Road Trip, Part II

Last summer's road trip ended after 8 short weeks because we got tired of being in the car. So, since Cassie is now in Louisiana, I decided to go visit her and then complete the parts of the road trip that we missed last summer.

June 12, 2016

First stop, Albequerque, NM. Visited the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. 

Road trip tip! Buy a museum membership that offers reciprocal visits to other museums. I have a membership at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff that is in the Association of Science and Technology Centers Passport Program. That means I can visit science centers all over the country and pay no admission. One great thing about that? If I didn't LOVE the museum, I don't feel bad about the price. 

This museum was not one of my favorites. It was interesting, and I spent a couple of hours wandering through.

Also in Albequerque, San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town. Witnessed a gun fight on the way there (staged), and wandered through a few artsy shops.

June 13, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Visited the Loretto Chapel and it's famous, miraculous staircase. Beautiful chapel just a short walk from St. Francis Cathedral.

I did not go inside St. Francis Cathedral (we visited last year) because there seemed to be an event in progress, but I did spend some time walking through the Station of the Cross sculpture garden. 

Also visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, but there were lots of signs requesting no photographs, so I don't have pictures. It is a nice museum. Lots of rooms of art to wander, and a movie about O'Keefe and her life and art. Well worth the time! (And I was able to use my Grand Canyon University student ID to get a discount on admission!)

Next stop: Pecos National Historical Park. The sight of a Pecos Indian community with many of the kivas still intact (and a couple you can climb a ladder down into). Beautiful views along the trail among the remains of homes and buildings.

Inside one of the kivas. A bird was flying in and out, working on building a nest.

The Pecos destroyed the church built by the Spaniards in a revolt. It was rebuilt, and is undergoing restoration.

On the way to Texas, there is a truck stop/diner/museum. So many things in this museum reminded me of my dad! Fun little stop.  Was disappointed that the diner did not serve milk shakes, because I really wanted a milk shake, and c'mon -- you call yourself a diner?

Leaving the truck stop/museum/diner:

Bye, New Mexico!

Hello, Texas!

June 14, 2016

Stopped for lunch in Witchita Falls. Road Trip Tip! Use the Yelp! app to find food! Would never have found Willie's Place had it not been for the app, and it was just what I was hoping for. A run-down looking building with a smoker fired up in the parking lot. I had the brisket plate with fried okra and potato salad. Yum! Well, not the potato salad -- heavy on the yellow mustard. But the rest was delicious!

And then, Fort Worth! The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is fantastic. So much information. It's the museum of money! There's a movie that runs every 20 minutes or so. I had a private viewing! After the movie you can take the self-guided tour. They hand you a wand and you just walk up to a viewing window and press the corresponding number to hear about what you're seeing on the production floor below. Money money money! And the admission is free! No cameras or phones allowed inside, so there are no pictures, but you can watch a Reading Rainbow show about it on YouTube.

Next stop: The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. This place is absolutely beautiful. Would have spent more time here, but it was so HOT and of course it's all outdoors. But just beautiful. Admission: free!

June 15, 2016

Fort Worth! First stop the Kimball Art Museum. Admission is . . . you guessed it!  Free! And the art is AMAZING. Wandered for a couple of hours, then enjoyed the buffet lunch at the museum.

In the afternoon, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History! It's part of the passport program, so again, free admission! (are you noticing a pattern?) I did pay to watch the IMAX movie about National Parks. This museum was fun, with lots of hands-on activities for kids. Unfortunately some of the fun stuff was ONLY for kids. Discrimination! 

June 16, 2016

Louisiana! Cassie lives around here somewhere...

We went to the boardwalk in Bossier City, and saw Finding Dory. And ate ice cream. Fun!

We visited Sci-Port (Shreveport's science museum). Admission for me was free, of course, and the kids got to use their military discount. LOTS of fun, hands-on science here!

June 19, 2016
Hello, Memphis!
Went to mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Beautiful church.

Then had lunch at Central BBQ. The line was way out the door, so I knew it would be good. Thanks again to Yelp! for the recommendation.

Then on to the Memphis Botanical Garden. One whole section of the garden was designed for children. Playhouses, musical instruments, places to climb. Really adorable.

And the Japanese garden with the koi pond was serene and enjoyable.

Ran out of memory on my phone, so there are no pictures of Father's Day dinner at Lambert's Cafe (Home of the Throwed Roll!) in Sikeston, MO. SO MUCH FOOD! I had the meatloaf. 

June 20, 2016

Gillespie, Illinois! Not much here, and it was off my route, but I needed a picture of this sign.

Springfield, Illinois -- the home of Abraham Lincoln and his family until the Presidency. The whole neighborhood has been preserved, so there's lots to see here, plus the movies in the visitor center.

And just down the street, Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery and Eatery.

North of Springfield, the world's largest covered wagon. LOL.

June 21, 2016

Rochelle Railroad Park. I arrived at the perfect time -- see the train coming? The gift shop wasn't open yet, as it was early in the morning, but THERE'S A TRAIN! Nice little park!

Middleton, Wisconsin

The National Mustard Museum. Great little museum. Also free! And then you can shop for mustard. They have about a thousand different kinds, and you can sample ANY of them. I ended up buying just three jars -- whole grain stout, whole grain with whiskey, and a mustard with lavender and herbs de provence. Really delicious.

Mustards from every state.

Of course, I had to stop for some CHEESE, because Wisconsin. Sadly I only bought a little cheese because I was travelling, but it made for a yummy lunch at the rest stop in Wisconsin Dells.

And then . . .

Bloomington, Minnesota! The Mall of America! This place is overwhelming. Roller coasters in the middle of the mall. The stores, though, are pretty much your regular mall stores.

These Lego sculptures were ENORMOUS.

June 22, 2016
St. Paul Cathedral. I gotta say, walking into this place took my breath away.

Lego model of the Cathedral.

And then, the Weisman Museum of Art. My favorite part was the building.

And then . . .
The Jolly Green Giant! He's in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He's so CUTE!

June 23, 2016
Corn Palace! This place is so much fun! The artwork is made of corn cobs and changes every year. Inside is more corn cob art, and a corn museum with exhibits on the history and uses of corn. And a gift shop!

The billboards along the highway promise a-maize-ing selfies.

South Dakota has cool rest stops. This one had Lewis and Clark exhibits inside.

Also in South Dakota, the Minuteman Missile Historic Sight. Can't say I enjoyed this stop, but if you want to know how much destruction bombs can cause, it was really informative. I was just filled with sorrow and dread while visiting here and I wanted to cry.

Off to the Badlands.

And Wall Drug, where you can ride a jack-a-lope and see a dinosaur and shop for trinkets and get free ice water. I do not recommend the taco plate. 

And then?

Mount Rushmore! Way better than I anticipated. I thought I would be underwhelmed, but Mount Rushmore was pretty awesome. So much to see. The museums, the sculptor's studio, the trails, and the ICE CREAM SHOP (which reportedly uses Thomas Jefferson's recipe). So glad I finally got to see it.

June 24, 2016

Custer National Park.

BUFFALO! Recommendations to arrive in the park early for the best wildlife viewing were spot on. I was a little obsessed with the buffalo.

There were also donkeys, deer, and prairie dogs.

Then, on to Wyoming. Stopped for lunch at HQ Barbecue in Casper, and the Historic Trails Interpretive Center. They have that whole bathroom issue figured out! Way to go, Wyoming!

The Interpretive Center has information on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, and the Pony Express Trail, which all cross paths near Casper. Fascinating!

Heading south from Casper, I stopped at Independence Rock. Would not have known the significance of this place had I not stopped at the Trails Center! Early pioneers carved their names in the rock on their way to a new life in the West. Many of the names are still visible.

June 25, 2016

Salt Lake City, Utah.

Went to mass at the Cathedral of the Madeline. Another beautiful church!

Found a bakery nearby (again, thanks to Yelp!) for a delicious breakfast, then headed to the Museum of Natural History. This might be my favorite of the science museums I visited. So many dinosaurs, lots of wheels to spin and buttons to press and puzzles to assemble. Loved the way it flowed, as well. 

"Smilodon fatalis." Not sure why I found this so amusing, but the Latin name for the saber toothed tiger sounds like "fatal smile." 

After the museum, off to the mall and lunch with my beautiful niece and her family.

And then, home. *sigh* I noticed that the more places I visited, the less I like Arizona, so I thought I should just come home. And I was getting behind on my classwork (ended up with a B- in the course I was enrolled in at the time. Deserved it.).