Rock City Gardens (Lookout Mountain, Georgia)

What started out as Frieda Carter desire to create a garden with winding trails through giant rock formations in the early 1930’s, has become a popular tourist attraction in Georgia.

Rock City is a unique place on Lookout Mountain that attracts more than half a million people each year.

A 4,100-foot walking trail leads through rock formations, caves, and gardens, ending at the edge of a cliff know as Lovers Leap.

The name “Lovers Leap” comes from a Cherokee legend about feuding tribes and two lovers going over the cliff. One was thrown and the other jumped, both ending in death. What a tragic story for such a beautiful site!

The claim of “see seven states” from Lover’s Leap comes from diary entries of a Union office and a Confederate nurse during the Civil War, both talking about being able to see seven states from the summit. Flags of all seven states stand in representation of the documentations. The states are Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.  

 Location:

1400 Patten Road

 Lookout Mountain, GA

Admission:

$19.95 Adults

$11.95 Children (ages 3-12)

Hours:

Vary by season. Check here.

Happy Travels! 

America's White Desert (New Mexico) White Sands National Monument

When you hear of a white desert, usually its referring to the Sahara el Beyda in Egypt. With its massive chalk rock formations throughout an isolated land, it is one of the most astounding natural wonders of Egypt. But there is a white desert in the United States that is just as amazing and is also an astonishing natural wonder.

White Sands National Monument is 275 sq miles of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. This gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth.

Gypsum, unlike other rocks, is water soluble. When rain falls on the surrounding mountains, the layers of gypsum start to dissolve, and runs down the mountains. With the Tularosa Basin and the dunes being fully enclosed, there is no outlet for the water, so the gypsum stays within White Sands Monument.

Unlike most sand, the gypsum sand does not readily convert the sun's energy into heat and can be walked upon safely with bare feet, even in the hottest months.

 It was completely cloudy with a misty rain when we arrive, but cleared off some while we were there. I looked like a total snow white out for a while.

There are four types of dunes within the park; barchan, parabolic, transverse, and dome dunes. These can be seen along the eight-mile scenic Dunes Drive.

The drive starts at the visitor center and leads deep into the gypsum dune field. The first five miles of are paved and the last three miles are a hard-packed gypsum sand road.

There are several places along the drive to stop and play on the dunes. Sledding is a popular activity in the park. Waxed plastic snow saucers work best and can be purchased at the gift shop.

White Sands is located next to a Missile Range and is closed occasionally due to missile testing. Check here for open status.

Hours of operation vary throughout the year. Check the schedule here.

The three picnic areas, the Yucca, Roadrunner, and Primrose, are named after the most iconic plant and animal species in the monument. These picnic areas are located about six to seven miles from the entrance off Dunes Drive.

White Sands is truly one of America’s most amazing places! It is sure to impress all ages and be an unforgettable experience.

The actual physical address is:

 19955 Highway 70 West

  Alamogordo, NM 88310

Happy Travels! 

Cadillac Ranch on Route 66 - Amarillo, Texas

Located just outside the city limits of Amarillo, ten cars are half buried nose down in a single file. 

This classic landmark along Route 66 is known as the Cadillac Ranch.

This unusual attraction is located in the middle of a grain field on the side of the main road.

This is a place for artistic expression and where graffiti is actually encouraged.

 Bring a can of spray paint and join in on the fun!

The Cadillac Ranch has been the location for filming music video by many artists.

 The cars are occasionally repainted particular colors for the filming of television commercials, public events, and to represent certain celebrations.

This is a fun place to stop and stretch between Amarillo and New Mexico.





Happy Travels! 

Discovering Shells on Sanibel Island, Florida: A Guide to Where and How to Find Them

Sanibel Island is known as one of the best shelling places in the world. The island's sloping incline and East West positing make perfect conditions for sea treasures to wash upon the beaches without damage.

I remember preparing for my fist trip to Sanibel. Reading all of the articles and watching videos on shelling had me so excited! I envisioned walking out to the beach and picking up tons of beautiful large shells all day long.

Well, that’s not exactly how it works. There are beautiful shells and some large ones, but timing and luck play a big part in finding them. I have walked out on the best beach at prime time and not found a single shell. Not even a tiny one!

Shelling is serious business on Sanibel! Lol No matter what time of year you go, there will be a lot of people from all around the world there too…and they are looking for shells!

 But there are several things that will increase your chances of finding shells.

Best times for shelling:

Low tide in the morning

Be out there at the crack of dawn – you will see people with flashlights way before daylight (Yes, I have been one of those people! :) )

A day or two after a storm – this stirs things up and brings in a bigger variety of sea treasures.

Cooler months - November thru February

Best places for shelling:(Information on beaches)

Lighthouse Beach

Blind Pass

Turner Beach

Captiva Beach

Bowman Beach

Don’t be discouraged if you walk out to the beach and don’t see any shells. You just need to go to another beach. The last time I was there, I tried Turner Beach and Blind, not a single shell. Then I drove down to Bowman Beach, not a thing. I decided later to drive down to Lighthouse beach and there were so many shells it was crazy!

Luck:

One day you may not find anything and the next day may be excellent. But no matter what you find, it’s a great day if you’re on the beautiful Island of Sanibel!

Have fun shelling and making great memories!

Below are two short video with some shells on Lighthouse Beach, Blind Pass beach, and Turner Beach.