In 2013 our family moved to Wiesbaden, Germany, a four and a half year adventure that will always be remembered as some of the best times of our lives. Living overseas was somewhat magical, but it did present one small problem: our little army commissary only sold tiny bottles of organic maple syrup for some obnoxious price of like $13 or some nonsense like that, and real syrup supplies were otherwise non-existent. Dusty, being the problem solver he is, quickly took to the internet in search of someone who would send syrup to APO addresses. By some twist of fate, he stumbled upon Slopeside Syrup, a fairly new maple syrup company out of Vermont. The About section on the site told of the Cochran family’s mom and pop ski slope that produced family World Cup and Olympic Gold Alpine Skiing accolades. After decades of success on the slopes, a new generation of Cochran grand children were finding other ways to live off the land. Back in the day, Slopeside’s online ordering system didn’t show “APO” as a shipping option, so Dusty emailed the company, explained that he was in the Army and stationed overseas and wondered if they would be willing to ship. In no time at all, we had a half gallon of syrup in our mailbox with a message from Doug saying, “This one is on us. Thank you for your service.” To say we were appreciative is an understatement. Before long, we emailed Doug with another order request. When asked how we should pay, he told us, “Just send a check whenever you get the package.” Who does that anymore!?!? That was about ten years ago. Over the last decade, this very trusting business arrangement grew into a friendship. Emails to and from Doug always involve a little “catch up” with how life is going. He always gets us the best deals on bulk orders and shipping. It’s not uncommon for four gallons of syrup to grace our doorstep! (Yes, we go through that much syrup--and sometimes we even share.) Our family is practically religious about our Slopeside; it is a necessary staple in our pantry that we can not run out of.
For years we have talked about a family vacation to Vermont, but that trip never happened. Upon moving to New England, a visit to finally meet these long time friends became top priority! Last week we took a week to explore the Green Mountains, and fortunately, we were able to catch Doug between company trips to Texas, Massachusetts, and Kansas. Just before closing on a Friday, we met the UnTapped crew. Dakota, our 4 month old puppy, was exceptionally pleased to find dog lovers and played with the office golden retriever and the office guys while we toured the bottling facility and warehouse. We met the family and others who make the sugary magic happen. A quick visit wasn't enough time, so we made plans to have dinner with Doug. As we were headed to the restaurant, he texted and asked if we would like to come have a cookout at his place so Dakota could be more comfortable and we could just chill. This thoughtful offer made for a fantastic night (with maple soda and delicious maple coleslaw, I might add!) We had a great time and feel so blessed to have developed this friendship over the years.
Someone recently asked me what we're going to do about syrup now that we live in New England and can buy syrup in our own town--or make our own. The choice is clear though: Slopeside for life. LOL! Thank you, Doug and the Slopeside crew, for making such a quality product, but mostly for being the kind of business that people are proud to hold onto. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
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Steadfast. Strong. Beautiful. Loving. Our Lady Liberty has stood in the New York Harbor for nearly 140 years. She has been a welcoming angel to immigrants fighting their way to our shores, escaping tyranny in search of a better opportunities. She embodies an ideal our country strives to live up to, and nudges us on a path towards righteousness when our claims of freedom aren't backed by our actions. Born out of friendship, she peers out over the Atlantic, reminding us of what is pure in this world. Staring up at her colossal tarnished-copper frame, one can't help but feel a sense of pride, wonder, and a quiet calming of peace. She is magnificent. In 2017, before we moved back to the United States from Germany, we did a big unit study on American symbols. The kids were young, but many of the things we learned about the Statue of Liberty stuck with them and, even though NYC was not high on our list of places to visit, we always thought that climbing Lady Liberty would be a great adventure. She did not disappoint. Liberty Enlightening the World: Fun Facts
Visiting the StatueGoing to the Statue of Liberty isn't something you do on a whim; it takes plenty of advanced planning. Tickets to the island sell out quickly during high tourist times and reservations to the pedestal and crown sell out months in advance. Visitors will need to visit the National Parks Service website for up-to-date information and for the link to Statue City Cruises, which is the only cruise line to take visitors to the island, as opposed to just around. You can purchase tickets to the pedestal or the crown (both add on features) when you book your cruise time. Tickets were very reasonably priced, costing just $75 for our family of four, which included boat tickets to Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and back to the mainland, plus entrance to the crown and pedestal, and the museums on both islands. We promise: that's hands down the absolute best value for your dollar that you'll get in New York City! Aside from purchasing tickets in advance, you'll also want to read all the fine print on the website. Security to the island is much like airport security and there is a long list of unapproved items. To visit the crown, you'll be even more restricted. (I wasn't even allowed to bring my small fanny pack.) Lockers are available on the island for a $.25 deposit (if you have a quarter). In general, reading all the information ahead of time allows you to enjoy the visit without frustrations or any unexpected loss of personal items. One thing is for sure: she is mesmerizing and the true definition of "awesome," truly evoking a sense of "wow" as you stare up at her. For decades she welcomed families to this country, calming their fears after long journeys. In her resolute face, they saw hope, promise; freedom. It's easy to feel that anticipation and overwhelming sense of gratitude just being in her presence. Entrance to the pedestal is not handicap accessible, however, there is a service elevator in the pedestal, which allows you to skip 176 steps to the viewing platform. If you're in good physical condition, though, don't miss the opportunity to go to the crown. You will go through additional security to make your way up 162 steps on the gleaming, narrow, spiral staircase leading right up into her noggin! In the days following, I thought I must be withering away to nothing in my "old age" because my legs hurt so bad, but when Banana complained that her legs hurt too, I was reassured that those steps really do take a toll on a person! So definitely be prepared! If you know us, you're well aware that New York City isn't quite our speed. We spent another day going to see the 9-11 Memorial (very emotional), found the Ghostbuster's Headquarters, strolled around Times Square and Rockefeller Center, ate pizza at two of the top pizza shops in Manhattan, played at FAO Schwarz, and (surprise!) tracked down the LEGO store on Fifth Avenue (which was AWESOME!) NYC was exactly what we expected it to be (except it cost quite a bit more!), but going to the Statue of Liberty was definitely a highlight. If you ever find yourself in New York and have the stamina to get to the crown, you won't regret it.
We took the month of December off from exciting adventures and devoted our time to doing school work, diving back into extracurriculars and fun with friends, enjoying some holiday traditions, and a little bit of relaxing after months of going strong on the road and trails. But, it didn’t take long for the National Parks Service to start calling our names.
Brickhead was inspired by the heart wrenching battle saga, with its bombs bursting in air and prisoners at sea keeping an eye on the flag to see if our country had won. He was exceptionally interested in British cannons that focused fire at the flagstaff at Fort McHenry while Americans sacrificed their lives to keep the flag standing. The dramatization was a sure depiction of ultimate patriotism, but—did it really happen? Can you believe what you see on YouTube? These are the questions that make homeschooling the best! A quick internet search showed that Fort HcHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine was just an hour away and would be just the place to find out! It was an exceptionally foggy and rainy New Year's Eve when we set out to see the fort. Fog was forecasted to dissipate before we arrived, but lo and behold, it seemed to get worse throughout the day. No need to let a little rain ruin our fun (and learning) though! To some, the War of 1812 is the “Forgotten War.” How many of you can say you remember why it was fought and who participated? To understand this war, you have to transport yourself back to 1812. The USA was a new country. Native Americans still lived on much of the land, albeit being forced off unwillingly. We already claimed the Northwest Territory (what is now Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota). Florida was Spanish territory and the British owned much of Canada. The Louisiana Purchase was being explored and mapped and was still considered "The Great Desert," not suitable for farming. Britain, no doubt still upset over losing the colonies to a new army, imposed a blockade on U.S. maritime trade, crippling the economy. Frustrated with blockades and hoping to expand the blossoming country, the U.S. fought back. Summarizing the events of the war here wouldn't do justice to the many battles that took place, nor to the soldiers and civilians who laid their lives on the line to sustain our young country. What did the war accomplish and who won? That’s hard to say. Eventually the Treaty of Ghent ended the war in 1815. Neither side accomplished the goals they set out to do. The U.S. didn't expand north into Canada as it had hoped. It did, however, renew a sense of pride and patriotism for our new country who stood up to the military powerhouse of the world and won. For Natives, it was tragic, as it symbolized a termination to prior treaties made with England, and marked the end of any British support against the expanding states. I recommend this documentary to find out more. Every American should go to Fort McHenry if they get to Baltimore. The visitor center is very well done with a stirring documentary of the battle and the writing of Francis Scott Key's poem that became our national anthem. After the documentary, the movie screen rolls up to reveal a window overlooking the fort. The Star Spangled Banner plays, while visitors stand with their hands on their hearts and a renewed sense of what that song means for our country. After some more education from the indoor exhibits, visitors head outside to tour the fort and learn about its use in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War. We highly recommend having kids participate in the Junior Ranger program to enhance learning. So, what's the verdict? Was the YouTube dramatization true to fact? As it turns out, it's not. Of the 1,000 men defending the fort that night, only four soldiers were killed and 28 were injured in battle. The Garrison Flag (now on display at the Smithsonian), which measured 30 x 42 feet (the largest flag ever made to that date), was taken down at night and stored during the battle. And trust me--after seeing a small scale replica of the flagpole, there is no way any man or group of men could hold it upright while getting shot at. So, contrary to the YouTube narration with over 20 million views, no Americans were killed as they held the flag pole upright during the bombing. Nevertheless, I can imagine that Key and prisoners at sea were greatly relieved to see the flag being raised in the morning. Dramatization makes for great storytelling, so Brickhead still says he prefers the YouTube version. Go figure. The whole fort was a great experience, and I really enjoyed the exhibit of the role the Star Spangled Banner has played in our country over time. The song became our national anthem in 1916, but even then it was controversial. Critics questioned the truth behind the statement "land of the free," or suggested that another song of peace and prayer like "America the Beautiful" would better suit our anthem. Others stand for that first note and are overwhelmed with an immense sense of pride in their country that moves them to tears. For some it's a way to honor those who have served or given the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our country. Like any good poem, the words have different meaning to each participant. What does the Star Spangled Banner mean to you?
One thing is for sure: the drive through the flat American midwest can get a bit boring. If you're traveling I-70 between St. Louis and Indianapolis, we have a stop for you! Right smack in the middle of the two cities is Casey, Illinois, a small town with big things! This little town is home to twelve Guinness Book certified World's Largest things plus lots of other BIG fun! Travelers can find a scavenger hunt map on their website bigthingssmalltown.com, and enjoy an hour or two searching out the over twenty BIG things throughout the town. Most are found within a few city blocks. Plus there are lots of cute shops and restaurants for a lunch or dinner stop. According to their website FAQ's, the man behind the idea of Big Things Small Town is Jim Bolin, a local business owner. Born and raised in Casey, he felt like he owed something to the community that had given him so much. Most of the materials used are recycled items like old telephone poles, damaged pipe, or old oil tanks. If you're ever in the area, check it out! Situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, St. Louis was founded in 1764 as a trading hub. In its early days, it was a major fur trading post between the French and Indians. After Thomas Jefferson's purchase of Louisiana territory in 1803, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their crew said "good-bye" to the known as they left the streets of St. Louis to explore western territory in search of the Pacific Ocean. Their discoveries opened the gates to westward expansion, with all roads beginning in St. Louis. By the mid-1800's, as the belief in "Manifest Destiny" peaked, homesteaders headed to California, Oregon, and Utah to fulfill their calling from God. All stopped in St. Louis to stock up on supplies for the long journey west. St. Louis became the Gateway to the West. In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order to create a national historic park to honor the roots of these westward pioneers. The land included the St. Louis Courthouse where the pivotal Dred Scott case was tried. Forty blocks of old buildings were leveled to create a memorial, but it wasn't until 1947 that a nationwide competition challenged architects to design a monument that would commemorate the important role that the city played in westward expansion. Eero Saarinen's simple steel Gateway Arch was the favorite among the 172 entries. Construction of this one-of-a-kind structure began in 1963. Today visitors have plenty of options for experiencing the Arch. The outdoor park is always open to the public, and the museum inside the Visitors Center, which walks you through a timeline of St. Louis's history, is free. We chose the combo tickets (discounted with our National Parks Pass) for the tram to the top of the arch and the movie. You can also opt for a riverboat cruise ride. We almost skipped the movie, but I'm glad we didn't. Cinematographers paid as close attention to filming details as the engineers who put the actual arch together. The thirty minute movie tells the story of the remarkable construction of the arch from blueprint to locking in the last piece. Without this, we wouldn't have even begun to understand the complexity of building this 630 foot tall by 630 foot wide stainless steel structure. Being able to see what all those workers had to go through on a daily basis and the amount of problem solving and engineering that went into building this architectural marvel was quite inspiring.
We hadn't planned on going through St. Louis on our way back, but the image of the Arch kept coming up in our travels and it was calling Brickhead's name. It was neat to culminate our travels in the place where it all began. Our journey has had a lot of focus on the history of Native Americans vs. Pioneers, and we've seen quite a few preserved homes of the original homesteaders, so it's neat to think that the owner of those homes would have started their journey in what was our gateway back to the east. If you get to St. Louis, we recommend the stop, and be sure to take the tram to the top!
In 1947, rancher Mac Brazel found some conspicuous wreckage on his farm. He took some of the scrap to the local authorities to report. What followed was a frenzy of activity. The materials had never been seen in this world before. Newspapers started publishing that a flying saucer (now known as a UFO) had crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. It wasn't long before the United States Air Force became involved. Wreckage materials were confiscated and secretly rushed to Wright Patterson AFB, and any eye witnesses were "highly advised" to never talk about it again. News agencies began reporting that the wreckage was nothing but a "weather balloon," while new conspiracies swarmed that it wasn't a weather balloon at all, but some kind of new technology being used to spy on Japan or Russia, which would explain all the secrecy and threats made to the media. Was the wreckage truly from another solar system? Did the government cover it up to maintain a sense of comfort among earthly citizens? It took a few decades to openly discuss the flying saucer again, but these days the city of Roswell maintains that the wreckage on the Brazel farm was, in fact, alien. In addition to the wreckage, eye witness accounts suggest that three child-sized, non-human bodies were also removed from the crash site--one of which was still alive. The possibility alone peaks enough interest to keep this town rolling with numerous museums and tourist stops, photo opportunities, paintings, sculptures and paraphernalia. Roswell is a kitschy tourist trap, and we totally took the bait in our three hour visit. We began our adventure in the visitor center, where we picked up a map, doned alien sunglasses, and got our FREE photo taken with the city's mascots. Then it was on to the International UFO Museum, which is the leading museum in Roswell--so you know it has to be good! Complete with a research library, this museum includes eyewitness accounts from military personnel, law enforcement, and medical examiners, as well as a timeline of the discovery, newspaper articles, and sworn affidavits by media sources that were threatened to keep the flying saucer under wraps. If that's not convincing enough, displays document other reports of UFO's throughout modern day USA and proof of extraterrestrial encounters left from the ancients, such as petroglyphs from around the world, the Nazca Lines in Peru, and artwork found in Egyptian pyramids. If you were convinced before that extraterrestrial activities did not exist on Earth, there is a good chance you might be changing your mind by the time you leave the museum! Next, we were off to Alien Zone, Area 51, a 15-20 minute stop where visitors can pose with aliens for one-of-a-kind photo ops. A quick google search tells me this exhibit was designed by artist and pastor, Randy Reeves, in 1998. My hunch is that the place hasn't been cleaned since then, either. Thick layers of dust and moldy water damage on the carpeting left all of us feeling a bit choked up after just a few minutes. Any longer than the 15 minute exposure would likely have lead to health hazards. But we did get some fun pics! Lastly, Brickhead caught sight of BrickTown, an Alien Attack LEGO experience with over 250,000 bricks on display. Can't keep the kid away from LEGO. It was here that we decided Roswell did have aliens. Real aliens. Have you seen the movie Men In Black where aliens inhabit human bodies or human body look-alikes? The guy at the front desk, dressed in Star Trek clothing, who couldn't make eye contact, and repeated directions in an almost robotic voice was 100% alien. After thinking about it, we are pretty sure that the disengaged woman running Area 51 had also been hijacked. Kitschy or not, Roswell was a fun little town. I mean, who wouldn't consider aliens on every business wall, window, and shelf a bit exciting? I'm not sure if it was the UFO Museum or the alien employees that convinced us, but we're all in agreement: We believe.
The next morning, Dusty and I got up to watch the sunrise. (Is anyone else laughing? Because I don't get up to watch the sunrise.) We would have had the perfect view, had it been a nice sunrise. Instead, it was pretty immemorable, so we decided to clean the truck. At 6:20 in the morning, y'all. For an hour and a half. For real. That happened. White SandsThe area of White Sands used to be buried under the Permian Sea. Millions of years ago, when the sea retreated, it left behind deep layers of gypsum, or hydrated calcium sulphate. As plates shifted, the mountains rose and took this gypsum with them. Over thousands of years, water has eroded this white mineral back into the valley below, where it essentially becomes "stuck" in a geologic bowl, somewhat held together by groundwater below. What makes this place remarkable isn't just the 275 square miles of white sand, but the way the surface sand shifts with the wind. Sand dunes move up to 35 feet per year. Plants and animals have adapted over time to survive in this harsh environment. Yucca plants have a tendency to grow taller as they struggle to stay above the sand. When the dune moves past them, they'll topple over from being so top heavy. The yucca pictured on the left likely has other leaves buried several feet below. The cottonwood (center) is about to be consumed by the dune. Hopefully the leaves peeking through the top will be able to sustain the tree below the dune. Right is a sumac that has developed deep, dense roots to both get water from down below and keep the leaves above the dune. The water in these roots permeates into the sand, turning it into a hard pedestal that becomes homes for animals and insects. When the dune moves on, the pedestal is left behind. We spent some time in the visitors center working on Junior Ranger books, then went on a nature hike. Mostly, we didn't find a whole lot to do at White Sands except the one thing everyone told us we had to do: sled! It was kind of bizarre sledding down white hills that weren't cold, wearing shorts and t-shirts! Overall, we had a great day, but warn other visitors that there just isn't a whole lot to do at this park. Even the ranger told us that once you stop at one dune, you've kind of seen all of them. I'm curious to know if any of you have been, and if so, what did you find most interesting? And where did you stay? Is there more to see and do in a bordering city that isn't Alamogordo?
There is a part of our past that mainstream American history education washes over. In the American southwest, this history screams to be told. Artwork left on cliff walls, pottery fragments scattered on the desert floor, ruins of well-architected communities, homes tucked into cliff alcoves, and remnants of roads and irrigation systems all show proof of a large community of people that archeologists have grouped into "Ancient Puebloans." All of these artifacts shout "We were here." National parks are doing better about including the voice of modern day Puebloans in videos and visitor center displays, but throughout our travels, I found myself repeating, "I wonder what a native would have to say about this." Taos Pueblo is a modern day Pueblo dedicated to preserving traditions of the past and teaching others about their persevering culture. In this unique village, the Taos people stand up to tell the world, "we are still here." The Taos have lived in this location for 1,000 years. (Let that sink in by recognizing that the United States of America is less than 250 years old.) Within these walls are 35 to 150 people (depending on the time of the year) who honor their tribal traditions by living in their ancestral homes with no running water, electricity, or other modern conveniences. They speak their tribal language, and schools in the Pueblo only teach in Tiwa. (Still many of them are fluent in English from attending grade level schools and higher education off the reservation). Throughout the year they invite outsiders into their community to learn about their proud history, take part in holidays and festivals, and experience what life is like in the pueblo. The people are welcoming, but also stress that visitors are entering their homes--not a living history museum-- and should behave accordingly. Photos are not allowed to be taken of community members unless permission is given, and there are some areas where no photos are allowed. A tribal member gives guests a twenty minute tour upon arrival, and afterwards guests can roam the public areas of the Pueblo, shopping for crafts and native food, and getting to know the people. Many of the inhabitants open their homes for visitors to shop for jewelry, pottery, and other crafts, as well as fry bread, Indian tacos, and oven bread baked in community ovens. One creative gentleman has developed a love for good coffee, so he recently opened a small coffee shop, which he runs off a battery that he takes out nightly to charge. When we arrived, he had only been open for three days and it was certainly a hit! He uses fresh herbs and ingredients, like mixing his own chai recipe and adding sage to cafe mochas. Dusty and Banana had a beautiful tea/lemonade combo. About the homesEach home is made out of adobe, earth mixed with water and straw and poured into forms or made into sun-dried bricks. Many of the homes here date back 700 years. The adobe walls are several feet thick. The flat roofs are made of tree trunks and covered with packed dirt. Twice a year, families come together to maintain their homes by replastering the adobe bricks with thick layers of mud, just like their grandparents did before them. Inside, the walls are washed with white earth (gypsum from the nearby mountains) to help reflect the light from windows and doors, which are a modern addition to the pueblo homes. In ancient times, entryways would be on the roof and only accessed by ladder. Throughout the village, many of the doorways are painted blue or red. Red keeps the bad spirits out and blue lets the good spirits in. In each store, you can find bundles of cedar and sage, and within fireplaces, pinion pine is burned in the winter. The fragrance is calming, uplifting, and just all kinds of incredible! In each shop we went in, we had meaningful (and often long) conversations with the artists and home owners. To me, each conversation was special, and I left feeling honored and blessed to have spent the day there. A tough historyThe Taos Pueblo people have always had to fight to keep their land and traditions. Pre-1600's, enemy tribes would raid them for resources. In the late 1600's the Spanish invaded with intentions to turn the Pueblo people into Catholics, tricking them into slave labor and punishing them-even by death- if they didn't conform to European beliefs and customs. The St. Jerome Church was built in 1619. In the Pueblo Revolt, the tribe successfully pushed Spaniards out of their territory and the church was destroyed in 1680. After 12 years, the Spaniards re-took the land and built another church on the same sight. Centuries later, the U.S. was at war with Mexico and Native Americans were desperately trying to defend their way of life. An attack on American forces caused retaliation that still scars this pueblo today. While Puebloan men, women, and children sought sanctuary inside the church, Americans bombed it repeatedly with cannon fire, destroying the church and the people inside. The ruins stand today in the center of a cemetery. During Spanish rule, the People found ways to remain true to themselves by blending the Catholic faith and their own traditions. St. Jerome Church was rebuilt in 1850 in another location and is still used today, as approximately 90% of the Puebloan Indians practice the Catholic faith. The Taos Puebloans are a proud people. They've stood up through the test of time, reminding people that they won't be going away. In 1970, after hard work from tribal chiefs, 48,000 acres of mountain land was returned to their People after being taken by the U.S. Government for National Forest Land. Only tribal members are allowed on this property, which is guarded by warchiefs.
As a sovereign nation, they welcome visitors into their village to learn about their history and traditions, but rightfully guard their privacy with a fine balance. I, personally, am honored by the opportunity to be a guest in their home and encourage others to make the trip, too. As Americans, it's our responsibility to learn about and respect the true history of our country and the often forgotten People who were here long before us and, most importantly, are still here. Can I admit that when we started this trip, New Mexico was hardly on my radar? Fortunately, our nephew moved to Los Alamos a few months ago, so the state begged for attention, and we're so glad it did! We stayed at Santa Fe Skies RV Park, with beautiful views and fun sculptures throughout the campground. Each day was filled with the perfect mix of visiting and sightseeing. Here are a few of the things we did while touring the area. Manhattan Project NHP and Bradbury MuseumBack in August 1939, the most famous physicist in the world, Albert Einstein, wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning him that new discoveries in nuclear fission might lead to the development of weapons of mass destruction and that intelligence suggested that Germany's top scientists were experimenting with this technology. By 1943, the U.S. government had enforced eminent domain over the area of Los Alamos and set up a secret laboratory for the sole purpose of engineering a nuclear bomb. The 75,000+ scientists, family members, and support staff lived in ramshackle houses, which were often built in a single day, while others lived in tents. Many of them were unaware of the top secret, world-changing scientific discovery that was unfolding. This facility was so highly classified that all mail (which was monitored) went in and out of a P.O. Box in Santa Fe and employees were not allowed to divulge their location to anyone. The town of Los Alamos is built on this history, and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Visitor Center is a great place to start your learning journey. There you can meet with a Ranger or volunteer who explains the beginning of the town and life for its WWII era inhabitants. From there, you can go to the Los Alamos History Museum (which we missed out on), and the Bradbury Science Museum, which is filled with highly interactive exhibits that teach about past, present, and future projects taking place at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory. And--wow!--is there some amazing science going on there! Below Right: Playing with the marble run. Middle: Comparing seismograph readings and shakes (in the chair) of natural earthquakes of different magnitudes and quakes caused by explosions. Left: Building blocks with the robotic arm, which scientists use when working with radioactive materials. Santa Fe StoneworksOk, so this isn't a tourist attraction, but was still one of the highlights of our trip, and I would be remiss if I didn't tell everyone to check them out (afterall, Christmas is almost here and there might be some interested people on your list.) About eight years ago, Dusty bought me a beautiful turquoise vein handled chef's knife, which I faithfully use every day. We happened upon an ad for the company who made it, Santa Fe Stoneworks, in a brochure and thought we'd try our luck at getting it sharpened while we were in town. By email, the excited owner told us to come on by and he'd be happy do to it for free--and also mentioned that everyone would be really happy to see him! As it turns out, Dustin Ramsey was his best friend's son who had moved away from the area years ago, Typically they only do sharpenings on Thursdays, but for this long-time friend, he offered to make an exception. Fortunately for us, he stuck to his word, even if it was for the wrong Dustin who showed up in his store on Friday. But he did have a little fun tricking his daughter by telling her that her childhood best friend was in the gallery. I'm not sure she was amused! haha!
Bandelier National MonumentAs you know, we've desperately been trying to enter an old Puebloan cliff dwelling, but our luck has clearly run out with the summer season, as most parks have shut down tours or began construction. Well, we..partially...got our wish at Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos. This time only one dwelling Alcove House) was closed to visitors. (It just happened to be the coolest one.) Nonetheless, Bandelier certainly did not disappoint! Puebloans settled in Bandelier and began planting crops of beans, squash, and maize as early as 600 C.E., but it wasn't until around 1200 that a marked increase in population occurred. Along almost the entire cliffside, you can see remnants of cliff dwellings. These villages, built with masonry bricks made out of volcanic tuff local to the area, were built along the bottom of the cliff and were between two to four stories tall. Each floor (or ceiling) consisted of ponderosa pine beams, which, as you can see in the rows of holes in the photo above, were supported by the cliff wall on one end and masonry bricks on the other. As typical in Pueblo style homes, entry to the dwelling would have been in the roof and accessed by ladder. This was a mechanism of protection from enemies. Santa Fe Historic District
Santa Fe and Los Alamos were neat little towns with lots of history and things to do. We also visited the Taos Pueblo, which was an incredibly special experience (blog post coming soon), and went to the crazy fun Meow Wolf. But, the best part of our visit was getting to spend time with our nephew and learn about his new life here in New Mexico.
Social media tracking is a little freaky. The night we arrived in Santa Fe, Facebook started advertising Meow Wolf on Dusty's ads. He's always been a sucker for ads, so he clicked on the bait and decided it was something we had to do. Meow Wolf's mission is "to inspire creativity through art, exploration, and play so that imagination will transform our worlds." I figured the kids needed some art for homeschool credit, so we gave it a shot. Santa Fe is known for their prominent art scene, but there was a time when artists had to fit into a creative box to be recognized by galleries and collectors. This left hundreds of free-thinking outsiders, or self -proclaimed "weirdos," who had no way to let their creative voices be heard. Fortunately for us, all these weirdos found each other. In the early 2000's, a small group came together to rent a warehouse. They invited all their artist buddies, who prolifically painted every square inch of the place, and when they ran out of space, they started working on fantastical sculptures within the walls. At the time, this was just a wild, inclusive place for artistic rebels to create, party, and feel accepted. A family grew. A plan grew. Recognition grew. Overtime, this group of nonconformists developed a vision where all types of artists could breed their creative skills into one maximist permanent art exhibit for guests to explore for years to come. In 2016, Meow Wolf opened their first permanent exhibition, The House of Eternal Return, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This 20,000 square foot ex-bowling alley now contains 70 rooms with hands-on art exhibits. A mind bending mix of escape room, obstacle course, and story art exhibit, Meow Wolf is certainly an experience like no other. Upon entering, you arrive at an old Victorian style home and are given a mystery to solve: A little boy has just died of a mysterious illness, but as it turns out, the family has been been meddling with different multiverses and they don't believe he's actually gone. How did little Lex get access to the multiverse and can the family get him back?
Meow Wolf completely exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I personally was astounded by how many people were there on a Friday at 1:00, and by the age span of participants. From babies in carriers to over 70, everyone was there enjoying the experience. You can see a Meow Wolf for yourself in four cities across the United States: Santa Fe (the original), Denver, Las Vegas, and Grapevine (near Dallas-Fort Worth). There is a planned opening for a new location in Houston in 2024 and one brochure mentioned one coming to Washington D.C. (though the website didn't mention that.) Each location has a different mystery to solve and different artists and exhibits that let the mystery unfold as participants travel through different multiverses. You can learn more about Meow Wolf by watching Meow Wolf: Origin Story documentary, available on iTunes.
We weren't quite ready to leave Colorado, so when a campground guest told us about Pagosa Springs, we figured we might as well make another quick stop before we left. We drove an hour east of Durango and camped overnight in the driveway at Abney's Place, a Boondocker's Welcome host. We enjoyed a view of the mountains and playing with Sunny, a sweet dog with a playful wagging tail and a big ol' smile. Our host gave us a tour of his greenhouse where he grows pot to make medicinal cookies for the old folks in the neighborhood. Meeting new and diverse people makes for fun stays, but we still can't help but chuckle over Brickhead asking why it always smelled like skunk there. (It did...so bad! LOL!) But that was only part of the fun...let's get into the town of Pagosa Springs. For centuries and maybe even thousands of years, people have come to Pagosa Springs for its healing waters. Ute legend tells of an incurable illness that struck the people. The Chiefs prayed at the riverbank for help, and the next morning, where the council fire burned the night before, there rose a pool of bubbling water. When the people drank and bathed in it, they were healed. The small town of Pagosa Springs is home to the largest hot spring in the area and the deepest geothermal aquifer in the world (certified at 1,002 feet deep.) The town has made the most of this gift from Mother Nature, using the multitude of springs to heat many downtown businesses and keep sidewalks clear of snow during the winter. There are three spas in town, some more expensive and larger than others, where visitors can bask in warm natural pools, containing 13 feel-good minerals. The most highly recommended spa is the luxurious Springs Resort, which spans across the river walk as the main focus of town, with loads of natural springs and pools and lodging choices for those wanting overnight accommodations. We were thinking that the Springs Resort sounded like a great romantic get-away, but not so much a family destination, and--well, I'm often cheap and didn't want to spend $54 per person for a soak--so we opted for the FREE natural hot springs located on the side of the river right across from the luxurious spa. We were the only people there for the majority of two and half hours, so we had our pick of five pools. The kids kept going between the steaming hot pools and the river water and we didn't have to control or contain them as much as we would have in the spas! When we needed more peace, we'd just move to a different pool! It was a perfect afternoon soak. Afterwards we walked through the town a bit and visited some shops. One brand new shop, High Altitude Pagosa, just opened up, offering boho clothing, designer purses, hair feathering, and...axe throwing! We talked to the owners for a while and found out they are homeschooling, hiking, and RVing people like us (but more hard core, backpacking 1200 miles of the Appalachian trail!) The store is the perfect mix of both of their personalities. Brickhead had the time of his life axe throwing. I mean...what do we say about Pagosa Springs? The short time we were there, we had a blast. Sixty-five percent of the local land is either national forest or Ute Reservation, which makes for all the year around outdoor recreation you could ask for. The people there seem to be free spirits, breaking the mold and doing what makes them happy, making good use of legalized recreational marijuana. Oh. my. goodness. LOL! Just kidding. Most likely it's the hot spring minerals that put them in a great mood. Yeah. Probably that. Either way, it's a fun little town. Someday I'm coming back for that romantic get-away.
From the moment we crossed the border to Colorado, we were delighted. We were only able to explore a small section of the southwestern part of the state, but each day was an adventure. We used our Boondocker's Welcome membership to boondock two nights in Yellow Jacket, then spent six nights at Oasis RV Park in Durango. Part of our stay was spent learning about the history of the area, from ancient Pueblo dwellings (which you can read about in this blog post) to old mining towns from the early 1900's. The rest of the time, we enjoyed local shops, especially our new favorite Animas Chocolates (which you can read about here). We spent a special evening trick or treating in downtown Durango. Dusty is already trying to convince the kids to go to school at Ft. Lewis College so we can retire here. Here's a little taste of our explorations. Durango to Silverton Train RideThe Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has continuously been hauling passengers and freight since 1882, and has won awards for the best scenic train ride in the United States. In it's 141 year history, the railway transported over $300 million in gold and silver. Wow! This attraction is a thing everyone must do in Durango. In fact, you really can't come across anyone local who doesn't recommend it, or tourist who haven't done it. Luckily, we were able to reserve a spot on the steam train on the second to the last day before it closed for the season! The train travels 45 miles from Durango to Silverton at average speeds of 15 miles per hour. Y'all, the scenery was pretty, but this was probably the longest 7 hours of my life! We scheduled to take the train to Silverton and back, as opposed to taking a bus one way. We highly recommend the bus...unless bouncing for 7 hours while gazing out the window at the beautiful scenery suits you. It's highly possible that spending the last three months driving across the country has skewed our opinions on passively riding in any modes of transportation. We also just missed fall foliage by about two weeks, and nearly everything in Silverton had closed down for the winter, aside from very few dingy restaurants and souvenir shops. Thus, our exciting day didn't exactly pan out, but I'm sure it's just as good as people say it is, given other circumstances. Animas Forks Ghost TownAt elevations of 11,200 feet, Animas Forks isn't an easy place to access. But in the late 1800's, someone found gold! The first cabin was built in 1873 and this little burg became the highest gold mining town in the U.S.. Ten years later, there were 450 people, a hotel, general store, saloon, post office, and newspaper. Many people lived in tents on the south side of town, and come fall, there was a mass exodus to Silverton, at a much lower elevation. Some people stayed to brave out the winters, with snow reaching up to 25 feet! By the early 1900's the earth had given all the gold it had to give, and by 1920, Animas Forks was a ghost town. For decades, the Bureau of Land Management and San Juan County Historical Society have managed what's left of the dilapidated cabins, allowing visitors to roam in and out freely. I found out that my Aunt and Uncle's family have been visiting this eerie town since the late 80's. He texted photos from 1988, 1995, and 2006, and it was kind of neat to compare changes over the decades. The Historical Society does the minimum to keep these buildings standing, which is kind of the charm in it. The town is 15 miles down a dirt road. Up to Eureka is well maintained, but as you continue up the mountain, the road gets pretty rough and four wheel drive is recommended, though we've heard people do it in the summer time with 2WD. We hit snow on the roads for the last three miles, give or take, so parts of the drive along steep cliffs became fairly adventurous. Beautiful views, though, and we all had fun creeping through the spooky houses on the eve of Halloween. Million Dollar Highway to OurayWe drove the Million Dollar Highway from Durango to Ouray with a few fun stops on the way, one of which was Animas Forks. We came across Pinkerton hot spring just north of Durango. We were excited to visit Ouray, the "Switzerland of America." One thing needs to be made very clear here: Ouray is a cool little town in it's own right, but it is no Switzerland. It does have a neat history and several outdoor spas with pools fed by natural hot springs. Box Canyon and Cascade Falls are both short hikes with big rewards. We slid along the icy paths to see the waterfalls and the three children got to do some climbing. We didn't have a whole lot of time there, but it's certainly worth a visit and we'd love to explore more someday. Halloween in DurangoWe couldn't travel around the U.S. and miss important traditions like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treat night! We made time to carve pumpkins on the morning of Halloween. Both kids came up with their own designs. Banana made a bear in front of the mountains, which was so fitting for our time in Colorado, and Brickhead created a scary, shaved jack-o-lantern. Main Street hosted Downtown Durango Children's Halloween and the dreamy trick-or-treating was fit for a movie. Shopkeepers dressed up and several of them decorated their storefronts. The police, fire department, and even the town maintenance crew showed up to pass out candy, also blocking the streets to any cars trying to pass by. We walked through the beautiful Third Street, lined with trees of fall colors with mountains in the background. There were churches on nearly every corner and some of them had trunk-or-treats with games and free food. Durango sets the bar pretty high when it comes to celebrating Halloween. After trick-or-treating, we met up with friends from Maryland, as their RV route matched up with ours again. We had a delicious dinner at Carver's Brewing Company and afterwards the kids had a blast playing with their dogs back at the campground. It's always fun meeting new people in our travels, but catching up with old friends feels pretty good! This part of Colorado seems to have everything. It's the perfect combination of high desert and forested mountains. The people are friendly. The air is fresh and there are outdoor activities galore. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and can't wait to come back again. Maybe, just maybe, the Ramseys will find a nice retirement home here in the future.
During our time living in Germany and traveling Europe, two thousand year old Roman ruins were everywhere. We almost took for granted being able to explore 900 year old castles on a regular basis. Moving back to the U.S. where 150 years was considered "old" was quite disenchanting, and our kids desperately missed the wonder of ancient civilizations. Everything in the east seemed so new. We had no idea that 2,000 miles to the west of our nation's capital was a cornucopia of ancient Puebloan dwellings just waiting to be explored. If you've been following along, you've likely seen a spattering of cliff dwellings and Puebloan granaries in our photos from Utah and Arizona. These sites gave us a little taste of what we should expect when we arrived in Colorado, then traveled south to New Mexico for a large dose of Puebloan history. We left Utah and headed an hour and a half east to Yellow Jacket, Colorado, staying for two nights at Boondocker's Welcome's 5C Cattle Camp. The temperature had dropped 50 degrees the day before, but we were determined to break our brand new Enduro Lithium battery in hard core! The temperature the first night was 21 degrees and the second night we jumped to 30, but between the new battery, a tank of propane, and the generator, we kept warm. The town of Yellow Jacket is close to several government-run Puebloan Ruins: Hovenweep NM, Lowry Pueblo NHL, Mesa Verde NP, Yucca House NM, and Canyon of the Ancients NM. All the sites were on winter hours, and most of Mesa Verde was shut down, either due to winter hours, road construction, or rock slides. We were disappointed that no ranger tours or programs were taking place, and Mesa Verde had closed their archeology museum for renovations. For months we've heard people talk about the amazing ranger-guided tours of the largest and best preserved cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde. However, tours need to be booked two weeks in advance, and (as we found out) tours shut down for the winter on October 22. We wanted to cry a little bit when we arrived in the area on October 24. That's ok though...it just gives us another reason to come back. From Yellow Jacket, we drove to Oasis RV Resort in Durango where we stayed for 6 nights. These campground owners honor their military guests with a 50% discount on their stay! From Durango, we traveled south to Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Having visited five of these major historical ancient Puebloan sites, we thought we would have a good understanding of the culture, but there are still so many more questions than answers. Archeologists lump a very complex Native American history and vast stretch of communities into "Ancient Puebloans" because their traditions seem to be fairly similar, though not the same. What I've gathered from these ancient site visits is that different tribes traded and communed with each other, piggybacking off of each other's ideas, but also developing their own regional cultures. Each society must have had their heydays at different times, much like towns do today. What's baffling about each of these settlements though, is that within 100 years of each other, all of them were abandoned. For many centuries, the Puebloan people were hunters and gatherers. They moved like the clouds, never staying in one place very long. Around 200 A.D. they began farming and settled down, originally in small pit houses, which were one room living spaces dug into the ground and entered via ladder in a hole in the top. Chaco Culture National Historical ParkAround 800 A.D., for reasons unknown, the Puebloans, decided to build--and build big! Ginormous Great House complexes began being built in Chaco Canyon in sandstone masonry techniques that had never been seen before. Pueblo Bonito, the largest Great House, was at least four stories tall, and had 600 rooms and 40 kivas (or circular rooms used for ceremonies and worship.) Each house was built to align with celestial cycles, such as the winter solstice, which was an important part of their culture. A road network was built, connecting Chaco to communities far and wide, allowing for trade of turquoise, copper, shells from the Pacific, and even macaws from Central Mexico. For many years, Chaco was the center of the Puebloan universe and visitors came from far and wide until the 1100's when, within the span of two generations, the magical city was abandoned. BTW: Props to the Rangers at Chaco Canyon. This small park is difficult to get to, as visitors must drive 21 miles down a dirt road that has seen its fair share of recent flooding. Of all the parks we have been to in the area, this is the only one who has honored its Ranger Talk schedule. (We attended a 90 minute tour of Pueblo Bonito.) It's hard to get employees during the off-season, but it was so refreshing to see dedicated employees stick to educational programs. Aztec RuinsFifty-five miles north of Chaco is the Aztec Ruins. No, these ruins aren't Aztec, though early Spanish explorers thought they might be and the name stuck. Puebloans began building Chaco-style Great Houses and kivas here around the late 1000's. They built fast, taking only about 25 years to build Aztec West, a complex that boasted 400 rooms. For 200 years, they continued to build and renovate, sticking to the original blueprint, but adding Mesa Verde-style flair. Archeologists believe this community originally supported Chaco activities, but eventually became a cultural hub in its own right, as people began to move away from Chaco Canyon. Again, after just 200 years, the community was abandoned. HovenweepPeople lived in Hovenweep, on the border of present day Utah and Colorado, as early as the 700's, but the community had a population boom between 1100-1230. This settlement is probably the most interesting to me. Originally, these people lived in pit houses on the mesa tops, close to their farms of corn, beans, and squash. They were skilled dry farmers, building check dams to irrigate. For reasons unknown, they began building houses on the canyon rims, and even on isolated boulders within the canyon. The location of these dwellings made little practical sense, as safety was questionable and they were certainly difficult to access. The best guess for archeologists is that springs or water seeps may have been easy to access from those locations. Side note: Water seeps are formed as water percolates through sandstone rock and comes in contact with a lower layer of shale. Water cannot flow through shale, so it begins moving to a low point. Puebloans would carve grooves in rocks so the water would pour out of it like a spout. This shows their ingenious creativity in collecting this elixir of life. Mesa VerdeMesa Verde was unbelievable, and I'm still a little disappointed that we didn't get to do a cliff dwelling tour. There is just so much to learn here. In 1200 A.D., inhabitants of Mesa Verde moved from mesa-top pit houses to large, expensive, expertly engineered cliff dwellings. With several large complexes within the park, this was a thriving community. There are 4,500 archeological sites on the property, and 600 of those are cliff dwellings. (Let that sink in.) Some of them are well preserved and others have been absorbed by nature, but all are spectacular to see. Again, by the late 1200's, these dwellings were abandoned. If walls could talk...What caused all these people to desert these highly engineered homes has baffled archeologists. Was it a change in climate? Were resources depleted? Were they chased out by another tribe? Evidence tends to lean towards the depletion of resources over time. Each of these settlements had thousands of people living in them, and in the arid desert, maintaining a thriving culture would be difficult. They certainly did not "die off" or disappear though. DNA evidence and traditional oral storytelling prove that these people dispersed throughout the southwest, taking many of their building techniques with them.
So much about these ancient peoples has been studied and hypothesized, and still, without any type of written record, there is just so much unknown. The ranger joked that if you ask five archeologists what happened, you'll likely get twelve different answers. These walls can tell us about the what, when, and how, but there are so many whys and actual stories of these people that lived here that will likely never be answered. It kind of makes you wonder if that was the intention.
This rugged terrain of red, orange, and brown is a utopia for hikers, bikers, climbers, and outdoorsmen in general, but one thing to keep at the forefront of your mind is who this land belonged to. We know Moab as a bustling tourist destination. In the 1950's it was a uranium miners' jackpot. In the late 1800's it became a cowboy's open pasture. But the story of this land goes far beyond these last 140 years. Archaeological evidence supports people living in this area for 10,000 years, while Native histories will tell of people occupying this land for time immemorial. While each time period is different, all of them left their mark on the land. Quite literally. From Lava Beds NM in California to Kanab, Utah to Sedona, Arizona to the Four Corners area, petroglyphs (carvings in rock) and pictographs (paintings on rock) are everywhere! Even two thousand years ago, people had the urge to create--whether to say "I was here," tell a story, give direction, or celebrate a rite of passage, no one really knows. But thankfully, in many places, the artwork still stands. All of my life I've been fascinated by ancient artwork, but never in a million years would I have imagined traveling out west and getting to witness the prevalence of these historical fingerprints. On our last day in Moab, the weather did a complete 180. It had been sunny and warm, but before we left a front rolled in, leaving the desert soaked with rain and covered in a slight blanket of slush and snow. It was cold outside, but not cold enough to stay inside all day! Our interest was piqued by a campground brochure titled Moab Area Rock Art Auto Tour, distributed by the Moab Information Center, so we took off in the late afternoon for a scavenger hunt around Moab, searching for native cliff art. To our surprise, most of the artwork could be found on the side of roads. Some of it was protected by low fences in hopes to deter disrespectful vandals from leaving their own marks, but for the most part, it's just "out there." Artwork is usually found on desert varnish. According to the National Parks Service, desert varnish is thin red-to-black coating found on exposed rock surfaces in arid regions. It's predominantly composed of clay minerals, oxides and hydroxides of manganese and/or iron. Bacteria take manganese out of the environment, oxidize it, and cement it onto rock surfaces. (How's that for some fun chemistry?) A complete coat of manganese-rich desert varnish takes thousands of years, so it is rarely found on easily eroded surfaces. When these ancient humans chose this dark desert varnish to draw on, they, likely unknowingly, ensured the survival of their work for centuries to come.
This adventure was one of our favorites during our time in Moab. Getting off the main thoroughfare gave us a little taste of what local life was like, and was a great testament to how much there really is to see and do in the area. We felt blessed to be in the desert after the storm. Rain doesn't come often, but snow in October was certainly unexpected! It was neat to see the waterfalls sliding off the slick rock cliff faces and snow hugging the prickly pear cactuses. Most importantly, I loved living out my childhood dream of finding ancient rock art and sharing the experience with my favorite husband and kids. When we read the #1 tip for enjoying Arches National Park was to "pack your patience," we were a little worried about the number of people we might encounter. When we checked the park's website and read that they stopped timed entry requirements for the season, but were shutting down the entry points for anywhere from 3-5 hours per day because the park was so full, we were about to just take Arches off our list. On our first day in Moab, Dusty had a morning interview. Since we were getting a late start, we knew Arches was out of the question, but since it was close, we stopped by to pick up a map and hiking guide to plan our visit for another day. You can imagine how shocked we were to find only five other cars in the entry line! Turns out it was the perfect day to visit the park. We even found ample parking spaces in every lot! All of southern Utah has been a wonderland of rock formations. It's hard to put into words how amazingly beautiful this country is, and photos don't do justice to the panoramic views of geologic eye candy that often overwhelm the senses. Arches stole a spot in our top 5 favorite national parks with its over 2,000 arches--all formed without water running through them, turquoise and green petrified sand dunes, certified dark skies, and rock formations that can only be found in southern Utah. We covered the full 21 mile long road (several times) by car, and clocked over 16 miles on the trails in the two days we spent in Arches, and we could still go back and enjoy more. Our itineraryWe spent day one in the southern part of the park, enjoying sights in the Windows and Delicate Arch sections. Our GyPSy Guide* faithfully escorted us to the best viewpoints and told us fun history and geology facts about the park as we navigated through the park roads. I know I've said it a million times, but we seriously don't know what we would do without this amazing app to guide us around our nation's parks! In the Windows section, there were several short hikes out to arches where the kids (including the adult one) enjoyed climbing to get inside. Note: park rules say you can NOT climb on top of an arch. However, climbing to and through is a favorite past time for visitors at Arches, as long as you stay on the path or solid rock surfaces. (Very important not to Bust the Crust! Stay tuned to a future blog post to explain that phrase!) Up the road a bit is a three mile trail that leads to Arches' most famous Delicate Arch, which can be found on the Utah state license plate and just about any Arches/Moab memorabilia. The hike is labeled as difficult, but if you are physically able, we highly recommend it. You won't get views like those from the Delicate Arch viewpoints, that's for sure! The trail is also the site of the late 1800's Wolfe homestead and petroglyphs from the Ute tribe, likely dating to the 16-1700's. We got up early on day two to hike the 8 mile Devil's Garden Loop trail, where hikers can get up close to seven arches. It's a difficult trail, labeled as "primitive," with lots of rock scrambling, but it has the biggest bang for the effort you put into it. My breakfast didn't seem to agree with me that morning, so the kids and Dusty went on the full loop hike, while I hung back until I felt better. Later I made it out to all the major arches, like Landscape, Navajo, and Double O before turning back to meet them at the trailhead. At the end of our adventure, we stopped at the visitor center so the kids could get sworn in as Junior Rangers. The Ranger just about fell out of her chair when the kids told her they hiked Devils Garden that morning! They're becoming pros at this Junior Ranger stuff! We finished our hiking around 2 p.m., we had the afternoon to get some tasty ice cream in town and do a bit of souvenir shopping, then the kids and Dusty played in the campground pool while I did laundry. Spanish Trail RV Park is just 15 minutes from Arches, so after a late dinner, we went back to the Certified Dark Sky park around 9 p.m. to stargaze. Timing was perfect as the Orionids meteor shower appeared that night! As Earth passed through the dust remnants from Halley's Comet, we saw at least ten meteoroids zipping through the atmosphere in the direction of the Orion constellation. The dim waning crescent moon left a perfectly dark sky to see the Milky Way and billions of stars. Arches was absolutely gorgeous and a great experience for adventure seekers. We didn't get to do the Fiery Furnace, which is a popular hike requiring a permit that you can reserve 2-7 days in advance. By the time we went to make our reservation they were sold out, so if you plan to go, get your tickets at recreation.gov seven days before your hike. We hear it's a very primitive trail that is easy to lose your way on, which is why you can opt to do a ranger guided tour during the peak season. With a ton more to explore, we look forward to returning to Arches someday.
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