Page 42 – A Brit and A Southerner

Montserrat – Is it Worth a Day Trip from Barcelona?

Spain

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Jul 23, 2015

Montserrat – Is it Worth a Day Trip from Barcelona?

If you are visiting Barcelona for the first time, there will likely be enough within the city limits to keep you occupied for several days. Whether you are interested in taking a food tour to sample some of Catalonia’s local delicacies, or perhaps explore some of Antoni Gaudi’s iconic structures around the city, there is an abundance of attractions to visit. But what about if you want to take a break away from city life and consider a day trip from Barcelona?

Don’t worry, there are plenty of options available and at the very top of this list is a day trip to Montserrat! Located about 50km from the heart of Barcelona, Montserrat is so much more than a haven of breathtaking scenery. After reading this post you will understand why there is a much deeper attraction to this location and I will let you decide whether it is worth a day trip from Barcelona.

How to Get to Montserrat

Ok, so you have decided that a day trip to Montserrat is on the cards but now you have to figure out how to get there. Fortunately there are a variety of ways to visit Montserrat, and it is really down to personal preference on how you want to travel. Here are a few ways to reach this beautiful destination:

By Car – This option was what we took! We rented a car at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and the drive to Montserrat is for the most part on highway and easily navigable even if you are not familiar with driving on Spanish roads. The majority of the route is along C-58 and as you approach Montserrat there are a number of signs that will point you in the right direction if you don’t have a GPS handy.

Parking is available either half way up the mountain at Monistrol de Vila Rack Railway station (FREE Parking) and you can then take the Rack Railway to the summit, or alternatively as we did you can drive to the top and pay 5 Euros which is still good value for money!

By Train (Option 1) – There are a couple of options available if you decide to take the train. Option 1 involves taking a local train and then the funicular/rack railway to Montserrat. Head to the Plaza España station in Barcelona and take a local R5 train to the Monistrol de Montserrat station.

Arriving here, you can hop on the green funicular railway known as the ‘Cremallera’ and this will take you to the summit. Prior to purchasing your ticket at the Plaza España station in Barcelona, be sure to get a combined ticket that includes the rack railway to save money.

By Train (Option 2) – An alternative option is to take the R5 train from the Plaza España station in Barcelona to the Montserrat-Aeri station and then take the cable car to the summit.

This option is slightly more expensive but again tickets can be purchased in Barcelona that will include both the train ride and cable car. If you opt for this route, you certainly won’t be disappointed by the views that you encounter on the way to Montserrat!

Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery

Hidden among the Montserrat multi-peak mountain range is the gorgeous Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery. There is much history behind this monastery but undoubtedly the most iconic of them all is the ‘Black Madonna’ which can be found inside this historic architecture.

This is probably the most famous religious sanctuary in the region of Catalonia, and after visiting Barcelona you will realize that there are a lot of pretty spectacular religious buildings in the area.

The Benedictine monastery dates back to the 10th Century, and in some cases even before this date when hermit monks are said to have constructed the initial design of this building. The monastery was destroyed by Napoleon’s army in the early 19th century but was reconstructed soon after.

Let’s take a moment to look at the history behind the sacred Black Madonna. Dating back to the 12th century, many miracles are said to be attributed to this statue. The statue is a representation of Mary and her location in Montserrat is applicable to the region given that she is the patron saint of Catalonia.

‘Our Lady of Montserrat’ or ‘La Moreneta’ (‘the little dark-skinned one’) as it it known among locals and tourists alike, is one of the most popular attractions and there are usually lines waiting outside the monastery trying to capture a glimpse of this effigy.

The Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery is more than just the home of the Black Madonna. The interior of this sacred venue is equally as impressive as the outside and just standing inside the grounds of this location is an awe-inspiring experience. As we climbed the mountain, the view overlooking the monastery is stunning and well worthy of the hike!

Sacred Mountain Range

The natural beauty of the Montserrat mountain range makes this a unique attraction by itself, regardless of the inherent cultural and sacred values associated with the monastery. Approaching Montserrat from the bottom of the mountain, the most noticeable feature are the unique rock formations that comprise the Montserrat mountain range.

The highest point in this mountain range is Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) which stands at just over 4,000 feet above sea level. Hiking trails are available to the summit though we decided to save this ambitious trail for another day! I can only imagine how spectacular the views are overlooking the valley and rest of the mountains from the very top of the range.

It’s the uniqueness of these rocks that make this such an intriguing place to visit. Can you imagine the reclusive monks residing in this mysterious abode? The best way to describe the appearance of these mountains is a very distinct similarity to an animal or prehistoric dinosaur.

Montserrat is known as ‘the sacred mountain’ primarily because of the religious affiliation with the Catholic church. This is still an incredibly popular spot for worshippers of Catholicism.

Hike to the Cross of San Miguel

After taking some time to explore the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery and other attractions in the area, we embarked on a short hike to the Cross of San Miguel. You can see the cross from the monastery and it looks a pretty steep hike to reach it! But it’s not as bad as it looks and I can certainly attest that it is worth the effort.

The trail takes anywhere from 40-60 minutes depending on your pace and how many pictures you want to take en route to the summit. There are a few spots along the route that are a little treacherous, so be wary of your footing and you will be fine!

We were fortunate to hike this trail in perfect conditions, with a cool breeze at our back and the sun occasionally shining down on the Catalonia valley.

As you hike further towards the Cross of San Miguel, the views become more and more breathtaking! We spent probably 45 minutes at the top of the hike overlooking the monastery and appreciating the natural beauty that was right in front of us. If you are looking for a moment of relaxation and solitude, this may well be the perfect spot for you!

Summary

I will start by answering the question – is Montserrat worth a day trip from Barcelona? DEFINITELY!!! No question, this is an unbelievable experience and one that you will not regret. You could quite easily spend all of your time exploring Barcelona and probably have an amazing time, but there is nothing quite like the spectacular views and deep knowledge you will learn from walking around the sacred mountain of Montserrat.

There are a number of hiking trails available and even taking the cable car ride offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. As you peer down into the Catalan valley, the relaxing haven offered by the Montserrat mountain range is second to none in the region of Catalonia.

Have you visited Montserrat? If the answer is yes, you probably understand exactly why I am so passionate about this location. If the answer is no, you need to start planning a trip to Spain because Montserrat is waiting for you, and you will not be disappointed!

For more pictures of our experience at Montserrat, check out our photo gallery here: Montserrat

An InLinkz Link-up

Missouri Botanical Garden – How to Relax in Paradise

Missouri

Chris Boothman

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Jul 20, 2015

2

Missouri Botanical Garden – How to Relax in Paradise

Do you have a fond love of nature? Do you appreciate floral beauty when you see it? Unfortunately my answer to both of these questions was no until recently. After visiting the stunning Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, my whole opinion on this type of attraction changed dramatically. Heading to the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, I was ready to experience more and really enhance my desire to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in nature’s paradise.

Philosophy of Nature’s Beauty

Before considering the beauty presented within botanical gardens, let’s take a moment to reflect on the inherent beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. Albert Einstein said it best when he stated,

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

The philosophy of appreciating nature’s finest species is something that I probably failed to understand, and for the most part took for granted. Take a moment to look out of the nearest window and I bet you can see some form of ‘nature’ around you. Whether you are in a rural setting with natural bliss surrounding you, or perhaps a lone tree or flower arrangement if you are in the hustle and bustle of city life.

Either way, there is something beautiful about nature and how it can inspire us to have a more positive outlook on life. Exploring the Missouri Botanical Garden certainly had this effect, especially after experiencing an abundance of variety around the 79 acres.

Admission Details

Let’s start out with some of the basic facts about the Missouri Botanical Garden that immediately will sway your opinion that this is a great spot for all the family to explore without breaking the bank. At only $8 for adults and FREE for children under the age of 12, this is awesome value and you could quite easily spend a full day here!

Cheap entertainment for sure, especially when you throw in the awesome Lantern Festival that was taking place during our visit, but more about that later.

Located conveniently at 4344 Shaw Boulevard and easily accessible from the downtown district of St. Louis, these botanical gardens are just waiting for you to explore. Public transportation is available with bus routes stopping close to the gardens.

Of course driving to the gardens may be your preferred option and with ample free parking available on the grounds, this is certainly a great choice. Approaching here I did notice A LOT of bicycle lanes in close proximity so perhaps this would be a great way to access this attraction, plus there is even a bike rack located in the visitor center parking lot.

Missouri Botanical Garden Key Attractions

With 79 acres of natural beauty to explore, you could be excused for feeling a little daunted by the prospect of walking around this landscape. However, depending on the amount of time you have to spend at the botanical gardens, hopefully the following guide will give you a few important attractions not to be missed. Beyond that…it’s entirely up to you and I recommend just enjoying the gorgeous scenery and ambience that you will be part of!

It’s worth noting that the Missouri Botanical Garden focuses on a global concept with their ideology of a ‘Garden for the World’. You quickly notice this as you explore the grounds of the botanical garden, with distinctive areas from all around the world providing seasonal beauty and emphasizing their desire to express an international plant diversity.

The visitor guide provides a map of the grounds and highlights the tram path which is another option should you prefer not to walk the whole route. For a small surcharge, you can quickly access various parts of the global gardens. However, we opted to walk and in my opinion this is where you really experience the true beauty that the gardens possess.

Climatron

The Climatron is a popular attraction, not only because of the cool design of this dome-shaped structure, but also because of the amazing plethora of plant varieties and landscaping that has been added to the interior. A number of waterfalls and other water features have been added to the tropical rain forest theme and it really does work!

The temperature is controlled throughout the day at a high of 85 degrees, while it is reduced to a cooler temperature during the night. There are more than 2,800 plants inside the Climatron and over 1,400 various tropical species are present.

Undoubtedly the most iconic landmark throughout the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Climatron is a MUST-SEE experience! We spent quite a bit of time just wandering through the self-guided tour, taking in the gorgeous colors and relaxing to the soothing sound of the water.

Close your eyes and you would certainly imagine yourself in another setting than a geodesic dome that is being used as a conservatory.

Boxwood Garden

One of the many ‘formal’ gardens on display, Boxwood Garden is a real gem worth exploring. As you approach this royal like garden, you are presented with an immaculate array of color flowers and a maze of perfectly manicured edges that encourage you to stroll through the maze and investigate other hidden treasures.

The entrance to Boxwood Garden is a relatively new brick courtyard featuring an iconic fountain that represents the beauty and formality of this part of the botanical gardens.

Two large circular windows in the brickwork offer a perfect spot to capture a memorable image as you gaze through, either taking in the beautiful floral arrangements or perhaps the gazebo that catches your eye towards the back of the garden.

Japanese Garden

Japan is one of the most culturally diverse nations and this is certainly reflected in the 14 acre Japanese garden. Depicting centuries of history and heritage associated with the Land of the Rising Sun, Missouri Botanical Garden does a great job at interpreting this landscape through floral varieties, water features (including a gorgeous lake) and intricately designed bridges that offer relaxing havens for a stroll around the lake.

The Buddhist inspired Seiwa-en is the name given to this Japanese strolling garden. It was no surprise to see a wedding party preparing to use this location with the lake providing a perfect backdrop for the special couple. We walked around the outside of the lake taking in the beautiful scenery and on several occasions sat down on the numerous benches scattered on the edge of the lake.

Two islands (Tortoise and Crane Island) that are inaccessible to visitors are located in the heart of the lake offering a haven for wildlife to inhabit themselves among this landscape. There are two other islands, Paradise and Nakajima (Teahouse) that offer another distinctive representation of Japan’s iconic geography and cultural ideals.

Another intriguing feature at the Japanese Garden is the Koi Fish Feeding Bridge. These Japanese fish are always waiting for a feeding opportunity and visitors can certainly take a moment to throw in some feed, while enjoying the habits of the koi fish scrambling for every piece of food available.

Tower Grove House

Historians will also find a plethora of attractions and hidden gems throughout Missouri Botanical Garden. Dating back to 1859, this is the nation’s oldest botanical garden and also home to Henry Shaw’s country residence – Tower Grove House.

This historic mansion has been preserved with much of the original decor and self-guided tours throughout the house are available.

From exploring the garden tools in the basement to Shaw’s very own bedroom, Tower Grove House still plays an integral part in the makeup of Missouri Botanical Gardens. This house overlooks Shaw’s mausoleum which offers yet more stunning floral displays.

Chinese Lantern Festival

In 2012, the Missouri Botanical Garden introduced an amazing Chinese lantern exhibit that truly reflected their position in illustrating their global diversity. This illuminated trail of lanterns that were positioned strategically throughout the gardens was such a huge success that the Garden decided to recreate this event in 2015.

Did you know that China was home to approximately 10 percent of the plant species in the world? However, many of these species are under threat, much like animals from extinction! Missouri Botanical Garden is just one of many botanical gardens worldwide that is helping preserve these diverse species.

We were incredibly fortunate to visit the Garden while this event was taking place, though of course our visit was during the day and the Chinese Lantern Festival really comes to life at night. Admission to this magical festival ranges from $22-$26 depending on what time of the season you visit for adults and cheaper rates are of course available for concessions.

There are numerous oversized structures in place around the Garden, each representing something very unique about Chinese culture. The majority of these installations are made from porcelain which on its own is an extremely cool piece of artistic design when you see representations of Chinese iconography made from plates and cups!

From the celebration of the Chinese New Year (Year of the Sheep in 2015!) to the porcelain elephant masterpiece when you first enter the Garden, this truly is a charming reflection on Chinese culture. My only regret is that we didn’t get to experience this at night, but hopefully we will have the opportunity to return to St. Louis before the festival ends.

Summary

Nature surrounds us everywhere but all too often I am sure we are culprits of taking this for granted and not doing enough to support the natural landscapes where we live. I also think that living a fast-paced lifestyle which I am sure many of us do, leaves us with very little time to enjoy the relaxation and appreciation that nature offers us.

However, the moment you step into a botanical garden, I am a firm believer that all of this changes. Our visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden was yet another example of a gorgeous landscape that offers that all important ‘relaxation time’ away from the hectic lifestyle we live on a daily basis.

From the deep cultural iconography offered through the various sculptures and of course the Chinese Lantern Festival, to the history of the grounds where Henry Shaw resided, this botanical gardens in St. Louis is definitely high value for money.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Explore St. Louis for providing us with 2 complimentary tickets for our visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

Incredible Journey to the Top of the Arch in St. Louis

Missouri

Chris Boothman

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Jul 16, 2015

14

Incredible Journey to the Top of the Arch in St. Louis

New York City has the Statue of Liberty, San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge and St. Louis has the Gateway Arch! Yes, the state of Missouri can really hold its own in relation to some of America’s fine architectural landmarks. Not only is the Gateway Arch an iconic representation of freedom, also known as the Gateway to the West, it is also a popular attraction for folks who enjoy breathtaking views across the city.

Why? Because did you know that it’s possible to actually climb all the way to the summit of this structure, through the interior of the arch! The journey to the top of the arch is a memorable yet interesting experience and I encourage you to consider trying this on your next trip to St. Louis, though there are a few caveats that you should think about first (more about those later…)

History of the Gateway Arch

The history of the Gateway Arch dates back to 1963 when construction was first started on this unique structure. A design competition held in the mid-1940s led to a Finnish-American by the name of Eero Saarinen creating this iconic representation of St. Louis in 1947.

When construction began in February 1963, the project manager of MacDonald Construction Company, Stan Wolf claimed that the difficulty level of creating Saarinen’s masterpiece was far superior to anything he had done before.

In a building, everything is straight up, one thing on top of another. In this arch, everything is curved.

After years of turmoil including numerous lawsuits being filed against the potential safety risks of both the construction and eventual completion of the Arch, the final piece was added on October 28, 1965.

When I look at the Gateway Arch, I am stunned that this is a design that dates back to the 1960s. This is an absolute credit to Saarinen’s success in creating such a structure that even to this day remains a modernized composition. This could quite easily pass as a structure that was designed in the 21st century!

The Gateway Arch has a simplicity which should guarantee timeliness

Let’s take a look at some key characteristics of the Gateway Arch. The Arch is the tallest memorial in the United States at 630ft in both height and width. The structural load of the arch is composed of stainless steel which is visible, along with a solid concrete construction that leads to an earthquake safe structure.

Of course, the Gateway Arch is hollow allowing for the tram system developed in the late 1960s to allow tourists to experience the beauty from within the arch.

Admission Details

Purchasing tickets to experience the Gateway Arch is thankfully much easier than the construction of the arch itself. You can buy tickets online or simply visit the Old Courthouse which is another really cool experience that is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Tickets are priced at $10 for adults ($7 if you hold an America is Beautiful National Park Annual Pass) and $5 for children. You could also opt for a cheaper option if you just want to visit the Arch, without actually taking the tram to the top…though I personally recommend going all out and reaping the rewards of experiencing the tram ride!

The ‘Journey to the Top’ ticket also includes a 35-40 minute movie in the Tucker Theater, located below the Gateway Arch. Titled ‘Monument to the Dream’, this movie depicts in more detail the construction of the arch and how this has changed the St. Louis landscape over the last 50 years.

Journey to the Top of the Arch

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial landscape is currently under mass construction so it’s inevitable that there will be delays and potential confusion if you don’t follow directions given by park rangers and staff inside the Old Courthouse. After collecting your tickets, I strongly encourage you to head down to the Gateway Arch about 20-30 minutes prior to your timed ticket.

Our visit to the top of the Arch was at 11:00AM and we headed down to the base about 10 minutes prior. You cannot enter the security line more than 30 minutes prior to your scheduled visit, and staff are always available to direct you when it’s your time to line up.

Given the scorching hot weather that St. Louis was encountering during out visit, it really was a miserable experience as we lined up waiting to get through the single security checkpoint.

After passing through with only a couple of minutes to spare we headed to the North Tram entrance where we again lined up. This process is what really takes the most time. By 11:20, we were still waiting to board our tram.

Staff asked each family how many were in their party and issued ‘boarding passes’ that corresponded with the tram number you would enter. We watched a short movie providing an overview on the history of the Gateway Arch, the doors opened and after allowing the descending visitors to alight, we scrambled inside the tram.

Ok so now is a good time to explain this ‘so-called tram’. Imagine a small pod or orb like object and this is exactly what you are traveling in. Designing and constructed in 1967, the North Tram (and soon after South Tram), takes visitors to the summit of the Arch in 4 minutes.

The doorway is about 4 feet tall and not particularly wide. Once you enter this orb, there are 5 seats strategically positioned around the orb and if you are unfortunate enough to have 5 people in yours, it’s a pretty tight squeeze! Be extremely aware of your surroundings, otherwise if you are tall you may well suffer as I did when I cracked the back of my head on the side of the pod.

A word of caution right now, if you suffer from claustrophobia, you should probably consider when this is a journey for you. However, perhaps it’s a great way to overcome your fears.

The doors closed and the journey up the rickety tram system started. Honestly it’s a really cool experience though of course not for the feint-hearted. When the journey began, I was a little feared wondering what would happen if the tram broke down.

However, as you peer out of the window inside the arch, you can see an emergency staircase that spirals up the side of the arch, though how long you would be trapped before someone climbed to meet you…I’ll let you be the judge of that (hopefully that situation never arises!)

4 minutes inside this pod really seems like an eternity but after reaching the summit you climb a few stairs and you are literally on top of the arch!

Spectacular Scenery

Afraid of heights? Don’t worry, the Gateway Arch is a great way to overcome this fear. The windows that provide the breathtaking scenery across St. Louis are surprisingly small and narrow. You don’t realize looking up from ground level just how small these windows are.

But they do offer gorgeous views across the Mississippi River into Illinois on one side, and of course downtown St. Louis and beyond on the other.

Take a moment to identify some of the key landmarks that we all love in St. Louis. Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team; Edward Jones Dome, home of the St. Louis Rams NFL team and of course the Old Courthouse that is directly in front of you.

It’s really cool to peer down and see all 630 feet below you! We were fortunate to visit on a perfectly clear day with the sun shining at the perfect angle to create a reflection of the arch on the ground below us.

Although you can spend as much time as you like once you have reached the top, it’s probable that you will only need 10-15 minutes given the crowded nature of the summit. Take a few selfies, overcome your fear of heights and of course savor the stunning scenery that is in front of your very eyes.

As soon as you are ready to head back down, let a staff member know and they will arrange for you to be on the next available tram. The journey back down is a short 3 minutes, and yet again be sure to watch your surroundings as you squeeze inside these pods.

Summary

I am an avid fan of high-rise buildings, skyscrapers and basically anything that allows a birds-eye view overlooking the nearby surroundings. Inevitably I had to experience the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and I can now attest that the Journey to the top of the Arch is well worth the time and effort it takes.

The process may be a little slow and painful at times (including the back of my head!), but the ultimate reward of the breathtaking views of the city are enough to justify the trip. The design of the Arch is uniquely brilliant and it’s an absolute credit to the city of St. Louis that this can be identified around the world as the true ‘Gateway to the West’!

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Explore St. Louis for providing us with 2 complimentary tickets for our journey to the top of the arch. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

An InLinkz Link-up

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – The JFK Conspiracy

Texas

Chris Boothman

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Jul 13, 2015

4

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – The JFK Conspiracy

Let’s start with a million dollar question that many of us are still wondering – was JFK’s assassination a conspiracy? Or do you believe that what happened on that tragic day in 1963 is exactly what was reported through the Commission report and Lee Harvey Oswald was the guilty individual that fired the fatal shot. Exploring the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza may well help sway your opinion, or perhaps it will leave you further confused as to what actually took place on November 22, 1963.

Thanks to CityPASS, our tour was included in this package deal so I would strongly encourage you to consider purchasing this for a great valued experience of Dallas (you can read our post on our CityPASS Dallas experience for full details on what else is included).

The Approach to Dealey Plaza

Our experience in downtown Dallas started by walking around the exact route that JFK’s parade took in front of and through Dealey Plaza. As you gaze up to the windows of the old Texas School Book Depository where Oswald fired those fatal shots, there is a real sense of poignancy as you imagine what it must have been like to be present during this tragic day.

We will return to Dealey Plaza and the infamous Grassy Knoll later but first, we headed inside the Book Depository and began our tour of the Sixth Floor Museum.

Self-Guided Tour

After bypassing the lengthy queues due to one of the great benefits of the CityPASS, we picked up our audio guide and headed to the elevator to take us to the Sixth Floor. You are immediately thrown into the life of JFK and the self-guided tour allows you to pick and choose whatever iconic moments you want to focus on.

The museum tour offers a variety of artifacts and exhibits that depict the life of JFK. If you are looking for a way to interpret and understand everything that happened to JFK from his electoral days to those final tragic moments at Dealey Plaza, exploring the legacy of JFK throughout the Sixth Floor Museum is a great option.

It was interesting to learn a little more about JFK, but after visiting the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, I was most interested in learning about exactly what happened during his trip to Texas in 1963.

The Trip to Texas

President John F. Kennedy’s reign as president started in January 1961 and two years later he embarked on one of his state wide visits. Texas was on his radar during November 1963 and a planned visit to five cities around the Lone Star State was setup.

After welcoming visits to San Antonio, Houston and Fort Worth, JFK took a short flight to Love Field in Dallas to begin his parade through the downtown district of the city. JFK and his wife Jackie always enjoyed the public reception and wanted to be as close to the locals as possible, of course causing a nightmare situation for security and local police officers on duty.

Nevertheless, the parade was going smoothly until they reached Dealey Plaza and at 12:30PM on November 23, 1963 that horrific moment took place when gunshots reverberated around the plaza and JFK was down.

Soon after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was confirmed at nearby Parkland Hospital. How did this happen? The Sixth Floor Museum holds a number of key exhibits that will help you form your own judgement and whether you agree with the Commission report or not, I will leave this for you to decide.

Sniper’s Nest

Of course the most significant spot in the museum tour is in the corner of the Book Depository overlooking Dealey Plaza, where much evidence was discovered suggesting that a sniper was situated there while JFK’s parade slowly moved through the plaza. The three shell casings were found beside the cardboard boxes that had been strategically stacked to hide anyone gazing through the window from the outside. This is referred to as the ‘Sniper’s Nest’.

The re-creation of this sniper’s perch appears as a perfect match to the report of how the Dallas enforcement officials found this part of the Texas School Book Depository. It is now protected behind glass, but you can still imagine what probably took place in November, 1963,

If the theory that Oswald fatally shot JFK is true, it is likely that he was situated behind those boxes waiting for the perfect moment to fire through the window of the Sixth Floor. Three fatal shots later and the tragedy occurred!

The Grassy Knoll

After exploring in detail everything offered inside the Sixth Floor Museum, we headed outside to the area known as the Grassy Knoll. It is here where flocks of visitors stood aligning the streets as JFK’s procession passed through Dealey Plaza, but it is also a key location that immediately became the target as a potential spot for the marksman that shot JFK.

The immediate aftermath of JFK’s assassination saw law enforcement officials rush to the Grassy Knoll in an attempt to locate a suspect. There are a number of spots on this knoll that could have been potential targets for the sniper, but there has never been any concrete evidence to support claims that a second marksman or other suspect than Oswald was ever located here.

As we walked along this spot that is now a memorial to JFK, I took a moment to ponder I truly believed happened in November, 1963. I am having a hard time believing that Oswald was the sole accomplice here and there is just far too much evidence, or perhaps lack of, that supports something else took place.

Peering down from the top of the Grassy Knoll to Elm Street, there is a white X that marks the spot where JFK was shot. Was Oswald a good enough marksman to have fired from the Sixth Floor of the Book Depository?

We will never find out what happened on that day but I have to admit that exploring all of this area is a really cool experience that makes you start thinking and perhaps doubting yourself and any preconceived opinions you had about JFK’s assassination.

Key Conspiracy Theories

Much evidence was obviously discovered at the Texas School Book Depository that lead the Commission report to believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was the guilty party in the assassination of JFK. Whether there is undisputed evidence that he was a sole accomplice, well that’s debatable and clearly what leads to a number of conspiracy theories that have developed over the last 50 years and likely will over the next 50.

The ‘single-bullet’ theory is one which has caused the most resistance to the verdict that Oswald was the sole accomplice. The Warren Commission reported that one of the three bullets fired passed through JFK’s neck and then through Governor John Connally’s chest, wrist before lodging in his thigh! Just imagining all of this in my opinion seems highly unlikely but I am certainly no forensic or ballistic expert.

A key figure in the evaluation of what actually took place was Abraham Zapruder because of his key evidence – the detailed frame by frame footage of JFK’s assassination that he captured using his personal camera (Bell & Howell Camera Model 414PD).

However, even this footage leads to further conspiracy theories as opposed to confirming any suspicions we may have. Was this footage modified before its release to the authorities? What do the still frame shots actually prove?

The fence that you see in the above picture is also a point of controversy in this investigation. Many witnesses report shots being fired from behind this fence, with smoke billowing above. It’s interesting to note that more than two dozen witnesses supported this claim that at least one shot was fired from in front of the presidential motorcade.

Why did the Warren Commission reject these claims? Was it purely because there was insufficient evidence to support this? Or perhaps yet another reason to support a conspiracy theory behind JFK’s assassination.

Summary

Heather is a huge JFK fan so it was no surprise to see that she was enamored by all of the information and evidence available throughout the Sixth Floor Museum. I arrived in Dallas from a more neutral perspective, probably thinking like many others that Oswald was the suspect that killed JFK. However, now I am not so sure.

Creating new conspiracy theories is never going to help anything aside from create more confusion. But one thing it does do, is create an environment that is a perfect spot for historical analysis.

What is your stand on this potentially controversial topic? Please comment below with your opinions as we always encourage debate!

Dallas CityPASS – Awesome Savings and Amazing Attractions

Texas

Chris Boothman

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Jul 9, 2015

29

Dallas CityPASS – Awesome Savings and Amazing Attractions

Welcome to the ‘Big D’, also known as the gorgeous city of Dallas, Texas! We headed to Dallas for the holiday weekend ready to explore the heart of this city and find out exactly why this is such a huge attraction for tourists from all around the world. Of course, what better way to experience Dallas, than by using our trusty friends at CityPASS who have yet again delivered an awesome package deal! Dallas CityPASS offers huge discounts, entrance to amazing attractions and to top all of this, an incredibly convenient service that you HAVE to try.

Using the CityPASS tickets is not our first rodeo (pardon the Texas pun there!), as we have encountered amazing experiences in Seattle, New York City and Houston. Added to this a plethora of other cities scattered across North America, and you have a great service that is continue to expand on a rapid basis.

What is CityPASS?

In a nutshell, CityPASS is a booklet of admission tickets to a number of top attractions around some of the biggest cities in USA (and Canada now with Toronto included!) Each city around North America offers something very unique and provides a perfect experience to leave visitors wanting so much more.

The identity of each city can be seen through the purchase of a CityPASS, not to mention the myriad of benefits on offer including the following:

Huge savings – the more attractions you visit, the more money you will save! You can save up to 50% on the city’s attractions!
Skip the ticket lines – no need to worry about the long lines anymore! Be treated like a VIP as you whisk your way to the front of the line.
CityPASS booklets are valid for 9 consecutive days after the first day of use. So there is no need to try and cram everything in one day or weekend.
CityPASS booklets can be purchased online or at a variety of locations within the host city!

Dallas CityPASS – What is included?

Dallas may be famous for being home to the Dallas Cowboys and authentic cuisine such as barbecue and Tex-Mex, but thanks to the CityPASS you are now able to experience some of the leading landmarks and attractions that make this city a great option for a getaway.

Here are the attractions that are included in the Dallas CityPASS experience:

Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Reunion Tower GeO-Deck
The Sixth Floor Museum
George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum or Dallas Zoo

Of course choosing between the two attractions where there are options is one of the toughest choices you will have to make! But don’t worry, the CityPASS booklet includes discounts to these options as well so you can experience all five attractions if you so desire.

I am going to share with you our experiences at the attractions we opted for. We visited all of these in two days which was definitely ample time, but you could quite easily enhance your experience by just visiting one per day dependent on your schedule.

The Sixth Floor Museum

Heather is a huge JFK fan, so as soon as she found out that The Sixth Floor Museum was included on the Dallas CityPASS experience, she made sure this was the first place we visited! This self-guided tour includes an audio experience that guides you through the history of JFK, from the moment he was elected the 35th President of the United States to his tragic death that took place outside the very location you are touring.

Standing inside the sixth floor of the book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly pulled the trigger on those fatal shots that struck JFK as he was passing through Dealey Plaza provides an incredibly poignant experience.

The recreation of the spot where Oswald shot JFK is a worthwhile experience, yet at the same time listening to the detailed commentary really makes you wonder about the truth of what actually happened?

Will we ever find out the ‘real’ truth to JFK’s assassination? Perhaps touring The Sixth Floor Museum will give you a better judgement to decide what you consider to be the truth behind this dark subject!

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

After a morning relaxing under the quiet ambience generated at the arboretum, we headed back downtown Dallas to explore the more upbeat and ‘hands-on’ experience at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This is the perfect spot for all the family to learn everything there is to know about the world we live in.

From an earthquake simulator experience, to watching a tornado form and generate a vortex, this is undoubtedly a hub of nature and science not to be missed. We have been fortunate to experience these types of museums in a number of other cities, and each one provides their own unique twist on the learning experience of science.

citypass dallas perot museum of nature and science

What better way for kids to learn lifelong theories and knowledge, than by getting involved with this great hands-on experience.

earthquake simulation perot museum of nature and science

The CityPASS also includes a free movie in the 3D Hoglund Foundation Theater, a National Geographic Experience. A number of seasonal movies are available, both short and long and we opted for the Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D show which was really cool and provided an insight into how these prehistoric creatures roamed the landscapes in Alaska.

Reunion Tower GeO-Deck

I LOVE skyscrapers and tall structures, so the moment I found out that Dallas’ very own Reunion Tower GeO-Deck was included in the CityPASS, I was pretty excited. We saved this experience for last and it was well worth the wait.

I will say that the hardest part was actually finding your way to the tower. We parked downtown in close proximity to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and The Sixth Floor Museum ($6 parking for all day is available directly behind the Spaghetti Warehouse and TGI Friday’s on N. Record St.) and we could see the Reunion Tower a short distance away. However, it took us a while to realize that you cross the railway lines, you have to head underground accessible through Union Station.

The short journey up the elevator took us to the observation deck and stunning 360 degree views of downtown Dallas and surrounding area (you can view up to 13 miles away).

The GeO-Deck provides a really cool interactive experience that is very different to other comparable towers and structures we have climbed. You can use the touch-screens to view, navigate and explore everything you see in front of your very eyes.

Head outside to really enhance your experience! The views overlooking Dallas are stunning and we were able to pinpoint a number of attractions we have experienced (of course noticing those on the Dallas CityPASS journey!)

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

*** UPDATED 2019 – This attraction is no longer included in the Dallas CityPASS but is still definitely an attraction worth experiencing while in the Dallas area***

Exploring a botanical garden and arboretum was really not something I considered to be an entertaining attraction, prior to visiting Dallas. However, how wrong could I be!! Spending a leisurely Saturday morning wandering around the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden certainly swayed my opinion and I would strongly encourage you to consider visiting this attraction when you next head to Dallas.

This is the ultimate attraction for nature lovers and I think this is the perfect spot to visit for relaxation because the moment you set foot inside the grounds, the vibrant colors and gorgeous aroma generated by the floral extravaganza will immediately give you positive vibes!

citypass dallas arboretum and botanical gardens

An array of gardens combined with a beautiful collection of man-made water features, including some pretty cool waterfalls and fountains, make the Dallas Arboretum a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or perhaps a fun-filled family picnic on one of the lawns overlooking nearby White Rock Lake.

Summary

Dallas CityPASS lived up to all the hype and expectations I had prior to visiting the Lone Star State. We experienced four amazing attractions and each provided a very different reflection on the city of Dallas. Whether you opt for these four, or consider the George W. Bush Presidential Museum and Dallas Zoo as options, there is enough here to warrant purchasing a Dallas CityPASS booklet.

I am delighted that CityPASS have continued to prove their worth as they continue to expand their portfolio of North American cities. Exploring any city for the first time can be an extremely daunting task when you have no idea where to start, and this is where CityPASS really benefits visitors as they pinpoint a city’s key landmarks and ‘must-see’ attractions.

We had a really awesome time exploring Dallas and I can’t wait to return in the near future to perhaps check out some of the off the beaten path locations. However, for now I am delighted to recommend the Dallas CityPASS ticket and hope you will be inspired to check this out for yourselves!

If you are interested in seeing more pictures from our experience with CityPASS in Dallas, check out our photo gallery here: Dallas, Texas.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank CityPASS for providing us with 2 Dallas CityPASS booklets for our trip. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Blogger Tips

Heather Boothman

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Jul 6, 2015

3

Discovering other bloggers is always a rewarding experience as you follow their journeys and discuss traveling through this impressive world. It is another thing for those bloggers to nominate you for awards. Jenni of Just Chasing Rabbits nominated me for the “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers” Award.

What an incredible impact to make a lasting impression on someone that understands the work that goes into making a Travel Blog successful.

What a great honor, to be recognized by your peers for doing what you love.

“Sisterhood of the World Bloggers” Award

What is the ‘Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award’? This is an award given by bloggers to fellow bloggers. It’s a way of networking, getting to know one another, and sending a little happiness and much-needed recognition to another blogger who deserves it!

Once nominated, you thank the blogger that nominated you and answer their 10 questions. Then, you pass along this award to 10 other bloggers you believe deserve it along with 10 questions of your own for them to answer.

Learn All About Me

Thanks Jenni for asking such great questions, I hope these answers will give you a little more insight into how I LOVE to travel!

1. How long have you considered yourself a “traveler”? I have been traveling since I was a little girl. However, learning the culture and traveling internationally I would probably say only the past couple years. I now ‘feel’ like a traveler because whenever we return home from a trip, I have a much better knowledge of the area and culture that I just experienced.

Long gone are the days of just relaxing on a beach (though of course who doesn’t love to do that!), traveling for me is now about heading out and exploring my surroundings. That’s what I classify as a well-versed traveler.

2. What is your funniest travel story? There are so many stories to choose from so I will go with the one that really stands out – the sweet tea experience! This has happened several times which makes it funny, though you would think I would get use to not having sweet tea when we travel away from the south in the states, but I don’t.

It started in New York and I asked for sweet tea and that was the longest 30 seconds of our waitress starting at me then Chris said we are in New York. (face palm) I thought everywhere sold sweet tea, then I realized that the majority of places don’t even have a clue what I am talking about! Ah well, the joys of southern living.

3. Why is travel important? I loved growing up in a small town in Arkansas called Cash. However, as I got older I felt a strong sense of wanting to explore and learn about all of the history that surrounded me. I was intrigued but I never thought about traveling for whatever reason.

I met Chris in 2008 and immediately realized that traveling was something we had in common and our journey began. I feel more educated about all the destinations around the world we have traveled to, and after initially only being able to read about them, now being able to actually see it with my own eyes is an incredible feeling.

Travel is the most rewarding experience you can have! Without doubt I would encourage EVERYONE to get out of their own back yard and explore this huge world we live in. Start from a young age and broaden your horizons – you won’t be disappointed.

4. What is the biggest lesson this world has taught you? To be open-minded! It’s not about what you hear and see through the eyes of the media. It’s about being present in a different dream that is someone’s everyday life and learning and understanding how different cultures perform their day to day lives.

5. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? That we are blind to all fear – people hate traveling because of some type of fear! For someone who never thought about traveling because they hate to fly, and for that person to be in Iceland seeing the Northern Lights or visiting the Blue Lagoon, when they never thought that was possible. This is the sort of inspiration I am striving for!

Overcoming your fears will allow you to experience so much more. Everywhere we look there is something to be fearful of, but living a life of fear will never allow you to truly enjoy your surroundings. I hope that as a ‘small town girl from Arkansas’, I can now inspire people to overcome their anxiety of traveling and enjoy as much of the world as I have done.

6. Couple or solo travel? Why? Couple for sure. I traveled solo a few times before Chris and I were together but sharing the journey with someone is the best part for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way, than the love of my life by my side as we travel through our life exploring the world.

7. What is one travel tip you’d tell to a fellow traveling sister (packing tip? safety tip?)? It is never what you expect, don’t have any preconceived notions about the place you are going. Be carefree but alert, get a early start to everyday, try local food always, have a blast!

8. What one destination could you visit again and again without ever tiring of it? Why? New York City, there is so much in the city and out of the city that you can explore. Every time we visit we always see something new.

9. What is the one item you can never leave home without? My camera! Each exposure is a lasting memory and something that we will always treasure.

10. How has blogging been rewarding for you? Inspiring others to branch out of their comfort zones and travel to the unknown is an amazing feeling. Being able to share all my experiences with my husband is truly the most rewarding aspect of traveling.

To share in writing for others to see exactly what it is like across the pond if they have never been or if they have been and our stories makes them remember stories from the past.

My Nominees

There are so many amazing travelers out there, so it was incredibly difficult to choose just 10 but here we go with my nominees!

Ashley from A Southern Gypsy
Hannah from Eat Sleep Breathe Travel
Cacinda From Points and Travel
Maggie from Mags On The Move
Roma from Roaming Required
Marissa from MAD Travel Diaries
Trupti from Exploring the Blue Marble
Andrea from Andrea on Vacation
Anda from Travel Notes and Beyond
Kate from Adventurous Kate

My Questions

1. What made you start a blog?
2. What is the best travel “hack” that works for you?
3. If you had no limitations, where would you go? Why?
4. Do you collect anything from your travels?
5. Favorite travel location and why?
6. One place that you haven’t been to yet but can’t wait to go?
7. Your flight is delayed what do you do with your extra time?
8. What are your top 10 must-haves?
9. If you could provide any advice on traveling what would you recommend?
10.What the best part of traveling for you?

Please send me a link to your answers when completed either in the comments below or on social media!

I hope you all enjoy the questions and thanks to Jenni for the nomination. Being chosen for an award is always awesome but having one just for us girls is pretty special.

The Mighty 5 National Parks – Plan a Trip Around Utah

Utah

Chris Boothman

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Jul 2, 2015

27

The Mighty 5 National Parks – Plan a Trip Around Utah

If you have never visited Utah, you really don’t know what you are missing! Referred to as the Beehive State, Utah is spoiled for choice when it comes to breathtaking scenery and memorable landscapes. Utah is famous for having the ‘Mighty 5 National Parks’ and after visiting three of them on our recent trip around the state, I am left awe-inspired and almost speechless as to the beauty that we experienced.

Based on our experiences and also thanks to some of our friends that have experienced the two national parks that we have yet to visit, we want to share an overview of Utah’s Mighty 5 and hopefully convince you that a trip to this part of the world is needed sooner rather than later.

Let’s take a look at each of the following national parks individually and see why each one is unique and may tempt you into exploring first:

Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Arches National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Canyonlands National Park

The map below shows an overview of Utah and shows exactly where each of these national parks are geographically located in relation to each other. You should be able to map out a pretty interesting road trip to explore one or more of these. We did exactly this on our recent trip to Utah taking in Zion, Bryce and Arches but there are many different routes you can take to see this beautiful state.

Our journey saw us explore Zion before staying in Cedar City and then heading east through the Dixie National Forest to Bryce Canyon. From there we headed north through what I would term ‘Utah’s wilderness’ until we reached I-70 and then we headed across to Arches which is close to the Colorado state line.

Zion National Park

If you are looking for a national park that oozes history, breathtaking views and challenging hikes, look no further than Utah’s oldest national park – Zion. Located in the south-west corner of the state, Zion offers visitors a number of options to explore, starting with the gorgeous scenic drive that we opted for after entering Zion from the east entrance.

Some of the key landmarks along this drive include Checkerboard Mesa and passing through the Zion Canyon tunnel which is a cool man-made experience.

The real beauty at Zion is accessed from the many hiking trails, either from the scenic drive route or from the private shuttle that transports visitors to a number of trailheads scattered around the park. Notable hikes include a viewpoint that overlooks the Great White Throne which is possibly the most popular and infamous of all landmarks throughout Zion.

Hiking the Narrows is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience and other significant attractions include Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools and the Courtyard of the Patriarchs.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Words alone may never do any of the national parks in Utah justice, but this is certainly true with Bryce Canyon. Prior to visiting here on our recent trip, I had little knowledge of this part of Utah and honestly had no real expectations.

However, I was truly blown away as soon as we arrived at Inspiration Point and gazed across the beautiful amphitheaters covered in geologic wonders.

If you know very little about Bryce Canyon, the first thing worth noting is the iconic ‘hoodoo’, or the towering spire that is scattered across the landscape. This geological phenomenon is an eye-catching landmark that really highlights the stunning views that you see from spots such as Inspiration and Bryce Point.

Throughout the climb from the foot of Bryce Canyon to the summit at Rainbow Point, there are numerous attractions that you won’t want to miss. Natural Bridge for example is a unique landmark not to be missed with visitors seeking the eye-catching view of the sunlight shining through the ‘natural archway’ portraying the gorgeous landscape in the background.

Bryce Canyon is definitely my favorite of all the Mighty 5 national parks. The scenery is just so so unique and different from anything you could ever imagine. Relaxing here at one of the various overlooks is certainly a worthwhile experience.

Arches National Park

Mind-blowing arches, vibrant red sandstone monoliths and a huge rock perched delicately on the edge of a towering stack. All of these attractions along with much more can only be found at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah.

Situated on the edge of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Arches attracts visitors from the around the world because of the stunning landscapes that are present here. Popular landmarks include Delicate Arch, the Windows section and a number of other daredevil hiking trails that lead to unforgettable views overlooking an almost untouched wilderness.

With over 2000 natural attractions including hoodoos similar to what you see at Bryce Canyon, arches like no other location in the world and an array of pinnacles that characterize this location, Arches National Park is a must visit for any travelers interested in unique phenomena.

Our journey around Utah’s national parks ended after we left Arches, but there are still two other gorgeous attractions out there worth exploring.

Are you convinced yet that Utah’s national parks will take your breath away? We are delighted to welcome a few of our fellow travel blogging friends who have visited Capitol Reef and Canyonlands, and they have kindly offered to provide their opinion on why you should experience these national parks.

There is nothing quite like hearing about first-hand experiences and we would like to thank both Jennifer Melroy and Jane Pelusey for contributing on Capitol Reef, and Lucy Dodsworth for her insight into Canyonlands National Park.

Capitol Reef National Park

Thanks to Jane Pelusey from Pelusey Photography on highlighting some of the key reasons why you should never forget Capitol Reef National Park when planning a road trip in Utah!

Capitol Reef is one of the Mighty five National Parks in Utah, but seems to be situated in the shadow of its grand siblings. Don’t let this fool you to leaving it off your itinerary. Capitol Reef is a mix of towering cliffs, monumental domes, ancient and modern history.

The tiny town of Torrey is the gateway to Capital Reef. The nature of the landscape means that whichever way you drive in, you are tantalized by dramatically changing rock formations.

From Arches, the drive is around and through the park itself. From Bryce Canyon, Highway 12 is a spectacular ever-changing road trip, so either option will provide a beautiful scenic route.

To get an overall impression of the area take the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, 25 miles in length, which encompasses the highlights such as Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Grand Wash is a short drive between towering smooth rock walls.

At the end car park, walk trailheads entice. The Grand Wash (2.25 miles one way) and Cassidy Arch (1.25 miles one way) wind their way through the towering sandstone walls along a stony creek bed.

After the grandeur of the first four Utah National Parks, we found we hadn’t allowed enough time in Capitol Reef. We were surprised by the different landscape and history. So next time we will allow a few more days to explore this fabulous park.

Ready to explore Capitol Reef? Need just a little more convincing? Don’t worry, we have another great contribution which I am sure will make you want to add Capitol Reef to your bucket list. Jennifer Melroy from Made All The Difference Travel Blog shares her thoughts.

I stopped at Capitol Reef National Park as part of my Utah national park roadtrip. Capitol is the least visited and most underrated of the Utah parks.My favorite hike was through Capitol Gorge. I loved hiking down the Gorge and imagining trying to drive my car through it. I am not sure my car would have made it, although the pictures from the 1930’s show it’s possible.

Another unique aspect of Capitol is the Fruita Settlement. Fruita was a small town in the park that was home to large fruit orchards. The orchards still remain and are open to the public for fruit picking.

Also, I loved eating fresh apple pie and peach pie that was available at the Fruita visitor center. The pies were made using apple and peaches from the Fruita orchards.

After my two days exploring this park, I feel sorry that it is in Utah. It is a park with a lot to offer that gets lost in the shadow of Zion, Bryce, Arches, and even Canyonlands. I can’t wait to return to pick more fruit and hike more of these amazing trails!

Canyonlands National Park

Lucy Dodsworth from ‘On the Luce travel blog’ shared her amazing encounter at Canyonlands and what better way to encourage folks to visit this part of Utah than by sharing her first hand experience.

Given that Canyonlands was one of the Mighty 5 we have yet to explore, we would like to thank Lucy for offering her opinions on why you should take time to check this out.

Utah’s biggest national park, Canyonlands takes your breath away in so many ways. It was the park I knew the least about and had the least expectations of, but it ended up being the most memorable. The park is amazingly diverse, with three main districts each with a totally different feel.

There’s the Needles and the Maze if you want to wild hike and rough it on the dirt roads in your 4WD. Or for an easier ride you can make the climb up to the Island in the Sky. The road wound its way slowly uphill until we emerged out onto a wide, flat plateau. Thousand-foot-high drops all the way around the edge made it really feel like we were on an island, floating way above the land below.

A road around the plateau rim takes you to a series of outlooks, where way below we looked down on tiny pinnacles, arches and gorges carved out by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Up close these can be 1000 feet tall but from way above you lose all perspective – it’s the closest you can get to feeling like a giant.

Summary

Utah is THE state to visit if you are looking for a plethora of natural attractions to explore. This place is inundated with gorgeous scenery, breathtaking viewpoints and challenging yet rewarding hiking trails. We were extremely fortunate to have time to explore Zion, Bryce and Arches, but after reading all of the great experiences from our fellow travelers, there is just as much beauty in Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks.

Consider purchasing the ‘America is Beautiful’ annual national park pass and this will not only save you A LOT of money, it will convince you to explore many more parks around the United States.

Which of these national parks intrigues you the most? Is it even possible to pick one of these over the other? Here is my recommendation – check out all of them! Organize a road trip that allows you to visit all of the Mighty 5 national parks, because I highly doubt you will leave disappointed.

An InLinkz Link-up

Driving Route 66 From Flagstaff, AZ to Kingman, AZ

Arizona

Chris Boothman

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Jun 29, 2015

7

Driving Route 66 From Flagstaff, AZ to Kingman, AZ

Imagine throwing your feet up on the dash, the sun beaming down on your red Corvette and listening to a little Bruce Springsteen on the radio. Perhaps I am reflecting here a little on an old movie that I have seen or maybe it’s just because we experienced a little reminiscing of our own, as we encountered what it feels like to be driving Route 66, probably the most famous highway around the United States.

During our epic road trip around Utah and Arizona, we headed through the Four Corners area of Colorado and New Mexico before heading back along I-40 from Gallup to Flagstaff. As soon as we reached Flagstaff, the attraction of exploring historic Route 66 was too much to resist so we embarked on a memorable journey along this stretch of road that has a plethora of history associated with it.

Join us as we hit Route 66 in Flagstaff and made our way along 147 miles of Arizona roadways before we arrived in Kingman.

Route 66 History

Historic Route 66 was established in 1926 and covered a total of 2,448 miles spanning across 8 different states. The fundamental components of Route 66 are still present to this day, but since the US Highway officially removed this from their listings in 1985 (after the construction of I-40 that runs parallel and even on the grounds of Route 66), it is no longer feasible to drive all the way from LA to Chicago on this historic route.

If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Listening to the lyrics of Nat King Cole’s ‘Route 66’ that dates back to 1946 really depicts the relationship that travelers had with this route. Even though today we are seeing the prevalence of I-40 through the states we covered (New Mexico and Arizona), it’s certainly nice to see the appreciation that visitors still have for Route 66.

Of course we are now seeing a huge tourist attraction being made of this route, but even this is helping local economies in towns such as Seligman, Williams and even the historic downtown part of Flagstaff.

Our Journey Through Arizona

The stereotypical journey of taking Route 66 all the way from LA to Chicago may seem a little daunting, but there is nothing at all wrong with dreaming. Of course, a more realistic target is to experience part of Route 66 wherever is convenient for you, and what better part to start than the stretch from Flagstaff to Kingman, Arizona.

As you drive along Route 66, you will notice on several occasions that the road ceases to exist. Why? Simple answer is I-40! The reality is that since the US Highway system no longer funded the maintenance of Route 66 since 1985, all the focus was switched to the interstate. However, it is still fun to try and figure out the best roads to take and how to stay on Route 66 as long as possible without touching I-40!

Flagstaff to Kingman is a really awesome part of Route 66, especially with many of the western towns (I am referring to the real country and western style saloons you all associate with John Wayne et al.) that are all decked out brandishing their true heritage and history in relation to Route 66 passing directly through the heart of their towns.

Before reading on, I urge you to close your eyes for a few seconds and contemplate the old western towns that I am sure you have all seen in the movies.

Here are the towns we visited along this historic highway and I will say that each one of these had a very unique feel and character that typifies the reputation of historic Route 66. Everything you imagine Route 66 to be like is portrayed through these iconic towns in Arizona.

1. Flagstaff

Much of the history surrounding Route 66 relates back to the city of Flagstaff dating back to 1857 when Lt. Edward Beale led a following through this region en route to California. Did you know that the initial route of what is now renowned as Route 66 was south towards Phoenix from Flagstaff? However, in 1921 an improved system led to the construction of the highway running from Chicago to Santa Monica along the infamous route.

The stereotypical Route 66 journey started for us in Flagstaff and what an awesome place to start! The old Santa Fe Plaza is a perfect spot to start your exploring of the old downtown district. As you look one way you can see many of the historic stores still maintaining their original look and feel, while modern day designs have merged perfectly into the landscape.

Turn around and you will be faced with the historic train station and 1897 depot, home of an old engine that typifies the railway system that was once prolific around the nation.

Downtown Flagstaff offers an awesome self-guided historic walking tour. You can collect a guide inside the visitor center located within the train station. The walking tour begins at the train station and leads visitors to a number of iconic locations, such as the Downtown Motel, DuBeau Motel among many other intriguing spots.

It’s so cool to just park your car (we found a free parking spot directly by the train station) and get out and walk.

A really cool wall mural depicting historic Flagstaff and Route 66 is a great focal point of the city, although this is located parallel to Route 66 on Phoenix Street.

Whether you spend a couple of hours walking around the self-guided tour, or choose to go ‘off the beaten path’ and check out some of the local bars and eateries, Flagstaff is a great location to begin your Route 66 journey.

2. Williams

As we moved away from Flagstaff along Route 66, our next stop really brought a sense of nostalgia to our trip as we visited Williams, Arizona. We immediately noticed a quiet town (or at least that’s what we thought!) with a few saloons and historic social clubs remaining along the street.

The Long Horn Saloon and Woo Tom Social Club are iconic representations here and really bring back the stereotype we all associate with this stretch of Route 66 from decades gone by.

Parking by the train station, we walked through one of the back alleys and found ourselves in the heart of a western style community. The old jail, Branding Iron restaurant, saloon and bar make this a pretty active part of the Williams community today, immediately changing our initial impression of the town.

I love how Williams have maintained such a historic, old-fashioned infrastructure throughout this part of the town.

As we moved away from the heart of the town along the main street, we noticed how Route 66 is really idolized with the neon lights and Coca-Cola soda fountains scattered along the storefronts.

3. Ash Fork

Even though the likes of Flagstaff and Williams are still booming communities, the movement away from Route 66 to the modern day I-40 interstate has had the reverse effect on towns like Ash Fork. As we left I-40 and headed for Ash Fork, we really noticed how derelict and rundown this town was. The community really looks to be struggling, but perhaps this is just the facade we see from the outside.

Ash Fork is the ‘flagstone’ capital of the world so will likely continue to be a prevalent force, but it’s certainly disappointing to see a town that appears to be so neglected. The images of the old antique and gift shop are a reflection on what we experienced as we passed through Ash Fork.

I hope that one day this town will be reignited and perhaps the more exposure that is given, the more people will take the time to explore the landscape surrounding this community.

4. Seligman

After the disappointment of Ash Fork, we headed onwards along Route 66 though yet again we were redirected along I-40 which honestly becomes a little annoying after a while as you efforts to stay along this historic route are in vein.

However, our exit for Seligman arrived sooner than expected and I have to say that everything about this town reinvigorated our desires to continue exploring Route 66.

If there is one town along this Arizona stretch of Route 66 that oozes nostalgia, class and maintains the gorgeous history that we associate with this iconic road, Seligman is certainly that town. Seligman has wholeheartedly embraced Route 66 and continued to portray the heritage through the infrastructure and overall look and feel of the town.

As we drove through Seligman, we couldn’t help but stop every couple of hundred yards to capture another shot of the vibrant colors that are stereotypical of Route 66. Whether it’s the rickety Aztec Motel or the colorful Romney Motel, there are a variety of accommodation options if you are looking for a spot to spend the night in real Route 66 fashion.

Our time in Seligman was just a passing visit but with memories stood outside the Route 66 Gift Shop and The Rusty Bolt, I could quite easily see us returning here to spend a little more time to embrace the history that is being preserved here.

I really enjoyed taking in the quirkiness and beauty presented in the architecture of the motels, restaurants and gift shops. If you are looking for a souvenir to remind you of your journey along Route 66, Seligman is a great place to find something that meets your needs.

5. Kingman

Our time along Route 66 ended as we arrived in Kingman as we headed towards Las Vegas rather than continuing along this historic stretch of road to California. Stereotypically known as the ‘Heart of Route 66’, Kingman is home to a museum devoted solely to the history of this route.

Although Kingman may now be a more popular destination for visitors traveling to nearby attractions such as the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, Route 66 will always have a proud home here and locals will continue to cherish the rich heritage that has developed over the years.

Historic downtown Kingman still maintains a rich representation of Route 66 in its heyday. Head over to Route 66 Ice Cream & Sweets for a delicious sweet treat, or maybe you prefer to just wander around the downtown area taking in the deep history that has prevailed here.

Summary

Route 66 is undoubtedly the most famous stretch of road not only across USA but also perhaps around the world. Anyone fortunate to drive this from Chicago to Los Angeles is in for a real treat, but I am delighted that we were able to experience this from Flagstaff, AZ to Kingman, AZ.

Throughout Arizona, many of the historic towns along Route 66 have continued to preserve their deep, cultural roots that date back to way before Route 66 was even constructed. Combine this with the iconography we all associate with Route 66 such as the old sports-cars, saloons spotted along the landscape and bright, neon lights and you have a magical stretch of road that you will all enjoy!

Driving Route 66 is a great memory that I will cherish forever and provided a perfect ending to our amazing trip around Utah and Arizona. A nice contrast from the geological wonders we explored throughout these states, this is a road trip not to be missed if you are visiting the Grand Canyon state!

Still not seen enough pictures of Route 66? Don’t worry – we have many more, so head on over to our photo gallery of the amazing Route 66 journey here – Route 66!

Arches National Park – Hiking Trails Not to be Missed

Utah

Chris Boothman

-

Jun 25, 2015

24

Arches National Park – Hiking Trails Not to be Missed

Ever since I saw pictures of the sunlight beaming through that solitary arch, I knew that this was a place we had to explore. The perplexing sight of those red rocks along with the iconic landmarks that identify this landscape are a sight to behold. Of course that solitary arch I am referring to is ‘Delicate Arch’ located in the breathtaking natural phenomenon that is Arches National Park.

Arches National Park hiking trails lead visitors to some of the most sought after iconic landmarks in this part of USA, including the infamous Windows section and of course Delicate Arch itself. Join us in finding out which trails we followed and why you should to!

Bryce Canyon to Arches National Park

During our recent road trip of Arizona and Utah, we made the long trek across the Beehive state to Moab so that we could experience the beauty throughout Arches. Our day started early as we left Cedar City, Utah and made our way to Bryce Canyon National Park.

What we didn’t realize was just how stunning Bryce was going to be, and this immediately put us behind schedule as our optimistic itinerary guided us to Arches on the same day as Bryce! If you have never visited Utah, you probably don’t realize the scope of this. It is a daunting and probably unrealistic task trying to see both Bryce and Arches in the same day, but given our time constraints we knew that we had to make it happen.

If you are planning on visiting Bryce Canyon like we did and then heading on to Arches National Park, the first thing worth noting is there is no easy way to navigate this trip. When you look at a map or have your GPS find the optimal route, you will soon find out that you are either backtracking towards Cedar City and St. George, or passing through an unknown wilderness for about 100 miles before reaching I-70.

As soon as you reach I-70, I would strongly recommend checking your gas levels because there are not many gas stations along this stretch of Utah’s barren landscape. However, this landscape may be barren in terms of gas stations but it makes up for it with natural beauty.

The journey from Bryce to Arches takes about 4 hours and we arrived in Moab just before 5:00PM. Fortunately we visited Arches at the end of May so had plenty of daylight left to explore.

Scenic Drive

In keeping with all other US national parks, Arches has an incredibly scenic drive that takes you through the heart of the park and offers a number of breathtaking viewpoints as well as entrances to the best hiking trails available. Even from the entrance of Arches National Park, you are greeted with a stunning view of Utah’s towering red rocks but the real entertainment begins when you enter the park.

After paying the $10 entrance fee (that’s right, it’s much cheaper than many of it’s counterparts across the state) you immediately climb through a number of switchbacks and drive deep into the heart of Arches. The time you have allocated to spend at Arches will likely determine what you can experience, but I will say that even in a short 3 hours we were able to capture a number of memories that will long live with us.

Our approach was pretty spontaneous to say the least, though I really wanted to catch a glimpse of the Windows section and Delicate Arch if time permitted. Many of the ‘short hikes’ are well within walking distance of the scenic route, so be prepared to jump in and out of your vehicle to capture the perfect shot of those iconic red rock structures that we associate with Arches.

Park Avenue

Visitors are well and truly welcomed to Arches National Park when they stop at the trailhead to Park Avenue. This short yet rewarding trail is home to a number of gorgeous monolithic structures such as The Three Gossips, the Courthouse Towers, the Organ and the Tower of Babel.

Driving by these breathtaking attractions is a magical experience on its own, but actually taking the time to make the short one mile hike to the bottom of the canyon will really enhance your time here.

Just like many of hikes around Arches National Park, Park Avenue trail is relatively simple with very little in terms of difficulty so I would highly recommend checking this out because after seeing this, you will be raring to go to see more of Arches natural beauties.

At the beginning of the trail when you look to the west, you will see the towering Courthouse Towers that line the edge of Park Avenue. The massive sandstone towers that provide this beautiful background rise to 600 ft in some cases, so these definitely stand out among a plethora of other natural attractions.

Balanced Rock

Do you ever find that when you are exploring natural attractions that you always come across a feature that is so ‘selfie-friendly’? Not sure if that is even a word but when you see ‘Balanced Rock’ you will know exactly what I mean.

Just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is renowned for people making sure the tower doesn’t fall over, Arches National Park has its very own iconic attraction and we both made sure this rock wasn’t going anywhere!

A cheesy shot for sure, but regardless of this Balanced Rock appears to be precariously hanging on top of the red rock structure. Will it fall? If it follows the same fate as it’s fellow structure that toppled in 1975, perfectly named ‘Chip Off the Old Block’ then perhaps trying to capture a selfie with this sooner rather than later should be your philosophy.

Don’t worry about this rock falling anytime soon though, as the park rangers are pretty confident that this huge rock won’t be moving anywhere as you take the short hike and stand directly underneath this structure.

The Windows Section

Along with Delicate Arch, the most popular attraction at Arches National Park is the gorgeous Windows section and this is certainly with good reason. Parking can be difficult at this location but we were fortunate to find a spot in the overflow parking lot and embarked on the short hike to marvel at this natural wonder.

The Windows section is essentially two arches formed in the same sandstone, the North and South Window both located directly next to each other. You don’t realize the size and scope of these ‘windows’ until you make the short hike to the entrance of each one.

The Windows Primitive Loop is a short 1.2 miles round trip from the parking lot and gives access to both window arches along with gorgeous views of topographical landscapes in the distance and other iconic geological features in the near vicinity.

The North Window is the easier of the two arches to access and it is the one you can see directly from the parking lot. However, only a short walk from here leads you to the base of the South Window and both provide really cool photo opportunities of their unique formations. Both of these arches are also referred to as ‘The Spectacles’ as from a distance you can see both windows and they appear to be in the formation of a pair of glasses.

Close to the Windows is another towering rock formation – Turret Arch. It may not receive the attention it deserves in comparison to the two Windows arches, but it is well worth taking some time to explore this and experience more of the natural beauty that Arches presents.

If you are standing at the Windows, turn around and take a look in the distance and you will see a pretty unique formation known as Double Arch. Regardless of the direction you look, I can guarantee you will enoy your time here.

This is one of the highlights from our trip to Arches National Park and I am glad that I convinced Heather to take the short hike to really experience the Windows, rather than bypassing a moment of natural beauty!

Delicate Arch

We saved the best until last…at least on our journey! Our final stop on our scenic tour of Arches was a parking lot close to Delicate Arch. This was the pinnacle spot on our trip to Arches and the one place we both wanted to see. Unfortunately the full hike to the arch was not possible given the time we arrived but instead we decided to take the short hike to the optimal viewing point that overlooked this iconic landmark from around a half mile away.

For those of you that are unaware of what Delicate Arch is all about, it is a 65ft natural arch that stands alone on the iconic Utah landscape. You don’t realize just how tall this arch is until you reach the end of the trail overlooking the arch, and I can only imagine what this looks like up close.

Visitors essentially have two options when deciding how close they want to get to Delicate Arch. As I indicated, our time constraints meant that we had to opt for the ‘easier’ of the two trails, commonly referred to as Delicate Arch Viewpoint. The trail is around a mile each way and offers relatively simple terrain with a slight incline at the end leading to the majestic overlook with the arch in the distance.

The beauty of Delicate Arch explains nothing, for each thing in it’s way, when true to it’s own character, is equally beautiful. (Edward Abbey)

For the more adventurous, the hiking trail known as Delicate Arch Trailhead with a 3 mile round trip leads you to the arch itself. This is not for the faint hearted with a number of spots along the trail offering open slickrock and exposure to heights. I definitely look forward to experiencing this trail when we next return to Arches National Park.

Back to our experience at the Viewpoint. Delicate Arch really is just as beautiful as its reputation. A solitary, perfectly carved arch stands alone yet offering visitors a moment of solitude away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Even from a distance this arch offers peace and I can only imagine the rewarding experience if you visit Delicate Arch just before sunrise.

Summary

What an experience!! Words really cannot explain the beauty within Arches National Park so I would just encourage you to head on over to Moab and check this out for yourselves.

I have shared four of the most rewarding hikes based on our experiences, yet when you arrive at Arches you will notice there are so many more to explore. Choose the trails that suit your fitness levels and landmarks you want to encounter. We didn’t even have time to continue through the scenic drive and explore Devil’s Garden, but this just one of many reasons why I can’t wait to return to Arches.

We are all incredibly fortunate to live in a world with such natural beauty and I just hope that this encourages you to explore one of the many natural wonders that is on our very doorstep. Visitors travel from all corners of the globe to experience Arches National Park and there is no doubt in my mind that everyone visiting here will leave with awe-inspired memories in their mind.

If you would like to see more images from our amazing trip to Arches, check out our photo gallery here: Arches National Park

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US National Park Annual Pass – Is It Worth It?

Travel Tips

Chris Boothman

-

Jun 22, 2015

43

US National Park Annual Pass – Is It Worth It?

Do you live in the United States? Are you planning an extravagant road trip around USA as a visitor? Do you love to experience breathtaking scenery? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, I would strongly encourage you to consider reading on as we are going to delve into the world of U.S National Parks and experience some of the awesome benefits of an annual pass that may interest you.

Specifically we are going to look at the US National Park annual pass known as a ‘America the Beautiful pass’ and after exploring some of the national parks scattered around USA, you will certainly understand why the term ‘beautiful’ is used to describe this country.

National Park History

Let’s start by taking a look at a little history into USA’s national park system and also put into context exactly what we are referring to here when discussing the number of protected areas around the country. There are currently 60 of these protected areas located throughout the nation, and they are known as national parks.

National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. (John F. Kennedy)

An act of Congress is required for a national park to be denoted in such a manner, and the history of national parks dates back to 1872 when President Ulysees Grant proclaimed Yellowstone as the first such park in the country.

Heather and I have been very fortunate to explore several of these national parks but of course, there are many more we would like to visit, and this is where the National Park Annual Pass comes in very handy!

What is the National Park Annual Pass?

According to the National Park Series website, the annual pass is your ticket to over 2,000 federal recreation sites. Not only do you gain access to the 60 designated national parks, you are only presented with the opportunity to experience different sites and landmarks around the country.

For only $80, you can experience all of these attractions for a full year from the date of purchase. We will take a look later at the real benefits of this pass and how there are a potential huge cost-savings, but when considering whether this pass is for you, it’s important to understand exactly how this pass works.

An annual pass covers unlimited entrances for one vehicle into all the designated national parks (and other attractions on the registry list), for a driver and all passengers in the vehicle.

Senior Passes, Military annual passes, and disability passes are also available, so if you fit the criteria of any of these, you should probably check these out before handing over $80.

Key Benefits

1. Cost Savings

Let’s take a look at the major benefit of purchasing a national park annual pass. The cost-savings are potentially astronomical, especially if you are planning on visiting many of the parks on the list within the same year. I can tell you that on our recent road trip to Utah and Arizona, we visited four national parks and immediately saw value for money in the annual pass.

Many of the ‘famous’ national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park are $25 for a vehicle entrance fee. That’s $75 just visiting these three which is feasible given their relatively close proximity to each other. We also added Arches National Park which was another $10 and immediately we had a good return on investment with our purchase.

You have to figure out exactly how much you intend on using the pass. Do some research on the costs of each of the national parks you plan on visiting. Are you just passing through these national parks in one day? Are you going to stay for a longer period of time? Although many of these national parks are geographically close to each other, the vast area that these landscapes cover make it difficult to see everything you want to.

Without a doubt, an America is Beautiful annual pass is a DEFINITE cost-savings if you plan on visiting multiple national parks within a year or purchase. Even if you are not intending on traveling to other parks, after purchasing this pass you will be encouraged to do so. It’s not a bad problem to have, trying to figure out how and when to explore these areas of stunning natural beauty!

2. Ease of Use and Flexibility

All passes can be purchased at the entrance to most national parks. We purchased ours at the Grand Canyon South Rim and it was a really seamless process. You can also find information on the National Park Service website for details about purchasing online or over the phone.

After purchasing the ‘America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass’, visitors will be provided with a membership card, parking decal, and information regarding the annual pass.

One of the key benefits of this pass that is frequently missed is the ability to have two co-signers. This allows two different pass holders access and the co-owners do not have to be related. This flexibility can prove to be really beneficial if you have travelers within your family and perhaps one pass will be sufficient for two families if your timing is right.

Each time you use this pass, ensure you have a valid photo ID such as your passport or drivers license because this will be required whenever you attempt to enter a national park. Simply hand over your annual pass with your ID to the park ranger and you should be on your way within a few seconds! Our experiences at the entrances were always excellent with the park rangers being extremely friendly and helpful.

3. Enhance Your Wanderlust

Why not take advantage of the national park annual pass to enhance your wanderlust? We have quickly become experts (or should I say seasoned pros!) in weekend travel, so what better way to spend your next weekend getaway than by exploring a national park that is close to you.

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. (Sir. John Lubbock)

National parks offer stunning scenery, gateways to breathtaking beauty and potential sightings of your favorite wildlife. All of this plus it’s an awesome way to get outdoors and away from that 8-5 lifestyle in front of a computer. Hiking some of the trails at the Grand Canyon or even taking a scenic drive through the Zion Canyon tunnel is enough to warrant spending $80.

One thing is for sure…once you have seen some of the natural beauty offered around the national park system, you will want so much more! And with the national park annual pass, you have nothing to lose.

I don’t think Heather or I needed this extra incentive to travel and explore, but with such great value and such a myriad of parks yet to visit, this just adds to our wanderlust! Are you ready to head out and explore the national park system with us?

Map of US National Parks

I thought it may be beneficial to provide you with a full listing of the 59 US national parks, so that you can begin plotting your routes to explore all of these (plus it will prove to be a great reference point for us as we continue to reap the benefits of our national park annual pass).

This list is updated as of 2015, so will likely change in the future as more national parks are designated as such. This is a pretty handy guide to carry around with you to ensure you don’t miss any national parks on your travels around the USA.

Here is also an interactive map of all the US national parks, those highlighted in blue are the national parks we have currently visited!

[show-map id=’5′]

Summary

Let’s summarize by answering the question of the title…Is the $80 US national park annual pass worth it? OF COURSE, IT IS! There is no doubt in my mind that all of the positives far outweigh any drawbacks (I can’t think of any apart from possibly the initial outlay of $80) so you have to purchase this annual pass if you are considering visiting national parks.

Exploring USA would not be the same without taking a trip to see Bryce Canyon or the gorgeous Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Whether you are a waterfall aficionado or love to hike the tallest mountains around the nation, ‘America the Beautiful’ is waiting for you, so don’t think twice about purchasing the annual pass that will give you access to all of this and more!

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