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New Mexico Road Trip - El Paso to Artesia (Day 1)

New Mexico Road Trip - El Paso to Artesia (Day 1)

The Guadalupe Mountains stand as a big, bulky mass rising out of the otherwise endlessly flat landscape of west Texas. They are startling and unexpected. The mountain range is also enormous, home to the highest peak in all of Texas, Guadalupe Peak, which measures 8,751 feet. For anyone who has ever been in a desert, grassland, or anywhere else that is very, very flat, you have likely experienced the inability to understand size and distance. Without any reference points, a mountain can appear close, and you can still spend an hour or more driving towards it. This was definitely our experience of these particular mountains!

New Mexico, Western US, United States, Adventures in TravelLindseyJanuary 15, 2021what to see when driving from El Paso Texas to Artesia New Mexico, geology of Guadalupe Mountains in Texas, geology of New Mexico, geology of Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico, how were the Guadalupe Mountains formed, what to expect in Artesia New Mexico, hotel review of The Heritage Inn in Artesia, The Heritage Inn in New Mexico, review of Artesia New Mexico inn, what is the origin of Artesia New Mexico's name, what was in Artesia New Mexico before the city, native americans in Artesia New Mexico, what is the smell in Artesia New Mexico, Is the Navajo Refinery in Artesia New Mexico safe, is Artesia New Mexico a good place to spend the night, To Make Much of Time, To Make Much of Time travel blog, What to see in New Mexico, travel couple, Travel Blog, travel blog New Mexico, travel photography blog, travel photography, travel blog photographyComment

New Mexico Road Trip Overview - 1 Week in the American Desert

New Mexico Road Trip Overview - 1 Week in the American Desert

Enchanting is a word often used to describe New Mexico. I’m not certain that the English language has the right word to describe New Mexico, but that one might come closest.

In my years living on the East Coast of the United States, I have come across very few people who have visited New Mexico. Periodic stories emerge in the news about Americans who purportedly think New Mexico is in Mexico. True or exaggerated, those stories hit a very real nerve: New Mexico is probably underappreciated as a destination in the United States.

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A Visit to Booker T. Washington National Monument in Virginia

A Visit to Booker T. Washington National Monument in Virginia

Born Booker Taliaferro in 1856, the infant’s lot in life was pre-determined: Booker was born to an enslaved mother on the farm of James Burroughs in Virginia’s Piedmont region. From an early age, Booker, along with all enslaved children, was put to work on and near the 200-acre farm.

Virginia, United States, Southeast US, Adventures in Travel, Series: Roanoke VALindseyDecember 1, 2020Who was Booker T. Washington, Booker T. Washington National Monument, what to see at Booker T. Washington National Monument, what to expect at Booker T. Washington National Monument, what to do at Booker T. Washington National Monument, where is Booker T. Washington National Monument located, hiking trail at Booker T. Washington park, hiking trail at Booker T. Washington National Monument, Cemetery at Booker T. Washington National Monument, Where was Booker T. Washington bornComment

Hiking Roaring Run Furnace and Waterfall in Southwestern Virginia

Hiking Roaring Run Furnace and Waterfall in Southwestern Virginia

Roaring Run Furnace is the site of a former iron furnace that operated in and around the 1840s, and this site is the only spot within the massive George Washington and Jefferson National Forest’s jurisdiction that is registered as a historical place, making it unique and an interesting spot to visit!

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Hiking Fenwick Mines and Waterfall in Southwestern Virginia

Hiking Fenwick Mines and Waterfall in Southwestern Virginia

The silver lining of this year of Covid is, for us, more incentive to explore our local area besides the standard, well-known spots. Because of the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Roanoke, Virginia, vicinity, there are a lot of very popular hiking spots, particularly during the shoulder seasons and especially for the fall colors. A few weeks ago, we headed to one such spot and ended up simply eating our picnic lunch in the car before heading home. Being on a crowded trail right now? No thank you!

Virginia, Southeast US, United States, Adventures in Travel, Series: Roanoke VALindseyOctober 31, 2020best fall drives in the Blue Ridge Mountains, best fall drives in Virginia, best fall drives near Roanoke VA, best fall drives in Craig County BA, best fall drives in Craig County VA, best fall drives in Botetourt VA, undiscovered fall drives in Virginia, secret fall drives in Virginia, best drives in Virginia for fall colors, best drives in Virginia for fall leaves, best autumn drives in Virginia, best autumn drives near Roanoke, where to see fall leaves in Virginia, where to see fall leaves in Southwestern Virginia, Fall drives in Botetourt County VA, waterfall hikes in Virginia, hikes near Salem VA, hikes near Roanoke VA, Fenwick Mines hike, Fenwick Mines Recreation Area in VA, waterfalls in virginia, waterfall hikes near Roanoke VA, what to expect at Fenwick Mines in Virginia, trail conditions of Fenwick Mines in Virginia, hiking in Craig County VA, hiking near Covington VA, hiking in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, short hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, hiking in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Travel Blog, travel blog couple, travel couple, travel blog, travel photography blog, travel photography, travel blog photography, To Make Much of Time, To Make Much of Time travel blog, To Make Much of Time hiking recommendations, best fall hikes in Southwestern Virginia, best secret hikes near Roanoke, best kept secret hikes in Virginia, off the beaten path hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia Comments

Exploring Central Virginia’s History: Spotlight on Poplar Forest

Exploring Central Virginia’s History: Spotlight on Poplar Forest

A man of the Revolution and a man of the Renaissance all in one, Thomas Jefferson was a man uniquely of and beyond his time. In some of his most public actions, Jefferson was the primary author and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

Beautiful Scenic Fall Drive in Southwestern Virginia - Craig and Botetourt Counties

Beautiful Scenic Fall Drive in Southwestern Virginia - Craig and Botetourt Counties

If you are looking for a beautiful fall drive in the Blue Ridge, absolutely add this one to your list! En route to the hike and then taking an extra long return trip home (No, GPS, we will not make a U-turn!), we found gorgeous rolling hills, golden fields, the protruding tops of mountains, and trees all shades of color from lemon through burnt umber.

Exploring Central Virginia’s History: Spotlight on Appomattox

Exploring Central Virginia’s History: Spotlight on Appomattox

The town of Appomattox, Virginia, is nestled in a county by the same name. They are named for the local Algonquin-speaking Appomattoc tribe that lived in the area and were one of the five original tribes of the so-called Powhatan Confederacy and were one of the tribes that John Smith and early European settlers interacted with upon landing at Jamestown.

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Exploring Central Virginia’s History: A Weekend in Appomattox, Lynchburg, and Poplar Forest - Spotlight on Lynchburg

Exploring Central Virginia’s History: A Weekend in Appomattox, Lynchburg, and Poplar Forest - Spotlight on Lynchburg

In April 2012, my mother and I booked a long-weekend trip to explore some new parts of the state. We stayed in Lynchburg as a central point, explored that city as well as made short trips to both Poplar Forest (Thomas Jefferson’s home, a retreat from Monticello) and Appomattox, a small town most famous as the site where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, officially concluding the American Civil War.

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains: Cades Cove

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains: Cades Cove

Cades Cove is a valley that had been frequented by Cherokee hunters and was settled in the 1820s by Europeans who built a community in the valley. About 100 years later, the states of Tennessee and North Carolina were purchasing land for what would become the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and Cades Cove was in the middle of the area. Some of the community sold their property willingly, others signed agreements whereby they could live out their lives on the land and that it would be granted to the national park posthumously, and other families fought the efforts in court.

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains: A Long Weekend Getaway

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains: A Long Weekend Getaway

To celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary in 2012, we booked a long weekend at a cabin in the mountains near Gatlinburg, TN, with the primary purpose of exploring the Great Smoky Mountains which neither of us had visited before.

Charleston: Spring Break in the South - Days 3-4

Charleston: Spring Break in the South - Days 3-4

Charleston’s historic downtown is remarkably walkable and each street offers its own views of stately antebellum houses, many of which date to the early 1800s. We decided to spend our third day in the area touring Charleston entirely on foot.

Scotland: Itinerary for 2 days in Edinburgh

Scotland: Itinerary for 2 days in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a relatively compact city that can be toured by foot, which is what we did. Depending on the amount of time you have in the city, your interest in walking, and how much you’re trying to see, you may prefer to look into public transportation or other options as well.

The main part of the city of Edinburgh is comprised of the West End, Old Town, and New Town, descriptive in their origins. The entirety of our time was spent in New Town and Old Town.

Charleston: Spring Break in the South - Days 1-2

Charleston: Spring Break in the South - Days 1-2

In April 2016, we spent 4 days in Charleston with a day-trip to a really cool island off the coast. We actually had to cut the trip a day short because we got sick and so got to miss seeing a few other sights but still had a wonderful time.

First, a short geography lesson - Charleston is a 17 mile long peninsula sandwiched between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. At its tip is Charleston Harbor, an inlet just off of the Atlantic Ocean. In the downtown portion, the width of the peninsula is about a mile, with the downtown area in a 4-5 square mile area. In short, it is incredibly walkable. And with so much to see, walking around the city is a great way to go!

Bermuda: Off-Season Sights to See

Bermuda: Off-Season Sights to See

If you were playing a game of word association and someone said ‘Bermuda’, the words that would likely come to mind would be warm-weather related words like beach, ocean, and snorkeling. Bermuda also has a good number of off-season options if you prefer to explore the other activities provided by the island nation and - better yet - to avoid crowds.

Bermuda: Food + Drink + Dining

Bermuda: Food + Drink + Dining

We weren’t really sure what to expect from Bermuda’s dining scene before we went. Visiting without any preconceived notion, we found ourselves surprised by the multicultural and eclectic options. It became evident in our experience that Bermuda has combined the flavors from many parts of the world and put its own Caribbean spin on some classic dishes.

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Bermuda: 6 Travel Tips

Bermuda: 6 Travel Tips

We found Bermuda to be a very easy place to visit, but there are some tips that we would recommend you consider when planning your own trip to Bermuda to ensure your trip goes smoothly and you’re prepared!

Mex-Caribbean-CtrlAmer, Caribbean, Bermuda, Travel Tips and Apps, Adventures in TravelLindseyMay 10, 2020travel tips for Bermuda, what to know before visiting Bermuda, what currency does Bermuda use, what plugs or outlets does Bermuda use, what to expect in BermudaComment

Bermuda: Getting Around and Transportation Options

Bermuda: Getting Around and Transportation Options

Bermuda is just a tiny dot of an island in the middle of the ocean, so transportation around the island must be a breeze, right? It turns out that transportation options on Bermuda can get a little complicated and so planning ahead is a must so that you can enjoy your trip and have easy access to whatever is most important to you.

In this post, we’ll cover the general lay of the (is)land and the various spots you may wish to get to and from, the transportation options available to you, and tips and lessons learned to help you plan accordingly.

Bermuda: Off-Season Packing Tips

Bermuda: Off-Season Packing Tips

If you’re planning an off-season trip to Bermuda and wondering what to pack, you’ve come to the right place! We weren’t fully sure ourselves when we took a 4-day trip in late November. Here are the tips we picked up while there.

Bermuda: Getting to and Exploring Blue Hole and Tom Moore's Jungle

Bermuda: Getting to and Exploring Blue Hole and Tom Moore's Jungle

If you’re looking for some outside time exploring a less populated part of Bermuda, we’d recommend you check out the small area that holds Blue Hole (a bright blue swimming hole), Tom Moore’s Jungle, and Walsingham Nature Reserve.