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
Few prisons have attracted as much attention as Alcatraz. “The Rock” has been a touchstone of our culture since its establishment, and that establishment was further back than any of us realized. We stayed outside of San Francisco, in Tradewinds RV park, specifically to visit this location. During our tour of Alcatraz Island National Park, we were surprised and impressed by the deep history. The History of Alcatraz Island For
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
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
While we had to flee Utah to escape the summer heat, that didn’t necessarily mean our National Park quest was at an end. While we were camped out at Stillwater Pass, we were just minutes from “The Land of Extremes”: Rocky Mountain National Park. Things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park In addition to hiking and camping opportunities, Rocky Mountain National Park has several unique attractions for the historians