Cost For 1 Mile of New Road: $389.5 Million
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Cost for 1 Mile of New Road: $389.5 Mil.
The Ledger Still, drivers can expect some lane shifting on I-4, the Selmon Expressway, State Road 60 and some smaller cross streets, but mostly at night. … |
Big Changes Coming to California I-10 Corridor with Interchange Projects
RANCHO MIRAGE – Stimulus funds pave way for projects along I-10 corridor in Coachella Valley.
Something for Everyone in Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park
When our Pacific Northwest road trip brought us near our final destination of Seattle, we took a left and headed instead for Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Olympic National Park is home to tiny tidepools, enormous drift wood, rain forests, snowy peaks and stunning views. You can see a little of a lot in a day’s drive through or you can discover all the details spending days exploring this wonderland. Yes, it is wet. How do you think things grow so tall and get so green? But on the clear days, you can see across to Canada. If you can keep your eyes off of the wildlife.
Famous for:
Wilderness. To appreciate Olympic National Park you need to hike away from your car. Nearly all of the park is forest, mountains, rain forest, seashore, rivers and valleys requiring varying durations of hikes to get there.
Admission:
$15 per vehicle. $5 for motorcyles, pedestrians or cyclists (free under Age 16). Pass is good for 7 days. Additional costs for overnight wilderness stays and camping.
Families with young kids will like:
Short walks through Hoh Rain Forest or discovering tidepools along Rialto Beach.
Families with teenagers will like:
Choosing from a variety of hiking trails in the Staircase region surrounded by enormous fir trees.
Other travelers will like:
Catch & release fishing on the Quinalt River or in many other lakes, rivers and shoreline spots.
Easy site seeing:
Drive up to Hurricane Ridge to take in the snow capped peaks of mountains all around and coast below.
Best hotel in the park:
Kalaloch Lodge boasts beautiful sunset views, situated on the Pacific Ocean in the park with full amenities.
Best campground in the park:
Well that depends on where you want to be. There are 16 different campgrounds covering all regions. Mora is in the woods but near the ocean, open year round with running water and plentiful sites.
Lodging experiences:
Everything from primitive campsites to RV accommodations, cabins, and hotels. Plentiful lodging options nearby the park as well.
Best months to visit for weather:
July, August & September (unless you are looking for winter activities).
Best months to visit to avoid crowds:
June & October have less visitors with better weather.
Nearest major cities:
Port Angeles is closest, Seattle is largest.
More info from the National Park Service:
http://www.nps.gov/Olym/index.htm
Related posts:
Beaches of Olympic National Park
By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog
Photo credited to Molly G. @The Bumbles Blog
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Bumpass Hell thermal area, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in northern California, at the base of the Cascade Mountain Range, is not very well known, and thus, not very crowded. This area of California is full of lakes of all sizes, and most vacations include time spent on the water, fishing, swimming or picnicking. Throughout the park, visitors can experience much of the continued volcanic activity through thermal areas and evidence of the last eruption. Winter snowfall still dictates entrance into the park, and it is wise to check the National Park Services website for road updates.
Famous for: Lassen Peak, which last erupted in 1915. Still active today, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) constantly monitor seismic activity and measure volcanic gas emissions.
Admission: Vehicle admission fee is $10 for 7 days. Individual fees are $5 for 7 days.
Families with young kids will like: Our family enjoyed the self-guided 1 mile walk around the Lily Pond Nature Trail near Manzanita Lake. We bought one of the leaflets at the trail head to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area.
Families with teenagers will like: Floating on Juniper Lake in an inflatable tube. So much blue water will relax everyone before your return to civilization.
Easy site seeing: Drive the 30-mile State 89 roadway and view many of the more interesting features of the park, including the shoulder of the volcano. Stop in at Bumpass Hell and explore the largest of the Lassen Volcanic National Park thermal areas.
Best hotel in the park: Bridge House Bed & Breakfast in Redding, California.
Best campground in the park: Eight campgrounds in the park, including 4 with reservation-only sites, are available from early-June through mid-September (weather permitting). Juniper Creek is one of the better sites, since it is less crowded, although entrance into the site is via an 8 mile rough-road. For something a little different, consider the Drakesbad Guest Ranch, in the middle of Lassen Volcanic National Park. This rustic lodge (read: no electricity in the bedrooms) offers guests horseback riding, hiking, swimming and fishing within the park. Evenings are set aside for campfires, games and books.
Best months to visit for weather: June – September
Best months to visit to avoid crowds: First two weeks of June, or late September, depending on the weather.
Nearest major cities: Redding, California, is the nearest major city, about 50 miles away. The nearest airports are Sacramento, California (165 miles), and Reno, Nevada (180 miles)
More information about the Lassen Volcanic National Park can be found on the National Park Services website.
Related posts:
Premiere RV Resorts in Redding, California
Photo courtesy of Junmon603 on Flickr.
Death Valley National Park, California
Wildflowers in bloom in Jubilee Pass, Death Valley National Park
In the spring, with all the wildflowers in bloom, the name bestowed upon Death Valley National Park in California seems inaccurate. New life is everywhere! Death Valley, east of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, is a winter destination, when the temperatures are moderate. Spring is the most ideal time to visit the park, to view the gorgeous wildflowers of the desert. No matter when you go, Death Valley is sure to delight with over 1000 species of plants and trees, 14 miles of dunes, 200 square miles of salt flats, and 11,000 feet mountains.
Famous for: Being the hottest and driest place in North America. Oh, and Scotty’s Castle, a desert mansion built in the 1920’s by Walter Scott and Alfred Johnson, at a cost of $2 million! Definitely worth a tour, to view the working museum the house has become.
Admission: Vehicle entrance fee is $20 for 7 days. Individual entrance fee is $10 for 7 days.
Families with young kids will like: Take a moonlight ranger tour of the desert, and view all sorts of critters who sleep during the hot, hot, day.
Families with teenagers will like: Exploring Rhyolite, a ghost town, and check out the Rhyolite Bottle House, built from 51,000 beer bottles.
Easy site seeing: Join a ranger-led walk or talk for the best overview of Death Valley National Park. Great programs are available throughout the week, including Desert Photography, History of Japanese-American Internees in Death Valley and Archeology of the Park. Tours and talks meet at the Furnace Creek and Scotty’s Castle Visitor’s Centers.
Best hotel in the park: Furnace Creek Inn gets the top rating from TripAdvisor, and features a swimming pool, tennis courts, and stables. The Inn is open mid-October through mid-May.
Best campground in the park: Most of the good camping is available in the valley floor, including Texas Spring and Furnace. Furnace is open year-round, but can be quite hot in the summer. The best sites are in the Wildrose campground, at 3,500 feet on the west side of the Panamint Mountain range. Backcountry camping is permitted; check the NPS site for details on planning your trip.
Best months to visit for weather: November through April. Springtime is the best to see the desert wildflowers.
Best months to visit to avoid crowds: In the hot summer, the crowds fall away, but it is also more difficult to travel during the day, with average temperatures exceeding 100F.
Nearest major cities: Death Valley Junction and Furnace Creek are both mid-sized towns, the latter with a small airport. Las Vegas, Nevada, is about a 3-hour drive.
Visit the National Park Services site for more information about Death Valley National Park.
Related posts:
Death Valley’s Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch
Camping at Calico Ghost Town in the Mojave Desert
Photo courtesy of National Park Services and Alan Van Valkenburg
Georgia DOT Announces Proposed Construction Activities For I-75
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Georgia DOT Announces Proposed Construction Activities For I-75
WCTV I-75 northbound traffic has recently been shifted between mile marker 39 and mile marker 55 to allow for new construction. This project requires much of the … |
Luck O’ the Irish: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Boston
There may be no more Irish city in the US than Boston. During the Great Famine of the 1840’s many of the Irish fleeing to America landed in Boston- so many that the city’s Irish population jumped from 30,000 to 100,000 in just one year. As of the 2000 census over 23% of Massachusetts residents claimed Irish ancestry, making Massachusetts the most Irish state in the nation. So, if you can’t make it to the Emerald Isle for St. Patrick’s Day Boston is a great alternative!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Pipes & Drums Photo by JLHalsted www.familyrambling.com
The parade takes place in Southie (South Boston, the most Irish part of the city) and travels between the Broadway T station and Andrew Square. Pipes and Drums corps proudly march down Broadway in their plaid, some with step dancers twirling.
If you attend with children I recommend staking out a spot at Dorchester Heights as the open area gives the kids space to run and play. You can also learn a bit of Boston history- on March 17, 1776 the British evacuated Boston.
To get to the parade take the T the Broadway station. The parade begins at 1 pm and placing yourself anywhere along Broadway will grant you a view. Police presence is noticeable as many celebrate with alcohol. (The parade reaches Dorchester Heights around 1:30. I have tips for the parade listed at Family Rambling.)
The parade takes place the Sunday prior to St.Patrick’s Day. Cost: free.
Irish Heritage Trail
Photo from www.irishheritagetrail.com
Winding through downtown Boston and into the back bay area this path takes you from Rose Kennedy’s garden, through burying grounds, past multiple statues and memorials, and through the public library before ending at Fenway Park. Each of the 20 locations listed has significance to both Boston’s history and the story of the Irish in Boston. The most moving of these, at least to me, was the Irish Famine Memorial.
This tribute marked the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine. Eight plaques surrounding the statues tell the heartbreaking tale while the two statues show the pain and the promise of that generation of Irish.
Irish Famine Memorial, Boston Photo by JLHalsted
Irish Famine Memorial, Boston Photo by JLHalsted
There is no charge to walk the trail, though individual sites may have set operating hours and fees. Visit www.irishheritagetrail.com for more detailed information.
JFK Presidential Library and Museum
I’m not sure you can mention Boston and Irish without mentioning John F. Kennedy. Learn about the 35th President’s life and political career through his writings, video and exhibits.
Open 7 days a week (excluding holidays) from 9am- 5pm. Cost: Adults $12, Students & Seniors $10, Children ages 13-17 $9, Children 12 and under free.
Grab a Pint and Enjoy the Craic
There is no shortage of Irish pubs in the city of Boston. My personal favorite is The Black Rose. Located near Faneuil Hall and the T station it is easy to find. The food is tasty and hearty, the craic (pronounced “crack”; loosely translated it means fun) is always on and the live music is always worth dancing to.
At the Black Rose in Boston Photo by JLHalsted
Fortify yourself with the Irish Stew or the Shepherd’s Pie, both are wonderful, grab a pint of Magners or Guinness and settle in for an evening of celebrating all that is Irish.
Open Monday- Friday 11am- 2am; Saturday and Sunday 9am-2am. Children are welcome until the hours become late.
Other Happenings
Be sure to check the Boston Irish Tourism Association website for more events like Irish teas, concerts featuring music and dance and plays.
Where to Stay
Boston has no shortage of hotels. If you want to stay where a lot of the St. Pat’s action is check out the Seaport Hotel for great location, views, amenities and family friendliness.
Jody Halsted writes about family travel at her website Family Rambling. Her family lived on Boston’s South Shore for 3 months a year ago and can’t wait to return.Vacationing in the New Downtown Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville's New Riverplace Development
Since it’s not exactly a booming metropolis, you probably haven’t heard of Greenville, South Carolina. With the antics of Mark Sanford and others, South Carolina has probably left you with much to be desired. Yet despite this, Greenville, South Carolina is positioning themselves to be a premier vacation spot in the south.
Located less than an hour from the Smokey Mountains, Greenville offers a convenient location at the base of the mountains, a couple hours from the beach and a couple hours from Atlanta, Georgia. This is just the beginning of Greenville’s lure to tourists. However, this hasn’t been the case until very recently. To be honest, downtown Greenville was a dump just 10 years ago. You know the scene from movies where the tumbleweed rolls through Main Street of a desolate downtown? Well that was Greenville. Restaurants and bars had their regulars, but streets had little foot traffic and there was little entertainment on the weekends to attract patrons. However, this has recently changed with the revitalization of downtown Greenville.
Today is a different story as Greenville offers a bustling downtown area. Many Greenville restaurant patios are often filled even on weekday evenings with patrons enjoying drinks and even live music. Outdoor events such as Artisphere, Downtown Alive and Fall for Greenville bring national and regional musicians, artists and other professionals. After losing their professional hockey team a few years ago, the city is set to welcome a new professional hockey team next year. And maybe the biggest attraction, the Peace Center, brings the most popular Broadway acts to Greenville each year. The world-renowned show Wicked, which is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, recently produced 50,000 ticket sales over a three-week period with most of those sales from out of town visitors.
If you need more reasons to visit Greenville, then you may want to wait a couple months when Greenville opens Main @ Broad. Opening in May in time of one of the nation’s most popular art events, Artisphere, this complex, which is across the street from the Peace Center, will house a Marriott Hotel, restaurants and many boutique shops. Main @ Broad is located at what is quickly becoming Greenville’s city center with many other hotels, restaurants and attractions within a few blocks. With its debut in May, it opens just in time for the summer traveling season.
So if you’re planning a trip to the southeast this summer or just looking for a new location for your spring and summer vacation plans, then you may want to consider the vibrant downtown Greenville area, which certainly shows the potential of being a major attraction of the southeast.
Photos courtesy of the Hampton Inn and Suites Greenville Downtown Riverplace by Scott Holloway.
Groundbreaking of New I-10 Gene Autry Interchange Project Set for Feb. 26
City of Palm Springs to Celebrate Feb. 26 Gene Autry Interchange Groundbreaking
Roadwork Planned on I-75 Near Ringgold Georgia
Northbound lanes will be closed on I-75 between exits 348 and 345 near Ringgold Thursday. The two left lanes of I-75 northbound between mile markers 348 and 347.2 will be closed from 9 a.m. until …