Standard Rooms:

Terrace Suites:

Rustic Cabins:

Luxurious Villa Cabin:

Visit Chalet View Lodge.com for more info and reservations.

I can visualize Ford doing an online video or commercial that showed a collage of my past two years on the road in my Ford truck, then having a film crew show up and surprise me with a brand new ride.  The surprise and excitement on film would be worth its weight in…well, a new truck.   It would be very similar to some of the car spots they’re currently running on TV.

Maybe we could even run some sort of promotion, where I drive around the country in my new truck and people could follow via social media and vehicle tracker GPS.   I could leave clues in geo-caches…with those clues; people could get a chance to win their own Ford car or truck.  What do ya think Ford? I think I might be on to something.    If anyone knows anyone at Ford, maybe you can pass the post along? I’d live to strike up a line of dialogue to see where it might lead.

While I was working my way toward northern California, I made a number of stops to explore old ghost towns in western Nevada.  It was getting late so I was figured I should find a good place to camp.  After seeing a dirt road to veer off of highway 95 from, I made my way east into a vast open area surrounded by nearby mountains (bordering Area 51 I think). There were rugged roads in many directions and I just let the truck lead the way, eventually ending halfway up a hillside providing outstanding views of the vistas below.

There was old mining equipment strewn around the site, and so I thought this would be an exciting area to explore after I set up my camp.  There was not a soul in sight.  The weather was perfect (at least at the moment.  Hours later the wind was quite fierce.) and the views majestic.

I began to investigate the the area, working my way up the hillside when I happened upon an opening in the mountain.  After a quick glance I went back to my truck to get some supplies…namely, a good flashlight and my gun.  I went back up to the shaft (or perhaps more accurately, a cave tunnel opening).  I noticed narrow gauge train tracks, so I figured this tunnel must go quite a long way. Have a look at the video below to see my experience.

Nevada’s abandoned mines are found throughout the state. According to the Nevada Division of Minerals, there are over 100,000 abandoned mines.  If it’s not obvious, I should mention that entering an abandoned mine can be very dangerous, and if done, should be at your own risk. The dangers might not be obvious at first inspection, so here are some things to consider…

• Mines can have unstable openings and walls.
• Toxic gas and/or a lack of oxygen.
• Decayed timbers can cause cave-ins.
• Unstable explosives and toxic chemicals can be left behind.
• Shafts filled with water…if you fall in you could drown.
• Poisonous snakes, spiders and other critters.
• Bats and rats may carry diseases.

Click the following link to see more of my Abandoned Nevada Mines and Ghost Towns pictures. If you enjoyed this post and video, please hit the “like” button and share with friends and family, it really helps.

If you’d like to explore this particular mine, here are the coordinates: 37 32′23.5 n, 117 10′18.5 w. Note: If you go, watch out for nails near the site…I would recommend not parking your vehicle near the site, but rather walk up.

Most of Mesa Verde National Park can be explored on your own, however there are a number of sites (including the Balcony House) that require a permit and guided tour by a knowledgeable park ranger. The price is just $3 for each guided tour, which I really recommend since these are treasured highlights of the park.

Balcony House is an adventurous cliff dwelling tour that requires climbing a series of ladders, including one as tall as 32 feet.  And, there is a tight 12′ long tunnel that takes a bit of yielding to get the body through. I found the ladder assents and tunnel navigation to be a lot of fun, however some might look at it with a bit of trepidation.  All of the climbing around really adds to the overall excitement of this tour, which I think is one of the coolest in the park.  The nod for most popular sight and tour in the park however goes to the”Cliff Palace.”

Balcony House is a medium size cliff dwelling with forty rooms. This particular archeological site illustrates how room and passageway construction evolved over time.

Be sure to stop by the Far View Visitor Center to purchase your tickets for the one-hour tour. Click the following link to see more of my pictures of the Balcony House at Mesa Verde National Park.  If you’ve ever been to the “Balcony House” please leave a comment below and tell my readers and me about your experience.

When I was a kid (maybe eight years old), living in Washington state at the time, I remember our school making all kinds of preparations for a huge event…a Annular Solar Eclipse.  We were told that it was a once in a lifetime event—which based on your geographic location may be true, I’m not an astronomer so I don’t know for sure.  I do however know that on May 20th, 2012 it will only be the second time I can remember a full solar eclipse happening in an area that will be visible to me. I’m currently in northern California and apparently the western states and Canada will have the best view…96% coverage.

The eclipse will take place early evening, so it will be lower on the horizon…your best viewing area will either be coastal or high up so that you have a clear line-of-site with the western part of the hemisphere.  For those on the west coast, the maximum coverage will occur around 6:30pm.  The best way to look at a solar eclipse safely, is by using number #14 welding glass.  You can pick this up at your local hardware store or welding shop, and, it’s not very expensive. To learn everything you ever wanted to know about looking at a solar eclipse, visit the following NASA site link.

I’m excited…this should be fun.  Leave a comment below and let me know if you’re planning on checking out the 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse?

Since a lot of my purchases are travel related, I love it when I find coupons for Expedia or a some other travel booking site.  Coupons generally work in one of two ways. First is a monetary discount, such as, “$50 Off Your Next Purchase.” The second is a percentage discount like, “40% Off Your Purchase.”  From time to time some restrictions apply before getting the discount, such as a minimum purchase.

A promo code is simply another term for “coupon,” and is a reference phrase or key such as “1A2B3C” or “COUPON20” that you enter in an online store to receive a special offer, like discounted or free shipping, or other consideration. I recently found a great promo code for Cheapostay and received 50% off of my latest hotel booking.

The way we do business today has changed dramatically, if you continue to pay full retail, you’re just wasting your money.  There are a lot of great travel deals out there if you’re willing to do a little bit of research.  If you have a favorite coupon or travel deal website, please leave a comment below so that other readers can benefit.

• Canyonlands National Park…as Dramatic as the Grand Daddy
• Camping at Canyonlands
• World-class Village of Whistler
• My “Kamping” experience at the San Diego KOA

San Diego, California is one of the coolest big cities in America.  “SD” as San Diego is often affectionately referred, is made up of a series of coastal communities that beckons snow birds (people escaping the cold) and zonies (people escaping the heat) throughout the year. From young and old, there is a plethora of outstanding activities to partake in throughout San Diego Country.

I have a special affinity toward San Diego as I’ve lived and visited for many years.  During my most recent trip to SD, I went on a quest to find “the ONE thing,” that you HAVE to do when visiting this world class city.  Be sure to watch the video below to find out what my “ONE thing” is.  Post your favorite activities below.   Once this page amasses a number of comments, I’ll take the five most popular and create a poll for you all to vote on “the ONE thing” to do in San Diego.

Here are just a handful of things to do when visiting San Diego, CA…most of which I’ve done myself:

• SeaWorld – SeaWorld is probably one of the most popular attractions in San Diego.  There are many exciting shows, from Shamu, the famous Killer Whale, to dolphins and sea lions.
• San Diego Zoo – You’ll find over 4,000 rare birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; not to mention a hundred acres of gardens.  When you visit this world-famous zoo, you are in for a day of fun and discovery.
• Safari Park - A trip to the Wild Animal Safari Park is like a journey to one of the world’s most exotic places—and yet, it’s like no other adventure on earth. See animals roaming freely in settings resembling their native homelands.
• Old Town San Diego – Old Town boasts some great restaurants and a variety of shops nestled in a Spanish setting at the foot of Presidio Park.
• Seaport Village – Stroll along the boardwalk for beautiful views of San Diego Bay.  Enjoy the diverse mix of street entertainers and discover great local restaurants, enchanting boutiques and the legendary carousel.
• Cabrillo National Monument – Breathtaking views of San Diego Harbor and Coronado Island. The century-old lighthouse, Point Loma history, National Cemetery and tide pools are just a few of the activities.
• Balboa Park – Set in the heart of San Diego, this getaway features museums and cultural centers, among which include; The Old Globe and Fleet Space Theater, which is home to the annual Shakespeare festival.
• Gaslamp District – Located in the heart of downtown, the historic Gaslamp District is home to world famous restaurants, night clubs and shopping.
• La Jolla – Named the “The Jewel of the Pacific,” La Jolla draws visitors, divers, swimmers and surfers to its beautiful blue waters. Explore La Jolla Caves, Seal Beach, and then head to the opulent downtown with exclusive shops and unique restaurants.
• Water Sports – Surfing and sailing are very popular in San Diego, so too is water or jet skiing in Mission Bay.
• Extreme Sports – If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, check out kitboarding or hang & paragliding.
• Coronado Island – Across the soaring bridge from downtown San Diego is the relaxed  beach town of Coronado. Visit the world-famous Hotel Del or stay in lavish luxury at the 1906 Lodge.  Coronado has one of the best beaches in San Diego, if not the world.
• Birch Aquarium – Enter a world of sharks, seahorses, living coral reefs and more.  Discover a stunning variety of Pacific marine life in more than 60 habitats.
• San Diego Beaches - While Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are probably the most popular in San Diego, I personally prefer the less crowded ones that manly locals know of.  Excluding the lesser known beaches (that I won’t share to keep them that way), I really enjoy Coronado, Del Mar and Carlsbad.
• Tour San Diego - Jump aboard an ol’ time trolly and leave the driving to an experienced guide. Or try a hybrid amphibian tour via Seal Tours. Or, maybe take a tour via the amazing two-wheeled balancing Segway.
• LegoLand – With more than fifty Lego block-themed family rides and attractions, youngsters ages two to twelve will have a blast!

Click the following link to see more of my San Diego Pictures.  Be sure to post your “ONE thing” below and I’ll add it to the list and include you in the upcoming poll tally. If you found this post and video to be helpful, please share it with your friends and family by clicking the “like” button.

For more information on San Diego, visit SanDiego.org. Click the following link for California Tours info.