We landed in Albuquerque (one of the more difficult to spell U.S. cities), New Mexico. The last time I was here was by car and the entire city was a ghost town; I recall it was difficult to find any open restaurants and we ended up eating from a fast-food cart parked across from the downtown Rail Runner Train Station. This time we rented a car and immediately headed up to Santa Fe. We stopped at St. John's College, loaded up on fresh ripe … [Read more...]
Launch of new Travel Company: GeoCultura
GeoCultura is pleased to announce the launch of our new travel company with a range of unique tours that focus on geology and culture and the links between the two. Our tours are an exciting new take on the traditional 'geology field trip' and combine the awe-inspiring scenery of important geological sites with the best that local culture and hospitality have to offer. They will appeal to the educated and the curious – people who wish to … [Read more...]
Ice Cave, New Mexico – October 2020
This is one of the most intriguing natural formations we have come across in our travels around the country and the planet. Located near the Continental Divide off of Highway 53 - the dirt road leading to the parking lot is about 1/2 a mile (12000 Ice Caves Rd). A small gift shop greets visitors when they exit their vehicles - also a 'gemstone sluice' with running water is located here (inquire about panning prices within the shop) and a small … [Read more...]
Living the Independent Lifestyle, Freelance Writing
When I started my travel site in 1996, there were very few independent online travel focused websites. Like many others (especially those beginning blogs), my site began as a personal journal - a place to compile notes from various trips with tips and tricks to help other travels avoid mistakes that I made on my own travels. Over the years I've retained this focus - but the site has also morphed into more of a travel community with writers … [Read more...]
Giant Serpent and Scorpion Sculptures in Borrego Springs, CA
The Search is On The road trip from Palm Desert to Galleta Meadows is speckled with rolling hills, dramatic crevices, and a few ocotillos. We saw a couple four wheelers and an off road motocross trail, but the drive is rural, i.e. make sure to fill up on gas beforehand. This was my first trip into the desert and my interest was piqued -- I needed to see these massive desert sculptures for myself. We put 'Galleta Meadows' in the GPS and drove … [Read more...]
Road Trip Part 1: Branson to Bisbee
On April 1st, 2012 I set out on my first road trip from Northern Indiana to Southern California. By November 2014 I had added four more similar trips, each time taking a different route. It's easy to say that the journey is better than the destination, but the reality is, the longer the road trip, the greater the monotony. Fortunately, there is relief that comes from finding great places to stop, stretch your legs, take some pictures, get … [Read more...]
How I Twice Failed in Saint Augustine (and still won)
Nope, it's not Jamestown. Nor is it Plymouth. And neither is it the lost colony of Roanoke. Bet you didn't know, the oldest permanent European settlement in the US was founded in St. Augustine, Florida by Spanish conquistadors as early as 1565. It predates the next oldest European city (Santa Fe, New Mexico) by more than 4 decades. As of the time of this writing, the city has been continuously inhabited for 453 years. By North American standards, … [Read more...]
Enjoy an unforgettable weekend in magical Monte Carlo
You would need a magnifying glass to find it on a map of the world, but the tiny European principality of Monaco, and specifically its capital Monte Carlo is hugely evocative to people from all walks of life. Followers of celebrity gossip know it is the playground of the rich and famous – its marina contains scores of multi million dollar yachts, and from Grace Kelly in the 1950s to Kim Kardashian and Beyonce today, it has always been the … [Read more...]
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Explore The Arts
Santa Fe and art go together like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This northern New Mexico town has been attracting artists for decades. Like magnets, they are drawn to the magical light, turquoise sky and starkly stunning landscape. Galleries galore and top-notch museums attract art appreciators like bees to honey. Georgia O’Keeffe was deeply inspired by Santa Fe. At her namesake museum, you’ll find plenty of examples of her sensual, … [Read more...]
Road Trip: From Marble Colorado to Fort Worth Texas
We decided to take a road trip after our holiday from Marble, Colorado to Fort Worth, Texas to visit some friends. It was going to be long, tiring and dusty. But we were intrigued by a number of magical and odd sights along the way. First stop: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. GPS tells us it will take 5 hours from Marble climbing over mountains. We ascend slowly up to 10,200 feet and reach the pinnacle of the Rockies on the 10th … [Read more...]