Traveling Sol

Video 1 to Accompany the "Nevada" Post!

2011-08-04T18:59:00.002-05:00

Stop #4: Yosemite National Park

2011-08-01T00:08:00.000-05:00

I have a few clips to accompany my previous post about Las Vegas but I'm working on putting them into one long video. Since the video creation/uploading phase is taking longer than I'd like, I'll skip right to the second-to-the-last stop on the road trip: Yosemite National Park.

I've always been a huge Ansel Adams fan and if there is one person who can inspire you to visit Yosemite, it's most definitely him. His photos, as you may know, were black and white shots and many were shot right in Yosemite National Park. His talent for capturing the vasts landscapes of the park is unmatched. (I tried in vain.)

Upon entering the park, my first stop was Mono Lake. I was lucky enough to see the lake in the evening, just as the sun was setting behind the Sierra Nevadas. It's was beautiful. One of the first things I noticed (besides the natural beauty of course) was that the kayaks on the water looked as if they were sitting on top of the water. (I know, they're suppose to be on top of the water, but these looked like that hadn't sunk even an inch into the water!) The area had signs posted all around with little facts, where I learned that Mono Lake is three times more salty than the ocean! Apparently this saltiness, combined with the other elements that the water contains (chlorides, carbonates and sulfates) create a density that makes the kayak appear like it's barely touching the water. (Maybe I'm going on about this too much, but it really was a strange sight!)

Driving through the park at night was even neat. The trees are so tall and you're winding through the forest climbing up the mountains. And it is DARK. Very dark. What was interesting, is that at night you only see the trees around you, so waking up the next morning and coming out of the cabin to see the huge mountains on either side of you was a strange feeling. It was like: "How did I get here?" A "pro" of arriving at night: I didn't see the bear traps when I came in so that helped me sleep soundly!

After a great French Toast breakfast in the Yosemite Lodge Foot Court, we hiked up to the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Now, here's where I got a lesson in the "difficulty" levels assigned to each trail in the park: they're deceiving! (Or maybe I am just extremely out of shape? Or maybe it was because it was 9 AM and I'm not a morning person?) Anyways, the trail was much more difficult than I had anticipated. We unfortunately did not make the ascent all the way to Vernal Falls, but we were close and the footbridge offered a very nice view.

After the hike, we decided to take it easy and cruise the park roads. (We were really able to see quite a bit of the famous land marks in the park by doing this.) Next, we saw Yosemite Falls, which are the tallest in North America, and then Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and finally, the most impressive of all, the views from Glacier Point: all of Yosemite Valley and the breathtaking Half Dome. In this case, I really can't describe the views, because a picture is really worth a thousand words! After seeing some of these simply amazing sights, we visited Mariposa Grove and saw the Giant Sequoias, which definitely lived up to their name!

Mono Lake

Bear Warning!


Vernal Falls from the Footbridge (This picture doesn't do it justice. It's 317 feet tall!)

The Bear Trap I mentioned earlier

Yosemite Falls- tallest in North America

El Capitan

Bridalveil Falls

Yosemite Valley and Half Dome in the background

Half Dome

Me and a Sequoia- timber!

The Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove

Stop #3: Las Vegas, Nevada

2011-07-17T20:27:00.000-05:00

Before arriving in Las Vegas, you must stop to take in the Hoover Dam. To say it's impressive is an understatement. We were able to drive right over the Dam, but this may not be possible for much longer. They're constructing a bridge ("Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge") to the south of the Dam to redirect traffic away from the vital power source. (For security purposes.) There is quite a bit to see at there. The views go without saying. Lake Mead is a dark shade of Emerald, that contrasts with the surrounding bleached Limestone. One interesting part of the visit was the discovery was that we could quickly "gain an hour": the Hoover Dam is located within the Pacific and Arizona time zones. (The state of Arizona does, in fact, have its very own time zone!) Another stunning feature is the memorial designed to commemorate the workers who lost their lives constructing the Dam. The memorial reads: "They died to make the desert bloom."

While one might think that Las Vegas would be a step away from natural beauty, I would say they are wrong. Las Vegas has more to offer than just man-made sights (er- yeah...). Right within the city limits there is the Red Rock National Conservation Area. You can drive through the park on its scenic roadway or opt to hike through some of its natural wonders. (I would recommend hiking in the cooler months. I visited in August and it was incredibly hot, reaching up to 107 degrees.) After you're done exploring outdoors, you can head to the strip and enjoy just about any cuisine you want. For dinner, I ate at the Isla Mexican Kitchen inside Treasure Island. The food was great, but expensive. After that, I saw the Sirens of TI show outside the hotel. (This was free! You can find cheap entertainment as it turns out!) There was also the volcanic eruption outside the Mirage, and the water show outside of the Bellagio. Another amazing sight (for $16 per person, $12 if you are a senior citizen or a Nevada resident and $10 for children) was at the top of the Stratosphere, where looks like a space needle. It has spectacular views of the desert and the strip. If you're feeling daring, you can even do the "Sky Jump" (bungee jump from the viewing area) or ride the roller coaster on the roof! Needless to say, I was not feeling quite the adventurous after walking the 5 miles (not counting walking around in all of the hotels) from the Luxor to the Stratosphere that day!

Gondolas in the Venetian

Tourist Shot

Red Rock National Conservation Area

Caesar's Palace

Lake Mead


Standing on top of the Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam from the Arizona Side

Lake Mead

Videos from The Grand Canyon

2011-03-06T21:58:00.000-06:00

"Half Dome" follow up!

2011-02-19T19:06:00.000-06:00

"Half Dome" finished at #5 in last week's "It's a Snap!" travel photo contest on MSNBC.com. Thanks for your votes!

Vote for "Half Dome"!

2011-02-13T16:43:00.000-06:00

A photo has been chosen from the Traveling Sol archives for this week's "It's a Snap!" photo contest on MSNBC.com. Don't forget to cast your vote!

VOTE HERE!

Stop #2: The Grand Canyon

2011-02-08T00:45:00.000-06:00

The second stop of the road trip was the the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lodging at the canyon was limited (reservations need to be made far in advance) so we stayed about an hour south of the canyon in Williams, Arizona. Historic U.S. Route 66 runs through this small town, which seems to have been frozen in time. Little bits of history pepper the small town, especially one particular antique shop called "Lonesome Dove Antiques." There were a few lodging options in town but restaurants were limited. We ate in town at Cruiser's Cafe 66 Bar & Grill, which had typical diner food that went along with the "50's feel" of the place. In the future, I'd like to stay at one of the lodging facilities within the park. A list of lodging facilities can be found here. Williams is about an hour south of the canyon. The drive is scenic and enjoyable but traffic was very heavy in the evening, which is why I would like to stay closer to the canyon if I'm able to visit again.

As for the canyon, the pictures speak for themselves. The canyon appears like a movie screen with a massive landscape painted on it. The canyon dwarfs everything and is deadly still. The only movement you can see are the shadows from clouds passing above or an occasional bird gliding through the air. See for yourself...

South Rim Sunset

Bright Angel Trail

South Rim Sunset

Canyon from Bright Angel

Sunset over South Rim

Road Sign Update!

2011-02-03T00:19:00.000-06:00

Between the road trip last summer and my trip across the Midwest and part of the Great Plains, I need to update my state sign collection! So here it is:

ARIZONA

THE GRAND CANYON STATE WELCOMES YOU

Welcome to Indiana

Crossroads of America

Lincoln's Boyhood Home

Welcome to NEW MEXICO

The Land of Enchantment

(This one happens to be one of my favorites-- I love the Chili Peppers!)

Welcome to Nevada

Welcome to California

(This sign was off of a rural highway and looks like it had seen better days!)

Missouri

Oklahoma

Welcome to Texas

Drive Friendly the Texas Way

Pennsylvania Welcomes You

Welcome to Ohio

So much to discover!

Welcome to Illinois

Land of Lincoln

(I wish this picture was more sign and less car. However, in our efforts to capture the sign and reach the shoulder of the road, we ran over a bungee cord hook and shortly after this had a flat tire. So this picture will have to do!)

Santa Fe Videos

2011-02-01T18:41:00.001-06:00

The above videos show some of the "Wind Art" that can be found in Santa Fe.

This third video shows The Pink Adobe, which is a restaurant in Santa Fe. If you look closely you can see the paper lanterns on the ledges. The San Miguel Mission is also pictured, which is said to be the oldest operating church in the United States. (It was undergoing a structural renovation at the time.) The "Oldest House" is also pictured. (It's the oldest house in the Southwest Region, not the entire United States.)

Stop #1: Santa Fe

2011-01-31T23:06:00.002-06:00

Stop #1 on the road trip was Santa Fe, New Mexico. (We won't count the stop in El Paso- it was just to sleep. Some quick words of advice: make sure you stop at EVERY gas station possible when traveling in west Texas! You never know when you'll see another one.) Anyways, Santa Fe was a really great time. It's a great blending of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and American cultures.

The architecture is what stands out about this city. Adobe and "Pueblo Revival" (sometimes called "Santa Fe Style") structures dominate the city, which constantly reminds you that you are in a place unlike any other. These buildings blend in with the terrain in New Mexico- a rocky, desert-like climate, although Santa Fe is slightly more temperate than cities further south. Adobe is a time-tested building material, with structures still dating back as far as 500 B.C. in Iran. It is most popular in desert climates because it offers coolness on the inside and durability on the outside. When New Mexico was annexed by the United States in 1846, traditional style buildings homes began springing up. In an effort to preserve "pueblo" character, an "adobe only" law was passed in 1912, requiring all new constructions to be this Santa Fe Revival-style.

The weather in Santa Fe was much more pleasant than I expected. It was warm during the day but dropped down and became more cool as the sun went down. I would suggest dressing in layers if you're considering a visit. There's differences in temperatures truly are "night and day"!

The souvenirs from Santa Fe are probably my favorite of all my trips. Two Kokopelli wall hangings, a wedding vase (I'm not endorsing this particular site, just giving readers an idea of what a Native American wedding vase is), some native pottery and a few "adobe" Christmas ornaments. (The Christmas ornaments made great, unique gifts later!) Some of the gifts were purchased in the city square, which had craft vendors. We purchased the Kokopelli dancers from a vendor called "The West Kept Secret." (Check out their website- they have the neatest home decor ever!) The Christmas ornaments were purchased from "The Shop" which had some of the coolest Christmas trees I've ever seen. They had decorations, ornaments-- even chili pepper Christmas lights!

Adobe Architecture

"Oldest House"

St. Francis Cathedral Basillica (St. Francis of Assisi)

Loretto Chapel

Me and a fountain made of huge pieces of pottery

San Miguel Mission
("Oldest Church")

The Blue Corn Cafe-- which had the BEST enchiladas and was very affordable!

Santa Fe's Old Town Square lit up at dusk

First Presbyterian Church

Tomorrow I will be posting a few videos of some "wind spinners" that could be found around the city. They really can't be captured with a photograph, so check it out!

Time for an update!

2010-12-18T14:51:00.001-06:00

After a lengthy hiatus, I'm back to write about my road trip. In August, I traveled from Austin, Texas to Dana Point, California and back. Stops along the way included Santa Fe, New Mexico, The Grand Canyon (Arizona), Las Vegas, Nevada, Yosemite National Park (California) and Dana Point, California. Stay tuned for postings. Until then, here's a sneak preview:

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Grand Canyon

Hoover Dam

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park

Dana Point Harbor, California

El Capitan from Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

Do you have a complaint or suggestion regarding airline travel?

2010-06-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

Place it here!

Featured Texas City: Austin

2010-06-19T12:03:00.003-05:00

Austin is the live music capitol of the world, as well as the capitol of Texas. It's been called an "up-and-coming" city by real estate experts. It's certainly a college town, with the University of Texas located in the heart of the city. However, it's friendly to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sports fans can take in a game at Longhorn stadium while music buffs can attend live music festivals, and fitness fanatics can jog along paths near Ladybird Lake. While there is plenty to do during the day, you will probably want to head to 6th street at night. Bars and eateries flank the street, with live music spilling out into the balmy summer air from rooftop lounges. Austin is truly a a city for the relaxed traveler.

Canal from 6th Street

Frost Bank Tower, modeled after Rice University's owl mascot.

Clock tower at the University of Texas at Austin

Austin boasts the largest state capitol building in the United States, at 360,000 square feet, which must mean that everything really is bigger in Texas! At the time of its construction in 1888, it was the seventh largest building in the world.

"Keep Austin Weird"

This is Leslie, a permanent fixture in downtown Austin. Leslie is a cross dresser/ strong proponent of the rights of the homeless in Austin. He has become a local celebrity, even running for mayor a few times (and beating out some of his competition). He even has his very own iPhone application!

Travel + Leisure's "America's Dirtiest Cities"

2010-06-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Travel + Leisure took 30 American cities and ranked them from cleanest to dirtiest. I was surprised by the cleanest city, but not by the dirtiest one!

Click here to see more

Sensible Souvenirs

2010-05-29T16:25:00.000-05:00

I like to collect unique (but affordable) souvenirs in my travels. I use the term souvenirs loosely. I'd like to think that my growing collection is a bit more sophisticated than just a bunch of shot glasses and key chains. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) I'm a big fan of local art. I like prints that capture the culture of a place that I have visited. I have a few sovenirs (pictured below) that were inexpensive but perfect conversation pieces!

Punched Tin Star from Earth to Market in San Antonio, Texas for $21.

(Price not including the cord. That was about $9.)

(Visit www.EARTHTOMARKET.com for more great stuff from this company!)

Screen print of Bourbon Street, Lousiana by Don Davey .

This was purchased in one of the shops on Bourbon Street for $15.

(I purchased just the print and bought a fame for it later.)

A print called "El Encanto" by Nico Thomassin purchased in

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico for $15.

(I purchased the print and bought a frame later, for this one, as well.)

These pieces cost about $60 all together. The frames for the two prints were purchased for discounted prices at a craft store, which brought the grand total for these three items to around $100, which isn't too bad considering all the priceless conversations that they will inspire and fond memories they invoke!

If you're on a more strict budget (which can certainly happen, especially if your destination was a pricey one!) just purchase a few postcards. When you return from your trip, purchase a scrap book from a craft store and create a coffee table book so visitors can flip through your travels. For example, each page could be designated for one of the places that you've been. You can write dates, memorable moments, etc. around the postcard(s) and it will serve as not only a conversation piece, but a wonderful keepsake as well. I plan on doing this myself with some of the post cards I have collected!

Comments

2010-05-28T21:24:00.000-05:00

Visitors of Traveling Sol that are not yet "followers" please do so now!

I'm going to try to start posting weekly (at least). I have some good ideas, but I'd love to know what readers want to know more about. Leave a comment!

Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Must Love Platanos: Travel Advice for the Picky Eater

2010-05-27T20:01:00.002-05:00

Though I can say that I thoroughly enjoy taking in the history and scenery of new places, I must admit that I am not enthusiastic about sampling new cuisines. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, I was shocked to find that so much of the food incorporated plantains. (I am not a fan of bananas, and plantains are very similar.) I suppose I never considered the fact that it is an island in the Caribbean, and plantains are a main staple in the diets of the people in Puerto Rico. (I was probably thinking more about the beach than the food!)

With that said...

Traveler's Tip: Research common ingredients and dishes before visiting your destination. (If you are have a more worldly palate, this won't be necessary!) You may want to consider a destination with various types of restaurants, or look for menus online. Hopefully you will be able to find something on the menu that you'll find appetizing. For me, it was the trusty "arroz con pollo" or simply, rice and chicken.

Tostones (made with plantains)

Back: Empenada Right: Maduros (made from plantains) Front: Rice and Beans

Traveler's Tip: Don't be afraid to ask the waiter questions to clarify exactly what your ordering. (FYI: If the menu says "Half a Chicken" you're going to get... a half a chicken.)

My HALF chicken at Habana [sic] (now called Texas Embassy) in Austin, Texas. This was sent back for being undercooked and replaced with ....

Cuban Stir Fry! (Tostones in the center)

Here, I quickly learned the difference between and empanada and and empanadilla.

In Puerto Rico, an empanada (pictured above) is like fried chicken. An empanadilla is the fried dough stuffed with cheese and chicken or beef.

Traveler's Tip: Share a plate! Ask the waiter how large the portions are. The meal picture below cost about $12.00 total, including drinks. (It included three large tacos, a side order of rice and re-fried beans and a bottomless basket of tortillas!)

Traditional dish: Mexican food in San Antonio, Texas. Chicken Tacos, Rice and Re-fried Beans. With tortillas con queso y salsa for an appetizer.

"Follow" Me

2010-05-06T12:05:00.003-05:00

Don't forget to "follow" my blog! Thanks! Look to the right hand column and click "follow".

Funny Travel Quotations

2010-05-05T22:05:00.001-05:00

I got a good laugh from some of these quotes...

"There is nothing safer than flying - it's crashing that is dangerous."
Theo Cowan

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
Mark Twain

"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport."
George Winters

"If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel."
Will Kommen

Sign Collection

2010-05-04T20:29:00.001-05:00

I like to snap photos (or have my "co-pilot" snap photos) of the different state signs. It's something fun to look forward to on long road trips. I missed out on more signs than I've captured, but I'm working on it! Hopefully this summer I'll fill in the voids, which pretty much is the entire east coast. South Carolina has an awesome "Welcome" sign that I missed last summer. It's pretty elaborate. It's kind of like a brick wall with "Welcome to South Carolina" on it and several palm trees are planted on either side of it. None of the photos in my collection can quite hold a candle to it, but they will have to do for now! I threw in a couple other signs that mark places of interest too. Enjoy :-)

Welcome to New York
The Empire State
(Home Sweet Home: entering New York from Massachusetts)

Lampasas River
(Bell County, Texas)

Rue Bourbon
Bourbon
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

Bonnet Carre Spillway
Lake Pontchartrain
(St. Charles Parish, Louisiana)

Welcome to Louisiana
Bienvenue en Louisiane
(entering Louisiana from Mississippi)

Louisiana
State Line
(halfway point above the Mississippi River)

Mississippi River
(exiting Mississippi)

Welcome to West Virginia
Wild and Wonderful
(entering West Virginia from Maryland)

Tennessee
The Volunteer State
Welcomes You
(entering Memphis, Tennessee from Arkansas)

Welcome to Arkansas
The Natural State
Buckle up for safety
(exiting Texarkana, Texas, entering Texarkana, Arkansas)

Featured Texas city: San Antonio

2010-05-02T19:37:00.001-05:00

When I find out that someone is going to Texas, I always recommend that he or she visits San Antonio. I find that this city is like no other place I've ever been. It's filled with historical landmarks. The streets are surfaced with brick pavers and you can hear horse drawn carriages meandering by at any time of day or night. The River Walk (pictured below) is a network of walkways along the San Antonio River that are flanked by an array of different restaurants and low-key bars.

The "river" that runs though the downtown area of the city is actually a series of channels that was created after part of the San Antonio River was rerouted. It is not the natural route of the river. The River Walk was constructed over the course of several projects conducted in the latter half of the 20th century. The projects began in an effort to prevent flooding and then as restaurants and hotels sprang up, it became an attraction. (I don't mean "attraction" as in Disney World. I mean "attraction" as in a unique, relaxed destination.)

The entertainment in San Antonio is endless. There are tours, Flamenco Dancers, live bands, clubs and street performances.

The boat tours are my favorite. Many of the pictures featured on this blog were taken during the tours. A must-see is the Menger Hotel, which is rumored to be haunted. If you don't get a chance to lodge at the Menger, you should go in see the Menger bar, where Teddy Roosevelt recruited "The Rough Riders" that served during the Spanish-American War at the turn of the 20th century. Another must-see tour is the Alamo. I would suggest seeing the Alamo tour during the day and visiting the gardens, then venturing to the River Walk and taking a boat tour when the walkway is lit up and brimming with night life. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the warm Texas breeze that envelops you.

For links on more information on the River Walk and the Menger Hotel, please visit:
The Menger

The San Antonio River Walk

How much sunscreen do you REALLY need?

2010-05-01T19:26:00.002-05:00

It is no secret that I have fair skin. Really fair skin. I don't mind it. These days it seems to make me unique with the "tanorexic" craze going on. If I do get a tan (which I have before!) it fades within a few days. It is more likely that my freckles will connect than I will get a deep tan. I'd like to think that even if I had skin that tanned easily, I would still apply sunscreen religiously.

During a recent sea kayaking/snorkeling excursion on Culebra Island (Puerto Rico), I thought I was prepared. I had a brand new bottle of spray-on SPF 30. The instructor kept reiterating the importance of sunscreen application. Out of about 10 people standing there, he took one look at me and said, "You're definitely going to need some!" Thanks.

So I sprayed. And I sprayed. And I sprayed some more.

I even found some SPF 50 that was in a bin provided by the instructor and put it on my face. We went out to kayak and snorkel for about an hour and a half, and went back in. I decided to reapply (from top to bottom). I ran out when I got to my knees. There was no more "community" SPF left in the instructor's bin. I thought I would be fine. Not too much longer-- the brochure said the excursion would last three hours.

I was wrong. The end result is displayed above. Sun poisoning! Blisters, swelling, sun burn. Not fun! I opted out of a hiking/zipline tour the next day because wearing sneakers was out of the question.

The moral of this travel story: when in doubt, pack MORE sunscreen! (And my recommendation is to invest in the lotion and not the spray. I find that the spray does not last as long and does not apply as evenly as it claims to!)

Rail Travel

2010-05-01T16:38:00.000-05:00

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are among the only domestic airlines that do not charge for checked baggage, according to airfarewatchdog.com. (This site is a great resource for anything airline related-- fees, fares, etc.) Some airlines are now charging as much as $25 for checked baggage... one way! This could be remedied by boycotting these airlines, however, many would argue that it is unrealistic to expect all air travelers to fly using just two airlines. I can relate to this. In my own experience, I have found that unless you book tickets on Southwest far in advance, they tend to be more expensive than the airlines featured on Cheaptickets.com (which include Delta, U.S. Air, Continental). Therefore, if you're booking within a few weeks of your departure, it may be cheaper to book with Cheaptickets.com and pay baggage fees than to book with an airline that does not charge for baggage. One issue with JetBlue is that it does not fly out of outlying airports. (For info, click here.)

For an alternative to air travel all together, MSNBC.com recommends trying rail travel. Upon reading this, I did further research and looked into Amtrak. I found that the accommodations appeared comfortable and similar to that of a cruise ship cabin (perhaps a bit more cramped). They offer en suite bathrooms and dining facilities on the trains. Another positive aspect to rail travel is that it is a "green" alternative to flying. Amtrak reports that its carbon footprint is considerably less than that of car or air travel. An economically inspiring aspect to rail travel is the fact that it will stimulate a once-declining industry in the United States: rail roads. (Amtrak was named in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

I think that rail travel is a great alternative to air travel-- if you have the time. Obviously, rail travel will take longer to "get you where you're going." However, you will see MUCH more in your travels. Amtrak also offers various discounts including AAA, military and senior citizens.

In the end, I suppose your choice between air and rail travel will all depend on where you're going and how long you have to get there. My advice is: take your time. See as much as you can. When will you get the chance to do it again?

For a map of nationwide Amtrak fares, visit: amtrak.com
To plan your trip, check out this interactive map from amtrak.com: See map