Category: Historic Places & Landmarks
Camp at a Ghost Town!
August 7, 2012 by Guest Blogger · Leave a Comment
Camping at Calico Ghost Town can be a fun family experience. With 265 sites running from dry camping to full hook-up, this place is more than camping – it’s history and adventure! Located off I-15 Calico is a great stop between visiting Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV If you like the desert and you own the “toys” you will definitely want to bring them here! There are camp sites at Calico that are right off the entry to the OHV trails where you can get on your quads and enjoy quite a ride! If history is more to your like it, there’s plenty of it here! Once the scene of the largest silver strike in California’s history, this kitschy mining town offers you a glimpse of what life was like during the late 1880′s. One third of Calico’s buildings are the originals. There’s the Lane House Museum with photos, news clippings, and artifacts of the people who settled the town. Maggie’s Mine gives one an up-close look at how miner’s... [Read more...]
The Magic of Ledoux Street
July 29, 2012 by Diane Berry · 1 Comment
Tucked away in a tiny corner of Taos, NM is Ledoux Street. This quaint and beautiful street, named after Paul Ledoux, one of the first French trappers to settle in Taos in the 1800’s, contains magic that is difficult to find in this day and age. Reminiscent of days gone by, the shops and galleries lining Ledoux Street are contained in some of the oldest buildings in the town; adobe structures that housed some of the earliest residents of Taos. These buildings are lovingly preserved and meticulously cared for. Landscaping is some of the best and most attractive around, replete with roses of all hues and brilliant black-eyed susans and Taos’ characteristic Russian sage. The town of Taos is centered around a plaza in typical Spanish tradition. However, the Taos Plaza has moved three times in the past. Ledoux Street was the second location of the Taos Plaza and is located just one block off the current plaza. It is a very charming street that boasts high quality museums, galleries... [Read more...]
Lewis & Clark Caverns, Three Forks, MT…
July 28, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
So often I find that my family takes our home state for granted. While we love to explore new places all across the country, we still have so much to discover right here in Montana. We’ve decided that, while we are ‘back home’ for the summer, we need to keep up our exploring; just here close to home. One thing that we have discovered tho, is that if we don’t set a specific time or date aside, the time goes by and we never get around to exploring around here. So, our family decided to set each Monday aside and visit someplace that is either new to us or that we haven’t visited in years. The Lewis and Clark Caverns Montana State Park was a destination that we haven’t visited in years – in fact, none of our kids, who are ages 22 and under, and ever been there. My husband and I had each been there, but not since grade school (and a lot had changed since then!). The Lewis and Clark Caverns are located approximately 20 miles west of Three Forks, MT, and... [Read more...]
Lewis and Clark Historical Trail Interpretive Center, Great Falls, MT…
July 26, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
One of the really great things about summering in our hometown of Helena, MT, is the fabulous nearby destinations. Helena is centrally located between the cities of Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, and Bozeman, MT. We are enjoying spending our summer as camp hosts on a lake in the Helena valley (be nice to your camp hosts – you would NOT believe some of the stuff they have to deal with!), yet we quickly found out that if we don’t leave the park on our days off, we end up working those days. So, for the past couple of weeks we have been taking our Mondays and going on field trips to nearby tourist destinations that we haven’t been to in years! This past Monday, we took a little road trip to Great Falls, which is 90 miles north of Helena. Great Falls has some really great places to stop and visit, and this trip we decided to tour one of our favorite museums – the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. The LCIC is unique in that it is managed by the... [Read more...]
Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska
July 18, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, Homer, Alaska Do you ever visit a destination and then wish that you had started your visit exactly where you ended up? That’s how I felt when I visited Homer, Alaska last week. After spending about a mere 36 hours in this seaside town, I decided to dash into the alluring Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Unfortunately, I did this on my way to the airport! It was early Saturday morning, and I wanted to sneak a couple more sights in before we departed. Hence, I pulled into the nearly vacant parking lot of the visitor center and doubted that the place was open. Much to my delight, it was. Located on a bluff with walking trails down to the beach, the visitor center celebrates the local marine environment and acts as a window to educate visitors about the largest seabird refuge in the world. My daughter and I marveled at the massive Steller Sea Lion sculpture prominently placed inside the entrance, but without a doubt, what impressed... [Read more...]
Savoring a Local Sweet in Homer, Alaska
July 17, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
Mixed Berry Danish, Two Sisters Bakery, Homer Alaska While traveling throughout Alaska last week, I was fortunate to be able to visit Homer for a mere 36 hours. Located at the end of the Sterling Highway on the Kenai Peninsula, Homer abounds in seaside charm. Known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, Homer boasts an abundance of camping and RV sites. The main drag sits along The Spit, which juts out 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay. All of the campsites along The Spit feature seaside views and fabulous breezes. When I was in Homer, I must admit that I did not camp. This was my first trip to there, and we stayed at The Driftwood Inn, an old-town style inn that is located in the historic section of town. The Driftwood also has a waterfront RV park and very basic amenities. Our room was clean and simple. The bathroom was down the hall. Our beds were bunk beds! Before I checked in, I was told to check out Two Sisters Bakery, which was just a short walk down the road. Only complimentary... [Read more...]
Utah: The Ultimate Road Trip
July 17, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Utah is a place of unfathomable natural beauty—with its unique natural formations, colorful history, and culture, and exciting recreation opportunities—it is a state that contains the best elements of the great Mountain West and the Desert Southwest, from red rock splendor to mountain peaks with The Greatest Snow on Earth®, Utah is a four-season world-class travel destination. Hiking and photography are two favorite activities at Zion National Park. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Home to five national parks, Utah is the perfect place for your next family road trip. Utah’s five spectacular national parks stretch across the southern half of the state. Each park offers the traveler unique, world-class scenic vistas, and geological phenomena. In fact, Utah’s National Parks feature some of the most astonishing landscapes in the world. Each park shows off a completely different scenic view of the state’s natural beauty. These national parks are perfect for camping, mountain... [Read more...]
Attending An Enjarre!
July 15, 2012 by Diane Berry · 1 Comment
After hearing about it for several years, I had the opportunity to attend the Enjarre of St. Francis de Asis Mission Church First dirt, straw and water are mixed to the correct consistency. in Ranchos de Taos, NM this year. There were a number of visitors present, watching quietly as the beautiful old church was being restored. It was a humbling and spiritual experience. On a hot sunny June Friday afternoon, I stopped by the church to view this amazing process first-hand. I noted at once that there were enjarradores and enjarradoras of all ages, from about four to sixty four. One entire crew was made up of women, working on one of the lower areas of the church, chatting and visiting together as they worked. They certainly seemed to have done this before. Another crew seemed to be a family; there was a father figure, several teen aged boys and two very young children, running around and squirting each other with the hose. They were clearly having a good time and even dad got a bit wet! Next,... [Read more...]
RCMP Musical Ride
July 12, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
The image of the red-coated Mountie in broad-brimmed Stetson hat is associated with Canada round the world. But there is more to the Mounties than just a romantic image. RCMP Musical Ride performance at Edmonton, Alberta (Amberlea Meadows Equestrian Centre), July 23, 2010 © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved From the beginning of its history, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has served Canada and its people by establishing law and order in the frontier reaches of this vast nation. Representing a colorful tradition and ceremony through the horse and the scarlet uniform, the RCMP created a spectacle known around the world as the Musical Ride. The Origin The Musical Ride originated from the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) as they made the Great March West across Canada in 1874. Although the original NWMP were scattered in small groups over tens of thousands of miles of unsettled prairies, they routinely practiced both mounted and foot drills. In this time, Sergeant Major Robert Belcher... [Read more...]
A Community Builds a Church–Every Year!
July 8, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
Located in the small New Mexico town of Ranchos de Taos sits one of the oldest Catholic churches in North America. St. Francis de Asis Mission Church has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Every year the faithful parishioners and friends lovingly restore this beautiful and unusual church in a two week process in early June called “Enjarre” which means “remudding” or plastering. Built more than 200 years ago, the church is made entirely of adobe. Prior to being designated an Historic landmark in 1934, the church was surveyed for two months. This resulted in the creation of 32 hand drawn architectural drawings, all of which are located in the Library of Congress. The drawings are unusual because this structure, being made of adobe, does not have straight lines. Baselines and other methods were used to capture the church’s irregular shapes and dimensions. This year’s “Enjarre” took place from June 4th to June 16th. An Enjarre is successful because of the commitment... [Read more...]
