Canyonlands National Park

 

Canyonlands National Park outside Moab, Utah, was not high on my list of ‘must see’ National Parks. It is not publicized and photographed as much as Arches, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. But, we were shocked at how gorgeous this Park was.

  While it is quite a drive from Moab, it is definitely worth your time. Perhaps that is why it seems to not be as popular – it was at least a 45 minute drive to the park entrance.

 

 Although it is quite remote, the landscape and views are worth every minute to get there.

   I’ve read that the Park’s nickname is “little Grand Canyon” and I see why. 

   I do not use the word “awe” frequently but was definitely in awe of the views from the mountain plateaus.

   This Park is well worth your time and drive and I suggest you not miss it if in this area.

 

   Since it is so remote, make sure you take your own food and water although we saw water being sold at the Visitor’s Center.

   I found this such an interesting and gorgeous location to photograph. The possibilities are limitless.

   There were quite a few pull-overs with picnic areas and some of the views from these locations were unbelievable!

 

Safe travels and enjoy your adventures!

Mesa Verde National Park

 

Mesa Verde National Park is absolutely beautiful and full of history. We immediately felt it is less publicized or popular than many such as Arches and Zion, and we are not sure why because we loved it.

 The Pueblo Ruins were so beautiful and you can easily see them without doing the tours. The scenery on the drives and from the Overlooks was amazing as well.

 We highly recommend a visit if you get to the southwest corner of Colorado. You can easily see it in a day, and we actually saw everything we wanted to see in about 6 hours.

 “Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloan people who called it home for over 700 years from 600 to 1300 CE. The park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings. While still farming the mesa tops, many Ancestral Puebloans lived in pueblos built beneath the overhanging cliffs. The structures ranged in size from one-room storage areas to villages of more than 150 rooms. They continued to reside in the alcoves—repairing, remodeling, and constructing new rooms—for nearly a century. By the late 1270s, the population migrated south into present-day New Mexico and Arizona.”

Mesa Verde

The landscape and surrounding mountains are just as important to see as the Pueblo Ruins.

Sandia Mountain, Albuquerque, New Mexico

The scenery northwest of Albuquerque was beautiful. Sandia Mountain is quite amazing to see.

The Cacti in the area provided photo opps with it's beauty.

Sandia Mountain range at dusk.

I love succulents and the southwest US provides lots of varieties to photograph.

Don on a walk west of the Campground near the River.

More photographs of the Sandia Mountain range in various light.

Big Texan Steak Ranch

Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo

Another Route 66 attraction to experience when in Amarillo is the Big Texan Steak Ranch. As you may have heard, this restaurant is famous for offering a 72 oz steak and fixins’. If you can eat all of it in one hour – the steak and all the sides – you get it free.  Otherwise, it is $72.  Big Texan Steak Ranch

We stayed at the Big Texan RV Park. They furnish a shuttle or Cadillac for the park visitors to the Restaurant between 4 and 8 p.m. I’m sure it is a unique experience although we chose to drive our own vehicle and have lunch instead.

The actual restaurant has a unique vibe of amusement park mixed with Big Texas feel as you walk in. There was a fair-like shooting range with characters obviously purchased from the out-of-business Chuck E. Cheese. Kids would love it! 

There was also a huge bar that looked like it would be a fun drinking and dancing experience at night, homemade fudge with free samples (and it was delicious), and a great gift shop full of unusual items and lots of Texas souvenirs.

But most importantly was the restaurant which was a huge 2 story establishment and had a saloon vibe just like Miss Kitty’s on Gunsmoke. Don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful.

The smell of steaks on a gigantic grill being cooked right in the middle of the room made our mouth water.  And the menu was impressive, the food delicious, and the atmosphere was all Big Texas!

Be sure to experience this iconic eating establishment if you are in Amarillo.

 

Cadillac Ranch

 Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, Texas 

Cadillac Ranch consists of 10 old Cadillacs half buried in a field outside Amarillo Texas. Sounds exciting, huh?

 Well, I found it quite the quirky subject for photography! And another reason we found this Route 66 attraction interesting is because we grew up with these models and actually rode in them.

Wikipedia says: “Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, US. It was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm. The installation consists of ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground.”

 

So, these automobiles are half buried out in this field and droves of people are stopping and walking about ¼ mile out to spray paint their names on them. 

Yes, that is the big appeal to this – spray painting names on these old cars.

 

There is a Merch trailer out beside the entrance that sells memorabilia and spray paint. I found this very amusing yet a smart marketing ploy.

 

If you are wondering, no Don and I did not spray paint our names, however we made videos for the kids and grandkids.

 

To me this was well worth the stop but then I like quirky things!

 

Coronado Historic Site, Albuquerque

 

Bernalillo, New Mexico and the Coronado Historic Site

Northwest of Albuquerque is a little town named Bernalillo where you will find the Coronado Historic Site and the Coronado Campground next door. We spent two nights in this quaint town after traveling I-40 from Amarillo.

We toured the Coronado Historic Site with a docent, learned a lot about the Pueblo Indians and their ruins, and actually went down into the reconstructed painted Kiva replica. The original murals housed in the Visitor’s Center were amazing. 

Cost was $7 and free for 16 and under.

“When archeologists from the Museum of New Mexico excavated the ruins of Kuaua Pueblo during the 1930s, they discovered a square kiva in the south plaza of the community.  This kiva, or ceremonial chamber, contained many layers of mural paintings.  These murals represent some of the finest examples of Pre-Columbian art ever found in the United States. Painstaking efforts allowed for the recovery of the murals, and fourteen examples of the original art are on display in the Visitor's Center.  The painted kiva was reconstructed and one of the mural layers was also recreated.  The Visitor's Center was designed by noted architect John Gaw Meem.  It contains prehistoric and historic Puebloan and Spanish Colonial artifacts on exhibit with several hands-on components.

Coronado Historic Site offers ramada-covered picnic tables with magnificent views of the Rio Grande and Sandia Mountains.  Enjoy the history and beauty of northern New Mexico along with the many other attractions as you travel along El Camino Real National Historic Trail and/or Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byways.” Taken from:  https://nmhistoricsites.org/coronado

The Coronado Campground information can be found here -- but in my honest opinion the campground is alright for a one night stay only if you are passing through. The shower/bathroom area left a lot to be desired, no laundry, and no sewer hookup. The park is rundown and many unlevel sites with most occupied by full-timers. It does not look as it appears on websites unfortunately.  

 

 

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum

 

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum is in Amarillo, Texas. Don and I both love horses and have owned quarter horses so we were very interested to visit.  It did not disappoint! This museum was amazing and very interesting.

 

 There was an art exhibit which we found amazing, and the memorabilia was just as impressive.

If you like horses, are interested in them or have a special interest in the quarter horse, you will find this museum worth the $7.00 admission.