Albuquerque, New Mexico- 8 Fun Things To Do in Duke City

Albuquerque

Hi there everyone.  In a couple of weeks, Gene and I will be heading to Albuquerque so I did some more research on the area and check out some of the things we wanted to do while in New Mexico. We have actually been to Albuquerque quite a few times and have fond memories of the Balloon Fiesta, and our Breaking Bad tour. However, there are always more things to see and do, or explore in a different city.  Thus I did some research (so you don’t have to) and found 8 must-see attractions in the area. These are in no particular order.: Continue reading “Albuquerque, New Mexico- 8 Fun Things To Do in Duke City”

Mono Hot Springs, California – Fun Summer Adventures

 Mono Hot Springs MainI have been sorting and going through pictures and was taken back to my days as a child. Every summer we’d pack up the truck with food, clothes, fishing poles, and camping gear to go spend three weeks to a month swimming, fishing, and hiking up at Mono Hot Springs in the High Sierras. It was always an adventure filled with lots of fun and surprises, but always the same too. Continue reading “Mono Hot Springs, California – Fun Summer Adventures”

Park City Olympic Park- Utah’s 2002 Olympic Winter Games Venue

Park City Olympic Park - RingsIn April 2009 we were in Salt Lake City to see their State Capitol Building and decided to drive up to Park City. While there we had a wonderful time exploring Park City Olympic Park. This is one of the cities that hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. This area served as a venue for ski jumping, nordic combined, bobsled, skeleton and luge. It also features the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center, which houses both the Alf Engen Ski Museum and George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum. Parking and admission to the museums and venue is free. It was a real thrill to be there and remember what happened. I felt like I was a small part of it. The area itself I beautiful and has a small-town feel even though it has grown in the last decade or so.

Continue reading “Park City Olympic Park- Utah’s 2002 Olympic Winter Games Venue”

Phoenix, Arizona – Free Things to do in the Valley of the Sun

Phoenix 1In February 2019 I spent a few days in Phoenix Arizona to attend a few spring training games. While preparing for my trip, I did some research and shared some of the best attractions in Phoenix. While I was thrilled to be able to see several museums such as the Arizona Science Center, Heard Museum, and the Phoenix Art Museum, I was also trying to stay on a budget. With that in mind, I was also looking for some free things to do. Luckily I have found quite a few free things to do in Phoenix. Some of the activities or attractions are inside and some are outside. Obviously, the group you are with, and the time of year will play a factor in what you can see and do. Continue reading “Phoenix, Arizona – Free Things to do in the Valley of the Sun”

Sun Safety Tips to Remember While Traveling this Summer

Sun - Girl in FieldDoing some mountain biking or hiking this summer? Hitting the beach or a river? Maybe a short trip to your local pool?  Wherever you like the Beach or the Mountains, or whatever you like to do for fun during the summer, be wary of the rays from the sun. As you may well know, studies show that exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, may also cause eye problems, weaken your immune system, and give you skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery” skin. This is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sun - BoardwalkAlthough no one, no matter which skin type, is immune to the effects of UV. However, those with pale skin, blond, red, or light brown hair, been treated for skin cancer, or a family member who’s had skin cancer need to be especially cautious. This post is a little late this year, but The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day.” The goal?  To make sure people stay safe in the sun and protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors—on “Don’t Fry Day” and every day. Here are some suggestions to help you have a nice summer day outing while being safe.

USE SUNSCREEN

Sun - SunscreenI feel this is the truly most important thing to put on before heading out. I have really pale skin and fry in about ½ without sunscreen on. I just burn, then peel. Not much fun. L One important thing to mention about sunscreen is to FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. A lot of people will put it on before they head out for the day and think they are good. They are not. Most sunscreen products need to be reapplied every 90 minutes to 2 hours. I’ve also seen people who don’t apply enough. It is suggested to use about 1 ounce of sunscreen (about a shot glass or palmful) should be used to cover the arms, legs, neck, and face of the average adult.

Sun - Sunscreen 2The other thing to consider about sunscreen is the sun protection factor (SPF). There are sunscreens products with a broad spectrum of protection, but it is suggested to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreens labeled with SPFs as high as 100+ are available. Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people don’t understand the SPF scale. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. Thus the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. However, remember no sunscreen protects you completely.

WEAR A HAT

Sun - Floppy HatIt is very important to wear a hat outside, preferably one with a 2 to a 3-inch brim. The brim helps to protect the ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. If you don’t have one of those, wearing a large handkerchief or bandana under a baseball cap will work in a pinch.

WEAR SUNGLASSES

Sun - SunglassesWearing sunglasses not only protects the delicate skin around your eyes, but it also protects the eyes as well. When picking out a pair of new shades, don’t assume the sunglasses provide any UV protection. Make sure the label says “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements”. I like the wraparound glasses myself as it also blocks light coming in From the side.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE

Sun - WaterOur bodies are made up of about 60% water, and every system depends on water. Just one cute little water bottle isn’t going to be enough to keep you hydrated all day long. Studies show that you should be drinking 1 liter of water every hour. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Fruits are an excellent source of water, such as watermelon which is 90% water. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, and melons are also strong contenders.

FIND SOME SHADE

Sun - Beach 4Reduce time in the sun, especially between 10-2 as that is when the sun is the strongest. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day. They can be more dangerous because you don’t feel hot and thus stay out longer than you may have planned. Take a lawn chair and find a nice shady spot near a tree or structure. If you can’t find one of those, a large umbrella works great too. Have fun, but be safe out there. Spending your vacation in a hotel room with a sunburn is not a fun way to spend your valuable vacation time.  Let me know if you have any other great tips and I will add them to this post. Thanks in advance.

Beach, Mountains, or Best of Both Worlds? Which do you Prefer?

Mountains vs Beaches 1Deciding to take a vacation to the beach or the mountains has probably been a dilemma for people since we’ve been able to choose between the two destinations. I lived most of my life in Southern California and admit that I mostly took the ocean for granted. Continue reading “Beach, Mountains, or Best of Both Worlds? Which do you Prefer?”

White Water Rafting – Six White Water Rivers to Paddle this Summer!

White Water RaftingI have always loved the water but forgot how much until I was working on my Beach, Mountains, or Best of Both Worlds post. It made me stop, reflect, and acknowledge that it has been too long since I hit the beach or a stream. It also saddened me to realize that I have never been White Water Rafting. That is unless you count the Big Foot Rapids ride at Knott’s Berry Farm, which I don’t. lol It was fun and all, but I would love to experience the real thing one day. With that in mind, I did some research and found 6 rivers that I would love to explore via rafting.  I am going to start with the Salmon River in Idaho. Continue reading “White Water Rafting – Six White Water Rivers to Paddle this Summer!”

Colorado Road Trips – Some of our Favorites Around the State

We have now lived in Colorado for many years and really enjoy the beauty and variety in this beautiful state. While we have explored quite a few places since we have been here, we haven’t visited as many as we would have liked. We know we aren’t going to be in this colorful state forever and made a plan to see more of it. Thus we have done a few road trips and wanted to share which Colorado road trips we have enjoyed the most.  Today I want to share some of the trips we’ve taken along the I-70 from Idaho Springs, to Loveland Pass, and then out to Dillion Reservoir. While we didn’t necessarily do these all in one day, we really enjoyed them and I decided to share them all as one post. We also did the Peak to Peak Highway one time and I will share that separately. But today I will start with Idaho Springs and work our way westward.

Continue reading “Colorado Road Trips – Some of our Favorites Around the State”

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway- Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 1Living in California, spending a long weekend in Palm Springs happened very often. It was a great place to get away and relax. One of the more exciting things to do while visiting the area was taking a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  We recently rode the tram at the Royal Gorge, and there were a few similarities. Apparently, it is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. Before its construction, the only way to the top of the mountain was to hike a number of hours from Idyllwild. Continue reading “The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway- Palm Springs, California”

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – All Aboard!

Durango - Silverton 1There is nothing like a train trip, except a scenic fall train trip in October for your birthday. Gene and I went to Durango in October of 2009 and took a train trip on the Durango – Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It was phenomenal and breathtaking. I couldn’t believe the amazing views around every turn. The best part was that the tickets were a gift from a customer at my former company.  That just made it even sweeter.

Continue reading “Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – All Aboard!”