Category: Places & Travel

More quarters to collect

The United States Mint today announced the nation will honor 56 national sites to be honored through the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program.  In 2010, the first year of the program, the agency will mint commemorative quarter-dollar coins honoring the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. 

The United States Mint 

Here’s a list of all 56 sites through 2021. 56 is the number of states and territories.

The New Mexico quarter will feature Chaco Culture National Historical Park in 2012.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina)

… was authorized on this date in 1937.

Hatteras.jpgStretched over 70 miles of barrier islands, Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a fascinating combination of natural and cultural resources, and provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Once dubbed the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” for its treacherous currents, shoals, and storms, Cape Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the U.S. Lifesaving Service. These dynamic islands provide a variety of habitats and are a valuable wintering area for migrating waterfowl. The park’s fishing and surfing are considered the best on the east coast.

National Park Service

Capulin Volcano National Monument (New Mexico)

… was authorized on this date in 1916. The monument is located in northeastern New Mexico.

Mammoths, giant bison, and short-faced bears were witness to the first tremblings of the earth and firework-like explosions of molten rock thousands of feet into the air. Approximately 60,000 years ago, the rain of cooling cinders and four lava flows formed Capulin Volcano, a nearly perfectly-shaped cinder cone, rising more than 1000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Although long extinct, Capulin Volcano is dramatic evidence of the volcanic processes that shaped northeastern New Mexico. Today the pine forested volcano provide habitat for mule deer, wild turkey, and black bear.

Souce: Capulin Volcano National Monument

Greenland

After almost 300 years under Danish rule, the island of Greenland has just taken a big step toward sovereignty. Greenland passed a referendum last year requesting more powers from Copenhagen, and it was granted, taking effect on June 21st, 2009. Denmark still retains control of finances, foreign affairs, and defense, but will phase out an annual subsidy, and give over control of most of the islands natural resources. Additionally, Greenlandic is now the sole official language, and Greenlanders are now treated as a separate people under international law. Although the island is massive – with an area of over 2 million square kilometers (825,000 sq mi), its population is small, with just over 57,000 residents, 88% of Inuit descent and 12% of European descent. Collected here are some recent photographs from all around Greenland. (34 photos total)

The Big Picture – Boston.com

Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)

… was authorized on this date in 1961.

CapeCod.jpg

Cape Cod National Seashore comprises 43,604 acres of shoreline and upland landscape features, including a forty-mile long stretch of pristine sandy beach, dozens of clear, deep, freshwater kettle ponds, and upland scenes that depict evidence of how people have used the land. A variety of historic structures are within the boundary of the Seashore, including lighthouses, a lifesaving station, and numerous Cape Cod style houses. The Seashore offers six swimming beaches, eleven self-guiding nature trails, and a variety of picnic areas and scenic overlooks.

Source: Cape Code National Seashore

The Maroon Bells

In all my years living in the West (more than 35), I had never been to Aspen, Colorado. And I had never been to see the Maroon Bells, in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness just southwest of Aspen. I guess I saved the best for now.

Though these photos taken in midday largely wash out the color, the Maroon Bells are actually maroon, and as you can see they are shaped much like bells. They are, according to the Forest Service, the most photographed mountains in North America. North Maroon Peak (on the right) rises to 14,014 feet above sea level; South Maroon Peak to 14,156 feet.

Maroon Creek Road ends just above Maroon Lake. These photos were taken in that area. We took a short hike, but downstream away from the panorama.

Click the image to advance through all six.

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Gunnison Canyon

Colorado Highway 92, the West Elk Loop, parallels part of the north rim of Gunnison Canyon, though upstream from the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The views from the highway turnouts are terrific if limited, though again I was unable to get the colors and shadows that the light earlier or later in the day might have enabled. Still, here’s a sample. Click image to advance through the slideshow.

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Rio Grande Headwaters

The third longest river in America begins on the north side of the pyramid shaped summit you see in the distance in the first photograph, the 13,821-foot Rio Grande Pyramid in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. From there the river flows nearly 1,900 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. In the foreground are some of the lakes and wetlands that form the Rio Grande headwaters. The second photo shows more of the wetlands downstream. The third and fourth the river as it bends and bows across another meadow, still above 9,000 feet. Click on any image for larger versions of all four.

Click image to advance slideshow.

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Photos taken Sunday afternoon. Not the best time of day for lighting, but I hope to head back to this area soon. It was stunningly beautiful, with the exception of Creede, Colorado, the rattiest town I’ve ever seen (at least the part I drove through).

As the eagle flies, the Rio Grande Pyramid is about 18 miles ESE of Silverton, Colorado.

I don’t know about you

… but I’ve always questioned the Michelin Guide ratings when they fail to account for the mounted moose head in a hotel lobby. Photo from The Delaware Hotel, Leadville, Colorado.

Click image for larger version (it's just a moose head)
Click image for larger version (it's just a moose head)

Speaking of mooses. Some folks with South Carolina accents and license tags asked me while we were admiring the view in the San Juan Mountains yesterday, if I’d seen any moose. Are there moose in Colorado? I did see an elk grazing along the side of the road.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (Arizona)

… was designated such by President Wilson on this date in 1918.

CasaGrande.jpg

For over a thousand years, prehistoric farmers inhabited much of the present-day state of Arizona. When the first Europeans arrived, all that remained of this ancient culture were the ruins of villages, irrigation canals and various artifacts. Among these ruins is the Casa Grande, or “Big House,” one of the largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in North America. Casa Grande Ruins, the nation’s first archeological preserve, protects the Casa Grande and other archeological sites within its boundaries.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Those Europeans, by the way, began heading this way 517 years ago today, when Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain.

Update: Why is the word “prehistoric” in that National Park Service description (twice)? What purpose does it serve?

Leadville

Friday night in Leadville, Colorado. Elevation 10,152 feet. Temperature at 8:30 48 degrees. Forecast low 35.

Staying at the Delaware Hotel, built in 1886. Plumbing and electrical updated since then. Second floor room; no elevator. Fourth time I climbed the stairs, I felt the altitude.

Leadville was once the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco.

Had breakfast for dinner; eggs, hash browns, sourdough toast. And a beer.

Lunch today was in Taos. Fantastic scenery all day.

Z enjoying the trip too.

(Blogged from my phone.)

Free!

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

U.S. National Park Service

The second of the three weekends is this Saturday and Sunday.

One of the great benefits of reaching 62 is the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass. It’s $10, good for the rest of your life, and admits you and up to three adult passengers in your vehicle free to all federal recreation sites. It also includes a 50% discount on many charges such as campgrounds. Is this a great country, or what?

If you’re under 62, the similar annual pass is $80.

Some example entrance fees (but not this weekend!):

Bryce Canyon National Park $25 per vehicle
Carlsbad Caverns National Park $6 per person over age 15
Grand Canyon National Park $25 per vehicle
Shenandoah National Park $15 per vehicle ($10 in winter)
Yellowstone National Park $25 per vehicle ($20 for snowmobile)

The photographing of the running of the bulls

The Festival of San Fermin attracts thousands of visitors to Pamplona, Spain every year. The nine-day festival includes a carnival, bullfights and of course, the famous Running of the Bulls. Deeply traditional, it has been held since 1591, and remains a popular, if dangerous and controversial event. This year, dozens of runners and revelers have been injured, and one has been killed – a 27-year-old man who was gored in the neck, heart and lungs on Friday. Animal rights groups continue to level criticism toward the event, in which dozens of bulls run through small, packed streets toward a bullring where they will be killed during later bullfights. Collected here are some of the scenes from this year’s Festival of San Fermin. (32 photos total)

The Big Picture – Boston.com

Best Places to Live 2009

Money Magazine provides the list of America’s best places to live, leading with Louisville. No not Louisville, Kentucky, silly; Louisville, Colorado. It’s a list of the best small towns.

Some towns nestled along the Rockies are full of pretentious eco-hipsters. Not Louisville. Ice cream shops dot the historic downtown. Families grab burgers at the cozy Waterloo Café. A Friday-night street fair, with a beer garden, live music, and games for the kids, runs all summer. No wonder this down-to-earth town has appeared high on Money’s Best Places list before–and on many others.

The Louis in the Colorado town’s name is pronounced like the Louis in St. Louis.

Among the seven Rocky Mountain states, only Colorado with two and Utah with four have towns in the top 100.

Actually, more than dead fish go with the flow

Indeed, so hallowed is the Colorado that the waiting list for private trips is measured in years, plural. And why not? Great white water, that gigantic rift in the Earth that you float through over a period of two or more weeks, the simple thought of retracing Major John Wesley Powell’s exploration of the uncharted Western territories in the late 1800s.

But the Colorado is not the only quality river experience you can find in the National Park System. Some aren’t as rocking and rolling as the Colorado is, some are more, and some are simply nice rides into solitude. With that understood, here’s the Traveler’s 10 best float trips in the national parks, in no particular order.

National Parks Traveler’s Top 10 Rivers to Ride in the National Park System