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Nevada’s Valley of Fire – A Desert Side Trip Between Las Vegas and Zion

Posted by Mary Turner on June 11, 2012 1 Response »

Jun 112012

After spending several days amid the beauty of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, we almost skipped the side trip to Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park, located about an hour’s drive outside of Las Vegas. We are glad we decided to take the turnoff at Exit #75 off Interstate 15 and spend a couple of hours among this park’s red sandstone formations.

Welcome to Nevada's Valley of Fire

The park’s 42,000 acres include about 10 miles of paved roads that provide access to a number of highly eroded and unusual features formed from shifting sand dunes millions of years ago. There is an interpretive visitor center with bathrooms available, but food and water are limited so plan to bring a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it.

Elephant Rock in Nevada's Valley of Fire

The park also houses petroglyphs from when the Anasazi people lived in the area. Be sure to climb the metal stairs at Atlatl Rock to get a good view.

Petroglphys at Atlatl Rock in Nevada's Valley of Fire

Remnants of a Civilian Conservation Corps work site from the 1930s can be found down a side turnoff.

Civilian Conservation Corps cabins in Nevada's Valley of Fire

In mid-April the temperatures approached 90 degrees and the limited available shade was very welcome. We arrived at the time that many of the wildflowers were blooming along the sides of the roads and trails, adding some color to the bright red landscape. Even the park’s hardy lizards and ground squirrels were out and about.

Lizard taking in the April sun in Nevada's Valley of Fire

Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and water when you visit here. Unless you really like it hot, the park is probably best visited during the winter, spring or fall as summertime highs easily top 120 degrees on many days.

Shade is limited in Nevada's Valley of Fire

Camp sites are available as are day use picnic areas. Lake Mead is nearby but we didn’t get that far this visit. We had to hit the road to get to Las Vegas in time for the Cirque du Soleil show “O” which features a dozens of swimmers cavorting in a 1.5 million gallon pool – talk about a contrast with the arid Valley of Fire!

The road to Nevada's Valley of Fire

We hope you enjoyed these photos, we will link them to the next Delicious Baby Photo Friday.

Rome’s Colosseum – Where Old Meets Older

Posted by Mary Turner on March 5, 2012 2 Responses »

Mar 052012

When visiting Rome, old and new art and architecture are constantly juxtaposed with one another. This is a city where the Modern Art Museum features art from the last two centuries and the age of buildings is measured is millenia. No where is the contrast between old and older more apparent than during a visit to the Colosseum. Completed in the year 80 AD, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever constructed by the ancient Roman Empire and is an engineering marvel. #1 Son described it as the biggest, oldest man made building he has ever seen.

The exterior of Rome's Colosseum

Yet, despite its age, the Colosseum is surrounded by modern roads, cars, and of course, tourists! #1 Son’s school group used the Roma Pass which for 30 euros covered city transportation for three days and free admission for two museums or sites including the Colosseum. After the first two uses, Roma Pass gives the holder a reduced admission price at other museums and sites, exhibitions, and events. Waits for access to the Colosseum can extend as long as two hours in the hot Italian sun but on a chilly February day the site was relatively empty.

The last of Rome's unusual February 2012 snow storm melting at the Colosseum

Looking through the photos #1 Son brought back from his class’s visit to the Colosseum we are amazed that a structure this large was built without the types of heavy machinery available today. The ampthitheatre was built to hold 50,000 spectators. It is over 600 feet long and over 150 feet high. The outer wall, much of which is no longer in tact due to earthquakes, is believed to have used over 100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone and was held together by 300 tons of iron clamps since mortar had not yet been developed.

The Colosseum has seating for 50,000 spectators

The Colosseum was home to Rome’s violent gladiator contests, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on mythology. It was in active use for hundreds of years.

View overlooking the Colosseum arena floor

The main arena area measures 272 ft by 157 ft. It originally had a wood floor that covered a maze-like underground zone known as the hypogeum, which was made up of a two-level network of tunnels and cages where gladiators and animals were held before the contests. A series of tunnels connected this underground world to the outside so performers and animals could enter the site without being seen by the waiting crowds.

The Colosseum hypogeum contained cages for gladiators and animals

Over the years the Colosseum has been badly damaged by earthquakes, looters, acid rain and car exhaust. The site is under constant restoration as the city battles to preserve this important piece of history for the centuries to come.

Restoration is ongoing at Rome's Colosseum

Clearly the Colosseum is a “Must Do” on any trip to Rome. Of couse, it is so big it is hard to miss. If you visit with your teen or tween let us know what they think.

Like these photos? Hop on over to the Delicious Baby Photo Friday Page for more family travel photos!

Rome Vacations

The Soldotna Homestead Museum: A Hidden Gem on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula

Posted by Mary Turner on August 17, 2011 Comments Off

Aug 172011

Many visitors motor straight through Soldotna, Alaska on their way to Homer and the other picturesque fishing hamlets along the Kenai Peninsula’s western coast. We were in town to go fishing and bear viewing but with a little time to kill we decided to stop by the Soldotna Homestead Museum at 461 Centennial Park Road near the Soldotna Visitor Center. The visit ended up being a highlight of our week in Alaska with the teens.

Don't miss the Soldotna Homestead Museum

The museum consists of about a half dozen historical structures moved from various locations on the Peninsula. Most were built in log cabin fashion although we learned that there were several different techniques, as each cabin took a different approach to constructing corners. The buildings include a school, a community hall and several homesteader cabins.

Typical Alaskan Homesteader cabin at the Soldotna Homestead Museum

Rustic is the only way to describe how the homesteaders lived while they worked the land to earn a patent on their 40 acres. The Museum’s map of the original homestead plots showed how the early birds got the best access to water while the later arrivals had to haul theirs in.

Wood stoves were the order of the day

Coming from New England, the teens were surprised to learn that homesteading in this part of Alaska lasted until the mid 1950s. As a result, the artifacts on display included many items they might have found in their grandparent’s basements such as canning jars and vintage cookware. Some were a bit more unusual like the dentist drill powered by a foot pedal and a wood stove made from an oil drum. The native animal and bird taxidermy collection was fun too!

Stuffed owl on display at the Soldotna Homestead Museum

One of our favorite buildings was the one room schoolhouse, which reminded Camera Guy of his youth in Central Vermont.

One room homesteader school house

We thought the 1950s metal lunch boxes and the Dick and Jane reading books were a nice touch!

Soldotna Homestead Museum school room

The highlight of the visit, however, was the opportunity to talk with the two wonderful historical society members who were staffing the museum that day. Their parents had been homesteaders and these ladies brought to life the days before the main highway through town was paved and recalled the excitement of Alaska gaining statehood. The teens thought is was cool, but Mom and Dad had a hard time believing hardy Alaskan homesteaders were raising families in log cabins off the grid at the same time we were watching cartoons on black and white TVs!

The Museum does not have a web site and is only open May to September but be sure to stop by if you are in the area for a glimpse at a unique slice of 20th century Americana.

Explore New York City’s High Line Linear Park

Posted by Mary Turner on May 13, 2011 5 Responses »

May 132011

The best way to experience New York City is to walk it. One of more recent additions to the city’s walking scene is the lower West Side’s High Line park, located on a former elevated rail spur that runs through the Meatpacking District.

Take a walk along New York City's High Line

Opened in 1934 to replace the West Side’s street level rail line, aka Death Alley, the High Line was unique in that it traveled down the center of the blocks, right through factories and warehouses where freight could be loaded and unloaded easily and securely. Today the walking park runs right through the Chelsea Market building.

Hardy urban native plants keep the High Line green

The line was dismantled and abandoned in pieces through the 1960s and 1970s with the last train carrying 3 cars of frozen turkeys in 1980. The remaining 1.45 length of track was gradually taken over by tough urban grasses, plants and trees during the 1990s. In the late 1990s a group of local advocates for open spaces raised awareness and built support for the city to turn it into a public park.

A view of the Hudson River from the High Line

The first third of the restored park opened for use in 2009. The next section is scheduled to open in June 2011. From the first day the park has been a hit with city dwellers and visitors alike.

Enjoy the shade on the High Line

The concrete path winds along the elevated walkway leaving lots of room for the plants as well as places to sit and enjoy the views down side streets. There is even an urban outdoor theater carved out of what was a trestle over 10th Avenue.

Urban theater on the High Line

#1 Son took these pictures while he and his classmates explored the the High Line as part of their field trip to New York City. We are pretty sure it looked and smelled a lot better than it did back in the industrial era they studied in school! Visit here if you want to see more of his New York City photos.

Looking for other great places to walk in New York City? Check out past posts on walks through Central Park, over the Brooklyn Bridge and down Broadway.

And finally, we’d like you to know we shared these photos with the Delicious Baby Photo Friday page – stop over there to see lots more fun family travel images.

New York City Vacations

Mixing College Tours with Family Fun in Mystic Country

Posted by Mary Turner on August 22, 2010 Comments Off

Aug 222010

Between searching out new ideas for family fun with our teens, and making plans to check out colleges, we’ve been doing a lot of travel research lately and are coming up with what look like some great ideas. The Mystic Country area of coastal Connecticut recently peaked our interest as a place that offers a nice mix of history, adventure and fun to keep families with teens and tweens on the move and under sail — whether taking a break from college visits or just looking for a weekend getaway from New York or Boston.

The Charles W Morgan at Mystic Seaport, photo courtesy Mystic Country

In terms of colleges, Connecticut College, Mitchell College and the US Coast Guard Academy are all in New London, next store to Mystic. Many other schools are within an hour’s drive including Wesleyan University Middletown, CT and University of Connecticut a bit north in Storrs, CT and the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI.

Besides the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods gaming resorts which are within 15 minutes of the town of Mystic, most of the area’s attractions are linked to the ocean and the area’s impressive nautical heritage. The Mystic Seaport is a unique living 19th century maritime museum. The 60 acre site includes dozens of historic buildings, as well as an impressive collection of restored schooners and sloops, a steamer and the last surviving wooden whaling boat, the Charles W. Morgan. The Seaport’s buildings include a chandlery, sail loft, ropewalk, cooperage, shipping agent office, printing office, bank and more.

Beluga Whale at Mystic Aquarium, photo courtesy Tracy M Brown

The Seaport is open year round, as is the nearby Mystic Aquarium with its collection of beluga whales, African penguins, sea lions, seals and other sea creatures. Check out the Deep Sea 3D ride to feel what it is like to go 9,000 feet underwater in pursuit of deep-diving Sperm Whales and Giant Squid. We are told that a combination of 3D film and special chairs make it feel like you are really in a submersible.

Another opportunity to explore the country’s maritime history is found at the Submarine Force Museum on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut. Operated by the US Navy, the museum traces the history of subs from Revolutionary War days to the present. The highlight of any visit to the Submarine Force Museum is a tour of the USS Nautilus, the country’s first nuclear powered submarine. Admission is free.

If you make it to Mystic when the weather is warm and have a few hours to get out on the water, there are a number of options for day sails including a 5-hour cruise on the tall ship Mystic Whaler (a reproduction of a 19th century vessel) or a 2-3 hour jaunt on the 81-foot Schooner Argia in the protected waters of Fishers Island and Long Island Sounds. The local ocean beaches are another refreshing activity in the warmer months.

Visit the Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum, photo courtesy Mystic Country

We haven’t made it to Mystic Country yet but hope our travels take us there soon. In the meantime, if you’ve visited there let us know your thoughts and comments.

This is one in a series of articles about fun family activities to add onto college visits (or to check out if you are planning a fun family weekend). Check the full list here.

Mystic Vacations

A Duck’s Eye View of Boston

Posted by Mary Turner on August 5, 2010 2 Responses »

Aug 052010

Boston Duck Tour, source Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

Boston Duck Tours takes visitors on an 80 minute ride in a W.W. II style amphibious landing vehicle. Although the tour provides lots of insight into Boston’s historic past, the concluding cruise on the Charles River is the main attraction.

We had taken a Duck Tour with our kids when they were 8 and 11 so when out of town cousins ages 8 and 10 came to visit we thought it would be a fun activity (we paid our own way). We had a beautiful day and Boston never looked better. The ride took us past many Boston landmarks in the old West End, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay, but, with the exception of the voyage down the river, which really was a thrill, we have to admit we were a bit disappointed.

Boston’s Trinity Church viewed from a Duck

We had remembered the tour being a laugh riot but our ConDUCKtor tour guide pretty much gave us all the facts, but not much of the extra ”fun” for which the Duck Tours are traditionally known. The loading area at Boston’s Museum of Science was pretty disorganized and the Duck we rode was a “replica” rather than an original. It was much bigger than the one pictured above, making it feel more like a bus ride than anything else. Luckily, the day was saved when we took the plunge onto the Charles River and spent the last 20 minutes enjoying the views. The kids got to steer and the skyline was beautiful. We just wished that part of the trip could have lasted a lot longer.

Boston’s Charles River and Longfellow Bridge viewed from a Duck

Overall, we left with a sense that the Boston Duck Tours operation has gotten a little too big and lost some of that personal touch it used to deliver. Having said that, our out of town visitors still thought is was fun, particularly when they got a chance to drive the Duck down the middle of the Charles River – even our jaded 13 year old teen is still smiling about it.

Boston Vacations

A Summer’s Eve at Boston’s Historic Waterfront

Posted by Mary Turner on July 24, 2010 3 Responses »

Jul 242010

Although Boston winters are cold and snowy, a warm summer’s evening visiting the city’s historic waterfront area is a relaxing way to spend time with your teens and tweens. The centerpiece of the area is the famed Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market food and shopping district, located in buildings that date back to the 1820s. This is a good place to look for souvenirs or to grab a snack from an extensive and often crowded food court. But don’t limit your visit just to Fanueil Hall as there is a lot more history and local color nearby.

Quincy Market in Boston

For example, just a couple of blocks outside the market you’ll come upon a small cobblestone side road known as the Blackstone Block. Somehow, despite centuries of urban renewal and re-development efforts, this tiny fragment of Boston’s colonial past has survived. Although now standing several blocks from the waterfront, when the narrow lane was constructed in the early 1700s, the buildings of the Blackstone Block were almost directly on the docks. Multiple landfill projects in the adjacent Mill Creek marshlands extended the waterfront much further into the harbor during the the 18th century, creating much of the area as we now see it.

Cobblestones line Boston’s Blackstone Block

The most famous building on the block is the Union Oyster House which has served dinner to countless politicians and celebrities since 1826. The building itself dates closer to 1740. John F. Kennedy was a frequent visitor and his favorite booth in the upstairs dining hall is well marked. The Union Oyster House exudes a sense of history. Its polished woodwork and jumble of small rooms harken back to another era. Unfortunately, despite the historic ambience, we found the service and food less than memorable. Despite having reservations we had to wait at least 20 minutes in the stuffy, standing room only bar. Service was equally slow. Our teens were fine with the wait but younger diners would probably get itchy.

Inside the Union Oyster House

As might be expected, the menu leans heavily on traditional New England seafood offerings including lobster, cod and a variety of shellfish including of course – oysters! We found the food decent but seriously overpriced and we felt we could get similar or better quality for much less money at any number of local seafood restaurants including chains such as Legal Sea Foods. If you are in the area, by all means take a minute to visit the Union Oyster House, check out the gift shop and take a peek at history — but you might want to save some money by eating dinner elsewhere. Other close by options include Quincy Market or the pubs that line the Blackstone Block including the Green Dragon Tavern, which was a frequent meeting spot for the Sons of Liberty, and The Bell in Hand Tavern which opened in 1795 and has been located in its current building since 1844. It is billed as America’s oldest continuously operating tavern (not counting Prohibition of course).

The Bell in Hand on Boston’s Blackstone Block

Either before or after dinner take some time to visit the recently re-invigorated waterfront and Christopher Columbus Park near the Marriott hotel. You might get a glimpse of a dual- masted schooner from theLiberty Fleet cruising in the sunset. It is a pleasant reminder of Boston’s seafaring past.

Boston Harbor, a short walk from the Blackstone Block

On the way back from the water, stop in Quincy Market for ice cream or a little shopping and take a slight detour to appreciate the Custom House Tower (now home to a Marriott timeshare resort). The base, built in larger than life Greek Revival style dates to 1837. The tower was added in 1915 to bring the building to its current 476 foot height. It remained the tallest building in Boston until 1947.

Boston’s Custom House Tower

We received no incentives or compensation from any of the businesses mentioned in this post and none of them knew we would be writing about them. If you make it to Boston on a warm summer’s evening, a walk around this historic area is a pleasant way to pass the time.

Note: we shared this link with the Trekaroo Spotlight Thursday page. Check it out for more ideas for fun family outings and trips.

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