Colorado

One of Colorado Ski Destinations

Crisp cool mountain air, warmed by the sun, the aroma of spiced apple cider in the air, strolling from one unique shop to another, checking out the art galleries and hand crafted shops – this is Manitou Springs, Colorado or it could be a dozen other towns in Colorado.  Fall in the Rocky Mountains is sunny, cool and dry so that the air feels wonderfully refreshing.

       A land of breathtaking scenery, known for winter sports, especially skiing, Colorado is a state with many other places to see and things to do.  Aspen, Vail and Steamboat Springs are all well known and loved, but along with skiing, almost any outdoor activity can be enjoyed here.  In addition to the wonderful winter sports areas, the summer season offers hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, fishing, and mountain climbing.  National and State Parks are throughout the state with a wide variety of facilities to make your outdoor adventure a reality.    http://www.parks.state.co.us/ for the state park website and http://www.nps.gov/state/co/ for the National Park website. 

Pike's Peak

The cog railway trip to the top of Pike’s Peak has some really spectacular views.  The aspen leaves were yellow when I went and were scattered among the other trees as we made our way to the top.  No matter what time of year, it can be very cold at the top and the wind can be quite sharp on the lookout deck.  What a view from there!

My daughter lived in Colorado Springs for a few years and also took us to see Cripple Creek – an old mining town with a colorful history.  You can stroll down the main street or try your hand at panning for gold, grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or see the items in the many shops.   Since my trip there, Cripple Creek has expanded to become more of a tourist destination with the addition of casinos and other attractions.  They have their own website at http://www.visitcripplecreek.com/ and feature special events all year so check them out if you are going to be in Colorado.

Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

The Air Force Academy and The Olympic Training Center are also in Colorado Springs.  One of the places I enjoyed most in Colorado Springs is the  Von Briggle Pottery Factory and Showroom.  Check out the website for Colorado Springs to locate more great places to visit at:   http://www.visitcos.com/  

Vintage RPPC of the Red Rocks Amphitheater

Denver is the capitol city of Colorado and has a most impressive Capitol Building with a golden dome.  When I was about eight, my parents took my brother and I to see the Capitol and we were allowed to climb up into the dome.   Denver boasts a number of museums, a zoo and an arboretum, a mile long pedestrian mall, breweries, professional sports teams and many great restaurants and hotels.  The Red Rocks Amphitheater is shown at the left in an old black and white real photo postcard.

Garden of the Gods

Colorado has a long history and the places to go to experience this history.  There are Dinosaur sites and museums; Native American archeological sites such as Mesa Verde; Gold, Copper and Silver mining operations and some surviving or restored boom towns to tell that history; factory or mine tours plus modern museums of art and culture.  For the entire variety to choose from, visit Colorado at  http://www.colorado.com/ on the internet.  

As always, I suggest you check the state website for an overall view that is more comprehensive than my insights to each state.  Some of the cities also have their own website. 

California

Once again, the problem of seeing the United States is that it is so huge.  California is a perfect example of this problem.  From the Oregon border in the north to the border with Mexico in the south is almost 700 miles or 1,240 kilometers. It is about 250 miles or 400 kilometers wide.  As I did my imaginary trip for you, Amtrak is one way of seeing a lot of the country, but not everyone wants to look out the window most of the time and make a few stops here and there.  If you fly from city to city, it runs into a lot of time in airports, not to count the expense of all those flights.  Then you still have the problem of how to get around in each city since not all cities have public transportation.  If time and money are both plentiful, then the best way to see California – or the entire USA – is by car if you can handle driving with all those crazy Americans on the right side of the road.  That way you can see the top attractions and also take little side trips to see some of the less well known places. 

Everyone wants to go to California.  It’s always been the place of dreams – first the settlers moved west to California for wonderful land to farm – then the gold rush brought those who dreamed of getting rich.  During the depression, people left the dust bowl of the Midwest to find jobs and the hope of a new beginning in the Golden State.  Hollywood and the movie world brought those who dreamed of fame and fortune.  A mild climate, beautiful land, beaches and cities for young dreamers has kept California the desirable destination for many generations.  California continues to grow and people there seem to continually dream big dreams.  Silicon Valley is one of the more recent places where dreams became reality for many.  Who knows what will be dreamed up next in this golden land?

Today there are many destinations for those who travel.  Most travelers already know the destinations where they want to visit because the whole world knows of the famous places in California.  As always, I suggest you check online for the state website to guide you in finding the places that appeal to you. The state is one of the largest in the United States and borders the Pacific Ocean. It has beautiful fertile valleys, deserts, scenic mountains, fascinating cities, wonderful parks in addition to many fun places for youngsters such as Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland.  Sports of every kind are available from skiing to surfing.

Vintage postcard of the burning of the Cliff House

It is impossible for me to imagine what I could possibly tell you about California that you don’t already know.  I am going to give you a few suggestions of some places that are not so well known.  If you are in San Francisco, you will probably see the Golden Gate Bridge.  The Golden Gate National Recreation Area has expanded and the Cliff House is now part of the park.  The Cliff House has a long and interesting history, having been destroyed and restored several times.  On the deck of the Cliff House is a room sized camera obscura.  



Lombard Street



Lombard Street in San Francisco has been called "the crookedest street in the world and people enjoy driving up or down the street. 



Alcatraz Island is a great place to spend a few hours exploring the prison and the island itself.  It has a very colorful history and many people have left their stories here.



Lick Observatory (Vintage)

South of San Francisco is San Jose.  About 20 miles to the east from San Jose is the Lick Observatory, a state of the art observatory for the University of California.  Be aware that the road was built years ago and is narrow in places as it winds up the mountain.  (No gas at the top.)  There are historical displays and visitors are welcome to see the Great Lick Refractor and a 120 inch reflector.   



Sequoia National Park



As I talked about in my imaginary trip, the Redwood or Sequoia Trees are one of the most unique things in California.   Sequoia National Park has many of the trees that are large in diameter, including “General Sherman” which is the largest tree in the world by volume.  The Redwood National Park includes the tallest trees in the world.  These trees are amazing to see.  At one time you could drive through one of the trees in Yosemite National Park but it fell in the late 1960s. Any of these parks are well worth the visit just to see the trees.  Of course, there are also many other attractions to see in the parks.



The Bells of Mission San Juan Capistrano



In California there are 21 Mission Churches that were founded between 1968 and 1853.  They range from San Diego in the south to Sonoma, 40 miles north of San Francisco.  The Presidio in San Francisco is one of these Mission Churches.  The one In San Miguel, where I used to live, was damaged by a 2003 earthquake.  It has been partially restored.  The murals in this mission have been preserved well and are very colorful.To visit one of these Mission Churches would be very enjoyable .



Scotty's Castle in Death Valley



Death Valley actually has an 11,000 foot high mountain known as Telescope Peak!  There is more to the desert than just wasteland.  The desert blooms when the weather brings rain.  There is also a castle in the northern part of Death Valley called Scotty’s Castle.  It is built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and was built by a wealthy man and his wife as a vacation home in the 1920s.  Walter Scott, a flamboyant friend, considered it his “hideaway”. Tours of both the house and the underground tunnel system are available.

I could add dozens of other places to visit, but I think it’s best if you find the treasures by yourself.  Those special places that you discover always result in the best memories.

Arkansas

First, a few memories of Arkansas from when I was a little girl - a long time ago. 

We used to go to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas and sometimes in the summer for a vacation.  I always thought it was great fun because they lived in Arkansas, in a little house out in the country.  At Christmas we could always depend on my Dad driving the car into the muddy ditch near my uncle's house.  My Dad would have to get out in the pouring rain (because it always rained at Christmas in southern Arkansas) and trudge through the mud to ask Uncle Frank to bring the mule to pull us out.  Of course, Dad was always mad about this time but to us it was funny because we knew we would be staying up beyond our bedtime.  We finally would get into the house and Aunt Edith would tell us to get warm in front of the fire while she warmed up some supper for us.  They had a fireplace that heated their home and I thought that was fantastic since I was a little city girl and not used to wood fires.  There would be food for us to eat once we got warm and then into bed. 

We sometimes would walk through the woods to my Mrs. Downey's house (my Aunt Edith's Mother).  Along the way we would find cicada shells to hook onto our coats.  They looked like little ghost grasshoppers.  The cicada sheds its skin once it reaches adulthood and leaves its exosceleton on a tree trunk usually - similar to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.  The little hooks on the shells feet  were perfect for clinging to fabric so we would wear them like badges.



Vintage postcard near my Uncle's farm

 During the summer months that we visited, my brother and I would play with my cousins, walking down the dirt lane to the mailbox or exploring the fields.  Once we saw some wild boars (or razorback hogs) in the ditch but I think they weren't interested in us and ran away when we got near.  We were always told to watch out for them and for snakes during the summer. We would play near the pond, chase the dogs and play in the hay in the barn.  It was a very simple farm but  that was the joy of it for us children.  We could catch fireflies at night in a glass jug and watch them flicker their lights.  We could sit on the porch watching the stars come out, hugging the dogs, and listen to the big folks talk and tell stories.  It was for me, a wonderful place to visit.

  

Pivot Rock

Ozark Region

This the most difficult state for me to write about because I have so many good memories that I want to tell you about everything.  It is where I was born.  I have lived in many other states but returned to live in Arkansas about four years ago.  Arkansas is almost like a miniature of the United States.  If you want to see mountains, Arkansas has the Ozark and the Ouachita mountain ranges.  If you want to see forests, most of Arkansas is covered in some kind of timber.  If you are looking for prairie or farm land, the south and east parts of the state are almost entirely farm lands.  Lakes are scattered throughout and provide excellent fishing. 



Buffalo River aerial view



Rivers include the Buffalo River, which is a popular spot for white water floating and tubing.   There are caverns and a diamond mine where you can search for your own diamonds.  There is no ocean or white sand beach and the canyons here are not as grand as those in Arizona but for outdoor beauty and diversity, Arkansas is at the top of the list. 



Vintage postcard of Lake Chicot

It is the state where I have lots of relatives and where we hold our family reunion each year.  (It is not far from where my Uncle used to have his farm.) The reunion is usually held at Chicot State Park in the southeast corner of Arkansas.   The park faces Lake Chicot, a huge oxbow lake formed when the Mississippi River changed its path at one time.  The park is wooded and well kept.  It is a fisherman’s paradise and has boat launches and a tackle store.  The cabins are rustic in appearance but have been updated over the years to include everything except you, your clothes and your food.  Camping sites are plentiful and the park holds activities for the children during the summer months.  Reservations are needed for the cabins.  Parks similar to this are scattered throughout the state.

The Natural State is the motto for Arkansas because so much of the state remains open country rather than settled as cities.  Like almost every state in the USA, the majority of the towns are not large.  Many small towns and villages have just a few hundred people.  There are a few cities but even our big cities in Arkansas would be considered small by European standards.  Little Rock is the capitol city and I live just to the northeast from there in Sherwood which has almost 30,000 people.  Little Rock has a little more than 190,000.  The entire state has a total population of 2, 915,000 with the large majority living in rural areas, villages and small towns.



Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs



Oak Lawn Racetrack



Though the cities are not huge there is much to see in each of them.  Hot Springs includes the oldest National Park and has a popular horse racing track. 

Fayetteville is a college town, the site of the University of Arkansas, famous for their football team called the Razorbacks.  Fort Smith is near the Oklahoma border, El Dorado is near the Louisiana border, Pine Bluff is south of Little Rock which is in the middle of the state. There are other small cities but I am mentioning just a few of the larger ones. 



The Old Mill



Like most cities, Little Rock has its art museum, a sports arena and a number of places for the night life that young people enjoy.  Heifer International headquarters are also in the area near River Market.  River Market is a restored older section that includes unique shops, a farmers market several days of the week, a food court, several bars and other businesses.

The Clinton Presidential Library is near downtown Little Rock and the River Market Area.  I have toured it several times and find it fascinating each time I go.  It has a variety of displays showing the early years and then the Presidential years of Bill Clinton and his wife, Hilary.  A recent exhibit highlighted both of their Mothers.  Another exhibit that was amazing showcased some of the many gifts to the people of the United States given to President Clinton by heads of state from various countries.  Paintings, carvings, vases, jewelry, hand crafted items, jewel encrusted ceremonial swords, and many other items were included in this display.    

I am looking forward to a trip next month to Bentonville, which is near the Missouri border.  My son is treating me to a birthday trip to see an art exhibit.  Bentonville is the home of Wal-Mart and their family has gifted the area with an art museum called Crystal Bridges.  Currently there is an exhibit of Norman Rockwell’s paintings that I would like to see.  He was famous for his many Life Magazine covers reflecting the average American family.  My trip is also going to include a visit to Eureka Springs in the heart of the Ozarks.  It is a quaint old city that reflects much of the life of the early mountain settlers in this part of the country.  It is most famous for its Passion Play presentations.

Arizona

Vintage postcard of the Grand Canyon

 Arizona is known world wide as the state where you see the Grand Canyon.  It is awesome but there is so much more to Arizona than the Grand Canyon.  One of the most enjoyable trips for me was one to Arizona.  We made the Grand Canyon our main destination but unfortunately, neither of us was young enough and able enough to make the hike down to the bottom and back.  We ruled out other means of reaching the bottom and decided finally that we had enjoyed seeing the canyon but were ready to find something we could explore more easily. 



Wupatki Pueblo
near Flagstaff

Even though the internet is a marvelous resource, I still enjoy getting a map at the visitor center as we arrive in each new state.  They can be fun to look at just to see what silly names have been given to towns, rivers, lakes and mountains.  If I’m the passenger in the car it also gives me something to do...to find someplace to discover along our route.  So I pulled out our map of Arizona and started looking at all the attractions that were shown on the map….the little places that are not so well known.



Montezuma's Castle

Montezuma's Well

The rest of our trip became an adventure in finding the places that sounded like fun enough to visit.  My husband has always been interested in the cultures of ancient peoples so we explored quite a few Native American cave dwellings.  We learned about these early Americans and enjoyed some beautiful scenery along the way.  Montezuma's Well may not be as well known as Montezuma's Castle but we found it to be just as interesting in a different way.  It was like an oasis in the middle of the desert.  Following the pathways nearby we discovered some cool peaceful areas with plant life and a little spring with some clear, cold water.

Tonto National Monument

In Arizona the landscape changes dramatically at times.  Within just a few miles you can go from mountains and forests to a desert that is barren except for cacti and scrub bushes.   The cactus plants are sometimes very large and have a beauty all their own.  The sandstone that creates the wonder of The Grand Canyon  has also formed slot canyons, and unusual looking formations.  The cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument were surrounded by many large saguaro cacti as you can see in the attached photo.

Our last stop on our “what’s next on the map?” trip was Tombstone, Arizona.  We needed a place to find lunch and thought that would be a good place.  We had no idea what we were about to stumble upon. Southwest of Tucson and not really on the way to anywhere else, Tombstone is a destination worth going out of your way to visit.   Instead of just spending an hour for lunch, we spent the remainder of the day in this small town. 

World's largest rosebush

Tombstone is where the Wild West was Wild!  Boot Hill is just outside of town as you are approaching from Tucson, and worth the stop just to read the carvings on some of the gravestones.  If you are a Western Movie enthusiast this might be a great place for you to spend a day but it’s a fun place for anyone.  In town you will find The Crystal Palace Saloon, The Bird Cage Theater, and the O.K. Corral where one of the most famous western gun fights took place.  The Historama provides an overview of the town and its history. When we were there we were given “tickets” for discounts and other items  like a free sarsaparilla drink at the Crystal Palace.  There are a number of shops unique to Tombstone and many unusual things to see.   You can check out their website at tombstoneweb.com for all the information you need to visit and enjoy Tombstone, Arizona. 

For more information on a trip to the state of Arizona, the official website is arizonaguide.com and you can even send an epostcard to someone while you are exploring their website.