RV Short Stops

Explore the frontier American West at the Buffalo Bill Center

2012-05-18T09:20:00.004-07:00

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, celebrates the spirit of the American West by weaving together the stories of the western experience—history and myth, art and Native culture, firearms technology and natural history—into the rich tapestry that is the West.

Named for William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the man who “took the West to the world,” the Center reveals these stories of the past and present. Learn all about Buffalo Bill, his Wild West Show, and the West he knew and loved. Follow his life from frontiersman to actor, showman to entrepreneur, real man to the legend he became.

Discover the art of the West through stunning, priceless masterworks of painting and sculpture, with subjects ranging from inspirational landscapes, unique wildlife, diverse peoples, and the fascinating heroes and legends of the West.

Share the life stories—the culture, history, and art—of the Northern Plains Indian peoples, past and present, and hear these stories in their own voices.

The story of the American West is incomplete without firearms. As you tour the most comprehensive collection of American-made firearms in the world, see how firearms factories, competition, and production innovations have as much to do with the West as the gun itself.

Learn more about Buffalo Bill Historical Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, at its website. And no problem with parking for large RVs. The park lot of spacious.

2012 Sky Parties at Carlsbad Caverrns, NM

2012-05-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is hosting several Star Party events during Summer 2012, according to its Web site.

"The park is a perfect spot for viewing the wonders of the night sky due to its location miles away from the lights of the local communities.

"Weather permitting; telescopes will be available for viewing the celestial night sky and will provide an opportunity for visitors to see for themselves what is visible in the universe above.

"Ranger guided programs will be available to discuss a variety of topics from nocturnal creatures, cultural folklore, and astronomy.

"Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. Since bright headlights impair night vision, we ask that all participants arrive early (before dark). These events will be held in the main East parking lot in front of the visitor center, with parking limited to the West lot nearest the Cavern restaurant."

- No fee or advance reservations are necessary for Sky Party events.
- The public is welcome.
- And, while the visitor center and cave will not be open during Sky Party events, consider arriving earlier in the day and take a tour of this fantastic natural wonder.

Summer extended hours: May 25 - Sept. 3, 2012

Last Cavern Entry:
Via Natural Entrance: 3:30 p.m.
Via elevator: 4 p.m.
Visitor Center Open: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Special Events / Dates
Transit of Venus
June 5 (afternoon until sunset)

2012 Star Party dates:
June 16
July 14
Aug. 18 (Perseid Meteor Shower)
Sept. 15
Oct. 13

Blue Moon Night Hike
Aug. 31

For more information, contact Park Ranger Ellen Rohn at 575.785-3165.

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

Le Cordon Bleu gourmet lunch in Scottsdale

2012-05-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

Le Cordon Blue Technique Restaurant, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Julianne Crane)

This is not a restaurant review, or at least not one in the traditional sense. I'm not a gourmet cook, actually I'm not much of a cook at all. However I do love to eat.

On a recent trip to the Phoenix-Scottsdale area where we visited with friends (and Airstream owners) Mary and Bill Knowles, we were treated to a delightful and tasty lunch at the Le Cordon Blue school's student-run Technique Restaurant, which is three-parts eatery and one-part tourist attraction.

Mary Knowles (l), Jimmy Smith, Julianne Crane and and Bill Knowles.

According to its Website: "Le Cordon Bleu is one of the most respected names in culinary education, originating in Paris in 1895. For students in North America, working in the Technique restaurants is the capstone of Le Cordon Bleu’s unique, hands-on curriculum."

The restaurant provides "a straightforward menu inspired by classic techniques, giving students the opportunity to practice what they have learned in the craft of fine cookery. The focus is cooking with simplicity and elegance, using the finest ingredients culled from high quality, sustainable local sources."

It’s a unique opportunity to enjoy an elegant meal, at a reasonable price. When we were there, the three-course lunch was $10. Patrons choose one starter, one entrée and one dessert. Dinner includes the three-course $10 choice or a four-course selection for $15 where patrons select two starters, one entrée, and one dessert.

Cheese Cake (Julianne Crane)

Contact:
Le Cordon Bleu Technique
4301 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 425-3025

Hours:
Tuesday-Friday
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Dinner: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Strongly suggest reservations. (Mary made reservations online two weeks in advance.) Limited number of walk-ins are seated.
URL: (Online reservations can be made through this link) TechniqueRestaurant.com/locations/scottsdale

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

Photos: (Top) Technique Restaurant, Le Cordon Blue, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Julianne Crane)

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

2012-04-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a four-mile scenic railroad excursion near Fish Camp, Calif., and Yosemite National Park's South gate.

This narrow-gauge trip back in time is located on Yosemite Highway 41, about 60 miles north of Fresno, Calif., and is open March through October.

On the day we visited in mid-April, there had been a spring snow storm in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with almost 18 inches accumulation at the railroad station.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Station (Julianne Crane)

We boarded Shay locomotive #15 for the 12:30 p.m. Logger Steam Train ride. This particular vintage machine was built by Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio, in May 1913 for the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Co. near Truckee Calif. It continued in service through 1961. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad purchased the #15 in 1986. It weights 59 tons, with a capacity of 900 gallons of fuel oil and 3,000 gallons of water.

Train conductor (and RVer) Rick Phillips (Julianne Crane)

According to the Logger Steam Train's conductor, Rick Phillips (who is also a fulltimer RVer), our locomotive once hauled massive logs through the Sierra Mountains.

Hardy lumberjacks felled old growth timber and miles of flumes carried sections of trees to the valley.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad also features rides on the quaint 'Model A' powered Jenny Railcars. These trolly-like railcars where once used to provide transportation for logging and track repair crews.

RVer Laurie Phillips works in the museum.

The conductor's wife, Laurie Phillips, works in the Thornberry Museum, which offers a glance at life at the turn of the 20th century.

Family members can pan for real gold and a local prospector will give a hand and demonstrate the technique to find 'the yellow treasure just like the Ol’ Forty-Niners'

If you go:
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
56001 Yosemite Hwy 41
Fish Camp, CA 93623
(559) 683-7273
Url: www.ymsprr.com

Open March-October
Schedule changes as weather warms. Moonlight specials begin in May. Melodramas begin in July. Click here for most current information.

Read more of Julianne Crane's writing by clicking on RVWheelLife.com
Photos: Click on images to enlarge. (Julianne Crane)

Fulton Mansion on Aransas Bay in Rockport, Texas, perfect afternoon RV Short Stop

2012-04-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Fulton Mansion faces Aransas Bay on Texas’ Gulf Coast in Rockport, about 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi.

The 2.7-acre coastal site is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This imposing three-story building was named "Oakhurst." It was built between 1874 and 1877 for George Ware Fulton (1810-1893) and his wife, Harriet Smith Fulton (1823-1910).

The historical significance of this bayside residence lies in its noteworthy architectural style, a classic example of French Second Empire; its unique plank wall and shell aggregate concrete basement; characteristic mansard roof construction methods; and its advanced mechanical systems — which featured gas lighting, central heating and indoor plumbing with hot and cold running water.

The site is part of the Texas Tropical Trail Region.

If you go:

Location: 317 Fulton Beach Rd. Rockport, TX 78382
Phone: 361.729.0386

Tickets: Adults, $6; students, $4.

Tours: Monday-Saturday: 10, 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3 p.m. Sunday: 1, 2, 3 p.m.

Directions:
From State Highway 35, turn east on Henderson Street and travel approximately 7 blocks.

URL: www.visitfultonmansion.com

For more writing by Julianne Crane go to RVWheelLife.com
Photos: Fulton Mansion; view from Fulton Mansion of Aransas Bay, Rockport, Texas. (Julianne Crane)

Eatin' organic at the RV park

2012-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Organic RVing? Does that mean pesticide free biodiesel? Out in Larkspur, Colorado it means RVers munching on organically grown garden goodies. Matt Fredell at the local Jellystone Park is taking Yogi off picnic baskets and putting him into healthy fare like broccoli and carrots. In fact, Fredell--an organic farmer--wants all the guests to taste his organically grown produce.

Campground owner Ian Steyn is so far behind the concept that he's hired a pair of award-winning chefs, Tom and Shari Fritz-Scholten, to teach campground guests gourmet meal-making and win-pairing this summer. "We want to start teaching our guests about the principals of good stewardship, of taking care of yourself and the things around you," Steyn said in a press release.

The campground cookoffs are slated this way:

An outdoor food and wine pairing class on Memorial Day weekend
A gourmet barbecue class on June 16 in celebration of Father’s Day and to help guests prepare for their own July 4 celebrations
A "farm to table" gourmet weekend on July 21, celebrating Colorado’s history and agricultural heritage
A wine pairing class on Aug. 18, which will help guests prepare for Labor Day weekend activities
A fall farm to table celebration on Sept. 21.

If you sign on, you won't need to bring your own silverware. "We plan to serve the food on recycled paper plates, which will then be fed to 10,000 earthworms that will consume the paper and any leftovers. We will then use the casings from the worms as fertilizer for our organic gardens. So everything will go full circle," Steyn said.

gag photo: olgaberrios on flickr.com

Music, vintage (food) trailers in Austin

2012-03-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Austin, Texas, continues to keep its reputation as "The Live Music Capital of the World" with more bands performing per-square-inch than any other place in the known universe. Each March Austin rocks with its immensely popular South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival.

More than 2,000 bands and solo musicians from around the globe are perform in over 90 venues across Austin. In addition to all the music there are more than 250 films screening in the SXSW Film Festival.

With all these famous people in town, one might easily overlook three funky vintage trailers that have been converted in popular eateries.

'Hey Cupcake' Airstream

Always fun, lip-smacking cup cakes. (Julianne Crane)

If you love fresh, delicious cupcakes ... a must stop in Austin, Texas, is "Hey Cupcake!," a sweet roadside stand located in an Airstream trailer at the corner of 1600 So Congress Ave. and Milton St.

After catching a glimpse of the silver Airstream, I pulled over and did some critical research.

When I asked for "something traditional," a gracious young man recommended the Red Velvet cupcake (red velvet cake, cream cheese top for $3). "It's what we're famous for," he smiled. An excellent choice, the Red Velvet is over-the-top, mouth-wateringly yummy. There are four other 'Hey Cupcake' locations in Austin and they all serve nine lip-smacking cup cakes.

'Ms P's Electric Cock' - Spartan

Ms P's Spartan dazzles Austin's music crowd. (Julianne Crane)

Just a couple blocks toward downtown and the Capitol Building at 1101 So. Congress is a gorgeous Spartan, home of Ms P's Electric Cock.

"Ms P has been perfecting her fried chicken for years and has always wondered why there aren't any REALLY GOOD FRIED CHICKEN places in Austin," states the Website. "Her friends and family have always said "you should open up your own fried chicken joint." So she rigged a food trailer and is serving the best Fried Chicken in the ATX."

Ms P's is open Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. till the chicken runs out, around 9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Information: 512-912-7778

'Flip Happy Crepes' Avion

Flip Happy's Avion serves delicious crepes. (Julianne Crane)

A vintage Avion trailer sits at the corner of 300 Jessie St. and 1400 Butler Rd.

Flip Happy Crepes specializes in hand-made crepes in a festive outdoor setting in South Austin, just a short walk from Barton Springs Road and So. Lamar Blvd.

Serving delicious hand-made savory crepes, sweet crepes, and Saturday and Sunday breakfast crepes. They also specialize in fresh French pressed coffee and provide other assorted beverages.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Call: (512) 552-9034

Right next door to the Flip Happy is the historic and endangered Pecan Grove RV Park near the heartbeat of Austin.

Photos by Julianne Crane

To read more by Julianne Crane go to RVWheelLife.com

Visit the future "World's Largest Ski Fence"

2012-03-12T11:15:00.006-07:00

There is no business sign identifying the North Cascades Nursery along U.S. 2 near Sultan, Wash. But you can't miss the place -- it's surrounded by a fence made of used snow skis. The Stevens Pass ski area is about a half hour drive east in the Cascades.

Three years ago, owner Jake Sharpe posted a sign asking passersby to leave their old skis.

Now, hundreds of them stand side-by-side to form the unusual fence, which is expanding all the time. When it finally circles the business, Sharpe plans to contact Guinness Book of World Records to request the "World's largest ski fence" title.

The fence is mostly skis, but there are some snowboards, too -- some with boots still attached.

There is plenty of room out front to park your RV for a quick stop to look at plants or snap a photo of the most unusual fence.

Dreamy pastries, historic murals in old downtown New Braunfels, Texas

2012-02-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

Naegelin's Bakery and Alex Brochon's mural in New Braunfels, Texas (Julianne Crane)

If you're heading south along I-35 toward San Antonio, or north to Austin -- old New Brunsfels, Texas, is a perfect stopping off point for a yummy pastry and a little taste of public art.

In its historic downtown area, New Brunsfels offers two irresistible attractions -- a series of free outdoor murals and Naegelin's Bakery, a longtime, mouth-watering eatery.

Inside Naegelin's Bakery

This family-operated establishment first opened in 1868, making it the oldest continuously operating bakery in the state of Texas.

Before walking through Naegelin's front door, I was only in search of something sweet to eat, then I was overcome by the warm, fresh-baked smells and vast array of homemade pastry choices.

It took several minutes, but eventually among the veritable rainbow of cookies, cakes and pies, I spotted my pastry-of-choice since childhood--a huge, plump, powdered-sugar dusted, custard-filled cream puff.

Cream puff in hand, we sat outdoor and enjoyed the view of the downtown's Main Plaza and the nearby "Lindheimer-The Father of Texas Botany" mural, painted by Alex Brochon of San Antonio. (See above and "C" on the map below.)

'The City of a Prince" by Clinton Baermann and Cassandra Mourfield.

Within an easy walking distance from the bakery there are two additional murals.

Just a short city block away is "The City of a Prince" mural by Clinton Baermann, Texas Senate honored muralist and historian from Llano, Texas, and Cassandra Mourfield, New Braunfels artist. It is painted on the exterior wall of the Downtown Antique Building. ("B" on the map below.)

"Spass and Gemultinchkeit" by painter Brent McCarthy.

Turn your gaze slightly to the left and take in the "Spass and Gemutlichkeit" mural created by New Braunfels artist Brent McCarthy, which adorns the outside of Friesenhaus Restaurant known as Krause Strasse, in the 100 block of Castell Avenue. ("A" on the map below.)

All three murals are within one block of the Main Plaza.

For more information:

Historic Outdoor Art Museum map.

New Braunfels
424 South Castell Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: (830) 221-4000
www.nbtexas.org

Naegelin's Bakery
129 South Seguin Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Phone: (830) 625-5722 Toll Free: (877) 788-2895
www.naegelins.com

New Braunfels Historic Outdoor Art Museum
www.nbmurals.org

Read more articles written by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Photos: Julianne Crane Click on all images to enlarge.

Learn about Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark expedition at the Sacajawea Interpretive Center in Salmon, Idaho

2012-02-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

When the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery--31 men, one woman, and one dog--set off from Fort Mandan on April 7, 1805 to explore the land west of the Mississippi River, they were accompanied by an Indian woman interpreter named Sacajawea.

Born a member of the Agaidika tribe in 1788 near present day Salmon, Idaho, she was captured by a raiding party of Sioux and later sold to a French trapper named Charbanneau, an interpreter, who would accompany the expedition. She was pregnant with his child when the party set off on their epic journey.

Sacajawea, though not a guide, was familiar with the some of the country through which they traveled and was instrumental in their peaceful trading with the native tribes as they crossed the continent. If she were alive and the same age today, she'd be too young for middle school. When she was born, the United States was 12 years old and ended at the Mississippi River. Sacajawea didn't know it existed. None of the members of her band had ever seen a white person.

They traveled up the Missouri River in six canoes and two larger, flat-bottomed pirogues. Sacajawea set up a warm tepee the first night, a skill learned as part of her Agaidika education. Most of the men slept outside. The tepee was reserved for Lewis and Clark, Charbonneau and another civilian interpreter, and Sacajawea and her baby. It was used until it fell apart.

On the third day, Sacajawea dug Jerusalem artichokes for the men to eat. It was the first of many times she added variety to a diet that relied heavily on meat. One of her most important contributions, however, was her mere presence. Though Lewis and Clark thought of themselves as traveling through unexplored territory, the continent west of the Mississippi was actually well known. It was home to dozens of Indian tribes who knew the land intimately and vigorously defended their turf. Intruders ran the risk of paying with their lives. Without Sacajawea, the Corps of Discovery could have been mistaken for a war party and annihilated. The presence of a woman and a child assured potential enemies that its intentions were peaceful.

You can learn more at the Sacajawea Interpretive Cultural and Education Center, 200 Main St., Salmon, Idaho. info@sacajaweacenter.org

Gruene Historic District in Central Texas

2012-02-01T17:49:00.000-08:00

Gruene (Texas) Historic District at the Water Tower. (Julianne Crane)

A favorite place to spend an afternoon and evening is Gruene, Texas. It is a perfect destination for a couple leisurely hours meandering through this "Historic District at the Water Tower."

We first heard about Gruene from RVers Joy and Terry Walden of Vancouver, Wash., who have spend more than 15 years living in or traveling around the Lone Star State.

Gristmill Restaurant, former cotton gin. (Julianne Crane)

"You have got to go to the Gristmill River Restaurant for lunch," said the Waldens. "And, then stop by Gruene Hall for a late afternoon drink and maybe catch the nightly entertaining practicing."

We did stop by the Gristmill Restaurant ... beneath the water tower ... for a leisurely lunch one recent weekday afternoon. We were amazed by the character and ambiance of the sprawling complex. The restaurant includes part of an old cotton gin overlooking the Guadalupe River. The hostess said that the place could easily seat just under 1,000 diners.

Gruene Hall historic bar, open daily. (Julianne Crane)

Less than a hundred feet away is the incredible and historically famous, and infamous, Gruene Hall--The Oldest Texas Dance Hall.

Built in 1878, Gruene Hall has hosted such acts as Willie Nelson, George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, Gregg Allman and many more. It was also used as a set for Michael, starring John Travolta.

URLs:
www.GrueneTexas.com
www.gruenehall.com
gristmillrestaurant.com

Read more of Julianne Crane's writings at RVWheelLife.com

Photos: Julianne Crane. Map: Courtesy of GrueneTexas.com. Click on images to enlarge.

'Nellie E Saloon' - aka the Desert Bar - near Parker, Ariz., worth a side trip

2012-01-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

The ' Nellie E Saloon' (aka Desert Bar) is five miles down a windy, rocky and dusty dirt road and definitely worth the effort to get there.

This fine piece of history sits in the Buckskin Mountains, north of Parker, Arizona, on land that was an old mining camp. The bar was first opened in 1983, in a temporary three-sided structure. It lasted for five years until the current saloon was constructed. The name "Nellie E" originates from the old mining claim where prospectors mined copper and then took it to a smelter and hopefully got gold.

These days the 'gold' comes from the hundreds of people that make their way each weekend to this solar-powered oasis.

If you value your RV, do not take it down this road. Besides, there is no room to park it at the Nellie E. We did see one truck/camper.

Each Saturday and Sunday, October through March, depending on the weather there is live entertainment from 1-5 p.m. The Cell Phone Cowboys were performing the Saturday we made the five mile adventure on Cienega Springs Road.

Information:
Nellie E Saloon / The Desert Bar
Hours: Open Labor Day weekend through Memorial Day weekend.
Saturdays and Sundays only from high noon till sunset.
The bar is closed during the hot summer months.
Refreshments: There is simple food for reasonable prices. We had a passable hamburger for $3. Both hard and soft drinks are available.
Url: www.thedesertbar.com
Directions: 5 miles north of Parker, Az. on Hwy 95. Take Cienega Springs Rd. east 5 miles, follow the traffic. The road ends at Nellie E's.
Bring cash, no credit cards accepted.

During the President's Day weekend (Feb. 18, 2012), the Nellie E Saloon will host the annual "Desert Dash," a 5-mile walk, run or mountain bike trip out to the solar powered bar. Registration area is at Hwy 95 and Cienega Springs Rd., between 8:30-10 a.m. The "Dash" begins at 10 a.m. For more information telephone (928) 669-8954 or (928) 667-2829. For additional information on the "Dash" and other local fun happenings go to Parker Area Tourism.

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Photos: Top: View from the terrace of The Desert Bar (solar panels line just about every roof-top space). Middle: Cell Phone Cowboys. Bottom: 1927 Oldsmobile, slightly rusted. Julianne Crane

A bridge that's not for you!

2012-01-04T15:54:00.001-08:00

Some RVers are fascinated by bridges. They may take a week or so visiting covered bridges in New England. We knew one "retired" bridge engineer who made it a major point in this life to photograph as many unusual bridges he could find. While some bridges are "off limits" to pedestrian traffic--for obvious reasons, like oncoming trains--there is one bridge in Montana that's off limits to pedestrians and vehicles alike. Animals only, mate!

This "animal bridge" is over Highway 93 near Evaro, Montana on the Salish-Kootenai Indian Reservation. If you happen to know the local jargon, you'll find a lot of signs in this area written for non-English speakers. Somehow we doubt the local animals pay much attention to either the Native or English print, the bridge is their free pass across a busy highway that might otherwise spell, R-O-A-D-K-I-L-L.

photo: R&T DeMaris

Trees of Mystery - Hwy. 101 Klamath, Calif.

2011-12-31T08:30:00.000-08:00

For more than 50 years, the Trees of Mystery in northern California has been a favorite stopover for many travelers driving along U.S. Highway 101. (My first visit was back in the mid-60s.)

This attraction sits in the center of Redwood National and State Parks. The 49-foot-tall statue of mythic logger Paul Bunyan and his 35-foot sidekick, Babe the Blue Ox, welcome visitors and stand guard over the entrance to the park.

This is a super family destination where folks of all ages can stroll among some of the most awe-inspiring ancient trees in the world. A paved trail winds through the forest, past remarkable old-growth trees that resemble candelabras and cathedrals. Don't miss the giant, 2,000-year-old Sequoia.

In 2001, the park added the handicapped accessible Sky Trail gondola ride that glides 1,570 feet (one-way), at times more than 500 feet above the forest floor and ends at a breath taking ocean and forest view point. (There is a shuttle to the Sky Trail loading area for those who cannot easily walk the trail.)

RVers will appreciate that pet companions on leashes are welcome on all the hiking trails and gondola ride.

The free End of the Trail Museum, attached to the gift shop, is said to be "one of the largest privately owned world class museums there is." Allow at least 1/2-day for this stop on your RVing itinerary.

Details:
Trees of Mystery
15500 U.S. Hwy 101 N
Klamath, CA 95548
36 miles south of Oregon and 360 miles north of San Francisco
Hours: Open every day except Christmas
(800) 638-3389 to double check current hours
General admission: $15 (13-59); Seniors: $12 (60+); Youngsters: $8 (6 to 12); Children 5 and under: Free
URL: www.treesofmystery.net

Photos: Top: Paul Bunyan and sidekick Babe the Blue Ox at Trees of Mystery. Middle: Cathedral tree. View from Sky Trail. (Julianne Crane)

Read more by Julianne Crane by clicking on RVWheelLife.

City of Rocks: New Mexico's fantasy town of nature-sculpted rock formations

2011-12-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

At the apex of a triangle formed by Deming and Lordsburg, Silver City is the gateway to the 3.3-million acre Gila National Forest, sixth largest in the US and one of the most remote in the Southwest.

Halfway between Silver City and Deming lies City of Rocks State Park, rock formations that over the last 30 million years, give or take a few, have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre shapes and configurations resembling a fantasy world of city streets, houses, alleys, courtyards, and towers--features limited only by your imagination.

You can also find typical Chihuahuan plants in the park’s desert botanical garden as well as deer, javelina, pronghorns, coyotes, and jackrabbits. Hiking trails wind through the formations for exploring the crevices and caves--pottery shards and arrowheads from the ancients have been found here and continue to be found here.

Mysterious crosses etched on the rocks by Spanish Conquistadors are said to be clues to buried treasure, but don’t bring your shovel—no digging for treasure or artifacts is allowed. The campground has both primitive and hook-up sites but the closest supply point if you forgot your peanut butter is either Deming or Silver City.

This Las Vegas attraction has nothing to do with gambling

2011-12-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

For RVers visiting the Red Rock area of Southern Nevada near Las Vegas the wild burros that hang out along the roadside have become a major attraction--and a major hazard.

Having realized that people will feed them, the burros often wander into the road when they hear vehicles approaching thinking it's dinner time. They are quite often right as people regularly feed them.

However in recent years, several have been hit by vehicles and have had to be euthanized. Besides the damage to the poor burro, think of the damage an accident with one of these large desert animals would cause to your RV.

Take precautions. Slow down when in the area, avoid driving at night, and be ready to stop quickly. And don't forget, there is a fine for feeding them.

In fact, it's a good practice that if you have to drive anywhere at night in wild areas, slow down and be especially on the alert for wildlife.

Explore the Minister's Treehouse in Crossville, Tennessee

2011-12-09T09:39:00.001-08:00

The Minister's Treehouse is a sprawling structure built almost entirely by one man amid seven White Oak trees. It soars almost 100 feet high, includes around 70 rooms, and is truly a sight to behold.

Horace Burgess, a landscape architect and ordained minister, began this labor of love and faith in 1993 when he heeded a call from God to build the Treehouse. Except for about $12,000 in nails, which Burgess paid for, the structure is built entirely from donated and salvaged materials such as used lumber from sheds and barns, old furniture, discarded license plates, and doors and windows from landfills and demolition sights. Even now, 18 years later, the Treehouse is still a work in progress; Burgess plans to keep on building until he is no longer able to do the work.

The Treehouse encompasses an astonishing variety of rooms and features, including a spiral staircase, a chapel and choir loft with electricity, various balconies, twisting hallways, and seemingly endless nooks and crannies. For those who are particularly determined and hardy, the challenge is to make your way up to the belfry tower at the very top. Once there, be sure to ring the "church bells," which are actually a collection of 10 oxygen acetylene bottles. Oh, and enjoy the view!

The Treehouse is open to visitors during daylight hours and admission is free. If you visit on a Sunday and your timing is right, you can attend a church service in the Treehouse Chapel. Allow an hour to explore, but be aware that the Treehouse is not constructed in accordance with any particular safety codes, and so you visit at your own risk.

The Treehouse is located on Beehive Lane in Crossville, Tennessee. From I-40, take exit 320 and head north onto Hwy 298, making an almost immediate right at the stoplight onto Cook Road. Continue on Cook for about a mile until the road takes a sharp right. But don't take follow the road to the right... instead take a left onto Beehive Lane and drive about another 1/2 mile. Continue along after the pavement ends and you will see the Treehouse. Parking is available for passenger vehicles, Class B RVs and truck campers.

Borrego Springs is backdrop to more than 125 free standing metal sculptures

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

Scattered across the southern California desert near Borrego Springs are more than 125 amazing life-size depictions of animals that are said to have roamed this same landscape from prehistoric to present times.

Known as the Galleta Meadows Sculptures, the menagerie includes a 350-feet serpent (right), mastodons, dinosaurs, wild pigs, sabertooth tigers, ancient camels, wild horses and longhorn sheep.

Dennis Avery, an heir to the founder of one of the world’s biggest label-making companies, is the master mind behind this massive installation of free standing art.

According to an article in the San Diego Reader, Avery "learned from open-space advocates that land in Borrego Springs was selling for rock-bottom prices. He wound up buying a number of noncontiguous parcels that added up to about three square miles of the town."

Back in 2006, Avery underwrote the publication of Fossil Treasures of the Anza-Borrego Desert, (Sunbelt Publications). The book about the unusual paleontology of Borrego Springs included "detailed illustrations of the region’s landscapes over the past five million years and the creatures that once lived there," according to the San Diego Reader.

Avery envisioned taking the illustrations in the book into three-dimensions and commissioned artist/welder Ricardo Breceda to create life-scale original steel sculptures to be placed on his property. The first sculptures--three giant tusked gomphotheres, ancient members of the elephant family (bottom photo)--were erected in the spring of 2008.

Breceda’s creates his works in his welding shop in Perris, Calif. "I just look at a drawing," said the self-taught artist, in a video posted on 'Road Trip' on KPBS San Diego. "All I need to know is the size and we go from there."

Using recycled metal for the frame, Breceda welds rolled steel "together bit by bit" for the exterior.

For a map of the sculptures click on here.

Nearby is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where there are developed RV campgrounds. Many visitors approach the park from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of Interstate 8.

To read more by Julianne Crane click on RVWheelLife.com

Photo: RVer Jane Justis of Susanville, CA., stands under part of artist Ricardo Breceda's 350-foot serpent near Borrego Springs. (Photo by Kevin Justis) Bottom: The first sculptures were "Gomphotheres," ancient members of the elephant family (Galleta Meadows Website).

Dinosaurs and dried fruit 'n nuts lure road trippers off I-10 in Cabazon, California

2011-11-15T10:47:00.000-08:00

Added to our list of "must stop" roadside attractions along I-10 in southern California's Mojave Desert are Hadley Fruit Orchard's store and the World's Largest Dinosaurs in Cabazon, Calif.

In 1951, Paul and Peggy Hadley began selling their products from a roadside stand. To attract customers to the remote location, Paul bought slabs of lumber, painted signs in bright colors and set out to find neighbors and other property owners along the highway who would allow him to put up his homemade billboards.

Not too long after that, in the mid-50s, my family was emigrating to warm and sunny southern California from freezing, snow covered upstate New York. Five of us were had packed all our belongings into a Plymouth station wagon towing a 32-foot travel trailer. Just west of Palm Springs, we saw one of those painted signs that advertised 'Date Shakes' and pulled into Hadley's. What we discovered was a bonanza of packaged fruit and nuts. We then knew for sure we were in the land of milk and honey.

A few years later, about two miles east of Hadley's, the Cabazon Dinosaurs were created by Claude Bell, a theme park artist.

With the help of a few friends, Bell began building the dinosaurs in 1964. It is said that Bell spent the next 11 years completing Ms. Dinny, (pronounced Dine-y) the 150-foot long Apatosaurus. Construction of Mr. Rex, the towering three-story concrete Tyrannosaurus, was begun in 1981.

Both Hadley's and the Cabazon Dinosaurs are open daily.

More information:

Hadley Fruit Orchard
48980 Seminole Dr.
Cabazon, CA 92230
(951) 849-5255
URL: www.HadleyFruitOrchards.com

Cabazon Dinosaurs
50770 Seminole Dr.
Cabazon, CA 92230
(951) 922-0076
URL: www.CabazonDinosaurs.com
General admission: $6.95; children: $5.95; military with ID and seniors: $5. Tours are self-guided.
On I-10 and the Main Street exit, 13 miles west of Palm Springs.

Read more of Julianne Crane's writing at RVWheelLife.com

Photos: Aisles of dried fruit and nuts inside Hadley Fruit Orchard (Yelp.com/Jihan M) Mr. Rex (flicker.com)

Visit birthplace of the U.S. national anthem

2011-11-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

When driving through the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 near Baltimore, Maryland, you will be under the very water where Francis Scott Key was stuck on September 13 and 14, 1814 during the War of 1812. Key, a lawyer, had boarded the British flagship to secure the release of a friend.

He watched a gigantic flag with 15 white stars and 15 red and white stripes flutter defiantly on the ramparts of Fort McHenry. Sewn by Mary Young Pickersgill, her daughter Caroline, nieces and servants, it was so large (30' x 42') that it could not be stitched in their home. So they had it completed in a Baltimore brewery at a cost of $574.44.

Key waited out the 24 hours in "shock and awe," as the British fired off 200-pound bombs, which often blew up prematurely in mid-air. At night they sent up signal rockets which burned in flaming arcs across the sky. Through all of that, at dawn Key was amazed to see Mary's flag still waving and the Fort intact.

OVERCOME WITH EMOTION, he wrote some phrases on the back of a letter. His brother-in-law suggested singing the poem to the meter of a British drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven." The song was an instant hit, but it took Congress until 1931 to designate it as the U.S. national anthem. If you want to see the flag, it is still a moving sight; it is displayed in the Smithsonian Institute, which is down I-95 a bit.

It's only about an hour pitstop to tour Fort McHenry. In the summer months there are daily ranger talks, weekend living history, and drill, musket and artillery demonstrations. Do not miss the 10-minute orientation film with its surprise ending! The fort is at 2400 East Fort Ave. in Baltimore.

Visit Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) for a quick Mexico winter escape

2011-11-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

It may be Margaritaville to the college set, but it is also a winter escape for snowbirds, a dose of salt and sea air, and bargain shopping. Puerto Penasco, Mexico lies 66 miles below the border at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 212 miles southwest of either Phoenix or Tucson.

Here you can revive nostalgic memories of those lost weekends or semester breaks, enjoying a cold Dos Equis, watching the parade of bikinis cruising the broad sandy beaches, or plying the streets in search of the perfect taco.

Near the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez, Rocky Point is the closest saltwater beach to Southern Arizona. Choose from several campgrounds with hookups where you can step from your RV right onto the sandy beach.

And who needs to be told about the bargains among the numerous streetside stalls offering Mexican-made goods from leather purses to colorful blankets, and rows of fishmongers line the sea front offering the catch of the day.

You can find Puerto Penasco at the end of Arizona Highway 85 (which becomes Mexico Highway 8).

Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona

2011-10-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Next time you find yourself traveling through Arizona on I-40, consider making a stop in Winslow, between Flagstaff and the New Mexico border, where you can visit the Standin' on the Corner Park. This location memorializes the corner mentioned in the second verse of Jackson Browne's song, Take it Easy, made famous by the Eagles:

Well, I'm a standing on a corner
in Winslow, Arizona
and such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

"The corner" is located at North Kinsley Avenue and West 2nd Street (which is also an eastbound section of Route 66) in downtown Winslow.

A surprisingly large number of people visit "the corner" year round, and it seems that musicians enjoy going to this site to play songs by the Eagles on their guitars. Because there are several restaurants nearby, you can also enjoy a lunch or dinner break.

I was able to park my 28-foot Class A in a nearby residential area and then just walked about 3 blocks to the location. For travelers in larger RVs, you could park at the local Wal-Mart and drive your tow vehicle into town.

Plenty to see and do on Tennessee side of Smoky Mountains National Park

2011-10-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

There are lots of great reasons why the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited park, including beautiful views, more than 800 miles of maintained hiking trails, fishing, and wildlife viewing. And the Cades Cove area on the Tennessee side of the park offers all of these activities and more.

Black Bear

In addition to the wonders of the park itself, the towns of Gatlinburg and Townsend are within an hour’s drive of Cades Cove. Visitors of all ages enjoy a wide range of activities and attractions such as river tubing, horseback riding, the Tuckaleechee Caverns, the Little River Railroad museum, and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

And it (almost) goes without saying that a bike or car ride around the beautiful 11-mile Cades Cove loop is a wonderful way to start or end your day. Wildlife seems to be most active before 10AM and about an hour before dark, so be sure to keep an eye out for whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, and coyote!

Abram Falls

There are private campgrounds in nearby Townsend that can accommodate RVs of all sizes and offer a full line-up of amenities such as full hooks, laundry facilities, and WiFi. For those who prefer a more rustic setting, the Cades Cove national park campground has sites that can accommodate motor homes up to 40 feet and camper trailers up to 35 feet. Although there are no hookups, you can run your generator (B loop) and a well-located dump station is available. The Cades Cove campground is also serviced by a general store and a bike rental facility. Although there is no cellular phone coverage up in the Cades Cove area, a pay phone is available at the general store.

In my opinion, the best times to go to Cades Cove are in the Spring (April to May) and in the Fall (October). During these timeframes the weather is cool, the foliage is beautiful, and the animals are active. If your RV travels must be scheduled around school vacations, try to visit Cades Cove as early in the summer as possible to avoid the peak crowd of summer visitors. Cades Cove is a very popular area so play it safe and make campground arrangements ahead of time. Both the Cades Cove national park campground and nearby private campgrounds take reservations.

Here are some web sites to help you plan a visit to Cades Cove:

Oregon's Collier Memorial Park Logging Museum records rugged lifestyle

2011-10-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Oregon's Collier Memorial State Park is said to have the state's finest logging museum.

Located on U.S. Route 97, north of Klamath Falls, visitors can see "rare and antique logging equipment dating to the 1880s. Railroad buffs will enjoy learning about the role the railroad played in logging."

It is easy to imagine the rugged loggers and "the immense task of moving raw timber with innovation and brute force."

According to the logging museum website, it "houses some of the most interesting, rare and representative logging artifacts in the world. The museum provides a window through time, demonstrating the evolution of (the state's) Eastside logging practices and technology that played a major role in the development of this region and its culture."

The pioneer village gives insight into how families once lived in this challenging environment. (We RVers know what it's like to make a home in small spaces; however, raising children in these tiny communities would be a test of anyone's resolve.)

The park and free museum are located just north of Chiloquin, Oregon, near the conjunction of Spring Creek and the Williamson River in a beautiful setting of towering Ponderosa pine trees.

The park is open April through Oct. 31. The 18th annual Living History Day in June 2012.

For more insight into staying at the campground click on RV Wheel Life's posting on Collier Memorial State Park

For more information:
Collier Memorial State Park and Logging Museum
46000 Hwy 97 N.
Chiloquin, OR 97624
(541)783-2471, (800) 551-6949
URL: www.collierloggingmuseum.org

Photos: Monster-sized pieces of equipment used in the early days of logging; Jimmy Smith reading about a homesteader's cabin; Inside the cabin. Click on images to enlarge. (Julianne Crane)

James Dean Memorial, near fatal crash site where California Routes 41 and 46 meet

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

A little more than 56 years ago, cultural icon James Dean died tragically in a head-on traffic accident on Sept. 30, 1955. Dean, only 24-years-old at the time of his death, had starred in just three major feature films--but had captured the angst-ridden feel of the Beat Generation. He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as a loner in East of Eden (1955). He remains the only actor to have received two posthumous acting nominations, the second was for the surly ranch hand in Giant (1956) (See photo at left.) In between those two films he starred as the misunderstood teenager in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Dean's iconic appeal has been attributed to "the public's need for someone to stand up for the disenfranchised young of the era." To this day, James Dean fame is legendary and his estate earns millions.

Another reason Dean remains such an iconic figure is because his life ended so abruptly one early autumn afternoon where two rural highways meet in Southern California northwest of Bakersfield. The young star, who enjoyed racing cars, had recently acquired a Porsche 550 Spyder, one of only 90 manufactured. On this particular September day, Dean and his mechanic Rolf Wütherich were heading to a sports car race at Salinas, California. According to reports, "Dean was driving west on U.S. Route 466 (later State Route 46) east of Cholame, San Luis Obispo County, when a black-and-white 1950 Ford Custom Tudor coupe, driven from the opposite direction by 23-year-old Cal Poly student moved to take the fork onto State Route 41 and crossed into Dean's lane. The two cars hit almost head-on."

It is said that Dean (who was driving within the speed limit) received massive injuries after being thrown from his car and died soon after the crash. His mechanic survived but suffered multiple injuries including a broken jaw. The college student "received a gashed forehead and bruised nose and was not cited by police for the accident. He was interviewed by the Tulare Advance-Register newspaper immediately following the crash, saying that he had not seen Dean's car approaching," according to Wikipedia.

The James Dean Memorial (pictured at left) is located a short distance from the crash site. A stylized sculpture composed of concrete and stainless steel surrounds a 'tree of heaven' outside the Cholame, Calif., post office. The sculpture was made in Japan in 1977 and the entire project was sponsored by Seita Ohnishi.

The location of the actual crash site, the intersection of Highways 41 and 46 was dedicated the James Dean Memorial Highway in September 2005.

The memorial is in Cholame, Calif., on State Route 46 about 25 miles east of Paso Robles on U. S. Route 101, and 37 miles west of Interstate 5.

Photos: Wikipedia