RV Short Stops

The Furry, Huge, Winged, Swift, and Cute Animals of Yellowstone

2013-06-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

We came to Yellowstone for the geysers and Old Faithful and ended up taking more photos of the wildlife (animals) than anything. They were everywhere!

There were herds of Bison (we counted at least 45 in one bunch), Elk, Coyotes, Canadian Geese, Mountain Bluebirds, Bears (one momma and a couple of cubs), and more. Every time we drove into the park, we had to stop to watch and photograph the animals. Of course, there were "Bear Jams" where dozens of people would stop their cars to get out to take pictures. We just started watching for the cars on the side of the road to find the animals. One time, we stopped and started pointing just to see how many cars we could get to stop!

Elk herd was here daily.

Coyote looking to find a way across the creek.

What a treat to see them, like this little Bison calf, in their natural habitat.

You can see more photos here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5889545037295448001

and...

...here:

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/06/yellowstone-wildlife.html

Crystal Crane Hot Springs near Burns, in southeast Oregon

2013-06-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Crystal Crane Hot Springs natural pool. (Julianne G. Crane)

Weary travelers making their way east along US 20 from Bend to Burns, or north-south along US 95 in eastern Oregon might want to take a side journey along Hwy 70 to the wide spot in the road called Crystal Crane Hot Springs.

Yellow-chested Black bird (Julianne G. Crane)

Located 25 miles from Burns in the wide-open spaces, this natural outdoor spring reservoir offers a panoramic view of the high desert region of southeast Oregon.

From "geothermal activity deep within the earth, the springs emerge with steaming hot water rich with minerals." Visitors can soak from early in the morning to witness a high desert sunrise to late at night to take in the immenseness of the starry sky.

Oscar the resident cat by showers.

Just a soak:
Pool: Day Use: $3.50; Family Day (Tuesday) $2/person
There are also private tubs $7.50/hour per person.

Staying overnight:
RV Sites: Water/Power: $18/night, (2 people)
Water/Power/sewer: $20/night (min. two nights)
There are flush toilets, good clean showers.
There are also small cabins.
Price includes soaks anytime between check in and 11 a.m. the following morning (check out time)

Sign from the road.

More information:
Crystal Crane Hot Springs
59315 Hwy 78,
Burns, OR 97720
(541) 493-2312
www.cranehotsprings.com
9 a.m. - 9 p.m .
except Thanksgiving Day
and Christmas Day
Latitude: 43.439428 Longitude: -118.639383

To read more about the RV Lifestyle written by Julianne G. Crane, go to RVWheelLife.com

Photos by Julianne G. Crane.

Oregon's Umpqua Lighthouse State Park & Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

2013-06-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Umpqua Lighthouse

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park is located south of Reedport, less than a mile from the famous Salmon Harbor on Winchester Bay.

The 65-foot Umpqua River Lighthouse towers above the entrance to Winchester Bay on a hill 100 feet above sea level surrounded by US Coast Guard buildings and a museum. This sentinel of the ocean contains a distinctive lens which emits a red and white flash some 20 miles out to sea.

"An earlier light structure, the first on the Oregon Coast, was built in 1857 on the south side of the river. It fell into the swollen water seven years later during a storm when the water eroded away the sand. The current lighthouse was started in 1890 and was illuminated in 1894. It is the sister lighthouse to the one at Heceta Head just a few miles north of Florence. Both structures were built from the same plans."

The lighthouse and museum are operated and maintained by the Douglas County Parks Department. Tours are offered May 1-Sept. 30. (Closed on Monday-Tuesday, according to Reserve America).

Freshwater Lake Marie sits within the Umpqua State Park. (Julianne G. Crane)

The adjacent Oregon State Park campground and developed day use areas are centered around beautiful freshwater Lake Marie. There is a pleasant trail around the perimeter of the lake. Access to this small lake is provided for angling and non-motorized boating. There is also a small sandy beach set aside for swimming or just relaxing.

For lots and lots more sand, a short distance away is an impressive stretch of towering sand dunes protected by the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Jimmy Smith walking Oregon Dunes near Umpqua State Park. (Julianne G. Crane)

We walked along the dunes, many of which reach heights of 500 feet. Off-road four-wheeler enthusiasts enjoy the dunes in designated areas nearby. For more information about the dunes and the recreational opportunities offered, contact the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area visitor center in nearby Reedsport or call (541) 271-3611.

Campers may experience late night noise from Dune Fest from July 30-Aug 4, 2013.

Campsite overlooking Lake Marie

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park Campground information

Approximately 10 full hookup sites
Approximately 9 electrical & water
More than 20 tent sites with water nearby
Two rustic yurts
Six deluxe yurts (one pet-friendly)
Two rustic log cabins
Hiker/biker camp
Hot showers and flush toilets

Reservations on line: Click here
By phone: Mon-Fri: 800.452-5687

To read additional articles about RV lifestyle by Julianne G. Crane, go to RVWheelLife.com.
To read more about our stay at the campground, click here.

Photos by Julianne G. Crane: Click on pictures to enlarge. (From top) Umpqua Lighthouse; Lake Marie; Oregon Dunes; our campsite overlooking Lake Marie, as seen from the trail.

Lava-Mania at Craters of the Moon, Idaho

2013-05-27T17:25:00.003-07:00

Lava, Lava, Lava....and so many kinds and shapes....amazing place to visit.

Craters of the Moon is located in southern Idaho about 50-60 miles north of Pocatello and Idaho Falls near a town called Arco.

The lava flows cover anywhere between 650 and 1,100 square miles. The public part of the park only covers part of it and there are numerous trails to explore. You can also hike up to several Cinder Cones, walk among cooled lava dating thousands of years old, look into Splatter Cones, explore cave-like lava tubes, even camp in the lava fields in the campground.

The park Visitor's Center has a number of very good visual explanations and movies about how the lava flows came to be. We found the Rangers to be quite knowledgeable in answering our many questions. The park was so interesting we ended up coming out a second day to do more exploring.

You can learn more here....

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/05/craters-of-moon.html

see more photos here....

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5882798832962125681

and learn at the National Park site also....

http://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm

The Golden Spike National Historic Site - Utah

2013-05-12T20:27:00.003-07:00

The Golden Spike National Historical Site is where the two trains met that made for the first transcontinental railroad in the United States back in 1869. "May 10, 1869 the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory and forged the destiny of a nation. Golden Spike National Historic Site shares the stories of the people and settings that define the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad."

A bit of history: Both east and west trains had a difficult time. The train that started east from Sacramento, California had to go through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the winter. Get this: Among the extreme conditions that the workers had to survive were the unbearable snow storms. During the winter of 1866-1867, there were 44 blizzards while the building of the Summit Tunnel proceeded. The storms were anywhere from a short squall to a two week blizzard, with between one-quarter of an inch and ten feet of accumulation of snow. The heaviest storm started on February 18 at 2 p.m. and lasted until February 22 at 10 p.m. and dropped six feet of snow. The storm started again five days later and lasted until March 2, with ten feet of total accumulation. These storms often blocked tunnel entrances and slowed work considerably. It took one half of the crew (4,500 men) to keep the track shoveled. Avalanches buried alive laborers, both American and Chinese. Throughout the snowy conditions, the workers averaged only eight inches of track per day, blasting through solid rock.

Eight inches a day!

Now, the train that started west from Omaha had blizzards, Indian raids that killed the surveyors and graders, floods, extreme heat....amazing that either train made the final journey!

To get to the GS site, you head north about 18 miles then turn west and go about 50 miles or so. At first, the land is green and agricultural but soon evolves into scrub cattle land. Eventually you get to the "middle of nowhere". And that's where you'll find the Visitor's Center which had a great railroad exhibit illustrating the techniques necessary to build the railroads. Great history located here.

You can see more photos and information here....

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-golden-spike-national-historic-site.html

And....for more reading....

http://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad

Rocks, Geology, Hikes and Gawking at Zion National Park

2013-05-09T21:37:00.002-07:00

Zion National Park in Utah is one amazing place. Whereas, at Bryce, you are looking from above down at the colorful rock formations, at Zion you are inside a canyon looking 2,000 feet up to the towering cliffs above.

Most of the canyon park is off limits to vehicles so there is a great park bus that takes you all the way up the canyon where you can get off and on at eight spots so you can take the hikes or just marvel (gawk?) at the magnificent beauty. The hikes range from 1/2 mile to 13 miles. Easy and flat to steep and difficult.

The Visitor's Center is a wealth of information and has a great store but the introduction movie that you find at so many parks is located at the park Museum which is the first stop on the bus route.

The other part of the park is through the mile-long tunnel that the CCC built decades ago. Going up the many switchbacks as you drive up towards the tunnel will give you some spectacular vistas.

Once on the other side you will find an entirely different park and geology....sandstone formations.

...and Gawking is allowed...actually, it's hard not to...

We were there for 5 days and still were amazed every time we looked upwards. Wonderful visit.

To view more...you can go here...

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/05/zion-national-park-gawking-is-allowed.html

or...

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5874501906303789761

and, from our last visit...there are about 135 photos here....

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5660747571069754625

After hiking up Watchman's Trail, I made a movie but, in order to get a good conversion, it's about 16MBs. If you want to view it, you can go to YouTube to view it. It's worth it to get a good overall feeling of the park.

http://youtu.be/R8TwOUbIhdA

"House on the Rock" Wisconsin attraction

2013-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

House on Deer Shelter Rock

The House on the Rock, a regional tourist attraction in southwest Wisconsin, is a complex of architecturally unique structures, rooms, streets, and gardens designed by Alex Jordan, Jr.

The "house" itself is atop Deer Shelter Rock, a column of rock approximately 60-feet tall, 70-feet by 200-feet on the top, which stands in a forest nearby. Additions were made to the original structure over the course of several decades.

Views of the Infinity Room of 'House on the Rock'

One of the most intriguing spaces is "The Infinity Room." It juts out 218-feet from the house, without supports underneath. The room is said to have more than 3,000 windows" and is considered to have one of the best views in the world.

House on the Rock has three Sections ... way more than any one can see in a single RV Short Stop.

Section 1 - Includes the Gate House, the Original House, the Infinity Room, the Alex Jordan Center, the Japanese Garden and the Container Gardens.

Section 2 – Includes the Mill House, Streets of Yesterday, Heritage of the Sea,Tribute to Nostalgia, Music of Yesterday, Spirit of Aviation and the Carousel.

Section 3 – Includes the Carousel, the Organ Room, the Doll House Room, the Circus Room, the Galleries and the Doll Carousel Room.

Carousel at House on the Rock.

During the Regular Season (March 14-Nov. 10, 2013) all three self-guided sections are open.

During Christmas at the House on the Rock (Nov. 14, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014) St. Nick takes up residence in the House on the Rock. More than 6,000 collectibles of Old St. Nick visit The Attraction, decking the halls and adorning the walls throughout sections 1 and 2 (section 3 is closed).

2013 Regular Season Dates and Hours
Now-May 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Open Daily)
May 25-Sept. 2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Open Daily)
Sept. 3-Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Open Daily)

The Ultimate Experience is a self-guided visit of all three sections of The House on the Rock.

(BYW Each of the three sections may be purchased as a separate admission ($12.50 per section) if you choose not to purchase the Ultimate Experience Admission.)

Adult (age 18 and over) $28.50
Senior (age 65 and over) $26.50
Children (age 4-17) $15.50
Children (3 and under) FREE
Four (4) tokens are included with each paid full price adult and senior. Tokens can be used in music machines or redeemed in the gift shops or food outlets at the Attraction.

Ticket sales and admittance end one hour before closing time.

Information

The House on the Rock
5754 State Road 23
Spring Green, WI 53533
800-334-5275 or 608-935-3639
URL: TheHouseOnTheRock.com

Directions use MapQuest

*** During May 2013, State Road 23, just north of The House on the Rock, is closed and traffic is being detoured. If you are coming from Spring Green, the road is open through Spring Green and detoured after you cross the river. There will be signs directing you. If you are coming from Dodgeville, the road is open to The House on the Rock.

To read more RV writing by Julianne G. Crane, go to RVWheelLife.com

The Spectacular Bryce Canyon-Utah

2013-04-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

Bryce Canyon is a Must-See. But I remember driving along the ridge when we first visited it thinking, "What's the big deal...all I see are pine and juniper trees"? But then....we drove to a viewpoint, got out of our car, and walked up to the railing overlooking the side of the ridge and....WOW ! Suddenly, we understood why people call Bryce Canyon spectacular.

View from Inspiration Point.

There are at least 14 viewpoints worth taking in. A shuttle that will take you from point to point (for a fee) or you can drive yourself.

There is a great Visitor's Center that has very knowledgeable rangers, a movie about the park, a bookstore (of course) and a museum that shows off the park geology and the habitats of the animals in the park.

Besides the viewpoints, there are many hikes that take you to the bottom of the spires (called Hoo Doos) that are recommended to get a more complete view of the park. (Hiking down is somewhat easy...it's the getting out that takes some time).

View from the Queen's Gate hike....about 2 miles round-trip down and out.

For more photos and information you can visit the Park's website

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

or here...

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/04/bryce-canyon-still-magnificent.html?view=sidebar

and

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5872835209435926833

"Best Date Shake in Desert," great deli sandwiches in Coachella Valley

2013-04-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Windmill Market in Desert Hot Springs, Ca. (Julianne G. Crane)

If you have ever traveled through the Indio-Palm Springs region of the Coachella Valley in Southern California, chances are you've seen them--the numerous signs declaring "World Famous Date Shakes."

I must admit, I'm always up for ferreting out the next great, super thick, extra frosty, spoon-able milk shake. So, the last time we pulled into Desert Hot Springs to visit my longtime gal pal, Rachel Scott, she told me about the Windmill Market on the outskirts of town that touts the "Best Date Shake in the Desert." Off we went for our own taste test.

Inside Windmill Market (Julianne G. Crane

The Windmill Market sits on an almost-barren stretch of Indian Canyon Drive near Dillon Road. From the outside, it is modest and very unpretentious. The parking lot has a mere four slots, one of which is handicapped-only. There is enough room for most RVs on the dirt area just north of the deli, and I spotted a tour van parked on the dirt shoulder just south of the store.

The inside of this mom-and-pop establishment is comfortable and welcoming with a down-home funkiness. There are retro signs, black-and-white photographs, Moon Pies and an amazing soda selection including butterscotch root beer. The little market offers a limited selection of fresh fruit and produce.

Owner Lee Olsen points to menu. (Julianne G. Crane)

Owner Lee Olsen says he hasn't changed the prices in years. The deli menu features:
- $3.99 made-to-order sandwiches including ham, turkey, pastrami, roast beef, vegetarian and the extremely popular, nostalgic liverwurst. Comes with potato or macaroni salad, or small bag of chips.
- .99-cent loaded ground beef tacos. There are also burritos, quesadillas, salads and hot dogs.
- Daily week-day specials including Monday's meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetable and garlic bread for $5.99.

But what really calls to this visitor on a warm day is that promise of the "Best Date Shake in the Desert." Each shake is made-to-order the old-fashioned way with real milk, real vanilla ice cream and real medjools dates from local farms. Prices: $2.99 for a small, $3.99 for a large.

Julianne and Rachel sip their date shakes in the garden patio.

Another delightful surprise is the garden patio behind the market. There are colorful plants and tables with umbrellas. Take in the mountain views a few miles north of Palm Springs.

This is a great little place to kick off your visit to the Coachella Valley. Chances are you will want to come back for a second Daily Special, or another delicious date shake.

Fresh dates. (Julianne G. Crane)

Windmill Market
17080 N. Indian Canyon Dr.
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Take out orders: (760) 251-4489

Hours:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Directions:
From I-10, Exit 120 and head north for about 1-1/2 mile. It's on the right (east)
From CA 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway), turn east on Dillion Road, 3.2 miles to Indian Canyon Drive, turn south and spot it on the left (east).
(Near the corner of Indian Canyon and Dillon)

To read more RV lifestyle articles by Julianne G. Crane go to RVWheelLife.com
Photos by Julianne G. Crane. Click on photos to enlarge.

The overlooked park in Utah - Capitol Reef

2013-04-27T09:22:00.003-07:00

Capitol Reef NP is sometimes overlooked because Zion, Bryce and Arches get all the attention but it's the most unique of all of them for it has Waterpocket Fold geology.

The fold is difficult to describe but....instead of the earth shifting, like normal, the Pacific Plate from the west "folded" the earth so that the layers folded above the surface. Very unusual. See illustration below.

Terrific three-dimensional map in the Visitor's Center.

The park is filled with canyons, cliffs, towers, domes, and arches. The Fremont River has cut canyons through parts of the Waterpocket Fold, but most of the park is arid desert country. A scenic drive shows park visitors some of the highlights, but it runs only a few miles from the main highway. Hundreds of miles of trails and unpaved roads lead the more adventurous into the equally scenic backcountry.

Good hikes throughout the park and many, many drives to take to view the entire park. If you have a 4-wheel drive or jeep-like vehicle, you can get even further into the park although the Rangers tell you that the gravel roads are good for passenger cars as well. The best drives are down the length of the "fold".

For more photos and explanations you can view them at this blog:

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/04/capitol-reef-national-park.html

or at this site where we've uploaded more photos of the fantastic geology.

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5871544241232575137

Arches National Park - SO much more than arches

2013-04-23T07:13:00.003-07:00

When you think of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, you usually think of the many arches to see. But there is so much more to see. We spent three days there recently and came away with over 1,200 photos! Gotta love digital photography.

The first 2-3 miles into the park takes you up, up, up and into the grand valley. That first part alone is worth the visit.

Then you can get to the arches. Landscape, North and South Windows, Tunnel, Double Arch, Delicate Arch...and on and on.

Landscape Arch, the biggest in the park...over a football field in length and as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

The best way to see the park up close is to get out on the numerous hikes. Most are easy and mild, some are more strenuous....all are worth it. Be sure to get on your hikes early....between 7 and 8am. You can have the place all to yourselves before the crowds show up.

This is Delicate Arch, the emblem for the state of Utah's license plate. Worth the 3-mile round trip hike up.

We've posted many more photos of the park if you're interested in viewing them.

http://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/04/arches-national-park.html?view=sidebar

and

http ://stricksretirement.blogspot.com/2013/04/arches-more-photos.html

and

https://plus.google.com/photos/100376105788369441882/albums/5868396503778844209

Panhandle-Plains Museum the "Smithsonian" of Texas is worth a visit.

2013-04-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

We visited the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum the other day....thought we'd stay for an hour or so....Three and a half hours later we decided to call it a day....what a place! PPHM been described as “the Smithsonian with a Texas accent”.

There were separate wings for

Pioneer Town
People of the Plains
Art
Petroleum
Windmills
Paleontology
Geology
Archeology
Weapons
Textiles
Transportation
Pioneer Hall
T Anchor Ranch

Each of these was extensive enough that you could visit one a day and come away saturated.

http://www.panhandleplains.org/pages/home.asp

What struck us the most was how imaginative the exhibitions were. Not just photos on a wall but displays in the floor, the ceiling, multi-media, video rooms (that were motion activated so when you walked into the room, they started), full-sized windmills, oil rigs, etc. All of this variation keeps your attention.

We have not even mentioned the outside museum building walls nor the inside HUGE murals.

A great place to visit. We wish we'd had more time...or days!

Tubac, Arizona = Southwest art, pottery, clothing, food, history

2013-03-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

General Store in Tubac, Arizona. (Julianne G. Crane)

The recorded history of Tubac dates back to 1691 when Padre Kino established a mission at Tumacacori and the Tubac area became a mission farm and ranch. Established as a community in 1752, Tubac is sits in south central Arizona, 45 miles south of Tucson, just east of I-19 at exit 34.

It lies in the Santa Cruz River Valley and is bordered by Santa Rita, Tumacacori and San Cayetano Mountains. By the mid-1800s the area boomed with the discovery of gold in the nearby mountains.

Jimmy Smith looking through pottery. (Julianne G. Crane)

Today, Tubac is an arts and crafts colony that boosts more than 100 eclectic shops, galleries and cafes.

This internationally known artist community, with numerous historic sites, hosts a variety of special events annually including: Festival of the Arts (February); Art Walk (March); Anza Days (October); Art Experience (November); Luminarias (December).

Artisan jewelry in General Store

It's easy to pass a lazy morning simply browsing through a handful of shops, then pausing for lunch at one of the many local eateries before returning to a few more stores for original art work, including local pottery, wood and silver work, stitchery, and amazing Southwest clothing.

Plaza Road in Tubac, Ariz. (Julianne G. Crane)

As for historical interest, Tubac has been home to at least five distinct cultures: Hohokam (300-1400 AD); O’odham (Pima and Papago) in the 1500s; Spanish (1752-1821); Mexican (1821-1853); and American (1853-present).

Tubac’s fortunes rose and fell with the establishment and withdrawal of military forces from 1752 through the surrender of Geronimo in 1866.

Tubac Center of the Arts on north of Plaza. (Julianne G. Crane)

The Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac was the first European settlement in what later became the state of Arizona. The village preserves three significant buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: Arizona’s second oldest Territorial School House (1885), the Rojas House (1890), and the Otero Hall (1914).

For more information:
Tubac Chamber of Commerce: www.tubacaz.com

To learn more about the nearby Tumacacori Mission click here for a post on RV Short Stops.

And for more about other local places to visit, click on: the Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Co. and the Tumacacori Outpost, with its hodge-podge of antiques and collectibles.

To enlarge photos, just double click on them.
To read more writing by Julianne G. Crane, go to RVWheelLife.com

A visit to Prescott illustrates Arizona's early territorial history

2013-03-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

The Wild West was typified in the settling of Arizona as migrants, Civil War veterans, gamblers, gold seekers, missionaries, and flim-flammers headed west to seek their fortune.

The town of Prescott--if you can call a hodgepodge of tents and crude cabins a town--became the first territorial capital and the first governor's mansion was built in 1864.

Hardly a mansion by today's standards--it was a log cabin built from Ponderosa pines cut in the surrounding forests--it was the home to the first governor.

Now a museum complex a few short blocks from the plaza in downtown Prescott the assemblage of historic buildings and permanent collections--including the Sharlot Hall Museum--makes it the largest museum complex in central Arizona.

Changing exhibits illustrate the early days of Prescott and the Arizona Territory. The museum staff, actors, and volunteers also present a variety of live programs such as festivals, theatre performances, and living history reenactments that depict the area’s rich regional heritage.

The museum buildings include the Fremont House built in 1875, home of John Charles Fremont while he served as Arizona’s fifth Territorial Governor, and Fort Misery built in 1863-64--the oldest standing log building in the Arizona Territory.

Scattered around the museum grounds you will also find replicas of a typical ranch house and a schoolhouse of the period, an authentic 1885 iron turbine windmill relocated from a local ranch, a vehicle collection, and a variety of gardens including the Rose Garden with over 260 rose bushes honoring Arizona’s pioneer women. Located at 415 West Gurley Street in Prescott.

Mickey Mouse watches, hot spices within easy walk of Tumacácori Mission

2013-02-26T11:55:00.000-08:00

Tumacacori Outpost (Julianne G. Crane)

As mentioned on a recent entry on RV Short Stops about the Tumacácori National Historical Park, there are at least two other shinny spots of interest near the mission that might encourage you to pull your RV off exit 29 on I-19 south of Tucson for an afternoon of sight-seeing, browsing and sampling hot spices.

- Tumacacori Outpost

Jammed with treasures. (Julianne G. Crane

Located in the heart of the historic Santa Cruz Valley and directly across the road from the mission is the Tumacacori Outpost, with its hodge-podge of antiques and collectibles.

It is one of those places where you can kill lots of time just moseying from one display case to the next. One glass enclosed case that caught my eye was the offering of Mickey Mouse watches. I happen to own an original Minnie Mouse watch, direct from Disneyland in Anaheim, given to me decades ago by my sister. I treasure it and keep replacing the batteries.

All Mickeys, no Minnies

Details:

Tumacacori Outpost Antiques & Collectibles
1892 E Frontage Rd.
Tumacacori, AZ

(520) 398-9626

Julianne G. Crane

- Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Company

This destination retail store, tasting room, museum, is only 100-yards-or-so south of the Tumacácori Mission.

Santa Cruz Chili is both "a manufacturer and retailer of fine chili products." It sells, "a wide variety of gourmet Southwestern foods, cookbooks and a large selection of spices and herbs." Inside the retail store is also "a quaint Western Museum documenting the rich history of the area."

Jimmy Smith in tasting room and museum. (Julianne G. Crane)

The company is a small, family-owned business. Their chili products reflect "the unique mixture of Mexican and Western cultures that are so much a part of the Santa Cruz Valley. "The flavors are pure and authentic," states the Web site. "They represent the valley's rich heritage."

Drop by to see the museum artifacts, sample the chili pastes and sauces, and "find that spice you have been looking for or just soak up the rich history and heritage of this special land."

Santa Cruz Chili Paste

Details:
Jean England Neubauer
Owner, Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Co.
Just north of exit 29 off of I-19
1868 E. Frontage Rd.
Tumacacori, Ariz.
Store Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday:10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(Summer hours: 10 a.m - 3 p.m.)
Sunday: Closed
Call for Holiday schedule: (520) 398-2591

Photos: (Julianne G. Crane) Read more about the RV lifestyle by Julianne G. Crane by going to RV Wheel Life.

Tumacacori National Historical Park between Tucson and Nogales, Arizona

2013-02-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Entry to Tumacacori National Historical Park.

Not to make comparisons ... however, if you are in the neighborhood of Bob Difley's Mission San Xavier del Bac (posted 1/20/13 on RVShortStops), consider driving a few miles futher south toward Nogales and visit the much more humble Tumacacori National Historical Park.

Tumacacori is considered the Mission to the Pimas. Made of adobe, plaster and wood, "these ruins evoke tales of life and land transformed by cultures meeting and mixing."

Small guided group tour at 2 p.m. (Julianne G. Crane)

Visitors to Tumacácori enter the park through the visitor center (above), staffed by very gracious National Park Service employees and volunteers. The museum and bookstore provide a wealth of information, including a 15-minute video (started at any time by the push of a button). A self-guiding tour book can be borrowed in the bookstore. On the day we were there, a park volunteer led a walking tour of the mission and grounds.

Tortilla making

Local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts on the grounds which may include tortilla making, paper flower making, O'odham basket weaving, leather working or iron working. During November-December look for demonstrations on the weekends. January-April, there are activities Wednesday through Sunday.

The mission, itself is fascinating. Father Kino established Mission San José de Tumacácori in January 1691, one day before Guevavi, making it the oldest mission site in what is now Arizona.

Mission, bell tower. (Julianne G. Crane)

"The Franciscans began work in 1800 on an ambitious undertaking - a church that would match the frontier baroque glory of the celebrated Mission San Xavier del Bac not far to the north. Under the direction of a master mason, a crew of Indian and Spanish laborers laid five-foot thick cobblestone foundations that year, but construction ground to a halt as funds dried up. Over the next few years they were able to add a few courses of adobe bricks, bringing the walls up to seven feet [high]. These were plastered inside and out and decorative handfuls of crushed brick were pressed into the wet plaster."

Inside mission shows details of construction.

"It was not until 1821 that work truly resumed. An enterprising Franciscan, Father Juan Bautista Estelric, sold 4,000 head of the mission's cattle to a local rancher, Don Ignacio Pérez, and with the first payment hired a new master and pushed the work ahead. The walls were raised to 14 feet, but the rancher stalled on his payments and construction again ceased. Two years later, Father Ramón Liberós, a persistent friar, finally got the rancher to pay his bill, and work resumed. Within a few years the church was almost completed, although the bell tower was never capped with its dome. The church must have been a striking landmark in the flat Santa Cruz Valley, with its embellished and painted façade and plaster walls embedded with crushed red brick."

If you go:

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when the park is closed.

Entrance fee: $3 per person, age 16 or older, and is valid for seven days. Free to those with America the Beautiful or Golden Age passes.

Directions: Tumacácori National Historical Park is located off of Exit 29 of I-19, 50 miles south of Tucson and 18 miles north of Nogales, Arizona. The Visitor Center and Museum are located at 1891 East Frontage Road, Tumacacori, Arizona, 85640. (You can't miss it.)

And, to make your drive to here even more worthwhile, the post on two other places nearby where you might want to pull your RV off the interstate for a look-see, click here for information on the Santa Cruz Chili and Taumacacori Outpost.

To read more writings by Julianne G. Crane about the RV lifestyle, go to RVWheelLife.com
All images by Julianne G. Crane. Click on images to enlarge.

Alvord Desert Hot Springs - open year round

2013-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Approaching dry camp area near Alvord Hot Springs (Julianne G. Crane)

Alvord Hot Springs is a geothermal spring located in southeast Oregon on the eastern slope of the Steen Mountains on the western edge of the vast Alvord Desert. The springs sit at an elevation of 4,080 feet in the Oregon high desert region. Currently open to the public year-round.

Hot springs on Alvord Ranch (Julianne G. Crane)

The Alvord Hot Springs is on the Alvord Ranch, and is privately owned, as is most of the desert itself. Please be respectful of this, clean up after yourself, and do no harm.

After years of providing free access to the springs, as of March 1, 2013, a fee will be charged, according to an e-mail from Paul Davis, a member of the family who owns the Alvord Ranch.

(Update: 2/17/2013 e-mail from Paul Davis:

"As I see this, being the land owner, these are my options:

1. Continue to ignore the liability issue knowing that someday it WILL be addressed.

2. Sell the property, but John Doe has the same options.

3. Close off property, but to do so I will have to destroy it as people still will trespass.

4. Charge for the use of this resource.

"I have tried to lease the property to the BLM [Bureau of Land Management] since 2008 with the idea they take on the liability. To do so they want a 25-year lease. I will not do this because I feel it will be a publicized park. I would entertain the idea of a 5-year [lease] as this would keep advertising to a minimum.

"So here is the plan: March 1, 2013 a fee will be collected by a caretaker. I will run with this for a year or two; but in the end, if it does not work, I have no choice but to close it down."
Paul Davis, Alvord Ranch

The spring and facility
At its source the spring water is a scalding 174 degree Fahrenheit, but flows through a series of channels down into a soaking pool, allowing the waters to cool considerably. A wooden platform provides easy access from the road. A windscreen and changing shed have been constructed around the pools, creating one outdoor and one sheltered pool.

Hot soak on cold day. (Julianne G. Crane)

Half of the pool is enclosed by a corrugated wall above the ground. The outdoor pool is about 10-feet by 10-feet, with water three feet deep. The temperature at the pool stays around 112 degrees F. The pool is bound by concrete walls with a concrete slab bottom and are surrounded by nice decking. Swimsuit optional.

Camping:
Currently dispersed, no fee. There is a large flat area directly across from the Alvord Hot Springs. There are no services and no shade, but plenty of level ground for dry camping. These campsites are not improved, so bring in your own toilet. Alvord Desert is a dry lake bed. This is a vast open space, so there is no protection from the wind. On the days we were there in mid-March it was windy and temperatures were below freezing with snow flurries.

Dry camping near Alvord Hot Springs.

Location:
Alvord Hot Springs is 107 miles southeast of Burns, Ore.
South of Burns on Hwy 205.
Drive north of Fields, Ore., on County Road 201 (gravel) for 25 miles.

Gas, groceries, a cafe, motel, propane and an RV park are located in Fields.

Sources: Gill Adventures and 'Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest' by Marjorie Gersh-Young.

To read more of Julianne G Crane's writing, go to RVWheelLife.com.

Photos: Alvord Hot Springs by Julianne G Crane

Mission San Xavier del Bac one of the West's earliest remaining buildings still in use

2013-01-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC

If you are a history buff, you know that in the Western states, unlike along the eastern seaboard or New England, you don’t see many historic sites chronicling European exploration with dates in the early 1500s, 1600s, and early 1700s when the Europeans were settling what would eventually become the United States of America.

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit Priest from Northern Italy, was one of the first missionaries to visit the wes. He visited Native Americans in the O’odham community of Wak (Bac), south of what is now Tucson, Arizona as long ago as 1692.

Though he fruitlessly attempted to build a rustic church as early as 1700, it was Father Alonso Espinosa who actually began building the first church of any substance in 1756. Father Francisco Garces arrived in 1768 and became its first minister.

The current structure, though added to and rebuilt over the years, was begun during the American Revolution clear over on the East Coast, in 1776 and wasn’t completed until 1797. It is an outstanding example of Spanish baroque architecture, with elegant arches, domes, and twin bell towers (one left unfinished). Inside resides a historically priceless collection of Mexican baroque art, frescoes, and wooden carvings. An ongoing process of restoration begun in the early 1990s is restoring the original luster to the 200-plus year-old art.

Mission San Xavier del Bac’s dazzling white walls have given it the name “The White Dove of the Desert,” and it still serves the Tohono O’odham today with daily masses.

Photography is permitted when services are not in progress. Drive nine miles south of Tucson on I-19 and take exit 92. Turn west for one mile. The church is open daily 8AM to 6PM. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

On the grounds outside the church the O’odham operate a makeshift market of native jewelry, pottery, arts and crafts, and several food booths featuring Indian fry bread.

Homolovi Ruins State Park near Winslow, Arizona ...

2013-01-05T18:37:00.001-08:00

Park sign (Julianne G. Crane)

Driving near Winslow, Arizona, I recalled reading Consuelo Heath's 2011 RV Short Stops' post: "Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona." What a nostalgic snapshot for people coming of age in the early 70s. (The location memorializes the corner mentioned in the second verse of "Take it Easy," written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and made famous by the Eagles in the band's first single, released on May 1, 1972.)

As enticing as that downtown corner is, our destination was a couple miles north of Winslow and I-40 -- Arizona's Homolovi Ruins State Park.

“Homolovi” is Hopi for “Place of the Little Hills” — the traditional name for Winslow, Arizona.

Pottery at Homolovi State Park museum.

"The Hopi people of today still consider Homolovi, as well as other precolumbian sites in the southwest, to be part of their homeland. They continue to make pilgrimages to these sites, renewing the ties of the people with the land. The Hopi tell us that the broken pottery and stones are now part of the land and are the trail the Bahana will follow when he returns. Therefore, these are mute reminders that the Hopi continue to follow the true Hopi way and the instructions of Masau'u," according to the park's website.

The park serves as a center of research for "the late migration period of the Hopi from the 1200s to the late 1300s. While archaeologists study the sites and confer with the Hopi to unravel the history of Homolovi, Arizona State Parks provides the opportunity for visitors to visit the sites and use park facilities" including a visitor center and museum, a number of hiking trails and an RV-tent campground. Pullouts along a road through the park provide the opportunity to observe wildlife in this park of more than 4,000 acres at an elevation of 4,900 feet.

Homolovi State Park Campsite (Julianne G. Crane)

Location: North of I-40, Exit 247 (north of Winslow, between Flagstaff, Ariz., and the New Mexico border.

The Homolovi Visitor Center includes exhibits and gift shop. Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Campground
Our site was $20* for a 30 amp back-in site. (Remember the elevation is almost 5,000 feet and it does get cold overnight at least six months out of the year.)
Showers and restrooms are available throughout the year.

Reservations: Make online by clicking here.
You can also call the Reservation Center at (520) 586-2283 seven days a week, from 8 a.m. -- 5 p.m. MST. * There is an additional $5 non-refundable reservation fee per site. (We were drop-ins and only paid the camping fee.)

To read more of Julianne G Crane's writing, go to RVWheelLife.com.

Explore the other-worldly depths of Arizona's Kartchner Caverns

2012-12-29T16:40:00.001-08:00

What was originally known as the "Secret Cave" was discovered by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts in November 1974 when exploring the limestone hills at the eastern base of Arizona's Whetstone Mountains. They were looking “for a cave no one had ever found” and found it.

The two kept the cave a secret until February 1978 when they told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their awesome discovery. But it wasn't until years later, after making sure that the cave was properly protected and preserved that the caverns--named after the Kartchners--opened to the public as an Arizona State Park in 1999.

Kartchner is not just a cave, but a 28-room, 2.5-mile long cave system. The Examiner.com wrote about the caverns in 2010,

The immaculate cave decorations within Kartchner Caverns are some of the finest that you will see anywhere in the United States - and possibly worldwide. Over countless millennia water saturated with calcium carbonate and a variety of minerals has - drip by drip and inch by inch - steadily created a glorious array of speleothems which will delight both the spelunker and sightseer alike. The cavern ceiling is adorned with forests of Stalactites glistening like icicles on a frosty winter morning, reefs of delicate helictites with small white polyps are clustered in the caves nooks and crannies, a gleaming white calcite shield shaped like an angel's wing is affixed to the wall like an ancient heraldic emblem whilst slender Soda Straws - fashioned like fine glass filaments - hang from the ceiling.

Guided tours are offered and camping is available at the state park and in nearby Benson. Go online to learn more about Kartchner Caverns SP or for a Calendar of Events. Watch the video below for a virtual tour of the caverns.

The caverns are 12 miles south of Benson in southeastern Arizona.

Austin's Congress Street always worth a look

2012-12-16T18:07:00.001-08:00

Gibson Street Artisan Market. Click on photo to enlarge. (Julianne G. Crane)

There is always much to see on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, there are plenty of reasons to venture downtown for both funky and family activities.

On a recent visit in early December, we started in the 'Keep Austin Wierd' SoCo Neighborhood on south Congress Avenue because of its abundance of unique shops and eateries--including the (top) Gibson Street Artisan Market, (1318 S. Congress Ave.) one of two artisan-ONLY markets in the entire city. Open Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Crossing Town Lake in downtown Austin. (Julianne G. Crane)

According to an item on YELP.com: "All the artists are local, so the prices are good- as is the selection and product quality. Available regularly is a variety of jewelry, sewn goods, leather goods, and furniture. This is so Austin. You can adopt a dog; grab a crepe, burger or taco; and shop a variety of quality handcrafts all in one place."

We drove north on Congress Avenue, crossing over the Town Lake Bike and Hike Trail toward the State Capitol Building. The must-see Capitol building is modeled after the nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C., and sits on 26 acres in the heart of the historic Capitol District.

Old Bakery (Julianne G. Crane)

Less than a block from the Capitol is the historic Old Bakery and Emporium, (right) an Austin landmark bearing an official Texas Historical Commission medallion.

While it no longer serves food, it operates as a gift shop with unique gifts, Visitor Information Center, art gallery exhibiting local artists 50-or-better and houses a small museum, the Lundberg-Maerki Historical Collection.

To learn more about getting around Downtown Austin, click here.

Photos by Julianne G. Crane. (Click on photos to enlarge.) To read more by Julianne G. Crane, go to RVWheelLife.com

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at Yosemite National Park, California

2012-12-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trailhead

The Mariposa Grove, just two miles inside Yosemite National Park's South Entrance, (off Hwy. 41) contains about 500 mature Giant Sequoias which are said to be the 'largest' living things on Earth

While the Giant Sequoias aren’t the tallest or biggest around (basal diameter)--in total volume they are the 'largest' living things known to humans.

The tallest tree in the Mariposa Grove is about 290 feet (88 meters). The biggest in basal diameter is just over 40 feet (12 meters). The oldest is around 3,000 years.

After finding a parking slot at the trailhead (above--notice the size of the cars versus the size of the trees), we purchased a brochure (50 cents) written by NPS Ranger Jon Kinney (1946-1986) which included a map of the Grove trail system. (Both brochure and map are available for download online.)

'Grizzly Giant' (Julianne G Crane)

We hiked the 0.8 miles from the parking lot to the Grizzly Giant. There is about 500 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead which sits at approximately 5,500 feet.

What grabs one's attention first about the Grizzly Giant (right) is its girth. It is one of the largest trees in the Mariposa Grove and, at an estimated age of 2,700 years, one of the world's oldest living Sequoias.

As you approach its base and look up, the lowest limb is almost seven feet (2 meters) in diameter, and that mere branch is larger than the trunk of any non-Sequoia in the grove.

Some 50 yards beyond the Grizzly Giant is the California Tunnel Tree, cut in 1895 for stagecoaches.

Julianne & Jimmy at Tunnel Tree

Most visitors don’t know that two trees in this grove were tunneled, one of which is still standing--the California Tunnel tree. Walk down and stroll through a tree.

Further up the trail is the Mariposa Grove Museum, fine cabin, built in 1930 and restored in 1983. It occupies the site where Galen Clark built a small cabin in 1861. Inside are exhibits on the ecology and history of Giant Sequoias.

According to the brochure, "It’s these trees’ resistance to fire, disease, insects and decay that allows them to live through the centuries. Only by toppling do they finally succumb."

Mariposa Grove sign (Julianne G. Crane)

More Information:

Learn more about visiting this unique area by clicking on the Yosemite National Park's Mariposa Grove.

You can visit Yosemite all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow. You can drive your car into and around the park.

When the Mariposa Grove Road from the South Entrance (about 5,000 feet elevation) is closed during winter, you can still walk, snowshoe, or ski up the road (two miles with about 500 feet of elevation gain).

You don't need reservations to visit or enter Yosemite National Park, but reservations for lodging or camping are essential if you plan to spend the night in the park.

The park entrance fee is $20 per vehicle. This is valid for unlimited entries to Yosemite for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car. If you have a Senior Pass entry fee is waived.

To read more by Julianne G Crane go to RVWheelLife.com

Click on photos to enlarge: (Top) The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias trailhead's parking lot. Notice size of cars in comparison to these largest living trees on the planet. (Second) Grizzly Giant. (Third) Julianne G Crane and Jimmy Smith at the California Tunnel Tree. (Fourth) Entry sign to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. (Photos by Julianne G. Crane)

Visit Patagonia Lake SP in December for weekend boat tours and programs

2012-12-01T10:36:00.001-08:00

Weekends in December: Pontoon Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake SP

Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona is the hidden treasure of Patagonia Lake State Park, with a 265-acre man-made lake where anglers catch crappie, bass, bluegill and catfish. Pontoon boat tours will be offered on the lake on Saturdays and Sundays in December.

Avian tours will be offered at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. and will go to the east end of the lake. An experienced birder will be on board to point out, identify, and talk about the birds seen.

At 11:30 am the Lake Discovery Tour goes to the west end of the lake. The guide on board will point out geological formations, discuss the dam which created Patagonia Lake, and provide a brief history of the area.

A Twilight tour just before dark on Saturdays. The sunsets can be spectacular from the lake and seeing the shoreline from the water is a delightful experience.

The cost for each one-hour boat trip is $5, payable at the beginning of the trip in the Visitor Center. Reservations are advised. Call 520-287-2791. Plan to arrive at the Visitor Center 15 minutes before departure to sign in, pay and be outfitted with a life jacket.

Saturday Evening Programs
Saturday evening programs will cover a wide range of topics. Programs start at 7 p.m. and usually last an hour. Meet at the Sonoita Creek Visitor at Patagonia Lake.

Dec. 1: Ghost Towns of Santa Cruz County
Dec. 8: Discover Patagonia Lake & Sonoita Creek – Past & Present
Dec. 15: Birds of Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek
Dec. 22: Ghost Towns of Santa Cruz County
Dec. 29: An Introduction to the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area

Park Entrance Fees:
Per Vehicle (1-4 Adults): $10-$15
Individual/Bicycle: $3

Camping Fees:
Non-Electric site: $17
Electric site: $25-$28
Cabana or Boat Site: $17-$20

LBJ Ranch in Texas Hill Country

2012-11-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, in the middle of Texas Hill Country, is a favorite destination of many RV snowbirds making their way to their winter homes. Managed by the National Park Service, the park is open year round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, ushered in landmark legislation such as Medicare, Head Start and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The tall Texan "had a deep attachment for place and heritage." The LBJ Ranch was where he was born, lived, died, and was buried. It is said that President Johnson "flew home to his Texas ranch 74 times during his five years in office, living and working for 490 days—or about one-fourth of his presidency—at the Texas White House."

After the President's death in 1973, Mrs. Johnson continued to live at the Ranch part time until her death in 2007.

LBJ Texas White House. (Courtesy of National Park Service)

Self-Guided Ranch Tours

Visitors are now able to tour the Ranch at their own pace in their private vehicle with the ability to stop at sites along the way such as the President's birthplace, Johnson family cemetery, and the Johnson's ranch house known as the Texas White House.

Obtain a free driving permit at the LBJ State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center in Stonewall, Texas. You will also receive a map indicating the tour route and a CD containing narrative audio for the route. Driving permits are good only for the day of issue.

Hours of Operation

Seven days a week. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Driving Permits are given out starting at 9 a.m. No Permits are given out after 4:15 p.m.
Ranch Entrance Gate: open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ranch Exit Gate: Closes at 5:30 p.m.

Texas White House Tours

Following the death of Mrs. Johnson in 2007, individual rooms were opened to the public as they become ready.

The first room to open was President Johnson's office (the west room) on the 100th anniversary of his birth, August 27, 2008. The living room and dining room were opened in June 2009. As part of the self-guided Ranch Tour, visitors may stop for a ranger-guided tour.

Cost for tours of the ground floor of the Texas White House:
Ages 18 and older: $2.
Ages 17 and younger: free

Location:
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

The park has two visitor areas separated by about 14 miles: the Johnson Settlement/Visitor Center/Boyhood Home/Park Headquarters in Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall.

The Park Visitor Center in Johnson City is 50 miles west of Austin and 60 miles north of San Antonio. The State of Texas manages a Visitor Center near Stonewall where the visitor can obtain a free driving permit to the LBJ Ranch.

RV camping opportunities are in Fredericksburg, 18 miles west of the LBJ Ranch. One is the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal RV Park located 3 miles south of Fredericksburg, TX, on State Highway 16.

Contact Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for other camping locations in the area or call 1-800-792-1112.

To read more by Julianne G Crane go to RVWheelLife.com

National Bison Range, Quinn's Hot Springs in northwest Montana

2012-11-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Bull bison (Courtesy of National Bison Refuge)

Even in the winter, the National Bison Range near Ravalli, Mont., is a great place to view a wide variety of indigenous Northwest wildlife and native grassland species--as well as one of the largest bison herds in the United States.

The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Established in 1908 it is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation.

The Refuge was established to support a population of American bison and is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is an incredible place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.

Start at the Visitor Center that features interpretive displays and orientation videos, as well as, a bookstore and restrooms. Staff answer questions.

The Range is part of the U.S. Fee System and accepts and sells the Federal Recreational Area Passes and Federal Waterfowl Stamps. It also accepts the older Golden Passes.

Contact information:
National Bison Range
58355 Bison Range Road
Moiese, MT 59824
(406) 644-2211
URL: www.fws.gov/bisonrange/

Winter Hours (mid-October to mid-May)
Visitor Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays.
Winter Drive open daily 7 a.m. to dark (weather and road conditions permitting).

Quinn's Hot Springs

Just 30 miles from the National Bison Range is a wonderful place for a dip in hot springs.

Quinn's Hot Springs Resort has six mineral pools open to both lodge guests and day users. The water contains Silica, Sulfate, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Iron for soaking and swimming.

There are four soaking pools range in temperature from 60-106 degrees Farenheit. The two swimming pools typically range from 80-95 degrees F. The water is natural, chemical free and flows through continuously.

Pool hours: Adult lodging guests may use the pools from 7 a.m.–11 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

Day passes are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On busy days, Quinn's reserves the right to allocate pool use for day passes to 3-hour sessions to prevent overcrowding.

(by Julianne G Crane)

Rates: $10 per person per session.

Contact information:

Quinn's Hot Springs
190 Quinn's Canyon Road / Hwy. 135 (Exit 33, I-90)
Paradise, Montana
800.628-0212
406.826-3150
URL: www.QuinnsHotSprings.com

To read more by Julianne G Crane go to RVWheelLife.com