Category Archives: Travel
Biosphere 2
I used my U of A student Catcard to get a 50% discount on admission into Biosphere 2, which normally runs $20/person. Money well spent, it was a unique experience being able to enter into a completely different climate just by taking a step into the next room-going from a balmy day in the rainforest [...]
Day Trip to Kitt Peak Observatory
Here are some pictures from a day trip out to the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) which was founded in 1958. Kitt Peak is about 56 miles southwest of Tucson and is part of the Tohono O’odham Nation (translated as “Desert People,”) which is a federally recognized tribe with a rich culture and history that [...]
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Coast Aquarium 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road Newport, OR 97365 Adults $14.95 day pass We explored the Oregon Coast Aquarium during the day and that was fun-but sleeping with the sharks would have been even better… You read that right-you really can, “sleep with the sharks,” at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. During select dates [...]
Sea Lion Cave
Sea Lion Cave located eleven miles North of Florence is one of the world’s largest sea caves-if not the largest. (Rico Rico Cave in New Zealand is another contender for the title of the “world’s largest sea cave,” though words like “longest” versus “most volume” suggest there still remains some degree of ambiguity.) If Sea [...]
Redwoods National Park
Of all the places to get locked out of our van, it happened to us in the middle of the 131,983 acres that make up the Redwoods National Park! With the nearest lockout service hours away, things were not looking good. I had only gone to put on my coat (The temps average just 40-60 [...]
Drive Thru Tree and World Famous Gravity House
About 185 miles North of San Francisco following the scenic 101 Hwy, 10 miles South of Leggett, CA we followed the Drive Thru Tree Road Exit to get to Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree Park.. Drive-thru tree?? That certainly was enough to get our attention. The 6′ wide by 6’9″ space carved through this towering redwood back [...]
Alcatraz Highlights-The Escape of June 11, 1962
Alcatraz Quick Facts *More than a million people visit Alcatraz Island every year *The cost is currently $28/adult *The Ferry to Alcatraz leaves from Pier 33 and takes approximately 15 minutes to reach “The Rock.” *It’s best to purchase tickets in advance as they do get busy *Save $10 per ticket on Alcatraz Tours Highlight [...]
The Love of Ganesha, The Winding Road
We walked around 3 different parks today-the Golden Gate, Alamo Square, and Buena Vista Park.. Also made time for a little shopping. I fell in love with a shop on 1310 Haight St.(between Central Ave & Masonic Ave) called The Love of Ganesha. I bought a necklace and 3 unusual silk skirts for less than [...]
Santa Cruz to San Francisco
Upon checking out, we stopped at Bad Ass Coffee in downtown Santa Cruz located at 1207 Pacific Ave, for a quick treat-and suddenly realized neither of us had paid the meter—-so, even though it had only been 2 minutes, Chris went back to the van and was surprised to find a meter lady already trying [...]
Things to do on your way to Santa Cruz-Garlic icecream anyone?
We spent the first night of our roadtrip vacation at a Flying J truckstop near Wheeler, CA. I guess it’s been a while since we’ve slept in the van and it was an uncomfortable first night–the memory foam didn’t seem nearly thick enough-which makes me wonder how we survived all those months when we were [...]