If you are are visiting the province of Alberta in Canada, make sure you save time for Dinosaur Provincial Park.  Here is some information about this amazing place and a map of Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta.  Unlike the rich farmlands and grasslands of much of the prairies, the valleys of the Badlands plunge you into another world.  They consist of mile after mile of dry desert-like landscape, sagebrush, prickly pear, and ghostly hoodoos.  The badlands of Alberta contain some of the richest deposits of dinosaur fossils in the world.  In addition to the treasures that lie in and under its surface, this is an area of breathtaking beauty.

Children On Safe Walking Path

In 1979 the park was designated as a World Heritage site.  It is a place to be enjoyed by people of all ages.  Thirty-five species of dinosaur fossils have been found here so far and hundreds of complete skeletons from the area are exhibited by major museums throughout the world.

Dinosaur Fossil Found Complete In Alberta’s Dinosaur Park

The park is open all year, including part of the campground, gift shop, some outdoor displays, and the convenience store.  Be aware that winter can get bitterly cold in the prairies so plan well if this is the time you wish to visit.  Guided tours end at the beginning of November so you will be on largely on your own for exploring.  Trails are kept open as weather permits.

Hoodoos

From May to the end of October, all the facilities in the park are wide open.  There are one hundred and twenty-five camping sites complete with showers.  Guided bus, and walking tours, with knowledgeable guides, leave at regular intervals.  If you choose, you can arrange your own group tour or even your own private guide.  There is a complete information center, and open to the public, are the theater, interactive exhibits, all outdoor displays, and the fossil prep lab.

During the summer months, it is wise to reserve your camp site well ahead.  Be aware that only seeing eye dogs are allowed in the park.  It is easy to take a leisurely, self-guided, but unless you are very familiar with the area, it is wise to stay on the paths.  Paths are graded according to difficulty and if they specify no children, that is for a good reason.  Several trails are easily maneuverable for wheelchairs, both manual, and electric.  Carry water during the summer months as temperatures go well into the nineties.

Rattlesnake in Dinosaur Provincial Park

This is an area rich in wildlife, coyotes, bobcats, antelope, and deer, as well as birds, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders.  You will be perfectly safe if you wear closed shoes and keep fingers out of small holes and crevices.  Use caution when the paths are wet.  They can become extremely slippery.

Dinosaur in the Royal Terrel Museum

Just a short drive from the park is the town of Drumheller.  Here you will find the usual tourist amenities as well as some fine restaurants and gift shops.  Drumheller’s greatest attraction is the Royal Terrell Museum, where you will find world class displays of dinosaurs found in the park.

Dinosaur Fossil Being Erected In The Royal Terrell Museum

In addition to the thousands of dinosaur fossils found in the park, there are also fossils of turtles, crocodiles, and even sharks, evidence of how the climate changed dramatically over the centuries.  If you have any interest in dinosaurs or the way the world once was, a visit to Alberta’s Dinosaur Park is an experience you will never forget.

If you wish to contact the park, go to the following site for information.

http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx

Sunset In The Park

Below is a map of Dinosaur Provincial park in Alberta.

Over the years, things have changed dramatically on the islands of Hawaii.  Everyone has their idea of a perfect vacation, and, in spite of modernization, Hawaii can still fill many of the requirements of a great vacation.  It still has marvelous weather, gorgeous scenery, great food, and an opportunity to enjoy all that tropic islands have to offer.  Our favorite islands is Kauai.

Kauai is the fourth largest Hawaiian island, and the most remote, still known, internationally, as ‘the garden island’.  Like the others, it has become more developed over the years and the demanding tourist can easily find all the luxuries they find on the mainland.  Civilization on Kauai is the same as civilization in the most developed areas, but, by and large, the beaches are still peaceful and pristine, with glistening ivory sands and a backdrop of towering mountains.

One warning!  Make sure to observe all signs on the beaches.  Most beaches are safe for swimming during the summer months, but can be treacherous in winter, when you will encounter heavy surfs and rip currents.  Never swim alone, and if  you have children you want to make sure that a lifeguard is on duty at the beach of your choice.

Tunnels Beach is a  spectacular beach for swimming and snorkeling.  Here you will find all the underwater life you could hope to see.  You do not have to be a particularly strong swimmer to enjoy the snorkeling here.  In summer, it is a safe swimming beach for the whole family, but do observe any warnings.  Some claim to have seen whales here, but we have not.  Although this is a very popular beach, we always found a private spot somewhere on its long shore.

Anini Beach boasts a long, sandy shoreline, and calm water, thanks to the protection of an extensive off-shore reef.  Anini is the ideal beach for small children and inexperienced swimmers.  Although some do snorkel here, it is not ideal as the water may, at times, be cloudy.  This is a quiet beach, and a pleasant one to visit, whether you swim or not.

Polihale Beach, in Polihale Beach Park is a wonderful beach for strolling.  It is one of the longest beaches in the area, with ocean on one side and great sea cliffs on the other.  Another good family beach, Polihale offers the opportunity to stroll, beachcomb, paddle in the shallows and admire the many towering dunes.  Dune buggies drive this beach so be aware.  The safe swimming area at the south end of the beach is called Queen’s pond, its calmness protected by an off-shore reef.  Swimming in other areas is only for experienced swimmers and should be done with caution.

Poipu beach is another we enjoyed, but found it a bit crowded.  This is probably due to the many other activities that are available in the surrounding area.  Nevertheless it is an attractive beach, with safe swimming as well as snorkeling and scuba diving.

Our favorite beach, though definitely not a place to take children, is Hanakapiai Beach.  It provides spectacular views, especially in winter, when fierce winter winds crash against the shore.  In summer it is relatively safe for swimming, but definitely never in winter.  The hiking trail still leads to the beach, but always observe caution when near the water.

There are many other attractive beaches on Kauai, so many in fact that you will definitely want to return.  Kauai also offers the usual tourist attractions including shopping, luxury hotels, fine dining, romantic hideaways, and authentic Hawaiian luaus, featuring pig-roasting on the beach.  Kauai, and its beaches, demand that you come again.

If you are in the Victoria area, take the time to visit Craigdarroch Castle.  Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, the Castle was completed in 1889.  Unfortunately, Robert Dunsmuir never got to live in his Castle having died only a few short months before its completion.  The castle is one of only two in British Columbia and one of only seven in all of Canada.  The castle is located at 1050 Joan Crescent, of fort Street and just eight blocks from the harbor.  A bus route leads almost directly to the castle grounds.

Robert Dunsmuir immigrated to Canada from Scotland.   By investing in the thriving coal industry, Dunsmuir soon grew to be the wealthiest man in British Columbia.  He spared no expanse to get Craigdarroch Castle built to his exact specifications.

Interior Room Of Craigdarroch Castle

The Castle includes exquisite stonework, stained glass leaded windows, ornate Victorian furnishings, and intricate woodwork throughout.  It towers above the surrounding area and from its tower you can see inland to the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and west to the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  The Castle is open daily to welcome visitors.  Tour of the site are self-guided but there are staff located in all areas to provide additional information as needed.

Hatley Castle

Hatley Castle is Victoria’s other castle.  It was built by James Dunsmuir, the son of Robert Dunsmuir.  Hatley Castle is a replica or a 15th Century Edwardian Castle.  It is situated in Hatley Park a National Historic Site.  The gardens around the Castle alone are worth a visit.

Upon completion,  Hatley Castle became the family home of James Dunsmuir, who later became Premier of British Columbia.  In the 1930s the Castle and grounds were sold to the Federal Government and it served briefly as a Military College.  It now houses the Hatley Castle Museum dedicated to the preservation of the Castle, its grounds, gardens, and artifacts.    It also contains the administrative center of the Royal Roads University.

Gardens of Hatley Castle

The grounds of Hatley Castle are the site for many festivals and weddings.  Hatley Castle is situated at 2005 Sooke Road.  The Castle is open daily for touring throughout the year.

Birds Of A Feather Bed And Breakfast

While in the Victoria, for a special treat, consider staying at the exquisite Birds of a Feather Bed and Breakfast, which is located directly adjacent to Hatley Castle Park.  There are many other more moderately priced accommodations in the immediate area, including the Best Western Carlton and the Chateau Victoria.

Victoria is the destination of tourists from around the world.  Because of its mild climate it is well worth a visit at any time of the year.  While in the Victoria area, there are literally dozens of things to do and enjoy with the whole family.  Just to mention a few, there is the Provincial Museum, the world-famous Butchart Gardens, the Bug Zoo, the Butterfly Gardens, and the Harbor Walkway.  Nearby, you can also enjoy whale and bear-watching tours, fishing, kayaking, and scuba diving.

U.S. Coastguard Certified, Victoria Clipper

The ferry ride from Seattle, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia takes under three hours.  The scenery on route is spectacular and the service on board the ferry is nothing short of excellent.

Prime Oregon wine country stretches across the Willamette and Tualatin valleys.  Here the weather is comparable to the ideal wine-growing areas of the Rhine valley.  Many award-winning wines come from this area.  The region is a joy to travel through, not just for the wine, but also for its pastoral country scenery, and tempting orchards.  Along the way you will pass museums, antique shops, art galleries, and great places to stop for a picnic or an easy walk through the country hills.  There are also many fine restaurants and of course, the wineries themselves and the opportunity to enjoy tastings.  For wine-lovers, a tour of Oregon wine country will be an experience you will never forget.

To enter wine country from Portland, you will travel west on route 26.  The areas around the valleys is dotted with excellent vineyards and wineries, but as space is limited, I will concentrate on only four.  You will see many signs throughout the area guiding you to a variety of others along the way.

The Tualatin Vineyard is located at 10850 Northwest Seavey Road in Forest Grove.  It is open daily throughout the year.  The Tualatin Vineyard, established in 1973 is one of the oldest and most respected vineyards in Oregon.  It is famous for many award-winning wines, especially their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and semi-sparkling Muscat.  The vineyard’s 140 acres are especially beautiful when the area is in its autumn colors.  For hours of operation and tasting opportunities, check before you visit.

The Montinore Vineyard at 26830 Northwest Olson Road in Forest Grove is family-owned.  It specializes in small unique plantings.  The vineyards spreads over 230 beautiful acres, backed by the slopes of the coastal mountains, and looking down into the valley.  Here you will see a vast expanse of award winning vines as well as elegant vegetable gardens.  The Montinore Vineyard welcomes visitors throughout the year and also offers year-round tastings.

Ken Wrights Cellars at 236 North Kutch Street in Gaston Oregon, is the place to stop for tasting.  This is an excellent choice for many wines, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Cardonnay.  The Cellars were established in 1993, and it is amazing how so many excellent wines can originate in this small acreage.  The yield is a result of concentrating on soil quality, and fastidious attention to all aspects of production.  Ken Wright’s tasting rooms are open year round, by appointment only.

The Rex Hill Vineyards at 30835 North Highway are an excellent place to spend an afternoon.  Make sure you tour the winery, picnic in style overlooking the valley below, and of course, stay for a tasting.  The Vineyards were established in 1989, and the helpful staff enjoys pointing out the many antiques and explaining the history of the winery itself.  Wines to sample include, among others the Pinot Noir, and the Pinot Gris.

In Oregon’s wine country there are accommodations to meet every budget and need.  The following are just a sample.  The Grand Lodge in Forest Grove.  Staying here is a memorable experience but not for the budget minded.  The Forest Grove Inn, offers pleasant accommodations at reasonable prices.  All shopping amenities are nearby.  The Red Lion Inn and The Best Western, both in McMinnville, provide comfortable family accommodations.

While in Oregon wine country,  remember to check out the other opportunities for fun and entertainment.  The area offers for opportunities for fishing, boating, golfing, riding, hiking, and camping.

For more in depth information on Oregon Wine Country, go to:

http://www.oregon.winecountry.com/

Salt Spring Island is the most popular island in the Strait of Georgia.  It can be reached by small plane or ferry from Port
Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver Island, or mainland British Columbia.

Salt spring has a fascinating history.  It was first settled by black slaves, fleeing persecution, and then by immigrants from Great Britain, Japan, Germany, and Portugal.   The island later became home to logging operations and then agriculture.   Now, Salt Spring has a decidedly multicultural atmosphere.  Today peoples still come to settle on the island, drawn by its beauty and tranquility.   Summer is an exciting, though crowded, time of year on the island so, if possible, visit in the spring or autumn.

Champion Ready For Shearing

Activities

Salt Spring is the perfect place for hiking and biking, from its forested Ruckle Provincial Park, with its six miles of hiking trails,  to its many white-shell beaches and meandering roadways.  Climb to the highest point on Salt Spring’s Baynes Peak, for a great view of the whole island and the surrounding sea.  If you choose to ride the trails, horses are for rent at Salt Spring Trail Rides.

Fish for bass or trout in the island’s several stocked lakes, or in the surrounding seas for salmon.  Take a kayaking adventure along the coast.  Swim or beachcomb on its shell and sandy shores.

In May, you will be able to visit the Wool Exhibition covering all aspects of wool production, including shearing, washing, spinning, and dyeing.

Late spring is the time for sail-boat races, sand-sculpting,and other beach activities for the whole family.

Art festivals take place throughout July, including theater and dance.  This is the time for the many island artists and craftsmen to exhibit their works and for tourists to buy a variety of treasures at reasonable prices.  Throughout the year, the many island art galleries, as well as studios, are open to the public.

Accommodations

Salt Spring is a friendly island which boasts a variety of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets.  Here are a few.

Bed and Breakfasts include, among others; Dancing Light Cottage in a forest setting, specializing in organic breakfasts; Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, and Beach House Bed and Breakfast, both offering private suits; and Armand Heights Bed and Breakfast which has spectacular views of both the coastal mountains and the gulf islands.

Other comfortable hotel-like accommodations include; Harbor House, Salty Springs Spa Resort, and Hastings House. To avoid  surprises, phone ahead for rates.

Places To Dine

For a full breakfast in an antique setting, try Weston Lake Inn.  Here you can always get fresh produce, and farm-fresh eggs.

If you want a deli lunch or some fixings for a picnic, stop and load up at The Fat Rascal on Fulford-Ganges Road.  Tides Inn, also on Ganges Road offers great fish and chips, and a variety of salmon dishes.

For an excellent dinner in a pub-like atmosphere, try the Vesuvius Inn.  House Picolo is another good location for dinner, offering a variety of dishes featuring seafood, lamb and Scandinavian cuisine.

For More Information Go To:

www.saltspringisland.bc.ca

Salt Spring Island In The Early Morning

Parksvillle is a small town with a big heart.  There are family activities for the whole family, every month of the year.  Parksville is located on the east side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.  It is located right on the sea.  The town is close to the Island Highway, so staying in Parksville gives you ready access to the rest of the island should you choose to explore.

Arbutus Grove Motel

There are accommodations in Parksville to suit all tastes and budgets, including hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts.  A great beachfront choice is The Beach Club Resort.  It is Parksville’s most luxurious hotel, offering spectacular mountain or ocean views from all rooms and suites.  The Beach Club boasts a seaside pool, fitness center, and excellent restaurant.

Other good choices include the Parksville Beach Resort, the Park Sands Beach Resort, the Surfside RV Resort and the Skylite Motel.  If you are traveling with pets, the Skylite should be your destination as it is a pet-friendly facility with spacious rooms to accommodate, and welcome, your most fastidious pets.  The Ting-Na-Mars, Seaside Spa Resort will pamper your body and spirit after a busy day of sightseeing.  This is also a great place to dine.

As it is such an attractive tourist destination, Parksville offers Dining Facilities to suit all tastes.  Ole Mexicanos Cafe offers Mexican food spiced up at your request.  Try their margarita pie.  Joey’s offers family style dining in a friendly atmosphere along with their fish and chips, and salmon burgers.  Macluer House Restaurant is the place for seafood and their famous Wednesday curries.  This is just touching the surface.  In addition to other restaurants, pubs, sports bars, and lounges, Parksville has restaurants specializing in Japanese, French, German, and Chinese cuisine.

Parksville Beach

All year round Parksville offers a variety of activities for the whole family. Spend your days beach-combing or swimming in the warmest waters on the island.  Visit the Paradise Fun Park.  Hike, bike, or ride the nearby forest trails.  Go fishing, sailing, or kayaking.

Paradise Fun Park.

There is always something to see or do in and around Parksville.  The downtown area offers unique gift shops and specialty stores where you can browse for fashionable clothing and unusual gifts.  Here you will also find the Farmers Market, the theater under the stars, the kite festival, home and garden tours, the classic car show, craft fairs, wildlife festivals, and of course the internationally famous Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition that runs from July 16 through August 15.

There  With Parksville as your home base, you can explore the nearby areas as well.

For more information special events or what to do in and around Parksville, go to:

www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com

Carved by the mighty Snake River, Hell’s Canyon, is the deepest canyon in all of North America.  It lies along the borders of Eastern Washington and Western Oregon.  The Nez Perce were the first people to settle the canyon area, later followed by miners and ranchers.  Today the area around the canyon draws tourists to ride, hike, fish, hunt, and mountain bike, and of course to jet-boat along the raging river itself.

You can fly into Lewiston from Portland or drive there from the I-84.

To have a comfortable overnight stay close to Hell’s Canyon, tourists seem to prefer the Quality Inn, La Quinta, and the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston, or the Quality Inn, in Clarkston.  Lewiston and Clarkson are connected by a bridge across the Snake River.  The two towns were named after the explorers Lewis and Clark who reached the area in the early 1800s.

If you visit the Canyon, make sure you take a ride on the Snake.  A variety of packages can be arranged in the town or from your hotel.  Trips range from a few hours to overnight.  You river guide will give you a running commentary on the history of the river as you bounce along.  You can even take a ride on the mail boat as it takes its weekly run.  If you like rough water, and don’t mind a crowd,  take your trip in the spring when the water really rage.  Crowds are smaller in spring and autumn, and the river is calmer.  Whenever you travel the river, dress appropriately.  Wear non-slip shoes and don’t be surprised if you get wet.

You have a choice of a covered aluminum boat, or

a wilder do-it-yourself adventure.

Good places to eat in the Lewiston area include, Mandarin Pine Restaurant, Jonathan’s, and Red Lobster.  In Clarkston, try The Bamboo Gardens, Bogey’s, or Arby’s.    An adventure in the Hell’s Canyon area would be a wonderful way to spend a vacation.

The, 185 mile, Cabot Trail winds through the northern area of Cape Breton Island, through some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

The trail is named after the Italian explorer John Cabot who explored the area in 1497.

My favorite time to travel the trail is in the fall when the slopes are alive with the red and gold of dying leaves.  However, any time of year has its attractions from swimming on the pristine beaches in the summer to skiing, and skidooing in the winter.  Following are just a few of the highlights along the trail.

Baddeck

Typically the Cabot Trail starts in Baddeck.  This was originally the hunting ground of the native Mi’kmaq.  Later the Loyalists began to settle there at the time of the American Revolution.  Alexander Graham Bell, left his native Scotland, and came to Baddeck to conduct his experiments, along with other famed inventors.  Along with its historical museum, the area also offers an excellent golf course as well as yachting on the Bras d’Or Lakes.  A four mile hike will take you to the white waters of Uisge Ban Falls. The best place to overnight in Baddeck  is the waterfront Inverary Inn Resort.

Traveling north and west from Baddeck, you will come to Margaree Harbour.  Just up the road are Inverness and Mabou.  Visit the Inverness Mining Nuseum, a relic of the town’s coal mining past.  Mabou is a fascinating little village, where time really seems to stand still.  The U. E. Loyalists first settled the area but were quickly replaced by the immigrating Scots.   Here you should stop a while to watch the eagles feed at the rivers edge, and visit the Mother of Sorrows Pioneer shrine, build in 1920.  The interior of the shrine is designed like a miniature cathedral.  A short but vigorous hike will take you to the top of the cliffs where you can clearly see giant rocks deep in the sea below.  Celtic music is alive in Mabou, transmitted note for note,  through the centuries.  If you want to square dance to the music of gifted fiddlers, stop at the West Mabou Hall on a Saturday night.

Cheticamp Craft Store

Traveling north again you will soon reach Cheticamp, just before you enter the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  Cheticamp was first settled by French-speaking subjects, evicted, by the British, from their homes on mainland Nova Scotia.  Chetland is known for its arts and crafts, some of the best on Cape Breton, preserved, by the residents, along with their language and culture.  Cheticamp is known for its salt and fresh water beaches, and its fishing.  Whale watching cruises can be chartered on the quay.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park encompasses about 365 square miles.  Here you will pass some of the most scenic areas of the trail.  Although you can drive through the park in a few short time, plan on several days if you want a real park experience.  Camping is allowed in the park, but to fish for salmon and trout in its many streams, you will need a license.  Isolated areas of park forests are alive with deer, raccoons, skunks, bear, porcupine, and eagles.  The shorelines are shrill with the sounds of seabirds.  During winter months, the park is an ideal location for cross country skiing,  along both groomed and ungroomed trails.  Downhill ski areas are located south of the park.

As you leave the northern portion of the park park and travel south you will be entering the French and MacKenzie Mountains, rising to the height of 1700 feet.  The view here are magnificent, a combination of steep mountains, deep gorges, and the blue waters of the lakes and the sea far below.  At levels here the vegetation is Boreal-Tiaga where stunted trees, some as old as 150 years, fight for survival against a punishing wind.  Once you descend from the French Mountains, you will be entering the country of the moose and the woodland caribou.   Consider a side hike along the Skyline Hiking Trail, the Fishing Cove Trail, or the Bog Trail.

There are many other pleasures to be enjoyed on the Cabot Trail so plan to visit, not for the few hours it would take to speed through, but at least for a week, to fully enjoy the beauty, the people, and the pleasures that you can enjoy along the way.

Silverton Colorado calls itself “the heart of the high country”. Although it is located in a valley between high peaks the elevation of Silverton is 9318 feet.

Silverton was once a mining town, in fact one of the richest mining towns in Colorado. Silver, gold, lead and other minerals were taken out of the mines around the town up until recently.  Dotting the landscape are dozens of picturesque old mines, some of which are unfortunately Superfund cleanup sites because of the runoff.

Things To Do In Silverton.

One fun activity that you can do in Silverton is take the Durango and Silverton steam train that runs along a historic route through some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The San Juan mountains provide skiiing, snowmobiling, jeeping, climbing and hiking opportunities and the fishing is excellent in area streams in the spring and summer. The area around Silverton Colorado is a mecca for Jeep enthusiasts and there are literally hundreds of miles of trails within a day’s drive of Silverton.

Along the quaint downtown main street are coffee shops, interesting tourist shops and tour guide operators. Just off main street are several nice bed an breakfasts.
Silverton is a year round destination with plenty to do in all seasons for the active outdoor type or those who simply want to sit and relax in a quaint coffee shop.

Here is a Google Earth map of Silverton Colorado