Tag: southwest
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Tucson – Parting Shots
This big horn sheep proudly posed for a crowd at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, while I posed with the resident vulture. A combination zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, aquarium and art gallery it’s an attraction not to be missed. Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio and was one of the stops…
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Backroads Across America: Apache Territory
We hadn’t planned on spending so much time in Arizona, but after a chance conversation with another couple several days ago, we found ourselves exploring the Chiricahua (Cheer-i-ka-wa) Mountain region of southeastern Arizona. As the U.S. expanded westward, establishing a southern route to San Francisco brought the U.S. Army into direct conflict with the Chiricahua…
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Backroads Across America: Icons of the Southwest
With time to fill between stops in Arizona, we took a short detour toward the Rincon Mountain District and Saguaro National Park (East). Unfamiliar with what the park offered, we once again found ourselves leading the trailer along a narrow, scenic 8-mile loop through a historic cactus forest. It felt a little bit like a…
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Three days to Texas
With just three days to cover 2,200 miles, we had our work cut out for us. I know your asking yourself, “What in the world were they thinking?” Well, truth is, we probably didn't have our thinking caps on when we cooked up this adventure, but it sounded good at the time…and as it turned…
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A geologic wrinkle in time
Capitol Reef National Park was established to preserve the geologic features of an area created 65 million years ago. Known as the Waterpocket Fold, this giant wrinkle in the Earth’s crust extends almost 100 miles. Ongoing erosion has created the park as we know it today. The wind picked up and the landscape began…
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Goblins haunt ancient sea
Weather was changing and the Moab report was threatening snow showers. Gusty winds were also predicted so we packed up and headed west. It was time to get home…but not right away! There was still more to see!! Goblin Valley State Park, in Utah, has been on my list of “must see” attractions since we…
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Dead Horse Point State Park comes to life
We arrived in Moab, Utah yesterday, after a hair-raising drive across the snowy mountain passes of Colorado. Our trip has been pretty low key so far. We've seen a lot and done a lot, but evenings have been quiet and relaxing. Moab attracts a different crowd than we've previously seen. We had no idea this…
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Colorado mountain majesty offers thrills and chills
You may have trouble imagining a Toyota Prius as a roller-coaster car, but that’s how it felt today. It took us over passes topping 11,000 feet, through tunnels covered with rocks and ice, and within a few feet of sheer drop offs at dizzying heights. Guard rails? Nah. Sweaty palms and white knuckles? For sure.…
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Mesa Verde: Home to Pueblo people in the 13th Century
The Anasazis, now referred to as Ancenstral Pueblo people, built some of the most impressive North American structures during the 1100s and 1200s in what is now southwestern Colorado. Known as Mesa Verde, the villages were built beneath cliffs using sandstone. Circular kivas were used for ceremonies. The Pueblo people lived in the cliff dwellings…
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