Road Trip Souvenirs

 Most people, when going on vacation, will come back with some great souvenirs. Some buy t-shirts, others fun little decorations. For me, it's ornaments, magnets, and sometimes books. From my first major trip to Ireland to my most recent 2-day trek to Vegas, these items have been my go-to souvenirs.

Over the years of roadtripping, I've developed a sort of sixth sense for where to find the desired items. Even in Las Vegas, I'm able to quickly hone in on a shop that will have the exact item I want to find. I remember walking down Las Vegas Blvd with a friend who lived in Las Vegas, nearing the end of my very first solo road trip. We'd been striking out all evening looking for a magnet and an ornament. At this point, even something cheap would have been acceptable. As we walked, I looked across the street and spotted a shop just under the "Eiffel Tower" and knew immediately that's where I'd get my souvenirs. I told my friend, and off we went. 

I've found magnets in airport gift shops that were perfect when all the traditional stores had awful options. I've turned bookmarks into ornaments when a suitable traditional ornament wasn't anywhere to be found. I've purchased books in West Yellowstone and even hit a sale in an Ireland bookstore. The stickers displaying the price in Euros still live on the covers of those books. They aren't books about the area but instead books by authors I'd never heard of before. Books I enjoy the story while still revisiting the memories of the area and the times I was in the stores.

My ornaments are a treat every Christmas. As I unwrap each one, I think about where I was when I bought it and the trip I was on at the time. I love to just stare at my decorated tree every year and relive the memories hanging from the branches.

My magnets cover the face of my refrigerator. I love looking at them every day as I pass the fridge or while I'm waiting for something to cook. I sometimes find myself just standing in front of the fridge while recalling fond memories.

Recalling old memories is fun, but I also love the hunt for the perfect magnet or that great tree ornament. It's something I look forward to on every trip. The best part, ornaments and magnets are not usually super expensive, and magnets, you can shove one of those little guys right into a corner of a suitcase, same with books. No extra space needed, and you just can't beat that!

Experiencing Zero Degrees for the First Time

 Zero-degree temperatures. I'd never experienced zero degrees or negative temperatures. Having lived in the Phoenix area my entire life, I'd not experienced truly cold weather. Even my trips as a kid to Michigan and Canada were in welcome, warm summer weather.

Now here I was, New Year's Eve, in Flagstaff, and it was snowing and cold! I was settled into my hotel room, despite my head cold, I decided to take my vacation time. I could relax, take my cold medicine, and do what I felt like doing...or not doing. I'd been looking forward to spending time in the cold weather of Flagstaff and had planned this trip for this very reason.

My original plan included exploring Sunset Crater and then wandering downtown Flagstaff until it was time to watch the Pinecone drop at midnight. Wandering the shops of Flagstaff and the Pinecone Drop was most definitely out of the question. Instead, I'd spent the day relaxing, slept in, watched a little TV, and then, when I felt enough energy, I made the short drive out to Sunset Crater.

Even though my energy levels were low, the desire to see white snow against the black lava rocks was just too much to pass up. I remember the drive in and experiencing my car tire do a small skid on an icy patch of the road back to the visitor center. I remember pulling off at the first lava field and taking some beautiful pictures. 

I also remember realizing quickly on the short loop trail that my Phoenix version of "warm winter clothing" was inadequate for the cold and wind of Flagstaff. Even so, I still took pictures and paused at some childhood memories of exploring the same area with my brother and mom. Before long, the cold was too much and I trundled back to the warmth of my car.

That evening, I had dinner, took a bubble bath, and watched Enchanted. I'd finally cuddled into some warm pajamas, taken cold medicine, and settled onto the couch to watch New Year's celebrations from around the world on TV. 

Snow had started to fall again. I checked the weather. It showed zero degrees. I was so excited, I had to feel it. I piled on warm clothing. Two pairs of pants, 2 sweaters, a jacket, a hat, gloves, scarf. Then grabbed my camera and room key, I went outside.

It was, well, cold! I wandered for a bit. A couple of boys played in the snow. They slid on the slick surface of the parking lot area that was coated with a thin layer. They found small banks of snow and made snowballs to sling at each other. They were having a great time, and I couldn't help but smile at the noise. 

I took pictures of the snow, then went back inside to warm up. I made it to midnight and was ready to climb into bed when I checked the weather again. It was in the negatives. Again, I was so excited that I popped back out of bed, put on my layers again, and stepped back outside.

This time, all was quiet. Snow was falling hard now, and the large flakes cushioned traffic noise that was just down the hill from my room. I didn't take pictures; instead stood in the cold and just embraced the moment. I felt at peace and relaxed. I was happy just to be there.

Eventually, I made my way back inside to the warmth and a cozy night of rest.

This trip was many years ago, but I'll never forget the calm and quiet of standing outside in negative temperatures in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, in Flagstaff.

Travel Anxiety and Tummy Butterflies

 Every time I start a new journey, I feel butterflies in my tummy. Anything from a 2-day journey to starting a whole new adventure, those pretty little bugs start flitting around. 

The nerves sit with me while I book hotels, get tickets to events or shows, and start my travel itinerary. They stay while I get my flight or reserve a car rental. In my mind, I have the "what-ifs" making an appearance. 

• What if I'm spending too much money?
• What if I get sick?
• What if the car breaks down?
• What if I get stranded or something catastrophic happens?

I push through the nerves and the worries and push the confirm button to make the payment or the reservation. 

My nerves dance again as I near the start of each journey. I'm an early-to-the-gate girly who has to get through airport security and locate my gate to make sure it exists before I go and get a coffee before the flight. I'm a pack, check my list, and recheck my bag to ensure I have everything before I load my car. I struggle with stopping for food. Sit-down restaurants are out of the question when I'm about to drive somewhere.

Once I'm at my airport gate and have seen that it's real. Once I've topped off my gastank and am officially on the road. Once I've started the journey, the nerves all go away. I find that fear isn't needed and that it is replaced with joy and anticipation of what's to come.

I look forward to exploring new places, seeing new things, and having new experiences. What will the trip have in store for me? 

While I love exploring and dreaming, and planning my trips, there's always a little bit of nerves dancing around the edges. Over the years, those nerves still play on my mind, but I've learned to just go with it. 

Have things gone wrong in the past? Absolutely. I've stayed in hotels/motels that were less than ideal. I've checked into places that I immediately "noped" out of and checked right back out to find somewhere else to stay. I've had car issues, including a rental with a check engine light that was on and had to go back into the rental office at 1:00 am to demand a different car (I did have to demand since they weren't exactly helpful or willing to exchange to another vehicle). I've nearly run out of gas and had a friend come to rescue me. I've had my car towed for miles when it died. I've nearly missed flights due to various complications.

Despite the challenges, though, I know I can handle them. I know there are solutions and people who are always willing to help. I've learned that I can rely on myself to work through less-than-ideal situations. 

In the end, whether my experiences were good or bad, I'm left with memories that will always be mine and stories to share. As I embark on future journeys, I look forward to what butterfly-inducing activities I'll experience.

Getting Lost on Vacation

It's been over ten years since I went to Ireland, and I still remember and follow the one piece of advice that I was given: "Allow yourself time to get lost." This one little bit of advice was a complete game-changer on my trips. 

Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

When we travel, we create itineraries and to-dos that are jammed full of places to visit or things to do, and end up exhausted by the end of the trip. I've learned over the years to include spare time on my travels, whether it be a short drive day or allotting more time than needed when visiting a particular location. This strategy has paid off in more ways than I can count. 

In 2013, my mom and I traveled to Ireland for three weeks, and that's the first time we were given the advice to allow extra time to "get lost." While I never actually got lost in any of these adventures, it has become my motto. My getting lost hasn't been anything geographical, but rather, it's getting lost in the moment, in the adventure, or in the beauty.

This was the first time I "got lost," and this was one of those times that wrapped the beauty, the moment, and the adventure into one. My mom had been in Ireland for a few days and had driven from Waterford to the coast to see the Hook Light House. The day had been an adventure from my first journey on a car ferry to seeing the rugged black rocks along the Ireland coast. 

On the drive back to Waterford, we'd been waiting to catch the car ferry back across the river. While waiting, I spied a sign for the Kilmokea Country Manor and Tea Gardens. I glanced at Mom, who was reading the same sign as the ferry came into view. I asked her, "Should we do that?"  She happily agreed, and we were off. I quickly pulled out of the car ferry line, and we followed the signs to the manor. This adventure led us to meeting a wonderful man who invited us in for tea and a treat, and an open invitation to explore the gardens after he'd closed up the shop. That became an afternoon turning to evening in gardens that captured the imagination and made me think of The Secret Garden, Alice and Wonderland, and even fairy stories.

Although this experience was over ten years ago, I still remember it with such clarity and detail as if it just happened. This was my first time understanding what exactly it meant to allow time to get lost.

The hike to Tipanogos Caverns.

Since then, I've enjoyed other "lost" moments, including the unexpected exploration of the Hall of Mosses in Olympic National Park, a great spice and tea shop in Port Townsend, WA, and hiking to the Tipanogos Caverns in Utah. It's also suddenly getting the gumption to cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Ireland or chancing a drive up a muddy road to a dude ranch, hoping to ride a horse.

Savoring that Irish Coffee
 while enjoying my book.

Getting lost is taking extra time in a museum you enjoyed or taking a quiet moment in a Las Vegas casino bar while sipping a drink and enjoying a book, yes, you read that right, I read a book, in a bar, in Vegas, and I enjoyed every moment!

No matter the circumstance, taking time to get lost on my adventures has paid off in so many ways. I've met some fantastic people, including two Australians who cheered me on across the rope bridge, a tea house owner who invited us to explore enchanting gardens, a German who was seeing Death Valley for the first time, and so many others. I've had some incredible experiences and gained so many amazing memories in those moments where I allowed myself the time and just be.  "Allow yourself time to get lost" has been the best advice I've ever been given. I use it in my vacation travels, and I even use it in my day-to-day, where I drive up to Sedona and Cottonwood to play tourist for a day. As you go out and adventure, do yourself that favor and give yourself the time...and permission, to get lost.

A First Class Flight

 I'll never forget the first and only time I've flown first class. It was an amazing experience and one I hope to enjoy again in the future. I had been on my 2nd epic road trip, where I'd spent the last week exploring Yellowstone National Park and parts of Montana. My flight home had a layover in Colorado before heading on the last bit back to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. I was at my gate well before the flight was scheduled to depart and had been just relaxing and waiting for our turn to board when an announcement came over the speakers. Upgrades to first class were being offered for just $100.

At that point, I'd come in under budget on my trip and realized that wasn't likely something I'd have the opportunity and finances to do, so I jumped in and splurged. The experience was amazing. 

We boarded the plane first, then as other passengers were getting onto the plane, we were already being offered snacks and beverage service. I was amazed when I ordered water and they gave me an actual glass cup and the full bottle. Then they held up a basket of full snack-sized crackers and cookies to select from.

I was so jazzed from this alone, then I realized the size of my tray and my seat area. I was able to place my glass and snack on my tray and still had room for my full-sized notebook and book I'd been editing. Nothing quite screams, first time first class passenger than someone who pulls out their phone to take a picture of the tray that fits everything.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself when the person sitting next to me gave me a bit of side-eye. I can only imagine what they were thinking. Honestly, I didn't care. I just popped in my headphones, opened my snack-sized bag of Wheat Thins, poured my water into the glass, and enjoyed the ride.

It was only an hour or so long, but the experience will stick with me for a long time. Perhaps, one day I'll be able to do a longer first-class flight. Maybe I'll plan that into a budget for a future trip overseas or back east. Who knows? 

Driving through Olympic National Park and to the Hall of Moss

 Imagine taking a drive through a forest of trees that are bigger than you could even begin to imagine. Now imagine those trees are not just the normal green leaves with a brown trunk, instead imagine them covered in all green. This is a real place, and it belongs to the Olympic National Park in Washington State. 

I've been lucky enough to visit Olympic National Park twice, but I have barely scratched its surface. This beautiful park has so many views to offer. Along the coastline, you'll see beautiful trees along sandy beaches, some hikes through burled trees, and along small streams. If you're lucky, you can catch a Bald Eagle in flight, snatching a quick flash of brown, yellow, and white as it flies overhead.

As you drive Hwy 101 along the Washington coastline, there's a turnoff that is a must-see, the Upper Hoh Road to the Hall of Moss trailhead. As you drive in, you are greeted by massive trees and beautiful forest, where along the road, you'll catch views of the Hoh River and snatches of mountains.

Along the way, be sure to make a quick pit stop at Peak 6 Tours & Gift Shop. There are some great souvenirs at this little roadside stop, and during my stop there, I was lucky enough to have two one-of-a-kind experiences. First, around the back of the shop, where the bathrooms/porta potties (unfortunately) are set up, there is a massive field just beyond a wooden fence. In that field, a herd of elk was grazing, having their dinner. It was so cool to have the space to myself in absolute silence, be able to watch the elk. No loud people, no jostling for space to have a view. It was me, the elk, and my thoughts.

Eventually, I made my way back inside the store and noticed that behind the counter were several antique cameras. That day, I happened to be there when the owner of the shop and of those cameras was working. He told me the story behind each camera, including one that had been smuggled out of Germany during World War II. I recognized one camera to be what I believe is a Brownie Haweye camera and had to take a pic as my mom remembered that as being her first camera as a kid. The owner was so nice as he shared story after story on each camera and where they came from, which family member owned it, and as he told his stories, it was clear to see just how much each one meant.

Eventually, my travels took me back to the road, and I made my way further down Upper Hoh Road toward the Hall of Moss trailhead. The size of the trees was staggering, but what sticks with me most was the realization that despite the trees and broken limbs, and other, what would normally be hard and sharp surfaces were all rounded, and soft. Not one sharp edge, instead it was moss-covered. No tree limb was clearly defined between branch and leaf; they were dripping with moss.

I will admit, I have not yet hiked the Hall of Moss trail. The last two times I've been through the area, the first time the area was closed. The second time, it was so cold outside that my toes and nose were numb just from walking to the visitor center from my car. That was enough for me. If you travel to Olympic National Park in November, be prepared for cold and damp weather. Even if the sun is out, you'll largely be in the shade, and it is COLD! 

However, I'll never forget the brilliant greens and the beauty that Mother Nature puts on display in Olympic National Park. I'll always remember how I felt dwarfed by the massive trees in the park and how everywhere I turned, there was a picturesque view to behold.

One day, I plan to return, perhaps this time in the summer months when temperatures are warmer and the days are longer. The nice trade-off of traveling off season is fewer crowds, but the downside leaves very short days to explore and requires a bit more resilience to colder weather. In my future travels through Olympic National Park, I'll make a point of visiting places I've missed, like 2nd Beach, where trees grow off building-size boulders sitting in the Pacific Ocean, and make my way up to Cape Flattery and the westernmost point of Washington state. Then, of course, I'll return to Upper Hoh Road and make my way down to the Hall of Moss. With just the drive in and out being as beautiful as it was, I can only imagine that to earn the name it did, the Hall of Moss trail must be absolutely breathtaking. I can't wait to see it in person.

Death Valley Views and a Desert Oasis

 Death Valley is known worldwide for its unique beauty and extremely high temperatures. Visiting Death Valley National Park will bring you to aptly named sites like Devil's Cornfield, Dante's View, Furnace Creek, and the Devil's Golf Course, all of which remind you that you are visiting a place known for its dry and hot conditions. 

I remember leaving my home in March for my first visit, where the high temperatures were averaging in the mid-sixties, and two days later, I'm sweating in nearly 100-degree weather. It was an amazing experience to see the salt flats and the beautiful views that Death Valley had to offer. 

The views from the top of Dante's View were breathtaking, looking down at the salt flats below. If I were looking at pics, I'd almost believe that I were looking at swirls of snow or water down below. Surprisingly, despite the high temperatures of the area, at sunset, the top of Dante's View can get a little chilly.

Exploring the Devil's Golf Course was interesting as I picked my way over the ragged edges of salt and rock formations. These features were enormous, many coming up to my knees, and had sharp edges. I was even warned to tread carefully, as a fall would likely result in the need for some minor first aid.

Devil's Cornfield and the adjacent sand dunes were equally impressive. This is one spot that I learned quickly, even with some good winds making the high temperatures tolerable, it was still very important to stay hydrated. Walking back to my car, I was quickly hit with a mild case of heat exhaustion. 

In so many of these locations, I mildly remember other people, quite a few people in fact. But I never felt crowded. The wide open skies and massive spaces that make up Death Valley lend to the feeling of peace and solitude even when surrounded by others. 

One common trend throughout the locations, hot and dry. A park ranger I spoke with shared that visitors should always be prepared. She told me that you should have a vehicle that is in good working condition, tools, and supplies (food and lots and lots of water!). Cell service in Death Valley is spotty at best, and you might get service at Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, or nearby Stovepipe Wells. 

A Desert Oasis

Walking onto the property of the Furnace Creek Inn of Death Valley National Park was so odd to me. I loved going from the dry desert to the lovely, lush green lawns and water features of the inn. My favorite moment was standing at the edge of the garden with a small pool of water, and just a few feet past the pool was the expanse of the mountains of Death Valley jutting up, and not a single plant growing on them.

Going into Furnace Creek Inn was entering a portal into another world. A tunnel entry flanked with bright pink bougainvillea welcomed us as we travelled through the stone-lined tunnel into the inn. Inside the inn, you are in another world. A world of luxury, a world of indulgence, beauty, water, and delicious dining. 

As much as I enjoyed the inn and the dining, I much preferred spending my time outside. Despite the heat, I loved wandering along the stone pathways among the palm trees and grassy lawn. I enjoyed sitting near the pond, listening to the water, and enjoying the tranquility of the space. 

Death Valley brings a lot of beauty and wonder to the visitor. I loved checking out the different sites and have every intention of returning. Perhaps in the future I'll make it to the Artists Pallete, the Kilns, or one of the many other sites. I just know, I'll be back and this time, I'll have a lot more water with me.