Cheyenne RV Resort by RJourney (30 May – 4 Jun 23)

Off to Cheyenne – the State Capital of Wyoming!  The main reason for making this stop was to link up with our Tennessee Rally friends, Dave and Laura.  The surprise of the day was that Tina’s parents joined us for the night during an impromptu stop on their way back from Idaho!  It was a great first evening in Cheyenne! 

Following breakfast on the Blackstone and the departure of Tina’s parents, the four of us set out to explore the countryside!  Our first stop was the “Terry Bison Ranch” a short distance out of town.  The origins of the ranch go all the way back to 1881 when the first governor of Wyoming, W.E. Warren, bought 300,000 acres from Charles H. Terry.  There is more to the story, but you can read all about it at the link above!  

After feeding the bison, we headed back to camp after a quick stop at the “Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center” to pick up some more information on the local points of interest.  The unexpected, pleasant surprise was that the Center was also a small museum that not only covered the history of the area and other activities offered in the region.  There is a full dinosaur skeleton, a teepee, a mock jail and other interactive activities for the entire family.  It was a great stop and very informative. 

We headed back to camp to walk Axel and drop off some items we had accumulated so far.  Afterward we made a stop at Camping World right next door to camp in search of some items, and then sought out a recommended place for dinner.  Dinner was at “T. Joe’s Restaurant” not too far down the road.  We beat the Karaoke Night rush to get a nice table in the back.  For dinner the guys went with the steak and the ladies went with the fish.  We were all very pleased with our choices!  Service was outstanding and the food was also very good.  Many thanks to Dave and Laura for dinner!  It was a great evening following a great day playing tourist!  It was a wonderful couple of days and we can’t wait until our next camp together!  

Rainy weather moved in over the next couple of days and ‘put a damper’ 😉 on our activities.  After one day of enjoying our trailer, we braved going out for our last full day to explore the state capital and find a local craft brewery!  

The “Wyoming State Capital” was spectacular like all the other state capitals we have visited.  The building underwent a major remodel in 2019 and it shows.  The new marble, stained glass skylights, refurbished rooms, etc, are remarkable!   We also learned that some material on newly done floors comes from Tennessee.  Who knew TN was linked to the capital of Wyoming!? 

Our last outing in Cheyenne was to the “Accomplice Beer Company” in historic downtown.  Built in an old train station, the brewery was well done and had both tasty beers and tasty food.  We went with a flight to determine our favorite and both agreed the ‘Krimson King’ amber lager was top choice!  There were other pilsners and ales that went down very easy also.  Bar staff was great!  We also doubled down on the food sampling with me trying the mushroom and Swiss burger and Tina going with a pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom personal pizza.  Both were outstanding and worthy of mention with one exception – they should have left the pizza in the oven a couple of more minutes.  Still totally edible and delicious, but the crust could have been a bit crustier!  It was definitely a good stop and goes in the win column!  

One other interesting attraction around Cheyenne is their “Big Boots” located throughout the city.  In some other cities we have visited, they also have a ‘mascot.’  Pensacola, FL has pelicans; Bern, NC has bears; Custer, SD has bison, etc., and Cheyenne has big ole cowboy boots!  Several were located in the area downtown around the plaza. 

We stayed at the “Cheyenne RV Resort by RJourney” in the southwest of town.  It is a nice campground with level, all gravel sites.  Not much for shade, but the sites were well spaced and well-marked.   Plenty of room for some big rigs in both the back-in and some pull-through sites.  Pool, laundry room, dog walks, games, bunnies and a prairie dog town provided activities for the whole family!  Not too bad during the week but camp fills up on the weekend and seems to be a nice overnight stop for most.  The staff was great, and we had several friendly interactions during our stay.  It is not too expensive, and we would stay here again!

Rawlins, WY

Park City RV Resort and Rawlings KOA (28-30 May 23)

There were a couple of quick stops as we made our transit from southern Utah to Cheyenne, WY.  The definite highlight was seeing some more of our Navy Ohana living in Park City.  Rawlins was an overnight stop necessary to maintain our safe travels!  

John and Jeanne were phenomenal hosts and Park City ambassadors!  Unfortunately, we were only able to spend the one night as we had hard dates to make in Cheyenne – but we did make the most of it!  John and Jeanne picked us up at our campsite and after a tour of our home, we were off for a windshield tour of Park City.  Long-time residents, J & J gave us a great tour of the Olympic training camp, historic downtown Park City and a ride on the “Funicular” at Deer Valley Ski Resort to the “St. Regis Hotel” patio bar.  

The weather was spectacular so we were able to enjoy the signature cocktails on the patio and take in the sights of the surrounding mountains.  St. Regis staff also demonstrated the art of champagne sabrage by popping the champagne cork.  A saber carrying storyteller explains the history of the tradition before expertly removing the champagne cork with a saber.  It was a cool event to experience, and we were able to enjoy the complimentary champagne afterward. 

Following cocktails, we headed back to J & J’s home for dinner.  Jeanne prepared a great meal and we were joined by their son, Collin, with whom we all enjoyed dinner on the back deck overlooking the mountains.  Located on the outskirts of the city, the neighborhood has mule deer and elk passing through on a daily basis.  Their house is magnificent, dinner was outstanding and the company wonderful!  The evening ended much too soon, but alas we had an early start and some people still had to work!  

The “Park City RV Resort” is perfectly situated next to a river and in the mountain valley.  It is immaculately kept and the staff was great.  All sites were level asphalt with concrete patios and grass between the sites.  The only negative for me was the lack of space.  The owners definitely maximized the trailer hook-ups at the cost of any sense of privacy.  Also being a relatively expensive campground, this would probably not be the top pick when we come back to Park City!  

Rawlins was simply a one-night stopover due to distance to Cheyenne.  Being Memorial Day, the choices for dinner were limited, but we did find “Bucks Sports Grill” which was a nice experience.  Good food, good beer and great service!  We stayed at the “Rawlings KOA Journey” and had no issues.  Staff was great, sites were fine, and it was a great place to spend the night.  

Bear Valley RV and Camping Resort (26-28 May 23)

Look close or you may never find it, but at the intersection of UT 89 and 20 just 10 miles north of Panguitch is a small outpost camping area with full RV hookups and a gas station. “Bear Valley RV and Camping Resort” was our home away from home for our day trip to nearby (33 miles) Bryce Canyon National Park. It made for a shorter day trip, and it is on the way to our next stop in Park City, UT.  Instead of doing the 170 mi roundtrip from Kanab, we just moved closer to Bryce!  Friends from the Rally told us about Bear Valley, and they had plenty of room despite it being “Memorial Day” weekend.  Remain thankful for those that have gone before us in service to our great nation! 

The only planned and executed excursion was to “Bryce Canyon National Park.” We started with watching sunrise over ‘Inspiration Point’ overlooking the ‘Amphitheater.’  The downside to watching sunrise was the 3:45AM wake up call! Well, it was also only 29 degrees when we arrived at the top, but I digress.  Anyway, we contemplated skipping the morning routine, but had the entire day planned and decided getting up a little earlier to shower would be a good idea!  The start time was, of course, derived from prep time, breakfast, and our drive time to arrive at least 15 minutes before sunrise.  We made it on schedule and despite a few clouds on the horizon, enjoyed another beautiful sunrise!  The positive side was enjoying an essentially empty park that early in the morning.  By the time we left a few hours later, cars were backed up at the entrance three across and ten deep.  Go early or wait in line!  

I mentioned the day was planned, which included watching sunrise, taking a short 5-mile hike around the ‘Amphitheater,’ and then enjoying the 18-mile drive stopping at various scenic overlooks.  We hit 2 out of 3!  The hike fell off the list shortly after arriving at ‘Inspiration Point’ and hiking to its highest of three overlooks.  We decided that hiking at 9,000 feet was not in the best interest of those used to living at an elevation closer to 900 feet!  We did make the drive where we enjoyed some spectacular views of natural rock formations, and we have the photos to prove it!  For the record, we did still log some mileage walking from parking lots to viewing spots.  Fitbit says so!!!

After our morning in Bryce Canyon, we stopped in Panguitch on the way back to camp and had a real ‘breakfast for lunch’ at the “Flying Goat Café.”  Tina had fruit stuffed French toast and I had the pancakes and eggs.  Both were delicious!  We were not sure if that was because it tasted so good, or we were just hungry after Bryce Canyon!  Regardless, the service was outstanding and we would not hesitate to eat there again.  

Panguitch was having a street market, so we walked around there for a short time before heading back to Bear Valley.  The resort (?) is a perfect place for a short stop of a day or two.  It is 10 miles from town, but is on UT 20 which is a main feeder for US Hwy 15 that we will be taking north.  The campground does offer a few nostalgic “Conestoga wagon” cabins and one “teepee” for rent in addition to the RV campground.  The campground is wide open as far as spacing between rows.  Distance between campers is adequate, but you will not feel crowded.  It is level and all gravel.  The scenery rivals what we experienced in Kanab, there is a 24-hr laundry room and bathrooms on site, and I guess one other bonus is the Sinclair gas station that is here!  Short distance to top off!   It is not in the heart of anything, but is close to much and is a great stopover if you are in the area!

Grand Plateau RV Resort (17-26 May 23)

Utah “Grand Design Owners’ Rally” was the impetus behind coming to Kanab.  The added draw to Kanab is its proximity to many more natural wonders in southern Utah and northern Arizona.  We tried to take advantage of our location and to see some of the sights in the ‘local’ area.  

Our first trip was to “Zion National Park” which was a ‘two-fer’ in that we were able to see and explore Zion while volunteering with the National Park Service as part of an event coordinated and sponsored by the Rally.  In short, Grand Design supports several “ambassadors” to include the “Impact Team” which coordinates community service events like trash collection, waterway cleanup, etc.  Keith and Raini did an excellent job coordinating with Brenna Mcbride of Zion’s National Park Service to make these events happen.  So, Tina and I volunteered to go clean up litter in Zion National Park.  Volunteers are a great component to National Parks across the nation and are a force multiplier for the Rangers.  Our group had a great time and still enjoyed the beauty of Zion!  Thanks to Grand Design for lunch! 

We also took a trip to Page, AZ to see several points of interest near / between there and Kanab.  We started with an early morning drive to “Horseshoe Bend” which is a horseshoe shaped meander of the Colorado River and part of the “Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.”  It is a beautiful sight and an easy hike from the parking lot to the canyon edge.  Not the Grand Canyon, but just as beautiful! 

Our next stop was the “Glen Canyon Dam” just upriver from Horseshoe Bend and a few miles outside of Page.  Not as famous as the Hoover Dam perhaps, but just as impressive looming 720 feet above the river below.   Another modern structural marvel, the dam location also houses a visitor center and museum that has more information on the dam and history of the local area.  Another spectacular spot and several more ‘Kodak moments.’  

After running a couple of shopping errands, it was time for lunch.  Fortunately, we discovered yet another “Grand Canyon Brewing Company” location in Page.  Their pizza and pilsners never disappoint, and we walked away happy campers! 😉  After lunch we meandered our way back toward Kanab with several stops for photos and one more relatively short hike to see the “Toadstools” Hoodoo formation.  Located about halfway between Kanab and Page, the Toadstools are in the “Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s” Red Canyon.’  Again, an easy hike and worth the view once you get there!   

As I mentioned in the beginning, our primary goal for Kanab was the owner’s rally.  The Wagon Masters (event coordinators), Scott and Denise, did a FANTASTIC job pulling off one of the more fun rallies we have attended.  A cowboy themed event, it was filled with great social events, entertainment, vendor lectures, food and meeting folks who share a passion for the RV lifestyle.  The highlight of the entertainment was the “W Duo.”  The multi-talented couple, Russell and Lyndsey Wulfenstein, played guitar, banjo and fiddle while singing and performing much of their original music.  Russell’s mastery of the fiddle are remarkable, and Lyndsey’s vocals (along with her own instrument playing) were awesome!  We also enjoyed the ‘Cowboy Poet’ Carl Anderson who entertained us with original poetry and song derived from the old cowboy days spent on the range and ranch.  It was both funny and educational!  We were also happy to see Dave and Stephanie from our Tucson stop and make new friends with Mike and Andi!   

The rally was held at the “Grand Plateau RV Resort” in Kanab and is a spectacular location if you are ever this way.  It is light on shade (trees are growing) but is very clean and well-kept.  All the sites are level gravel with concrete patios.  There is an upper and lower area with the upper sites providing a slightly better view of the surrounding countryside.  The spacing is not huge but is adequate and comfortable.  There is a small store at the office, a pool, a hot tub and pickle ball courts.  The laundromat is top notch and we used it a couple of times during our stay.  The only negative for us was connectivity.  Not sure about others, but the T-mobile tower is behind one of the buttes and the signal was not always good.  And not that we spent much time in the trailer, but the park does not offer cable and local over-the-air channels do not exist.  Despite this small inconvenience, we loved the park and its surrounding beauty.  It is privately owned and operated, and the staff were great from check-in to departure.   Great place to call home for a few days while you explore!

Las Vegas RV Resort (14-17 May 23)

Viva Las Vegas!. . .in the words of the great Elvis Presley!  And what happened to Elvis?  We spent three days in Vegas and did not spot him once!   Sadly, the rumors may be true that he has left the building.  Regardless, we did spot some very dear friends and spent nearly every waking moment touring the city with them.  

Only a couple of short hours after our arrival, we were picked up by a former squadron mate, Dennis, who is a recent new resident of Las Vegas.   New resident or not, he has gotten his bearings and identified some great eateries!   The “Lazy Dog Brewery”, the “King Fish House Restaurant”, the “Public School Restaurant and Bar” and the “Yard House” were all excellent choices.  There was no shortage of craft beer, wine and great food!  We also much appreciated his taxi/tour service and spending his time off with us during our short stay. 

Another very good friend, Caressa, was kind enough to treat us while exploring the dinner scene at a place called “Superfrico” in the “Cosmopolitan Hotel.”  Caressa is a relatively new concierge for a Vegas hotel and is still building her knowledge base of the town so she can make recommendations for her guests.  Superfrico was a place she had heard about and wanted to check out.  In short, it was interesting and the best way to understand it is to experience it yourself!  Food was fantastic, service was great and the entertainment – yes, entertainment – during our time there was the interesting part!  The constant floor show of various acts roaming about the restaurant while customers enjoy dinner is their niche.  It was good . . .different, but good!  

While I am on the topic of the Cosmopolitan, I should tell you about the “Chandelier Bar” located in the hotel.  Chandelier is the operative word, and it is something to see, but the bar is famous for their drink called the ‘Verbena.’   The “Chandelier Bar Verbena” is an off the menu vodka and ginger based lime drink that comes with the secret ingredient called the ‘Szechuan button.’  Eating the bud has the common effect of numbing the mouth and tongue.  I tried the drink. . .it was lime tasting. . .the button does have a definite and noted effect, but it was not numbing for me.  Tasted kind of like eating a dandelion leaf, but instead of any numbness, it sent my saliva glands into overdrive!  That is the best description I can provide. . . go give it a try! 

Las Vegas was another bucket list destination for Tina, so she came with a list of the ‘big four’ to see and explore.  We had to see the “Bellagio Hotel” (fountains, botanical garden and chocolate fountain), “Caesar’s Palace Hotel” (Fall of Atlantis, shopping area Chihuly ceiling), “Venetian Hotel” (gondola ride), and a show.  Check, check, check and check!  There were a few other points of interest we wanted to see, but our time was limited.  Ergo, a reason to return at some point in addition to seeing our friends again!  

We saw the show “Absinthe” at Caesar’s Palace, and it was entertaining with the acrobatic acts and injected comedy.  I will add that the language was a bit strong and not for the easily offended.  I also have to say it was a little surprising, but I had to remember we were in Las Vegas!   The language notwithstanding, the acrobatics were phenomenal!  The athleticism and skill in the performers were incredible to watch!  Great show! 

We did manage one side tour to the “Hoover Dam” only about half an hour drive from our camp.  Dedicated in 1930, the dam has a much broader history and was originally named the Boulder Dam until the official name change in 1947.  We drove across the dam some 730 feet above the canyon below and experienced some great views.  There is a parking structure, and you can walk across the dam at your leisure.  The visitor center is a pay-to-enter facility where you can also schedule a tour of the interior of the dam.  We did not take that tour, but we have talked to others that have and it sounds like an impressive experience if you get the chance.  

To wrap this one up, we stayed at the “Las Vegas RV Resort,” and despite that we learned after arrival it may not be in the best part of town, we had no issues.  There is 24-hr security, the sites were level, adequately sized with plenty of room for the trailer and tow vehicle.  Since we were only at the trailer to sleep, we have no problem staying here again if the circumstances dictated it.  Fun stop and great to see everyone!

Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort (4-14 May 23)

You might as well settle in and grab a glass of your favorite beverage because this is looking like it may be a longer than normal read.  That can be attributed to two factors: 1) it was a longer than usual (10-days) stay; 2) we saw and did a lot!  So, without further delay, let me begin our bucket list adventure!

I will start by recalling the drive up from Phoenix.  We started at 5:00 a.m. to stay ahead of forecast strong winds.  That was a wise decision!  Winds were reported at 50+ mph later in the day.  It was a relatively short 2-hr drive, so we were in place well before check-in time.  We found a breakfast grill at a nearby gas station and took advantage of the time to eat.  Afterward, I called the campground to see how early we could get in.  The campground staff was completely understanding about the weather and were happy to get us in at 10:00 a.m.  Our assigned site was open, so we were buttoned down by 10:30 a.m. ahead of the worst winds.  And then the fun begins!

Our first effort was to contact a local dentist to get Tina in for a look because of some severe tooth pain.  We were able to get her in for the last appointment of the day.  Diagnosis – probable root canal!  The staff at Dentists of Flagstaff were outstanding!  They contacted an endodontist for a referral, and she was set to go the next Thursday.  A few pain meds and a trip to the Grand Canyon later, Tina underwent a root canal.  It was back to the dentist the following day to put on a permanent crown and all is good!  Pain free and still traveling!  The doctors at Flagstaff Endodontics were also phenomenal and if you are ever in Flagstaff and need some dental work done, they have our highest recommendations!  They were all truly skilled professionals and made what could have been a miserable experience something that was not much more than a bump in the road!  Thanks to them all!! 

So, back to the story . . .  We arrived on a Thursday and started with lunch at Flagstaff ahead of Tina’s first trip to the dentist.  We found a nice little craft brewery called the “Beaver Street Brewery” in the historic downtown area of town.  We did a flight to find our favorite.  Tina liked their Shandy and I favored the Seasonal Lager.  A couple of others were also good, but the highlight was their pizza!  We had a supreme and added some Italian sausage to offset some of the veggies.  The crust was hand tossed and perfectly cooked!  Great pizza and worth the stop!  

So, after a bit of touring around the immediate area, it was off to the dentist.  In short, the tooth was cracked pretty badly resulting in an immediate referral to the endodontist.  In the interim, they placed a temporary crown on the tooth to arrest some of the discomfort.  Ummmm . . . it did not work . . . but before the Novocain wore off, we stopped at the “Bearizona” drive through wildlife park just outside of Williams.  

Bearizona is a recognized animal rescue rehabilitation facility with both a drive through and a small walk-through zoo area where they care for bears, wolves, bison, and other wild animals not typically found roaming free.  Black bears, Grizzly bears, and Arctic wolves were definitely some close encounters!   We also saw bison, elk, otters, beaver, badgers and more furry little critters.  Personally, the cost/benefit is a little off, but if you do go, you will not get any closer to wild black bears and grizzlies without visiting Alaska!  

We were back in Flagstaff the next day to pick up some pain meds for the tooth and drop off my laptop for a screen replacement.  Tina was in so much tooth pain that she threw my laptop across the trailer and smashed it!  I should have picked up the pain meds sooner!  Just kidding about tossing the laptop! 😉  It slipped off the chair and hit the table pedestal foot just at the right angle to make my life miserable.  (It was repaired in a couple of days by Alpine Computer Repair at a very reasonable cost.  Working great again!)  

Before I digress further, I was talking about another visit to Flagstaff.  Primary Objective: Pain meds!  On ‘pharmacy and computer day’, we also checked out a couple of more breweries.  “Dark Sky Brewing Company” was okay, but the beer list was limited and not spectacular.  We went to another one called the “Lumberyard Brewing Company” and were quite pleased. 

Lumberyard was a hit, and as we found out are a separate, but sister brewery to the “Historic Brewing Company” located in both Flagstaff and Williams.  Lumberyard also distributes to the other local craft breweries.  More on Historical later, but the point is we – scratch that – ‘I’ very much enjoyed their offerings to include the Railhead Red and their Pale Ale.  The Red was so good, I took a six pack to go!  The better part was that since it was distributed, I found it at every other brewery we tried!  Tina was doing drugs, so she had to leave all the taste testing to me!  It was a tough job, but I am a team player, and the drinking must go on! 

Feeling no pain and having snacked at both Dark Sky and Lumberyard, we proceeded to the “Walnut Canyon National Monument” only a few miles outside of Flagstaff.  We have some photos included, but the focus of this monument is to highlight the history of Native American tribes’ cliff dwelling lifestyle in the now barely flowing Walnut Creek valley.  There is a hiking trail that descends into and across the creek allowing access to some of the adobe house sights on the other side.  We did NOT opt for that and observed from the deck at the visitors center and along a shorter rim trail on our side of the creek.  It was nice! 

The weekend upon us and pain meds working as designed, we decided to explore locally in Williams awaiting our Monday departure for the Grand Canyon.  As it was lunch time, we tracked down the “Pizza Factory” because of a recommendation from the bartender at Lumberyard.  Great recommendation!  The hand tossed ‘Factory Special’ (add sausage) was delicious!  This place makes it on our favorites list!  

After some other stops and later in the day, we ended up looking for more nutrition!  As briefly mentioned before, the Historic Brewing Co in Williams is a sister brewery to the Lumberyard and co-produced a couple of beers.  In addition to the Railhead Red, I also tried their Pale Ale and do not regret either of those choices.  The Historic also had a burger worthy of mention – the ‘Bacon Black and Bleu Burger.’  Delicious of course, but what isn’t good with bacon!  Historic also has a small game arcade and electronic shooting gallery in the bar if you get bored! 

I will break with chronological reporting and discuss some of the other spots we visited in Williams, then finish with our trip to the Grand Canyon.  Williams is also home to the “Grand Canyon Winery” located only a couple of doors down from Historic.  We (I) tried a flight of their wines, and they were all great!  Ryan, our “host” was a relatively new local, but with past travels and experiences was a fount of knowledge!  Appreciate all the info!  Wine and company were great and we walked away with some red and white for later reminiscing!  We stopped in a couple of gift shops, notably the “Thunder Eagle” where Tina discovered the hand-crafted silver and stone jewelry.  Happy Mothers’ Day! 😊  I believe the “Olive of the Best” olive oil and vinegar store also enjoyed our presence.  No complaints – Tina is an EXCELLENT cook, and all supplies are welcome!  (She also found an Asian Market in Flagstaff!)  We made a brief stop at “Cruiser’s Route 66 Café” and finished with the world famous “Sultana Bar.”  

According to the plaque on the wall as you walk into the bar, Sultana’s “famous” status was earned during “Prohibition” in the 1920s.  Opened in 1912, ‘The World-Famous Sultana Bar and Theater’ has always been the center of activity in Williams.  As we learned, at one time the town of Williams had a series of tunnels and a small river running under main street that connected several “speakeasies” of the time.  The prohibited alcoholic drinks (moonshine and other spirits) were transported from business to business via the tunnels.  Thankfully, times have changed, or we would not have met Dave and Beth. 

The couple are RV kindred spirits and after several years of a full-time live aboard experience on their boat, and an additional couple of years of full-time RV living, are about to move into their self-built, off the grid house just outside of Williams.  They were a fascinating couple to talk to about past travels and had some great insight on our next stop in Las Vegas.  Dave and Beth, if you are reading this – it was nice meeting you and thanks for the tips!  Congrats and all the best on your new (stationary) home! 

The only other place we visited was the “Grand Canyon Brewery and Distillery” that was only a short walk across the street from our site on the campground.  Proximity counts!  Also a highly recommended eatery, neither the beer nor food disappointed!  Again, we opted for the pizza in our perpetual search for the ultimate pizza!  The jury is still out, but this Italian pie is definitely on the list as one of our favorites!  The beer was also just as tasty, and I had a pilsner while Tina watched!  Unfortunately, we did not plan well enough to check out the distillery also located on the property.  I guess that is one reason to re-visit Williams!  

Ok . . .finally . . . the actual “Grand Canyon” portion of our trip!  Earlier, I mentioned that this is a “bucket list” stop on our travels across our great country!  We did sort of go all out on this part of our summer vacation, so we opted to take the “Grand Canyon Railway” train from Williams up the South Rim where we stayed in a lodge (hotel) for a couple of days while we toured around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  

Prior to boarding the train, there was a ‘Wild West Show’ of sorts at a mock Western town beside the train station.  It was a nice story about some of the town characters and set the stage for a future event.  The train ride up was great and is highly recommended if you get the opportunity.  We opted for the glass domed car which offered unobstructed views for the entire ride.  Thankfully the weather was perfect for the entire three days. The train ride also included entertainment and assistance by a very knowledgeable (and funny) Passenger Service Assistant (PSA) named Noele.  With 4-years’ experience and over 1,500 trips to and from the Canyon, she was full of information and had a great sense of humor!  There was also live entertainment by singers and musicians while we enjoyed a snack bar (included) and a cash bar service.  The trip was a little over 2 hours leaving Williams at 9AM and arriving at 1115AM at the South Rim.  

Upon arrival we had a couple of hours to kill while we waited for check-in time at the lodge.  Our top priority was to get our first look of the canyon from GC Village area located up a slight hill from the train station.  The only word that comes close to describing our initial view of the Grand Canyon is ‘breath taking!’   A little trivia… from this viewing area, it is the widest point of the canyon, measuring 18 miles across to the North Rim.  The average distance between the North and South Rim over the length of the 277-mile Grand Canyon is 10 miles.  As you will see from the pictures, the sights are amazing!  While it looks surreal in some of the pictures – I am telling you the pictures do not do justice to seeing this magnificent sight in person.  It is truly a natural wonder!  

On our second day, we did take a scheduled 2-hr tour by motor coach with a guide/driver to the western edge of the “Rim Trail” to a point called “Hermits Rest.”  In hindsight, I probably would not have done that except for the fact that the driver, Scott, was an excellent tour guide!  His grasp of the history of the Canyon and other facts and figures about the same was remarkable!  Add to that, he possesses a good sense of humor, so it was a good combo!  My hindsight hesitancy is that the National Park Service provides a free shuttle service along the exact same route and includes several more stops not visited during the tour.  Tina calls it a toss-up and while I mostly agree with her, the guided tour was not free!  The views were certainly the same! 😊  

As mentioned, the NPS offers a free shuttle service for the 14-mile stretch of the Rim Trail from Hermits Rest to Yaki Point.  Hermits Rest is on the Western end of the Red Route which starts/stops at the Grand Canyon Village at a transfer from the Blue Line.  The Grand Canyon Visitors’ Center (main parking lot) is at the other end of the Blue Line where you can pick up the Yellow Line East or West.  The Yellow Line East takes you to Yaki Point, which is the furthest eastern viewpoint serviced by the park shuttle.  The views from every stop are amazing and they are all different as witnessed by well over 200 photos taken by me!  What did I say earlier – breath taking!  

A quick note, we were disappointed about the Main Visitors’ Center which was not open while we were there.  We were there from Monday noon until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.  The visitor center, while we were there was open Thursday through Monday from 8:00-12:00 a.m.  It was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We did not see the film/video or see what else the center offered.  The restricted business hours were contributed to a staff shortage.  

Regardless of the disappointment of the Visitor Center, there was much more to see!  I will resist writing ad infinitum on every venue we visited and instead provide the link so you can check them out at your leisure.  I will save any comments for the highlights.  

The first shop we visited – located right next to our first view of the Canyon – was the “Hopi House.”   A gift shop with a story, it was stocked with more of the high-end and hand-made art and craft work from local Native American artists and artisans.  There was also the “Verkamp’s Visitor Center”, “Mary Colter Lookout Studio”, the “Kolb Studio” and a couple of dining options that I will talk about.  

We opted for a late lunch/early dinner at the “Bright Angel Lodge’s” Ed Harvey Restaurant prior to checking into our lodge room.  This was the mid-level of the dining options at the Grand Canyon Village.  Our initial experience was good and the only negative was the vegetable sides to our main course.  Tina had the salmon, and I had the baked chicken.  Both were cooked well and tasty, but the ‘chef’s choice’ vegetable sides were not quite on the same par.  Overcooked . . .been in the pot all day . . . I don’t know, but they were barely edible and poor quality for the prices they charge – tourist area or not.  We did give them a second chance for lunch on our last day while waiting for our return train to Williams.  If possible, this experience was worse.  I will spare you the details, but McDonalds can do better!  

Quick and dirty – breakfast at the “Maswik Lodge” was a disaster.  Pseudo cafeteria style, the server was the movie stereotype on a food line where the food is slopped on your plate and pushed down the line.  I had scrambled eggs – everywhere, with sausage links (cold.)  Tina opted for the pancakes (cold) and also the sausage.  Of course, temperatures are not discovered until we sat down to eat.  I will end with that was a poor experience and not worth $40!  

Our next lunch was at the “El Tovar Hotel”.  Food, service and company was outstanding!  We were graciously invited to share a table with a couple we met on our bus tour.  “Jim and Jasmine Tritten” were a true pleasure to meet and get to know during the tour and over lunch.  Jim is also a former Navy Tailhooker, and along with Jasmine are both accomplished authors and bloggers!  We had a great time chatting and look forward to seeing them again later in our trip!  Again, the food was top notch – beef stroganoff for Tina and I had the Elk Burger!  Delicious!  

There was one other eatery, the “Arizona Steakhouse”, but it was booked the entire time we were there.  We were not warned ahead of time of the popularity of this restaurant, but it must be good!  I guess that is enough on our food journey.

The El Tovar also had a patio bar with an excellent view of the Canyon and a nice sitting area.  Beer, wine and some pre-canned cocktails were available for reasonable costs.  We may have stopped here more than once!  😉  It was a great place to ‘people watch.’  

Alas, the time at the South Rim had to end with a train ride back to Williams.  Same experience with a different PSA and entertainers.  The snack bar was a nice charcuterie and fruit bar.  The cash bar was also open with a couple of specialty drinks which were quite tasty!  The excitement on the return trip was the train robbery by some horse mounted bandits!  Oddly, they looked very similar to the cowboys we saw at the show before we boarded to head to the South Rim.  Hmmmm . . .????  I guess that brings me to a short description of the “Grand Canyon RV Resort and Hotel.”  I already told you about the staff assistance on our day of arrival.  They were great!  The lot was all paved with adequate room between sites.  Reservation at the RV resort also provided access to the hotel facilities which were a short walk away.  There was a nice laundromat on the RV site and a community fire pit.  The Grand Canyon Brewery and Distillery is right across the street!  All in all . . .a nice place and worthy of a revisit!

Desert Shadows RV Resort (1-4 May 23)

We made it to Phoenix with the goal of spending time with some of our Hawaii Ohana, Pat and Karen.  We met our goal and had a great time catching up after a decade of moves, jobs and kids growing up!  It was a quick three days and full of fun, food, and beverages!  We visited some great restaurants, a couple of craft breweries and managed to swing the sticks at Top Golf.  

Pat and Karen introduced us to “Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant” where Tina raved about the sea bass and shrimp with Guerrero sauce.  Quite tasty!  We also enjoyed some fantastic food at “Papa Paul’s”.  My salmon ala vodka with rigatoni was most excellent!  We also enjoyed “The Wilderness Brewery” and the “TCBC” beer offerings!  We remained true to our ales and pilsners, maximizing flights to taste test our way to the good stuff!  

We did get out a bit to see some of the sites.  We made it to the Capital and were pleasantly surprised to see there was a great memorial garden right across the street.  The “Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza” was comprised of several different memorials representing historical conflicts honoring the U.S. Armed Forces, law enforcement, first responders and more.  It was well laid out and had very impressive memorials.  There was also a memorial for the “U.S.S. Arizona” battleship that was sunk in “Pearl Harbor” on Dec 7, 1941, leading to the U.S. entry into WWII.  

The “Arizona Capital” was adorned with a beautiful copper dome – made from Arizona copper, of course.  The Seal of the Great State of Arizona welcomed visitors into the Rotunda that continued up the four floors of a museum telling about the history of the state.  Part of the museum included a nearly indescribable model train set that represented several of the major cities throughout the state.  Constructed of four levels and covering an entire room, the model with several running trains is a sight to behold! 

That takes care of most of our time in Phoenix!  We stayed at the “Desert Shadows RV Resort” just north of the city.  The camp was predominantly permanent residents with a couple of rows reserved for the transient traffic. The sites were all gravel, level and adequately sized with a concrete patio.  The staff was incredibly courteous and helpful.  The laundry room was very similar to an “in town” laundromat in size and number of machines.  Overall, a very clean and well-kept camp!  Perfect for short stays and it will remain on the list of possible re-visits!

KOA Lazydays RV Resort (26 Apr-01 May 23)

Welcome to Arizona!  We stopped off in Tucson to attend a “Grand Design RV” owners’ rally and to take in some local sights.  We had a great visit and ran out of time before we ran out of things to do!   

We made it to the rally on Wed – a day early, and checked in.  Dave and Stephanie were great Wagon Master hosts along with Enrique and Diane assisting.  It was nice meeting them and getting to see other early arrivals at the impromptu street happy hour that evening.  The Rally kicked off the next day with a great motorcycle entrance displaying the U.S. flag followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.  Games, lectures, vendors and other interesting events led up to another happy hour on Thursday night.  Friday was more presentations and then a “camp crawl” where we were introduced to several new combinations and flavors of drinks!  Saturday marked the last day of the rally and is highlighted by Tina’s award-winning salsa!  She entered the salsa making contest and placed third out of 21 entries.  Go Tina!!  And yes, it was (is) very, very good!  It is number one in my book!  

While the rally was the primary event for our Tucson visit, we did manage to see and do several other things.  One of our main activities to do when we can, is to take a bike ride.  Tucson has several connected trails – some better than others – that wind their way through town.  We ended up taking a leisurely hour-long ride through the Sonoran Desert landscape on the Diamond St trail portion of the “Chuck Huckleberry Loop” in and around Tucson.  The ‘Loop’ extends through unincorporated Pima County, Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson and South Tucson.  Good ride for sure, but we started later than we should have and had to expedite to beat the afternoon sun and heat! 

During a break in the Rally activities on Saturday, we took advantage of the time and visited the “Pima Air and Space Museum.”  We were both impressed with the quality and quantity of aircraft on display.  The grounds of the museum also serve as home to the “390^th Memorial Museum” and ‘Home of the B-17 Flying Fortress’.  A remarkable museum in its own right, it pays homage to the heroes of WWII and is a repository of information on this wonderful, historical aircraft.  Also sharing the grounds is the “Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame” that includes an incredible history of Arizonans that participated in or contributed to the history of flight.  Plan to spend half a day to do the tour justice! 

One of Tina’s favorite places to visit was “Roma’s Imports” Italian deli and grocery.  It is an experience of Old-World Italy right in the heart of the Old Pueblo section of Tucson.  Tina went in for some guanciale (pork) and came out with three bags of groceries!   

On occasion, we also like to check out Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’ restaurants and grade Guy on his reviews.  He is batting about .500 in our humble opinions, but “Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria” goes in the win column!  We had the ‘Kitchen Sink’ deep dish pizza and wished we were staying longer so we could have more!  Delicious and worth the trip! 

After assuring we had the food absorption amply addressed, we proceeded to the “Dragoon Brewing Company” to sample the local craft beers.  Again, we were not disappointed and after going through a combined two flights of samples, decided our favorites were the ‘Santa Cruz’r Golden Ale’ and the ‘Dragoon Pils American Pilsner.’   Both were tasty and not too filling! 

Rounding out our exhausting day of eating and drinking was a trip to the highly recommended “Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum” northeast of the city.  It was not a terrible drive, and it was worth every minute and ounce of diesel to get there.  I will caution you that the operative word in the title is ‘desert.’  Indeed, it is a museum and has several air-conditioned buildings to visit, but the majority of the displays are on a nice, peaceful, HOT and SUNNY walk through the desert on clearly marked paths.  Head covering, sunscreen, water and appropriate footwear are highly recommended.  We did have hats!   Go early in the morning and enjoy quite the incredible venue full of incredible views and information on the desert eco-system!   Definitely worth it!  

Our last stop for our time in Tucson was at the “Saguaro National Park” not far from the Sonoran Museum.  The saguaro cactus is quite fascinating now that I have learned more about them than I had ever thought possible from Bob, the docent!  Check out the website or research the cactus itself and I am sure you will also be saying… ”Hmmmm” over and over again!  Just a snippet of a teaser to get you going… the saguaro cactus only grows in the Sonoran Desert and actually has a wooden ‘skeleton.’  A small 4-5 foot tall plant is about 35-40 years old and the cactus does not develop the ‘arm’ sprouts until it is at least 60 years old!  There is much, much more and this National Park is another must see if in the area!  

To wrap this article up, we stayed at the “Tucson KOA Lazydays RV Resort” just south of town.  It is a typical KOA resort, but relatively large.  There are a couple of pools, lots of doggie parks, and the Rush BBQ Restaurant.  The restaurant hosts live music and, in our case, “DJ Warren” to spin some tunes on Friday night.  The staff was great and always helpful if needed.  The campground is level gravel sites with concrete patios.   There are some ‘high end’ options for buddy camping that include large, flat screen TVs and outdoor kitchens and other sites with larger patios if you are in the mood!  There were also a significant portion of the sites under shade awnings if you can get them!  I would say the sites are roomy enough without being in your neighbor’s business.  Nice campground and one that I would not hesitate to stay at again if needed.

Little Vineyards RV Park (22-26 Apr 23)

We arrived at our final stop in New Mexico, and I have a confession!  I am starting this episode by discussing a couple of stops we made on the drive to Deming because in our research, we did not see a whole lot to do there!   We were wrong!   As you will read, we managed to see and do some fun things and are quite happy with our stay.  

With that said, we were not able to resist the temptation of cramming as much as we could into our adventures, so we stopped just outside of Alamogordo at Pistachio Land and took the opportunity to drive through the White Sands National Park.  Both were literally on the way, and it was a “no-brainer” to stop and enjoy the sights and tastes!

Our first stop was at a roadside store known as McGinn’s “Pistachio Land” located just outside of Alamogordo and home of the world’s largest pistachio!  We were fortunate to meet the owner, Tim McGinn and get a quick history of the business.  The original orchard was established in 1980 by Tim’s Dad.  It is still a family run operation that has expanded to a small vineyard/winery and pistachio ice cream production!  We passed on the wine – shocker, I know, but we did enjoy the ice cream!  It was delicious… if you are a fan of pistachios!  The General Store offered the standard array of souvenirs and several options in the flavors of pistachios!  We most enjoyed – and purchased – bags of the ‘Spicy’, ‘Roasted and Salted’, ‘Green Chili’ and some of their ‘Ultimate Pistachio Brittle’.  It was quite the tasty stop and worth the time if you are in the area!  

Only a few more miles down the road, was the entrance to the “White Sands National Park.”  The park drive is essentially one big loop with several pull-out parking areas where one can picnic, play in the sand, or go sledding down the dunes.  It is an incredible sight to behold with miles and miles of white gypsum sand!  Again, I doubt if the pictures will do this natural wonder justice, but I tried to capture the expanse of the park with sand as far as the eye can see!   We made one lap around the track with the requisite stops for photos, and then continued west. 

On our first night of any camp, we typically try to find a local place to eat (ok… or drink) because we just don’t feel like cooking on travel days.  Our very knowledgeable check-in clerk, Shawna, told us about the “Happy Camper” only a short walk away.  Offering a great menu and craft beer, the decision was not difficult.  We were not disappointed!  The beer selection was predominantly NM craft brews and we both went with the Santa Fe Brewery’s ‘Social Hour’ discovered earlier in Roswell.  Being so close to camp, I am sure we will revisit (We did! 😊) as I want to check out the Pilsner and Amber on tap!  The food was great also!  Some of the best wings I have had, and Tina was very happy with her ‘green chili, pepperoni, and onion’ pizza!  The staff was great and the atmosphere very friendly!   

Continuing our exploration of Deming, we decided to have lunch at a recommended Mexican cuisine restaurant in town.  The “Si Senor” restaurant was a great choice!  It is always a good indicator when a good-sized restaurant is full.  We intentionally (we thought) waited out the lunch rush and were (pleasantly) surprised that there were only two open tables at 1:30 in the afternoon.  We took a full restaurant as a good sign and were not disappointed.  My next comments rarely make print, but I was impressed with the décor and colors for the restaurant.  Reflecting the local Southwest influences, the restaurant was very updated and vibrant.  The staff was great and prices very affordable.  I opted for the #1 – the Deluxe Combination!  Essentially a sampler platter, it included a chili relleno, a tamale, an enchilada, a taco, and beans and rice covered in green chili sauce. It was quite the meal!  Tina built her own small combo off the ala carte menu.  Small was intentional because we knew the deluxe combo would be enough for both of us!  We did well on our choices and we ate well!  I was derelict on my photo duties, however, and failed to get a picture of the deluxe plate.  I guess it looked so good and we were so hungry we couldn’t wait!  Despite the picture, Si Senor was a great recommendation!  

To walk off our substantial lunch, we visited the “Luna Mimbres Museum.”  Initially described to us as the ‘Smithsonian of the West’, it is an incredible repository for historical documents, photos, memorabilia, etc., for the town and region.  While not the Smithsonian in size, it is a scale version for the region and worth the visit.  Not that we tried, but Mike, the docent volunteer, could not be stumped!  Every question was answered in-depth with obviously well researched information.  We were also privileged to meet and chat briefly with Peggy, the museum director.  Both were great and only added to an already interesting and satisfying visit to this museum.  We were there for a couple of hours and only left because they kicked us out to close for the day!  

We rounded out our day with a visit to the “Lescombes Winery” only a few miles from the campground.  The first discovery was to learn that the winery is a “Harvest Host” location.  Naturally, we happened to run into some campers and had great conversations with Bob and Pat who are currently serving as officers with the “Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA)” and are on their own full-time adventure!  We also met Terry and were enlightened with information on some sites to see during our upcoming stops.  I am sure you will be reading about them in the near future! 

Sorry . . . I digressed . . .back to the winery!  It was a very nice venue and offered some great wines!  We both tried different flights to cover as many of their wines as possible!  Chrissy was the best hostess imaginable and accommodated us with not only the wine, but a charcuterie board and information on all the wines we tasted.  We did settle on our favorites – one white, a Pinot Gris, and one red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  Yes, we bought some bottles to re-stock the trailer! 

We stayed at the “Little Vineyard RV Resort” during our short stay in Deming, NM. The staff was more than friendly and provided some great local venue recommendations.  I already mentioned Shawna, our check-in clerk, who pointed us to the Happy Camper on night one.  Pat guided us to our spot and ensured we were perfectly parked and had what we needed for our stay.  The campground is level gravel and easy to get around.  I would say the sites are adequate, but not overly roomy.  Shade is sparse and there is permanent housing area there.  I have noticed this camp appears to be a predominantly transient stop as our neighbors changed every day we were there.  No cable, but there is a club house, a nice laundromat, trash pick-up, and clean bathrooms.  It is a no-frills campground, but more than adequate and appropriately priced for a short stop if you are passing through Deming!  

Town and Country RV Park (18-22 Apr 23)

Welcome to UFO Central and the land of all things extraterrestrial!  Home of the infamous “1947 Incident”, Roswell was too close to not visit on our journey west!  It was a great little stop even if incredibly windy every day of our stay.  

We started our day of exploration with lunch at the “Rib Crib BBQ” restaurant.  They have been ‘slinging the good BBQ since 1992.’  BBQ always seems like a roll of the dice and being somewhat of an accomplished BBQ cook myself, my standards are pretty high! 😉  I am happy to report that the food did not disappoint!  My brisket, pulled pork, sausage sandwich was delicious, and Tina’s ribs were falling off the bone tender and quite tasty!  The variety of sides was also very good!  It was a great start to the afternoon!  

Needless to say, we had to visit the “International UFO Museum and Research Center.”  It is THE resource for information related to the “1947 Incident” and other UFO sightings in the 20th century.  Whether you are an alien believer or not, this museum holds a wealth of historical information chronicling the controversy of the existence of extraterrestrial visitors.  There are some interesting displays and an extensive research library containing volumes of documents, videos, and tapes. 

Remaining true to our search for the perfect craft beer, we visited the only brewery in Roswell, the “Black Cock.”   Housed in a very non-descript roadside building on U.S. 285 near central Roswell, the brewery works with the Tres Hermanos food truck as a kitchen and turns out some very tasty food!  Anticipating the need for some ‘absorption’ prior to imbibing, I had the green chili cheeseburger – worthy of mention on our burger rankings, and Tina thoroughly enjoyed her tacos carnitas!

Unfortunately, the brewery specialized in ciders and seltzers… fortunately, they do have other craft beers on tap!  After sampling several offerings, Tina favored the Sierra Blanca Brewing Co ‘Pecan Amber’, and I selected the Santa Fe Brewing Co ‘Social Hour.’  Dana, the bartender extraordinaire, also provided a taste of the “Milkshake”, which was a mix of the Pecan Amber and another Sierra Blanca offering called the ‘Vanilla Milk Stout.’  It was quite tasty, but not something either of us was looking for at the time!  

We also learned from Cat, the brewer, that it was ‘Whiskey Wednesday.’  After she was off the clock, she joined a group of us and in the spirit of hospitality and promoting the daily special, bought us a round!  She also introduced the shot with a pickle juice chaser!  Yes, I know . . .sounds not so good, but let me tell you, the pickle juice did quite the trick on tempering the whiskey shot!  It was an unexpectedly good combo!  Thanks, Cat!  

Remaining true to making new friends at the breweries, in addition to Dana and Cat, we met another RVer couple, Dave and Annette, who just began their own seven-month summer adventure.  We of course compared notes and gave some suggestions as they are headed along a route we have traveled in the past.  Hopefully we gave them some good ideas.  They have their own Facebook page called “The Castle Aarrgh” if you want to keep up with their travels!  Also joining our group was Renee, who recently relocated to New Mexico from Texas for work.  She works in regional sales and was only passing through Roswell from her main office in Albuquerque.  We look forward to sharing another beer with her as we pass through Albuquerque in June.  There were numerous other alien related tourist venues to visit, but we resisted the temptation so we could leave something for the next visit! 😉  

We stayed at the “Town and Country RV campground.”  Our check-in was quick and easy.  The desk staff was extremely helpful, and we were very appreciative that we could check in an hour early to set up for a work call.  The campground consists of the older front and the newer back section.  The front section has a much better growth of mature trees and some shade.  The back section not so much.  They have trees planted, but they are about 10 years away from providing any effective shade.  The back section, which we parked in, is well groomed gravel, level and adequately sized sites.  The back section is set up with paired buddy sites and while a good size, are not separated by any notable distance.  We were fine during the week, but the population grew for the weekend and we are happy to be departing Saturday morning for our next stop on the way west!