50 State Challenge - Maine

When you think of Maine you probably think of the famous Maine lobster, rocky coastline, and beautiful mountains. When you think of Maine, I can promise that you would never think of a desert.

THE DESERT OF MAINE

Locate in Freeport, Maine is New England's one and only desert.  The Desert of Maine is 40 acres of exposed glacial silt (which is a sand-like substance, but much finer than sand) surrounded by a pine tree forest. 

Background Info:

The Desert of Maine came to be when the Tuttle family purchased it and began farming in 1797.  A poorly run farm combine with land clearance and overgrazing by sheep led to soil erosion. The soil erosion then led to the land exposing a dune of glacial silt that gradually spread and took over the farm land. In 1919, Henry Goldrup purchased the land from the Tuttles and converted it to the tourist attraction it is today.

Visiting The Desert:

As of right now (3/5/14) the desert is closed to the public but will be opened from May 6th - October 14th. The admission rates are broken down to into three categories. Adults have to pay $10.50, teens (13-17) pay $7.75 and kids pay $6.75. 

There are 30 minute tour rides starting at 9 am and the last one leaves at around 4:30 pm. The Desert of Maine also offers walking trails and marked nature trails and kids 12 and under can do a FREE gemstone hunt! A new butterfly room has been added and it comes included with the cost of entry. There is enough fun things to do here that it will keep the kids entertained for hours. 

Deserts Dunes of Maine Campground is set in the pine forest adjacent to the actual desert.  Campers receive a pass to explore the nature/walking trails, the Desert, the 1790s Tuttle Barn and its museum.  The 2014 Camping Rates can be found HERE 

95 Desert Rd. Freeport, ME 04032

Phone #: 207.865.6962

Email: info@desertofmaine.com

50 State Challenge - Louisiana

This weeks 50 state challenge is Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. Kisatchie National Forest has more than 604,000 acres and it is spread across seven parishes in Louisiana. The forest is divided into five managed units called Ranger Districts: Calcasieu, Caney, Catahoula, Kisatchie and Winn.

CALCASIEU DISTRICT:

• Southernmost district
• Features Valentine Lake and Fullerton Lake.
• The Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail, Ouiski Chito Creek Trail, and the Indian Ridge Trail are just some of the trails found in this district.
• The remains of Camp Claiborne can be found here.

CANEY DISTRICT:

• Located northeast of Shreveport.
• Great place for boating in the many lakes. 

CATAHOULA RANGER DISTRICT:

• Great area for hiking and biking.
• Remains of Camp Livingston can be found here.
• There is a hummingbird and butterfly garden.

KISATCHIE RANGER DISTRICT:

• Longleaf Trail National Byway.
• Several horse trails.
• Sandstone Bluffs can be found here.

WINN RANGER DISTRACT:

• Popular spot for hunting.
• Cloud Crossing Recreation Complex is an ideal spot for canoeing and boating.

What's so special about Kisatchie National Forest? Well, for starters it is protects a wide array of plant species including carnivorous plants and wild orchids like the Pink Pogonia Orchid. It also protects rare animals like the Louisiana Pine Snake, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, the Louisiana Black Bear and the Louisiana Pearlshell Mussel.

Some Things To Do:

• Bicycling - There are several different trails for mountain biking and for road cycling. More info HERE
• Canoeing 
• Fishing - There are over 10 lakes and ponds to fish in. More info HERE 
• Birdwatching
• Hiking - Over 100 miles of trails Info on trails HERE
• Horse back riding
• Hunting - The forest allows big game and small game hunting. More info HERE
• Camping

50 State Challenge - Kentucky

For this weeks 50 State Challenge I am going to be highlighting Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky.   Buffalo Trace Distillery is located in Frankfort, Kentucky and is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States. The distillery is located on what the company claims was once an ancient buffalo crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River. In 2001, Buffalo Trace Distillery was listed on the National Register of Historic places and in 2013 it became a National Historic Landmark.

Heaven in a bottle!

TOURS:

•  The Trace Tour - This tour is complimentary and includes a tasting of there products. Visitors are welcome to walk in with no reservation needed unless you have a group of 25 or more. During the tour you will watch a video about the history of the distillery, walk along the path of rolling bourbon barrels. Venture through warehouses and explore Blanton's Bottling Hall where you will witness the bourbons being filled, labeled, sealed and packaged. This tour last one hour and runs every hour on the hour from 9 am to 4 pm.
• Hard Hat Tour - Requires a reservation. It runs Monday - Friday at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. It last one hour. This tour is an insiders look into the behind the scenes work. You can witness the grain delivery, cooking process, fermentation and distillation. Also included in the tour is a stop at E.H. Taylor Jr Microstill, where unique and award winning Experimental Collection whiskies are made. This tour is complimentary and also includes a tasting. 
• National Historic Landmark Tour - Requires a reservation and last one hour. Monday - Friday 11:30 am. This tour is complimentary and also includes a tasting.  This is an educational tour that focuses on the buildings, architecture and the history of the years between 1933-1953. 
• Bourbon Barrel Tour - Requires a reservation and last one hour. Monday - Friday 9:30 am. This tour is complimentary and also includes a tasting. During this tour you learn about the barrels on their journey throughout the distillery. 
• Ghost Tour - Requires a reservation and last one hour. Thursday - Saturday starting at 7 pm. This tour is complimentary and also includes a tasting. The distillery was featured on Ghost Hunters and has long been rumored to have been haunted. On this tour you can hear legendary stories and visit haunted sites, including the rarely visited Stony Point Mansion. 

Even if you do not have time for the tour, you can still stop by and enjoy a tasting!

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

113 GREAT BUFFALO TRACE

FRANKFORT, KY 40601

50 State Challenge - Kansas

When you think of Kansas you might just think it's another state in the Midwest for you to quickly drive through. However, there is more to Kansas that meets the eye, like Mushroom Rock State Park.

Off of Highway 140 in Kansas' is a small state park called Mushroom Rock State Park. It is a 5 acre park that is surrounded by farms and cattle. If you are looking for peace and quiet than this is the park for you. You have to go down miles of dirt roads to reach the park and on rainy days the dirt road can be treacherous. Often times you will notice that there isn't a soul in sight, so this park makes for an ideal spot for a romantic picnic

There are two huge mushroom shaped rocks in the tiny state park and there are several other oddly shaped rocks located there too. The two largest are approximately 25 ft tall, with caps about 15 ft wide. These rocks once served as meeting places and landmarks for Native Americans and early pioneers, like Kit Carson and John C. Fremont. They also say you are no longer allowed to climb on top of the rocks, but most people park their car under them and attempt to climb up anyway.

If you are in the area plug this address into your GPS and have fun exploring this tiny yet beautiful park.

Ave K, Carneiro, KS 67425

50 State Challenge - IOWA

Who remembers that amazing baseball movie from 80s called Field of Dreams? This movie is one of my favorites and it's one of my dad's favorite movie too. In fact I think this is one of the only movies where my dad has been known to shed a tear or two....... or sob like baby.

This is the scene that always gets my dad. Try not to cry!

Need a box of tissues? It's okay you can borrow mine.

Any who, back to the great state of Iowa and this amazing baseball movie. As you may or not know Field of Dreams was filmed in Iowa and I had to know if that field was still there. To my surprise the field is still there and is now a popular tourist attraction.

A pick up game with the movie house in the background

The field which is for obvious reasoning called "Field of Dreams" is located at 28995 Lansing Rd in Dyersville, Iowa. The field looks the same as it did when the movie crew built it in 1988.  Visitors are welcome to arrive anytime between 8 am to sunset.

You are allowed to venture onto the field and toss the ball around. If you are lucky enough you may be able to see a random pick up game in progress or even participate in a game. Souvenirs are sold at little stands where you can also pick up some movie memorabilia. If you find yourself in Iowa stop by this heavenly field and have a catch!! Just remember it may look like heaven but it's only Iowa

50 STATE CHALLENGE - INDIANA

Indiana is a wonderful state that has some much to offer. One of the obvious attraction coming out of Indiana is the Indy 500, but today I'm going to write about another popular attraction. The Marengo Cave is located in Marengo Indiana and is a great place to take the family.

HISTORY OF THE CAVE

On September 6 1883 two school children discovered a large sink hole and decided to explore it. Upon exploring the sink hole they found the cave and alerted the land owner. It is believed that no human enter this cave until its discovery in 1883. 

THINGS TO DO AT THE MARENGO CAVE

A section of "The Crawl"

THE CRAWL:

The Crawl is available year round is for children ages 8 and up. It cost $3 per person and last about 30 mins. The Crawl simulates what Marengo Caves exploring trips are like, except without the water and mud aspect of cave exploring. 

WALKING TOURS:

There are two main walking trails at Marengo Cave; The Crystal Palace and The Dripstone Trail. 

Crystal Palace - More info HERE

Dripstone Trail - More Info HERE

Cave Exploring is the most popular activity to do here and for more information click HERE

GEMSTONE MINING: 

Gemstone mining is available March through October and ages 5 and up are welcome to participate. The cost ranges from $4.99 - $8.99 and you are allowed to take home any gems that you find. 

HOURS

Open Daily at 9 am.

Spring & Fall & Winter: 9 am - 5 pm

Memorial Day thru Labor Day : 9 am - 6:30 pm

Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas

400 East State Rd 64

Marengo IN 47140

50 State Challenge - Illinois

Illinois was a tough one to write about. I am stilling hurting from when the Blackhawks beat the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals.  I'll put aside my envy of the Stanley Cup win and write something nice about Illinois. Even though Chicago is probably one of the top 5 cities in the world, I decided not to write about it. Instead I am going to write about a beautiful place called Starved Rock State Park.

Starved Rock 

Starved Rock State Park is located along the South bank of the Illinois River. Starved Rock is known for it's outcrops of St. Peter's Sandstone, which is found all over the park. The park gets its name from a Native American legend where it is said that two tribes (Illinois & Pottawatomies) fought a long hard battle. The Illinois tribe decided to ascend a 125 ft sandstone butte. The Pottawatomies discovered them and surrounded the rock. The Illinois were trapped on top of the rock and eventually died of thirst and starvation.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE AT STARVED ROCK

• Hiking - Has 13 miles of well marked hiking trails. A map of the trails can be found here and a list of the trails can be found here
• Water Activities - You can canoe or kayak down the Fox River. The Illinois River near Starved Rock is known as the "Sauger Capital" of the world. There is an annual fishing tournament for anglers to compete for the biggest sauger. 
• Camping - The campground has 133 campsites that come equipped with electricity, showers, and toilers. The campground is located about 1 mile from the Visitor Center. For more info about the campground click here
• Canyons & Waterfalls - You can see waterfalls in 14 out of the 18 canyons. 
• Bird Watching - Click here for a bird watch check list. Bald Eagles are a guaranteed sighting here.

P.O. Box 509, Utica, IL 61373

815-667-4726

50 State Challenge - IDAHO

Idaho may not come to mind as an ideal spot to spend a vacation there. However, Idaho has some amazing natural oddities that you can't find anywhere else. For example, who knew that Idaho had an ancient lava field?

The Craters of the Moon National Park in Idaho is truly one of a kind. Craters of the Moon is in south-central Idaho, half way between Boise and Yellowstone National Park. Craters of the Moon is one of the largest lava fields in the United States. There are 60 visible lava flows here and the oldest was formed 15,000 years ago.

One of the many lava fields at the park

The park is open all year round, but the winter snow may prevent cars from accessing some of the park. The visitor center is also open year round from 8 am to 4:30 pm.  The entrance fee is only $8 per vehicle and those entering the park by bike, motorcycle or foot only have to pay $4 per person. People under the age of 15 are free to enter and during the winter when the park roads are close there is no fee.

Day trips are very common here, but a lot of people love to stay the night as well. There is a campground that is open from May through November and has 51 sites available. There are no reservations at this campground as it is a first come first served basis. During the summer months its only $10 per site and $6 for non summer months. Water, restrooms, charcoal grills and picnic tables are also available at the campsite.

Besides enjoying the scenery, Craters of the Moon National Park has several outdoor activities to enjoy. Hiking is probably the most popular activity to do. For a list of hiking trail, you can check them out here.  Another popular activity here is exploring the vast cave system and lava tubes. For more information on cave exploration click here 

Craters of the Moon 

P.O. Box 29

Arco, ID 83213

Visitor Info - 208-527-1335

50 State Challenge - HAWAII

If you couldn't tell by now; I love Hawaii. I feel lucky to have visited this exotic state several times even though I live almost a half world away. Judging by most of these post, you could say that Maui is my favorite island. Most people would ask why because they believe Maui is too expensive and too touristy. I was hesitant at first to reveal my Maui secret, but then I figured why hide my paradise.

Located down Front Street in Lahaina is a gated community called Puamana. Puamana is filled with several small streets that are lined with condos. Some condos have a view of the mountains, some have a view of the ocean and some are located just feet away from the crashing waves of the Pacific.

My Condo 2012. Unit 254-4 Oceanfront

Every condo I have stayed in was oceanfront property and if you can afford it; do it. There is nothing better than waking up and walking 25 ft from your Lanai and stepping into the Pacific Ocean. Puamana offers you a private beach with decent waves to learn how to surf. If you don't want to experience the ocean for whatever reason, there are several pools located within this gated community.

View from my kitchen

Sitting on the Lanai is a million dollar view. The sunsets are almost too perfect to be true and you sometimes might see the infamous green flash. During the winter months you can see humpback whales jumping and playing from the Lanai and sea turtles are always visible no matter what time of year you decided to come.

Sunset over Puamana. August 2012

Every unit is completely different. Obviously those that live here year long have nicer looking units than those that are rentals. Some units look extremely outdated but I have to stress that all rentals are impeccably clean. My unit (254-4) was a nice 3 bedroom 2 bathroom condo. The master bedroom had a view so amazing that I guarantee no hotel on the island could rival it. 

View from the master bedroom.

If you want to enjoy Maui without all the crowds and tourists, I recommend you stay in Puamana. It has 3 swimming pools, private/uncrowded beach, 15 min walk from the hustle and bustle of Lahaina. What more could you want? Check out a this website for more info: PUAMANA RENTALS

50 State Challenge - GEORGIA

Finding something for Georgia was tough. I was looking for a zombie themed attraction because The Walking Dead is filmed there. I was going to write about the aquarium but everyone knows about it. I was going to talk about the many haunted locations in Savannah but I decided to wait until October comes around to scare the shit out of people. Finally I decided to write about an unforgettable bar located in Savannah.

The Hang Fire is located on 37 Whitaker Street. This bar guarantees that you will have a hell of time! The staff is outgoing, the music is loud and the drinks are strong. 

Why is this bar amazing? Well, let me drop some daily specials/events on you.......

Mondays: Happy Hour all night long. It is buy one get the next one for only a dollar.

Tuesday: Ummm....it's tuesday just come in and have a drink....no excuses!!

Wednesday: Team Trivia @9pm. Cash prizes.

Thursday: PBR Karaoke. According to their facebook page you could "win cool PBR shit for being talented at untalentness". 

Friday & Saturday: DJs and amazing live music from the areas hottest bands.

If these specials/events don't get you through the door than maybe some of their drink deals will.

Hang Fire is known for a wonderful concoction called Scorpion Tea which is only $5. The drink is a made with Bourbon and little bits of heaven, It's pretty strong but pretty amazing at the same time. 

If you are not sold on this bar than you are no fun. Seriously though if you are ever in Savannah and looking for a local hangout, you need to check out Hang Fire Bar. 

50 State Challenge - FLORIDA

In an older post I talked about a bar I went to in Tampa that had the greatest Happy Hour ever. Today I am going to talk about the best holiday ever in Tampa. In late January or early February, the city of Tampa gathers on Bayshore Blvd and watches as Pirates invade their city. To the people of Tampa, Gasparilla is just one big party where people are dressed as pirates and throw beads from floats. More info about the history of Gasparilla can be found here

Gasparilla 2013 already happened but that doesn't mean you shouldn't start planning Gasparilla 2014 now. According to the Gasparilla website next years is January 25th.  I suggest that my readers attend a Gasparilla at least once before you guys kick the bucket. So, from a seasoned pro of all things Gasparilla I'll give you rookies some pointers.

TIPS ON A SUCCESSFUL GASPARILLA

• Gasparilla is on a Saturday so don't go out drinking the night before
• Hit up a liquor store a week early. 
• The early bird catches the worm or whatever that stupid saying is. Basically wake you ass up at 730-8ish in the morning and start drinking.

My roommate and I at 7am doing jello shots! 

• Have fun with this and dress up! Also wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot. 

• Make sure you have some form of ID on you so that someone can help your drunk ass get home. 
• Buy yourself a camelback and fill it with booze! You will need you hands free to catch beads 

• Leave early for the parade. I guarantee you will stop randomly at peoples houses and drink with them. 
• You don't have to show your boobies to get beads, but the men on the floats highly encourage it. 
• Cops are cool on Gasparilla. They let you drink on the street but if you are passed out, throwing up or peeing in public you may get thrown in the drunk tank.

• Do not drive! To many drunks on the road 
• HAVE A GREAT FUCKING TIME!!

50 State Challenge - DELAWARE (For real this time)

This is the real 50 State Challenge post. The other one was a joke and I just had to show that clip from Wayne's World. Hopefully there's no hard feeling from my readers in Delaware.

Even though Delaware is not one of the most popular or well known states, I still found something interesting to write about. I had no idea that the Dogfish Head Brewery was located in Delaware and I bet you didn't either!

Dogfish Head is Delaware's first brewpub and it was one of the smallest commercial breweries in America. It only took a few years before the word spread and Dogfish Head had to expand. They now operate out of a 100,000 square foot production brewery in Milton, Delaware and they also opened Rehoboth Beach Brewpub & Distillery.

Milton Microbrewery:

• Tours are free but they do recommend you make reservations because each tour is limited in size and they fill up quickly!
• 4 samples are given at the end of each tour.
• The Tasting Room is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm

More info on the tours can be found HERE

***This location is under renovation so the tour may be slightly different then what it usually is. Tours should return to normal sometime in June***

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

6 Cannery Village Center

Milton, DE 19968

Rehoboth Beach Brewpub & Distillery:

• Happy Hour is from 3-6 pm every weekday.
• Every Monday and Friday they have the Randall filter set up. Info on what the hell a Randall Filter is click HERE
• Every Friday and Saturday there is free live music.
• Also is an amazing restaurant and the menu can be found HERE

More info on the Rehoboth Beach Brewpub & Distillery click HERE

320 Rehoboth Avenue

Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

302-226-BREW (2739)

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE.......

Yeah that's right, Dogfish Head offers more than just great beers.....they also make spirits!! Dogfish Head also makes its own hand-distilled spirits, including rum, vodka and gin (Jin). 

So, if you ever find yourself in Delaware (for whatever reason) or driving through it, stop at the Dogfish Head Brewery and try some of their unique tasting beer and spirits!

50 State Challenge - DELAWARE

JUST KIDDING DELAWARE!! REAL POST COMING TOMORROW!!!

50 State Challenge - CONNECTICUT

I bet everyone thought I was going to write about Foxwoods Casino or Mohegan Sun Casino or maybe even Mystic. If ya thought I was going to write about those things than you are new to this blog. Todays post is going to be about a little lesser known gem called Gillette Castle State Park.

Gillette Castle State park is situated between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme, CT and it sits above  the Connecticut River. Gillette Castle got its name because it was owned and designed by Actor William Gillette who was most famous for playing Sherlock Holmes. Gillette built the castle in 1914 on over 180 acres of land on a chain of hills called the Seven Sisters. When Gillette died in 1937, he was not married and did not have any children so Connecticut's government took over the property in 1943. They renamed Gillette's home as Gillette's Castle and named the estate Gillette Castle State Park.

An interior shot of Gillette's Castle

The park consists of the castle and it's grounds that now includes a museum, and several hiking trails. he grounds are breath taking and there are amazing views of the river. The Castle is the main attraction though, and it is easy to see why. It is strikingly beautiful on the outside and in the inside it is even more spectacular. There are a number of oddities inside the castle designed personally by Gillette. Some of the oddities are unusual doorknobs (no 2 doors look a like), weird locks, a system of hidden mirrors used for surveillance and a lock protected bar. 

Gillette Castle State Park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset year round. While admission to tour the grounds is free, there is a charge of $6 for those over the age of 13 and $2 for children under 13. Gillette Castle is located at 67 River Road in East Haddam, CT. 

50 State Challenge - COLORADO

Colorado is such a beauty of a state. There is so much to do that it's hard to pick just one thing to talk about. I decide to pick something that truly represents the people of Colorado. Colorado is literally littered with amazing bike paths and it is also literally littered with bars and breweries. So what better thing to write about than a Beer & Bike Tour!

Catch a ride on the party bike

A friend of mine went to Boulder, Colorado a few weeks ago to visit some friends. She told me of all the fun stories of her time in Boulder but one story in particular stuck out. I was intrigued and jealous to hear about her time spent on a party bike, drinking and riding from bar to bar. I asked her what company she went through and she sent me to a website called http://www.myhandlebar.com/ 

As the website states Myhandlebar is a "giant 16 passenger bar bike with several pedaling seats in an awesome Eco-friendly way to cruise around Boulder, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins with friends or crawl from pub to pub". 

BOULDER: 

• Choose up to five bars for each tour
• All routes begin and end at 2206 Pearl Street in downtown Boulder.

More info about the Boulder Tour here

COLORADO SPRINGS:

• The newest edition to MyHandleBars!!
• Currently taking reservations
• Partnered with Jose Muldoons offering Thirsty Thursday specials ($2 margaritas $1 coronitas) everyday for riders

FORT COLLINS:

• Can choose up to 5 bars
• Route starts at Pateros Creek Brewery @ 2 N. College Ave.

More info here

So far, so good, right? If you've liked what you've read, you probably do not think this could get any better. WRONG! The cherry on top here is the pricing. This is totally affordable for you and your friends and all pricing can be found here. I don't know about you guys but the next time I am in Colorado I am definitely booking a ride with MyHandleBar.com!!

50 State Challenge - CALIFORNIA

What can I say about California that you don't already know? Everyone knows about Hollywood, L.A., San Fransico, Redwood forest, etc. I'm hoping that today when you read my blog you find out something about California that you had no idea about. So, with that I bring you The Lost Coast Trail.

The Lost Coast is an 80 mile stretch of the California coast where the builders of Highway 1 decided to go around the coast because it was to rough to build off of. This trail takes you down 26 miles of the Lost Coast starting at Mattole and ending at Black Sands Beach. This trail is basically one way so you will need to leave a car at the end (Black Sands Beach) and then drive back to the start of the trail. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your car there (it is about a 3 day hike) you can take a shuttle service. The shuttle service picks you up at Black Sand Beach and brings you back to Mattole for a small fee.

Points of Interest: 

Mattole Trailhead - The start of the trip. There is a bathroom and a water spigot here to fill your water bottle.

Punta Gorda Lighthouse - After hiking along the beach some ways you will come across this old abandoned lighthouse.

Cooskie Creek - A fantastic place to camp for the first night. 

Millers Flat - Great place to camp for the second night. Make sure you camp above the seaweed line and if you are lucky there may be some wooden shelters available. 

Amazingly Awesome Tips:

• Make sure you buy a map and a tide table because some areas are impassible during high tide.
• Make sure you bring Bear Canisters because there are a shit load of bears out here. Seriously though...... a shit load!
• Bring sandals for stream crossing and high tide areas.
• Bring extra socks because your feet will accidently get wet as you walk along the beach and there is nothing more annoying than wet socks.
• Have a fun and enjoy the scenery!

50 State Challenge - ARKANSAS

What can i say about Arkansas? Not much. To be honest this was one of the states I was not looking forward to when it came time to write about it. I know very little about the state. I basically know what Little Rock is and I know about the West Memphis 3. However, those two are really nothing to write home about. After hours of searching I realize I judged Arkansas a little too harshly and actually found some cool stuff about this naturally beautiful state.

BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER PARK - ARKANSAS

Canoeing is a popular activity to those that frequent the river 

Buffalo National River is America's very first national river and in 1972 it was established. Buffalo National River flows for about 140 miles of raging rapids and quiet natural pools. The entire river is surrounding on both sides by steep bluffs of the Ozark Mountains. 

The Tyler Bend Visitor Center is open all year with the exception of federal holidays. The visitor center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. There also 2 Ranger Stations within the park that are also open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  If you are wondering if it cost anything to go to Buffalo National River Park check out this website here

There is never a dull moment when visiting Buffalo National River. Most visitors to the park come to enjoy the river by swimming, canoeing, fishing, tubing, and kayaking. If water activities aren't your thing then there are plenty of other activities for you to do. Hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, hunting, sightseeing, cave explorations and bird watching are popular activities. So now if anybody ever ask "what's there to do in Arkansas?" You can tell them to go visit Buffalo National River Park!

50 State Challenge - ARIZONA

So far we are 2 states into the 50 State Challenge and the next state on the list is the phenomenal state of Arizona. Of course I could write about Arizona most famous landmark, the Grand Canyon but that would be boring. I want to write about something very few people outside of Arizona know about, I am going to write about Slide Rock State Park in Sedona Arizona.

The falls at Rock Slide Park

Slide Rock State Park takes it name from a natural water slide formed by the slippery rocks of Oak Creek. Within the park you can also visit an apple orchid and hike the three main trails. The trails are Pendley Homestead Trail which is 1/4 mile long. Slide Rock Route which is slightly more than 1/4 mile long. The last trail is Clifftop Nature Trail that is also 1/4 mile long.

The natural water slide at Rock Slide State Park. 

Sliding down the rocks is not the only form of entertainment. Visitors can hike, fish (lots of rainbow trout to be caught!), swim, sightsee and watch for Arizona's vast wildlife. The fee for the park is only $10 per car (4 passengers per car) and if you have more that 4 people with you it is $3 per individual. 

During the summer months things can get a little crazy here as locals and tourist flock to the park to cool off. Park hours are from 8am - 6pm and in the summer the hours are 8am - 7pm. The fee for the park also gets bumped up to $20 per car during the summer. I suggest you get here early because the park gets crowed very fast. 

6871 N. Highway 89A

Sedona, AZ

(928) 282-3034

50 State Challenge - ALASKA

Alaska "The Last Frontier" or is that outer space? I can't remember. Regardless, Alaska is one of the most beautiful states in America. With it's natural beauty and the abundance of wild life it is hard to pin point one thing for you guys to do. I would usually post about an amazing hiking trail or post about a great spot to view the wildlife, but today I am going to do something different. First off you have to ask yourself "what is Alaska famous for?" And if you answer Sara Palin, please jump in traffic. If you also answer with Deadliest Catch, I'll high five ya before I push you into traffic. Alaska is famous for the gold rush and today I'll let you guys in on an amazing tour where you can actually find and keep gold!!

Photo Courtesy of www.alaska.org 

Travel back in time to the Gold Rush days and learn to pan for gold. The Best of Alaska offers an amazing gold mining tour where you and your friends have your own Prospector. The Prospector is dressed in authentic 19th century attire and takes you on a historic tour of Juneau. 

The tour takes the group to a secluded spot near Gold Creek and it is there where your gold mining adventure has begun. The Prospector properly shows everyone how to pan for gold in the creek and you have ample time to try panning by yourself. This tour guarantees that you will find gold and even lets you keep everything that you find!

The tour last an 1 1/2 hrs and it's only $39 for kids and $59 for adults. For more information check out the website 

Be sure to check out www.bestofalaskatravel.com  for other tours and adventures.

50 State Challenge - ALABAMA

Today marks the start of the 50 state challenge. Everyday I am going to pick a state and feature one amazing/unique thing that the state has to offer.

ALABAMA

View from the inside of Russell Cave

I feel as if Alabama is a forgotten state. When's the last time you heard someone say "I'm going on a vacation...... to Alabama" Yeah, you probably never heard that sentence before. Surprisingly enough there is actually a lot of cool things to do in Alabama and one of them is exploring the Russell Cave System on the Alabama/Tennessee border. 

One of the entrances to Russell Cave in Alabama

The Russell Cave System is located in the northern part of the state near the town of Bridgeport. The cave was once used as a shelter by prehistoric Indians who many believe where the first human settlers in the South. 

Fun Facts:

• Russell Cave was formed over 300 million years ago at the bottom of an inland sea covering the region. 
• A natural spring flows into the cave and flows underground for about 2 miles.
• Flint points and charcoal from campfires found in the cave date back to 6550 - 6145 BCE
• Russell Cave provides the most thorough records of any prehistoric culture in the Southeast.
• Russell Cave is home to a rare species of scorpions that exist nowhere else in the world other than Russell Cave.
• During the first weekend of May, a Native American Festival is held by the cave. The festival includes, storytelling, dancing, and historical reenactments

An artist depictions of the first settlers in Russell Cave

Russell Cave offers adventures two trails (The Nature Trail, The Backcounty Trail). The Nature Trail is  half a mile long paved trail.  The Backcountry Trail is 1.2 mile unpaved trail. Both trails offer excellent views the forest, flowers and Montague Mountain.  Guided tours are also offered by the Nation Park Service Interpretative Rangers. 

Russell Cave is located at 3729 County Rd 98, Bridgeport Alabama.