I left my heart....

in UTAH...

it is known as the land of the Mormons... and dinosaurs. But for me, Utah is the most fantastic place on Earth (that doesn't kiss the sea). The Mormon churches are gorgeous against the orange and red background of the rocky southern section of the state. This one happens to be in the great town of St. George. This southern welcoming town hosts several hotels and...A CRACKER BARREL!!! (that's a big thing for a southern girl that is away from home)

 

 

Taking I-15 north to rt 9 I found a quaint and ...weird little motel that was made from fixed up trailers all hooked together in a "L" shape and a restaurant/store that served a great steak dinner. The place lays just outside of the Dixie National Forrest...and featured this spectacular view from my porch. When the sun was setting in the late afternoon it magnified the orange glow from the red sandstone rock spirals of the canyon lands that lay ahead for exploration the next day!

 

 

 

 

 

Much of central and southern Utah features this crazy vibrant orange rock and many arches--it feels like you are in Bedrock and going to pass Fred and Wilma's house at any turn.

Dixie NF hosts the setting for Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Both feature many trails, climbing and camping options. The early morning sun peeking through the rocks seemed to set the world on fire!

 

 

 

 

 

Driving to the Colorado Plateau's rim, you can't imagine what lays ahead.  The land  seems to flatten hosting land for farming. Golden grass danced in the breeze under the bright blue skies above.

 

--Bryce Canyon--

 

Entering into Bryce Canyon you peek over the edge of the rim and see what looks like the edge of the Earth. The views are breathtaking and jaw dropping and worthy of hours of photography and hiking. There is a great park map full of information of each stop along the paved road so you can peer over the edge into the vast rolling cliff of hoodoos. Once your eyes drink in these pillar rock formations, a spell is cast over your soul and you will forever be changed by the view. This area is thought to have been made over thousands of years ago by rock slides, rivers, snow and wind. 

 
 
 

<*Zion National Park*>

 

On through the canyon and further up the road you will find Zion National Park. There is one central welcome center and from there you can collect your guides and information, food and water and hop on a shuttle that takes you to many stops in the park that you can get out and hike to different areas. The main area in the park is at the end --where you can start your journey into the "subway". Here you will follow the Virgin River further into the promised land of Zion.

This can turn into several days and highly suggested to have a guide and gather information due to risk of flashfloods, need for camping and backpacking in your own gear. If you don't plan on going for a few days, hike down the water trail a little ways to cool off, swim, play and have the experience of what the park has to offer!

 

 

 

~*Moab*~

 

This is in central western Utah and holds some famous sites that look pretty familiar from the Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons! It is the mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts featuring canyoneering, climbing, hiking, rafting, camping, trail biking, atv-ing  and much more! If you want to sleep under some spectacular stars, this area is a must! One of the biggest parks in the area to tour is Arches National Park. This is a drive through/self tour park of some of the most concentrated arches in one area. Here you are sure to meet face to face with some excellent rocks and nature made wonders.

 

 

Many of the scenes you will take in will remind you of what we "easterners" think of how the wild wild west is supposed to look (according to John Wayne). Imagining living here and having to ride in a wagon pulled by horses and grow food is quite grounding of how hard these people had it! This is the true grit of how the world once was when the dinosaurs and our ancestors roamed the land.  

There are many parks located in Utah that will continue to woo you in to wanting to spend a lifetime there! I fell in love with this land and day dream just about every day of the free time I need to be able to get back and explore more canyons. The Wave is an area in southern Utah/northern Arizona that has been calling my name for a long time...its a google search must! So, if there is ever a time you need to get away and become one with nature, find yourself and feed your soul...UTAH is the place to go! Pack up your camping gear and set out to sleep under the stars exploring the lands of the wild wild west and fall in love... 



 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Get your kicks.....

 
We picked up on 66 in Oklahoma where we toured a nice museum that held a lot of information on why and how the route was built. This is one of the most famous roads in America and promises many unique things to stop and take pictures of along with neat towns, big and small. Through OK we were met with the first sightings of wind turbines along with those crazy storm clouds that are seen from miles and miles away and look like they area miles and miles tall!
 
 
 
 

Next on Rt 66 ,which now shares most of the route with highway 40, you enter into the big state of Texas. Many words can be used to describe Texas: big, bigger, biggest, weird, wacky, unique, vast nothingness, cowboy's paradise...but the sites you see are the proof in the puddin' that put these words into tangible objects. Most of the wacky Rt. 66 roadside attractions are located throughout the top notch of Texas.

 

 The leaning water tower of Benton, Tx and the largest cross in the world located in Groom, Tx. These are both located on each side of the interstate and can be seen a little in advance but keeping an eye on your map will help you to not miss the picture opportunity!
 
 
 

 

Volkswagen graveyard is a near miss and you have to turn off of the interstate and onto a side road with several abandoned gas stations and storefronts. It is a few miles east of Amarillo and no signs are posted to alert you of its location. This site features several bugs buried nose down in the ground and is a great stop on your adventure! Make sure you have a can of spray paint or a permanent marker handy for marking your "territory". Its a great place to stretch your legs and snap a few crazy pictures of your journey! 

 

 

~Amarillo~

 

This little city has many great hotel offerings so you can get some rest and eat some great Texas food. It has a nice, easy to navigate down town area with some grassy parks along with several painted horses that alert you to points of interest. The main thing that you DO NOT want to miss is The BIG Texan. Go there with a big appetite and dare to take the challenge of eating a 72oz steak and all the sides--main prize is a free meal and bragging rights. The fun part is this is a timed event (1 hour) and is broadcasted on the internet, so all the family back home can log on and see you chow down! www.bigtexan.com

 

 

 

A few other crazy things to see in the Amarillo area is the Cadillac ranch. Placed inside a gated ranch stands many half

buried old Cadillacs that, like the bug yard, are painted and tagged by many visitors. Not far from this site is a field that is home to the biggest legs you could imagine! Story had it that these two legs were found washed up on the shore of Spain and dated 1819. Then found by a Texan and shipped to his ranch to sit in a cow field for crazy Americans to take pictures of! 

 

 

 

 

If you stay in Amarillo, don't get too full on breakfast! Hit the road (not too early) and make a stop at Midway Café --home of the ugliest pie crust. Now I know that you shouldn't really have dessert for breakfast...but its vacation! This little diner is in Adrian, Tx and the west end of town marks the midpoint on Rt. 66. This tasty treat was a resting place for many weary drivers that were headed to the golden coast of California. They have tons of offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner but they are most famous for their ugly crust pies. I drowned by taste buds in a slice of chocolate and coconut :)

 

 

 

 

 

NEW MEXICO-ALBUQUERQUE

 

 

Old Town Albuquerque is a great area to get easily on and off I40 and saturate yourself into some New Mexico shopping and culture. Stucco buildings feature touristy goods, hand made items and paintings, and little eateries filled with yummy boarder food! One little café that had high ratings was  Church St Café that had outstanding chips and salsa along with tequila kissed margaritas :)

The area also has a few places that will mail items home incase you find something too big to fit in the car. One neat feature that I experienced while there was a Mariachi band and dancers performing in the street. Several tours of the area along with a trolley tour of downtown and pedi cabs to pedal you around the area and give you the opportunity to see and take pictures of many secret places are offered.

 



     Meteor Crater
In the vast Arizona desert there is a hidden historic site off the road to the South-you can see what looks like a few rocky bumps in the rocky Mars-like terrain. Taking a closer look, you start driving up to the edge of the rim, once you climb the last few feet and peer over into the deep crater, you are in shock of how crazy the thought is of a small outer space rock slamming into the earth making this hole! This was a very neat museum full of fun facts and activities and even the piece of  the meteor that was found by the rancher whom stumbled on to this hole years ago.


This was as far as I went on Route 66...until I met it again when I went to Santa Monica Pier (shown in another blog). There are many crazy things on this route and all were well worth the pictures and memories! So, go get in your car and get your kicks.....on Route 66! Happy travels ya'll :)



Unleash your inner explorer and take it all in....

 "From the moment you arrive in Yosemite National Park, you're embraced in the splendor of one of the world's true national wonders. Where shear granite cliffs rise from the depths of glacier carved valleys. Where majestic waterfalls cascade down in a roar of deafening thunder. Where giant sequoias stand in revered silence guarding the ancient grove. And where wild flowers frolic and quiver when caressed by the warm summer air. At every turn you're welcomed, overwhelmed and inspired by a beauty that prompts you to experience Yosemite on your own terms- and create memories that are truly unforgettable."   

 

 

 

 

That quote is from one of the Yosemite information guides...there was no way I could describe the sites and feelings any better! Wedged in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range you are sure to find your inner explorer and a peaceful awe in the treasures that sit among this rocky terrain. Decorated with grasslands, waterfalls, lodges, miles and miles of trails and the endless opportunities to experience many outdoor activities that put you in the arms of the Yosemite Valley. Ample parking and trails for young, old, experienced and not so experienced-the park has plenty to see and do and space for you to picnic, sit and relax, ride the free shuttle offered in the park, watch wildlife or splash in the Merced River.

 



I was unaware of much of the history of many of the places I visited in California-mostly because I figure that is part of the exploration once you get there! It seems as though Roosevelt was a very big outdoorsy President and in the early 1900's he met with many conservationists and planned on taking much of the western land and preserving it for generations to come. When you see the golden grass and green pines painted in front of the jagged gray granite mountain tops, you become very thankful for his many works in make it possible to see this fairyland!

 

 

 

 

 

After spending a few hours on the Yosemite loop we took off across the mountain range on route 120. We passed through a crazy thunderstorm which brought us to a hotdog/burger stand in the middle of this great wilderness. Once the rain moved on, back on the road for some more roadside photography! It was amazing to see this road etched into a surrounding that looked like it would be impossible to place...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
As you drive on Tioga Pass Rd you not only get glimpses of the edge of the world that kisses the skies but some of the most picturesque lakes that makes you feel almost sinful to be looking at. Tenaya Lake is the first you come to. Most of these places don't have signs announcing their presence, so drive

slow and take your time looking and

pulling on the side of the road and getting

out to see the land and peek into the woods.

Mono Lake is the next large body of water to see with a few little pullover spots. The only thing keeping me out of this water was the fear of hypothermia! If it was sunny I would have been in the middle of this lake swimming like a fish :) This water and land looked so untouched by the world. I know it had to have some
 kind of healing powers!

Not far after you pass Mono Lake and descend out of the Sierra Nevada--you enter into the massive sandy nothingness of Nevada state. This is the one reason I am in love with the western US. It is so diverse and so is my travel appetite....you can see the ocean, desert and mountains with snow in one day! So many adventures to offer for a lifetime!

City of Angels

 Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Blvd, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier....These are familiar places to every American. The millions of sites you can see in the Los Angeles area could never be seen in a lifetime...but these are some of the more famous ones. Many tour and sightseeing companies in the area give you a great chance to try and get a glimpse of  famous Hollywood sites and houses of the rich and famous. Tons of food options, markets, and shopping can fill your few days or week that you want to spend exploring the city of angels...

 I headed into Los Angeles in my own large SUV a little scared for what kind of traffic I was going to experience. I was relieved to find that most Hollywooders don't seen to keep early morning hours so the streets...as you can see were bare! I found parking under the Dolby Theatre that is a central location on Hollywood Blvd and hosts many restaurants and shops along with connection to the Chinese Theatre and a point of pick up for several tour buses. I always think that a tour company is a great way to see some sites and collect some great information about the city you are visiting and then you have a great idea on other areas to visit and the layout of the city along with the good and bad places. It was relaxing to sit back and ride in a convertible bus and listen to the guide tell secrets and list hang out spots to later stalk famous people :) 







The beaches of LA county are also famous for movie makers, actors and artists--it was an interesting day to meander through Venice Beach. I was excited to see the famous outdoor gym that Arnold and multiple iron men, heavy weights and strong men lift in the open arena of Muscle Beach. You can join them for $10...which was going to be worth it if I happened to see someone great in there lifting! Along the beach there are many shops, homeless people(a very normal thing for all coastal towns), rollerbladers, runners, street performers, artists and musicians along with your iconic California surfing hippies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Monica Pier is the end of US Rt 66...full of rides and games hosting a happy carnival atmosphere. This is the relaxing part of LA. Plenty of beach to people watch and great for a sunset. There are a few restaurants to choose from that serve seafood along with food carts that are much fancier than small town Kentucky fair food!

 

 

 

The best plan if you don't mind fighting a little evening traffic or don't have far to go--go grab some food, right a few rides and watch the sunset....there is nothing like a west coast sunset!