Visit to Independence
Independence Visitors Center- by Hayden Watt
This week we went to Independence, Missouri and went to see the lds visitor center. 
When we got there we where introduced to sister Hill who was very nice after we introduced are self’s we started the tour of the building we started down stairs at the 1st exhibit which was a copy of an old fashioned house of back then. After the house we went to the next exhibit, which was a copy of the old printer station, which showed how they printed in the old days. After we where done with that we went to a room that had the back story about why the lds members where hear and how they where thrown out and the extermination order to kill the Mormons and all that stuff. After we finished up the tour our tour guyed wonted to take a picture with the gnome in front of the RV then we said are goodbyes and we drove off.
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Recipes from the Road: Our Favorite Summer Pasta Salad
One of the questions we get asked most frequently is if we really do cook in the RV or if we eat out all the time. While we do eat out occasionally, our health and our pocketbook could not afford to do it daily.
Luckily most of my tried and true recipes can be easily made in my limited cooking space, with the most basic cooking tools.
The hardest days to cook are travel days. We can’t pull off to the side of the road, pop out the sides of our trailer and cook up a hot meal. Sandwiches got boring 2 weeks into our travels. I’m on a constant quest to find easy, edible dishes that don’t need to be re-heated, and in some cases, don’t even need silverware.
One of my go-to recipes is something I picked up while living in Italy 20 years ago, Caprese Pasta Salad. The fresh ingredients make a wonderful summer salad that tastes even better when left in the fridge overnight.
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 box penne pasta
- 4-5 Roma tomatoes
- 1 block (8-12 oz.) fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 bunch of fresh basil
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- salt
Directions:
Cook pasta as directed. Strain and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and coat in olive oil.
While pasta is cooking, chop tomatoes and cheese into medium-sized chunks. Add to bowl. Chop basil and add to bowl. Sprinkle salt, vinegar, and olive oil to taste. Refrigerate for at least an hour. If you let it marinate overnight, stir before serving.
Note: You might need to add more olive oil or balsamic vinegar if it sits more than a few hours.
Mangia!
Because of limited fridge space, I tend to put the pasta in a gallon ziploc bag. It’s easier to mix before serving, and it’s easy clean up. Enjoy!
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National Parks Week- Where will you go?
Quick, name 5 national parks in America NOT named the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Yosemite. What’d you come up with? Zion? The Smoky Mountains? Those are all great parks, I’ve been to 4 out of the 5, and loved each one of them. So as the National Park Service kicks off their annual spring celebration today with National Park Week, which includes free entry to all parks from Monday to Friday this week, I’d like to give you my 5 recommendations of parks that might be lesser known, but equally worth a visit.
Image via Shannon Watt
Montezuma Castle National Monument - Sure, Arizona is best known for the Grand Canyon, but it has many other scenic and historical must-see destinations for families. We recently visited the Petrified National Forest, and Montezuma Castle. The Castle is comprised of cliff dwellings built into the side of a mountain over 800 years ago. The intricate 5 story building and ladder system are incredible testaments to the ingenuity of the Sinaguan people. The self-guided, 1/3 mile loop is an easy walk for young kids, and would only take half a day to explore.
Image via Flickr/ beeron2003
Redwood National Park - When you think of California’s national parks, Yosemite usually tops the list. But an equally grand experience can be had walking through the forest of ancient redwoods. Standing in awe at the base of a tree that towers hundreds of feet above you and has been alive for centuries can touch your soul the way only nature can.
Image via Flickr/ fortherock
Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming is the home of two spectacular parks; the infamous Yellowstone National Park, and just to the south, the Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are home to hikers, climbers, and photography enthusiasts from around the world. Close to Jackson Hole’s fine dining, art and entertainment, it’s a wonderful place to spend your next vacation.
Image via Flickr/ MoabAdventurer
Arches National Park - Utah is a mecca of national parks, with Zion being its most famous. Yet, equally impressive is the Arches National Park, with over 2,000 naturally occurring arches, colorful rock formations, and gorgeous vistas. It’s definitely a place to put on your bucket list.
Image via Flickr/ Mathieu Lebreton
Carlsbad Caverns - In a quiet corner of New Mexico sits one of the worlds oldest cave systems, consisting of over 100 underground chambers and some of the most intriguing hikes available. The Big Cave, the biggest cavern, boasts some of the largest and most colorful rock formations. There are self-guided as well as guided tours to choose from. If you’re looking for something different on your next vacation, the caverns definitely fit the bill.
No matter what national park sparks your interest, I just urge you to visit one soon. These national treasures are often overlooked amidst the hype of manmade attractions like Disney World, Las Vegas, and the like; however they can be the most memorable adventures of all. Happy National Park Week!
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Exploring the Grand Canyon without the family
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The Louisiana Bayou
Our visit to the enchanting Hearst Castle
The Louisiana Bayou
One of the main things I wanted to do in New Orleans, besides visiting the French Quarter and tasting the Cajun & Creole cuisine, was to see the backcountry swamps of the Louisiana Bayou. Every time I’ve seen a movie featuring the intriguing swamps that house the large Cypress trees, lush foliage, and diverse wildlife, I’ve wanted to visit. Today I finally got to experience it in person.
Thanks to Cajun Encounters Tours my family was able to take a boat tour of the swamps of the famous Honey Island, and get an up-close look at life in the bayou. Our terrific boat operator, Adam, swiftly guided us down the river in search of alligator sightings. We began the journey knowing the alligators don’t usually come out of brumation (similar to hibernation) until late March, and our visit was a week or so early. We kept our fingers crossed and cameras ready for any glimpse of alligator we might get.
Our first stop along the river was
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JAMAICA- Where the seeds were planted
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National Parks Week- Where will you go?
Bombs, Missiles & everything Nuclear
We happened to be in Albuquerque during a very cold spell that eliminated most of our planned outdoor activities. We were only going to be in town for two days, so we reached out to our network of friends and travelers on Facebook to get some new ideas of things to do in Albuquerque. A friend, and extensive traveler, insisted we couldn’t leave without seeing the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. I’m so glad I listened to him. He was right; this was a very cool way to spend our last day in New Mexico. read the rest
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Why the Arizona Meteor Crater Rocks…
The Barringer crater been touted as “The best preserved meteor crater on earth”, and I hoped my kids would find it a worthwhile stop. Luckily the weather held out and we were able to visit northern Arizona on one of the few weeks it wasn’t snowing in February.
Admission tickets get you access to not only the meteor crater impact site, but to a guided tour along the rim as well. Our guide, Eduardo, was funny, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the crater and surrounding area. He made the tour interesting as well as educational. continue reading
Six keys to not overstaying your welcome
One of the perks of traveling is being able to visit family and friends along the way, but can also be stressful to merge two different family schedules, routines, and lifestyles. As we’ve visited several homes on our voyage across the states, I’d like to offer up some suggestions on how to make a family visit dynamic, and not a disaster.
Recently we crossed through Arizona, and took a detour to visit my brother and his family on the very southeastern edge of Phoenix. After many days of traveling, mostly in the cold, it was great to be in warm weather, and with familiar faces. We really enjoy our visits with my brother David and his wife Amber, and this visit is a great example of the 6 essential ingredients for a wonderful family visit.
Petrified Forest: the unexpected surprises when traveling
No matter how much planning and prep you put into a trip, it can be wiped out in an instant if the weather goes awry. We recently re-learned this lesson during our day trip through the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert in Arizona.
We arrived at the national park the night before, parked outside the gates, and were fortunate enough to catch the glorious sunset from the roof of our RV. We anticipated great weather the next morning for our “walk among the trees turned to stone”, and I was excited for my kids to get a hands-on science lesson. However, Mother Nature had other plans. We awoke to the howling of gale force winds rocking our RV.
The inevitable family meltdowns when traveling and how to avoid them
I had intended to sit down today and share how we celebrated our 100th day of travel yesterday. However, today, we had a huge family blow up and I’m not in the mood for writing about happy times. Plus, it wouldn’t really be authentic if I glossed over the bumpy moments and only spoke of the wonderful experiences that come with full time travel.
When tears have been shed and feelings have been hurt and you live in a small space, the emotions can run really high. There’s not a lot of room for 5 people to find space to “cool down” for a bit. We can’t hide from each other, or go days without seeing each other. Ultimately this means we can’t gloss over our challenges, we must face them, and work on them until we resolve them. Hopefully this will be one of the gifts that come from this adventure. Right now, the grinding down of the rough edges into smooth spots doesn’t feel good, but I have faith we will come out of this stronger than ever.
As I’ve been reflecting, dissecting, and analyzing how these flare ups occur in our otherwise awesome family, I’ve found some clues on how to avoid, or at least minimize these tense moments. And in an effort to spare even one other mother from going through this, I offer my insights in hopes they will help you during your family travels.
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Cadillac Ranch: Graffiti, cows, and new friends
One of the best resources to modern day travel is the ability to search the internet for user reviews of cities, attractions, dining options, or lodgings. It’s usually through other travelers that I find the fun, funky, off-the-beaten-path experiences. While traveling along Route 66 from New Mexico to Texas, we got to enjoy one of these moments, thanks to the recommendations of others.
Driving east down the 40 highway, just before arriving in Amarillo, Texas is Cadillac Ranch. As you drive by you’ll see 10 half-buried vintage Cadillac cars sticking out of the ground in the middle of a cow pasture. They are intended to be a public art sculpture created back in 1974 by three men who were part of an art group called Ant Farm.
Although the Cadillacs sit on private land owned by Stanley Marsh, an avid supporter of the Arts, he invites visitors to come in and view the cars up close. There’s an entrance gate to the cars right off the freeway. Also, it’s encouraged to paint and graffiti the cars when you come, which really excited my kids. I mean really, an opportunity to legally graffiti something, what teenager wouldn’t be thrilled?
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