Bryce Canyon National Park is a popular stop along Scenic Byway 12 in Utah. But down the road is another hidden gem worth checking out. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park offers camping, boating, fishing and hiking. And if you’re there in July, it also offers the typical afternoon thunderstorm. But that didn’t stop us from…
The number of monuments, memorials and museums in Washington DC, is astounding. It can also be overwhelming as you try to decide on the places you want to visit. We took my son on a trip to the nation’s capital earlier this year, and he listed off the five memorials he felt everyone should see…
The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. A visit to France is incomplete without at least seeing the Eiffel Tower. But if you want a great view of Paris, you’ll want to head up the tower and see the city. Despite the copy-cat Eiffel Towers that spot the globe, like the…
Valley Forge National Historical Park is a step back in time to the winter of 1777. The snow falling during my late January visit brought the experience to life. I walked where General George Washington’s troops walked as they weathered the winter and prepared to fight for independence. The park has numerous paths, trails and…
As a space enthusiast, I wanted to visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. I wanted to learn more about the leader who sent us on a trajectory to the moon. I loved learning about America’s 35th President. From his time as a boy to his years leading the greatest country…
Anasazi State Park Museum is a short drive from popular Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It provides a glimpse into what life was like for the Anasazi people and is a great stop along Scenic Highway 12. And since we have an annual Utah State Parks day pass, we made it a point to…
Are you one of the roughly 2.4 million visitors planning to visit Yellowstone National Park each summer? Sixty-five percent of the annual visitors to America’s first national park come in June, July or August. Visitors will battle about 25,000 people per day. The key to avoiding the crowds is to explore some beautiful, albeit less…
After being held for 11 months as a Prisoner of War by the Germans in World War II, Leo Carlton (my grandpa) rode a Liberty ship home. I stumbled upon the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, the only active Liberty Ship still in its original configuration, while in San Francisco. I had to take a tour of…
I’ve watched my share of Pioneer Day parades in Utah. The most popular one is the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on July 24. But in my opinion, the best Pioneer Day Parade is in a rural town just east of Bryce Canyon National Park: Escalante. If you’ve never experienced the Pioneer…
I didn’t realize that a trip to Cancun, Mexico, took me within a couple-hour drive to one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Chichen Itza was a large city built and populated by the Maya people from roughly 600 to 1200 A.D. The architecture is amazing – and to think they didn’t have…
