their marriage in the 1930s. After their divorce in 1940, Pauline lived here until her death in 1951. It… Continue reading The Ernest Hemingway House & Museum – Key West, Florida | A U.S. National Historical Landmark
The city of Roswell in New Mexico definitely owns it when it comes to the extra-terrestrial lifestyle. This tourist town of about 50,000 people is located in the southwest corner of New Mexico, and is world famous for an alleged UFO incident in 1947. It is also a two hour drive away from Carlsbad Caverns… Continue reading The International UFO Museum & Research Center | Roswell, NM
Northern Exposure? That I do not know but what I do know is that Talkeetna was a picturesque and charming little town in Alaska. I also know that at one time they had a CAT as Mayor- MeeeeOW! I am actually a dog person but I will not hold that against them. While we were… Continue reading Talkeetna Historic District | Exploring Small Town Life in Alaska
As a traveler and road tripper, I have driven throughout the majority of the fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii. There have been drives that I wished would have ended quickly and others that I wished would have never ended. Seward Highway in Alaska was one of those scenic byways that I wished would have… Continue reading Seward Highway – Scenic Byway | Exploring Alaska
Capitol Reef was the most peaceful of the National Parks that I had visited in Utah. Many people road trip it to the more popular parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon or Arches National Park but Capitol Reef is just as stunning. It might be due to the location as it is not off the main… Continue reading Capitol Reef National Park | Exploring Utah
Utah is my favorite state when it comes to road tripping and exploring the beauty of nature. Although it is a smaller state than California, which has the most national parks; Utah is home to many of America's national parks, including Bryce Canyon. The canyon is known for its hoodoos, which are irregular shaped rock… Continue reading Bryce Canyon National Park | Exploring Utah
Colorado Springs, Colorado- Garden of the Gods is a majestic red rock public park, just 70 miles south of Denver and is free to the public. There are magnificent geological formations in various shades of red, pink and white that you can casually stroll through, cycle or take a trolley tour to view this wonderous… Continue reading Garden of the Gods | Exploring Colorado
Exploring Carlsbad Caverns was the best underground experience that I have done in my lifetime. I have gone below the Earth's surface on many occasions from caverns to mines, and these southeastern New Mexico caverns were phenomenal. If you were to visit one cavern system only once in your lifetime, Carlsbad Caverns National Park would… Continue reading Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Wish you were here! If this surreal landscape of azure skies, peaceful blue waters and white rocky towers seems familiar, it is familiar. This is Mono Lake and it was featured inside of Pink Floyd's 1975, "Wish you were here" album cover. The Diver, which was a photo taken by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosissh, features what… Continue reading Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve | Exploring California
Getting off the Las Vegas strip for most visitors is unheard of but there is more to this fair city than the bright lights, gambling and buffets. We have state parks, camping, mountains, forests, scenic drives and desert hikes. There is a lot of natural beauty in Nevada and one favorite for locals is Valley… Continue reading Valley of Fire State Park | Exploring Nevada
Yosemite National Park is one of the most majestic and breathtaking valleys on Earth. It is more than a place to take photos for the gram (Instagram); Yosemite is a place to recharge and to be grateful that you are alive, and living on this planet. There are no words to truly describe this magical… Continue reading Yosemite National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Exploring California
Bodie, California- When I say the words "Ghost Town", what thoughts come into your mind? A piece of the American Old West that sits in decay, barren and dilapidated. A once thriving mining community with gun fights, bar brawls and brothels that now sits idle in the middle of nowhere, with an occasional tumble weed… Continue reading Bodie State Historic Park | America’s Best Ghost Town
Trixie Navarre 