$50 a night for small cabins (2 available). Must carry own water!4 hours from Bruneau. Suggest staying two nights, August 14 + 15.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Star Gazing in Idaho
Bruneau Dunes State Park : The tallest single-structured sand dune in North America rises to 470 feet high above small lakes in the high desert south of Mountain Home. The state park includes desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat with opportunities to observe nocturnal species. Activities include fishing, birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming and viewing the stars at one of only two public observatories in Idaho. Bruneau Dunes Astronomical Observatory is open to the public Friday and Saturday evenings at dusk from mid-March through mid-October, weather permitting.
5 hours from Jackson, WY
Hotel Las Vegas
You can compare 8 different hotels on this page (all owned by Harrah's) for a whole month to find the best rate. Bally's Sept 6-9 (midweek) costs $42 per night, for example. It has a walkway connecting it to Paris ($80) and is in the middle of the strip which is nice. Bally's has a buffet deal:
"Stay here at classic Bally’s Las Vegas for three nights of fun, and get two Buffet of Buffet passes that get you a full 24 hours of access to seven of the city’s most spectacular buffets."
That deal isn't available in September, but maybe something similar will be?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
River trip Grand Tetons
$58 3-hour "river float" (easy rafting) or $73 for an evening float with supper. On Snake River, starting in Jackson Hole, within the Grand Teton National Park.
World Cup 2010
The World Cup is this time (it is only played ever 4 years) played in South Africa from June 11th until the final on July 11th. Spain is one of the favourites. In the group stage they play:
- Switzerland on June 16th at 16:00
- Honduras on June 21st at 20:30
- Chile on June 25th at 20:30
Stuff around Alicante!
A bonfire festival June 20-24 (with some stuff continuing to the 29th) in the city of Alicante
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Bulls into the sea July 5-11: This celebration is part of the SantÃsima Sangre fiestas in Denia (100km north of Alicante).
This is one of the most unusual events in the province of Alicante. The name of the fiesta means “bulls into the sea” and involves bull-running through the streets of the town: young people run in front of the bulls on a route that ends up in Denia’s bullring in the port. The bullring is square-shaped and one side is open to the Mediterranean Sea, meaning that bulls and runners alike sometimes finish up falling into the water. A boat then rescues them.
The Els Bous a la Mar spectacle can be seen every day, morning and afternoon, during the SantÃsima Sangre fiestas. There are also other activities such as competitions, concerts, open-air dances and fireworks.
Buses go between Alicante and Denia every hour or so and take between 2-3 hours depending on the route. Tickets cost 10 euros. There is also a tram that runs along the coast, 3 hours to Denia.
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The chocolate industry in Villajoyosa (40km north of Alicante) is as famous as it is ancient. The local factories gladly open their doors to travellers visiting the city.
backcountry shuttle
Our Backcountry Shuttle Service can carry up to 6 people, gear and boats to backcountry drop-off locations and campsites on Yellowstone Lake.
Set up a base camp from which to explore remote locations (by paddle or foot) of Yellowstone. Use the service to get you to a better starting point for your backpacking trip. With this service, you can have a true Yellowstone backcountry experience with all the conveniences of car-camping.
Bridge Bay Marina is 20 miles from Grant Village.
Set up a base camp from which to explore remote locations (by paddle or foot) of Yellowstone. Use the service to get you to a better starting point for your backpacking trip. With this service, you can have a true Yellowstone backcountry experience with all the conveniences of car-camping.
Bridge Bay Marina is 20 miles from Grant Village.
Drop off points include: Eagle Bay, Wolf Bay, Plover Point, Promontory, Columbine Creek on the east shore of the mouth of the Southeast arm. The shuttle can be booked one way, round trip or for any point-to-point service from the five mentioned drop off points as well as to and from Bridge Bay Marina.
$152 for the shuttle, but we could try to meet up with some other people and share the cost since the shuttle can take 6 people.
ROOSEVELT OLD WEST DINNER COOKOUT
In Yellowstone, an activity to do one evening is a cowboy dinner cookout:Grab the saddles and hitch up the wagon for an evening you won't soon forget. You can ride out to Yancy's Hole on a horse or in a covered wagon. When you arrive you'll find those cooks dishin' up some real cowboy grub at our popular Old West Dinner Cookout. The coffee's brewin' over the open campfire, and our wranglers love talkin' your ears off over a strong "cup o' Joe!" When we ring the "dinner bell", you'll line up for real western beef steaks cooked to order, our signature Roosevelt Baked Beans, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread muffins, and fruit crisp. And if all this is not enough, you'll find your boots tappin' to old western songs sung by our singin' cowboy. You may have come here as a city slicker, but you'll go back as a regular cowpoke!
$55 if you ride in the wagon, $80 to ride a horse for 2 hours. Babies free.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Granada, places to stay
Footprint guidebook recommends Hostel Oasis Granada. Private rooms $19 per night, they have a pool and free wifi and phone calls. (picture left)
On vrbo, I found an okay studio apartment for $600 a month, need to check if you can use the pool though. I think if the main house is rented out you can't use the pool.
This garden apartment is $670 and is nicer (picture right) but again, need to double check that you can use the pool!
Gran Alicant
10 minutes south of Alicante, our villa is located in Gran Alicant
There is a medical clinic located on Avenida Escandanavia opposite the commercial centre and BBVA bank. Dr Fernando Gomez Soler speaks English. Telephone 966 697 411/24 hour emergency 608 666 455. This is VERY walking distance from our villa, maybe 500 meters
Public buses run from Gran Alacant to Alicante, Santa Pola and the beach at Los Arenales. For the beach take the Alicante bus.
Monday, April 26, 2010
The weather in San Francisco
See this fantastic video of the weather in San Francisco. Then you know what to expect :)
Dude Ranch
Nevada: Ranch Stays at the Cottonwood Guest Ranch ($275/day per person – all inclusive)
April through October (Flexible Dates) in Wells, NV (Northeast)
"Ranch activities include: horseback riding, Cattle Roundups, trap-shooting, arena games, roping, Bird watching, hiking, camping, rock-hunting, ATV trips, hot tub, relaxing,—And more!"
April through October (Flexible Dates) in Wells, NV (Northeast)
"Ranch activities include: horseback riding, Cattle Roundups, trap-shooting, arena games, roping, Bird watching, hiking, camping, rock-hunting, ATV trips, hot tub, relaxing,—And more!"
Nevada: I like the sound of Seven Mile Canyon Ranch ($170 pp per day, plus activities) in Virgina City, which looks like a really nice town. But their website doesn't seem to work.
Wyoming: The cheapest week-long dude ranch experience I've found is at the CM Ranch in Dubois, WY. Two adults and a baby about $3700 all inclusive. I looked at 30 dude ranches in Wyoming, they are all very similarly priced and none accept shorter-than-4-night stays in the summer.
Colorado: About 30 dude ranches are listed here, I haven't looked at any but assume they are similarly priced to the ones in Wyoming.
Nevada Northern Railroad
Trips on the Nevada Northern Railroad, just under 2 hours for $25 ($35 to ride in the caboose). "The line is considered the best-preserved short line in the country and, along with the history Ely yard complex, locomotives and rolling stock, ranks as a National Historic Landmark."
Northeast Nevada, 5.5 hours from Bruneau
Quirky but Romantic
In Lovelock, Nevada (an hour and a half from Reno) you can buy a padlock to put on a chain at Lovers Lock Plaza.
"Thousands of simple metal locks adorn chains and fences, placed with care by those who wish to symbolize their enduring love. Fasten a lock on the chain and throw away the key, thus uniting your love for eternity. "
Lava Hot Springs
2.5 hours from Yellowstone, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Plenty of mediocre camping nearby. Or we can stay in a cottage or a barn for $100 a night. The barn is on a working farm so you can feed the animals, child friendly.Football or baseball?
The two big teams in San Francisco are:
- The successful football team San Francisco 49ers plays at CandleStick Stadium (see picture). The season runs from August to December and tickets go from $59.
- The baseball team San Francisco Giants plays at At&T Park (see map below). The season runs from April to October and tickets go from $10.
Vis større kart
Heart Lake and Mount Sheridan
In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton the hike from Heart Lake to Mount Sheridan is considered a fantastic first choice for an overnight trip into Yellowstone's backcountry (p 155).
Kepler Cascades to Lone Star Geyser
In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton on p. 78 there is a map over West Thumb. It should be a nice two day walk to go from Kepler Cascades to the camp site after Lone Star Geyser and back again. It was also recommended in the Lonely Planet guide which had much fewer suggestions for Yellowstone.
Mount Washburn
In The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton the hike up Mount Washburn is said to be rated by many rangers to be the best for those who only have time for one hike (pp 125). It is a 5 mile roundtrip estimated to take 3-5 hours. It is possible to camp half way to the top to make the trip to the top less strenuous.
Hotel in Morelia
Here are pictures of the hotel I was thinking of booking for Morelia. In an email they said:
The Patzcuaro Suite is off the large courtyard entryway and also consists of two rooms. One is a den with a futon that pulls out into a bed if needed and also has a single bed. The other room is a bedroom with a queen size bed. This suite has a private bathroom with shower that is NOT in the suite. You have to leave the suite, go through the courtyard, and enter the main house to get to the bathroom. For the sole purpose of bathroom location, this suite rents for $55 US per night. It is a very nice large bedroom and den, original to the house.
But they may be flexible on the price for a long-term rental. Other suites in the hotel rent for up to $95, but there is one for $65 with private bath.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Camping in Yellowstone
Reservations for campsites must be made by phone if we want to stay inside the park. Showers are only available at Canyon and Grant Village campsites!! $20 and walking distance to good stuff (restaurants, sites, trails).
Otherwise we can stay 6 miles outside the Yellowstone West Entrance at a KOA site that has a pool. Camping costs about $40. Or, for under $100 we can stay in a cabin inside the park (shared bathrooms) if booked a few months in advance. The cheapest are $66.
Reservations for everything should be made about 2 months in advance, or as early as possible if we want a campsite in the park within walking distance of a shower. Some campsites in the park are first come first serve so even without a reservation we stand a chance, but in July and August they fill up by 8am...
Soccer in Barcelona
Camp Nou is Europe's largest soccer stadium and normally the crazy Spanish cup final is in the end of May. In 2011 it will room more than one hundred thousand people.
Chess Museum, Miami
Miami, Florida - World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum in southwest Miami-Dade County opened in early October. The museum chronicles the history of chess and honors its heroes.
World Chess Hall of Fame:
Address: 13755 SW 119th Ave, Miami, FL [Show Map]
Directions: World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum
Hours: M-F 10:30-4:30, Sa-Su closed. (Call to verify)
Phone: 786-242-4255
The World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum in southwest Miami-Dade County opened in early October. The museum chronicles the history of chess and honors its heroes.
World Chess Hall of Fame:
Address: 13755 SW 119th Ave, Miami, FL [Show Map]
Directions: World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum
Hours: M-F 10:30-4:30, Sa-Su closed. (Call to verify)
Phone: 786-242-4255
Festivals, Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona
Mesa County Fair, July 20 - July 25 in Grand Junction
La Plata County Fair, August 11 - August 15 in Durango
San Juan County Fair, August 18 - August 21 in Farmington
Navajo Nation Fair, September 6 - September 12 in Window Rock
Strange Rodeo
CoEd Bikini Barrel Race
Dates: July 30, 2010 - July 30, 2010
General Info Phone Number: 208-589-5484
Location:
Idaho Falls, ID
Dates: July 30, 2010 - July 30, 2010
General Info Phone Number: 208-589-5484
Location:
Idaho Falls, ID
County Fairs and Festivals, California
Sonoma County Fair, July 27 - August 8
Bluegrass Festival, Aug 13 - Aug 15 (Tres Pino, 50 miles south of San Francisco)
Wine Country Cycle Tours
In Napa Valley, guided tours (full day) $140 per person, or bike rental alone $40 per person ($25 for baby-wagon). Also have electric bikes, and you can arrange to have any wine purchases picked up so you don't have to cycle with them.
In Sonoma Valley, bike rental alone $25 per person
La Leche League Meetings
Meetings in San Francisco: http://lllnorcal.org/groups/PeninsulaCA.html
In Durango on the 1st Monday of the month http://www.llli.org/groups/@llli*group*durango
Solar Power Institute
Lots of good classes to take at the Solar Living Institute in Ukiah (2 hours from San Francisco), including:
July 17: Raising backyard goats
July 29 - Aug 6: Photovoltaics Design and Installation (certification course, exam follows)
Aug 7: Raising backyard chickens
Aug 28: Urban Beekeeping (in San Francisco)
Aug 29 - Sep 3: Off-grid Systems
Sep 9 - Sep 12: Electricity, Plumbing, Carpentry
Onsite camping $10 per night
25 mile hiking
Lost Coast 3-day "serious" backpack trip very near Humbolt Redwood State Park.
The hike follows The Lost Coast Trail between Orchard Camp and Usal Camp, a strenuous trek best done in three days. For being along the coast, there is virtually no level walking on this hike: the trail constantly encounters sheer creek canyons, descending quickly and ascending steeply hundreds of feet at a time. The two ends of The Lost Coast Trail are far apart by road (2-3 hours driving time) and two vehicles are required for transportation to and from the trailheads. While the hike can be done in either direction. Those wishing to dayhike from the north trailhead should turn around at Wheeler Camp, making a round trip of 9.4 miles with an elevation gain / loss of roughly 1000 feet.
Do this hike from north to south, so that you have the brisk north winds at your back, not in your face.
Redwoods
Humboldt Redwood State Park, camping must be booked in advance. Easy hikes on well maintained trails.
Park headquarters and the Visitor Center are located on the Avenue of the Giants, State Route 254, between the towns of Weott and Myers Flat. This is 45 miles south of Eureka and 20 miles north of Garberville off of Highway 101. Weott is 228 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101. The 32 mile long Avenue of the Giants runs roughly parallel to Highway 101 from Phillipsville in the south to Pepperwood in the north.
Latitude / Longitude: 40.3225 / -123.9928
4 hours from Redding and 4 hours from San Francisco
Mommy says...
"Sharon, with the 4 month old twin adopted boys, and Dan have a cabin, which would be more like a shelter or shed on some land near Ridgeway. You could probably stay there for free."
Ghost Town
Super nifty state park, the best preserved ghost town from the gold rush era of California, 3 hours from Lake Tahoe/Reno: Bodie State Historic Park (picture right). No camping. Maybe a good place to stay is Mono Lake Tufa State Park(picture left)? Less than 20 miles south of Bodie
Calistoga Mud Spa
This is a family friendly place recommended by Lonely Planet for mud baths and tourism in Napa Valley (1.5 hours from San Francisco). $170 per night: Calistoga Spa Hot Springs
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Chess in Morelia
It turns out the World Championship tournament of 2008 had its second stage in Morelia. So there should be some chess club or the other, but I need to learn Spanish before I figure out this confusing site about chess in Mexico. From this blogpost, however, there are pictures of outdoor chess in the city of Morelia. Promising :)
Montpelier, Idaho
Long drive (almost 5 hours) from Vernal. Should stay in a hotel in Montpelier? For example, Fisher Inn
Third stop, Dinosaurland KOA camping site
Dinosaur National Monument, KOA camp site with heated pool near Vernal, UT
3 hours (150 miles) from Grand Junction
Second Camping Spot, Colorado
James M Robb, Colorado River State Park, Island Acres
I-70 to Exit 47, five miles east of Palisade. $16 camping, $6 day pass ($60 for a year pass) Booking can be done at reserve america.
Two hours from Ridgway, 100 miles
Chess in San Francisco
The Mechanics' Chess Club is the oldest US chess club and it is open weekdays 11am-9pm and weekends 11am-5pm.
Hotel in San Francisco
Recommended as very family friendly:HOTEL DEL SOL
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, UNITED STATES
3100 WEBSTER STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
ca. $150 per night?
First Camping Stop
3.5 hour driving from Farmington, $16 per night camping plus $6 daily park entry fee. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campsite, site 291 looks best, furthest from bathrooms in loop H
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