While trundling up the 101, we had the opportunity to stay at more than one unique boondocking spot. We’re no strangers to casino stays. A little less common is when boutique businesses open up their lots to travelers. Blue Heron Cheese Company is one such business. It’s an adorable delicatessen and cheese shop with a huge parking lot welcoming travelers. What to Expect at Blue Heron French Cheese Company When
While rolling up the west coast, we had the opportunity to visit one of the best aquarium experiences we’ve seen: the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. Oregon Coast Aquarium: Conservation First The first thing we noticed was the aquarium’s dedication to conservation. The grounds had commissioned sculptures of sea creatures throughout. These sculptures were made from flotsam, mostly beach trash, and were a very non-invasive way of showing humankind’s
We’ve seen some interesting sites in our journeys, from more national parks than you can safely count on 2 hands, to little hole-in-the-wall museums. Yuma Territorial Historic Prison is on the list as one of the more memorable. We visited the Yuma Territorial Historic Prison as a field trip during the Fulltime Families West Coast Family Reunion. What is The Yuma Territorial Historic Prison? The most basic definition of the
We’re always looking for a good STEM museum and have been to more than a couple across the nation. While staying in a favorite boondocking spot outside of Phoenix, Arizona, and thanks to our student EAA membership, we had the opportunity to visit the Arizona Science Center. What to do and Learn at the Arizona Science Center The Arizona Science Center is a sprawling 3-level campus with exhibits ranging from
Part of the Fulltime Families Balloon Fiesta Experience was a “field trip day” to the Balloon Museum. It is adjacent to the Balloon Fiesta field and quite expansive on the history of ballooning! We’ve been to many air and space museums across the nation. If they have anything on ballooning, it’s a footnote. Often, they only mention the French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne’s demonstrations in 1783 early in the “history
Sometimes we choose a spot to give us access to national parks, but other times it’s to give us access to an area to explore! Cibola National Forest stretches over a vast area of land from Magdalena, NM to Gallup, NM. We stayed in a spot just outside of Gallup. Staying in Cibola National Forest We really enjoyed (most) of our stay in the forest. The first spot we stayed
The southwest of the United States may seem like a desert today, hosting only small dispersed cities and towns without much going on. This hasn’t always been the truth. This area was home to a diverse and booming population of people for over 10,000 years. No place showcases this better than Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. While many national parks and monuments can be defined by a singular access
We love little museums; whether they are a mishmash of local history or the hyper-focused outreach of a local utility. They all have something to offer. To date, the most unique and complete little museum we’ve visited is the Museum of the Mountain West in Montrose, Colorado. The Museum of the Mountain West is the collected life’s work of a single person! The owner and curator has collected everything from
As we started to leave the mountains of Colorado, we plotted a route that not only got us closer to some events we had planned but also put us in range of more national parks. The BLM lands outside of Montrose, Colorado not only put us in range of Mesa Verde National Park but also unlocked some other great experiences in and around the city. Actual BLM Camping Around Montrose
While spending our summer in the mountains outside of Denver, Colorado, we decided to spend a day and explore some of the attractions that Denver had to offer. One of the gems of that exploration was Wings Over the Rockies. It’s no secret that we love Air and Space Museums and Wings Over the Rockies is one of the best! Wings Over the Rockies: A Mix of History and Pop