Free-roaming Wildlife

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Game Park

Hand Raised Wildlife

West Coast Game Park

For over 35 years West Coast Game Park, the worlds largest wild animal petting zoo, has been one of the most popular Oregon attractions.
The park is located 7 miles south of Bandon, specializes in hand-raising wildlife.
For youngsters and parents who have never experienced the fun of walking among free-roaming wildlife it is a thrill of a lifetime.
Over 450 animals and birds live there. The Game Park specializes in hand raising them.
Animals with no place else to go are taken here to regain a new life.
Be sure to visit the most popular area, the nursery.
You can hold and pet the babies. They are all hand fed on a bottle.
When we were there we saw a black bear only two months old, a baby Bengal tiger three months old and a tiny black leopard only one month old.
I got to hold a baby white raccoon. White raccoons are very rare. When a white one is born the other raccoons think it is not one of them and kill it.
The only hope for the baby is to be rescued by humans. This baby was pushed out of the nest and found by a forest ranger. It was brought here to be hand fed by the game park.
Another time when we were there I held a baby possum all cuddled down in a fleece hat. Unaware of how lucky he is to be there.
I think the nursery animals are the most interesting part of the game park. Where else are you able to handle the tiny animals.
The nursery is by no means the only part of the park. There are beautiful birds, cats, bears and other animals to be seen and petted.
The children will love it.
Bring a camera and plan on spending some time here. It is a very enjoyable place to visit.
West Coast Game Park
Hwy 101
Bandon, Oregon
www.gameparksafari.com

Whale Hunting

Take a good digital camera with zoom lense for this once in a life time opportunity.

Orca in Washington

Want to see the magnificent killer whales?
If you do this is the best trip we found.
Guaranteed to see orca, on a 70 to 90 mile cruise, that is a completely narrated scenic tour of the San Juan Islands. You will see other sea life as well. They could include Gray, Humpback, and Menki whale, seals and birds.
The 110 foot boat is very quite, so you will have no trouble listening to the narration. It is very educational and interesting, just listening to the history of the islands.
It is a full day trip from 10 am to 5pm, May through September.
The guarantee is solid, they will keep taking you out until you see killer whale.
They have spotters on land, boat and in the air to let the captain know the location of the whales and which way they are headed.
The day we went, it was late in the day by the time they were spotted. We were about to give up hope.
They were close enough to say that you saw them but they were about 150 yards away.
No spy hopping much to our disappointment.
There are rules pertaining to the distance a boat can get to them. A very heavy fine is levied on the Captain, so he takes no risk. After all they are a protected species.
That evening we talked to some people with another tour group that paid more than we did and did not see any killer whales. No guarantee to go again for free either.
We were very glad we chose this company with the guarantee.
Island Mariner Cruises
Bellingham, Washington
1-877-734-8866


GM Johnson City Street Map: Bellingham, Whatcom

Wedding Rock

GM Johnson City Map: Oregon South Coast Cities

Great Pacific Recreation Map: Oregon/N. California

Patrick’s Point State Park

Trinidad, California

A beautiful forest and meadow, the park is full of natural attractions and trails.
Large rock formations offer a dramatic view of the Pacific Ocean.
Wedding Rock
This is one of the most famous ones.
Many weddings are preformed here, at wedding rock. Many others have wedding pictures taken at this spot. A beautiful background of the ocean frames the bride and groom.
Others come to the rock formations to watch the migration of the gray whale.
Whale watching near the beach are resident whales who stay here year around. The water is not deep enough for them to jump or spy hop. You can spot them by watching for the water blow or spout.
Agate Beach
This is where semiprecious stones can be found on the sand.
We had never been agate hunting before and were not sure what they looked like. We were told they would be shinny and white or clear looking.
So off we went with my rock bag in hand.
It is quite a climb down to the beach but once there it is worth the climb.
All sea rocks looked like agates to me when they were wet and shinning in the sun.
Just taking the ones that I thought might be an agate, I filled my bag.
Out of my bag of treasures I have one small agate.
I brought them home and put them in a clear glass vase. Every time we look at our agate gems, we smile. That is what memories are made of.
We stayed at he Sounds of the Sea RV Park, every morning we were awaken with the seals barking.
It truly was the sounds of the sea.

Passage of the Deep

Be sure to have your camera ready for some memorable pictures.


Oregon Aquarium

One of the Top Ten


Take the adventure through a clear underwater tunnel and you will know how it feels to be completely surrounded by sharks and rays.

The Tunnel Made of Acrylic

Each eight foot section weights over two ton. The tunnel floors and walls are acrylic 5 inches thick.
The entire system contains 5.3 miles of water pipe and holds over 1.3 million gallons of water. The only thing separating you from the razor sharp teeth of a shark is the acrylic tunnel.
See the sharks as they swim over your head and below, under your feet.
There are more than 190 native species of marine animals living among the aquariums 6 acres.
Some of the most fascinating are the jelly fish.
There are many different kinds. As tiny as an eraser on a pencil to the moon jelly.
A floor to ceiling acrylic tank holds the moon jelly fish.
The jelly fish live very well with no skeleton, no heart and no brain.
Other jelly fish pulsate, drifting aimlessly through the water with tentacles that can grow to 7 feet long.
Plan your visit to last all day.
There is a café to eat in and relax when you get tired.
Open all year.
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Newport Beach, Oregon
www.aquarium.org


Thomas Guide Pacific Northwest Road Atlas (6th)

End of the Trail

 

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At long last and what a relief, Oregon City, Oregon the end of the trail.

The weary pioneers have covered a total of 2170 miles.

For 25 years as many as 650,000 pioneers may have come west.  No accurate records exist of the actual traffic. 

It is agreed that Oregon was the destination for most of the travelers.

California a close contender.  The remainder went to Utah,Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington.

This was the last of the so-called migrations. 

By 1866 the Union Pacific Railroad Company was formed.

By 1869 an emigrant could travel by rail. 

Antelope Island, Utah

DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Utah

Antelope Island, Utah

Part of the Great Salt Lake


Rich with scenic beauty and natural features Antelope Island is a perfect place to get close to the Great Salt Lake.
The largest of the ten islands on the Great Salt Lake, it can be reached by boat or driving on a causeway.
White sand beaches, entices swimmers and picnickers. Swimming is popular, in this salty water where you are so buoyant that you float like a cork. The water is very salty at up to 26% but most of the time it is around 13%. Ten times more salty than the ocean. Only the Dead Sea has more salt content than the Great Salt Lake.
Fresh water showers are there to use so you can wash off the salt and change clothes.
The other sports are even more popular, like hiking, biking, and kayaking.
Special motor boats or sail boats are very popular here as well. With thousands of miles of shoreline, there is enough room for everyone.
Many animals and birds live there year-round on the 2800 acre island. Bob cats, coyotes, elk and the famous American Buffalo. The first bison were introduced to the island in 1893. The herd now numbers 600 managed animals. During the annual bison roundup in November of every year, visitors can get a close up look at all 600 bison. They are inspected by a vet, given shots, and culled for sale and the rest are returned to their home on the island.
The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of Lake Bonneville which covered 20,000 square miles of land which at that time was Utah, Nevada, and Idaho some 30,000 years ago.
Now just 75 miles long and 35 miles wide. Depth of 13 to 20 feet.
The Great Salt Lake has fresh water running into it with 4 rivers and many streams. The lake has no outlet so there is just continual evaporation.
Several businesses extract salt and other chemicals from the lake. One is Morton Salt Company. That is where your table salt comes from.
Antelope Island State Park is 7 miles west of I-15 exit 335 near Layton, Utah

Sandstone Creations

Arches National Park

Moab, Utah

Red rock sandstone cliffs, giant balanced rocks, slender monoliths, the red rock formations appear to be giant sculptures.
Arches National Park contains the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches.
2,000 arches are located within the parks 76,518 acres.
From the new, this year, visitors center take the 18 mile scenic drive. Many of the rock formations are visible from the road with numerous pullouts and view points.
This is a landscape, sculpted by nature. Spectacular displays of eroding Entrada and Navajo sandstone, shape the scenes. The Entrada sandstone is the beautiful dark, salmon color and Navajo is the lighter, desert buff. Making a beautiful contrast.
Manganese and iron appear as black streaks on exposed rock surfaces to add to the beauty.
Photography opportunities here are endless. The landscape with naturally occurring geologic wonders, sandstone fins, pinnacles and spires.
The beauty is left to the eye of the beholder to capture uniquely through their lens.
A great way to start this and every excursion into a National park is to stop at the visitor’s center.
Arches National Park visitor center is open all year. There is a very informative 15 minute movie for your information on the history on the park.
Today new arches are being formed and old ones are being destroyed. Erosion and weather are relatively slow but are relentless, creating dynamic land forms that gradually change over time.
Take nothing but pictures.
Waste nothing but time.
Leave nothing but footprints.


Trails Illustrated Map: UT - Arches

A High Threshold for Pain

Moab, Utah

 

A 24 hour mountain bike race was held here, a weekend in October.

More than 4500 mountain bikers were on hand for the 24 hour event.

The rugged terrain, combined with changes in altitude and temperature, made  the 24 hour ride one of the most grueling events that mountain biking has to offer.

Some riders rode upwards of 240 miles and they rode all night.

This is one of the most prestigious events of the extreme sports.

Participants in the 24 hour ride must have a high threshold for pain and discomfort.

This event will be held each year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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City of Extreme Motion

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Moab, Utah is known for many things, anything  that require motion.

Film and Commercials

The Hollywood film industry brought recognition to the Moab area when The Wagonmaster was filmed here.

Shortly after John Wayne starred in Rio Grande.

John Wayne felt Moab was the part of the world that defined the west.  A land of spacious vista's, deep canyons, and towering sandstone spires.

The  Moab area,has been a filming location since 1945.

Some of the early movies were Wagonmaster with James Arness, Rio Grande, with John Wayne and Warlock with Henry Fonda.

The most recent are Touch by an Angle, with Roma Downey and Della Reese.

Movies and commercials are still being filmed in Moab today.

To find the movie set locations you can pick up a map at the information center, or this web site.  www.filmmoab.com

Film locations

Some of the film locations are Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park.

Canyonlands National Park is 35 miles west of Moab, it is the largest national park in Utah.

Extreme Sports

Moab is most known for the Slickrock Bike Trail, also road cycling is increasingly popular.

River running, photography, Native American Art,hiking, and 4-wheel racing.

ATV's, golfing, fishing. climbing, canyoneering,scenic flights,and skydiving.

The list of things that are in motion are endless.

Something is going all year long.  Truly a city of movement. 

nab

Extreme Sports



Moab, Utah

Moab has become known worldwide as a mountain biking Mecca.
Varied terrain and spectacular scenery brings riders to Moab, to try the trails.
Moab is a high energy town, people of all ages and nationalities congregate here to socialize. It is a town all about movement, biking, hiking, climbing, rafting and jeep riding.
Sand Flats Recreation Area is 7300 acres of high plane slick rock domes, bowls, and fins.
Slick rock is miss-interpreted as a slippery rock until they actually ride the rock. Bikes have an incredible traction on the sandstone.
Slick rock has some of the biggest rocks you have ever seen. Some as long and as big as a train. The bikes ride on top of them, up one rock and down the other side to yet another rock
It is called slick rock because the rocks have been swept clean and smooth by years of shifting sand.
There are oceans of slick rock known around the world.
Steep inclines and descents offer technical challenges to the most experienced bikers. The trail is 12.7 miles and takes 3-4 hours to complete. It is an expert level route.
Choose an appropriate trail for your ability.
Slick rock trail is technical, challenging and very steep in some places. Carry a map and know how to use it. Maps are located at the trailheads and entrance stations.
The 12.7 mile trail is considered by many to be the ultimate mountain biking experience.
Slick rock Bike Trail is enjoyed annually by over 100,000 visitors.
There are 110 campsites and open year-round at Sand Flats Rec. Area.
Campers need to bring in all drinking water, as water is not available on this high desert plateau.
For more information: www.discovermoab.com


Trails Illustrated Map: UT - Canyonlands, Needles

Eating Squid Steak

Mexico Tour



Baja Coast to Ensenada, Mexico

Visit the enchanting Mexican seaport town of Ensenada.
Hotel pickup and return, ride in a comfortable motor coach. Traveling down the coast to Baja California from San Diego. Spend an hour in Rosarito Beach and 3.5 hours in Ensenada, Mexico.
That is just what we did. The motor coach trip was very pleasant and the driver very informative.
Upon arriving in the quaint seaport town we enjoyed a full 5 entrée lunch, at a very nice hotel.
My husband was more daring than I was. He ordered squid steak. It sounds terrible, but it was very delicious. When we ask how it was cooked the chef himself came to our table to tell us about it. Only the main body of the squid is used. Tenderized, breaded and fried. It was very tender and tastes much better than it sounded.
There was time for shopping and sight seeing after that. The prices we much higher than we had seen in Tijuana. Tijuana is the place for the serious shoppers.
It was time to head home. At the boarder we had a two hour delay. They have a bus lane so we didn’t have to get in the car lane, but there were a lot of buses that day.
The tour company said all we needed was pictured drivers license. It is not a law to have a pass port until 2008.
So off we went to get back across the border. That was not an easy task.
An American boarder guard hassled us. He said we could not leave because we did not have a pass port. Finally after he got his thrill at our expense he let us go.
We will go ahead and get the pass port now. Since 911 it is faster and safer to have one.
This trip is a good one. Don’t let our misfortune change your mind on this trip.
It was beyond the tour company’s control.
If you would like to go.
www.allsandiegotours.com
1-888-609-5665

2006 Thomas Guide: San Diego County

The Best in the West
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The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming tells the story of the pioneers and of the trails they traveled.
The Oregon Trail, the Pony Express Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail.
All of these trails are designated as National Historic Trails.
The Interpretive Center conjures images of slow-moving covered wagon trains stretching miles in the distance. The recall stories of the hardy pioneers and their untold hardships.
All of them came through a place called Casper, Wyoming.
Hollywood has never captured the real-life drama experienced by the half-million pioneers that come on these trails. How could we relate to people who thought 15 miles a day was making “good time.” Pioneers who were willing to devote six-months of their lives to a 2ooo mile journey into the unknown.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper tells the story of these pioneers and of the trails they traveled.
An orientation theater gives the visitors a brief overview of the great trails and the pioneer’s lives.
There are some wonderful interactive displays at the center. Ride a covered wagon as it crosses the Platt River. It is enough to make you motion sick. Pull a handcart, ride in a stage coach. See movies of the handcart company and the hardships they lived through. See how remarkable the Pony Express Company got the mail through. These are a few of the one but there are many others. Plan on being there a long time. It is a huge place and a lot to see and do.
This Interpretive center is the most complete and educational of all interpretive centers in the west that we have been to.
Don’t miss it when you come to Casper. You will need a camera and walking shoes.

End of the Rope

Devil’s Tower
DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Wyoming

Find a rock Climbing book here.



The roadmap sets open to Wyoming, laying across your lap, gear piled into the car, you have escaped!
The western climbing vacation of your dreams has begun.
Devil’s Tower one of Wyoming’s most famed landmarks.
Devil’s Tower, also the nation’s first national monument, proclaimed in 1906.
Devil’s Tower is actually the core of a volcano, exposed after a million years of erosion.
The enormous tower rises 867 feet from its base and 1267 feet above the Belle Fouche River. At he base there is a paved walking path around the perimeter, a distance of one and a quarter mile.
This stump shaped monument played an important part in history as a landmark for the pioneers.
It can be seen for many, many miles away. Keeping the pioneers on the Oregon Trail.
It is a subject for legends and folklore among local American Indians. This is still a scared place for them today.
What the attraction is today, is rock climbing. Climber from all over the world come all summer long to climb this forbidding place.
As many climbers as there are there is still at lot of room to climb with out getting in the way of each other. There are as many observers as there are climbers. It is a sight to see. You can walk around the tower just watching the different climbers. The path is very nice around the tower with place to sit and rest if you want to.
The day we were there a girl had fallen and was killed. She stepped off the back of her rope. It is a tragic loss of life.

Devils Tower

Devils Tower



The Legend

The Devils Tower in Wyoming was set aside as a National monument in 1906.
Actually it is the core of a volcano, exposed after millions of years of erosion, brought on by the Belle Fourche River and weather.
The tower is 865 feet of rock, just out there by its self.
The distance of the perimeter is 1 ¼ miles around. The walking trail around it has been paved and there are benches along the way to rest on. It is a very interesting walk. Not only the rock formation, to study but the rock climbers.
Rock climbers from all over the world come to climb the tower.
Many Native Americans hold it sacred. A legend goes with the Devils Tower, passed down through time.
One day, an Indian tribe was camped beside the river and seven small girls were playing at a distance from camp.
The region had a large bear population and a bear began to chase the girls. They ran back toward their village, but the bear was about to catch them.
The girls jumped upon a rock about three feet high and began to pray to the rock, “Rock, take pity on us, Rock save us.” the rock heard the pleas of the young girls and began to elongate itself upwards, pushing them higher and higher out of reach of the bear. The bear clawed and jumped at the sides of the rock. Breaking its claws and falling to the ground.
The bear continued to jump at the rock until the girls were pushed up into the sky. They are there to this day in a group of seven little stars (the Pleiades). The marks of the bear claws are there yet.
As one looks upon the tower and contemplates it uniqueness, could the legend be true?
This is a unique and educational place to bring the family.
Located in Northeast Wyoming, near Gillettte, on I-90

Rand McNally Folded Map: Montana, Wyoming

DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Wyoming