The Angst of Life with Covid and Re-Entering the Travel World

It's been a tough year, hasn't it? Staying home isn't easy for anyone especially for travel writers. After attending the SATW travel writers' conference in El Paso and making some great contacts with destination folks who had filled my imagination with article ideas from places like Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and even the Gulf Coast of Alabama, I planned my upcoming year of travel. I love to travel, photograph, and write. Sharing stories and travel tips with you are what excites me and keeps me going. 

The Pandemic Hits

So much for my travel calendar and my dreams! March 2020 ended all that with the pandemic. Instead of traveling, I sat transfixed to the television watching CNN reports of hospital horrors in New York City and the ever-growing statistics of the infected and the dead as the COVID-19 spread across the world. Stay home and mask up were the buzz words. Even online travel magazines I love to write for said they were not accepting travel content. We pivoted to stay at home content, most of which was filled with exciting decorating ideas based on what we had seen on our travels... in the past.

I decided to write about things like Zapotec rugs and Mexican pottery using photos from my travel experiences.

My days filled up with gardening, dog walking, messaging good friends who were also home-bound, and playing Words With Friends. How boring! It scared me as friends and family contracted Covid, but fortunately I did not and they recovered.

Garden scenes became my typical Instagram posts.

During this time even travel to pick up groceries curbside and go to a dental appointment was anxiety-producing. Would I even travel again?

Cabin Fever Wins Out

Long about June, we knew enough about precautions and things started to open. Rules on mask-wearing and distancing became common. So I decided to break out of my self-imposed imprisonment and start some local fact-finding forays for articles. Close to home, yet interesting, I thought. Something people could do safely, I planned.

My first trip was north, just a half an hour to Wickenburg, the Dude Ranch Capital of the World. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum had decided to re-open and enticed me with their annual Cowgirl Up exhibition. Western-themed paintings all done by women artists were featured. I masked up and drove north, savoring every sight along the way including the Mexican pottery shops.

Wickenburg, Arizona

The museum was ready for me. Hand sanitizer was strategically placed with the pencils and papers used for voting for the favorite piece of art and volunteers reluctantly donned masks when they saw me... the only visitor in the museum!

Cowgirl Up! is an annual show in Wickenburg

Having the opportunity to see fine art close-up was a marvelous experience. On the way home, I decided I must risk again!

So my second day trip was to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, about 40 minutes from my home. They had just implemented a mask requirement and asked that guests register ahead for open time slots for their visit. Sounded safe to me! I had a great time wandering the garden and photographing cacti. While I did notice a few mask-averse rebels on the paths, overall it was safe. I came home with fodder for yet another colorful article.

 

Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden

Missing Sedona

I spent more days enjoying mild mornings on my patio but yearned to go to a higher altitude to avoid some of the desert heat. I thought of driving to Sedona for a day to glimpse the Red Rocks and actually take a walk in the middle of the day.

But there could be more! My elderly dog, Cinnamon the Coonhound, yearned to explore along a creek in the middle of the day and get a change of scenery too. Her big brown eyes reminded me that she was 13 and I should be working on her bucket list. So I agreed to take her.

How could you resist this face?

I checked out the Covid precautions at the pet-friendly Amara Resort and decided that it looked like a place we'd both enjoy. And, by now, I was dying for a chef-directed restaurant meal. 

The Amara Resort in Sedona

 
I drove several hours to beautiful Sedona and had a relaxing two days hiking in the early morning before others got out and savored an evening margarita and dining on the cool patio offered by the SaltRock Kitchen at the Amara Resort. 

Enjoying a margarita in the early evening on the patio would not have been a possibility in hot Phoenix this time of year. This was sooo refreshing!

 
I even ventured to quaint Tlaquepaque to enjoy the art and scenery (and dodge non-mask wearers). But between you and me, after each outing, I worried a little about Covid for about a week after. All went well, fortunately.

Vaccine Time

Just when I wanted to "break out of Covid jail" again and go somewhere, Arizona began planning major vaccination efforts. I patiently waited until my age group qualified for vaccination and went through the many attempts to sign up for a time slot just like everyone else. I finally scored an appointment at the huge Safeco Field Stadium. 

Vaccination day rolled around and I went to the car at 4:30 a.m. I wanted to make sure I got there early for my 5:45 a.m. appointment. I jumped in the car with my mask, ID, and appointment code and... THE CAR WOULDN'T START! I pulled out my trusty portable battery to jump start the car and THE BATTERY DIDN'T WORK! After I calmed down and went back into the house, I cancelled the appointment on my computer and found that I could get another one at the end of the week at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Whew!

 

So I got vaccinated in the animal barn at the Arizona State Fairgrounds!

All was well, and I sailed through both Pfizer vaccine experiences with only minimal side effects. And, April 2nd is the date I am fully vaccinated. Will I go wild with freedom? The CDC suggests I should not. But I want to take a trip... just a little one!

Travel Plans

I read everything I could get my hands on regarding COVID, the Corona Virus variants and how to remain safe. I decided to venture out with a few press trips in 2021 but take precautions and go to places where I would be relatively safe. Travel can be done as more and more people become vaccinated, but carefully and planfully. I'm sticking relatively close to home and don't plan to join any large groups of people for events like the Coachella Music Festival, for sure (it's cancelled for this year anyway). But there are trips I can take and writing I can do and I'm looking forward to sharing all that with you.

When I visited with destination representatives at the SATW conference, I made my list and on that list was Palm Springs, California. I looked through my notes and focused on the cultures of the Greater Palm Springs area. There were colorful Mexican-American murals in Coachella, a new Native American Cultural Center, and, of course, the mid-century modern architecture. Add in a little patio dining and a dip in a resort pool and that's what I'll be looking forward to very soon. And, my hope is that I will discover some surprises along the way to share with readers. 

Palm Springs awaits!

Covid-Safe Travel Resources

Yes, you can travel safely if you know what you are doing. Some of the best resources for Covid-safe travel include:

CDC Covid-Safe Travel Information by Destination

CDC Travel during Covid-19

How to Wear Your Mask Correctly

Travel Writer Grows Instagram Followers Legally and Ethically - Quickly!

I’m excited! I recently reached 10,000 followers on Instagram. In fact, I was on a press trip at the Grand Canyon staring in awe as the clouds parted and we could see the stunning rock formations below when I hit the magic number.

So how did this happen? I started slowly, building a following of friends, colleagues, and family to about 1,500. It took me awhile. But when I found out from destination management and PR professionals that they looked at social media numbers before inviting a writer on a press trip, I wanted to know more. What I found out was that 10,000 followers was a magic number and 15,000 was even better. But how to get there with my "friends and family" approach?

I had heard about people who built a following by “buying followers, “ and I knew that was not for me—ethically or financially. I followed everyone who had similar interests (travel, the southwest, coonhounds and foodie finds) but my numbers grew oh so slowly.

Then a colleague whom I respect told me how she reached her magic number. And, it wasn’t by buying followers. She paid monthly for a service that carefully chose similar people to follow on your behalf and kept everything in line with Instagram rules. The company also could handle Twitter accounts and Facebook pages, but I was really into growing my Instagram numbers. I checked things out and found that they had a free trial offer and that the monthly rates were very reasonable for all the work they did on your behalf.

I'm now up to 10.3k followers!

They provided reports and told me exactly what they were doing. Quickly I saw my numbers grow. I’d wake up in the morning with 50 more followers and did nothing myself except post pictures of my travels, my dogs, and restaurants I was reviewing. And, the followers actually made comments on my photos and posted interesting things themselves. I enjoyed following my followers to expand my travel horizons. 

So, since the company has a nice affiliate program and I’m totally thrilled with their offerings, I’m taking a big step and recommending them to those who wish to grow their social media numbers. The company is Social Media Pro and the person who manages my account is Sean Boyle.

I would urge you to sign up, work with them to get the system going for you and you’ll see what I mean. They are very professional.

If you follow me on Instagram (@southwestliz), please be sure and alert me so I can follow you back.

#PlanForTravel Today is National Plan for Vacation Day - Planning Tool

Today is the day to plan for your vacation. It's National Plan for Vacation Day! Fewer than half of Americans (49%) take the time to plan their vacation days out each year, held back by lack of certainty with personal schedules (64%), work schedules (57%), and children’s schedules (50%). The findings, from The Power of Vacation Planning, offer an in-depth look at why Americans’ planning behavior and are based on GfK survey research of 2,076 U.S. employees who earn paid time off.

Released in conjunction with National Plan for Vacation Day on Tuesday, January 30, a national observance dedicated to encouraging Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year. By failing to block the calendar, Americans are creating a stockpile of 662 million unused vacation days and a $236 billion missed opportunity for the U.S. economy.

How about planning a trip to Germany?

“At the beginning of the year the calendar is still full of possibility and there is no better time to start planning vacation days,” said Katie Denis, chief of research and strategy at Project: Time Off. “Americans who want to use more of their vacation time can put themselves in a better position to do so by planning ahead—and their request is more likely to be approved by the boss.”

Travel to the Southwest and learn more about Native cultures

The lack of planning has implications in the office. Managers are near universal (91%) in saying they want to approve vacation requests, but a significant 43 percent say they are sometimes unable to because their employees did not provide enough notice. Nearly half (48%) of employees give six weeks or less notice when taking at least a week off; just 19 percent give three months or more.

Employees may be intimidated to give more notice. About a quarter of employees fear that their boss would not approve of them asking about all their plans for the year up front (27%). But an overwhelming majority of managers say it would be helpful to know their direct reports’ vacation plans for the year at the start of their company’s fiscal year (78%) and think that employees who share their plans that far in advance are being responsible (88%).

How about flying in for a fishing vacation?

Better advance planning could help alleviate the mountain of work employees fear returning to. As it stands today, the majority (57%) of employees are leaving all or more of their work for when they return or taking it with them on vacation.

“No one wants to spend their precious time away with work stress hanging over their head,” added Denis. “The more time you have to prepare before you leave, the more enjoyable the vacation experience—it’s no wonder that planners are happier people.”

Planners have a distinct advantage over non-planners. According to Project: Time Off’s The State of American Vacation 2017, workers who set aside time each year to plan out their vacation days use more of their vacation time, take longer breaks, and report greater happiness than non-planners with their relationships, health and well-being, company, and job.

Pizza in Phoenix, anyone?

 To help Americans plan, Project: Time Off launched a vacation planning tool that lets employees enter in the number of days off they earn, plot out how they want to spend them, save to their calendars, and export to their friends and family—and even their bosses. Travel organizations are also offering discounts, giveaways and sweepstakes, and itineraries for vacations.

“It’s time for Americans to reclaim their calendar and vacation time,” said Cait DeBaun, director of communications for Project: Time Off. “Make 2018 the year you check an item off your travel bucket list…not just your to-do list.” 

#PlanForVacation Travel Writer Rants and Raves Wants You to Plan for Your Time Off

Research Shows Planners Take More Vacation, Are Happier

National Plan for Vacation Day is being held on January 30, and of course I’m all for providing you with great ideas for your vacation. But wait, I hear that many people don’t even use all their vacation time. How can that be?  

Every year more than half of Americans (54%) fail to use all their time off, creating a stock pile of 662 million unused vacation days.

The most effective remedy for American workers who want to use more vacation days is better planning. Yet just over half (54%) of households set aside time to plan the use of their vacation time each year. National Plan for Vacation Day, launched by Project: Time Off, is a call-to-action for Americans to stop making excuses and start making vacation plans.

How about a trip to Washington's The Herbfarm for a gourmet experience

Research shows that planners have a distinct advantage over non-planners. Project: Time Off’s The State of American Vacation 2017 report found that planners use more of their time, take longer vacations, and are happier.

• 52 percent of planners took all of their vacation time vs. 40 percent of non-planners.
• 75 percent of planners were more likely to take a full week of vacation time or more at a time. Non-planners take significantly fewer days—zero to three—than planners at once (42% to 18%).
• More planners report they are “very” or “extremely” happy with their relationships (83% vs. 70%), health and well-being (57% vs. 48%), company (57% vs. 51%), and job (59% vs. 50%) compared to non-planners.

America’s unused vacation represents a missed economic opportunity. Americans 662 million unused vacation days presents a $236 billion economic opportunity for vacation destinations.

To help employees get their vacation days on the calendar, Project: Time Off created a vacation planning tool. By simply entering the number of days off earned, users can plot out their trips or vacations for the year, export to their work or personal calendar, and share with their family and co-workers. 

How about a train trip?

About National Plan for Vacation Day

 

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on January 30, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.  Launched by the U.S. Travel Association’s Project: Time Off initiative in 2017, National Plan for Vacation Day provides an opportunity to come together at a single moment to rally around the importance of planning for vacation. In its inaugural year, more than 600 organizations, representing all 50 states came together to encourage Americans to plan for vacation. Learn more at ProjectTimeOff.com/Plan and join the conversation online with #PlanForVacation.

Travel Writer Rants and Raves is here to give you some ideas. For example, I recently took a day trip from the Portland, Oregon area to the Columbia River Gorge town of Cascade Locks, still suffering from the aftermath of this year’s wildfires. I’ve written about the Fresh Foodie Trail in the desert communities around Mesa Arizona.

Even a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge can give you a break.

And, I’ll bet you didn’t know that Boise Idaho has terrific Basque food!

WanderWithWonder.com polled their writers for their WOW travel moments of 2018 for some great vacation ideas. So take a few moments and dream about your next vacation. Just thinking about it will be a great departure from the stresses of life.

10 Best Travel Experiences of 2016

2016 was another good year of travels locally and internationally. It’s hard to pick the ten most memorable because each trip has included some very special experiences.

Mesa Arizona’s Fresh Foodie Trail
Wine, urban farms, craft breweries, local olive oil, and farm-to-table restaurants dot the landscape of Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. The desert holds surprises for those who explore the beauty and the bounty of the Mesa area, just south of Phoenix.  We experienced the Fresh Foodie Trail and came back with three special finds to share with readers of Real Food Traveler.

Farming in a forest of water and nutrient fed produce
in the Arizona desert.

Foodie Adventures on the Long Beach Peninsula
First it was St. Patrick’s Day at the Lost Roo Pub and a luxurious stay at Boreas Inn B&B and then it was a successful salmon fishing trip out of Ilwaco. The Long Beach Peninsula in SW Washington State is a treasure trove of foodie delights. In season, peruse the Ilwaco and Long Beach Farmers’ Markets, enjoy Mushroom Month and experience the cranberry harvest. There’s always something to do, see or eat when you make a trip to the Long Beach Peninsula.

Cranberry harvest time on the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington

Discovering Portland All Over Again
Portland is a ten-minute trip over the bridge for me and I thought I knew the Bridge City, but a press trip in Portland and environs proved me wrong. I experienced a stay at the hip, renovated Ace Hotel and toured to the west for Saki and Zip Lining, to the east to discover a new family-friendly food cart pod and to the south to kayak up to the rushing Willamette Falls.

Zip through the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
This one is less than an hour from downtown Portland.

Anacortes Art Walk

The Fidalgo Island town of Anacortes, Washington makes for an easy getaway with amazing views, farm-to-table cuisine, and both public and gallery art. I was invited to Anacortes to check out their art and…especially the First Friday event. What I discovered was the stunning natural beauty of the area, the creativity of local artists and the luxury of a stay at the Historic Majestic Inn. They also have a fanciful historic mural collection dotted throughout the town.

Discover Anacortes, on Fidalgo Island. You can get there via a short bridge!

Exploring the Art Glass Scene in Tacoma
I’ve traveled past and through Tacoma, Washington many times. I didn’t realize the colorful treasures that lay within the city. Tacoma, Washington is one of the hottest destinations for studio art glass lovers. Many see Tacoma as a port city with the grey Tacoma Dome as its most recognizable landmark. But I now know differently. Tacoma is colorful and vibrant and much of it is due to its dedication to art glass.

Amazing Chihuly art glass installations in Tacoma

Living it Up on San Juan Island
The San Juan Islands, a group of islands in northwest Washington state, are a well-known destination for outdoor adventure lovers. While you can sail your boat into Roche Harbor on San Juan Island or take an adventurous kayaking trip around some of the smaller islands, there’s plenty to do for those who just want a little relaxation and pampering. We experienced some of the best of San Juan Island, one of the larger islands in the archipelago, in just three days. And my dog, Cinnamon the Coonhound, discovered the dog-friendly side of things and had a great vacay.

There is so much to discover in the San Juan Islands.
This is sunrise from the Island Inn.

 First Ever Vancouver Dining Month

Sometimes there are things to discover right in your own back yard. During the month of October, the city of Vancouver, Washington put together their first ever Dine the Couve event. Many restaurants and brew pubs participated and we found out that excellent meals were to be had at only $23 for three courses.

Vancouver dining with a view.

Native American Tourism Conference
I traveled north to the Tulalip reservation and beautiful resort and had the pleasure of attending the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism (AIANTA) Association national conference in Washington State. I came away with news, information and experiences that will inform and entice travelers who love exploring history, culture and natural beauty. Native tourism opportunities are growing, native hospitality is welcoming and the access visitors have to native lands and people is much more open that you might realize. And, I discovered a beautiful Casino/Resort and plan to return in 2017 to do a feature article.

The Warmth and Color of Los Cabos, Mexico
Last but not least I traveled south to the tip of the Baja Peninsula of Mexico to warm up a bit. It was my first trip to Los Cabos and it was a marvelous experience. I was one of the first guests to experience the luxury of The Towers at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica complete with personal butler service. We also sailed to Lands End on a beautiful 55-foot sail boat. Before returning home to the chilly weather, I spent some time discovering the quaint arts town of San Jose del Cabo.

Welcome to El Encanto in San Jose del Cabo

Follow Us in 2017
Instant trip pictures can be found on Instagram along with the occasional hound dog photos.

Look for our articles, musings and sharing of others’ travels on Twitter and Facebook.

Best Western United States Travel Experiences of 2015

In looking back over 2015, I had some amazing experiences that I enjoyed sharing with readers. They are experiences I'd highly recommend and would be thrilled to repeat. Some were close to home and one actually enticed me to board an airplane, something I've avoided for awhile. My favorite experiences of 2015 were:

Watch the waves crash at Washington's Waikiki Beach

Washington's Long Beach Peninsula: I love the wild beauty and surprising culinary delights to be found on the Long Beach Peninsula. In early 2015 I had the pleasure of returning to the Long Beach Peninsula to explore an extension of the Discovery Trail, visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and stay at the Inn at Harbor Village in Ilwaco.

On another trip to this Longest Beach in the World, I had the pleasure of connecting with nature at the antique-filled China Beach Retreat.  Although not so far from Ilwaco and Long Beach, I recommend the retreat as a place to get away from it all.

And, of course, dining at The Depot Restaurant in Seaview is always a favorite part of returning to the Long Beach Peninsula. The Clamshell Railroad history is interesting, but always topped by a bowl of Chef Michael's clam chowder!

This Longest Beach in the world is not just for summer fun. It's a great place to go in winter and spring, to experience the storms, high waves and, perhaps, do a little whale watching.

High Desert Beauty of Bend and Sunriver Oregon: In April, enticed by the Travel and Words

Luscious Ocean Rolls
from Bend's Sparrow Bakery

Travel Writer's conference at Sunriver Resort, I drove over Mt. Hood and down to Bend to tour beautiful Central Oregon. Memorable were the mountain views, the smell of the pine trees and the fun of golf boarding at Tetherow Golf Resort.

Sunriver Resort, on the Deschutes River, was busy finishing a new pool area and creating new restaurant menus. This alone, is reason to return to experience more! The conference was held on site and so we walked the wooded trails on breaks and to and from our mountain-view accommodations.

The nearby Oregon High Desert Museum provided an experience with local wildlife and a look at pioneer life.

Local cuisine didn't take a back seat to all this natural beauty. I had the pleasure of touring some local farms and wineries, devouring an Ocean Roll and dining at the excellent Zydeco Kitchen in Bend.

Bend's Ale Trail and visiting a local brewery with hops growing out back in the garden has to be mentioned. Lot's of reasons to return!

Smoking away at SMOKED!

Exploring the Best Cuisine Oregon has to Offer: My first exposure to Feast Portland,  Oregon's huge multi-event culinary festival, was a memorable one. I tasted my way from the Feast Portland welcome party at Jacobson's Salt to the Sandwich Invitational and finally my favorite, Oregon Media Group's SMOKED!

Feast Portland was both an indulgent feast and an in-depth learning experience leading me to some excellent locally sourced wines and cuisine.

Overall, Smoked! was my favorite event. Treated to a rousing ride on the Old School Karaoke Bus, we arrived at The Fields park in Portland's trendy Pearl District.  The sun, reflecting on the new glass and steel buildings, was ready to set. Smoke was rising from barbque grills, paella pans, and smokers all around the grounds.

I started going from booth to booth. Talking with the chefs as they cooked was so intriguing, I barely noticed when Country Cat Dinner House, a restaurant known for huge down-home portions, started serving up bites of succulent Tomahawk Rib Eye chops with slightly spicy tomato chimichurri butter still warm from the grill.

And it went on well after dark. I couldn't taste everything. I couldn't attend all the events and after parties. So, I'll just have to return!

Wild About Game at The Resort at the Mountain
I think Feast Portland whetted my appetite for local cuisine and so was very happy to accept an invite to Nicky USA's Wild About Game. The location couldn't have been better, either. Imagine fall scenery at The Resort at the Mountain in Welches, Oregon. That was the backdrop for this gathering of chefs and purveyors of local foods and drink.

The backdrop for Nicky USA's
Wild About Game

This year’s chef competition featured chefs from Seattle and Portland who were assigned specialty game around which they would create their dishes for the competition. The game included Nicky Farms water buffalo, rabbit (which was how the company started), quail and the new addition to the family, Hawaiian venison.

Purveyors of everything from local cheeses to Salt and Straw ice cream were there. The wine was flowing and there was plenty of food to sample. By the end of the event, I was happy that I had booked a room and could enjoy a quiet night on the mountain.

From Mountains to the Sea: Exploring Northwest Washington
Wondering how I would see Washington's Olympic Peninsula AND Mt. Rainier in less than a week, I packed everything from hiking boots to fine dining attire. After a wonderful welcome dinner at Seattle's Aqua by El Gaucho with the sparkling Seattle skyline as a view, I found I would no longer need anything other than hiking boots and jeans for the rest of the trip.

The next day our small group boarded a ferry to Bainbridge Island and left the big city behind. We explored Poulsbo, Port Gamble and, finally, the Victorian town of Port Townsend and Fort Worden. I vowed to return as there was so much history, art and waterfront scenery to see.

Historic Lake Quinault Lodge

Our whirlwind tour of the Olympic Peninsula included stops at the Olympic National Park including Hurricane Ridge with stunning views of the snow-peaked Olympics.

We experienced this history and lakeside views of two grand lodges: Lake Crescent Lodge and Lake Quinault Lodge and ran into an international crowd of Twilight groupies in Forks. We walked with a ranger in the rain forest and enjoyed burgers on the porch at the Hard Rain Cafe.

And that was just the beginning! The next leg of our journey took us to Mt. Rainier National Park where we learned that park roads were constructed with sight-seeing in mind. And there were sights galore. My favorite was scene of brilliant red bushes with a backdrop of snowy Mt. Rainier. We took short hikes and enjoyed Mt. Rainier's Paradise Lodge which turns 100 next year.

And, of course, we were treated to local cuisine. My favorite was Alexander's Fine Mountain Dining in nearby Ashford. While my colleagues fished for dinner in the restaurant's trout pond, I was thrilled when the chef brought out his "catch," local Chanterelle mushrooms. Chef Troy suggested his veal and chanterelles for dinner. The veal dish was sautéed with lemon and fresh herbs, then topped with white wine beurre blanc and served with herb-roasted potatoes.

Soon we were whisked back to the big city. Although arriving late in the evening, I enjoyed a restful night at the elegant Mayflower Park Hotel.

Again, each experience was much too brief and left me wanting to return, to write in-depth articles and experience more of Washington State.

Southwest Adventure - Ancient Cliff Dwellings and Stunning Natural Beauty: I had been secretly yearning to return to the beautiful, culturally rich American Southwest. Just when I thought I'd have to see the year end without a glimpse of sandstone formations or Native culture, I was invited to join a Grand Circle Association press tour starting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

And, adding to the excitement of the trip was the fact that I hadn't experienced or written about the majority of places we would be going. I was excited!

Amazing views in Canyonlands National Park

Our first stop was a familiar one... Acoma Pueblo. I was able to reconnect with potter friend Emil Chino, and take a tour of the mesa-top village with Guide Turtle. I always marvel at the endurance of the people and how they maintain their culture and arts. After a traditional meal, we enjoyed a Buffalo Dance.

We toured Chaco Culture National Historic Park and reflected on the abilities of late stone-age people to construct massive hand-hewn stone complexes that seemed to align with astronomical events.

We found that there were many more sites in outlying areas that connected, somehow, with the ancestral Puebloans. We had the fortune of touring Aztec Ruins with a local archeologist. My first article for Sunset.com was drawn from my experiences touring Aztec Ruins and visiting their museum.

Out of Durango, Colorado we had a luxurious ride on the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railway high into the mountains, often looking down into a gorge at a rushing river. Silverton was a restored boom town and a great stop after a scenic ride pulled by a real steam engine.

But then there was more! We climbed 32 foot ladders into cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde and went on a wild off road adventure in Canyonlands National Park. What we saw was nothing short of amazing. At every turn there was a natural bridge, sandstone formation, rushing river or historical site. Touring the Four Corners area deserves many weeks. But we were there less than one week. Oh well, I must return! I must write more!

To Travel is to Live Life
I don't know how people go through life without traveling, without a thirst for the knowledge of other cultures and other lands. In this one year, I have experienced traveling to see unusual sights and cultures different from my own, all without venturing past the Western U.S.

I look forward to what 2016 will bring.

Elizabeth
Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

Corazonas Bars: Great nutrition for the traveler and good for your heart too!

When you travel, meals are often neglected. You may eat at unusual times and you might not find what is most healthy for you.

This is one of my favorites. The other is chocolate chip!

I have found a nutrition bar that is good for you, tastes wonderful and is heart-healthy. It is not often you’ll find that combination. Bars that are good for you may be dry and crumbly. I’d like to recommend Corazonas, because they taste fantastic and help to lower my cholesterol. Corazonas snacks are infused with plant sterols, which are proven in more than 140 clinical studies to help fight heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol according to the Corazonas website.

Right now I am enjoying a variety of the oatmeal squares. I keep one in my purse to stave off the munchies and, when I am in a hurry, have one for breakfast…. Without guilt.

When you are out and about sightseeing or just out walking, consider Corazonas for good, convenient nutrition. And enjoy!

Purchase: corazonas bars - great prices at Amazon.com