Camping Coast to Coast
The American continent is such a vast landscape of every imaginable terrain and climate. In the same country, you can walk in a tropical rain forest, play on a Caribbean beach, hike in a mountain range or fish on a tranquil lake. And if you enjoy camping, you know that nothing compares to the sense of intimacy and becoming one with nature with the experience of pitching a tent and sleeping nestled in natures arms.One of the hardest things about living in a country of such great diversity, with so much to offer in term of sightseeing and of such great size is how do you take it all in and really enjoy everything to see and experience? Many have taken on the challenge of a cross country journey to scratch that itch. There is nothing like traveling by car from one coast to the other to give you a deep appreciation of the magnificence God has put into the American landscape.
But to really make that cross country trip an adventure that will stay with you forever, you might consider planning such a trip and combining it with those well developed camping skills you have developed. By camping across America, you can enjoy that same sense of getting close to nature but broaden your experience by camping at different state parks from Washington to Florida or New Jersey to California or whatever route works best for you.
Of course, such an adventure will take plenty of planning. For starters, you should carefully map out your route so you know from night to night where the next camping location exactly is. The great thing about the National Parks System is that you can virtually visit any campsite in the country using the internet and view the locations of the campsites and even make your reservations on the computer so you know you have a campsite waiting for you at every stop along the way.
Other preparations fit in with your existing camping discipline including how to prepare for meals, the equipment checklist and emergency preparedness. A camping trip of this scope can take several weeks and you dont want to rush it because part of the joy of camping coast to coast is getting to know the land at every stop along the way. If you are new to camping, taking a good amount of time to work out your camping skills, your equipment checklist and building your campsite abilities will pay off well when you set off on this kind of great adventure.
A couple other words of advice will pay off well that pertain to being prepared for any contingency. While camping is clearly less expensive than staying in hotels, you should be sure your budget is sound should an emergency arise and you find you need to use hotels or buy new equipment to replace things that get damaged. Always be aware of accommodations nearby should the weather take a turn for the worse. If you are caught in a flood in your campsite half way through your coast to coast adventure, that can throw off the entire trip. So be prepared to make other arrangements in a hurry.
With good preparation and plenty of well rehearsed emergency fall back plans, you can be ready for just about any circumstance that might come up during your big trek across the American continent. But even with those adjustments, you will look back fondly on this great undertaking and the many nights you became close to nature in yet another of the scenic and soul inspiring camping locations across this great land. And dont be surprised if after you get home, you are already starting to plan your next great outing camping coast to coast.
Four Presidents and a Lady
When you think of the breath taking splendor that is the North American continent, it seems we will never stop being astounded by the beauty all around us in this phenomenal land that God has given us for our home. But every now and then as you re sightseeing in this magnificent land, you gaze upon something so breath taking, so inspiring and yet not entirely made by nature.We have in diverse locations around our countryside some of the most phenomenal man made works of art that have ever been created. Small wonder that any vacation that sets out to see the wonders of our nation would have to include trips to see such amazing creations as these man made sights that our culture has produced.
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is a perfect example of a magnificent sightseeing stop that combines the greatness of nature with the creativity, tenacity and artistic talent of mankind. In addition its a well crafted monument to the greatness of our leadership especially in the early years of the federation.
It is almost impossible stand and not be awed by these mountain sized tributes to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Some might say that we are participating in a bit of hero worship making such grand statues to our early presidents. To that I say, guilty as charged. And why should we not hold these men as the tremendous heroes that they were and still are? And Mount Rushmore only dramatically brings out our deep sense of gratitude and respect we have for these early presidents who put all on the line to make this country the great nation that it is.
The statue of liberty in the New York harbor is just the kind of fantastic man made sight that both makes its visitors go wow and inspires everyone who sees it because of what that statue stands for. Just like the monuments at Mount Rushmore, Lady Liberty, as she is called is also stunning for the striking physical beauty of the harbor and of Manhattan Island to her North.
As much as we sometimes have mixed feelings about the relationship between the French government and our own, this gift that the French gave to our nation when we were just becoming a real country of our own is such a beautiful reminder of the value and enduring friendships America has with the international community. But more than that, because so much of our citizenry came to this country with little more than a dream and the clothes on their backs, the Statue of Liberty is a dramatic statement that this country is the home of the brave, the land of the free and the place people come to know true liberty in a world where freedom and opportunity are often very scarce indeed.
But not all of the man made wonders you can take in when sightseeing all over America are statues. In a way, the city of Washington DC itself is one huge work of art. This is particularly easy to see when you watch video of shots of the city taken from a helicopter that shows the stunning view looking down the Washington Mall. The elegant and simple Washington monument stands proudly in the center surrounded buy the reflecting pool, the White House, Congress and the most amazing art museum campus in the world, the many buildings of the Smithsonian Institution. The beauty of Washington is so unstoppable that it could not even be contained to one building. Instead to really get a feel for this amazing artistic creation, you need lots of time to explore the nations capital on foot.
The man made wonders that are welcoming you as a visitor all over America are more evidence of how great this country really is. And because they all touch us so deeply because of the combination of the beauty of art and the wonderment of nature, they point to what makes America great too. And that is the glorious country God gave us to live in combined with the heart of a great people who are the nation called America.
The Albuquerque Experience
Sometimes a wonderful sightseeing destination gets eclipsed by its neighbors. That is certainly true of the beautiful state of New Mexico. With big and bold Texas to the east and the well traveled Colorado to the north, many people overlook New Mexico as not only having the best of both of those locations but a very unique culture all its own.New Mexico is a state of many geographies. You can find mountains that you can drive to the top of and enjoy snow in the middle of summer. But there are desert locations virtually adjacent to those locations that give you the tremendous diversity of setting that a desert state is capable of. So a driving tour of New Mexico can be a delightful and fulfilling trip full of surprises and new experiences.
The pueblos of the Indian tribes that make their homes in New Mexico tell a story of an ancient people who lived in a manner unlike anything you have ever seen. You can actually visit active pueblos where Indian families continue to live their native lives in the purity of their ancestors even though they are surrounded by the modern world. This is both fascinating and an outstanding educational experience for the children because where else can you experience first hand a culture completely unlike our own but thriving right here inside the borders of the United States?
The big cities of New Mexico are full of interesting sites that reflect the unique culture and history of this state. You will find it tempting to spend your tourist dollars at the many shops that sell unique crafts that use the local gems and the Indian art styles of New Mexico. You will be able to appreciate how so many have been charmed by that Sante Fe Style of art and cuisine. Perhaps as you get a good exposure to how this architecture and artistic style came into being you will recognize the decorating style in restaurants or other public places in your own town. It is truly addictive and you will come away a convert as so many have in their trips to New Mexico.
The food of New Mexico is as unique as the people and the art. The first time you enjoy Wavos Chorizo for breakfast you will find your eyes watering as the hot Mexican style cooking wakes up your mouth with spices that take your taste buds by surprise. But dont be surprised when the next day you want a fresh batch along with recipes on how to prepare these taste treats for yourself.
To the north of Sante fe and Albuquerque are the majestic mountains of New Mexico. It is a closely guarded secret that these mountains offer just as many opportunities for camping, hiking and even skiing as their cousins to the north but the crowds are not nearly as numerous and the prices not as out of control. A driving tour of those mountains perhaps even with a stop to enjoy some lodging in those hills will be as refreshing as any mountain top vacation you have had anywhere in the country.
New Mexico is a beautiful land full of history and culture. Yes, you can head south to Los Alamos and see the location where the early tests of the Atomic Bomb were conducted. This may be both an educational and sobering visit in light of the effects of that research on mankind. But it is an important part of both American and world history that you will enjoy exposing yourself and your family to while in the area. But be careful not to ask them about Area 51, that mythological holding area for alien space craft that is supposedly kept somewhere in southern New Mexico. That inquiry might not be popular in Los Alamos.
In all, your trip to New Mexico can give you a chance to climb mountains, meet a unique and fascinating Native American people, enjoy, and buy, some terrific art works and enjoy one of the most beautiful states in the nation. Be sure to step out on your patio of your hotel at sunset, as New Mexico is well known for having some of the most beautiful sunsets in the country. As you watch that breath taking sight you will be able to reflect on the amazing diversity and beauty of America as it is reflected in this, one of its most beautiful states.
Touching Three Oceans
Traveling the width and length of this great country can certainly excite a person to want to try to take in every sight and every unique experience that is possible in this vast and diverse land. It is a fine ambition if you set it as your goal early in your family life to achieve one of the fun objectives that many try to accomplish before they end their traveling days. Some of the missions people set out on are truly amazing. But you have to know that even if they dont succeed in these quests, they are going to have fun trying.Many families make it a goal to have a picture of the family with their feet standing on every one of the fifty states of the union. Now, this is an ambitious objective to be sure and one that may take years to accomplish. But as your children get a big kick out of each new photo you take that adds to the count, you will be developing a wonderful travelogue of a lifetime of seeing the best America has to offer. And you can get some help in some places where you can hit more than one state at a time. In the southwest, there is a location called The Four Corners where the four states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah all come to a point in one exact spot. By putting your feet in two states and your hands in two others, you can get four of your states checked off with one stop.
Another terrific way to document a lifetime of sightseeing is stickers or patches. Most of gift shops in the fine sights all around the country will sell you a bumper sticker for your car, a patch for your coat or some other memento to have as a remembrance of your visit to see that great sight. So as you travel, if you pick up a similar item at each fun stop along the way, that can make quite an impressive display on a suitcase or a tapestry of patches from the great sights all around the country.
America is gifted to be home to some of the finest bodies of the water in the world. For many, a visit to one ocean is the dream of a lifetime. But another variation on the theme of great sightseeing missions is to touch all of the oceans of the country in one year. It’s quite a quest to get over to California, Oregon or Washington to touch the Pacific, across the expansive homeland to touch the Atlantic in Florida, Maine or Massachusetts and then back on another long trek to put your hand in the warm waters of the gulf coast. If you can accomplish this ambitious quest, you indeed have some serious bragging rights to show off. So make sure you take dated pictures in case someone doubts that it can be done.
It is never too late in life to make it your goal to see all you can see of this wonderful country we call home. Many who work hard all their lives enjoy the fruit of their labors by purchasing a mobile home and setting out to spend the night in as many of the great national parks of the country as they can. This is a country who has taken great care to preserve vast sections of our wilderness in national parks. So it is quite an undertaking to sleep in every one of them. As you travel on your vacations, you may meet some of these intrepid travelers who may quite literally have no other home than their mobile home.
However, you plan to document your travels in the great country, you will be doing so to pay honor to the fact that you got to celebrate all of the greatness of our wonderful country. And the greatest thing about these quests is that even if you succeed in your chosen goal, you will never tire of seeing this great land and celebrating what is great about being able to say, I am an American.