Destination Made Known

Travel, Food & Photography
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Craters of the Moon – A Volcanic Wonderland

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Ok, not craters of the moon but a National Monument and Preserve in Idaho where there are hundreds of square miles of lava fields more than 2000 years old.

An old leaning tree on the left atop a hill with gold and green grasses and blue mountains and sky in the backgroundSpontaneous Travel:

My husband and I traveled to Idaho Falls, Idaho recently and spontaneously decided to check out this wildly intriguing landmark full of “craters” just 90 miles west. Since I love photography, and this park was recently designated an International Dark Sky Park, I wanted to attempt a picture of the Milky Way, despite it being a bit cloudy and having a lot of smoke in the air from wildfires. We bought an air mattress so we could camp in the back of our van rather than finding a hotel 20 miles away in the town of Arco. Conveniently, right inside the entrance to the preserve there was a 42 site campground with 3 restroom buildings. They were complete with sinks and flushing toilets. And all for only $15 per night. Yay! With that and the $20 entrance fee to the park we were all in for $35.

The Golden Hour:

We arrived at Craters of the Moon just before sunset. So, after getting settled in to our spot we took off walking to find some nice shots of the landscape during the “golden hour”. I am still amazed at how stark, yet full of life, it is. There’s a variety of grasses, flowers, trees and shrubs scattered throughout the volcanic landscape making for a very surreal scene. Later that evening as the sky got darker, and the clouds miraculously cleared, we headed back out to attempt that shot of the Milky Way. We managed to get a couple but there was still a lot of smoke in the air and it wasn’t as good as we had hoped for. Better luck next time I guess.

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Craters of the Moon:

The next morning we took a drive through the park and stopped at all the different lookout and scenic trail spots. It’s not a large preserve and we were able to see most everything in less than one day. We really enjoyed Devil’s Orchard; a beautiful, half mile, wheelchair accessible, paved loop perfect for anyone who is unable to hike. We then climbed the .5 miles up Inferno Cone to see the spectacular panoramic views. This hike is only a little steep, with a vertical incline of 164 feet, and totally worth it! However, I’m a little sad we didn’t have time to make it to the caves this trip (which you need a special, but free, permit to explore by the way). I understand they’re pretty cool.

Two Pomeranian dogs in the Craters of the Moon campground with trees and shrubs in the backgroundTraveling with pets:

Since this was a spur of the moment trip we weren’t prepared for a lot of hiking let alone spelunking. The other problem was that we had our dogs with us. Although they are allowed in the campground area they are not allowed on the trails. And we didn’t want to leave them locked in the van with the engine running and the air conditioning on for more than a few minutes at a time. Remember to keep your furry friends in mind when planning your trip. They’re a joy to have along but a burden when trying to sightsee places that are not pet friendly.

We’ve been to a few National Parks and Monuments but so far Craters of the Moon has the most unexpected sights; it’s so very different and beautifully kept. I hope you get a chance to see it soon.

Onward…


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Bryce Canyon, Utah – A home for Hoodoo’s

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We recently took our second trip to Bryce Canyon for another look at this amazing landscape full of Hoodoos. Those are the pillar shaped rocks jutting up out of the ground, in case you were wondering. We had first visited in 2017 because our best friends who own Boston Brick and Stone, a masonry company out of Pasadena, California, were there doing what they do best; historic chimney restoration on the cabins at Bryce Canyon Lodge. What a perfect setting to spend a bit of free time with friends!

Bryce Canyon Hiking:

While in Bryce for three days we had the opportunity to hike a couple of trails through the canyon. We did Peek a Boo Loop and Queens Garden Trail. Although a bit steep, they were fairly easy to maneuver and completely wore us out by the end. The trails have varying lengths and additional trails to take off on. Be sure to bring a park map along so you can pick where and how much you want to do. While the distances aren’t very long, the hiking time will vary depending on your mobility. And how much you time you spend taking photos (like me). If you’re there in the summer the heat can take it’s toll on you as well. Check out my other tips below in the “What to pack” section.

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Trail Rides: People on a trail ride through Bryce Canyon, Utah

Something else you can do here is take a trail ride. We didn’t do it ourselves but were passed going into the canyon by several who did. I think this is a great option for people who can’t or don’t want to hike. This might also be a more fun way to get around for families with kids who would otherwise be bored by just “walking” in the hot sun. Personally, I prefer the slow route so I can stop and take in the scenery. Not to mention, I find it hard to take photos while being jostled around on the back of a horse!

 

A perspective photo of the bike path going through the brush towards the red rocks going from Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon in UtahCycling:

On the day between hikes we took a leisurely one way bike ride on the approximately 10 miles of paved bike path from Bryce Canyon Lodge to the visitors center at Red Canyon. Here, we had another friend pick us up in our van and bring us back to the resort. Just a little cheating to save time for other activities! The path runs through some forested areas and along the highway leading in and out of the park as well as through areas of brush. If you don’t have a bike with you there are several places in Bryce where you can rent them. It’s just another great way to see the sights that can’t be seen from the road driving by in your car.

Red Canyon:

Speaking of Red Canyon, we took the opportunity to hike there on our return trip this year and were more than impressed by it’s beauty. The trails are shorter than Bryce Canyon and much easier to maneuver, meaning less steep, and the scenery is very serene, relaxing, and picture perfect. You won’t believe this landscape. It looks and feels like you’re walking through a painting. The variation in color between the red and tan rocks and the green of the trees against the blue sky is amazing! A definite must-see.

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ATV tours:

Another fun thing we did differently this year was to rent a four seat ATV from Bryce ATV Rentals and explored the dusty trails of Coyote Hollow Loop and part of Badger Creek Loop in Dixie National Forest. The trip took us four hours with photo stops and a stop for lunch. Along the way you can stop to see some ancient Bristlecone Pines and Tropic Reservoir. As far as other sights go it’s possible to see antelope, deer, elk, and other wildlife. And if you’re not familiar with ATV’s then you’ll want to be prepared to get dirty. We left with a small cooler full of water and snacks and returned with dust in every nook & cranny you could think of. So much so that when we returned to the rental place we were greeted with a leaf blower!

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A bluish green photo of the Milky Way from the rim of Bryce Canyon, UtahNight photography:

At night it gets so dark in the park that when the skies are clear you can’t make out the constellations because so many stars are visible. It’s perfect for getting shots of the Milky Way! Everywhere I go I look for opportunities to do night, and or long exposure, photos because it brings an entirely different point of view to a scene. On this night I managed to get a pretty good shot with some distant ambient light from nearby towns. I could have stayed out for hours but it was getting chilly and we had a long drive back to Denver the next morning. ~sad face~

What to pack:

If you’re planning on hiking, comfy lightweight clothes and hiking boots or other sturdy shoes are best. I’ve seen people trodding down in flip-flops and wondered how far they might make it. Hiking poles may be helpful when climbing the hills as well. The terrain is up and down and can be pretty steep, especially when going into and coming out of the canyon. As always, be sure to take plenty of water and wear sunscreen. You may even want to stash some snacks in your backpack if you plan to be out for a while. And don’t forget your camera! There are a lot of beautiful shots to be had out there.

Where to stay and eat in Bryce Canyon:

Bryce Canyon Lodge offers a number of choices if you want to be right there within walking distance of the rim of the canyon.There are several hotels and motels outside the park that are closer to restaurants and shops, and if you prefer there are also several campgrounds nearby.

Enjoy!


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Europe – Helpful tips for first-time travelers

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Planning your first trip to Europe? Here are few quick tips I wish I had had before going.

Euros: Currency ExchangeA black and white photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

A lot of places in Europe accept credit cards; make sure you get one that doesn’t charge a fee for using it out of the country. And be sure to let them know when you’ll be traveling. I used a Capital One Venture card which also let me earn points toward travel.

We discovered that the best way to exchange dollars to euros was to go to an ATM when you arrive; you will get whatever the current exchange rate is, no hassle. Currency exchanges charge a higher rate and they will tack on a service charge.

Power: Dual voltage vs. single voltage AND adapter vs. converter.

We learned by chance that most of our phone and camera chargers are dual voltage; we had no idea. i.e. Nikon battery charger and laptop charger. If yours is dual voltage it will say ‘Input: 110-240v’ which means all you need is the european adapter. You can now plug directly into the wall. If you have a charger that is 110v ONLY, then you will also need the converter (converts 240v to 110v). A lot of places sell a set that contains both the power converter and the european plug adapter. (see links below)

Charging on the go:

Another thing that came in handy while we were traveling was a portable USB charger. (see links below) When you’re out sightseeing all day you don’t have time to stop and charge your phone which you’ve been using to navigate the city and take tons of photos. You can charge the charger while you are in for the night and use it to keep all your USB devices charged while you’re out. We were a group of six and it seems that at least one of us always needed some extra juice to get us through the day.

International Calling Plans:

There are several ways you can stay connected while traveling. We opted to get a plan with our carrier, AT&T, that let us pay $10 for each day we needed to call, text or email. At the time it was the most economical choice for us. I’m not very tech savvy and therefore I found this ABC News link that has more helpful information.

Travel: Different ways to get around Europe.

You’ve probably seen the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Well, that’s what it was for us. We flew from Denver, Colorado to Paris, France and then took a Lyft/Uber to our Air B&B. After a couple days in Paris we took the high speed train to Marseille where our friends picked us up in a rental van and we continued on to Nice and boarded the ferry to Corsica. After a week driving around the island, literally, we took the ferry to Livorno, Italy and drove to Florence; three days later it was another train ride to Venice for a few days and a water taxi to the Venice airport to get us back to Paris for our trip home. Whew! The point I’m trying to make is that all the forms of travel were super easy to maneuver and now that we’ve done it all once it will be really easy to confront the next time we go.

As is with most things it’s best to book early on any mode of transportation you choose.

Dining: Go with the flow.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Venice, Italy – Getting lost in adventure!, we stayed in a lot of Air B&B’s where we were able to shop and prepare some of our meals. Of course we also wanted to experience the local cuisine which was generally pretty good. I think the consensus was that the favorite meal during our trip was the hamburgers at Cocorico in Paris.

Breakfast:

While charcuterie is great on occasion, you will find it dominates a lot of menus and is even served as breakfast; you will be hard pressed to find anything more than a soft or hard boiled egg. I witnessed more than once, friends coming back from a trip to Europe and commenting how all they wanted right now was an American breakfast! Even after an internet search all I came up with is a link to Spoon University where someone else made it their quest to find one. You can always ask your server. My guess is that maybe you can find something more “American” in the upper end hotels. Feel free to send me information and I’ll update it here. Good luck!

Coffee:

The other thing you will have a hard time finding is a regular cup of coffee. I’m not a big coffee drinker so it wan’t a big deal for me even though I do like a latte now and then. My recommendation is to either pack yourself a french press or take some instant coffee packets. For more on the coffee situation abroad check out this article from AFAR. 

Wine:

Bottles of wine in both France and in Italy are very reasonably priced. We ordered a bottle with dinner in Florence and paid about 32 euro (approx $36 at the time) for a bottle that would have cost us closer to $80 here in the U.S. If you’re curious about the cost of wines in Europe , or anywhere, there’s a great app called Vivino where you can scan the bottle with your phone and learn all about how it rates, how much it goes for and read A beautiful display of fruit and gelato in a shop in Florence, Italyreviews by others.

Favorites:

Last but not least, you of course can’t go without trying all the staples; crepes, chocolate croissants, gelato, pizza by the slice, and the paninis. Don’t plan to diet while on your trip because everywhere you go the food is displayed in windows like glimmering packages just begging to be opened! Bon Appetite!

 


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Denver Chalk Art Festival – Art on Larimer Square

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One of the things I love about Denver is that there is never a lack of things to do and see. This weekend I went to the Denver Chalk Art Festival to check out what this year’s talented artists had in store for us. I love seeing their artwork choices, the bright colors, and the painstaking details they can get with a chunk of chalk on a small square of hot pavement. Trying to see all the art is an exercise in patience because there are always a LOT of other admirers trying to sneak a peek and take photos too. As usual I seem to have missed a few but I did manage to get most of the winners. You can see who they are on the DCAF Facebook page

Denver Chalk Art Festival Photos:

Below are the photos I did manage to get along with some additional information I borrowed from the Denver Chalk Art Festival website. Enjoy!

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The Denver Chalk Art Festival on Larimer Square is a FREE two-day street-painting festival. More than 200 artists spend hours that weekend turning the streets of Larimer Square into a museum of chalk art.

HISTORY OF CHALK ART

Denver Chalk Art Festival follows street painting traditions that originated in 16th century Renaissance Italy when artists began transforming asphalt into canvas using chalk. The artists were called “madonnari,” after their customary practice of recreating chalk paintings of the Madonna. Historically, madonnari were known for their life of travel and freedom, making their living from coins received from passers-by.

With World War II came many hardships, greatly reducing the number of these artists. The art form was not officially brought back to life until 1972 when the small town of Grazie di Curtatone in Italy started the first International Street Painting Competition. Today, artists worldwide are taking to the streets, bringing with them new ideas, techniques and excitement for this ancient form of expression. Handmade French pastels have replaced the simple chalks previously used and the paintings have become complicated images of traditional master-style works, modern pieces and surreal chalk art creations.

Street Painting
The creation of a chalk painting takes many hours and is often not as simple as it seems. First, the artists must draw an outline of the original painting in proper proportion using pencil or a charcoal pastel. Then they begin to lay the base of colors. Using a number of colored pastels, the artist layers the chalk, blending the colors to create shadow, contrast and depth. So one might ask, ‘why street paint when the artists’ efforts disappear immediately?’ As avid street painters will tell you, this is performance art, where the process of creating the work is more important than the finished piece. For many, the dialogue with spectators can be as rewarding as creating their masterpieces. People can view the work in all stages of progress, from layout and design, to color application, and of course the finished creation.

 

ABOUT LARIMER SQUARE

As the Mile High City’s oldest and most historic block, the buildings along Larimer Square tell vividly the story of the birth and early years of Denver. Today Larimer Square boasts a distinctive selection of local merchants, award-winning chef driven restaurants, and a collection of Denver’s best bars and clubs.

Source: About Festival

Want to try chalk art? Here are few tools for getting started.


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Venice, Italy – Getting lost in adventure!

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On our first trip to Venice, Italy, we had no idea what we were in for. We had taken the train from Florence and after arriving were surprised by how many bridges, with stairs, there were to be crossed. 391 to be exact. Luckily we only had to manage four of them, with all our luggage, before arriving at our Air B&B. Thankfully, most of them are small with maybe half a dozen steps up and down each side. But still, when you’ve got a lot of luggage it’s a real pain in the… everything! I recommend packing light for this trip if you have to walk to your accommodations.

Navigation: Getting lost in Venice!

As with most travelers, we spent three days winding through the maze of streets taking time to gawk at the shops filled with clothing, glassware, trinkets and food. Eventually, we noticed that we weren’t the only people trying get our GPS systems to work. At one point we were thinking it would be easier to navigate with a good old-fashioned map and compass! The buildings are tall and the passages narrow so it’s hard to get your bearings by looking for landmarks. Be prepared because getting lost is part of the adventure!

Venice is rather small and you can cover a lot of ground in a day. We managed to see most of the prominent sights during our short stay, crossing the Grand Canal via the Rialto Bridge several times in our quest to see as many of these sights as possible. We made our way to Piazza San Marco and stopped for a bit to enjoy the views of the Basilica and St. Mark’s Campanile, do some people watching, and have a drink at one of the restaurants. The “Spritz” is a popular cocktail made with Aperol, sparkling wine (Prosecco), and a splash of club soda. We ladies thought is was refreshing however, the guys opted for beer.

What to wear:

Be aware that you must be dressed appropriately to visit religious sights. Tank tops and short shorts, etc. will not be permitted. Check out this link for more Do’s and Don’ts.

On one of the days we took a 45-minute private boat tour through the Grand Canal to catch the sunset and get a better look at some of the sights such as the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. One of the friends we were traveling with is a prominent photographer from Paris so we were constantly chasing the sun (and him) looking for that perfect shot. You can check out some of his work here.

Dining:

Since there were seven of us and we were staying in an Air B&B, we opted to shop for food and cook most of our meals. We did however have some delicious pizza and croissants from the Majer bakery on the corner near us. The other treat we enjoyed was the gelato! Pistachio is a popular flavor but my favorite was the cherry.

On our final night the rain caught us outside coming back from Piazza San Marco. It encouraged us to take cover for a few minutes before continuing on, despite having our umbrellas and raincoats. Getting caught in that downpour made my husband and I have second thoughts about dragging our suitcases 30 minutes to the “water bus” the next morning to catch a 30 minute boat ride to the airport. Instead we opted to spend the extra money and arrange for a water taxi. They would pick us up at the nearest canal to where we were staying and take us directly to the airport. Let me tell you, that was the best 120 euro ($145) we spent. Because as soon as it was time to leave, the rain came in buckets once again!

By the way ladies, if you want a comfortable shoe that is also kinda sexy, try out these Dansko sandals. I walked all over Venice in them and they were awesome.

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Blogging: My first official post…

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The concept of blogging:

Blogging isn’t a totally new concept for me. Before blogging became a “thing” I would write stories for my band newsletter which was the only way to let our fans know what was going on. That was a labor intensive endeavor. We would draft the newsletter on our computer and then have to print it. At first we used an at-home printer. Let me tell you, It takes a lot of paper and ink to print 500 newsletters. On top of that, we would print ‘to’ and ‘from’ labels to stick on the 500 envelopes we were stuffing with these newsletters. But I think you get the point. Communicating with the masses has definitely morphed over the years.

Why do it?

A three year old girl holding and looking at a string of small fish in 1967I’m lucky to have done a bit of traveling over the past 30 plus years. But I’ve never really had an outlet where I could share all my experiences. I have a ton of photos stuck in albums that are lurking in the dark realms of my office closet just waiting for someone to open them up and take a look. (I foresee a lot of scanning in my near future!) Given, many of them are family photos that I didn’t take personally. But they still tell a story just the same which brings me back to why I’m starting this blog. I want to share my viewpoint of the world with others. I want to help inspire you to get out there and conquer it for yourself and have fun along the way!

Check out my experiences in Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon, Paris, Corsica, Venice, & Florence.