Day 21 Nashville and Franklin

Busy day went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, it was excellent. From there we went to Franklin looked around downtown Franklin for a couple of hours, then headed to the Carnton Plantation. What a way to end our time in Tennessee it was a wonderful tour! Franklin is the home of one of the shortest, but one of the bloodiest battles in the civil war. The plantation is home of the largest privately owned confederate cemeteries.

Wall of Gold records
Car at Country Music Hall of Fame
Franklin downtown statue of the unknown soldier
Carton plantation front of house
Carnton Plantation back porch
Confederate Cemetery
69 from Texas were killed at Franklin

Day 20 Nashville Crazy

Started the day at Belle Meade it became the nation’s leading thoroughbred farm about 200 years ago.

Came back into downtown Nashville and ate at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red bar and restaurant. After lunch we got in a hop on and off bus that took us to see all the highlights of Nashville.

We ended the day on the rooftop of Nudies (not what you think) people watching. This is called Nashvegas – premier destination of bachelorette parties- best free entertainment!!

Belle Meade
Parthenon in Nashville Centennial Park
Rooftop overlooking Broadway
Rooftop overlooking Broadway
Rooftop of Nudies

Day 15 Indiana

Day started going to Saint Joseph to see the lighthouse, it was a beautiful day at the beach and the waves were crashing into the shore. All day I had to remind myself that these are lakes.

We then went to the Indiana Dunes National Park, it was amazing. We did the 3 dune challenge (climbed Mt. Jackson, Mt. Holden, and Mt. Tom.). And believe me it was a challenge! When you got to the top of the dunes you could see Lake Michigan.

When we got through with that we went 9 miles down the road to West Beach and did the Diane of the Dunes Dare. When you got to the top you could see the skyline of Chicago. We emptied out the sand in our shoes in the parking lot and left another dune.

The Bomber at Val’s

Ended the day going to Chesterton, a small town by the dunes and ate at a little place called Val’s Pizza and Grinders, best food ever! Had a bomber and if ever in the area stop in and eat.

Day 13

Not much going on today, we have left beautiful Mackinaw Island. We are heading down Michigan. It was a travel day and we are in Traverse City. Got here pretty early, but just relaxing in another pretty city.

Leaving Mackinaw
Leaving Mackinaw
Town on the way to Traverse City

Day 5

Another beautiful day on the peninsula of Door County. We spent the morning going through shops and galleries and the afternoon at Peninsula State Park, where we had a nice 4 mile hike and saw the Eagle Bluff lighthouse. Went back to Sturgeon Bay where we found 2 more lighthouses.

When we were out shopping in Sister Bay we noticed on top of the roof of a Swedish restaurant they have goats ( the roofs are grass) go figure.

Day 4

We started the day on Washington Island it was a gorgeous ferry ride over to the island. We were going to moped around the island, but I flunked out of moped school so we ended up taking an ATV, saw all the sights on the island. Ended the day with a trip to Newport State Park that is a designated dark area for star gazing.

Day 3 Egg Harbor Wi.

A trip down memory lane, we came when we were about 10 and 12 to Egg Harbor to visit cousin John and Jim one of only two vacations we took as children. It has been a fun day, and a beautiful day ( for those that live in Texas the high was 80) Wisconsin Door County is as pretty as I remember.

Sister bay and our cousins house we stayed in all those many years ago.

DAY WHO THE HELL CARES

We are headed home. Made it out of Colorado and now in New Mexico. Went to Mesa Verde National Park today(cliff dwellings) and I believe National Park 13, but really have not done an official count., it could be – or + one.

We will be in TEXAS tomorrow and at the end of our trip. It was a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget. Met some wonderful people on the trails and during our travels. Most people are friendly and willing to help give information, directions, advise, help with pictures etc.

Happy trails to you until we meet again!

Day 34

We started back to Texas , via the north rim of the Grand Canyon (took a little detour) . LOL

But we made it to the four corners and we were to late, they had closed the gates . We were so looking forward to putting arms and legs in each corner (kind of like the twister game), but it will have to saved for another trip.

We are going to try to do a little bit of Mesa Verde in the morning before heading further home.

Day 33

We started out our day with an ATV ride on the outskirts of Bryce National Park, It was great fun went through lots of rough roads and mud puddles. Then we headed out to the last of the mighty five Zion National Park.

It was by far our least favorite, I don’t know if we were just tired, but the crowds were crazy and the temperature was 100.

Day 32

Bryce National Park is breathtaking!!! Loved all the hoodoos, and legends associated with them. We had some great hikes that tested Karen’s fear of heights to the limit of her SANITY!!! Again pictures could never do it justice.

We ended the day by going back to the park to star gaze the sky was beautiful and so alive with lights.

Day 30

Canyonland National Park was really something to see. So glad we got the chance to see it – very different from Arches but still spectacular. Had a great day, we laughed so hard at each other because we decided our pictures of each other were boring, so we started posing for our pictures. Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed doing them. LOL

    Day 29

    We are in Moab Utah, we spent the entire day at Arches National Park. It was an extraordinary day!!!! There is no way to describe it and no pictures can do it justice. We hiked and saw as much as we could, even though the weather did not cooperate. At the end of the day saying we looked liked drowned rats would be a compliment!!!

    But is was still a GREAT DAY!!!

    Day 27

    We did finally leave Idaho, but not before we explored most of Twin Falls. What a great day started our day at Shoshone Falls ( it is breathtaking, no picture could do it justice.). It’s called the Niagara Falls of the west. Hiked up the Centennial trail or the canyon rim trail. Got as far as where Evil Knievel tried to jump the snake River in 1974, ( I remember!) he did not make it. I made it half way up the hill that was created for the jump, look for picture.

    We then went to the bridge where base jumpers, jump off the middle of the bridge using a canopy base parachute, we got to watch 3 of them jump, CRAZY PEOPLE!!!

    Day 26

    We are almost finished with Idaho!!! Today we went to the Craters of the Moon, it is fantastic and so weird and eery all at the same time. It looks like a bunch of dump trucks dumped a ton of black dirt in one place. Until you try to walk on it and then you realize it’s not DIRT!! But it’s really cool!!! Went through a lava tube tunnel as well as checked out some rock formations.

    Day 25

    This was a travel day, we went from Donnelly to Stanley, it was a breathtaking drive we either followed the Payette or the Salmon River most of the way to Stanley. In Stanley we had a great view of the Sawtooth mountains. Went around Red Fish Lake which was beautiful. Ate lunch and looked around the town of Ketchum and ended our day in Sun Valley. Yes

    Day 24

    GREAT DAY!!!! We took a River jet boat down Hells Canyon on the Snake River. We had Oregon on one side of the river and Idaho on the other. It was breathtaking the mountains the whitewater and the wildlife was outstanding. I highly recommend any one doing this trip it was 36 miles one way so it is an all day excursion, but so worth it.

    Day 23

    Started out in Lewiston and went to Hell’s Canyon State Park, and did a hike along the Snake River. We did not go and see as much as we wanted, because we started getting attacked by spiders (never seen so many spiders in one location in my life). They were everywhere and after what felt like the 1st hundred we turned back. Everyone knows that feeling like they have something crawling on them and we had that feeling for the rest of the day.

    After the canyon we headed for McCall Idaho- beautiful drive and a really cute little town.

    Day 22

    We spent the morning in historic downtown Sandpoint, before heading to Courd’ Alene. We spent a couple of hours hiking around the lake on the Tubbs hill trail. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be outside, saw some outstanding scenery around the lake.

    We headed to Lewiston by way of the White Pine Scenic highway. I don’t think it was worth the extra time it took, but it was pretty just the same.

    Day 21

    On the road again! Headed for Idaho and we saw some beautiful country in between Whitefish Montana and Sandpoint Idaho.

    We stopped in Wallace(an old mining town). Fun to look around, but not a lot to do. Then headed for Coeur d’Alene had a late lunch and drove around the lake. Then headed for Sandpoint and we kind of Forest Gumped (that’s what I call it) our way to this little Inn called Talus Rock, only been here for a couple of hours, and I highly recommend it. Owners are really lovely people and the surroundings are beautiful. The only pictures I took today are of the Inn and their grounds.

    Day16, 17, 18, 19, and 20

    We have spent our time in Whitefish Montana, Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, Big Fork, and Kalispell. We have had a wonderful time and have seen some absolutely beautiful scenery that no picture can do justice to.

    Have shopped galleries, hiked, and eaten as much huckleberry ice cream we could possibly eat. What could be better.

    We leave tomorrow with sorrow in our hearts, but the adventure continues.

    Day 14 and 15

    On day 14 we left Yellowstone through the North Entrance. We stopped to see the terraces in Mammoth before leaving. The weather had turned cold and rainy and we were unable to spend as much time there as we would have liked. Then headed for Helena where we spent the night.

    Day 15 was a travel day from Helena to Whitefish we made one stop on the way to see the Bison range unfortunately they did not know we were coming and were hiding so did not see much. But all of our days have been good. Got to Whitefish and I think we are going to love it!

    Day 13

    BACK TO YELLOWSTONE FOR THE DAY!

    We are so tired and hungry, but really had a wonderful day. Saw Gibbons Falls, artist paint pots, brink of lower and upper falls (Grand Canyon of Yellowstone) did both north and south rim and ended our day at the Norris geysers. Walked about 8 miles and finally eating at a bistro in Madison before heading back for the night. It has been a really long, but delightful day.

    This was our last day before heading to Helena Montana.

    Day 12

    We have discovered huckleberries!!!Just fabulous- we have huckleberry ice cream,bbqsauce, huckleberry vodka, huckleberry sauce, huckleberry syrup and honey and tea and coffee- just no end to huckleberries.

    Drove to Jackson Hole Wy to shop and look around and then went to Teton National Park. Took a boat ride across Jenny Lake and hiked back- 2-1/2 miles around the lake- no bears only chipmunks.

    Later on day 11

    Went through the West entrance of Yellowstone by Madison Montana, first thing we saw was a herd of Buffalo and then so many fascinating geysers and steaming thermal pools.

    And one lone Buffalo next to a thermal steam pot he was very much relaxing and enjoying the steam until he decided to move and when he got up my sister moved faster then I have seen her move in a long time.

    Day 9

    We left beautiful South Dakota, where we both enjoyed every minute of our time there. What a beautiful state, even with Sturgis going on it was a great trip.

    We are in Cody Wyoming tonight on our way to Yellowstone. Can’t wait for our next adventure to start! On our way to Cody stopped at a lookout that was very pretty

    Day 8

    We called it our free day, did not have any planned activities, so we left and went around the 2 lakes that were by our Inn where we were staying. We ended up hiking around Sheraton Lake it was beautiful. From there we went back to Keystone had a really good late lunch and went to a glass blowing shop and looked around.