RV Short Stops

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos Never Fail to Intrigue

2009-07-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

To the Piaute, they were the "Legend People." Ages ago, men and women who acted offensively were punished for their misdeeds by being turned into stone, forced to stand for an eternity.

Later, when Europeans began traveling across the vastness of the country by steel rail, a railroad company brochure said this: "When lighted by the morning sun the gorgeous chasm is an immense bowl of lace and filigree work in stone, colored with the white of frost and the pinks of glowing embers. To those who have not forgotten the story books of childhood it suggests a playground for fairies. In another aspect it seems a smoldering inferno where goblins and demons might dwell among flames and embers."

What are they? The spires that inspire--the "Hoodoos" of Bryce Canyon.

These most unusual rock formations are found through many areas of the Colorado Plateau, but an exceptional "collection" if you will, is protected at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. The park is "off the beaten track," but a real "must see" for those who are intrigued by the forces of nature that create such unusual formations.

RV camping is available here, and its a good thing, as trailer towing is restricted in some of the better view points. Leave the trailer in camp and explore the wierdness of the park. We think the best time to view the Hoodoos is early in the morning or late evening, when the light plays tricks with shadows and deep color.

photo: R & T DeMaris, all rights reserved.

Arizona's Karchner Caverns a Great Summer Cool Spot

2009-07-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

Traveling through the Arizona hot country? It's seemingly endless desert landscape can tire the patience of even the most sainted RVer. Will this hot stuff ever end? It does under the ground, and we aren't talking about taking a "dirt nap." Just off south east Arizona's Interstate 10 you'll find a cool place to visit, along with some spectacular underground scenery like you've never seen before at Karchner Caverns.

Back in the 1970's, two young cave explorers were poking around in a big sinkhole near Benson, Arizona. A blast of warm air emanating from a crack in the sinkhole led them into a huge limestone cavern filled with thrilling sights: Unusual limestone formations, apparently unseen by human eyes, perhaps forever. They held the cave a secret for many years, finally bringing the property owners in on their find. Eventually a deal was banged out with Arizona State Parks, who purchased the property, and carefully protected their new asset until they could be developed in a way that would safeguard the cavern's outstanding features.

These caverns are "living," in that the growth of limestone formations is still ongoing. The slow, steady drip of mineral bearing water over the centuries has slowly built up formations. And they are truly outstanding--you may have seen stalactites and stalagmites before, but have you ever seen a turnip shield? How about birdsnest needle quartz?

The "off season" of June to early September yields tour bargains. The one and a half hour tour is well worth the regular admission price. Adding a big discount is just icing on the--cavern.

Check out more great sights with: Monumental Places National Parks & Monuments in the Grand Canyon state.

photos: Top by Mike Lewis under Creative Commons license--you are free to share and make derivative works of the file under the conditions that you appropriately attribute it, and that you distribute it only under a license identical to this one. Official license. Bottom: R&T DeMaris.

Utah rock shop housed in big 'rock' is good stop

2009-07-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Mickey Davis and her husband Don operate The Rock Shop in Orderville, Utah., along lonely U.S. 89 east of Zion National Park.

The shop attracts visitors from all over the world. When we stopped, Mickey promptly led us to big maps near the restrooms and made us stick a little pin on our town. The map has hundreds of pins, plus there's another map of Europe with more pins. The maps have been up only two months so you know a lot of people have stopped by.

Most visitors are tourists. They are attracted to the shop because it looks like its inside a sandstone rock as big as a house. But it's not rock, just plaster, paper and chicken wire. It's 30 years old and still looking handsome for a fake rock. The original owner built replicas of dinosaurs, some of which you can see in a Vernal, Utah museum.

Mickey and Don quit their corporate jobs in Las Vegas two years ago, she with Safeway, he with Camping World, to head to the sticks. It had just come to the point in their lives where they were so busy they never saw each other. Heck with that!

There are all kinds of rocks at The Rock Shop, and fossils, too. For $20 you can buy a really nice fish fossil. Or you can buy a dinosaur bone. The soft serve ice cream is good --most folks go for chocolate/vanilla swirl.

If you like rocks, you should stop by The Rock Shop. Mickey will talk your ear off, which is a good thing because she is a very interesting and nice person.

The friendly, hungry, ugly carp of Lake Mohave, Arizona

2009-05-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

A short drive from Oatman, Ariz., and Laughlin, Nevada is the Lake Mohave resort of Katherine Landing. Visitors, including those who stay at the RV park, enjoy feeding the hungry, ugly and tame carp at the marina.

May is Great Time to RV to Netherlands Carillon

2009-05-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Back East with your RV? May is a great time to drop over to Virginia and experience the Netherlands Carillon. A gift from the Netherlands to the citizens of the United States, the carillon is a set of 50 tuned bells, located on the George Washington Memorial Parkway at Route 50 in Arlington.

Most of the year the carillon rings out tunes, played by computer. However, May marks the start of the season when human carillonneurs will sit down at the keyboard to set the bells to ringing during Saturday concerts from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. And on the 25th of this month, visitors are allowed to watch carionneur perform, as well as climb up the bell tower for some spectacular views from on high.

Miss the concerts in May? They'll continue to occur on Saturday afternoons and on national holidays through September.

RVers Can Rent Boats, ATVs, and More at Destination

2009-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

Henry David Thoreau warned: "Beware of ventures requiring new clothes." As RVers, most of us have the clothes we need at any stop. But imagine arriving at your destination and finding warm weather, and beautiful lake, and no way to explore it. Instead of buying new equipment, here's a way you might be able to rent it--at a reduced cost.

Rich Hall spent eight years in the RV rental business, helping folks learn about the joys of the RV lifestyle without having to plunk down a large amount of cash to buy a rig. Now Rich has a new wrinkle: A web site where folks with RVs, motorcyles, boats, ATVs and other "recreational equipment" can offer to rent them out to folks who likewise don't want to plunk down a wad of cash to buy something they may need for only a short time. The site, rentzio.com, offers a meeting place for folks wanting to rent recreational equipment to find folks who have it to rent.

Hall's operation breaks down the US into states, and pull-down menus help would-be renters find equipment within the state, or within a given mile radius of any city. Those with equipment can provide full details of the equipment, photos, and more right on the site. Neither renter nor rental provider are charged for the servivce. We wondered how Hall could make much of a living, and he told us advertising revenues from links and banners are keeping the site going while he builds up for the future. Eventually, Hall tells us, there may be a "flat rate" fee charged to equipment owners.

Meantime, if you're looking for an ATV to investigate the dunes near Yuma, or a ski-doo to shoot through the waters of a nearby lake, check out rentzio.com.

This May be the Year to RV Yellowstone

2009-04-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

If the seeming "dire" predictions of the local visitor bureaus are correct, this might be the year to consider a long-delayed trip to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding country. According to published reports, reservations are solid for July and August, but "shoulder season" books are down nearly 13%.

With fuel prices looking like they won't go into orbit anytime soon, and the flexibility of RVing, a late spring visit or early fall arrival might be just the ticket if you've never been to this quiet corner of the country.

Best California Rest Area for RVers

2009-04-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

Most of us would rather not spend the night in a highway rest area--particularly along an interstate highway. The noise, lack of privacy, frequent dirtiness, and all the rest, make rest areas less than desirable overnight spots. But for some reason, "the first and the last" along California's Interstate 5 seems to break the mold on that thinking.

Traveling northward, the "last" rest area (or going south, the first) along I-5 is just south of Hornbrook. Officially called the Collier Rest Area, this stop is sandwiched between the interstate and the beautiful Klamath River. But what really sets this rest area apart from your typical, "get off the highway and hit the bathroom" stop is the setting. While the average rest area sits on the same level as the interstate, the Collier Rest Area sits way below the nearby interstate. As a result, the noise level from the freeway is dramatically reduced.

Adding to quiet, the rest area is nicely landscaped, and a separate parking area for RVers is set aside from everyone else. With pull throughs dedicated to recreational vehicles, you're set apart from noisy "reefer" units on semi-trucks, and the typical round-the-clock in-and-out noise of the passenger vehicle area. Roll in, set up your rig for the night, and you can actually get a good night's rest. Next morning, if you have the time, take the scenic Klamath River Highway south and follow the river and its wonderful scenery.

It's not often we really get to pass along "kudos" to state government, but this one really got it right!

Learn Digital Photography in Texas' Biggest State Park

2009-03-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

If you said, "Big Bend" as the answer to what is the biggest state park in the big state of Texas, you're right on the money, pardner. And if you're a newbie or consider yourself an "intermediate" digital photographer and want to learn more, now's the time to register for a digital photography course at Big Bend--take a shot at one of two offered in May.

When we say, "biggest state park," we say it with good reason. There's over 300,000 acres of land encompassed in this park. Much of it lies in the Chihuahuan Desert. Don't think of endless sands and cactus. Twenty-three miles of the Rio Grande river roll along the border of the park, so a bit of paddling can be had. Or saddle up to check out some of the seemingly endless miles available for horse riding, mountain biking, or just plain two-foot hiking.

But the photo workshop, led by the chief photographer of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, Earl Nottingham, and backed by hotshot photogs from Canon cameras. Says Nottingham of the workshop:

"The camera is the perfect tool to gain a true appreciation of the Big Bend Country," Nottingham said. "It forces you to sit on a mountaintop while waiting for magic light and to savor the sights, sounds and fragrances of the Chihuahuan Desert."

The course operates on either one of two sessions: May 17-20 and May 21-24, and will set you back $450 per person. That includes park entry fees, lodging, meals and assistance of park rangers. Lodging is at the Sauceda Lodge, featuring dormitory-style accommodations with separate wings for men and women, and a dining room where meals are served. Dormitory accommodations? Wow! Maybe you can cut a deal to stay in your own RV and join up for the eats and class sessions.

Find out more by ringing up the Big Bend Ranch State Park at (432) 358-4444.

photos: Mud bake, sean_mcgee on flickr.com; horseback rider, Chase Fountain, Texas Parks and Wildlife

New Virtual Tour of Hearst Castle

2009-03-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

What has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo?

The answer lies near San Simeon, California: Hearst Castle, built by newspaper publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. In its heyday, an invitation to visit the estate was a big thing. Today anyone can visit the place and take a grand tour of the opulence that big money could build. Actually, there are several different tours of the place, now managed by the State of California.

You might wonder though, if you really want to spend the time--and money--on taking one of the tours. After all, the least expensive visit will set you back $20 per adult ticket. Now California State Parks, the managing agency for castle tours, offers a "virtual tour" on the official website that gives you a free taste of what you'll see if you cough up the big bucks. Visit the site at www.hearstcastle.com.

photo: reih on flickr.com

"Giant Rock" That Nearly Crushed RV a Cosmic Attraction

2009-03-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Said to be perhaps the world's tallest freestanding rock, "Giant Rock" near Landers, California has an interesting history. At over seven stories tall, it is indeed one huge chunk of granite. Over the years it's been a meeting point for Native Americans, UFOlogists, dirt bikers, and RVers looking for a spot to boondock.

Originally a "one piece" affair, in February 2000 a huge chunk of Giant Rock sloughed off, nearly smashing an RV parked nearby. "Mystery" surrounds the reason for the breakage--some say Mother Earth was lodging a complaint, others suggest that a bonfire set under the rock may have contributed to the breakage.

Want to see it for yourself? Find your way to California Highway 247 out of Yucca Valley. Be prepared for a STEEP upgrade. North of Landers watch for the hard to read sign to Linn Road, and travel east on Linn Road until the pavement ends. Travel 1.5 miles on dirt to the fork in the road, and take the right fork another 1.6 miles over "Whoops!" type dirt road (highly exagerated washboard road) to the rock.

California's Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

2009-03-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

There's just a fascination with lighthouses. Stationed on a wind-swept bluff, overlooking an infinity of open ocean, carrying out their assignment decade after decade. One such "light station" as they are now referred to (loses a lot of the romance if you ask us), is just north of Mendocino, California at Point Cabrillo.

The Point Cabrillo light has stood its solitary position for over 100 years. It has seen shipwrecks, survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and been "home" to countless light keepers and their families. Now California State Parks folks have cooked up a celebration commemorating the work of the lighthouse and its keepers. The most notable events are the Partnership Celebration on June 6th and the historic relighting of the Point Cabrillo Light on June 10th. These are two of the events which will provide visitors and guests with a rare opportunity to share a historical time with friends and family, while learning more about the legacy of Point Cabrillo.

“This is history in the making,” said Director Ruth Coleman of California State Parks. “It is only made possible by the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers and private donations from our partners that have been restoring and maintaining this incredible light station.”

“There are hundreds of stories to be told, here,” said Ron Eich, president, Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association (PCLK). “We are very proud of the docents, families and interpreters who will share these stories with our visitors during this centennial celebration.”

For more information, phone the PCLK at (707) 937-6123.

For sale: Pamela Anderson's Airstream trailer

2009-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you are in the market for a unique, one-of-a-kind travel trailer, then head to Laughlin, Nev., and pay $100,000. You will be the proud owner of the 2001 "Lovestream" trailer once owned by blonde sex goddess Pamela Anderson.

It's an Airsteam trailer complete with mirrored ceilings, white shag carpeting, faux leather on the walls and the Playboy bunny logo embossed on the sofa. The RV was a gift to Anderson from Playboy Magazine's Hugh Hefner, once a studly guy but now a octogenarian who hangs out on cable TV with giggly 20-year-old girls with breast implants.

But the star attraction of this shiny Airstream trailer is its round vibrating bed which makes it like a motel Magic Fingers machine except you don't need quarters. Plus, it has a disco ball for gala events, and a striper pole so the RV's owner can strip tease for pals.

That is all the good news. The bad news is that this may be the ugliest, most useless travel trailer on the face of Planet Earth. It's no wonder Anderson sold it. The striper pole is right in the middle of the vibrating bed. See the photo: how do you sleep in something like this? How do you snuggle up with your sweetie? Where do you buy sheets?

There is no kitchen, just a microwave and fridge. Pamela Anderson, who most people remember from her days on Baywatch where she showed off her bosoms, probably just ate frozen dinners: that would be a logical guess.

But if you want to buy this piece of showbiz history, call 702-298-2622. If you want to look inside first, then visit the Riverside Casino, where it's on display.

Largest selection of books and DVDs in the world. RVbookstore.com

Dine on a free potato at Idaho Potato Museum

2009-01-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

See the world's largest potato chip at the Idaho Potato Museum and learn how the popular veggies played an important role in the life of President Kennedy. And, even better, with a paid admission you can fill up on a "FREE TATERS FOR OUT-OF-STATERS," as billboards proclaim on roads into the town of Blackfoot, Idaho. The free spud is a large, oven-fresh Russet potato with butter and sour cream. Yum! The Potato Museum provides information on potato history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, trivia and educational potato facts. Watch a short video presentation on how the potato industry has developed. The museum is located in downtown Blackfoot at 130 NW Main Street in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot. There's plenty of easy RV parking. Don't miss the gift shop with all kinds of unique potato trinkets. And if you didn't already know, Blackfoot is the "Potato Capital of the World." How about that?

Smallest post office makes for fun RV quick stop

2008-12-22T20:16:00.001-08:00

America's smallest post office is in a tiny 56-square-foot building in Ochopee, Florida, population 11. Its lone mail carrier drives 132 miles a day to serve 950 residents along the route. There's enough parking at the tiny post office for your RV, should you stop by. It's located along U.S. 41 at mile marker 71.9 along Alligator Alley, which connects Naples with Miami and passes through the Everglades. The building is not official post office design: it once served as a pipe shed for a tomato farm. But when the local general store burned down in 1953 it was converted to the town's post office. Stop by during business hours to buy a stamp, mail a letter or visit with the postmaster. Buy a "Smallest Post Office" postcard, too.

Unique pet cemetery memorializes old friends

2008-12-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

For RVers, traveling pets are more than just companions, they become part of the family. When that sad day arrives when they're no longer with us, what's to do with their last remains? Out in the hills west of Yuma, just inside California, a unique pet cemetery has built up over the years.

Located on Quechan tribal land, the cemetery lies in a secluded hollow in a little traveled area. Many RVers spend winters "in the neighborhood," some of them volunteering to care for the graveyard, as the entire place is non-commercial.

Walking through the cemetery is moving; the tributes that loving families have put up for their pets shows just how much these ones are close to our hearts.

To visit the pet cemetery, take Interstate 8 west from Yuma to California Highway 186 (Algadones Road). Go south on 186 until you cross the All American Canal. Take an immediate right and go west along the gravel road that borders the south side of the canal. The road will bend and head south. Follow it, and before the road begins to rise you'll see the cemetery on the right.

Oregon KOA RV park rails in caboose cafe

2008-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

A condemned, gutted, 1929 Sante Fe railroad caboose will soon find a new life at the Oregon Dunes KOA Kampground in the Pacific Coast community of North Bend, Oregon. After refurbishing, it will become a cafe, complete with interior kitchen and outdoor deck. The caboose was used on freight trains that traveled between Chicago and California. Crews and conductors would live in it while they were traveling. Now campers can enjoy a meal or a snack while visiting the RV park.

Visit Stonehenge with your RV without leaving the USA

2008-12-03T17:51:00.001-08:00

In Washington state, on a barren bluff overlooking the Columbia River and Oregon is a full-size replica Stonehenge, a near carbon copy of the more famous Stonehenge in England. It was built by a man named Sam Hill as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War I. Hill passed away soon after his masterpiece was completed in 1930 and is buried nearby.

Unlike the English Stonehenge which is mobbed daily with buses and wide eyed tourists, the Sam Hill replica is a lonely, quiet place. A short paved road off state route 14 leads to the monument and its huge parking lot, easily accessible by any length RV.

Sam Hill’s Mansion, part of the Maryhill Museum of Art, is just up the highway. The museum includes a collection of royal memorabilia from Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), a friend of Sam Hill’s who presided at the museum’s dedication ceremony in 1926. Included are the queen’s coronation gown, crown, silverware, gilt furniture, jewelry and other memorabilia. The museum is only from March 15 to November 15 with a $7 adult admission. Stonehenge is always open and admission is free.

Soak up at Wyoming's Hot Springs State Park

2008-11-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Located at the edge of Thermopolis, Wyo., Hot Springs State Park was built around the world’s largest single mineral hot spring. Big Spring pours forth millions of gallons of mineral water every 24 hours at a constant temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The perpetual fountain forms a seething caldron from which some of the water is channeled into pools to be cooled and then piped into bathhouses for public use.

From another stream, the water flows over enchanting Rainbow Terrace and then spills down into the Big Horn River. Two swimming plunges and the State Bath House provide indoor and outdoor pools. Open year ‘round, the plunges offer mineral water swimming and all types of recreation equipment. A herd of buffalo roams the red hills behind the main portion of Hot Springs State Park. There are plenty of camping opportunities in the area, including right in town.

Be sure to take the short drive through the park to see the buffalo herd. But keep your distance: these fellows are not friendly.

Take the River Train near Sacramento, California

2008-11-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Enjoy dinner, brunch or lunch aboard the Sacramento RiverTrain. This new train features a sparkling gold exterior reflecting the area’s Gold Rush heritage and 1,000-feet of blue waves that are a tribute to the Sacramento River along the train’s route. The train passes over the 8,000-foot-long Fremont Trestle, one of the largest trestles in the Western United States. While you roll along, enjoy a great combination of scenery, food and entertainment. The dining cars have a relaxed "tommy bahama" style and the club car features live music on weekend RiverTrain dinner parties. The open-air cars are popular during Saturday train robberies and Sunday champagne brunches.

Beer and wine are available in the club car or at the open-air patio bar. Seasonal and special event trips are offered throughout the year. Located 15 minutes from Sacramento, the train boards in Woodland, California. The 32-mile trip lasts about three hours. They are offered every week of the year.

The reservation office is open until 8pm every day. Call (800) 866-1690 for reservations: Monday—Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

The KOA in West Sacramento is about a half-hour away.

Camp, feel better at Soap Lake, Washington

2008-07-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Soap Lake is in eastern Washington roughly midway between Seattle and Spokane. It's just a short drive off I-90. A city owned RV park is right along the lake, with its waters regionally famous for their healing properties -- take a swim and get better from a variety of ailments, or so the promise goes.

The town of Soap Lake isn't much, a short main street with a few shops that somehow manage to survive. But there are a few restaurants, a bar or two, and everything is a short walk from the RV park. Another couple blocks beyond Main Street is the nine-hole Lava Links golf course, where you can play for free. But if you have good clubs, then it may not be an idea: there is no grass, just hard-packed dirt, sagebrush and volcanic lava outcroppings. Ask for some loaner clubs at City Hall, which is across the street.

The RV park has hookups, and a campsite is inexpensive, less than $20 a night in prime time. It's a good place to spend a day or a week, and maybe take a dip in the lake to improve your arthritis.

Lighthouse chasers enjoy new mystery

2008-06-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

Lots of RVers have "must visit" lists. All the national parks. Historic battle fields. Lighthouses.

If you're a lighthouse fan, here's a site you shouldn't miss, and now it comes with a mystery. First, the lighthouse: Just a half hour south of San Francisco is the little coastal burg of Montara, home of around 3,000 souls. Sitting on scenic Highway 1, Montara also claims fame from the Point Montara lighthouse. Still an operating light, its lightkeeping staff quarters now serve as a hostel where guests can stay on and absorb the aura of the sea.

What's the mystery? Recently historians say they've found proof that the lighthouse at Montara isn't a native. Huh? According to a story in "Lighthouse Digest," the light was originally installed a bit aways: Actually built to shed light at Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Sometime later, locals on the east coast thought the light had simply been taken down or destroyed. But according to the historians, apparently the original Wellfleet light was somehow transported from the east coast to the west coast, and eventually settled in at Point Montara.

To visit the light, travel California Highway 1 to Montara. A half-mile south of town a sign indicates the way up a dirt road to the light. The grounds are open daily for visitors to explore. And to figure out just how they got this lighthouse across the country.

pre-tweaked photo: Darin Barry on flickr.com

Cruise the Bayous of South Louisiana

2008-04-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ranger-guided boat trips will cruise the bayous of south Louisiana again this spring from the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. Both centers are part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The boat tours are made in traditional Louisiana wooden boats (one modeled on the “schoolboat” the builder’s father used to take). Trips and costs vary and may include stops at the home of a former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice or a restored plantation or just a leisurely cruise to watch the alligators sunning themselves on the bayou banks. For information, call the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette at 337/232-0789 or the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux at 985/448-1375.

Visit to Atomic Testing Museum is a real blast

2008-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

One of Las Vegas' newest attractions, The Atomic Testing Museum, portrays world history through varied representations of the story of the Nevada Test Site and its programs. The museum features many not seen before, first-person narratives, large iconic artifacts, environmental re-creations, theatrical devices, and interactive elements for personal exploration. It also presents multiple viewpoints expressed in multi-media presentations and stunning graphics.

Founded in 1998 to preserve the legacy of the Nevada Test Site, the museum's parent organization, Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation was founded with a mission to document and interpret the unique history associated with more than 50 years of nuclear weapons research and testing conducted at the Test Site.

The Atomic Testing Museum is located at 755 East Flamingo Rd. in Las Vegas, Nevada. The museum is only minutes from the Las Vegas strip, located just East of Paradise Road. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, and less for seniors, military and children. For more information call (702) 794-5161.

How towns say hello

2007-12-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has spent much time on the back roads or minor highways of America has most likely enjoyed the "welcome to town" messages on billboards at the city limits of small communities. In the 1990s, I spent several months each year traveling the back roads of the American West in a motorhome, writing and publishing my quarterly newspaper Out West as I went. Over that decade I snapped photos of many such signs. Here is a short video essay I put together back then. The quality is not too great as I had to transfer the essay from VHS to a digital format before posting it online.