Tag: adventure

From the Desert Oasis to the Valley of Fire

On By barrysnotesLeave a comment

Tuesday September 22

Our second full day out West took us from the bright lights of the Desert Oasis of Las Vegas to the spectacular red-rock formations of Valley of Fire State Park. It was a day filled with good food, beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and another reminder of just how diverse the American West can be.

Breakfast in Overton

We left our hotel this morning before breakfast, so we decided to find something along the way. We stopped in Overton, Nevada, at Salt’s, a popular local restaurant.

We ordered the Captain’s breakfast platter and decided to split it. That turned out to be a very good decision. The platter included two enormous pancakes, two scrambled eggs, and two large sausage patties. The pancakes may have been the fluffiest we have ever tasted. We both ate until we were full and there was still food left!

Through the Nevada Desert

After breakfast, we continued north on I-15.

Along the way, we passed the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and then the three exits for Mesquite. One of the things that continues to fascinate us about traveling through the Southwest is the way unexpected pockets of green appear in the middle of an otherwise rugged desert landscape.

The golf courses around Mesquite were beautifully manicured and plush green—almost like oases in the desert.

Then we turned our attention toward one of Nevada’s great natural treasures.

The Valley of Fire

Our destination was Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s first state park and one of the state’s most spectacular landscapes. The park encompasses more than 40,000 acres of brilliant red Aztec sandstone surrounded by gray and tan limestone. The sandstone formations were created millions of years ago, and the landscape contains evidence of human habitation going back thousands of years.

The name “Valley of Fire” seems entirely appropriate.

The brilliant red, orange, and pink sandstone formations almost seem to glow when the sunlight strikes them.

We enjoyed seeing several of the park’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Beehives, Arch Rock, Elephant Rock, and Atlatl Rock.

The Beehives are fascinating examples of geological cross-bedding. Arch Rock is exactly what its name suggests—a natural sandstone arch that can be viewed from the road. Elephant Rock looks remarkably like an elephant, and Atlatl Rock is especially interesting because of its ancient petroglyphs.

We also saw several other interesting features, including the Seven Sisters, Petrified Logs, and the Fire Canyon/Silica Dome area. The park also includes such attractions as Mouse’s Tank, Rainbow Vista, White Domes, Balancing Rock, and the Fire Wave/Seven Wonders area.

One of the highlights was the new Visitor Center, which opened in 2025. It is an impressive facility with exhibits focusing on the park’s geology, ecology, prehistory, history, and wildlife.

We could have spent much more time there.

The timing of our visit was also interesting. The park’s busiest season doesn’t really begin until October, and some of the trails were still subject to seasonal closures. Nevada State Parks closes many trails from May 15 through September 30 because of the extreme summer heat.

Even with some areas unavailable, there was plenty to see.

And one of the lessons of travel is, you don’t have to see everything to appreciate those things you do see.

On to Hurricane

After leaving Valley of Fire, we continued north into Utah and eventually arrived in Hurricane, where we checked into the Wingate Hotel.

Hurricane makes a great base for exploring this part of southern Utah. From here, Zion National Park and several other spectacular attractions are within easy reach.

And that’s where we’re headed tomorrow.

A Burger and a Few Motorcyclists

After checking into the hotel, we enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner at Red Rooster, just a couple of blocks from our room.

As graduates of Jacksonville State University, we couldn’t resist the name!

We both ordered burgers, and they were absolutely delicious.

While we were there, we met a group of 16 motorcyclists who were traveling together to visit several of the national parks. They were from France and were making their way through the American West. They already been to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, and they were headed toward Vegas.

One of the things we enjoy most about traveling is the people we meet along the way.

Sometimes the most memorable encounters aren’t on the itinerary. They happen at a restaurant, in a hotel lobby, at a gas station, or beside a scenic overlook.

A trip is measured not only in miles traveled but also in adventures experienced, people encountered and stories shared.

Tomorrow: Zion

We headed to bed early tonight because tomorrow promises another big day. We’re going back to Zion National Park.

This will be our second visit to Zion, and we’re looking forward to seeing those magnificent cliffs and canyons again. There is something special about returning to a place you’ve visited before. We hope to refresh a few memories and make a few new ones.

As we continue this journey, we’re reminded again how fortunate we are to have the health, time, and opportunity to travel during our retirement years.

Every day brings another road, another view, another meal, another story, and another memory. And that’s one of the great gifts of travel.

As writer J.R.R. Tolkien famously observed, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

We’re not lost. We’re simply wandering out West.

And tomorrow, we’re wandering into Zion.

Stay tuned. The adventure continues!

The Adventure Begins: Highlights from Our Journey West

On By barrysnotes1 Comment

Sunday September 20/Monday September 21

Travel is not about escaping life; it is about exploring the vastness of the world.

There is something wonderful about beginning a journey when you don’t quite know what adventures await around the next bend.

Our latest adventure out West got off to a somewhat unconventional start. In fact, if travel is supposed to be about the journey rather than the destination, we got an early reminder of that lesson!

We flew out of Huntsville through Atlanta to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, thunderstorms were creating havoc in several places, and our flight from Huntsville was delayed. Then our flight in Atlanta was delayed. Then we missed our connecting flight in Atlanta. Delta rebooked us on another flight, which was then delayed.

But eventually, we were airborne and headed west.

We finally arrived at our hotel in Las Vegas at 1:55 PDT on Monday morning. We were in bed by 2:30. For most people, that might not sound like much of a night’s sleep, but I managed to sleep in a little. For me, “sleeping in” means staying in bed until 6:45 a.m. I suppose retirement has not completely changed my internal alarm clock!

Despite the delays, we were grateful. Our flight was safe, and Delta kept us informed along the way. Sometimes you simply have to remind yourself that arriving late is considerably better than not arriving at all.

And once we arrived, our western adventure finally began.

Rather than trying to cram a lot into our first day, we enjoyed a leisurely day around the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World.

I began the morning with breakfast at Junior’s, right there at the resort. I also took a plate from Juniors back to the room for Amanda, who was still sleeping in. After our long travel day and short night, it was nice not to have an agenda.

One of the things we have learned about traveling is that you don’t have to turn every day into a race.

Sometimes the best travel memories are made when you slow down long enough to enjoy where you are.

As we often do when we travel, we enjoyed one substantial midafternoon meal and then settled for a light snack in the evening. We found a great diner near UNLV called Blueberry Hill Family Restaurant.

It was exactly our kind of place. Nothing pretentious. Just good food, friendly surroundings, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable the moment you walk through the door.

And there was an added bonus for seniors: a complimentary dessert!

So naturally, we did what any sensible senior travelers would do. We took our desserts to go and saved them for our evening snack.

For our “light” evening snack, Amanda chose Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake and I selected Carrot Cake.  Both were delicious…and huge. We could only eat a portion. Some travel traditions are worth preserving!

On the way back to our room, we drove by the Sphere, which has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Las Vegas. We’re saving the inside experience for later in the trip. Next Sunday evening, when we return to Vegas for a couple of days before we head home, we plan to see The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere.

So our first day included a little preview of one of the experiences still waiting for us at the end of our journey.

Our rental car provided another unexpected twist.

We had reserved a Nissan Rogue, but when we arrived at the rental counter, the only SUV available was a Nissan Kicks. We had never driven one before.

As it turns out, the Kicks drives great, has plenty of room for the two of us, and has all the accessories we need for our journey. Sometimes the substitute turns out to be a pleasant surprise.

Perhaps that’s another lesson travel teaches us: Not everything has to go according to plan for things to turn out well.

Tomorrow we head toward Utah. Our plan is to stop at Valley of Fire State Park in the morning and then continue on to Hurricane, Utah. On Wednesday, we’ll return to Zion National Park for our second visit. We last visited there around 25 years ago.

From there, we’ll head to Page, Arizona, where we’ll explore Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Then it’s on to the Grand Canyon, followed by a return visit to Hoover Dam, which we have also visited before.

After that, we’ll head back to Las Vegas for a round of golf before catching our flight home.

And, of course, there is one more adventure waiting for us before we leave—the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. It should be quite a journey.

One of the things we appreciate more and more about travel is that the destination is only part of the blessing. There is the anticipation before the trip. There are the unexpected moments along the way. There are new places to explore, old places to revisit, good meals to discover, beautiful scenery to enjoy, and memories to make together.

And there is something for which we are especially grateful: the health and opportunity to travel during our retirement years. We don’t take that blessing for granted.

Every journey reminds us that life is a gift, and every new destination gives us another opportunity to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and awesome wonder of God’s creation.

So, despite a delayed beginning, our adventure is officially underway.

The bags are packed. The car is ready. The road is calling.

And we’re grateful to have the opportunity to answer.

Welcome to the adventure. This week I’ll be sharing a few highlights from our journey here on my blog. We hope you’ll follow along as we make our way across the West—one scenic stop, memorable meal, unexpected detour, and scenic sunset at a time.

A Tall Tale: A Brief History of Bell Mountain

On By barrysnotesLeave a comment

Tyler Knott insists, “Mountains know secrets we need to learn. That it might take time, it might be hard, but if you just hold on long enough, you will find strength to rise up.”

This year we are spending Labor Day weekend in a cabin in Hiawassee, which is one of our favorite places to visit. Our cabin is high on Bell Mountain, just below the historic park and overlook.

Perched high above Lake Chatuge in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bell Mountain offers one of the most breathtaking views in North Georgia. But its story is about more than scenery—it’s about scars, preservation, and a community that saw beauty where others saw only rock.

Nowadays, Bell Mountain provides one of the most scenic overlooks in the Appalachian chain. When most travelers think of the peaks of North Georgia, they automatically think of Brasstown Bald, which boasts the highest elevation in the Peach State. However, Bell Mountain, which looms above Lake Chatuge and overlooks the valley to Brasstown Bald, offers a panoramic postcard view of the lake and the North Georgia and Western North Carolina mountainscape.

In the 1960s, Bell Mountain was targeted by the Hiawassee Stone Company, which blasted away at the peak in search of quartzite. The mountain’s once-smooth crown was left jagged and scarred, leading some locals to call it an “eyesore.” Yet others believed that even broken landscapes could hold meaning and purpose.

One such believer was Hal Herrin, a local businessman and conservationist. In 1971, he purchased the mountain and willed it to Towns County so it could be preserved for future generations. For decades, access remained limited, but Herrin’s gift ensured that Bell Mountain would not be lost to industry. In 2016, the county developed the Bell Mountain Park and Historic Site, complete with observation decks and interpretive signs.

Today, visitors can stand where dynamite once shattered stone and instead experience serenity—watching the sun dip behind the peaks or the mist roll across Lake Chatuge. The graffiti that now covers the rock face has become a kind of cultural quirk: while controversial, it is also a reminder of how humans leave their marks, both destructive and creative.

Bell Mountain’s story is one of transformation: what was once blasted and scarred has become a place of reflection and wonder. Standing there, I am reminded that mountains, like people, even wounded ones, still rise to inspire.