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Savannah Here We Come!

Our journey began on October 27th, 2018 when we got to our first destination traveling in a motor home with SIX Chihuahuas!

The first trip for us on our Bucket List Travels began by leaving sunny hot southwest Florida heading north on Interstate 75 to a final destination of Savannah Georgia. Did I mention we travel with six furbabies? Thank goodness they are all Chihuahuas in a small 32 foot motor home.

Georgia history tidbit: did you know the 13th colony was named after England’s King George II. The history of Savannah begins around an event in 1733, when General James Oglethorpe, along with 120 passengers traveling on the “Anne”, landed on the river bank.

Savannah is a city beautifully decorated by a sense of sweet southern charm with a darker history of slavery and devastation. What makes this growing city a key place to visit is a combination of architecture, ironwork, fountains, green squares, cobble stone streets, antebellum mansions, and large Spanish moss draped oaks hundreds of years old lining and decorating the city.

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Old Town Mesilla New Mexico

Doña Ana County is home to the town of Mesilla. Founded in 1848, the town briefly served as capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona during the American Civil War.

In the 1860s, Mesilla, with approximately 2500 residences, was the largest town between San Antonio and San Francisco.

The plaza shown below is a National Historic Landmark.

For More Information check out
Mesilla Plaza and Mesilla Historic District

Bucket List Top Ten Recommended National Parks

Acadia National Park
Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline.

Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is located in Oregon and is famous for the intense blue color of its waters and for its spectacular views. There are steep 1,500′ to 2,000′ drop offs all around the lake…simply beautiful.

Grand Canyon National Park
The beauty of Grand Canyon is beyond compare. When you first lay eyes on its magnificence it will take your breath away. You are completely humbled by its immense beauty and size and there is truly no place like it on earth.

Grand Teton National Park
Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park is home to stunning mountain scenery and a diverse array of wildlife.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Ridge upon ridge of endless forest straddle the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the largest National Park areas in the Eastern United States. It is also the most visited National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park
Mt Rainier National Park was established in 1899 and covers 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410′), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows.

Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. The park features one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood and the multi-hued badlands known as the Painted Desert.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Established on January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains and my favorite National Park vacation site.

Yellowstone National Park
In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law declaring that Yellowstone would forever be “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Maybe one of the most famous National Parks and the home of Old Faithful.

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. Yosemite was made famous by Ansel Adams spectacular black and white photography.

Spending your next vacation in one or many of these National Parks will be a treasure and the memories will certainly last a lifetime.

White Sands Missile Range Park & Museum

After a visit to White Sands National Monument and sledding down the beautiful gypsum sand, we stopped by the White Sands Missile Range Museum. Since the museum is on an active military base, they had to run our license to make sure we were not crazy! Real reason is security, but crazy is much more entertaining. The best part was we were able to take the pups. Not many places allow you to take dogs. The missile park displays missiles used throughout history of military as well as drones. Due to the active base, we were able to take photos and to keep them pointing in specific directions.

Be sure to check out hours of operation here at the White Sands Missile Range website.

White Sands National Park

We would highly recommend visiting the White Sands National Park. To see white dessert mountains in Southern New Mexico were amazing and no words or pictures can truly give you the humbling feelings as visiting and seeing it for yourself. Stop by the visitors center and rent the sled. I would recommend renting the sled as there is nothing like sledding down sand in a saucer!

Located in New Mexico directly off the US Highway 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces between mile markers 199 and 200. This natural wonder of amazing gypsum dunes go on for 275 square miles. This is the largest gypsum dune field in the world. In 1933, White Sands was established as a national monument and in 2019, re-designated as a national park.

Before you head out, be sure to check National Park Services for park closures as closures for missile testing do occur. Take time to check out the Ranger Park Programs such as Sunset Strolls, Full Moon Hikes, Lake Lucero Tours, and Perseid Meteor Shower Watching Party.

And Away We Go Or Not

Welcome to April 12, 2019! This is the day we should have left for a 6 month road warrior adventure with the RV.

For some unknown reason the car wouldn’t engage for towing. It was a regular block party of everyone trying to get the car set for towing. Why wouldn’t something so simple be easy to ready the transmission for towing? After another day of redoing everything to engage the transmission, finally it works.

Now, here we are all packed and ready to leave. Six chihuahuas, two cats, and a wife packed ready for me to start the RV and away we go. Well, turn the ignition and then all of a sudden it turns off. Strange lets try it again. Turn it on and see the anti-theft system light on the dashboard. What the heck is going on? The engine turns off. At this point the motor home cannot be driven. Unpack dogs,cats, and wife because we are not leaving. Oh and unpack the fridge, freezer, and a lot of miscellaneous needed items, including computers for work and so on.

Bucket List Miami Travel

Welcome to Miami. They say that the party never ends on the Miami beaches. Being on the southernmost tip of America even in the winter is primarily beautifully warm. The golden sands on Miami beaches attract millions and you find yourself among the most number of people if you decide to go in the colder winter months.

Besides the beaches, Miami has some of the top universities in the country such as the University of Miami, Florida International University, and Lynn University. For the tourists, it has the best beaches on the east coast. It also has the best places to eat. The food styles expand from the continental to the seafood extravagance. The effect of the Caribbean food is too extensively seen in the menu cards. Cuban and Latin foods are also very famous in the city. Mangoes, coconut, rice, fish, crabs, and oysters all form important ingredients in the food list.

The beaches give ample space and opportunity for sports enthusiasts. The beach volleyball events, as well as the water sports, are found all over the place. The clubs and small set pups provide many options for people to enjoy. The Para-sailing is also picking up at a fast pace. The water scooter is very popular among the youngsters. For the not-so-sporty types, the beach is full of serene places to bask in the sunny sands. The tan is lasting and the experience is magical. Apart from these, the place is known for its football, baseball, hockey, and basketball teams. Major players of these teams come from universities.

The art and culture of Miami are one of kind and rich with artifacts and regional styles. Apart from these, pop culture has come in a big way for the place by the infusion of many films and television feature shootings in and around the beaches. The regional art is picking pace and the local museums and art galleries are encouraging the locals to show their talents. These art galleries too form an important part of the Miami travel schedule. The lively nightlife of the place is just electrifying and the people enjoy their lives out on the beaches in the nighttime. Sitting around slowing fires they have the time of their lives.

Be sure to add Miami to your Bucket List!

New Orleans Louisiana

Known as the “Crescent City”, the city of New Orleans, in the US state of Louisiana, had a population of just under half a million people, with Greater New Orleans bringing the figure up to 1.3 million. One quarter of the population was under the age of 18, according to the 2000 census, and one-third was aged under 25.

“New Orleans” is usually pronounced by locals as “Noo Aw-lins”.

It was home to some of America’s poorer citizens – more than one quarter of the population was considered to be living below the poverty line. Household income was 35% below the national average, and individual income 20% below the national level.

The US federal government has a significant presence in the area. The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility is located in the eastern portion of Orleans Parish. Lockheed-Martin also has a large manufacturing facility located in the Greater New Orleans area that produces external fuel tanks for space shuttles.

New Orleans is in the Mississippi River delta and has always had a history of flooding. The first levees were built by French prison labour around 1718 and were only three feet tall.
The founding site was a rare selection of higher ground along the flood-prone lower Mississippi. Still, much of the city is located below sea level between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain.

Despite its economic and geographical disadvantages, New Orleans was famous for being a city of entertainment and excitement, both exuberant and hedonistic. It was a genuine world-class tourist destination, attracting visitors with the annual Mardi Gras (held on the iconic Bourbon Street) and the college-level “Sugar Bowl” gridiron match. Areas of the French Quarter and Central Business District in recent years began catering to booming tourism rather than residents and local businesses. The city’s charm increased when streetcar upgrades in Canal Street were completed as recently as 2004.

The city is also world-famous for its food. Specialties include beignets, square-shaped fried pastries that are sometimes called French doughnuts (served with coffee and chicory “au lait”), Po’boy and Italian Muffaletta sandwiches, Gulf oysters on the half-shell and other seafoods, etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, other Creole dishes, and the Monday evening favourite of red beans and rice.

Only time will tell if the desire exists to resurrect this famous city. The hurricanes, the flooding and the problem of the disappearing wetlands have not been defeated.

5 Ways to Get The Most Out Of Backcountry Gear

Time out of doors is a precious commodity to the outdoor enthusiast – but are we getting the most out of this time. One way to ensure maximum backcountry enjoyment is to get the most possible value from the gear you acquire and use. Here are 5 ways to get the most out of your backcountry gear and your backcountry experience.

– Purchase the best gear you can possibly afford. If you are going to spend a year planning your next excursion on the continental divide, spend three months getting into great shape, take three weeks vacation when its time for the hike, purchase an airline ticket, and so on then why are you using the cheapest backpack you can find? A good backpack will make all the difference in the world. This applies to all of your backcountry gear. Whether its your GPS unit, sleeping bag, rain gear or dual-fuel portable stove, be sure to carry good equipment in order to get the most value for your money. Don’t buy cheap!

– Learn how to use all of your gear correctly and practice using it. When you are completely lost, its not the time to learn how to navigate with a compass and map. When you and your firewood are wet, its not the time to learn how to start a fire with the flare you’ve been carrying for 5 years in your pack. Take time to learn all of the features of your gear. You might be surprised to learn just how useful your GPS really is when you understand how to use the backtrack feature. You’ll be mighty thankful when you learn the proper weight distribution for your backpack. Take time to learn practice around your home before you venture into the backcountry.

– Keep your gear with you and use it as much as possible. Your backcountry gear isn’t just for the backcountry. It has unlimited uses in everyday life. Never go on a road trip without your pack. You’ll almost always find an opportunity to use your binoculars or GPS unit. If you don’t have your gear with you, you’ll need it never fails.

– Take great care of your gear. Hopefully you’ve learned this from your parents and not necessarily from experience. Your gear will only take good care of you if you take good care of it. Conversely, your gear will let you down if you don’t take good care of it. That’s a bad situation to be in. Inspect everything before you embark on your adventure. Clean and properly store all of your gear upon your return. Have you check your gears straps, fuel, waterproofing, batteries and overall condition lately? Taking good care of your gear is an important part of enjoying your backcountry trip.

– When youre done with it, donate it and some of your time – to a local scout troop. They are always looking for assistance from outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll feel great getting this last piece of benefit out of your old trusty gear!

Optimize your time in the backcountry. The easiest way ensure maximum outdoor enjoyment is to get the most possible value from your gear. Let these 5 ways guide you in getting the most out of your backcountry gear and your backcountry experience.

Forsyth Park

Why does this Park sound familiar to you? Well have you watched Forest Gump, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, or The longest Yard? These are merely some of the most well noted movies with filmed scenes at Savannah’s famous Forsyth Park.

The Park itself offers thirty historic acres with huge live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Some attributes that help to make this a place to go to include tennis courts, basketball court, grassy fields, amphitheater, fragrant garden for the blind, and a 150 year old fountain. The fountain at Forsyth Park was erected in 1958. For St. Patrick’s Day, like the river in Chi town, the water is dyed a lovely shade of green.

Forsyth Park is definitely place to relax and walk around absorbing the culture and surroundings. Local art students and artist are likely to be among the park’s daily residence. Be sure to put this destination on your bucket list when visiting Savannah.