Category: Nature & Wildlife
A Lookout in Winter
January 20, 2013 by Diane Berry · 1 Comment
Several months back, I wrote a post about a hike we took on the Devisadero Trail near Taos, NM. Devisadero means “lookout” and the trail was originally used by Taos Pueblo Indians to keep lookout for Apaches coming to attack the pueblo from down the canyon. Quite a romantic and historic past. At the top of Devisadero Peak, there are two stone chairs that appear quite ancient and it is easy to imagine early pueblo residents sitting here, standing guard, and protecting their community. One of my favorite aspects of this trail, however, is that it is located on the sunny side of Taos Canyon; thus, the majority of the trail is in sunlight, every day, year-round. This means it provides a delightful hiking opportunity, even during winter months. For our first hike in the New Year, and the first hike since we returned from our two week holiday trip back to Wisconsin (meaning no hiking for at least that long!), we chose Devisadero. The trail did not disappoint. True to form, New Mexico provided... [Read more...]
Arkansas Post National Monument, AR…
January 16, 2013 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
This year, in our annual winter trek across the southern states, we decided to take a new route between Texas and Florida. For this stretch, we usually take I-10 along the Gulf, but we decided that this year we needed some new stops – to see a few new destinations that we had not had a chance to visit before. So, we ventured a bit more north, into Arkansas, and stopped at a few fun, new-to-us places! One of the stops we did in Arkansas, was to visit the Arkansas Post National Monument. This park has some serious history going on! It played a key role in the exploration and settlement of the surrounding area, has been a military and fur trading fort, saw Civil War combat, and is the location of the remains of a 19th century town. The site is currently preserved as a National Park, and is a beautiful one at that! We arrived around lunch time last Friday, and after grabbing some lunch in the parking lot (I LOVE traveling with my home!), we toured the visitor’s center where the... [Read more...]
Snowbird Destinations: WHERE to ROOST?
January 15, 2013 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Snowbirds are typically retired seniors who have the desire and financial ability to be away from home for extended periods of time. As our population ages the number of people considering this lifestyle increases. The majority of Snowbirds who make Southern California their winter home, head for the Coachella Valley with its 10 desert resort cities—Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs (pictured above), Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Thousand Palms, Indio, and Bermuda Dunes. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Every winter, more than 1 million RV snowbirds wing south to the U.S. Sunbelt to escape the winter cold. RVers who enjoy the snowbird lifestyle range from retired seniors, who have the wherewithal to journey far from home for extended periods of time, to Baby Boomers dipping their toes in the water. The available options are unlimited enabling snowbirds to design their own lifestyle to suit their financial ability and social preferences. The basic... [Read more...]
Picuris Peak 2: The Royal Road!
January 13, 2013 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
In my last post, I described a hike I took with my husband Terry and son Ryan shortly after their arrival in New Mexico this summer. They drove out to join me after a long six weeks here alone. We chose to hike the Picuris Peak Trail, near Taos, NM. We had hiked for several hours and were not sure how far to continue, but curious to see what was around each new bend in the road. Our persistence and curiosity was rewarded when, after about three hours, we came upon a large sign proclaiming “El Camino Real.” Here, in the middle of the forest, we had come upon the oldest road in the country. I had seen an obscure reference to the road in the description of this hike, but not being familiar with it at that point, it meant nothing to me. Also, as we had hiked for quite a time by then, I had forgotten the reference in my research. Along the Camino Real… Officially known as El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (which is Spanish for “The Royal Road of the Interior Land”) it is part of... [Read more...]
Hiking the Picuris Peak Trail
January 6, 2013 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
…AKA a pleasant memory after a trying time. This past July, Terry and Ryan drove the remainder of our belongings and our camper from Wisconsin to New Mexico to join me in our new home, as I waited up all night, anxious for their safe arrival. Once they settled in, we decided that the best way to celebrate being reunited was to spend some time in nature to help us appreciate the beauty surrounding us. We headed up NM 518 to Forest Road 114 to hike the trail to Picuris Peak. It was especially memorable because Ryan was with us, knowing he would be headed back to his summer job in Des Moines in a day or two. He seemed to notice this sweetness as well, stopping to photograph wildlife and the profusion of wildflowers we encountered along our way. Hiking in, the forest road was at first level and quite passable. We remarked that we could have driven in further, as did the trucks passing us heading into the Carson National Forest to collect firewood. But we were there to hike, so hike... [Read more...]
Texas State Aquarium, Corpus Christi, TX…
December 31, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · Leave a Comment
One of the other things that we did during our visit to Padre Island National Park, was to drive in to Corpus Christi and spend an afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium. The aquarium is part of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), so if you have a membership to your local zoo or aquarium, you would get in to the Texas State Aquarium for half price (like we did). One of the things that I loved the most about this aquarium, was that all the talks and shows were included in the entrance fee. The aquariums has educational talks, and animal shows every half hour, throughout the day. Our favorite stop of the day was at StingRay Alley (which is a large touch tank). During the talks that are given here (one in the morn, one in the afternoon), you can purchase a small tray of fish for $3 and feed the rays. This exhibit brought us back 3 times! LOL! The rays were docile, and friendly. They would swim right in front of the kids, and practically beg for attention! There were a couple... [Read more...]
Cruisin’ the beach in style…
December 29, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · 1 Comment
Right before Christmas, we spent 10 days out on Padre Island (Texas Gulf Coast). We dry camped out in the National Park campground on the island, and had a great time! We try to spend 2 weeks there every year – it is one of our very favorite places. Every year we try to make sure to do our ‘traditions’ – our favorite things that we have to do every visit, like driving down the beach, hunting ghost crabs, and riding the ferry at Aransas Pass. Every year we try to find some new experiences to do also. One of the things that we did this year was to drive to nearby Port Aransas and rent Beach Carts! I will admit that I was a little nervous about renting a beach cart – well, you know us, we had to rent 2, both 6 seaters! LOL! First, would the cart owner freak when we pulled in and 10 kids piled out of our van? And, beach carts, even if you are just using them on the beach, are subject to the same laws that govern vehicles (meaning seat belts…), so what... [Read more...]
Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming…
December 27, 2012 by Dana Ticknor · 4 Comments
We are so incredibly blessed to be able to travel with our family during the winter. This fall, after leaving our home state of Montana, we took our time getting down to Texas, where we spent much of December. On our way south, we stopped at a few National Parks; NPs are kind of our ‘thing’. We are trying to stop at as many National Parks as we can; at each park the kids complete the educational Jr. Ranger program, and collect the badges they earn as we go (they are small and don’t weigh much at all!). So far, we have been to over 6 dozen of our NPs! This past fall, we came south out of Billings via I-90, and spent the night in Gillette, WY (we like short driving days!). We decided that we couldn’t be so close to Devil’s Tower, located in the upmost NE corner of WY, and not take the opportunity to check it off our long list of parks still to visit! It was about an hour drive (each way) from Gillette. On the way out there, one of the littles asked what it was;... [Read more...]
Start the New Year Off on the Right Foot with a First Day Hike
December 27, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
With New Year’s Day just around the corner, people everywhere are zeroing in on their new year’s resolutions for 2013. Some will vow to add more exercise into their routines, and others will promise not to stay indoors as much. You can start the New Year off on the right foot, the left foot, or any foot by tackling both those resolutions at once and at the same time create a new family tradition by participating in a “First Day Hike” at a park near you, and together start off your year in a new direction. America’s State Parks announces that all 50 state park systems will sponsor guided First Day Hike Programs on New Year’s Day 2013. First Day Hikes originated over 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts. The program was launched to promote both healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year round recreation at state parks. State involvement has grown to the point where, for the first time in 2012, all 50 state park systems joined... [Read more...]
Merry Christmas to All
December 22, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
It’s Christmas weekend, the most wonderful time of the year. Season’s greetings fellow RVers, campers, snowbirds, wanna-bes, birders, photographers, hikers, and everyone who loves the great out-of-doors…and all Woodall’s blog readers! Thank you for reading our camping blogs this past year! Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season. May the miracle of this wonderful season fill your heart with peace and happiness and bless your life throughout the year. As we approach Christmas Eve we’re on the Alabama Gulf Coast enjoying balmy Gulf breezes, discovering the beauty and diversity of the area, and indulging the palate in fresh from the Gulf shrimp, oysters, and native fish. For me, the ultimate experience of camping and RVing requires a camera. Without a camera I bring home memories. With a camera, I bring home a series of images of the memories that I can return to over and over and share with readers of my posts. Memories become more complete and... [Read more...]
