walter anderson museum

Things to Do in Ocean Springs

After visiting Gulf Shores, Alabama, we continued west toward Texas, albeit slowly.  We made a stop at the Mississippi Visitors Center.  I asked the lady working at the counter, who was a hoot, to name her favorite small towns.  Oceans Springs was the first she mentioned, and she raved about it.  So, after Annie and I took our token state sign picture (dressed for a lobster boil), we made Oceans Springs our next stop.

EXPLORE!
sunset in crystal river

State Sign Challenge: Florida

It’s that time again.  Time for another state sign challenge.  Annie and I reused our Halloween costume of a SCUBA diver and shark.  Only this time we were at least near sea level rather than in the mountains and seems appropriate for the State of Florida.

Florida is known as the shark attack capital of the world and accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the USA each year.  But please don’t let that statistic scare you given, the percentage of people swimming in Florida waters year-round probably far outweighs most other states.  Not to mention, I’m a firm believer that most animals, including sharks, don’t hunt humans for the heck of it like the media portrays.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!
view from scarp ridge trail

Happy Hiking: Scarp Ridge

Today, during my two-week camping stay in Crested Butte, I hiked Scarp Ridge in the ghost town of Irwin. 

Getting to Scarp Ridge Trail

Getting to Scarp Ridge Trail requires driving up a portion of Keebler Pass.  The final mile, after Irwin Lake gets a little rocky and steep, but there are no low hanging trees and it is reasonably wide.  I read many AllTrails reviews that almost scared me away, but VANgo handled it mightily.  I’m glad I went!

Happy Hiking!

A Weekend in Lummi Island

I’d be lying if I said there was a lot to do in Lummi Island.  In fact, its allure is its quiet charm!  As a result, each time I mentioned to the locals I was visiting friends in Lummi Island, they all replied, “Oh Lummi is great!”

The island features two restaurants, a country store, a couple public beaches, a few preserves, some Air BnB rentals, and a couple of Inns.

EXPLORE MORE!
idaho state sign challenge

State Sign Challenge: Idaho

State Sign of Idaho

After spending two weeks in Arizona, I never found the state sign.  I think the only one might be at the four corners.  Upon entering Idaho, however, I stumbled across it’s state sign after passing through Jackpot, Nevada.  Annie and I dressed up as ketchup and French fries, because of the Idaho potato, the state vegetable.  I probably should have worn my red parka to make my costume better.

VISIT IDAHO!

Things to Do in Idaho City

Idaho City, located in the Boise Basin off Highway 21 just 40 miles from Boise, is a historic mining town.  Gold was discovered nearby at Grimes Creek in 1862.  By 1863, Congress established the Idaho Territory, and Idaho City was the county seat of Boise County. 

Over the next two years, the population in Idaho City soared.  With more than 6,000 people, it became the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, larger than Portland.  The gold strike ultimately produced 3,000,000 ounces which is worth almost a billion dollars at current gold prices.

The mining town suffered several fires and of course the demise of the gold rush.  Now, however, it caters to tourists over the summer.  As a result, there are plenty of things to do in Idaho City for a day or weekend.

EXPLORE!

Wendover and the Bonneville Salt Flats

I’d never heard of the City of Wendover, until I decided to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats, just 9 miles to the East.  I expected some tiny place, but instead, I found a Utah city with a population of 1,000+ that focuses on mineral extraction and aviation.

Across the border, in West Wendover, Nevada, with 4x the population, were hotels, casinos, restaurants and a few gas stations.  I wouldn’t have even known they were two separate towns except when I briefly crossed the border for gas, my gps greeted me with, “Welcome to Nevada.”

EXPLORE!