junior ranger – Brightside Nomads

Lifestyle

From South Dakota to East Jordan…The Final Miles

By PapaWanderer April 19, 2019

Mount Rushmore

It’s been an amazing journey as we’ve navigated the length and breadth of these beautiful United States. But as with all things, there has to be an end. Our end is coming soon, but we have a couple of stops left before we make the final push back to our home. After leaving Colorado we headed northeast to visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Both Katie and I have visited before but we thought it would be a nice final spot for the kids. The area has all the history of Mt Rushmore and the gold rush but also plenty of touristy fun.

We spent twos days in the Black Hills taking in a little history and having some fun in town. Mount Rushmore is a cool stop. It’s very popular and crowded but learning the history of why and how it was created is fascinating. Seeing the big heads of the presidents is cool and you really get a sense of their sheer size while your there. It’s also amazing to think that they carved 90% of the faces using dynamite to blow away the surface rock. We had a fun day at the park and then headed to town for some food. We found a surprisingly great Indian restaurant and had a wonderful dinner to cap off our day.

The next day we stayed around town and took in some of the local flavor. One awesome place we found was the Rushmore Tramway Adventures park. The park offered one of the coolest ropes courses I’ve seen and an Alpine Slide!! Katie and the girls decided to go on the ropes course. Colette had been asking to do a ropes course for about 4 months so this was a special treat for her. Lennox and I went on the Alpine Slide and had a blast luging down the mountain and feeling the G’s as we sped much too fast around the corners. The day was awesome and we all had a great time. If you embrace the complete tourist trap this area is you can have a great time. The next day we were off to make the two-day journey to Chicago and an impromptu family get together before making the push home.

It’s Waiting for You…Wall Drug

No trip across the country would be complete without passing (and stopping) at Wall Drug. The curious roadside attraction has been going strong for decades and offers ridiculous attractions and curios for everyone in your family. There’s not much to see when traveling through the plains so it can be a welcome pitstop for bored children and weary parents. I’ve passed by this place many times on my travels across the country but never really stopped. We decided to stop and explore for a bit as we made our way back to the REAL world. We had a blast. The place is full of western nostalgia, boardwalk games, and cookie signs. It seemed like there was something new and curious around every corner. Please note that there are innumerable small items for sale that your children will want. They are strategically located close to the floor and in every nook and cranny. My prediction is you will not be able to leave empty handed…and that’s ok. A little piece of Americana can go a long way to making an enjoyable trip across the country.

The McLeod’s in Chicago

This was a short but sweet couple days in Chicago. We stayed with my older brother and his family so the kids were able to spend some quality time with their two cousins. We arrived late on Friday, and on Saturday we had a BBQ planned with my other brother who also lives in the Chicago area and my folks who came in from Michigan. We had a wonderful time together, as we always do, but it was much too quick. In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday and we had to pack up our car for the final drive home. We said our happy and tearful farewells and headed east for northern Michigan and the house we left behind. I would have said “our home” a year ago but one of the most profound things you realize when traveling for this long is that home is always with you as long as you have your loved ones close at hand. Next stop…The Epilogue…

Adventure

What’s Hot, Red, and Full of Rocks…Moab!!

By PapaWanderer August 5, 2018

Desert Playground – Moab

So after spending the last three weeks in 100+ temps, we thought it would be a good idea to stop at one more hot spot; Moab, Utah. We actually don’t mind the heat and have learned to make the most of our days early. I spent a bit of time in Moab during my college years. Mainly we came here to mountain bike, as it’s one of the best places in the US to do so. This time we had no mountain biking plans and hiking was the activity of choice. There is no shortage of options for outdoor hiking in and around Moab. There’s Canyonlands National Park, Arches National park and more public terrain than you can imagine. We decided, for our short trip, that Arches National Park was the best choice. It’s compact, offers a great variety of shorter family hikes and is absolutely incredible to explore.

Arches National Park – Day 1

On our first of three trips to the park, we decided on some shorter hikes and a drive around the large loop. We first hit up Double Arch. A short hike and a cool double arch that rose 80 feet above our heads. The terrain also offered some bouldering that our kids love. It’s pretty spectacular that you can get this close to these wonderous formations.

Next, we basically crossed the road to The Windows Arch and Turret Arch formations. The Windows are two arches in close proximity. You can go walk up underneath them and look out on the crazy arches landscape and mountains in the distance. If you take a vantage point a little further away you can see both arches at once and the formation almost looks like some kind of troll faced pair of glasses. Turret Arch stands directly across from The Windows. The Turret formation vaguely resembles a castle with a spire, hence the name. The whole loop is about a half mile. Easy for even the crankiest of kids. The loop provided ample opportunity for great photos and rock climbing for the kids. If you go in summer be prepared for some serious crowds and head out early to beat the heat. After taking in these first few arches, we decided to drive the 18-mile loop. You can see some amazing sites from your car along this drive. There are also dozens of pull outs so you can jump out and snap some epic pics. There are large towers, soaring rock fins, petrified sand dunes, bloody red and white chimneys, and of course arches. This is a great drive to take when the heat of the day starts pounding. This was a great first day in the park for us. We headed back to our hotel for some late day swimming and sampling some of the eateries Moab has on display.

The Arches loop drive.

Arches National Park – Day 2

Day 2 we decided to take a larger hike to one of the most iconic arches in the park; Delicate Arch. This hike is fairly moderate, but can become harder as the heat increases. You get to hike a big slick rock formation and through a small wash canyon on your way up. It’s a three mile round trip with almost 500 feet of elevation. The reward at the end is worth it. (even with a couple of cranking kids) I have seen the pics of the arch in magazines but they don’t prepare you for its real-life presence. The arch is big, I’d say maybe 70-80 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It’s stunning. The end of the hike could be a bit challenging if you have a fear of heights as you walk a narrow ledge around to the arch. It’s really not that bad if you don’t let your head get in the way. We took some great pictures and Colette ventured out to the arch itself for a little one on one. Even little Lennox liked the hike once he got to the top. The hike is crowded so be prepared for a lot of people on the trail and taking pics at the arch. The three mile hike ended back at the parking lot where there’s a short hike to some petroglyphs. The display is on the smaller side but no less impressive. We love to walk in the path of history and to know that Native Americans roamed this land and left their marks hundreds of years ago is always super cool.

We visited one more site this day; Balanced Rock. As the name suggests, this is a huge boulder balanced a hundred feet up on a small pillar of rock. The hike is super short and you can walk around the rock in under 15 min. It’s a great formation for the sheer audacity of its appearance. The kids climbed and bopped around as Katie and I speculated as to where it will fall when it tumbles. And tumble it will. Even though this park is all made of hard rock, from a geological perspective it’s very active and changing. The arches and balanced rocks won’t last forever. The rangers say that this park and the formations it contains are just the blink of an eye in the span of geologic history. The good news is that we probably have thousands of years before this alien landscape disappears.

Arches National Park – Day 3

On our last day in the park, we choose to go and see Landscape Arch. This is another iconic arch in the park and a short hike. This is the longest and highest arch in the park. The span is a couple hundred feet in the air and is almost the length of a football field. By this time I think the kids had enough arches. Katie and I really enjoyed this short hike and we got to see a couple of other small arches along the way.

We left the park and headed to our next destination. Another homecoming for me, as we were headed to Colorado high country. There awaited my alma mater (Western State Colorado University) and some of the most epic snowboarding I’ve ever ridden. Onwards to Gunnison and Crested Butte.

Adventure

Yellowstone – Part 2 Lightning crashing and Colors colliding

By mamawanderer July 10, 2018

Yellowstone continued….

Day 4 – Norris Geyser Basin – Caught in the storm

Today was our day to explore the Norris Geyser Basin. Although it was sprinkling when we set off, we all had our raincoats and were ready for anything. There is so much to see here and we were not going to let the weather get in the way of any of it. The reward of bad weather in nature is usually abundant beauty which was definitely the case here. The misty grey cloud filled air enveloped the geysers and brought their milky colors to light. It was a breathtaking scene.

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The most fascinating part of the hot springs to me are the colors they produce. Streams of color spill along the flowing water and both the colors and patterns are ever changing. It is mesmerizing.

After walking the short loop around the geysers we came to Steamboat Geyser. This geyser has been in the news as of late because, after being dormant for 4 years, in 2018 it’s already erupted 11 times. This is considered a big change and when you are located on a supervolcano any significant pattern shift is cause for exploration. Of course, we were hoping to see this geyser in action but weren’t that lucky. It did erupt the day we arrived and the day after we left and we saw some steam and bubbling action from it which was cool. At Steamboat, we took a family vote whether to continue our trek of the 1.5 mile lower loop or head back. Although the rain was picking up the vote was to take the hike. It wasn’t long before it started to downpour, but long enough that turning back wasn’t an option either. Soon above us it started roaring, thunder and flashes of lightning lit the sky. We knew being surrounded by a basin of water wasn’t the best place to be during a thunderstorm so we quickened the pace and as the storm intensified started running. Colette was terrified, as in so scared she thought she was going to die. Meanwhile Sienna was skipping along loving the rain. We made it back and between laughs and tears and extremely wet clothes we will never forget our hike around the Norris Geyser.

As we exited the park we drove out of the thunderstorm, into the sunshine and saw this giant bison walking along the road. We went to dinner and the meat eaters had some pig fired sausage. After dinner, we walked out to hail! The weather is crazy here, quick changes and you should be prepared for a little bit of everything.

Day 5 – Bubbling Mud Holes

These mud holes are so cool to watch. Depending on how much water there is makes them more or less thick. It is amazing to watch this thick liquid bubble and pop.

Day 6

Our last day in Yellowstone and my birthday. Such a great place to spend it. We decided to rise early in an attempt to catch the animals and with the cold temperatures, our first animal encounters were frosty bison. The light, fog, and crisp air made for a very picturesque morning. Our travels were even delayed by a herd of bison meandering in the road. When we arrived at the Hayden Valley where we anticipated seeing animals it was totally covered by a thick blanket of fog so we shifted plans and made our way to the falls.

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Upper Yellowstone Falls

The falls were beautiful on this frosty morning. We only stayed a few minutes as the kids were complaining about how cold they were so early in the morning. You can hike down to the lower falls which would be amazing but we saved that experience for next time. On a side note, Matt saw a huge grizzly run out into the road and then quickly scurry back into the woods. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch much except maybe a little bear booty.

Yellowstone Lake

We drove the entire lower loop which brought us by Yellowstone Lake, a magnificent site. The blue water was calm with still morning air and the snow-covered mountains stood majestically in the background.

Wildlife sightings…. a swan, blue heron, elk and ice faces

Grand Prismatic

This was the granddaddy of Yellowstone for me. We hiked to the overlook to start our exploration of this hot spring and looking down I was in awe of the size, many colors and sheer beauty of this hot spring. After our hike to the overlook, we traveled to eye level where you can view the beautiful intricacies of this spectacular natural work of art. Amazing.

From above

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On the boardwalk – the Grand Prismatic, Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool and Opal Pool

Overall, our Yellowstone experience was far more incredible than I think any of us anticipated. I would return in a heartbeat. There is unlimited exploring to do here, such a vast stretch of land filled with amazing natural wonders and wildlife. Truly a highlight of our National Parks in the United States.

Adventure

Roaring Ocean and Giant Trees – Northern California

By mamawanderer June 4, 2018

Redwood National Park

California is a huge state and we had a long drive North after leaving San Francisco to our next stop in Northern Cali. The drive was beautiful, through mountains and valleys, and amongst ocean views and giant trees. We arrived at our Airbnb nestled on top of a little mountain with the steepest driveway I have ever seen. From the house, we could look down on the tiny town of 350 people, Orick, California. It was perfect! For the next few days, we explored some of the most beautiful forests in existence. We hiked amongst the largest trees in the world, the Coastal Redwoods. The forests here breath life straight into your soul while making you feel like a mere pebble on the surface of the earth. Your eyes can wander up to space typically filled with clouds and see deep red veined bark and green boughs gently swaying. Walking among these monsters is so unexplainable and unearthly you must experience it for yourself but here are some photos to try to give some perspective on the wonders of the forest.

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Fern Canyon

We ventured off to Fern Canyon for a hike and getting there was half the adventure. I’m not a very experienced off-road traveler and although there was a “road” it was a good thing we had our big vehicle to navigate through the rough terrain. There has been lots of rain here so we had to drive through a fair amount of water, bump over potholes, through a river, and rumble along the gravel road. The ocean’s foam tipped wavey surface stretched off into the horizon on one side and Elk grazed casually on the other, both were pretty spectacular. We started our hike at Fern Canyon tiptoeing around trying to avoid the water but soon realized we were all in and the only navigable path was to jump in the water. The kids were soon knee-deep and having a blast. The vegetation around us was almost a glowing green as the sunlight illuminated the canyon. It felt like you were in Jurassic Park, and in fact, one of the movies was filmed here. This hike ranks high on the list for beauty and adventure and the rush of spring water made it even more exhilarating.

Agate Beach

We started looking for agates even though we don’t know exactly what we’re looking for. The ocean was spectacular on this spring day and we enjoyed searching for stones and sea creatures. We still don’t know if we found any agates, most likely not, but we had a great walk on the sandy shore.

Elk

It was amazing to see elk grazing in the grass so close to the road. Each day they seemed to wander to a new spot, sometimes right by a local house. There are many road signs showing elk attacking humans and the bodily harm they can cause which, although serious, was so absurd it made us laugh.

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Paul Bunyan and the Trees of Mystery

When Paul Bunyan and Big Blue are 50 feet tall you must stop for the photo op. Of course, we checked out the Trees of Mystery which had some interesting things to see and the best part was the sky ride to a beautiful overlook. Well, that was the best part for everyone except for Sienna. She is a bit afraid of heights and once at the top decide she would hike down the “extreme trail” instead of board the sky ride again. Thankfully Matt volunteered to join her on the hike which ended up being super steep and hardcore. They were troopers for sure. After we stopped at the drive-through tree which was a bit tight for my comfort in our oversized car but we made it!

Ocean Power

The ocean in this part of California is no joke. The wind whips, waves roar and it would eat you up if you let it. It gives you perspective on all those who brave these waters and the elements. What an amazing land to walk along.

Final hike and scenic drive through the most magnificent grove of Coastal Redwoods

The kids completed another Junior Ranger Program and we bid farewell to these majestic trees. It still blows my mind some of these trees are thousands of years old. Imagine what has walked among them and the earth’s changes they have experienced, resilient creatures they are. It is also sad to note that 95 out of every 100 of these magnificent trees were logged in the past. We are lucky to have the National Parks to preserve and protect these wonders so our future generations can experience their grandeur.

Cool Places

The Mighty Yosemite Valley

By PapaWanderer May 9, 2018

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir

Five Days in the Yosemite Valley

Much like in Joshua Tree, words fail me when trying to describe our experience here in Yosemite. Yosemite National Park is an incredible place. We came into the park through the South entrance, which is a beautiful drive. The road in is very curvy and slow but somehow driving high in the mountains at sunset makes it all worthwhile. The most spectacular part of this drive is exiting the tunnel into the Yosemite Valley. You are greeted by a humbling vista of the whole valley, El Capitan standing regally, guarding over the valley floor, Bridalveil falls flowing unending into the forest below and the Merced River winding like a silver snake towards the towering edifice of Half Dome in the distance. The might Yosemite Falls showering the valley floor from thousands of feet above. And this was just what we could see from the very first pull out after the tunnel exit. We spent the next week learning about the history of this park, hiking into nature to get up close and personal with these majestic landmarks, and just being happy to be alive and able to enjoy this paradise on earth. Sienna got to spend her birthday in Yosemite. (Lucky for anyone let alone an 8 year old!) She is so full of life and has no fear. The raw beauty of Yosemite matched her soul’s intensity perfectly. Lennox, Sienna, and Colette got to be sworn in as Junior Rangers and Katie and I both hope a little of the magic of this place carries with them as they grow. We hope that the images we captured share a tiny bit of the majesty of the Yosemite Valley and serve to inspire any who see them continue to support and steward these national treasures.

Winter in the Valley

Yosemite Falls and Bobcats!

From the Valley Floor with a Birthday Girl

Mirror Lake

Ranger Hike, Junior Ranger, and More Bobcat!

Bridalveil Falls

Sunsetting on our Trip to the Valley

Cool Places

We Have Definitely Found What We’re Looking For!!

By PapaWanderer April 30, 2018

BEHOLD!!!! Joshua Tree National Park

This place defies explanation. I’m going to give a brief synopsis of our visit, but I think the pictures that follow will tell the story much better. We camped for five days in this beautiful park. We knew we would have a special time when we got incredibly lucky and found an epic camping spot in the extremely coveted Hidden Valley campground. Rocks loomed all around our tent and they were formed in such a way that the kids could climb all around and really get hands-on with the rocks around us. Hidden Valley is a rock climbers paradise and the kids were amazed to see all the climbers high overhead scrambling up the massive rock faces. We did a ton of hiking and saw many of the parks major sights. The weather was glorious!! 80+ during the day and mid 50’s at night. We explored, cooked our camp meals and had one of the best adventures of our lives. The kids also completed a wonderful junior ranger program. If you get a chance to visit this park, run!! don’t walk to your car and get at it. For a treat, before we headed to the LA area, we spent a night in Palm Springs. The temperature was in the mid 90’s, we played in the pool, got much needed showers, and walked the streets of this hip destination. Next stop…la la land.

Hidden Valley Campground

Cholla Garden

Skull Rock and other Rocky Fun

Mountain Tops, Old Mines, and Joshua Trees

Bushwackin!

Joshua Tree City and Palm Springs

Adventure

New Adventures in the Old Southwest – Bisbee, AZ

By mamawanderer April 24, 2018

For the most part, our Airbnb’s on this trip have been great. We have stayed in a range of places from good to amazing and this was our first strike out! I know, as much as we tried to like it, it just wasn’t happening. The place was cave-like, not super clean and just really dingy. It was livable and always good for all of us to experience the not so perfect side of the world so we stuck it out but it didn’t create the best atmosphere for enjoying this quirky Southern Arizona town of Bisbee.

A Glimpse of Bisbee

Copper Mines

Bisbee sits in the mountains surrounding the Queen Mine where massive amounts of copper were mined. The mine is closed now but the pit remains and it is so enormous you can’t even see to the bottom from most vantage points. The town is very eclectic and it’s hard to tell the hipsters from the people who have lived this fad their entire life. Needless to say, it’s a cool place to visit despite being way off the beaten path.

Queen Mine Tour

A journey back in time and 2000 feet into the deep recesses of the earth. That’s how Matt and the girls spent their morning, exploring the old Queen mine. Lennox was too young to go so this was a daddy/daughter excursion. Colette and Sienna were both a bit nervous to go into the cave. After having watched Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom, I think they had a screwed up perspective of the “mine ride”. The actual tour was fantastic. Our guide played the tour like everyone was a new miner coming to work. He went over everything from safety, explosives, transportation, and ways to find the ore itself. They saw drilling tools, a mine elevator and even a bike modified to ride on the mine rails. A very fun way to spend a couple of hours and if you find yourself in this neck of the woods, definitely stop by. The kids really enjoyed riding the little train into the mine but I think for them the most fun part was picking out some dollar rocks from the gift shop!

Devil’s Claw Wash

We were lucky to visit Aunt Suzie and Uncle Jeff while in Arizona and even luckier to go on a great hike with our trekking guide Aunt Susie and her dog Bonita. Bonita was not so lucky as 8 devil’s claws (the biggest, gnarliest burrs I’ve ever seen) stuck to her fur. We hiked along a wash which was relatively dry and the kids loved the challenge of navigating through water and uncharted land. It was a lot of fun. Uncle Jeff didn’t join us because he was cooking a delicious meal which we all enjoyed following our hike. It is always great to meet up with family on the road and we really enjoyed our time together.

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Tombstone

Just a half hour drive from Bisbee is what my kids have deemed the “OLD OLD WEST” I guess it makes sense, if it was the Old West to me it must be the really old west to them. Yes, Tombstone is a real town, and it was the center of cowboy fighting, saloon swinging ruckus for quite some time. I never watched many old westerns but Matt did and he knows all the characters from Doc Holiday to Billy the Kid who roamed the streets of Tombstone. It’s a tourist destination for sure but we bought into the stagecoaches, saloons, old time photos and ice cream shops creating our own Western adventure.

Chiricahua National Monument

On our last day in Arizona before heading west to California we debated if we should make the 2-hour drive to Chiricahua National Monument. We decided to go for it and we’re so thankful we did. After driving miles and miles through flat barren desert land we came upon some trees, wound through some mountains and were faced with enormous rock formations. The rocks seem to be stacked and balanced on top of each other as far as the eye can see. Looking out at the formations is spectacular but we were lucky to find a hike which wound us down through the rocks and ended at a grotto we could climb into and explore. Climbing within the balanced rocks was even more thrilling than being surrounded by them. We have found whenever a hike involves scaling giant rocks the kids love it, and we do too, it was a great hike. The day was extremely windy which made for some interesting moments but thankfully our only windblown loss was a Junior Ranger book.

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Adventure

Under the Tucson Sun…

By PapaWanderer April 3, 2018

Cactus Casita

Our week in Tucson started on a positive note with the arrival at our home. It was a beautiful casita tucked away from the residential neighborhoods with a stunning view of Mt Lemon in the backyard. Plenty of cacti and desert wildlife to keep us all happy. One nice thing about having a house with space is that we can fully unload the car and get ourselves resituated again. We unloaded, got settled and looked forward to our adventures in the week to come.

Museum of the Desert

We always love to see family and friends on our journey. While in Tucson we got to see Katie’s aunt and uncle, Holly and Steve. As an added bonus we got to see Aunt Phyllis and her friend. All of them were down visiting from the midwest, so it was fortuitous that we were all there at the same time. We decided to meet and go see the Sonoran Desert Museum. What an incredible place. The museum is mostly outdoors and is right smack dab in the middle of Saguaro-ville. We got to see and learn about plenty of cacti, animals of the desert and other flora. The highlight of the day was a live presentation on birds of prey. We saw owls, raptors, and hawks flying all around us. These birds flew so close to my head that I think a wing beat hit me! It’s an exhilarating experience to see and feel these amazing birds fly around you. The trainers and staff were great, showing extreme care for the animals and controlling the audience. After the show, we spent the rest of the morning wandering the grounds. This museum has a hummingbird exhibit that you walk inside of with over 30 hummingbirds flying around you. So cool to watch these birds hover inches in front of your face then go 0-100 in the blink of an eye. If you’re in the Tucson area, this is a great day trip.

Sabino Canyon

Close to our house was a popular attraction known as Sabino Canyon. This canyon snakes up the foothills of Mt. Lemon and offers stunning scenery and some fun water activities. We didn’t realize that this location was on national land under BLM control. So even though it was not a national park, it was covered under their umbrella so to speak. This means that the kids could become Junior Rangers! They have a great JR program that revolves around a nice half-mile nature trail with great exhibit signs and a wonderful booklet to follow. The whole things take about an hour and both the kids and Katie and I learned a ton about the desert flora and fauna. Once done we made our way to the canyon tour. The way Sabino canyon works is that you ride a tram up 9 stops over the course of almost 4 miles. The drive up parallels a stream for most of the way. The driver narrates on the way up giving little tidbits of knowledge about the canyon and area. You can get off at any stop and walk down or up. On the way up the driver pointed out a cool place on the river where people can swim and relax on some big rocks. This was our stop, so we got off the tram, hiked down into the canyon and found an awesome spot on the river with big flat rocks and a waterfall! We had a nice picnic lunch in the hot sun and splashed around. Afterward, we walked down several stops and took in the majestic sites of the canyon.

Bio-Dome err… Biosphere 2

Hahaha Biodome, a cult classic and not a very good one at that. That movie represents a time in the 80’s when Brendan Fraser and Pauly Shore were at their zenith for bad slapstick comedy. Right buu-uuu-uuu-dy. When I found out the inspiration for that film was Biosphere 2, I knew I had to jump at the chance to visit. It’s important to note that no part of the movie was filmed at this location. For a brief moment, I was sad that none of my prepackaged, stale 80’s jokes referencing the movie would be given life. Now that we have that out of the way, the actual biosphere is a really cool experience. Eight people, only two of which were scientists, spent two years locked in this place with only the sustenance they created themselves to survive. The biosphere is a representation of earth so there are several different habitats under the dome. The desert, the ocean, the rainforest, and savannah are just a few of the replicated habitats. The tour takes you through most of these areas and also gives you a bit of a, behind the scenes, look at the machinery that supports the experience. Oh, I forgot to mention that this is still a working experiment. Even though people aren’t locked inside anymore, tons of science is being undertaken to see how life reacts to various environments. This science will serve as the unpinning of our exploration of earth and into the stars. Such a powerful hands-on lab. Colette, Sienna, and even Lennox picked up some great knowledge from the visit. They asked lots of questions afterward and showed us that they picked up a glimpse of the bigger world around them. A win for mom and dad!

The End was Near – Titan II Missle Silo

Having grown up in the 80’s I did experience the cold war in a childish sort of way. Movies like Red Dawn, The Day After, Spies Like Us, and Firefox color my perspective of that time. Just outside of Tucson is a very real reminder of the danger of that time. Buried deep in the desert earth protected by alarms, barbwire fences and armed guards sits a 100′ tall missile that could have leveled an area 17 miles in diameter. The Titan Missle Museum is a tour through the underground complex that housed the missile and the soldiers that held the fate of the world in their hands. The tour is about an hour and takes you to the control room and the silo itself. The decommissioned missile still sits in the silo so you can get a real feel for the size of this WMD. The girls got a lot out of this experience, more the wow factor I think. The history kinda bored them but they liked the old computers and the missile itself. I think their favorite part was a one minute ride down an old elevator into the silo. Lennox was crazy on this tour. Typical tired five-year-old laughing inappropriately and running around. Bless Katie’s heart as she wrestled the mini beast through the tour. This site is not the greatest for kids but it is a wonderful history lesson.

Saguaro National Park

Our final day in Tucson was spent visiting the Saguaro National Park. A great day in 80-degree weather and a few new Junior Rangers to boot! The park is split into two big wildernesses and we chose the east side. A dirt road loop went through this part of the park with a number of stopping points for hiking. The park is breathtaking. Sooo many giant Saguaro standing like sentinels in the hot desert sun. It had rained the day before so the cacti were vivid green against the blue sunny sky. We stopped at a few hiking spots and walked through the unearthly landscape marveling at the scene unfolding around us. Sienna and Lennox love to run full speed down the trials regardless of the spiky dangers lurking to either side. Colette takes a more considered approach, but one of wonder and inquisition. All the kids worked on their junior ranger packets, identifying the different cacti and looking for desert animals. We had a picnic on some rocks and just took it all in. On one of the hikes we even got to see 1000-year-old petroglyphs, reminding us of the humanity sewn throughout the wilds of our country. We are very blessed to be able to see these great wonders of America. We headed back to the visitor center and the kids took their solemn oath of the junior ranger. This park was a spectacular end to a great stay in Tucson.

Adventure

Red Rocks, Vortexes, and Crystals…See-Dona ya want to be here?

By PapaWanderer March 26, 2018

Splitting up the Long Journey

After our wonderful time in Santa Fe, it was time for us to move on. We had another long journey to Sedona, AZ but we decided to break it up with a stop at a National Park. On the Way to our destination is the Petrified Forest National Park. This also contains the painted desert as well which is an amazing site. The park is a 28-mile long road with a dozen or so stopping points throughout where you can see magnificent vistas or get hands-on with pieces of petrified wood that are millions of years old. We spent a few hours driving through the park and exploring the various attractions. It was pretty awesome and well worth the pit stop. The path we traveled ended us at the visitor center where some of the largest specimens of petrified wood exist. The kids got to touch the petrified wood and climb all over some of the trees. They had a blast. Along with all the fun, they learned a few things as well by doing the Junior Ranger Program, bonus for us! We hope they take some of these nuggets of knowledge along with them after this journey.

Switchback Down into Heaven…Waking Up to Nirvana

After the park, we only had a couples hours to Sedona. It was late and the sun was setting as we came, unexpectedly, to the switchbacks of Oak Creek Canyon. The drop in elevation from the top of the canyon to the bottom is about 3000 feet and this happens within a short span of miles. It was exhilarating to come down through the canyon with the sun setting and hundred foot drops along the roadside. We could just barely make out the huge red rock cliffs as we came into town. Even in the dim light Katie and I were blown away and knew we would be waking up to something incredible.

When the sun broke the horizon the next morning we were greeted by one of the most majestic scenes of my life. All around us, rising like red titans, were red stone cliffs and mesas. And not just red, but every color from orange, rust, copper, to sand. The sky was a vivid azure blue and the sparse plant life showed deep green against the landscape. My words will not do justice so I will let the pictures do the talking. Just a taste…more to come.

Bell Rock Hike

Our first hike in this awesome place was Bell Rock. This hike crawls over the face of a red rock mesa and has you scrambling up the stone dodging cacti. The views are amazing. The kids had a blast climbing the stone and sliding down. They also gave Katie and I fits as they ran full speed towards the edge of cliffs, only to stop at the last minute and laugh at us. Oh, the joys of kids! This is an easy hike and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was nice to get our hands dirty.

The Pink Jeeps

One thing you notice as you drive around Sedona is the massive amount of jeeps, and pink jeeps to be specific. There is a famous tour company in town that runs people up the back dirt roads (if you can call them that) for off-roading fun. We decided it would be fun to take the kids up into the mountains and also give them a bumpy, jerky jeep experience. We had a great guide named Sean who told us all about the area as we drove. He had just the right amount of funny, seriousness and jokester. We had a blast bouncing through the hills and the views were spectacular. If you can believe it, our youngest Lennox almost fell asleep going up as his body bounced to and fro. We are scared for the future and this one getting up for school during high school.

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Montezuma’s Castle

About a half hour from Sedona is the Montezuma Castle National Park containing the remains of the Sinagua people’s cliff dwellings. The dwellings are beautifully preserved and it’s really neat to see the structure embedded in the rock. As far as National parks go, this is a small one. You can experience the whole park in about a half hour. Sienna decided to do the Junior Ranger program, but Lennox and Colette passed. This was a nice quick side trip for the family. We also stopped by the Cliff Castle Casino. (which had a crazy game filled daycare center) for a couple hours. The kids didn’t want to leave, but Katie and I sure did after giving the casino ample operating funds.

Rainy Day Hiking

Although the weather has been extraordinary, rain was in our forecast. Before it hit we decided to take another hike up a short trail called Fay Canyon. This was a moderate hike that followed and arroyo up into a box canyon. Lots of scrubby trees and a nice little climb at the end to look back down the canyon. The cliff walls rose hundreds of feet on either side. Very different from our first hike but no less beautiful. I had read somewhere there was a secret arch along this trail. So on the way back, I kept looking for signs of the secondary trail that might lead us there. A couple of rock cairns on the path peaked my interest and we decided to venture off the trail up the less used path. The hike was steep, rock-strewn and full of cacti. However, we found our secret spot! Hiding next to a cliff face about twenty feet from the wall was our arch. We also found a rock structure resembling a native home at the top. It was obviously built by modern hands but the structure was still awesome. A super fun hike that we were able to get in just before a couple days of steady rain set in.

Misty Magic

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The Final Hike

For our last hike in Sedona we chose to go up Brin’s Mesa. For our little posse, it was a challenging hike. The trail is about 3 miles round trip and rises over 500ft. You start off meandering up a wide valley and then shoot steeply upward the rest of the way. Awesome vistas abounded on this hike, along with a lot of crying Lennox. When that kid is motivated he’s unstoppable, but when he’s not into something he’ll let you know! After about an hour we crested the top and were met with more stunning views. We really loved our time here. The beauty, the people, and the food all came together for a truly memorable visit. We will be back. (Most likely Katie and I alone next time!)

Adventure

Tumbling out of Santa Fe

By mamawanderer March 21, 2018

Santa Fe

Downtown Santa Fe is a fun place to wander around with many little shops. It’s not as fun with kids, at least the shopping part, but we still enjoyed bopping around. Pop your head into St. Francis Cathedral, it is a beautiful space with spectacular designs.

Petroglyph National Monument

I’m taking over for Katie for this section as she was gone to Colorado for a super fun girls weekend. The kids and I decided to head out and see some Petroglyphs. These marking are 600-800 years old and were used as detailed signposts by the native people. The meaning is a bit more spiritual than that, but hopefully, you get the basic idea. There are numerous sites around Albuquerque where you can view the petroglyphs in the National Park. We just hit one that had a few different stops. The glyphs are awesome to see. We all felt the cool sensation of watching something that was written when the land was still desolate and the people were few. On the sadder side of things, I also used this as an opportunity to talk to the kids about vandalism. Many areas within the park have been vandalized and stupid people have cut their names or dumb sayings into the rocks. It really hit home with the kids how bad this practice is and I think it’s a lesson they will take with them in life. ( at least the older ones). It was great spending the day in the hot sun, doing school (Junior Ranger), hiking and having some laughs.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

What a hike! Tent Rocks is such a fun adventure and the geological formations you see blow your mind. Looking from afar is impressive but when you make your way through the narrow passages of the slot canyon to the tent rocks the views are magical. A climb at the end puts you above the rocks on a plateau looking out over vast land which seems to extend to the edge of the earth. Spectacular views and well worth the travel.

Chimayo/Taos

I read about the weavers in Chimayo and really wanted to check out this art. We ventured off on our way to Taos and what we found was amazing. We happened to stop in the Trujillo Weaving Shop first and we probably didn’t need to go anywhere else. The work was beautiful, we were able to see weaving in progress and the colors, yarns, patterns and finished products were all stunning. As 7th generation weavers, their story, tradition, and preservation of an art form is truly amazing.

From Chimayo, we took the scenic road to Taos which equated to lots of winding around, by the time we arrived Colette didn’t feel great. We didn’t stay long but the drive was beautiful and worth the curves to the top of the mountain.

Folk Art Museum

There are a group of museums on “Museum Hill” in Santa Fe which is a pretty neat place. We choose to check out the Folk Art Museum and it was well worth the visit. It is hard to describe all the amazing things here, art from around the world and a really great hands-on section for the kids. One cool thing, we noticed a weaving created by the weavers in Chimayo we had just visited the day before.