Saturday Snaps #1 – Portland Maine Coastline

Heather Boothman
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Saturday Snaps #1 – Portland Maine Coastline

Portland Maine Coastline

Location:  The Portland Maine coastline and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean by the Portland Head Lighthouse

Author: Chris & Heather Boothman (A Brit & A Southerner)

You are probably wondering what the story is behind the ‘Annie Maguire Shipwrecked’ note on the rock in the foreground of this picture? The Anne (yes, the graffiti has incorrect spelling) Maguire ship was a Canadian vessel and it wrecked on these rocks on Christmas Eve, 1886.

However, the mystery behind how this actually happened so close to the Portland Head Light continues because despite rumors of high storms, statistics and weather data from that date indicate that it was a clear night. So what actually happened the night before Christmas? We will let your imaginations run wild as I am sure we all have explanations that would be great to hear!

Wandering the Hidden Dunes of Red Rock Canyon

Chris Boothman
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Wandering the Hidden Dunes of Red Rock Canyon

What is the first thing that springs to mind when you hear the words Las Vegas? Of course most people think about the dazzling lights and sounds that come from the glitzy casinos along the Vegas Strip, but the reality is there is so much natural beauty to see just on the outskirts of this amazing city. During our visit to Las Vegas, we decided to take a couple of trips away from The Strip and ventured east to the Hoover Dam and west to Red Rock Canyon. The ‘hidden dunes of Red Rock Canyon’ as I have titled this post are exactly that – hidden gems that truly deserve more coverage than they get!

Red Rock Canyon Sign

Location

Red Rock Canyon State Park is located just 17 miles west of Vegas and truly is a remarkable piece of natural landscape.  We spent a full afternoon exploring this state park, though it is worth noting you could likely spend a full day here and still not see everything. Whether you are intrigued by landscape photography or prefer to be a little more adventurous and clamber around the towering sandy dunes and rocks, Red Rock Canyon is a perfect spot to explore. We visited this state park in the spring so the temperatures were comfortable though I am sure in the heart of peak season during the summer it would get a little steamy and less enjoyable. Our advice, pick your times to visit here because you will have a great time if it is not too hot!

Red Rock Canyon

Visitor Center

As you approach the entrance to Red Rock Canyon State Park you will immediately be faced with the admission fee. A daily pass costs $7 and this is per vehicle so it doesn’t matter if there is one person or a whole family, it’s the same price. After paying this fee which in reality is used for maintenance and upkeep of the state park, you can take a trip to the main visitor center which offers more detailed maps and information on the history of Red Rock Canyon.

A gift shop offering memorabilia and snacks to keep you refreshed for the day ahead (you may be better bringing your own food and drinks though) is also available within the confines of the visitor center. We were fortunate to visit here when they were handing out free 2014 calendars of Red Rock Canyon which was a great way to capture some spectacular pictures of the canyon and all times of the year.

13 Mile Drive

Red Rock Canyon State Park

The scenic loop around Red Rock Canyon is a 13 mile drive that gives you an opportunity to scope out some of the impressive dunes and also decide where you want to explore. However, the best part of this scenic drive is that you can stop as many times as you want along the route and just get out and start really exploring the hidden wilderness. Even though we only spent an afternoon here, we were able to get out on several occasions and hike across some of the rocks and get some great pictures along the way.

Red Rock Canyon

If you are more of the adventurous type and have time on your side, why not hike one of the various trails available inside the state park. With trails available for beginners to more advanced hikers, there is something here for everyone. A hike such as the Turtlehead Peak is 5 miles and is classified as ‘Strenuous’ taking anywhere from 3-5 hours to complete but with stunning views from the summit of this peak.

Red Rock Canyon

Summary

Our experience at Red Rock Canyon was nothing but positive so we would highly recommend anyone visiting the Vegas area to at least take a few hours to explore these hidden dunes. Red Rock Canyon is in reality the start of the Mojave Desert but without heading too far away from the glitz and glamor of Vegas, you can really experience some rural beauty inside this state park.

Red Rock Canyon Vegetation

Have you visited Red Rock Canyon before? What other state parks are off the radar but you would recommend to others?

Interview – Paula and Gordon (Contented Traveller)

Chris Boothman
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Interview – Paula and Gordon (Contented Traveller)

Today we would like to thank Paula and Gordon from Contented Traveller who have kindly given their time to interview with us, providing some great insight into their travel background and their passion for travelling the world.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with the Contented Traveller folks using their various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Paula and Gordon for taking time to interview with us!

Contented Traveller

Name: Paula and Gordon

Introduction: We live in Wollongong, NSW about an hour south of Sydney, Australia. We live on the beach in a very beautiful city that has an escarpment running along one side and the ocean on the other.

Website: Contented Traveller

Social Media: 

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

Gordon and I had always travelled prior to meeting one another. When we did meet we went overseas within the first few months – to see if we were compatible. This was a big thing because if we weren’t well-matched travellers it would have been a deal breaker. It worked out exceptionally well and we are totally in sync when we travel and what we want to do and to see. We love to meet local people, do different things and we love to eat local food. We are great people watchers.

Contented Traveller Collection

When I finished teaching I considered what skills I had. It came down to travelling and orgnaising it and I enjoy writing. So much as I knew nothing at all I decided to start a travel blog. I have learnt a huge amount in the 11 months that Contented Traveller has been operational. We still have a lot to learn but we love it. We are starting to get ready for our 1st birthday celebration of Contented Traveller.

How many continents have you visited? 

Three

How many countries have you visited? 

30+

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

Too difficult to specify just one. Our gauge tends to be, do we want to return. We have returned time and time again to Japan for the skiing, the people and their traditions, the onsens and the food. We have been to Bali numerous times.

We have been to Thailand a lot and we will go there again and again. Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland are also repeaters. I am sure Turkey and Vietnam will get another run also.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

That is a big one and our answers are different. I would love to live in Europe for a year or so … It is just a lot easier to get to a lot of places than the very long journey from Australia that we have to take a few times a year.

Contented Traveller - Paula and Gordon

Gordon says sailing leisurely around the Caribbean at our own pace, stopping where and when we like. I think we will go with both.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera, Phone, Tablet and Laptop. Gordon used to be the gadget geek now we both are.

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Walk! Our second preferred method is definitely rail. Nothing beats walking around a place and then catching a train to another.

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

We walk around and watch what is going on. We get lost and we find something exciting or different generally. That’s why we are big on serendipity. Some of the things that we have happened upon have really been amazing.

A fire fighters parade in Takayama, a ploicemans march in Istanbul, a crazy little back water café come in Cambodia, and a cock fighting village near Ubud in Bali have all made our travels special.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

We love to travel our way and at Contented Traveller we share how people can do it themselves and not compromise on what they want. I think that my writing style verges on the quirky and at times irreverent but that makes people want to read more…. hopefully. It is not rocket science that we may be a bit more mature (!) but that certainly does not stop us doing whatever we feel like. Skiing, diving, trekking in jungles, eating unusual food and chatting to whoever.

I hope that other people realise that they don’t need to compromise on what they want and that mainstream travel is not the only option. For our delightful younger readers, I am pretty sure that they believe that there might be light at the end of the tunnel 🙂

A Walk Around the Portland Head Light

Chris Boothman
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A Walk Around the Portland Head Light

Despite the advance in modern technology, I still find it amazing how historic lighthouses are still used to this day to assist in maritime navigation. Of course technology has developed these iconic structures but one thing that has remained consistent is the preservation of their notorious architectural design. I am sure whenever you see a lighthouse, you pretty much know what it is!

On our recent trip to the New England states, I knew that this would be the best chance to see some of USA’s most famous lighthouses. One in particular, the Portland Head Light, given it’s legendary status among America’s finest was the one that I most looked forward to exploring. I am sure that Portland, Maine has a lot more to offer than just the lighthouse, but given that our time there was limited this was the only attraction we were able to experience.

Portland Head Light

Located in Cape Elizabeth, just outside the main center of Portland, the Portland Head Light sits proudly on a head of land overlooking the Gulf of Maine and beyond into the Atlantic Ocean. Approaching the Fort Williams State Park where the lighthouse is situated, we immediately noticed the overcast conditions as the fog swept across the ocean.

The eerie yet beautiful appearance of the lighthouse was certainly an impressive sight among the rugged landscape of the surrounding cliffs. We had not been there for very long whenever the fog began to lift and the sun started to break through.

Rugged Cliffs near Portland Head Light

It was really cool to peer over the ocean and notice other islands appear in the distance as the fog disappeared. You can just imagine those sea fairers fighting through the fog-swept seas with their only assistance being the Portland Head Light. We were fortunate enough to hear the foghorn several times, helping those vessels navigate their way along the New England coastline.

Portland Head Lighthouse

The original fog bell is located outside the lighthouse and although it is no longer in use, it still stands proudly as an iconic resemblance of the historic signals that took place over the years.

Portland Head Light Fog Bell

We really enjoyed our time at the Portland Head Light and would highly recommend anyone visiting this if you are in the region. The history of this lighthouse makes it one of the best to visit and definitely worth exploring on a weekend getaway to Portland!

Lighthouses are such mysterious and interesting pieces of architecture. Of course they are still a necessity in maritime navigation but even without that, their unique appearance makes them a worthwhile place to visit.

Do you enjoy visiting lighthouses or other maritime locations? Where have you experienced something similar?

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