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sellhousefast323 · 4 years ago

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9 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Roanoke, VA

Roanoke is a popular tourist destination, whether you're a culture vulture seeking out unique museums and attractions or an active vacationer seeking out outdoor adventures. The city is a four-season destination for avid hikers, rock climbers, recreational boaters, and sportfishing enthusiasts, and is located in the picturesque Roanoke Valley in southwestern Virginia. In-town greenways, cultural diversions, diverse dining, and unique shopping discoveries await urban explorers. Whatever your vacation style, keep our list of Roanoke's top attractions and things to do handy.

1. Mill Mountain Park & the Roanoke Star

Mill Mountain Park, which is home to the famous Roanoke Star (also known as the Mill Mountain Star), has more than 10 miles of multi-use trails (hiking, walking, and biking) where visitors can experience the region's all-season natural beauty.

Take the Mill Mountain Star Trail, a 3.5-mile round-trip from the base trail, to the summit of Mill Mountain, the city's highest point at 1,703 feet, for a moderately challenging hike. Hikers are rewarded with two scenic overlooks atop the mountain after climbing 838 feet in elevation. The Star Trail parking lot, located just off Riverland Road SE at the Star/Wood Thrush Connector, has plenty of free parking and clear signage.

Connect with the short Watchtower Trail for the best panoramic views and photos right at the base of the Roanoke Star, one of Virginia's most famous landmarks. The National Register of Historic Landmarks has listed this unusual landmark, which was built in 1949 as a temporary Christmas decoration by the local merchants association. The giant star, at 89 feet in height, is America's largest star. It is visible from up to 60 miles away and is lit every evening until midnight.

Hikers are welcome to bring their leashed dogs, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and water along the Mill Mountain Spur Trail en route to the Discovery Center, a naturalist centre with exhibits on the park, local wildlife, and trail maps. Mill Mountain Zoo, a small but lively enclave with local critters such as the Indian crested porcupine, red wolf, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle, will appeal to children of all ages.

2. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, with more than 60 miles of trails surrounding an 800-acre reservoir, is known among locals as a haven for off-road mountain biking. The reserve, which is the second largest municipal park in the United States, spans nearly 13,000 acres, the majority of which is protected by the state of Virginia's largest conservation easement.

Trail maps are available for purchase, and bikers can get local advice on which trails are best suited for their experience level at Just The Right Gear, a cycling shop near the Bennett Springs parking lot (one of three reserve entrances — the others are Marina and Timber View). There are also rentals of high-end bikes and gear.

On the Easy Street, Kit & Kaboodle, The Skillet, and Enchanted Forest trails, beginners will find a gentler rise and more flats. On the Comet, Gauntlet, Hoe Trail, and Clownshead, riders seeking more difficult challenges will get exactly what they want. On the most difficult trails, expect to gain up to 2,400 feet in elevation.

Along these well-kept trails, riders will encounter packed dirt, loose gravel, and tamped soil. Canoeing (equipment rentals and instruction are available) and fishing are also popular activities at Carvins Cove.

3. Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake, one of Virginia's most popular — and the state's largest — has nearly 500 miles of shoreline, earning it the title of "Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains." Because state fisheries keep the lake well stocked, SML, as it's known by locals, has an especially impressive striped bass population. Anglers can book half- or full-day charters with a number of licenced guides who have plenty of experience traversing the 21,000-acre lake. They'll provide bait, equipment, and all of the necessary expertise to ensure that those fishing have a safe and enjoyable time on the water.

Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as stripers, are among the tasty fish that make freshwater fishing at SML a popular tourist destination.

Waterskiing and wakeboarding, boating and sailing, and jet skiing are all fun activities to do on the lake. Swimming is also available at a family-friendly beach, and there are several golf courses nearby.

4. Roanoke Valley Greenways

The interconnected Roanoke Valley Greenway allows visitors to walk or bike along miles of trails in the area, which are safe, well-populated, and well-maintained. A popular trail in and around Roanoke is right along the Roanoke River, where deer, herons, geese, and other wildlife can be seen even in the city. Vic Thomas Park, just off Memorial Drive south of the river, is a great place to start your exploration. From there, you can easily join the Roanoke River Greenway.

A short distance away is the well-known Black Dog Salvage. Every visit to this nationally recognised purveyor of reclaimed architectural, commercial, and industrial fixtures and elements yields a fascinating, one-of-a-kind inventory. Visitors come from all 50 states to see Black Dog, which specialises in doors, windows, wrought iron, period lighting, garden statuary, and other specialty home components.

Head southeast on the Roanoke River Greenway towards Wasena Park after visiting Black Dog. At the Wasena Skate Park, kids can be seen hanging ten on their longboards. The park is always bustling with activity, and the locals' fancy footwork on their skateboards and blades is entertaining to watch.

On your way to the Tinker Creek Greenway, continue on the greenway and cross the Mill Mountain Greenway. Follow that road north for less than a mile and reward yourself with a picnic at Fallon Park's picnic area.

5. Taubman Museum of Art

The Taubman Museum of Art, one of the city's newest attractions (it opened in 2008), is a must-see for art lovers and casual culture consumers alike. The museum's permanent collection of 2,000 unique pieces is spread across 11 different galleries, including works by Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, Purvis Young, and John Cage, and is housed in a stunning modern design by renowned architect Randall Stout.

Visiting exhibits featuring work by some of America's best artists, including John James Audubon and Norman Rockwell, to name a few, are common. Photographic, folk art, and design-related exhibits are among the other highlights.

If you're travelling with children, look into children's programmes, such as hands-on workshops and interactive displays. On-site amenities include a café.

6. McAfee Knob

McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed places on the Appalachian Trail, thanks to its incredible vistas and spectacular rock overhang perch. The 3.5 miles of intermediate-to-difficult trails that lead up to the knob from the Virginia 311 parking lot are popular with hikers.

Climbers know it for the more than 70 gnarly sandstone and slick quartzite boulders that make for days of mini-summits. The majority of boulders are between 10 and 20 feet tall, with many crimps, jugs, pockets, and edges. Bring pads, lunch, and a buddy; it's never a good idea to go rock climbing alone, and McAfee is often deserted.

Another popular recreational area in Roanoke is the recently re-opened Explore Park, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park features 1,100 acres of breathtaking scenery, numerous walking and hiking trails, as well as thrilling ziplines and a treetop adventure course that is appropriate for families with younger children. It also has a visitor centre and a gift shop, as well as camping and rustic cabins.

7. Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve

Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve is a popular destination for birders, nature lovers, and photographers. Bottom Creek, located less than 20 miles south of Roanoke, is one of the most important headwaters for the Roanoke River, and it offers visitors several well-marked trails to enjoy the vast hardwood forest, unspoiled landscape, and Virginia's second highest waterfall.

For the best vantage point to photograph the 200-foot cascading waterfall, the second tallest in Virginia, photographers should take the Red Trail (the longest trail here, at five miles round-trip). Bring a long/telephoto lens because the overlook at the end of the trail offers a clear, open shot, but the falls are a long way away. A side path off the Yellow Trail leads to other viewpoints of the falls.

8. Roanoke City Market

The historic City Market, also known as the Farmers' Market by locals, is open all year and offers boutique shopping, local produce, flowers, meat and cheese, local dining favourites, and some of Virginia's best people-watching. Pay close attention to the market's four mosaic tiled entrances, each of which contains over 2,000 pounds of porcelain tiles that reveal a little bit of the history of this storied public space.

9. Roanoke Pinball Museum

We’ve recently started a new family hobby – vintage record collecting! In keeping with this new found connection over the beloved old, we were delighted to take our girls to the Roanoke Pinball Museum and show them how we entertained ourselves long before the internet.

From the 1932 styles to the slightly more modern Munster’s machine which had a baby pinball inside the bigger one to play, you could get lost in here playing over 65 machines for hours.

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whitepolaris · 3 years ago

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King and Queen Seats

The White Trail through the woods of Rocks State Park in northern Harford County climbs steeply, too steeply for the Weird research team to handle on a steamy Sunday morning in July. Taking advantage of the cool rocks that litter the trail, we took several sit-down breaks for water and trail mix. But our seats were not the reason this park got its name. That honor goes to the enormous rocks of gray grit stone at the summit that are thronelike recesses. For centuries, these piles of huge flattened boulders have been called the King and Queen Seats.

Even though it overlooks a daunting 190-foot drop to Deer Creek, this stunning weathered outcropping at the top of the white trail is a favorite hiking destination of guitar-playing young adults, families, and pagans. And some trekkers like to clamber to the top and sit in one of the twin recesses carved into the topmost rock.

Except for one iffy legend, nobody really knows how the rocks came to be called them is from Thomas T. Wysong, in his 1879 book The Rocks of Deer Creek. Wysong repeats a three-hundred-year-old legend that touches on the rock thrones. Before European settlers appeared there, the Deer area was inhabited by three separate tribes of Susquehannock Indians, who lived less than five miles apart from each other, and who operated a kind of confederacy to protect the valley from any possible aggressors. While the tribes were autonomous, there was a supreme leader who oversaw their alliance.

Onto this background, Wysong repeated a legend of love and rivalry, featuring two heads of the three tribes, especially Lone Wolf of the lower village. While traveling, Lone Wolf visited a New York Iroquois tribe and there met a girl named Fern-Shaken-by-the-Wind. He tried to court her in an elaborate ritual that involved in bringing her back to the valley with her brother as chaperone and lavishing her with gifts. Unfortunately, during tribal councils held at the rocks, Wolf discovered there was a rival for Fern’s affections: Bird-that-Flies-High, the son of the alliance’s supreme leader, had already given the girl his own gifts. Trouble soon began. After slights and insults between the two rivals, they held an archery contest to be judged by Fern. When Lone Wolf won, Bird was infuriated. The two warriors got into a fistfight, and Lone Wolf ended up falling off the cliff.

This act would have automatically consigned Bird to a death sentence, but Fern gave two jewels to Lone Wolf’s family as a blood offering, and Bird’s life was spared. In the end, the two married and sat as joint rulers on the King and Queen Seats. They were the last members of the tribes to do so, since shortly afterward, European settlers drove the Susquehannocks out of the valley.

This is a pretty enough tale, but it’s hard to tell how much of it is true. In his book’s preface, Wysong admitted that the stories in his book are “the interweaving of fact and fancy.”

Certainly, some of the ideas he writes about do have a ring of truth. The idea of an alliance between neighboring villages make sense, especially among the aggressive Susquehannocks, who were often at war and would relish the opportunity of some peace in the neighborhood, especially if it meant they could rely on their neighbors as reinforcements.

But the notion of appointing a king and queen of the alliance remains a sticking point. The idea of twin thrones for a royal couple seems so European that it may be one of the fancies that Wysong warned about in his book’s preface. Then again some historians believe the Susquehannocks were a matriarchal society, so having a throne of power may be a possibility. But all too often the term matriarchy means only that the tribe traced their ancestry through the mother’s line, not that the women held significant political power.

Whatever the actual significance of the seats may be, the place remains exciting and awe-inspiring-and not just because of this spectacular view and the danger of falling nearly two hundred feet off the precipice to the river below. Some people insist that there’s more to the place. They say that either Bird or Wolf, possibly both, still haunt the area around the rocks. Others say that the place was chosen for tribal councils because it was a sacred place and that it remains sacred to this day. Still others wonder at the way the rocks look-deeply grooved and apparently stacked in piles of flattish boulders-but that’s no mystery. It’s an erosion pattern that’s common with this kind of rock. Whatever the reason, the seats still offer a glorious view across the valley to another wooded slope topped with gray rocks. Who knows what those rocks mean?

#weird maryland #type read

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ultraheydudemestuff · 3 years ago

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Bay Village Historical Society

27715 Lake Rd

Bay Village, OH 44140

The Bay Village Historical Society’s Cahoon Homestead in Bay Village, OH, consists of five buildings. The structure that houses the Rose Hill Museum was built in 1818 on the hill south of Lake Road by Joseph Cahoon, his wife Lydia, and their family as their home. The large, five-bedroom frame house on the hillside above the creek overlooks the lake. They cut the lumber at their own sawmill. Doors and window frames were made by hand. Any nails used had to come by wagon 350 miles from Pittsburgh, so they used as few as possible. They cut the boards to fit together perfectly with wooden pegs. Cahoon built the new house to look like a New England farmhouse, like the ones he had grown up in back in Connecticut and Vermont. The house was called “Rose Hill,” named by son Joel’s wife, Margaret Van Allen Cahoon, because of the many rose bushes surrounding it that were planted by Lydia Cahoon.

When the Cahoon family’s last area survivor, Ida Maria Cahoon, died in 1917, her will bequeathed the entire family property to the Village of Bay as a trust. Rose Hill, as Ida Cahoon wished, became the city’s library from 1919 to 1960. Her will also stipulated that if Rose Hill ceased to function as a library, it should become a museum. The library vacated Rose Hill and dedicated its new home at the southeast corner of Dover and Wolf Roads on Jan. 31, 1960. The Cahoon house opened as Rose Hill Museum in 1960 and the contents of the Cahoon home became the base of the museum’s collection.

The Reuben Osborn house, the oldest frame dwelling between Cleveland and Lorain dating to 1814, was slated for demolition in the early 1990s. A group of historical society members lobbied the city to save the building by moving it. The city was receptive to the idea, and paid to have a foundation constructed and the structure moved from its lakeside lot to a spot near the Cahoon family home.. That building then came under the purview of the society. It now serves as the Osborn Learning Center, and houses much of the Bay Village Historical Society’s papers, books, and materials on the Sam Sheppard case, and a rotating variety of displays. Located in the historical district of Bay Village, the Osborn Learning Center is open on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In 1936, as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, men from Bay Village and the WPA worked on Lake Road and also remodeled the Cahoon family barn to serve as a community house for the growing city. The new building replaced the old red schoolhouse at Bassett and Lake roads as the center of community activities. The lower portion housed the city’s fire department for many years. The Bay Village Community House currently is home to the city's recreation department and the Village Bicycle Cooperative. Plans for the future will make it a modern up-to-date community center to serve us even better.

Joseph Cahoon and his family drove into the valley in Dover Township, now Bay Village, on Oct. 10, 1810. Since winter was approaching, it was imperative to create shelter. They built a cabin on the east side of a creek near the lakeshore in four days. In 1818, construction of their permanent home was completed at the top of the path along the lake and it now houses Rose Hill Museum. In 1976, Bay Village Mayor Henry Reese established a commission to plan historical events for the American Bicentennial. Boy Scout leaders John Brant and Donald Harris, along with members of the Bay Village Girl and Boy Scouts, their parents and friends, worked 3,900 hours to reconstruct the Cahoon cabin. A ribbon cutting was celebrated on Oct. 10, 1981, 171 years after the arrival of the Cahoons in Bay Village.

A. Horace Wolf, who became the second mayor of Bay Village, serving from 1910 to 1915, lived on a property given to him by his father, Alfred, at 492 Bradley Road. Horace had an airport in the 1920s located on the land behind St. Barnabas Church. The old stone smoke house that stood behind the homestead house was used as a jail prior to Horace’s becoming mayor. It was used to lock up prisoners until the Marshall could take them to the county jail. The large homestead was purchased by the city and the house, about 101 years old in August 1973, was torn down to make way for the new Jaycee Community House, now the Bay Lodge. The smokehouse was moved near the herb garden just south of Rose Hill Museum, where it stands today.

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pandemicperipatetics · 3 years ago

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36 Hours in Yellowstone National Park

The Verdict:

Yellowstone is the largest U.S. National Park outside of Alaska, and it has such an amazing variety of natural beauty -- geysers, hot springs, lakes, mountains, rock terraces, canyons, plains, forested areas...it is unparalleled. We clearly needed more than 36 hours here, and we can't wait to return someday. Pro Tip: Download the Yellowstone app (separate from the NPS app) for offline access to helpful information during your visit!

Day 1: Famous Geysers, Wildlife Viewing at Hayden Valley, and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

1. Hot Water Features (Geyers, Hot Springs, & such): Yellowstone is well-known for its unusual water features powered by the remnants of volcanic activity. Driving up from Grand Teton National Park, we started our morning as early as possible driving to Old Faithful and then walking along the boardwalks and seeing the many stunning geyser sand pools of the Upper Geyser Basin, which was right next to Old Faithful and perhaps even more fun!

Old Faithful is one of a few Yellowstone Geysers that erupts on a near-predictable schedule. It's not the biggest geyser, and we're not sure why it's especially famous, but it definitely was very cool to watch it erupt. You can check for the next scheduled eruption using the Yellowstone app (just know the geyser schedule only updates in areas with connection -which isn't many areas of Yellowstone) or on a sign outside the Old Faithful Visitor Center. We lucked out to arrive just a few minutes before a predicted eruption (which actually occurred about 7 minutes after the predicted time).

You can watch Old Faithful erupt from the observation deck right in front of it -- this was already crowded when we arrived around 9:30 a.m., but we walked around to the side of the geyser and found a nice empty spot. Or you can hike ~half a mile to Observation Point for what we read was a less crowded view. We didn't make it there ourselves, though.

After watching Old Faithful erupt, we walked along the neighboring boardwalks to explore the Upper Geyser Basin. There were SO many geysers here and the whole area was gorgeous. We enjoyed using the Yellowstone app's Self-Guided Audio Tour of this area to learn a bit about the different hot water features. We unexpectedly got to see Sawmill Geyser, a geyser that hadn't erupted since 2017, go through a long eruption while we were walking by. We spent close to 2 hours visiting Old Faithful and this surrounding area.

Sawmill Geyser wakes up!

Logistics: Drive to the Old Faithful Visitor Center and park in the Old Faithful Parking Lot (there was plenty of parking when we got there on a Saturday morning). It's always nice to get to places like this early to avoid the crowds. We found it very cold in the morning (it was in the 40s) and wore our warmest jackets.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring: Just a few minutes' drive from Old Faithful is this famous area of the park. We first parked at the Fairy Falls Parking Lot (lots of potholes!) and walked 1.6 miles roundtrip, some of it surprisingly steep (but still family friendly), to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. This is a stunning view of this gorgeous and colorful hot spring, and it was well worth the walk.

Then we drove further down the main park road to the Grand Prismatic Spring Parking Lot -- it was full with a long line of cars jockeying to enter, so we parked along the road and walked down to the parking lot (only a ~5 minute walk). There we walked along a windy boardwalk with steam from the hot springs fogging up our eyeglasses and condensing on our windbreakers. We didn't get great views of the springs from the ground level, likely in part because the wind was blowing steam everywhere and obscuring the view. Maybe it would be better on a less windy day, but we did notice that this area was much windier than surrounding areas of the park (we even felt a big difference just from the boardwalk to the parking lot). We preferred the view from the Overlook. Still, this is an iconic place to visit.

Standing in front of Grand Prismatic Spring

3. Yellowstone Lake: We then retraced our drive from the morning and continued further east to see Yellowstone Lake. We read it could be nice to get out at West Thumb to see the geysers and lake views there, but we skipped this for the sake of time. We stopped at a random picnic area along the lake, took in the beautiful views while eating our peanut butter sandwiches, and scurried back to our cars after shivering by the windy waters.

4. Hayden Valley: As we continued driving north along the loop that makes up Yellowstone's main road, we passed through this gorgeous area that looked a bit like what we expect of the serengeti. The area is purportedly great for seeing wildlife, especially in the mornings and evenings, and seems like a good spot to have binoculars. Though we unfortunately didn't spot anything during our afternoon drive, we really enjoyed stopping at Mud Volcano and listening to the Yellowstone App Guided Audio Tour for this neat area of unusual geysers and hot springs.

Hayden Valley view

Mud Volcano

Pool by Mud Volcano 5. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: We continued driving north past Hayden Valley to this scenic canyon with imposing waterfalls and scenic overlooks. It was really different from Grand Canyon in that there weren't long hikes deep into the canyon, and the waterfalls were accessible with very short walks. The canyon has two major areas -- the North Rim and the South Rim -- and each one has Upper and Lower viewpoints. You can take advantage of options to hike or minimize your walking by driving to the overlooks.

On the South Rim, definitely visit the famous, stunning Artist's Point -- you can drive there or hike down to it from the parking lot by Uncle Tom's Trail (the trail was closed during our visit).

On the North Rim, we read that the hike to the Brink of the Lower Falls is very nice, but we were a bit confused where to find that given there were so many different stops and lookout points. We stopped at many of them and really enjoyed all of the views.

Day 2 (Morning Only): More Wildlife + Mammoth Hot Springs

1. Drive from Canyon Village to Mammoth Hot Springs: We drove to Mammoth, on the northwest tip of the park, via Norris -- mainly because the other road (via Tower Roosevelt) was closed. We didn't expect much, but the drive was actually AWESOME. It was so quiet and especially scenic. We saw a bison along the road right by a hot spring!

2. Mammoth Hot Springs: We didn't know what to expect, and found that this was one of our favorite parts of the park. The drive right before Mammoth goes down into this insane valley overlooking pristine lakes and with the Yellowstone River cutting through, and there were lots of elk hanging out along the side of the road in the morning.

The main attraction is the Hot Springs area, which can be accessed via one of 3 parking lots (upper, main, and lower). This area look surprisingly different than the water features by the Upper Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring. The terrain is otherworldly! You can walk around the boardwalks and listen to the Yellowstone App Guided Audio Tour for some interesting information about what you're seeing. It's not very large; we spent likely under an hour here.

Past the Hot Springs, you'll drive into a more built up area of some park lodging that looks pretty nice from the outside, a stunning US Post Office, and the unbelievably scenic Mammoth Hot Springs Campground (we really want to camp there sometime)! The whole area was so cute. As you drive past Mammoth and out of the park, there are some scenic overlooks with views of the Yellowstone River, and the Rescue Creek Trail hike that we'd love to try sometime. Though we hadn't heard much about Mammoth before, it seems like a place that would be great to spend more time in.

Driving out of Yellowstone to Missoula (via Livingston, Bozeman, and Butte): You'll drive through the stunning (have we used this word enough?) Custer Gallatin National Forest. It's one of the most scenic drives we've ever done. There are probably some terrific hikes near this drive that we'd love to explore one day.

We stopped in Livingston, MT and walked along the Yellowstone River by Sacagawea Park. It's a cute small town park and the river views were great. Livingston is also known for having good food & drinks, but we didn't test this out.

In Bozeman, we walked along Main Street in the downtown area -- there are tons of places to eat and shop, and it feels touristy but still with a small town feel. We stopped for lunch at The Farmer's Daughter just a couple minutes' drive from Main Street; the vegetarian options were pretty good (salads, sandwiches, avocado toast, smoothies) and especially refreshing after several meals of sandwiches while camping!

We continued our drive towards Missoula via Butte -- again a very scenic city with a stunning mountainous area, but we didn't stop. Overall, the entire drive to Missoula was very pretty.

Stuff We Didn't Do This Time at Yellowstone

Lamar Valley: At the very northeast part of the park, this is supposed to be one of the best places to see wildlife. Last time I was at Yellowstone I saw a wolf and bear cubs, and I'm *pretty* sure it was here. As a bonus, the drive in to Yellowstone to Lamar Valley is amazing, and staying at unbelievably gorgeous Cooke City, MT the night before is a very nice option. (As a bit of an aside, the drive through Bear Tooth Pass in Wyoming, on highway 212 leading into Cooke City, is one of the most gorgeous drives EVER). Once you're deeper into the park, just a bit beyond Lamar Valley, you can spend a night at Pebble Creek Campground, which seems like sleeping in a valley out in the wild -- it looks immersive and extremely cool.

Lots of other stuff! There is just SO much to see at Yellowstone. We'd love to go back and experience the most scenic campgrounds, do some more hikes, and see some of the less-visited places. They are probably so beautiful and extra special for being less crowded with visitors.

Lodging

Before our first day, we camped in the northern end of Grand Teton National Park. Our campground, Colter Bay, was just a 30 min drive from the Yellowstone South Entrance, and about 90 minutes total from Old Faithful (including a stop to refuel at a gas station in the park). It was a fine campground, nothing too special and nothing bad, but this saved us about an hour of driving compared to staying in Jackson Hole. We were glad for the early start given how crowded Yellowstone gets!

On our night in Yellowstone, we camped at Canyon Village Campground, which is just one mile from Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was okay: not particularly scenic, and administered by Xanterra (a company that the National Parks Service contracts out to for providing lodging in some parks), which meant the check-in process was different and way more onerous than it was at any of the National Parks-administered campgrounds we've stayed at in Grand Teton and elsewhere. Still, the location was extremely convenient: waking up to the first sunlight within the park itself is an excellent way to beat the crowds!

#yellowstone

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mypubliclands · 7 years ago

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#NewYearNewAdventures: Our favorite road trips/byways

We’re continuing to share some of the top spots on #yourpubliclands to start the New Year off right. Explore the outdoors with these road trips and byways this year to BLM-managed public lands.

Dalton Highway, Alaska

The Dalton Highway stretches 414 miles across northern Alaska from Livengood (84 miles north of Fairbanks) to Deadhorse and the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay. Built during construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s, this mostly gravel highway travels through rolling, forested hills, across the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, through the rugged Brooks Range, and over the North Slope to the Arctic Ocean. Along most of its length, you'll see no strip malls, no gift shops, no service stations, just forest, tundra, and mountains, crossed by a ribbon of road and pipe.The BLM manages a swath of public lands along the highway from the Yukon River to the north side of the Brooks Range. Within the Dalton corridor, the BLM maintains campgrounds, rest areas, interpretive panels and the award-winning Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot.This is no ordinary road -- it pays to be prepared. There is no cell phone service or public Internet connection along the Dalton Highway.

Route 66 Historic Backcountry Byway, Arizona

This 42-mile stretch of two-lane blacktop is one of the last and best-preserved segments of the original Route 66, one of America's first transcontinental highways. This portion of the highway once included one of the most fearsome obstacles for "flatland" travelers in the 1930's: the hairpin curves and steep grades of Sitgreaves Pass, which characterize Old Route 66 as it makes its way over the Black Mountains of western Arizona.

Bodie Hills, California

Always on our #roadtrip #bucketlist! California’s Eastern Sierra region is a dramatic transition zone between the snow-capped granite spires of the Sierra Nevada and the endless sagebrush covered uplands of the Great Basin. A trip at the right time of year will reward visitors with a diversity of wildflowers.

One great wildflower viewing area is just north of Mono Lake and east of Yosemite National Park in the rolling Bodie Hills – hills being an understatement since they top out at over 10,000 feet! Because of their high elevation, wildflower blooms are later here than much of California – typically arriving in May-June on the lower slopes and into July on the highest peaks. Several back roads traverse the area and offer access to view the displays of phlox, penstemon and paintbrush to name a few of the many wildflower species. More than 100,000 acres of BLM lands cover most of the Bodie Hills and include several wilderness study areas.

Bodie State Historic Park is the best-preserved ghost town in California, and arguably in the United States. Wildlife viewers can see antelope, mule deer, and if lucky, get a glimpse of a sage grouse. If you visit later, around early October, crisp clear nights will turn the scattered aspen stands to gold, giving a second opportunity to see Bodie Hills in color.

Alpine Loop National Backcountry Byway, Colorado

A #roadtrip to the #AlpineLoop should be on your #bucketlist for 2018! Located northeast of Silverton, Colorado in San Juan and Hinsdale counties, the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is a premiere visitor destination. The epic scenery draws off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts across the country who are treated with a network of roads that climb above the timberline, accessing unparalleled vistas in an alpine environment. The hiking, biking and camping in the area is also fantastic. Scattered along the Alpine loop are remnants of our nation’s frontier history, where visitors can learn about the bustling mining towns that once thrived here.

While many roads are accessible by regular, two-wheel drive vehicles, getting into the alpine areas require high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicles. Plan your trip accordingly.

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Virginia

Journey through early American history and walk in the footsteps of our nation’s founding fathers as you explore the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. This National Historic Trail commemorates over 680 miles of land and water trails followed by the allied armies of General George Washington and the French Lieutenant General Comte Jean de Rochambeau. During their 1781 march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, the French army established an encampment on what is now the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). A segment of this trail connects with a BLM system of trails crossing the SRMA on the historic Mason Neck Peninsula, just a short drive from the nation’s capital. At Meadowood, the trail transects open meadows, enters into mature hardwood forests, and crosses riparian wetlands. While in the area, visit Gunston Hall, the home of Founding Father George Mason, a strong supporter of individual liberties and the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Many of the concepts in that document found embodiment in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights.

Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway, Idaho

The Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway and Adventure Road is a 36-mile loop drive through a beautiful and historic landscape following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Experience incredible views of the Lemhi Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges; truly some of the finest scenery in America!

The mountains, evergreen forests, high desert canyons and grassy foothills look much the same today as when the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through in 1805. Take a slow and meandering journey along this drive with time to stop along the way for hiking, fishing, mountain biking and exploration. With a 4,000 foot gain and loss in elevation, expect some steep grades too.

Lemhi Pass is well-known for its wildflower displays in the spring and summer. Captain Lewis collected three new plant species in this area: mountain maple, common snowberry and Lewis’s monkey flower. You might see elk, mule and whitetail deer, black bear, moose, pronghorn antelope, coyotes and many smaller mammal species. Early mornings and evenings are the times to look for wildlife, particularly where the forest and meadow meet.

By late September, shorter days and cooler temperatures release hues of red, yellow, and gold in aspens, cottonwoods, willows and shrubs. Don’t miss Agency Creek in October – it’s beautiful! Download a visitor guide for your roadtrip from our website.

Big Sky Byway, Montana

The 105-mile Big Sky Back Country Byway begins in Terry, MT, and travels north and south covering badlands and rolling prairies. The byway ends in Wolf Point, MT, on the beautiful Missouri River, part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The route is part of the National Scenic Byways Program, linking Terry with Wolf Point. Taking 2 hours one way, you can stop to take a look at the information kiosks in Terry, Circle, and Wolf Point, which describe byway attributes, local history, and culture. Visitors can enjoy the scenic badlands of eastern Montana year round from this all-weather road.

Lunar Crater Backcountry Byway, Nevada

The scenic loop (the Lunar Crater Back Country Byway) passes by the crater with a stopping point near the crater where visitors can get out to view the impressive volcanic feature. Vehicles are limited to existing roads and trails.

Lake Valley Backcountry Byway, New Mexico

A meandering 48-mile drive on paved roads takes visitors through ranching and mining country and past the ruins of the 1880s mining town of Lake Valley. The Lake Valley Backcountry Byway is nestled between the Mimbres and Caballo Mountains and the Cooke's Range in southwestern New Mexico and offers spectacular scenic views. Rich in history and scenery, the Byway offers an outstanding trip for travelers with an hour to spare.

Steens Mountain, Oregon

How about this for a scenic byway: Glacier-carved gorges, pristine alpine lakes and wild and scenic rivers, all accessible via the highest elevation road in Oregon!

Come take a drive on the 52-mile-long Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway! There are four campgrounds along the byway for those wanting to stay a little bit longer in one of the most remote places in the U.S.!

Photo/video: https://goo.gl/VOkTFg

San Rafael Swell, Utah

Make the most of your road-trip to Moab or the Skyline Drive! Take the scenic route through the San Rafael Swell. Emery County Road 332 is a gravel road that connects approximately 45 miles between Huntington, Utah to Interstate 70 in the heart of the San Rafael Swell. Enjoy the amazing desert scenery, stop at the wedge overlook for a view of the “Little Grand Canyon,” view the ancient rock art of the Buckhorn Draw Panel, and maybe even take a side trip to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. While there is primitive-style camping in the area, there are no other services. Come prepared with everything you need, and take home everything you bring. Flat tires are common.

Red Gulch/Alkali National Backcountry Byway, Wyoming

The Red Gulch/Alkali National Backcountry Byway is a 32-mile scenic drive on improved gravel and dirt roads through the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. Near each of the two entrances to this historic route you will see a National Backcountry Byway kiosk which provides historical information about the byway as well as road conditions. The steep, rugged canyons cut into the mountains along the byway and offer many challenging and interesting hiking opportunities. Among the wondrous sights you may see are hoodoos. These strange, artistic rock formations were carved over the centuries by Wyoming’s wind.

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breakfromwork · 7 years ago

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November 24-December 3, Colorado-Arizona

November 24th we ran a few errands and attended the Christmas parade in downtown Salida, Colorado.

We ran across this truck which immediately attracted Gae... sled dogs on the move.

We found an empty bench for the parade as we’d arrived early... Gae met 2 ladies originally from Venezuela to chat with.

The streets were packed with spectators prepared for cool temps.

The finale included fireworks over the hill just across the river with a dynamically lit Christmas tree.

November 25th we headed south for Pagosa Springs, Colorado on our way to my sister Alice’s in Arizona. On our way, we stopped in Saquache, a small farming town to buy some locally made bread and browse the 1 block’s worth of shops.

We stopped at Wolf Creek pass to breath the ski mountain air, which excited both of us for the planned ski trip coming in February.

The scenic overlook on the south side of the pass provided a spectacular view of the valley.

November 26th we woke in the church parking lot in Pagosa Springs, where Gae attended church before continuing south.

Wild turkeys were running through the woods in a neighborhood near the church.

We stopped in Durango for lunch at Steamworks Brewing Company before driving to Farmington, New Mexico, where we spent the night.

November 27th we drove through Shiprock, New Mexico to see the formation the town is named after.

Here’s Ship Rock, at nearly 1600 feet above the ground, in the distance at the end of a spine of rock that leads to it.

The spine of rock juts out from the eroded hill and is 4-6 feet thick with natural arches forming where parts had tumbled from the wall.

We drove to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, where limited daylight kept us on the run, touring the park from north to south.

One of the first viewpoints was of the painted desert hills.

The road crossed the path of old Highway 66, asphalt removed with its duties replaced by newer highway systems.

One of the ruins had a beautifully restored sandstone visitor center that Gae wanted to call home.

The petrified trees were a beautiful formation of different gemstone material with brilliant color.

We parked just outside the south gate of the park for the night so we could return to do some more hikes among the downed, stone trees.

November 28th we stopped and walked the trail at the southern visitor center.

A cactus along the path sported these bright yellow fruit.

We spotted a road runner near the entrance, racing around and snagging bugs for breakfast.

We drove through Winslow, Arizona, to the impact crater to check it out. As it is a privately held enterprise, the $18 fee was expected... good for exactly one visit.

A tour guide took us along the rim, giving an excellent review of the crater’s formation, and discovery.

Here we are at the rim... Starman where are you?

We drove to Snowflake, Arizona for the night, which Gae had heard of from many Mormon friends who visited there.

We had to stop to check out the local temple before parking for the night.

November 29th we headed for Benson, Arizona, through Show Low and the beautiful Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, heavily forested in large Ponderosa Pines... a bit of a surprise after so much flat desolation. The drive out was down hill for miles and lead through some spectacular canyons.

The Salt River cuts through steep mountains where you drop 1000 feet to cross the river and climb back out.

We arrived in Benson in the afternoon, where we have been staying through December 3rd. Alice and I made a run on the 30th to Costco to stock up on food in Tucson, and we got a chance to visit my sister Francie on December 1st when she came over to care for our mother for the day while Alice worked.

Here’s Arlene at her favorite pastime... word finding away:-)

And here’s Alice relaxing in the evening.

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rivercrestcabins-blog · 6 years ago

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River crest cabins are Best Vacation Rental in South Fork Colorado

The Cabins at Rivercrest offer unparalleled luxury in two custom, riverfront log homes. Explore our truly exceptional amenities and imagine your next getaway with us.

All The Amenities Fully Equipped Entertainment Island featuring 3 lounge areas, barbeque firepit, gazebo, pergola, horseshoes, dueling cornhole sets, and wedding ceremony lawn.

Private game room + lounge boasting fireplace feature wall, 18’ shuffleboard table, pool table, seated game console, built-in wet bar, Electrovoice sound + DJ system, and 125” movie screen with lounge area. Game room convertible to reception space with the reserved event.

Riverfront market lighted reception deck

Outdoor catering space

Year-Round Destination

Nestled in the San Juan mountains, just 15 minutes to Wolf Creek ski area, South Fork, Colorado is located in the heart of the Weminuche Wilderness and was designated “Colorado’s Top Small Adventure Town” in 2015 by Elevation Outdoors. Tucked into the San Luis Valley’s southwest range, South Fork’s year-round outdoor playground offers skiing, hiking, biking, backpacking and white water rafting in Colorado’s largest wilderness area.

Two Properties. One Great Adventure.

Two on-site riverfront cabins rented individually or as property buyout, enjoy a well-appointed entertainment island with 365 degrees of flowing South Fork river. Envision your vows on your own private wedding island or gather your family or friends for an epic celebration. Fly fish off the back deck or enjoy the amenities like our gazebo, cooking firepit, horseshoes, outdoor games, and lounges that adorn the island…little will compare to the glitter of the stars next to a firepit on a clear mountain night.

We hear clients say it over and over again. I wish it didn’t go so fast. Let us help you slow down time and gather your nearest & dearest for more than a one-night celebration. Join us for an adventure.

Our riverfront retreat and wedding venue boast two on-site side by side luxury log cabin style rental properties. Take a walk from the back porch of your cabin across a charming wooden bridge leading to your very own riverfront ceremony and cocktail reception island.

Across from our pristine wedding lawn and custom A-frame ceremony alter looking up The Rio Grande Valley, enjoy an outdoor living space with amenities that include a built-in bar, gazebo, pergola, horseshoe and fire pit amongst the mountain elegant ambiance of the rushing South Fork river.

Gather your guests for an indoor/outdoor reception in the overlook room. A 600 sq foot riverfront deck with overhead market lighting leads to the 1000 sq foot well-appointed reception space featuring gas burning fire accent wall and built-in dance floor.

Indulge in all the amenities of this exclusive property with a 3-night celebration package.

Immortalize your memories with a distinctive weekend itinerary.

River crest cabins are Best Vacation Rental in South Fork Colorado The Cabins at Rivercrest offer unparalleled luxury in two custom, riverfront log homes. Explore our truly exceptional amenities and imagine your next getaway with us.

#Colorado wedding venue #South Fork Colorado Fishing Cabin #south fork vacation retnal

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exoticlifestyles-blog1 · 6 years ago

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AMAZING ADELAIDE WITH EXOTIC LIFESTYLES

Adelaide is South Australia's cosmopolitan beach front capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to prestigious historical centres i.e. the Art Gallery of South Australia which shows broad accumulations including noted indigenous craftsmanship and the South Australian Museum. The city's Adelaide Festival is a yearly global expressions gathering with turn offs including periphery and film occasions. Be that as it may appearbecause nowadays things are unique. Multicultural flavours implant Adelaide's eateries; there's a siphoning expressions and unrecorded music scene; and the city's celebration date-book has vanquished dull Saturday evenings. There are still a lot of chapel towers here, however they're pitifully dwarfed by bars and a developing number of hip bars concealed in paths. Right down the cable car tracks is beach Glenelg: Adelaide with its watch down and boardshorts up. Close-bytheir lays Port Adelaide which keeps on improving yet remains a raffish harbour.

ADELAIDEBOTANIC GARDEN

Adelaide Botanic Garden is a desert spring in the cosmopolitan heart of the city, including flawlessly arranged patio nurseries, lofty roads and shocking engineering. Crossing 50 hectares, the noteworthy garden includes a portion of Australia's best plant accumulations. Things to see incorporate the wonderfully re-established 1877-manufactured Palm House, First Creek Wetland, the Amazon Water Lily Pavilion, the Santos Museum of Economic Botany and the Bicentennial Conservatory. There are standard occasions for all ages in the garden. Offices incorporate the Visitor Information Centre and Diggers Garden Shop. It offers a wide scope of seeds, cultivating books and garden products. You can likewise have an easygoing dinner in one of the bistros, Simpson Kiosk and Cafe Fibonacci. Otherwise you can enjoy special food with full gusto at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant.

TANDANYA - NATIONAL ABORIGINAL CULTURAL INSTITUTE

Tandanya is the main Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Cultural Association. Tandanya's central goal is to create, advance and grandstand the decent variety of ATSI expressions practice.Secondly it perpetuates discussions and talks through an energizing project of visual and performing expressions through workshops, craftsman/caretaker talks, gatherings, social introductions and film screenings. Tandanya is a solitary National Indigenous Aboriginal Art Code and it specialises in promoting indigenous Australian art, music and storytelling.It showcases artists' work and multi performances within its galleries and theatre through sale of tickets. Tandanya is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday. It remains closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

BAROSSA VALLEY

A Barossa Valley wine visit is one of Adelaide's features. The Barossa Valley is the most famous wine developing district in the Adelaide Zone of Australia. It is a prevalent goal for both Australian and worldwide wine sightseers. It is less than 100 kilometres from Adelaide, with more than 150 wineries going from recognizable top picks like Jacob's Creek, Wolf Blass and Penfolds, to family run tasks cutting out their own specific specialty. On the off chance that you are progressively keen on finding the Barossa at your calm pace, ensure you visit Maggie Beer's Farm Shop, the Barossa Farmer's Markets, each Saturday in Angaston and for something eccentric The Herbig Family Tree additionally in Angaston. The tree was home for two or three years to Friedrich and Caroline Herbig and two youngsters around 1860. In the long run the family developed to 16 kids and as anyone might expect exceeded the tree which is presently recorded with the National Trust.The laws of natural growth and origin of species hold good in the long run.

SEMAPHORE BEACH

Take a plunge in the perfect waters of Semaphore Beach with its staggering white sandy shorelines and low rise foundation. It gives you a feeling of being far from everything, except you are in reality just a short ways from Adelaide's CBD. The foreshore is a hive of movement with its popular offshore garden, offering two kilometres of open space saved and saved for what shoreline occasions should be about - having a ton of fun! Play smaller than expected golf, crawl down the waterslide, ride the vintage merry go round or ferries wheel, walk, cycle or run along the drift way. Kite-surfers, wind-surfers and every single climate swimmer make the waters their play area. You would love to take a ride on the steam train that puffs along the shoreline amid the mid- year months.

MCLAREN VALE

Albeit best known for its dry red wines the McLaren Vale wineries likewise create some fine white wines and the mix of a Mediterranean atmosphere and incredible fish make the zone a gourmet's enjoyment. One couldn't know whether it is the nature of their wines and they are probably the best or closer to aparticular quality mark. Its progressively confirmation that great wine and satisfaction go inseparable ally. Wirra likewise includes Harry's Deli sitting above the patio nurseries and vineyards where you can round out your morning with a quality lunch. The town of Willunga has cornered the market way of life and acquires its title of the "Market Town". Each Saturday morning, they hold the Willunga Farmers Markets, off St Peter's Terrace, where the neighbourhood ranchers and makers offer their items direct to you. This is your chance to meet the general population who are in charge of the fine deliveries utilized all through the locale. The Willunga Quarry Markets are held each second Saturday in Aldinga Road. Local people craftsmen and their handcrafted articles are the otherelements of this market.

VICTOR HARBOR

When South Australia was obscure and not even on the map of Australia, the eminent surveyor Mathew Flinders in his exploits discovered Victor Harbour in the beginning of 19th century. It connected North Adelaide with South Australia and gradually communications paved the ways for systematic improvements in accessibilities and transportation modes. It is 80 kilometres away from Adelaide and one can reach there thru 2 way train service, luxury buses and motor boats. It is part of Adelaide sightseeing. There is Horse Drawn Tram Service on causeway of Victor Harbour which delights the travellers as the city is in the periphery and the tram takes them to Granite Island. From time to time on some special occasions Grand Prix Motor Boats Races are conducted.The Steam Ranger Heritage Railways with locomotive run Cookie Train Service between Victor Harbour and Goolwa on Fleurieu Peninsular along harbour railway line. This train journey takes hardly 30 minutes and you can return quicklyto, from where you started.This train service is kept alive despite of modernity and has heritage status. Fishing opportunities are plenty on shore reefs. Excellent surf fishing is done on beaches closer to Murray Mouth. The city hosts three days Schoolies Week Festival for students who finish year long school graduation and they all celebrate the festival in November end. Victor harbour has a warm Mediterranean climate and sea breeze moderates the rising temperature. Mount Breckan is a grand 38 rooms residence which is having a typical edifice and iconic status. Over the years it was reclaimed and changed many hands since it was constructed in April,1879 by Alexander Hay. The huge mansion overlooks the sea and the tourists visit to see the grandeur. There is Granite Island Recreation Park and it is protected area. It is the most popular destination for tourists. This park is 120 kilometres away from Adelaide and lies in South of Adelaide. One-way train or bus journey costs $17 for reaching Victor Harbour from Adelaide. There is another spot for tourists and that is Green Hills Adventure Park near the harbour. There are many attractions viz canoes rides, paddle boats, aqua bikes, waves slides, 4 wheels motor bikes riding, electric cars riding, rock climbing, mini golf etc. All these activities attract tourists and they enjoy participating. No excursion to Victor Harbour would be finished without riding the pony attracted tramway to Granite Island. The principal cable cars kept running in 1894 until the 1950's, with administrations restarting in June 1986 as a major aspect of South Australia's 150th Anniversary. Additionally, arranged in Victor Harbour is the South Australian Whale Centre, where you can find out about whales and whaling in the territory. It is really a fun to see novelties and experience the exuberance of bounties of nature with extremely close encounters.

GLENELG

Glenelg is a prominent beachside suburb around 10 kilometres south of Adelaide CBD. In the event that you need to go on South Australia's solitary staying open transport cable car, you can get a cable car from Hindmarsh to reach Glenelg. Lamentably, it is presently just conceivable to go on the legacy style cable cars as a feature of extraordinary occasions. On the off chance that you feel burnt out on the shoreline or when shopping on Jetty you mix up with other tourists who give free maps that cover strolling and cycling trails in the territory. Glenelg is a beach holiday rental site where villas, apartments, hotels and homes on the ocean front have been built which have world class furnishing and modern kitchen wares and other amenities. This type of isolated living is the main attribute of Glenelg. Families or individuals coming to stay for short term or for long term in the splendid peaceful vicinity feel privileged where all cares are taken for healthy living in the lap of nature. In built roads and civic administration categorically provide security, comfort ability, luxury and extreme mobility for doing your jobs. For history buffs Glenelg has a copy of the HMAS Buffalo, the ship that purchased European pioneers to the zone. You can likewise observe the 'Old Gum Tree' close to which, in 1836, South Australia was announced. The first tree itself is a distant memory, however you can presently visit the territory where the announcement occurred.

MOUNT LOFTY

Mount Lofty is fifteen kilometres away toward east from the focal point of Adelaide. From the 710 meters high summit, the vista is breathtaking as you see the drift and also eminent perspectives over Adelaide. You won't have any desire to miss the Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. It covers 97 hectares and is an unquestionable requirement to see. There are strolling trails inside the patio nurseries and the Friends of the Gardens run free guided strolls. The Summit bistro is open 7 days a week and is an incredible place to sit and unwind. For individuals who have additional time prefer eating at "The Summit" eatery with perspectives that are amazing. The summit can be reached by motor vehicle or by open transport or by climbing from Waterfall Gully. This is a well known track and consistently followed by tourists and local people. Mt Lofty stands at the highest altitude in the southern ranges. The truck from Water Fall Gully to the summit is 4 kilometre uphill trek. There is a gift shop and a cafe-restaurant at the summit. It is apopular spot for tourists and also for cyclists. Visit Adelaide and get your self and amazingly discounted holiday break. Call Exotic Lifestyles on 1300 20 88 55 to know more.

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willow-and-wolf · 6 years ago

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Eagle Ranch Resort Wedding

Kendra & Dan

Kendra and Dan had planned the most amazing day for their Eagle Ranch Resort Wedding. It was such a beautiful day and we were so happy to be their photographers to capture all the fun memories.

Eagle Ranch Resort Wedding Venue in Invermere

We have photographed a few weddings around Invermere but this was our first time shooting at the Eagle Ranch Resort. The venue is perched up on a cliff with incredible panoramic view overlooking the beautiful Columbia River and surrounding peaks. The venue is a popular spot for golfers in the summer because of its incredible scenery. For this reason they have limited availiblity of their beautiful timber clubhouse during July and August. Kendra and Dan were lucky to secure their date in June and when they contacted us to be their photographers we couldn’t have been more excited to check out this venue for the first time!

Preparing for Weather in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

June had been a very rainy month with lots of storms passing through the mountains. The weather forecast had been showing rain and thunderstorms nearly every day. We all had one eye on the radar while everyone was getting ready as we watched the clouds roll through the valley. It’s always important to have a few backup plans for the weather and Kendra and Dan were prepared. They had umbrellas for their guests and the Eagle Ranch Resort has a lovely indoor option inside their beautiful clubhouse just incase.

Their Story

When the girls were getting ready we received a phone call that it was raining at Eagle Ranch Resort. Kendra was determined to have an outdoor ceremony so they delayed on putting the chairs out until the very last minute. When we arrived we could see the clouds drifting out over the valley and a brilliant blue sky replaced it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for them. The ceremony continued while the sun shone and everyone celebrated afterwards with cocktails on the deck of the clubhouse. Kendra and Dan had transformed the space beautifully for their wedding. Their decor was thoughtfully chosen to compliment the mountain landscape including had stamped wooden placenames and green foliage draped over every table. They even had homemade wine for all the guests to enjoy.

Sunset Photos at Eagle Ranch

We suggest to all of our couples to take some time at golden hour for some more portraits of just the two of them. It’s the nicest time of day for photos and its also a nice time for you to have a break from the reception. Just the two of you to reflect on the day. We took golf carts out to the cliffs where they had their ceremony a few hours prior and enjoyed the last few moments of daylight under umbellas in the light rain. Documenting the love these two have for each in this amazing location was such an honor. Kendra and Dan had planned the perfect day and it was a pleasure celebrating with all of their friends and family surrounded by so much beauty.

Vendors

Venue: Eagle Ranch Resort, Invermere Decoration Coordinator: Janice Dallaire Cake: Fun Cakes by Diane Officiant: Laura Hermakin Videographer: Justin James Productions Outdoor Chairs: MB7 rentals Florist: Philip Chong Flower Bar Photobooth: Creative Crossings Indoor Chairs: Glow Décor Rentals Hair/ Make up: Viva Hair Salon Wedding Rings: Alberta Diamond Exchange DJ: Dustin Murray Getting Ready Location: Copper Point Resort

Other Stories Similar to this Eagle Ranch Resort Wedding:

Heather and Devon – Brady Creek Ranch Teslyn and Matt – Fairmont Hot Springs Wedding

Eagle Ranch Resort Wedding was originally published on Willow + Wolf

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rabbitcruiser · 1 year ago

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Wolf Creek Valley Overlook, CO (No. 3)

The Lobo Overlook, at 11,760 feet elevation on the north side of the pass, provides commanding views of the continental divide.

The pass is also home to Wolf Creek ski area located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide on Highway 160. Also on the eastern side is one of the largest RV parks in the United States, located just a few miles west of South Fork, Colorado.

Wolf Creek Pass is also an attraction for tourists, as it is known for the natural beauty of the wilderness the highway passes through. Just west of the pass, Treasure Falls offers passersby a view of a mountain waterfall.

The main route of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), which reaches from Mexico to Canada, passes through Wolf Creek Pass. North bound "thru hikers" usually hike through Wolf Creek Pass in June.

The pass was named for Wolf Creek, which starts near the top of the pass and flows down its western side to a confluence with the West Fork San Juan River in Mineral County.

Source: Wikipedia

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thorsenmark · 9 months ago

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One Can Find Love Somewhere from the East to West by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: One Can Find Love Somewhere from the East to West Others find beauty in between the north and south I’m at where the two meet and find only wonder Another work of short poetry or prose to complement the image captured one morning while taking in views at the Wolf Creek Valley Overlook just to the west of the Continental Divide and hence the thought behind my writing. This is in the San Juan National Forest looking to the south. In composing this image, I used an opening between some outcroppings to frame a look beyond to the valley below. I also angled my Nikon SLR camera slightly downward to bring the horizon a little higher into the image, creating more of a sweeping view across this landscape. The rest was metering the image to not blow any of the highlights in the mostly overcast skies that morning, while still being able to pull the more shadowed areas later out in post-production.

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sellhousefast323 · 4 years ago

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9 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Roanoke, VA

1. Mill Mountain Park & the Roanoke Star

Hikers are welcome to bring their leashed dogs, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and water along the Mill Mountain Spur Trail en route to the Discovery Center, a naturalist center with exhibits on the park, local wildlife, and trail maps. Mill Mountain Zoo, a small but lively enclave with local critters such as the Indian crested porcupine, red wolf, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle, will appeal to children of all ages.

2. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

3. Smith Mountain Lake

Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as stripers, are among the tasty fish that make freshwater fishing at SML a popular tourist destination.

4. Roanoke Valley Greenways

5. Taubman Museum of Art

If you're travelling with children, look into children's programmes, such as hands-on workshops and interactive displays. On-site amenities include a café.

6. McAfee Knob

Another popular recreational area in Roanoke is the recently re-opened Explore Park, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park features 1,100 acres of breathtaking scenery, numerous walking and hiking trails, as well as thrilling zip lines and a treetop adventure course that is appropriate for families with younger children. It also has a visitor centre and a gift shop, as well as camping and rustic cabins.

7. Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve

8. Roanoke City Market

Prime Home Buyers is a real estate brokerage firm based in Roanoke, United States. We are known for offering an easy and quick house-selling experience to our clients.

Our Social Media:

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#sell your house fast

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woodworkingpastor · 6 years ago

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The Surprise of the Spirit Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-18 Fourth Sunday of Easter May 12, 2019

Call to Worship

God has been gracious to us, God has blessed us,

God has made his face to shine upon us.

God reveals his way to all peoples,

God guides all the nations on the earth.

God judges everyone with equity.

God shows his saving power everywhere.

Let all the nations praise you, O God,

Let us, your people, praise you!

Prayer of Invocation

Wonderful God, so indiscriminate is your love, so heedless of color and nationality and class, falling like sun and rain on all your children, the righteous and the unrighteous, the just and the unjust. For your lavish, gracious care we give you thanks and praise.

Come now and sow in our hearts the seed of your word. Come and knead into our spirit the leaven of your Spirit. And may your seed and leaven transform our words and deeds, so that others might come to know your love, and give you praise. Amen.

Hymn, For the beauty of the earth (vs. 1, 4, 5)

The Surprise of the Spirit, Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-18

The Annual Conference of 1907 received four queries asking that a bicentennial committee be appointed to help the church celebrate its 200th anniversary in 1908. The Brethren were quite favorably inclined to this idea, the committee was appointed, and at the Annual Meeting of 1908 in Des Moines, Iowa, Brethren gathered to hear 22 different sermons and speeches covering a wide variety of Brethren life and thought—everything from history and polity, to faith and practice, to engagement with the issues of the day.

Sunday June 7, 1908 was Pentecost. On that day Edward Frantz of Kansas spoke on his assigned topic: The Growth to the Pacific. He began his talk by describing the first Brethren congregation planted west of the Mississippi River:

“It was in the year 1818 that there was organized the first Church of the Brethren west of the Mississippi River. At least the evidence points strongly to this conclusion. What is certainly known, is that, on that day, on Whitewater Creek, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, James Hendricks was ordained to the eldership, by Elder George Wolfe of Union County, Illinois. As this was the first ordination on this side of the river, the presumption is that the first church was organized at this time. How many there were in that little company is not known, but six years later, in 1824, there were fifty members in that county” (Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethren, 87).

Brother Frantz goes on to chronicle the growth of the Brethren west of the Mississippi. It should really come as no surprise that Brethren were migrating to the west in similar patterns to everyone else in the country at that time, settling the American West from the edges in. So while churches were being established in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and the Dakotas, Brethren also got to the west coast reasonably quickly, establishing a congregation in the Willamette Valley of Oregon in 1871 (somewhere near Interstate 5, a bit east of Corvalis, OR, the home of Oregon State University.)

Brother Frantz brings the Brethren a challenge that day. Noting that there were currently 15,000 Brethren living west of the Mississippi, he then turns his thoughts from the past to the future and he wonders about the 300th anniversary of the church in 2008. How many Brethren will be living west of the Mississippi River in 2008? Imagining a 300th Anniversary celebration (which happened in Richmond, VA), Brother Frantz wonders how many of his congregation’s great-grandchildren will be in attendance at that Conference, or will be Brethren, or will even be Christian.

He was challenging the church to make mission a priority, and his vision of mission was understood in both pastoral and congregational terms: the Brethren should call out leaders from existing congregations and equip them to start new congregations in these western counties that were now their home. This is not mission in the sense of social ministry that we often think of today. Make no mistake, Brethren were concerned about these things in 1908 as well, and there were speeches on those topics as well. But Brother Frantz’ concern is with evangelism and church planting, recognizing that no matter how many Brethren there are in a certain region, and no matter how many churches there are in that same region, there will be thousands of persons in the area who are not yet following Jesus.

The growth of the church requires apostles and pastors being sent out.

This missional, pastoral, and congregational focus is the subject of our Scripture text this morning. Acts 13:1-3 gives us a peek into a board meeting in the church at Antioch. It must have been a fascinating community, as the pastoral team consists of “a Levite from Cyprus, a black man, a North African from Cyrene, a boyhood friend of Herod Antipas, and a Pharisee educated under Gamaliel.” These were people from remarkably different social, religious, and ethnic backgrounds who have brought into positions of leadership, perhaps because the church recognized that life experiences shape how we see and hear and interact with the Gospel. The different sets of experiences that people bring to our relationships help us together accomplish the mission God has for us.

At the moment we look in upon them, it would appear that the only item on the agenda was praying and fasting. There is a valuable lesson for us here. We have access to so much stuff—money, opportunities, persons in positions of power, entertainment, you name it—that we might overlook the significant need to make prayer and other spiritual disciples our top priority. Just the past 2 Sundays in our congregation has demonstrated how easy it is for us to take our concerns and get something done: with just a few emails we were able to get Sam Rasoul, Joe Cobb, and Jeanine Underwood to come to our church and help us understand our world a bit better. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to each of them for their time helping us understand how our congregation might help other people. But let’s not forget that our concerns with guns and drugs and healthcare are ultimately spiritual issues.

And so we see the church leaders in Antioch taking time to pray and to fast. Their commitment to Christ and to the position they held in the congregation led them to seek ways to allow God’s Spirit to continue shaping them into leaders equipped to do God’s will. That’s when the Spirit surprises them. God’s vision for their ministry was broader than just this congregation. This is a Great Commission focus that emphasizes the “into all the world” instruction for the church. The Holy Spirit “makes a motion” at this meeting to send Barnabas and Saul out on a special mission. Apparently someone else seconded that motion—always a good idea if God is bringing the recommendation—and the vote passed without opposition!

The growth of the church requires evangelism leading to changed lives.

So Barnabas and Saul set out, preaching in Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, and Iconium, before arriving in the city of Lystra. If we were to read these accounts in Acts 13:4-14:7, we’d find that their work yielded mixed results: some believed, some opposed them, they left one town out of frustration for their having rejected the Gospel, and they were almost stoned.

But they kept on. Called forth and led by the Holy Spirit, they would not turn away from their task too quickly. So they came to Lystra, where they encounter one of the more comical scenes in Scripture. They preach the Gospel and a man is healed—a result solidly in character with Jesus’ experience. And then things start to get weird; the good citizens of Lystra reach back into their own spiritual experience and community history and say “We recognize what this is! It’s Zeus and Hermes!”

It turns out that there was a legend in Lystra that Zeus and Hermes had visited their town once before and had not been welcomed. The people are determined not to make that mistake again, so here comes oxen on a cart with garlands of flowers for everybody!

Paul and Barnabas have a tradition of their own here—they tear their clothes to show they aren’t gods, because no god would do such a thing as tear his or her own clothes. But then they tell the story. They don’t threaten them with hell, telling them to “Repent or perish!” or “Turn or burn!” They tell them the story of God’s love for them: how God has given rain and harvest, allowing them to have full stomachs and joyful hearts. They tell them that idols created by men and women have no lasting value because they were made by men and women. But the living God in heaven who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them loves them and wants them to leave behind worthless things and find true life in Jesus.

It’s a compassionate message, but one that yielded uncertain fruit. Paul and Barnabas are run out of town before they can finish their work. They move on to the city of Derbe before backtracking and heading home to Antioch.

Along the way on this first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas have met a lot of people. Some have been interested in the Gospel, some were ambivalent, some were opposed. But they proclaimed the gospel anyway, inviting people to reevaluate their lives in light of the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God in heaven, inviting us to be his disciple.

They met a lot of people. And because they had the faith to venture out, we might safely imagine that some broken marriages were healed and some persons caught in the depths of addiction found hope and a path to healing. We know that later in Acts, Paul would go to Ephesus and so many people would leave behind their old commitments to the local gods that it would tank the local economy. Paul met a slave girl and set her free. He met the director of public works in the city of Corinth who was a believer, alongside a lot of people who were formerly adulterers and thieves and alcoholics but now whose lives reflected God’s grace. All because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s the kind of thing Edward Frantz had in mind for the Brethren in 1908. In dreaming of a Church of the Brethren that numbered 1.5 million west of the Mississippi by 2008, he finished this message by asking

“[Is this] idle dreaming? I tell you, my brethren, it’s the serious task we ought to lay upon our hearts. Not that we may glory in mere numbers, but because human souls are of such priceless worth. Why, even so, we shall not have used but one-tenth of our opportunity, for there are a thousand, not a hundred, for every one of us, waiting to be gathered in. Nay, more; for this thousand is here on the ground right now, and who would dare to guess the millions in this western empire at the end of another century? Can we do this much? We can, because we must. We can? I mean that God can do even much more than we are able to ask or think, if only he can find good tools to work with. Yes, by his grace, it will be done. With praise to God for what he hath already wrought among us, and with hope and faith in what he will yet do, we’ll forget the things which are behind, and stretch forward to the things which are before.”

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travelonlinetips-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/10-places-you-need-to-see-on-a-road-trip-from-boulder-to-mesa-verde/

10 places you need to see on a road trip from Boulder to Mesa Verde

The amazing Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Photo courtesy of iStock / bboserup

There are three routes to take from Northern Colorado to the far southwestern corner, home of the historic and ancient Mesa Verde National Park. But the most scenic – and quickest – is via U.S. 285 and U.S. 160.

Although you may be tempted to take the interstate to avoid the mountain driving, it’s the worst route to Mesa Verde in terms of traffic jams and a lack of scenery. Just take the winding highways slowly, take time to stop in the small mountain towns along the way, and soon you’ll come out in the valley with some of the state’s most impressive views.

Here are 10 things to see and do from Boulder, Colo., to Mesa Verde.

1. See the “good views” in Buena Vista

U.S. 285

The Buena Vista area in the clouds — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

U.S. 285 will bring you right through Buena Vista, which is known as the whitewater rafting capital of Colorado. It also boasts Buena Vista River Park, one of the largest parks of its kind in the United States.

Even if you don’t like the rapids, there’s a reason why this town is named after the Spanish words for “good view.” It’s surrounded by 14,000-foot mountains and offers stunning, impossibly beautiful scenery.

2. Stop for a bite in Saguache

U.S. 285

It would be easy (and tempting) to blast through the teeny town of Saguache, but stop to smell the cinnamon rolls. Tucked in Saguache is the 4th Street Diner, with its surprisingly delicious bakery. Fill up on massive and delicious breakfast burritos in this cozy restaurant adorned with 1950s posters and oversized booths.

It feels like time-traveling and epitomizes all that is wonderful about a small-town diner. It’s inexpensive, has friendly service and serves generous portions of home-cooked meals.

3. See reindeer in Del Norte

U.S. 160

Reindeer at ElkUSA in Del Norte — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

A hidden gem on the side of the highway in Del Norte is the ElkUSA ranch, a huge elk and deer retailer. You’ll know you’re there when you see the reindeer wandering through the fields. Score all kinds of decorative antlers (or snacks for your dogs) in the back room of horns.

In the main store, you can find every kind of meat and jerky imaginable: elk, rabbit, wild boar, bear, deer, buffalo, bison, goat and even smoked salmon and trout.

4. See a massive waterfall near Wolf Creek Pass

U.S. 160

The 100-foot Treasure Falls — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

The 100-foot Treasure Falls waterfall near Wolf Creek Pass is a natural wonder that locals love and many visitors don’t know about. The waterfall is visible from the highway, and a quick pull-off will bring you to the trailhead. There are several trails to choose from, and the bridge provides a great photo op.

Brave hikers can head to the top lookout, where you can see eye-to-eye with the head of the waterfall. Beware: the air is frigid any time of year and the splashes are so cold they hurt. The railings here are perpetually covered in icicles, which is beautiful, but will get you headed back down quickly.

5. Unwind in Pagosa Springs

U.S. 160

One of the many hot springs in Pagosa Springs — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

Pagosa Springs is one of our favorite hot springs destinations in Colorado, and the Springs Resort here is a destination in and of itself.

Here, you can hop between 23 different mineral springs of varying sizes, temperatures and styles, from riverside to waterfall-bedecked to a private hot springs island on the other side of a bridge. The water here is known for its natural health benefits and comes from the “mother pool,” the deepest geothermal pool in the world, at more than 1,000 feet deep. (Don’t try to swim in there!)

6. Browse downtown Durango

U.S. 160

Views from downtown Durango — Photo courtesy of iStock / KaraGrubis

There’s so much to do in Durango that it warrants its own special trip, but if you only have an afternoon, explore the lengthy and bustling downtown. You can find excellent shops and restaurants here, as well as many breweries.

Grab a brew at Carver Brewing Company and enjoy it in the hidden back patio. Steamworks’ patio is hoppin’ in the evenings, and the food is excellent, too.

7. See forgotten ghost towns

U.S. 160

A must-do in Durango: go on a four-wheeling excursion with Durango Rivertrippers and Adventure Tours. A guide will take you up dirt roads deep into the mountains (where you’d most likely never venture on your own).

Look for bear tracks along the river, spot wildflowers and drive through eerie former mining communities that are now rickety, dusty ghost towns. The remaining structures are a reminder of the area’s history – and how things change.

8. Stay off the grid in a yurt at Mancos State Park

Off U.S. 160 and Hwy 42

A yurt in Mancos in the distance — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

A yurt provides all of the joys of camping, but without the inconveniences. Colorado Parks and Wildlife rents out two yurts in Mancos State Park.

There’s no heat (other than the wood-burning stove) or plumbing here (you use a vault-type toilet), and the electricity is limited. But this will be the best part of your trip; it’s one step above camping, yet still centered around nature and solitude.

9. See Colorado from above

U.S. 160

The view from Wetherill Mesa — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

Once you reach Mesa Verde National Park, take time to steer away from the busiest path and explore the less popular Wetherill Mesa Road. This mini road trip westward brings you 12 miles deep into the park along a winding and steep road, past breathtaking and dramatic overlooks and through an unusual fire trail.

At the top awaits the historic Long House site, a covered picnic area. You’ll have the opportunity to rent bikes to take along the five-mile Long House Loop. See various ancient archaeological sites along the way, while you avoid the busiest crowds.

10. Climb into an ancient kiva

U.S. 160

The Spruce Tree House — Photo courtesy of Aimee Heckel

If you only have time to do one thing at Mesa Verde National Park, visit the ancient Spruce Tree House. Prepare your legs and lungs for the steep hike down (and remember that what goes down must also come back up).

The huffing and puffing is worth it when you see this cliff dwelling designed by Puebloans in the 1200s. Although Spruce Tree is not the largest site in the park, people of all ages enjoy climbing down into the underground kiva, a circular ceremonial chamber accessible via a wooden ladder.

Plus, Spruce Tree House is conveniently located near the museum and cafes. It’s self-guided and free to visit.

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