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My Alaska Hiking Blog of the Far North

May 4, 2019 by ExploreTraveler Leave a Comment

Today we thought we should add to our Alaska Hiking Blog feature here at ExploreTraveler. These days we are in the interior of Alaska and spring breakup is now upon us. As you can see some of the smaller lakes are starting to un-freeze but others are still very much frozen. So far this spring we have decided to hit out on the trails that start on the land owned by the University of Alaska. We like t get started early in the morning and begin hiking deep into the easy trails first and this keeps going until we run out of time. I have added German translations to help our visitors from Europe to find this article and ease of information sharing.

Heute dachten wir, wir sollten unsere Alaska Hiking Blog-Funktion hier bei ExploreTraveler hinzufügen. In diesen Tagen sind wir im Inneren von Alaska und der Frühjahrsaufbruch steht vor der Tür. Wie Sie sehen können, beginnen einige der kleineren Seen zu frieren, aber andere sind immer noch sehr gefroren. In diesem Frühjahr haben wir uns entschieden, auf den Wegen zu gehen, die auf dem Land beginnen, das der Universität von Alaska gehört. Wir starten nicht früh am Morgen und wandern zuerst tief in die einfachen Wege, und das geht so lange weiter, bis uns die Zeit ausgeht.

These days we have a tremendous amount of opportunity to visit the great outdoors and with parks, trails, and US National Parts here in Alaska. You basically just need to put on your backpack and to start walking. The moose are out and about and soon the bears will be waking up soon. Please do keep in mind that the bears will be waking up soon or are awake already depending on when you decide to get started. If you are on certain state, federal or university lands you might not be able to bring a firearm for defense so consider a very good bear spray that can reach a farther distance.

In diesen Tagen haben wir eine riesige Gelegenheit, die große Natur und mit Parks, Trails und US-Nationalparks hier in Alaska zu besuchen. Sie müssen im Grunde nur auf Ihren Rucksack und zu Fuß beginnen. Die Elche sind raus und bald werden die Bären aufwachen. Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Bären bald aufwachen oder schon wach sind, je nachdem, wann Sie sich entscheiden, loszulegen. Wenn Sie auf einem bestimmten Bundes-, Bundes-oder Universitätsland sind, können Sie vielleicht nicht in der Lage sein, eine Schusswaffe zur Verteidigung mitzunehmen, so dass Sie ein sehr gutes Bärenspray in Betracht ziehen, das eine weiter entfernte Strecke erreichen kann.

Traveling does require some forward thought and bring extra socks and trying to keep your feet dry can be difficult at times. The tundra is very wet, swampy and thick with moss. Your feet are an important asset so please make sure to take care of them. Calculate the amount of time to your destination and ensure you have the food, water, and supplies to last in case something goes wrong.

Reisen erfordert einige Vorüberlegung und bringen zusätzliche Socken und versuchen, die Füße trocken zu halten kann manchmal schwierig sein. Die Tundra ist sehr nass, sumpfig und dick mit Moos. Ihre Füße sind ein wichtiges Gut, also achten Sie bitte darauf, sich um sie zu kümmern. Berechnen Sie die Zeit bis zu Ihrem Ziel und stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie die Nahrung, das Wasser und die Vorräte haben, um für den Fall, dass etwas schief geht, zu halten.

My Alaska Hiking Blog Tips

My Alaska Hiking Blog of the Far North - A close up of a map - University of Alaska — Hiking trails of University of Alaska

The weather in early spring can be a little strange and change rapidly. Under Alaska law, if you do end up in a survival situation you are allowed to hunt, build a fire as long as you use reasonable judgment. Before you start and if your find wildlife viewing interesting consider getting a free guide and Request a free guide book here to help with your planning. Just don’t forget your binoculars! From moose, bears, sandhill cranes, geese and much more the wildlife around here really explodes into massive activity in the spring.

Das Wetter im Frühlingsanfang kann etwas seltsam sein und sich schnell ändern. Nach dem Alaska Gesetz, wenn Sie in einer Überlebenssituation landen, dürfen Sie jagen, bauen Sie ein Feuer, solange Sie vernünftiges Urteil. Bevor Sie anfangen und wenn Sie die Tierbeobachtung interessant finden, sollten Sie sich hier einen kostenlosen Reiseführer besorgen und ein kostenloses Reiseführer anfordern, um Ihnen bei Ihrer Planung behilflich zu sein. Vergessen Sie Ihr Fernglas nicht! Von Elchen, Bären, Sandhügelkrähen, Gänsen und vielem mehr explodiert die hier herumtrausende Tierwelt im Frühjahr in massive Aktivität.

Some basic first aid kit supplies to consider when or hiking in here.

A knee or ankle support brace
Bandages/Bandaids of varies sikes
Gauze roll
Sterile Dressings
Micropore medical tape
Tylenol for headaches or simple pain relief
Ibuprofen tablets for inflammation and sprains
Ibuprofen Gel
Oral rehydration salts or a small bottle of Gatorade
Antiseptic cream or spray
Sunblock

Einige grundlegende Erste-Hilfe-Sets, die Sie beachten sollten, wenn Sie hier wandern.

Ein Knie oder Knöchelstütze braceBandages/Bandaids von variierten sikesGauze rollSterile DressingsMicropore Micropore medizinischen TapeTylenol für Kopfschmerzen oder einfache Schmerzen reliefIbuprofen Tabletten für Entzündungen und SprainsIbuprofen GelOral-Rehydratationsalze oder eine kleine Flasche GatoradeAntiseptische Creme oder SpraySunblock

Ponds and lakes are everywhere up here and as the ice melts we should start finding the moose standing inside getting nutrients from the bottom.

Soon this small lake will be active with ducks from around the world.

Having time with family and friends is always a good time to spend the day. We will expand this hiking overview with more photos and videos here.

Trails can be groomed or just made from people or animals so try to read your maps well and check out the GPS.

My Alaska Hiking Blog Bird Watching Tips

Here are a few birds you might see along the way.

My Alaska Hiking Blog of the Far North - A bird sitting on the ground - American woodcock — American woodcock. Photo by LavandarFields / Wikimedia.

My Alaska Hiking Blog of the Far North - A small bird perched on top of a wooden branch - Bird — Eastern Phoebe (Photo: John Benson/Creative Commons)

Alaska Marine Highway Adventure

April 21, 2019 by John J Gentry Leave a Comment

Photo Credit

Alaska Marine System Highway Ferry’s

The Alaska Marine Highway has to be one of our favorite adventures and one we have done several times. It connects into the Alaska State highway system, and railways giving you plenty of adventure all along the way. The distance, territories, and place one can see will boggle the mind. This article is meant to be a guide, and a motivational piece to get you the reader out of your house or apartment and on an adventure that does not have to be high cost unless you want it to be.

First, you must look into the Washington state ferry reservations from Bellingham Washington using the Alaska Marine Highway reservation system here . The website will give some general idea on times, dates of sailings, and costs of doing so. Now keep in mind that the state of Alaska will raise the prices during the most active time of the year, and July – August will be the most expensive time.

Now the route you choose to take will depend on the ferry you choose to sail with. In this photo, you get a general idea as to how these ferries work and where each of them go depending on what you choose.

From Bellingham Washington, you always stop in Ketchikan Alaska, and you must be ready to see wildlife all along the way. The beauty of the Inside Passage will blow you away and should be considered one of the world’s wonders.

As you look around coming into Ketchikan you must keep a close eye open for whales, eagles, and other wildlife. The deck around your ferry will provide you with 360 degrees of viewing pleasure, but you must walk around to see everything.

Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan, Southeastern Alaska USA — Ketchikan, Southeastern Alaska the USA

We have come into Ketchikan in the early sailing season and within the summer. Each time period will provide you with a different view, and animals to see all along the way.

Petersburg Alaska will sneak up on you, and you should make sure to keep your times for viewing ready. Each time the ferry stops they will give you time to be able to look around. Always keep a close eye open for the Eagles because they like to sit on the electric poles just outside of your ship.

Keep in mind that seafood is a way of life in Alaska, and some at a restaurant close to your port will be a great culinary adventure. Some of these ports have food very close by, and others you will need to walk a little way, but the food will be great.

Now coming into Petersburg can be a great photo opportunity, and you must be ready to capture those amazing shots. Here in this photo, you have a general idea of what you will see, and find as you move along your Alaska Marine Highway Adventure.

Now each time you stop make sure you are clear, and fully understand what time you will need to be back. Sometimes it’s a shortstop of about an hour, and other times you will have several hours. So make sure you know exactly when you should return.

Now as your trip moves along you will have to allot more to see, and you have allotted more to see. Wrangell Alaska is now up and coming, and you will want to keep a lookout for those snow-capped mountains.

Evening in Wrangell Alaska - Alaska Marine Highway

Coming into Wrangell will be a site to see, and you are still within Alaska’s fisherman village country. The mountains and the local people will be very welcoming. Make sure if you do change ferries, and have a vehicle to be in your staging area on time. Here is a video to help you understand the process, and how the loading goes.

Now, this video is over an hour long so you will want to fast forward and get an idea of the automobile loading process. With your vehicle loaded and off to the next destination of Juneau Alaska, this Alaska Marine Highway Adventure is just getting started.

Alaska Marine Highway ~ Juneau echoing the old Gold Rush days in Alaska

Juneau does have to allot to see and you will need time to see the downtown area. The port is not far enough to walk too. and you will need to arrange transportation. Allot of people get off here, and stay until the next ferry comes along so they have the time to visit, and explore some of the parks here.

From here a lot of people will board, and begin their journey out towards the Skagway and Haines direction of the trip. These two ports you can walk off directly, and have a very enjoyable time.

Skagway Alaska is a historic landmark and still kept up as it was when it was first built. It is a western town, and with great food mixed in with plenty of shopping. If you do have time head over to the airport for a plane ride, and photo tour in the sky. I promise you will not be disappointed.

These flights will give you a view of the mountains, and glaciers you can only get from a flight.

Alaskan wilderness - Alaska Marine Highway

Sometimes only nature can provide the kind of photography love possible such as the sun here in the shape of a heart.

Now that you have left the Skagway and Haines area you are heading towards the remote area of Yakutat Alaska. This small town is a short walk and you can just walk off and explore the small town. We always get a small cup of coffee at the store just inside of the town.

The workers here are always keeping the docks ready to go, and your walk will be slightly uphill so just a bit of exercise. Once you get back on the ferry you will be heading out to Whittier Alaska.

Whittier is where a lot of people get off for two main reasons. First, those who will drive to Anchorage need to get off here. Second, this is also where you catch the train to explore the interior parts of Alaska.

Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier Alaska Gateway to the glacier and wildlife filled Prince William Sound

Just outside of the Whittier Tunnel this is what you will see, and Portage Glacier is now awaiting you. This national park has trails and you can walk right up to the glacier.

Alaska Marine Highway - Hiking to Exit Glacier at Kenai Fjords National Park

Depending on how you are taking transportation you still have a lot more to see. You can see these mountains from your train ride or if driving you will be out in the wild admiring the great outdoors.

Portage Glacier Valley - Alaska Marine Highway

Where ever you go from here will depend on what you want to do. We want to to consider taking the train all the way to Fairbanks Alaska, and from there renting a car where you can explore far and wide the Alaska experience.

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Alaska Marine Highway Adventure

US China Education Comparison

April 16, 2019 by ExploreTraveler Leave a Comment

Comparative Essay

Education, Economic Growth, and Success

China and the United States

John J Gentry

US China Education Comparison

The US-China Education Comparison and China growing economically and investing all around the world; they will become a major leader alongside the United States and the European Union. Current American attitudes with education and teamwork create a disadvantage in regards to China. China for better or worse will have a central planning authority and stable leadership since their constitution has been modified to keep the current leadership for the rest of his life. One must also think long and hard about China as a culture and how the Chinese family unit works as a whole with the goal of lifting each next generation to the next level of education and excellence. The family culture within the United States is being diminished at the same time the Chinese are solidifying the family unit for the purpose of moving these next generations forward. This concept can be hard for Americans who have bought into doing it alone attitude but we must understand why we are falling behind the world educationally so we can make an effort to improve. The United States must reform it’s secondary education system to include a structured college based system for juniors and senior high school students. (Segal, 2011)

Social differences between the two countries can be difficult for the average person to understand but they can be understood and broken down. First, we have to focus on the long-standing history of the Chinese and how they view their own history. China has had wars and many changes in leadership over thousands of years but the Chinese people always moved forward. China has been invaded and sometimes controlled via foreign powers but the Chinese people have always endured. China has gone through world war one, world war two, and the communist revolution and the Chinese peoples kept moving forward. Through famines, droughts and forced one child policies the culture of the Chinese people is still intact and very strong. This is the only culture in the world to have continuity over such a long period of time. However, this constant stability of family, village and regional support has always expected the next generation to build upon the last and this does show up in their massive growth. But with this style of expectations thrust upon each new generation, there is a certain spirit of innovation that can be lost. Chinese children are not for the most part allowed to spend time outside of studies and their continued education. So they begin to miss certain hands-on skills in everyday life. This difference can give them a disadvantage with troubleshooting and critical thinking tasks. Also being efficient with the use of their time can take a backseat due to saving face and showing respect to leadership and elders. With Chinese parents highly focused on economic enhancement for their family and country, most students will bypass as much education in the humanities altogether. Now there are some recent exceptions with some parents starting to include music and classical music into early childhood due to research that some parents think can enhance a child’s ability to perform in the math and sciences. As Nussbaum explains in regards to India but also applies here in regards to China; a lack of humanities can leave education less fulfilling and leave out the ability to develop critical thinking skills. (Nussbaum, 2010) When looking into the US China Education Comparison along these line we can clearly conclude the differences.

In the United States, we have strong university systems and encourage innovation, self-starters, imagination and critical thinking skills. However, during that last few decades, these same universities now have grown more political and center around certain politically correct norms. Thus isolating or pushing out students who don’t fit into that universities current political mindset or pre-setup economic conditioned model. (Nussbaum, 2010) This loss of balance is hurting our innovation and also encouraging foreign scientists to consider going back home where their own political ideas may be more accepted. Innovation requires the inclusion of people from multiple walks of life and with social differences becoming a political firestorm on university campuses we have the risk of pushing talent out of the country. Graduate level degree-seeking students should be able to have more interdisciplinary approaches without being excluded or looked down upon within academia as not specialized enough. Areas of study that combine multiple disciplines will only help us stay more competitive when combined within teams of other specialized fields. Our social construct from family, school, community and social environment should allow for students to overachieve and not restrict them back into the box of average students. We as a society need to help students find their areas of interest and help them develop these interests into a field of expertise. I have seen first hand how the educational systems in China and the United States to work and we must embrace the best of both systems while emboldening and preparing students to leave high school with several years of college study already under their belts.

US / China Education Comparison of how students prepare.

China and Asian educational systems have an over-reliance on preparing students via cramming sessions that help prepare students for short term testing opportunities such as the SAT. These same students who did do well on test several years later may not have the memory recall as one might expect. Since within China it is expected to spend many long hours of memorizing the material with very little sleep. A normal day of school instruction may begin at 8 am and end at 3:30 PM with students then heading to school again starting at 4:00 PM and continue to midnight. Some high schools even focus on the use of cram school programs with the hopes of scoring the top score of the SAT and getting into ivy leading schools in the United States. This does generate book smart students who can memorize tremendous amounts of material but they have not been given the time to synthesize the material into long term memory. Without a required amount of sleep, these same students can find themselves at a disadvantage longer term over some students who excelled within the American system. Also later when these same students go to interview at jobs they may lack the skills necessary to articulate themselves within a normal interview process.

Within the American educational system, we have struggled to ascertain the right method of verifying student learning and holding the educational system accountable for results. Students who wish to graduate early or attend university during their high school years are not supported to the extent that they should be. These students will need strong family support in order to get through the red tape and pass the gatekeepers who may not feel incentivized to support this level of activity. So one must ask the question of “how many students from lower income or single parent families miss these opportunities?” Having the intelligence is never enough since you need someone to recognize this and to help support you in using it to achieve excellence. It is my analysis that we as Americans miss these opportunities and only the students with strong family support pushing the school systems into action get the support needed to start University education early. The current struggle to stay on top via STEM educational systems is not enough and we must teach philosophy, history, art and a wide array of social sciences at an early age using creative techniques that enhance overall education and understanding of each other into the later years. Technical managers cannot organize or create international teams with the ability to communicate on a level that comes from a background in a multi-discipline academic approach.

Conclusions of US China Education Comparison

In conclusion, if the United States can reform it’s secondary education system to include a structured college based system for juniors and senior high school students we will not only beat China on innovation but helps students from all walks of life excel. It is my opinion that without an increase in funding we can achieve this by fostering strong family, community and state level support. By encouraging teachers to openly recommend alternative subjects tests such as AP, DSST, and CLEP while asking local universities to teach some subject matter at the Freshman level directly inside the high school classroom. By embracing students who have the ability to graduate early from high school or to brings the professors, businessman into the classroom giving young students early access to real-world use of skills, and how these people achieved success. How fully incorporating freshman-level college courses into junior/senior high school offering student duel credit as a normal basis and not as the rare exception. Helping administrators with support at the state and national level to be able to reach out to noneducators with skills already operating at successful levels or these same people who have retired and bring them into the classroom to show students real hands-on use of their education. The combination of humanities can also help keep out the ability to perform complex critical thinking skills at a level that only studying a specialized science cannot provide. (Nussbaum, 2010) In today’s interconnected world we must understand different languages, culture, and history found in the humanities and combined with the social sciences and hard sciences. For the United States to compete and to excel we must not throw out these other fields but embrace them into a mosaic collage of interdisciplinary thought. Our competitive edge has always been our ability to accept changes and to adapt to it. The ability to accept something new and to evolve new ideas and technologies to overcome a situation. The ability to take critical thinking from the past and to evolve old thought into new ideas that have taken us to space, the lunar surface, and a better understanding of our humanity. These skills cannot be learned by memorization alone and must be honed by a multi-disciplined approach. With exposure to a wide variety of experiences at the earliest of ages. Our families must be strong and not replaced by government systems but they should work as a solid eco-system that helps to enhance each other. Family, education, and economics should not be treated separately but as a joint cohesive unit that makes up the social construct of who we are as Americans. Our founding fathers knew this and embraced science and the humanities collectively and together we can and will achieve even greater accomplished in the years to come.

The US China Education Comparison and the gathering of new data will help both countries in the future to better understand their different strengths moving forward in the years to come.

References:

Adam Segal, “Why America’s innovation will beat out China’s” at:

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/why-american-innovation-will-beat-out-china/

Ferrara, M. S. (2015). Palace of ashes : China and the decline of American higher education. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015

Nussbaum, Martha C. (2010) Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Lin, J. (2016). What Is Education For? A Discussion of Nussbaum’s “Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities.” Education and Urban Society, 48(8), 767–779.

Qian, Y. ( 1 ), Fan, C. ( 1 ), Han, Q. ( 2,3 ), & Yuan, W. ( 4 ). (n.d.). Insights into medical humanities education in China and the West. Journal of International Medical Research, 46(9), 3507–3517.

US China Education Comparison

copyright

John J Gentry

ExploreTraveler

Winter Adventures In Alaska USA

April 4, 2019 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Christmas Joy Lives Year Around In North Pole, Alaska

Who doesn’t know about the North Pole and all the stories about Santa Claus? But what most do not realize is that there is a town in Alaska, where this Santa is believed to be at work. Here he is said to live year around. He is always busy in his workshop making people happy. Here, joy fills the air no matter what time of year, but especially during the winter. Regardless, if you believe in the man with the jolly red suit or not, you can not escape the joy that is in the air as winter approaches. North Pole, Alaska is the home of winter time delight, astonishing creativity, and county charm.

A Journey Of Faith In North Pole Alaska

Through the thick winter fog, comes the faithful to partake in the weekly celebration of corporate worship. Regardless of the weather, if at all possible, the journey is made to the location where they meet others each week. Spirituality is alive and well in the many communities that make up the State of Alaska. Sometimes winter is a little precarious, at best, and then people may not make their weekly trip to their house of worship. But most of the time, the people who call Alaska home, make the trek come rain, shine, fog, or snow. It is just another part of daily life in the far north.

In North Pole, Alaska, you are never quite sure what the day may give you. One thing is for sure, winter arrives with diligence each year in late Autumn and the people that call North Poll home are well prepared. It’s called, layer up, bundle up, and head on out for another adventure in Alaska’s frosty north.

Driving In The Ice Fog In The Subarctic Of Alaska

Driving in the ice fog takes talent! Keep your wheels in the tracks of the last vehicle, your eyes on the road ahead, and your lights low, so as to see right in front of the tires. Slow and easy is the motto of the day. The slower you are going the more likely you are to see your side road when it appears for a brief second. Miss your chance and you are out of luck, there is no where to turn around. This is a slice of life in the ice fog!

Frosty sod roof log cabin in North Pole

The legacy of the simple log cabin is woven into the very framework of everyday Alaskan life. The thick logs provide insulation when caulked properly and the cabins are easy to keep warm. Most are quite small and are heated by a single wood stove.

This log cabin has a sod roof which is extremely friendly to the environment. The weight of the sod bears down on the logs, which compresses the logs together even tighter than a regular roof. It helps in the insulation of the cabin during the long cold winters. The walls have almost no draft with a sod roof, which lowers the cost of heating and cooling the cabin. The sod also provides a place for the rainwater to soak in, and reduces the run off happening all at once. Rather the rain water gently is allowed to run to the environment, and run off woes and flooding is avoided.

The sod roofs are also a friendly place for wildlife to utilize the native grasses in their daily life. Small animals find nesting material in the spring, and often utilize the roof as a home. Often people add a few wild flower seeds to the sod when planted. This provides a very appealing roof in the spring, summer, and fall. The plants filter the air, produce oxygen, and provide shade.

Exploring The Alaskan Back Country As Winter Sets In

Exploring the vast back-country of Alaska’s interior is exciting any time of the year, but as the snow begins to accumulate it is even more so. Everything is so still and white, that small animals are easy to see as they prepare for the leaner months of winter in the far North. Many animals store up food for the upcoming months and still others just eat enough that they can live off of the extra during the months of deep snow and ice. This is a time of preparation in Alaska’s vast interior!

This is also a time when you will see many moose eating the twigs that are still not covered and frozen in the deep snow. They are easy to see with their tall legs and brown color in this sea of white.

The Willow Ptarmigan hiding in the thickets at Denali National Park

One of the most adaptable birds and the most common across Alaska is the Willow Ptarmigan. The Willow Ptarmigan is a beautiful brown in the summer, changing to almost snowy white in winter. They are so adaptable to their surroundings, that they are hard to spot with the naked eye. In 1955, the Willow Ptarmigan officially became the State Bird of Alaska.

Winter In The Delta Mountains Of Eastern Alaska

The magnificent Delta Mountains is a sub-range to the Alaska Range forming it’s Eastern border. The Delta Range is one of the most accessible mountains within the Alaska Range. It usually has an abundance of snow in the winter, making it a prime winter get-away destination. Three of Alaska’s major highways surround this beautiful wilderness, the Glenn Highway, the Richardson Highway, and the Alaskan Highway. It is perhaps one of the most accessible winter play grounds in the Alaska Range.

Summer sports in the Delta Mountains include climbing, hiking, mountaineering, boating of all kinds, and just plain mountain fun. Fishing is great in the different streams, rivers, and lakes. There is a lot to enjoy about this amazing mountain area. Winter time, of course, brings a whole new array of sports, and there is always the magnificent glaciers, just waiting to be admired.

The Rugged Wilderness Of The Delta Mountains

Glaciers In The Delta Mountains

There are several glaciers and ice caves in this mountain range. Gulkana and Castner Glaciers are two of the most scenic glaciers with easy access. Both have trails leading to the glacier fields. You can also hike into Castner Ice Caves at certain times of the year. If you enjoy winter, then the Delta Mountains will be a delight.

A Moose Enjoying The Twigs From The Trees Not Yet Buried In Snow

Moose mainly eat the toothpick size twigs from the Birch, Poplar, and Willow trees that grow in Alaska. Winter can bring on hunger, and a nice patch of twigs is a great discovery.

Moose are one of the most sought after subjects for photographers in all of Alaska. Many visitors are extremely surprised at their extremely large size. Adult males usually weigh at least 1,000 pounds, and often males can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. They stand well over six and a half feet tall, and often as much as seven feet. They are best recognized by their long spindly legs.

Most cows give birth to one baby and by five months old, most babies are usually around 300 pounds. These fast growing babies are a lot of fun to watch as they begin to emerge from their secure dens and follow their moms around looking for twigs.

Alaskan Moose Resting In A Bed Of Soft Snow In The Tundra

When the temperatures reach 23 degrees Fahrenheit, moose begin to feel overwhelmed with the heat. It is during this time that you will find them resting in a bed of snow, as they try to get cooled down.

The Beauty Of The Cold Long Winters On The Robertson River

The Robertson River is one of the most scenic rivers in Alaska. In various places it has a thin to a thick layer of glacier ice during winter. This glacial ice is beautiful with a bluish tint. As the winter sun gleams on the ice, this bluish ice is a photographer’s delight.

Ice Fishing In Comfort On Chena Lake In Alaska

Only seventeen miles to the southeast of Fairbanks, in Alaska’s interior, is beautiful Chena Lake. This is a 2,000 acre recreation area shared by the Chena Lake Park and the Chena River Park. Both areas are filled with wildlife and the lake is a favorite spot for ice fishing during the cold winters after the ice is completely solid. Chena Lake is a 260 acre lake that freezes extremely solid in the long cold winters. The park also includes about 4 beautiful curved miles of the Chena River that is quite beautiful. The river also is a major wildlife watering hole, making it an awesome photographers paradise.

The photo above is a very deluxe ice fishing camp on the lake. This is a very professional camp and is much warmer than the normal way of ice fishing. When most locals are fishing, they cut a hole in the ice and feed a line down into the water. If a fish is caught, then it is retrieved through that same hole. Ice fishing is a way of life in the Interior of Alaska, providing much needed fish for the table during the long winters.

Beautiful Spruce Trees Laden With Fresh Snow

Snow covered spruce trees decorated by nature for the upcoming winter festivities. They are a beautiful sight to see during this season of brisk temperatures? If you love the sights of winter and you are not afraid of temperatures that can often plunge way into the negatives, Alaska, is the place to be for winter fun.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race In Fairbanks Alaska

There is absolutely nothing like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the world. It is 1,000 amazing and beautiful miles of some of the toughest, most challenging snow country that nature can dish out. This event is full of mountains and cliffs, deep snow and ice, and temperatures way below zero. The ice fog can be so thick that all you can do is trust your dog. This is an event that is man and dog verses nature, and nature can be cruel. Only the best of the best come here to compete in this remote and dangerous race. This is Alaskan winter fun at every level and most Alaskans appear to watch somewhere along the way. It has often been called the “Last Great Race On Earth.”

Braving The Cold To Watch A Tradition

Every time a racer passes through a village of any size, there will be a crowd lining the streets. There will be a full house at both the starting line and the finish line. This is more than a race, it is a way of life. It brings back not so distant memories of another time, when things revolved around these dogs. This is an Alaskan event, and every racer will be given a hero’s welcome. These teams are the best of the best and they come from all over the world. There may be only one team that is number 1, but there are no losers.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Christmas time in North Pole, Alaska is considered by most locals as the highlight of the year. What makes it even better, is that Santa Claus House has Christmas all year long. A visit to Santa Claus House is one of the most exciting things to do in North Pole, Alaska. At Santa Claus House you will be able to visit with Santa’s reindeer, receive a letter from Santa postmarked from the North Pole, and the shopping is unbelievable. Here at Santa Claus House you will find gifts that are made in Alaska, ornaments with an Alaskan theme, special Alaskan jewelry, one of a kind clothing, and of course lots and lots of toys. If you are looking for that special one of a kind touch for your own celebration, then Santa Claus House is the place to go.

The Decorations Are Special At Santa Claus House

Enjoy the reindeer as they guide you To Santa Claus House. This is one of the most festive times of the year, when there is snow or ice fog on the decorations.

The Northernmost Denny’s In The World Is uniquely Alaskan

Can you find another Denny’s that serves Reindeer Sausage with it’s potatoes and eggs? This is a treat for the taste buds, as it is so delicious. If potatoes and eggs aren’t for you, then how about a stack of cakes with Reindeer Sausage on the side? While you are there, be sure to look out the window, as moose are often seen passing by.

The Long Polar Night In North Pole Alaska

The North Pole is at it’s maximum tilt away from the sun, making it the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter solstice. The Northern lights and the stars are spectacular this time of year! On a cold clear night, there is so much light from the moon and stars that the snow gleams in the darkness of the long night. These beautiful clear nights are excellent for viewing the Northern Lights.

Ice and Hoar Frost makes Fairbanks Alaska A Picturesque Winter Wonderland

Even though the nights are long and dark during the long winters, the short days are beautiful as the sun beams down on trees covered with ice and frost. This is an amazing place, with spectacular beauty wherever you go. If you enjoy winter, then come on North and enjoy the land of the long polar nights with it’s beautiful, though short, sunny and brisk days.

North American Lighthouses Adventures

March 30, 2019 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

On The Rocky Coast Of Cape Elizabeth Maine Is The Lighthouse At Two Lights

The quaint and picture perfect town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine is the perfect site for the Two Lights State Park. The natural dramatic, abounding grasslands, and extreme rocky coast are the just the beginning of your Two Lights Lighthouse adventure. Maine’s extremely rocky coasts are legendary, and here you have 41 acres of this rocky coastline projecting out into the magnificent Atlantic Ocean. It is a short walk to the lighthouse, where upon arrival you will be far above the rocky coastline and wild surf, with amazing panoramic views of Casco Bay and the open Atlantic Ocean.

There are two lighthouses near by the park, and they provided the inspiration for the name of the Park. Two Lights State Park is close by both lighthouses, the Eastern Light is not open to the public, and is an active lighthouse. The light from this lighthouse is automated and can be seen for over 17 miles. The above lighthouse or Western Lighthouse has not been in operation since 1924. It is now a private home and is not open to the public. It was the subject for a famous painting, “Lighthouse at Two Lights.” This famous painting was painted by Edward Hopper.

Wild Roses With Sea Breezes At Cape Elizabeth In Portland, Maine

The rocky shores of Cape Elizabeth are rugged and filled with the aroma of fresh and beautiful wild roses growing in between the rocks. The freshness of the gentle ocean breezes coupled with the scent of wild roses fills the ocean-side with a hint of wonder and a touch of paradise. What a perfect location to spend your summers. Could it get anymore perfect than a rental cottage by the sea?

Cape Elizabeth, in Portland, Maine is known for it’s small cottages that are rented out for the summer months. Why not make this the year you smell the roses in Portland, Maine. Most of the seaside cottages are listed with the area realtors, and they specialize in short term rentals.

Historic Portland Head Lighthouse In Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Built in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in the State of Maine. Portland Head Lighthouse calls the town of Cape Elizabeth home. It sits along the magnificent rocky shores of Fort William’s Park. It is a major landmark and is owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth near Portland, Maine. The Park is open year around from sunrise to sunset.

Fort William’s Park is home to one of the nicest and most complete lighthouse museums. It is housed in the old keeper’s residence, where there are several lenses with the history behind each one. There is also a small gift shop located in the museum where special gifts from Maine can be purchased in season.

Portland Head has some of the most unique history found among lighthouses. Long before there was a lighthouse, Portland Head itself helped to protect the citizens of Cape Elizabeth. They were deeply committed to the idea that America needed to become independent of British rule. In the year 1776 the town residents posted a guard of 8 soldiers at Portland Head. In case the British were coming to attack, they would sound the alarm.

It was not until 1787 that the Massachusetts Legislature provided the first $750 dollars to begin construction of a lighthouse at the Head. In 1790, after the United States Government took control over all lighthouses, congress appropriated an additional $1,500 dollars to complete what had been started. The original lights were made up of 16 whale oil lamps that were lit for the first time on the 10th day of January in the year 1791.

Portland Head Light Fog Bell

The Portland Head Light Fog Bell is proudly displayed outside of the lighthouse on a granite display. This is the original 1901 fog bell that was used at the lighthouse and weighs over 1,000 pounds.

The Lost Fisherman’s Memorial And Mulholland Lighthouse

Eastern Maine, with all of it’s lighthouses, fishing villages, and fishing culture, is the perfect location for the Lost Fisherman’s Memorial. It brings to memory all those from Washington County, Maine and Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada who were Lost at Sea while fishing. This memorial in Lubec, Maine has 111 names currently who have perished in these waters or that called these two places home and perished in other waters where they were fishing. When the project is finished the website will give information about each of the deceased fisherman, some of their stories, and a small biography about each of the fisherman with a picture of each. This project gives honor to each of the deceased fisherman who lived in the cities, towns, and villages that are a part of this geographical area or who died while fishing in these waters. May each of these fisherman always be honored and remembered.

Seen in the photo is the Mulholland Lighthouse. This is directly across from the The Lost Fisherman’s Memorial in Lubec, Maine on Campobello Island. This lighthouse is not open to the public and is a part of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. Mulholland Lighthouse was built in 1885 to guide boats, ships, and freighters through the Lubec Channel that were coming or going to USA or Canadian ports. Visitors to Campobello Island are able to walk around the lighthouse grounds and view the outside of the lighthouse. There is a picnic area on the island for families to enjoy. It affords a perfect view of the picturesque village of Lubec.

Another View Of Mulholland Lighthouse on Campobello Island

View Of Lubec, Maine From Campobello Island

The charming fishing village of Lubec, Maine in the Passamaquoddy Bay is in the most extreme part of Northeast Maine. As of the last census taken, this picturesque village had 1359 year around residents. Northeastern Maine has long been a favored area for the wealthy who desired to own summer cottages.

Authentic Fresh Lobster Roll In Maine

While you are on the go, checking out Maine lighthouses and the surrounding sites, you might want to slow down and enjoy some fast food, Maine style. The ultimate in Maine fast food is the Lobster Roll served with lemon and french fries. This Lobster is served fresh from the sea, as is all the unique fish themed meals in Eastern Maine. If lobster is not your favorite fish, there is always a more traditional salmon dinner, or fish and chips is another fast food favorite. Whatever fish you choose, it will be fresh, and of the highest quality.

Head Harbour (East Quoddy) Lighthouse

Head Harbour (East Quoddy) Lighthouse had it beginnings in 1929 on the Northern end of Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada. The original wooden octagonal tower, as seen in the photo, was built on a slender rocky islet and stood fifty-one feet tall. It was the first lighthouse to be built in New Brunswick and is the oldest Canadian Lighthouse. This splendid lighthouse looked out proudly on Saint John Harbor, where she would be a guide for the ships coming into the docks. One of the most unique features of the lighthouse was the lack of communication. The only way to access this lighthouse was by boat until in 1830, when a road was built to connect it to Wilson Beach, a small community that was the closest to the Head.

Not too long after the road was built, they had a storm with major surges bringing the water level around the lighthouse to about 25 feet, as reported by the Saint John Courier Newspaper (April 10, 1930). The first Keeper, John Snell, lost everything around the lighthouse that wasn’t tied down, this included his years worth of firewood, his boat, barn, and even his cow. However the cow somehow landed on a neighboring island and was returned.

This beautiful white lighthouse, with a red cross on one side, still stands proudly and is included on most boat lighthouse tours. Until 1986, Head Harbour (East Quoddy) Lighthouse was a working lighthouse. In 1988 it was officially taken off the books and in 2000 the Friends of the Head Harbour (East Quoddy) Lighthouse was formed to preserve this historic lighthouse for future generations.

Wild Blueberry Pie In Maine

While on your lighthouse adventure in Northeastern Maine, don’t forget to stop for some Wild Blueberry Pie. The flavor is sweet and scrumptious. It is a favorite desert in Northeastern Maine, where the blueberry’s grow wild in the forests that line the sandy beaches that are filled with rocks, where the wild roses love to grow. Nothing is better than this wild blueberry pie, unless you might add some ice cream on the plate. So come on out and enjoy another specialty of Northeastern Maine.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse On Campobello Island USA

On the other side of the island stands West Quoddy Head Lighthouse that guides ships through the Quoddy Narrows in Lubec Maine. This bright candy-stripped lighthouse can be seen for miles from it’s perch on the far most eastern point of the mainland of the United States. Just imagine the perfectly spectacular sunrises out across the sea. The current tower was built in 1858, replacing the original tower that had been built in 1808.

There is an amazing seasonal gift shop on the first floor of the historic keepers residence. You will find history, displays, short films, and unique artwork from the locals for sale. This is a not a for profit shop and is overseen by the Lightkeeper’s Association. You will find it open from Memorial Day till early November. Usually just before it closes for the winter, the Coast Guard will give tours of the facility. The interior of the lighthouse is generally not open to the public.

Quoddy Head State Park is open for visitors during this same time of the year. Here you will find bogs to investigate, the Coastal Trail for those who like to hike, and rocky beaches to discover. During the whale season, you will often see them coming up for air. There are picnic tables for family get-togethers, and some of the most gorgeous views around.

For a quiet self guided tour of the Lubec Lighthouses, gift shops, and surrounding area, you will want to include Quoddy State Park. As a bonus are all the perfect views and sunrises.

Cool Mossy Cliffs Overlooking The Sea In Lubec, Maine

The mornings are cool and inviting as a fine misty fog gently accents the coastal area of Lubec, Maine. The enormous rocky cliffs define the area with the native grasses growing along side. On days when the fog lifts early in the morning, you can see the beautiful sunrises, though most often you can only see from places that are a little higher. The fine coastal mist flies through the air with the surf from the passing waves. What a beautiful area to have your morning coffee.

A Fresh Feast Of Lobster And Clam Pot By The Sea In Maine

Before leaving Maine, be sure to swing by one of the local fish restaurants for a delicious seafood feast. There is nothing like a fresh seafood platter consisting of some of the best lobster and clam pots that you will ever eat. These are mouth-watering temptations that are hard to pass up. Though if you do decide to pass this one by, there are plenty of other seafood delicacies on every menu.

A misty Evening At Dryad Point On Campbell Island In British Columbia Canada

Along the Inside Passage, at the end of Campbell Island, is one of the nicest lighthouses in British Columbia, Canada. When you come to Dryad Point, you are at the crossroads of Lama Passage and Seaforth Channel. It was originally called Turn Point, but was re-named when the construction began in 1899 to avoid any mix ups between a lighthouse named Turn Point in the San Juan Islands. The name Turn Point seemed perfect for the lighthouse, since the ships coming up the inside passage were required to make a really sharp turn in order to continue their trip up the Inside Passage.

The area is known for its rich First Nation history and is the home of the Heiltsuk Native Band. The first keeper of the lighthouse, Captain Carpenter, was himself a member of the First Nations and his wife was the daughter of Chief Kaiete.

In 1901 a hand foghorn was added that was needed to answer the fog horns on the ships. In 1903 the light received a red sector so that it wasn’t so bright for those ships that were trying to make the sharp turn as they continued up the Inside Passage. In 1919 the current lighthouse, a concrete structure was built to replace the old wooden structure.

North Head Lighthouse On Cape Disappointment In Washington USA

Looking out on the Pacific Ocean on Cape Disappointment is the North Head Lighthouse. Since 1856 there had been a lighthouse on Cape Disappointment. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse went into service in 1856, but it was latter determined that another lighthouse was needed on the other side of the Cape. The “Graveyard of the Pacific” was still claiming too many ships. The new North Head Lighthouse was placed on the spur that is known as North Head. The lighthouse takes it’s name from its location.

Today, this beautiful lighthouse looks out over the treacherous waters where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. There are no more keepers, as the lighthouse is totally automated. But the views of the Pacific Ocean, the Long Beach Peninsula, the Northern Oregon Coastal region, and the Columbia River Bar are breathtaking.

Lighthouse Adventures

If you want to have an adventure where the shores are often quite rugged, and the beaches rocky, then check out these delightful lighthouse destinations. They are only a sampling of the many lighthouses found in North America, but may be some of the most interesting. Though each lighthouse has it’s own personality, they all are accompanied by an intriguing adventure.

Skagway Alaska Gateway To The North

February 18, 2019 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Skagway Alaska Gateway To The North

Welcome to Skagway Alaska, the gateway to the Klondike and beyond. Skagway is yesterday alive and well! In Skagway, you will hear the old honky-tonk pianos and the cries of the prospectors. Gold has been found! Nothing much has changed in Skagway, Alaska; it is yesterday at its best! Come celebrate with us! Dance to the old honky-tonk piano! Kick up your heels! Immerse yourself in the history of the Klondike! Enjoy everything nature has to show you. Skagway is the northernmost town in Southeast Alaska. Skagway sits on the side of a beautiful glacier. Nothing is prettier under the sun.

Skagway Proper

Branch out from here and visit other areas, like Whitehorse in the Yukon, Canada. Skagway is delightful! Skagway is living history! It is fun! Above all, it’s a must-see when you come to Alaska. Check the site below for listings of events and accommodations. We’ll see you in Skagway.
http://skagway.com/

Travel Tour Highlights

One of the highlights of the area is the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. The park was created in 1976 and commemorates all the many hopeful prospectors who flooded the area in the late 1800’s. The visitors center is very informative and the hiking trails are awesome. If you feel ambitious, you can hike the famous Chilkoot Trail. This is a 3-5 day hike and not for beginning hikers. The trail is well maintained by the Park Service and is in good condition. You can access the park website below.

http://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm

Skagway is one of the most exciting port of calls for the cruise ships that go up the Inside Passage to Alaska. For example, you can take this cruise out of either Seattle, USA or Vancouver, Canada with other connections. This is one cruise that I have done twice and no two trips are the same. They are an adventure waiting to happen! You can reserve your cruise on the website below.

http://www.alaskacruises.com/cruises/alaska-inside-passage-cruises.html

Other options are the ferry system that travels up the coast. Book your car, the walk-on, your bike, or even your RV. Similarly, it’s much like booking a train, for instance, you can purchase a sleeping berth also. Furthermore, the ferry ships are smaller than cruise ships and seem to be closer to the shoreline allowing different views. This offers more unique photo opportunities and allows you to see different wildlife.

http://www.alaskaferryvacations.com/index.html

There are many fantastic day tours available. Some are as little as one day and others can be ten days. Whatever you desire to see and do, Skagway, Alaska is your jumping off point.

http://www.alaskatravel.com/skagway/

http://frontierexcursions.com/index.html

Exploretraveler.com

Published on [email protected] Feb. 18,2017 at:

https://steemit.com/travel/@exploretraveler/5hovoh-skagway-alaska-gateway-to-the-north

Happiness Abounds At The San Diego Zoo In Southern California

October 17, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Happy And Hungry Giant Panda

It is a beautiful day in Southern California with blue skies and pleasant temperatures. Ten in the morning is the perfect time for arriving at the Panda Habitat. As you arrive, you quickly notice how content and happy the Pandas are. The second thing you quickly observe is that they eat a lot! This is feeding time and this contented fellow is enjoying his almost unlimited bamboo treats.

Who can resist loving anything this cute, with the face of an angel and the grace of a lumberjack. The San Diego Zoo can not help loving these not so gentle giants. It all started in 1987 when two pandas came for a visit for 100 days from China. Latter, in 1996, China agreed to allow the zoo to house two of their pandas. These first two residents, Bai Yun and Gao Gao gave birth to Xiao Liwu in 2012. Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu can be visited at their home habitat in the Panda Trek area. Panda Trek is close to the Giant Panda Research Station. The zoo keepers and the researchers are trying to learn all they can about these wonderful, but endangered, residents of the San Diego Zoo. As for Gao Gao, due to his age and failing health, he lives a quiet life at the Panda Habitat.

An adult Giant Panda is only about 2-3 feet tall, but they are definitely members of the bear family. They walk like a bear, climb like a bear, and play like a bear. They are omnivore, as they love to eat bamboo, many other plants, and a meal of good meat is never passed up. They are, without a doubt, the cutest bears in town. They have an extremely thick body and their bones are thick for the size of the bear. But keep tuned for play time, as you will be astonished at how agile and flexible they really are. Have you ever watched a panda do somersaults? They are cute, agile, and more than ready for the Olympics.

Giant Pandas Are Big On Bamboo

Probably one of the most amazing things about these Giant Pandas is how small they are at birth. They are a little more than 3 ounces when born, are totally dependent on their mother, and are completely without hair. They are so helpless that the mother does not leave the baby alone in the den, even to find food or drink for several days. When a baby cub nears 2 months of age, they usually begin opening their eyes and soon after they will begin to crawl. In the fifth month they are usually walking well and this little rolly poly cub is ready to explore the great outdoors with his mother. From this time on they begin to grow fast, as they eat a lot of bamboo and other plants. They spend over 12 hours a day eating. Now that, is a healthy appetite!

The Adorable Meerkat

Welcome to the happy and crazy habitat of the Meerkats at the San Diego Zoo. These little fellows are cute, spontaneous, clever beyond belief, and a bundle of fun. This spectacular member of the mongoose family is similar to a weasel in many ways. If you have never watched them run and play, you do not know what you are missing.

In their natural habitat, and here at the San Diego Zoo, they like to make large burrows for the whole mob of around 40 members. Sometimes the mob can also be called a gang. They greatly love the companionship of other meerkats and of course there is safety in larger numbers. They often groom each other and spend much of the day in group play.

A mob of meerkats are a gang of several family units, though there is always one pair that is dominant. This structure keeps them together as a community, while answering their individual needs to be groomed and played with. It is their love of community that keeps them strong, even in the face of danger.

This amazing meerkat lives about eight years in the wild, and can live as long as 13 in a good zoo. When they are first born, they usually weigh less than a pound, but when full grown they would have doubled that. Even a large meerkat is not much over two pounds. They may not weigh much, but they can be nine to thirteen inches long. Unlike most animals, it is the female that will outweigh the male.

By far, the most amazing thing about them is their dare devil way of getting their food. These tiny hunters can kill poisonous snakes so fast that the snake doesn’t know what happened. They also like to eat the desert scorpions, though like the snake, their venom doesn’t seem to bother them. They have some type of immunity to the venom, as it does not seem to affect them in any way. They also love eating roots and tubers they find in the ground, and a favorite are the tsama melons. The moisture naturally found in the tubers and roots supply them with all the water they need.

These little creatures can keep you laughing as they run, climb, and play. If you are feeling down, just head to the Meerkat Habitat, and they will give your mood a big boost. It is hours of fun and games, in the life of the Meerkat. If you need an injection of laughter, then you have come to the right place.

The Unique Kentia Palm Seeds Of Southern California

As you wander through the grounds, be sure to take in all the unique palms and flowers that grow in Southern California. The San Diego Zoo Grounds has many different palms, each with their own uniqueness. This one is known for it’s patterned bark and it’s strange looking seeds that grow on the outside of the tree.

This is a slow growing tropical palm that can make a wonderful house plant. It will quickly become a conversation piece. In the San Diego area, it is an outdoor treat for curious eyes, and inquiring minds.

The Skeleton Of A Python Is All Backbone

This is a giant Python! It is not a venomous snake or even an evil one, as we generally assume. If you look closely at the skeleton above you can see where he has had several broken ribs that healed. Pythons live in Africa, Asia, and Australia.They love the native savannas and rain forests of these areas. Pythons move while in a straight line, making their ribs very strong and stiff. Adult Pythons make a good meal for the larger Birds of Prey. Even leopards and sometimes lions get in on the action.

They hatch their eggs when it is time to reproduce. During the incubation period the Python keeps her eggs warm by coiling her body around her eggs. If she sees they are too cold, she does a shivering motion with her body to warm up the eggs. This is a lot of exertion, and afterwards she will not lay eggs again for three or four years. Once the eggs hatch, the babies are on their own. Then the life cycle begins all over again, with the babies trying to outsmart their predators.

The Long Snouted Indian Gharial

This Long Snouted Indian Gharial has gone Jurassic at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California. This Gharial, with his 110 very sharp teeth and very long snout, is amazing at catching fish, thus he is often called the fish-eating crocodile. Fish is his main source of food. This member of the crocodile family spends most of his time in the water, though when cold, he pulls himself onto the bank and spends a few hours in the sun. He is one of the three different crocodiles that are native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal. The male Gharial has like a round knob or growth on the end of his slender snout. The Gharial having lived on earth for an estimated 65 million years, is now a critically endangered species.

Flamboyant Flamingo At The Flamingo Lagoon

Flamingos are most at home in salty or caustic lagoons or very shallow lakes. These lakes are poisonous for most other animals, so they have little competition for the algae, diatoms, and those small crustaceans. This is perfect, as these tiny creatures are what they prefer to dine on. If ever there was a win-win situation, this is it!

The San Diego Zoo has one of these caustic lagoons, and it is the perfect environment for these beautiful giant birds. Like other Lagoons elsewhere, it is too salty and caustic for other birds or fish that might give competition for their favorite food supply. With that in mind, the Flamingos at the San Diego Zoo flourish in the Southern California Sun.

Their extremely long legs also allow the Flamingos to wade farther out into the water than other animals, and thus their selection of food is even greater. If you have ever watched a Flamingo fish for his food, you can not help but enjoy this unique and different concept in fishing. While holding their beak upside down, they begin taking in water. They take in water, animals and all, and then filter out the water with their built in water filter. All that remains are these tiny creatures and dinner is served.

These beautiful birds put on quite an airshow, when they travel in formation. Just imagine their long beautiful necks sticking straight out ahead, and their legs straight out behind. When they wave their wings, as they often do, the colors are spectacular.

Tasmanian Devil At The San Diego Zoo

The Tasmanian Devil is a strange looking marsupial which lives in the grasslands and forests of Tasmania Island, Australia. Such a little fellow, but he has earned his name. He is similar in many ways to the rat in features, but watch out for his temper. He has sharp teeth and when he is mad he is vicious. He is known to have one of the sharpest bites in the animal kingdom.

Even though the majority of Tasmanian Devils prefer the grasslands and forests, you will find them throughout the island. Watch your step, as they like to sleep in empty caves, burrows that they run across, and under rocks or logs. The better they can hide, the happier they are. Such a combination of happy and snarly! They are nocturnal and so sleep all day and often go on long journeys at night. It is not unusual for them to travel up to 10 miles in a single night.

The Tasmanian Devil is highly endangered and is in grave danger of dying off due to a very deadly and transmissible cancer. Great care is being taken in the safekeeping, protection, and study of this little devilish critter with the terrible temper at the San Diego Zoo. Be sure to check out this little fellow next time you are at the zoo.

The South American Guanaco At The San Diego Zoo

Welcome to the home of the Guanacos, a close relative to the camel. Where as, camels are the work horses of the desert with coarse coats, the Guanaco is so very soft, has no humps, is smaller, and extremely graceful. They are beautiful with their light brown coats with white underbellies. Their tails are quite short, they have really long necks, and big ears that point straight up. Unlike camels that come from Africa and Asia, Guanacos come from South America. A Guanaco is much smaller than a camel and larger than other camelids, such as alpacas, vicunas, or llamas.

Guanacos live in groups with one dominant adult male, up to about 10 females, and all their young chulengos. Unattached bachelors form their own groups which may be 50 or more adult males. When a female Guanaco gives birth, her Chulengs are quite able to stand and walk. They have no issue with keeping up with the rest of the group shortly after birth.

If they were put on display at a beauty contest, they would surely come in first place. You haven’t seen beauty, until you check out the Guanacos that live at the San Diego Zoo.

Elephant Odyssey Showcases The Pleistocene Era Tar Pit

Showcasing California’s spectacular history during what is known as the Pleistocene Era, Elephant Odyssey tells the story of who these magnificent animals were that roamed Southern California. You will be able to discover the 40 species that went extinct during this time. This amazing exhibit was done together with The La Brea Tar Pits, The Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology, and The San Diego Natural History Museum. Here you will learn the significance of the extinctions on today’s animal kingdom. When you see the most famous of the exhibits, the elephant, you will watch them in all there grandeur, as they mate, raise families, and play together. What an enlightening experience this will be for those who care about the animals of today. As we learn from the past, we will be better able to meet the challenges of today’s animal kingdom.

The Playful World Of The Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey

The Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey goes by several names, but the best description for this cute little fellow is this one. He has a beautiful red tail from which he gets his name. Other noticeable characteristics of this cute primate are his white nose and checks surrounded by a body of gorgeous black or dark grey fur. Like many other animals, he has what seems to be expanding checks so that he can both gather and store food. Sometimes he will need to store his food for months.

These cute little primates are indeed quite small. They usually have bodies that are only about one to two feet long, though his tale can be as long as 35 inches. Males are usually on the top of the scale, with females being very small indeed. The males can weigh from seven to ten pounds, where a female is only in the six to eight pound range. Their long red tales are not only beautiful, but they are used for balance when needed.

The Majestic Great Blue Heron

This majestic Heron actually calls the wetlands that are so common in North America and also Central America home. This graceful heron is the largest bird in North America and certainly the most spectacular. The Great Blue Heron stands tall at 36-54 inches and when they open those magnificent wings, they span from 66-70 inches. Can you imagine the skies of San Diego when they all decide to fly? The skies are filled with large dusty blue herons. What a spectacular sight!

The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoos in our country and certainly one of the cleanest and caring. Many endangered species call this huge zoo home, along with the researchers that are working day and night to prevent their names being added to those that are extinct. While we have given you 12 reasons to enjoy this spectacular zoo, the list of animals almost seems endless. These 12 are only some of our favorites. So next time you are in Southern California, be sure to join us for a relaxing visit to the residents of the San Diego Zoo.

Exploring Petersburg Alaska

August 9, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

A Quaint Little Fishing Village

The Little Norway of Petersburg Alaska

Petersburg may be a small, quaint, fishing village, but in this small village settled by Norwegians, is a bundle of big adventure. Here in this isolated village, you will see the built-in work ethic of the Scandinavian people. Norwegians built it to resemble Norway, to bring a piece of home to their new Alaskan life. It is a thriving fishing village that is still successful. Not much has changed over the years. In Petersburg, we see what was, what is, and what will be.

Fishing is the main economic resource of the area, but it did not begin with the immigrants from Norway. but rather the Tlingit have been living in the region of Mitkof Island for hundreds of years. Most likely the first experience of the European immigrants when they arrived, in the latter 1800’s, were dealing with the Tlingit Indians. For hundreds of years it was thought that they only had summer fishing camps in the area, but recent archaeological evidence would suggest otherwise. Over the years, the Tlingit haven’t lived much in Petersburg due to an early hostility to all things native. But now, if you walk the streets of Petersburg, you will see a blended culture, but by far the leading culture is Norwegian.

Petersburg received it’s name from Peter Buschmann, one of the Norwegian immigrants. He built the first sawmill, which turned out to be a very successful endeavor and the first cannery. These endeavors grew mightily over the years and finally grew into a small fishing community located at the Northern most end of Mitkof Island, latter known as Petersburg.

Petersburg is located quite close to the LeConte Glacier. Over the years, this has brought a double blessing on this small fishing community. The location of easy ice, the year around, has helped the community grow into the fishing port that it is today. With the ice, came the ability to ship fish south to the mainland, making the community quite prosperous. Even today, this community continues to make it’s living from the sea for the most part. In addition to it’s fishing economy, Petersburg, Leconte Glacier, and the art of the Tlingit natives, has been discovered by the tourists who come on the cruise ships each summer.

Petersburg Fishing Port

This port is the home to the many fishing boats that go out daily. The Bushmann’s Cannery became quite successful and was latter bought by Pacific American Fisheries, a larger company. They owned and ran the cannery until in the 1960s when fishing began to slow down. Then they closed the cannery for the first time since it was built. The community pooled their monies and bought the Petersburg Cannery, which is successful to this day. In the late 70’s the name was changed to Icicle Seafoods. Icicle Seafoods is quite a large company in Alaska, and very successful. The cannery changed hands yet again in 2017, but still thrives in the community. This community revolves around the fishing industry.

Seals Playing On The Buoy

As you leave the Continental United States and then continue through Canadian waters, you are in the open waters of the Inside Passage of Alaska. Sometimes you will see the wilderness of the United States and other times it will be Canada you are looking at. You will even see small hints of yesterday, when Russia was in control. The wilderness is pristine and amazing. You might see bears fishing, moose grazing, or seals at play. When you dock at small seaside villages, you can elect to pan for gold, watch for whales in season, seek out the elders for amazing stories, or immerse yourself in the culture and stories of the Tlingit Indians. The Tlingit have spent generations in this amazing land. They are masters at fishing and hunting, and make their lives connected to the very land and sea that also feeds them. You will see fiords that are barely visible through the morning midst, forests and wilderness so lush and green, and the ice from the glaciers gleaming in the sun. This strange land of the Midnight Sun reaches out and embraces you, calling you by name. And this is just the beginning as you travel the Inside Passage through the wilderness to the last frontier.

The Beautiful Wrangell Narrows

The Wrangell Narrows, in times past, were one of the most dangerous 22 miles on the whole trip up the inside passage. There are miles where the air does not move and often as not, the fog lingers deep and wicked over the area. Now a days there are instruments that take over in time of need, but that was not always the case. This is an area that has made many captains have grey hair before their time. Now, with the help of modern navigation equipment, the trip from the Island of Mitkof and the Island of Kupreanof to Petersburg can be made safely. It is with a spirit of awe, that this spectacular winding and scenic waterway is crossed.

Coming Into The Port Of Petersburg

Petersburg, Alaska is a beautiful port that is sheltered from the extreme storms out on the Narrows by it’s natural geography. It is home to one of the best fishing fleets, the world has to offer. This is a fishing community that makes it’s living from the sea. They recognize the sea in all they do, as the sea is the heartbeat of the community. If you come on the cruise ships or sail your own, everything you need is at the port. Petersburg actually has three modern harbors that are a short walk from downtown. This is perhaps the nicest port in all of Southeast Alaska, and for sure it is the friendliest port of call in Alaska.

Preparing To Dock In The Petersburg, Alaska Harbor

Petersburg, being a shallow port, is not used by the mega cruise ships. The smaller boats, however, call this port home. Cruise ships with less than 250 passengers are regular customers of the port. This actually works out for the best, as it allows the smaller groups of tourists that come, to enjoy a quiet and special one on one type of experience. There is no large invasion of tourists, but only those who come to enjoy this friendly community that sits in the shadow of the Patterson Mountain Peaks.

Some from the larger cruise ships elect to take the ferry across the Narrows to visit this pleasant fishing community. If you enjoy nature, hiking, walking, and biking, there is plenty of opportunity for these experiences. Their are Tlingit craftsman and storytellers wanting to share the stories of this Norwegian fishing village with those who desire to listen. If you are adventurous, and comfortable without being entertained, you will enjoy the freedom of exploring this tiny island.

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry

The 3 hour trip on the ferry one of the adventure of alaska marine highway ferry from Wrangell to Petersburg is breathtaking. You will spend three hours crossing this spectacular Wrangell Narrows with it’s many unique markers for navigation. Arriving at Petersburg, you will find a small fishing village that lives to the beat of the sea. Surrounded by a pristine wilderness, this is the perfect adventure for those who desire a more natural approach to exploration. Here on this remote island, you will find a hidden beauty that is sought out only by a few. Welcome to the shallow Port of Petersburg!

An exciting adventure near Petersburg is a visit to LeConte Bay and the near by ice fields from LeConte Glacier. There are many tours, some by air and others by boat. Both are exciting and have their own advantages. If you have time to do both, they are completely different. What a beautiful view you will have of Devil’s Thumb, LeConte Bay and the immense ice fields from the air. If you elect to view the grandeur of the bay and the icebergs by boat, you will get a whole different view of the Coast Mountain Range the surrounds the LeConte Glacier. As you will be closer at times to the shore, you will see the wildlife and this extremely large glacier up close. As you cross the narrow fjord, you will get an amazing view of the glacier that you will never forget. If time and money allow, it is well worth doing both a tour by air and one by boat. They are two totally different worlds of adventure.

Getting Crab Pots ready for Dungeness Crab Season

It is always a fun experience watching as the fisherman get their crab pots ready during crab season. There is also a fish processing plant in the center of town called Coastal Cold Storage that has a small seafood-restaurant. Hear you will find some of the best and freshest seafood in town.They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their Dungeness Crab is some of the best in the world. They will also mail any of their fresh fish home for you. There is nothing fancy about this restaurant, just some of the best seafood that Alaska has to offer.

Fresh Alaskan King Crab And Salmon Feast

While traveling the Inside Passage, or enjoying dinner in port, you will want to try the suburb Alaskan King Crab and Salmon with a Seafood Feast. Every restaurant in the town serves some form of a Seafood Feast. If you have never had fresh Alaskan king Crab, you will be in for a surprise. Even the Salmon is amazing when it comes fresh from the sea. You will find simple places like the Coastal Cold Storage that serve excellent food in a very relaxed atmosphere to Inga’s Gallery that is a roadside cafe with many seafood specialties. There are also two vegetarian friendly restaurants.

Snow-capped Patterson Peaks And Mountain Glaciers

As you look across the Wrangle Narrows you will encounter spectacular snow-capped Patterson Peaks. Surrounding the peaks are some of the beautiful glaciers of Alaska. Here you will discover that Patterson Glacier changes almost daily, so one day you will see more of the peaks and then they will be hidden the next time. This is a breathtaking area that has many climbing opportunities, hiking trails with camping facilities, and up close view of Patterson Glacier. During summer, you can enjoy the beautiful Patterson river. No matter where you decide to explore, there is plenty of adventure in the Tongass National Forest.

Leaving Petersburg For The Return Trip Across The Narrows

Awe, those beautiful and unpredictable Wrangle Narrows. When living on land , when the days are gray and rainy, it gets old fast. A deep sorrow can come over you. With no place to go, you soon become fore-long and despondent. But the constant rainy days of the Wrangle Narrows matters not when on a ship. You are always moving, and changing your location. The mountain is ever changing and the sky is in a constantly in transition. Explosive weather and amazing and changeable skies make any day worth living. This can soon become a sailors paradise. There is nothing you can not do with a good wind, especially a good tail wind.

Then there are places where there is no air moving and soon a deep marine fog sets in. Here the air is heavy and thick, and you can see nothing but the white fog. In years past, these waters became difficult and treacherous quickly. In today’s world, there are instruments that can carry on, no matter how thick the fog. Now, two ships pass, where minutes ago they were on a collusion course. These instruments have opened up the Wrangle Narrows to people who would not travel them before. In this short three hour trip, you will see some of the most beautiful water on earth, with a touch of adventure that will raise your adrenaline to a whole new level.

A Brisk Evening On The Scenic Wrangell Narrows

As you continue across the Wrangle Narrows, look up! The Patterson Peaks are tall and stately with their tips always covered in snow and ice. See the glaciers, as they sparkle on a clear night. Another adventure, a day of exploration comes to a close.

If you are ready for an adventure, then Petersburg is the place to spend some time. Back a bag, and grab your passport, just in case, and take a cruise up the Inside Passage, but don’t forget, to plan a side trip to Petersburg, Alaska’s Little Norway.

If you would like to research more about Alaska, and find even more photo please visit our Alaska photography website.

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Petersburg Alaska

The Little Norway of Petersburg Alaska

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Adventures In Mobile Alabama

July 30, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

The Mobile Tensaw River Delta

The amazing Mobile Tensaw River Delta is the largest of several deltas of it’s kind in the State of Alabama USA. Alabama has many wetlands, but this is an area of 266,000 acres. That is the size of some cities, or roughly 40 miles by 10 miles in size, or 400 square miles. It is the second largest wetland in the Contiguous United States Of America. This spectacular wetland is so large that most people will be able to find some place within this breathtaking wetland to enjoy a few hours. Come a long with us as we discover the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, the gateway to Alabama’s greatest wetland.

This is an area where the river converges on the sea. Here is a jungle so dense and vast with rivers that inter weave and cause islands to form, both big and small. These small uninhabited islands are home to some of the largest and most dangerous animals in the world. Here the bears and alligators run free and wild. Bull sharks rule the sea and Bobcats wait for their next meal in a tree. In this jungle of Alabama you will find feral hogs that are huge and five major poisonous snakes. While it awaits our desire for exploration and adventure, unless you understand the Jungle and it’s inhabitants, it is best to go with a trained guide who knows the way and life of the jungle.

Here, in this grand delta, you can discover the 300 species of birds that call this magnificent environment home. It is also filled with an unbelievable number of insects, numerous varieties of amphibians and spectacular reptiles. All these find their habitation in an area where all the water from the hills comes rushing down into the sea. This is an area that is constantly flooding, and yet, it has a mysterious side that calls to you. Come, and let’s explore this magical land of the deep South. This is the wilderness land of the Mobile Tensaw River Delta.

This profound and mysterious area is like a big screen drama. Weekly, if not daily, the environment of the delta changes. Fresh water is constantly rushing and prodding it’s way to the sea, and the sea often pushes back. On one occasion the delta may have high levels of salt, thus attracting animals that desire a home with much salt in the water. While others come during the year when the rivers push the hardest into the sea, and the water is fresh. What an amazing theater of nature!

What happens during the spring floods is spooky, mysterious, and can be dangerous. The little creatures of the jungle scamper for the cliffs and bluffs that surround the delta. This is a time when the bushy tail squirrels and rabbits join the big bears in the forests and highlands that surround the delta region. Now that they have scrambled into tall trees and other places of safety, they are able to survive the flooding wetlands. This is not a good time for these land animals in the delta, but those who spend their time in the water arrive to take their place. The Mobile Tensaw River Delta is now muddy and at flood stage.

The Mobile Tensaw River Delta At Flood Stage

This is an area of many amazing trails and marvelous landmarks. But spring is not the season to hike these trails through the woods. Trails that are safe and fun at other times, have become muddy and dangerous, as the flood water rages throughout the delta forest. There is a season for everything in the jungle, and this is the season for fishing for Bream, a challenging and harder to catch angler’s favorite in this Bayou.

As spring floods end and June is on the horizon, you can begin to see and hear thousands of insects buzzing day and night. This might be a good time to apply your mosquito repellent. During this time, when the air is warming up everywhere, this jungle climate becomes warm and muggy. A perfect environment for those pesky mosquitoes has now been created. But for those who come to watch the birds, this is their season. Many species of birds call out to each other as they mate and lay their eggs. Now is the time that bird watchers flood the jungles of the delta wilderness, This is the time that the jungle becomes a bird watchers paradise.

As August arrives, the scene changes yet again and the fishermen wanting to catch the big guys have arrived and others come for the smaller fish of the gulf. The Gulf of Mexico is teaming with Spanish Mackerel, those delightful Tarpon, and giant sharks. It has become the perfect time for Gulf Fishing charters to make their way around the Gulf, and out to sea. During the same period, the rivers of the Delta have higher salt levels as the sea has pushed it’s creatures deep into the rivers. So the fishermen arrive, setting the pots for blue crabs, and looking for Shrimp, Trout, Red Fish, and even the Mangrove Flounder. Now is the time that the Bayou has plenty of freshwater. This is the fishermen’s time to shine. The Bayou has become a fishermen’s paradise!

The over-story of the jungle is made up of several favorites of the Americas. You will find the American Chestnut Tree that is loaded with chestnuts to roast, Southern Oaks, Mountain Laurels, Red Maples, and the Birch trees, all growing tall and strong. Fall is the perfect time of year to discover the amazing Passion flower, and the potato beans that wind their vines up and over the trees of the jungle. This is the perfect time for those who want to discover the flowers, tress, and amazing under-story of the jungle. Cypress Trees, whose oils are precious, grow tall in the jungle swamp. By spring the small yellow flowers of the Saint John’s Wort are blooming. Whereever there are Cypress Trees, you will find Saint John’s Wort winding around their trunks. This is the time of the Medicinal Herbalist and those who hunt the jungles for their healing herbs and trees.

And what can you find in the bogs that are scattered throughout the wilderness surrounding Mobile? This is an area that is always wet and surrounds the wetlands. The bogs are on hillsides and near springs that are constantly wet with flowing water. It is in these super damp areas that herbalists descend upon to gather the Pitcher plants, only one of the re-nouned resident plants and herbs of the bog.

Now that we have explored the delta areas and the bogs, it is time to visit the Port of Alabama. Not a great day for seeing a sunset, but the stormy clouds add character to the port.

Stormy Skies Over Alabama’s Only Deep Water Port

Welcome to the Port of Mobile, Alabama’s only deep water port. This deep and spacious port enables Alabama to service over-sized cargo ships with product for the cities up and down the Inter coastal Waterway. The Port of Alabama is able to serve the Great Lakes Region, The Tennessee River Valley and even way south to the Gulf of Mexico. This port, as of 2014, ranked ninth in the nation for ability to service the largest cargo ships. After unloading these mega ships, there are major railroads and interstates to complete the journey to it’s final destination.

The Port Of Mobile is not limited to the cargo ship industry. Several cruise ships include Mobile in their Port of Call. Mobile is full of cultural opportunities. The city has many suburb historical encounters including Southern Mansions right out of the pages of your favorite historical novel. With many quality restaurants and hotels close to the Port, spending an extra day in Mobile is easier than it ever was.

Fire And Rescue Boat In The Port Of Mobile, Alabama

The fire and rescue boats of the Port Of Mobile, Alabama have seen plenty of action over the years. The rescue boat above is giving a demonstration of the water power that their boats have. The fire boats are indispensable to the Fire and Rescue Department. There are many times that the land trucks can not do the job alone. While they are not used daily, when they are needed, it is a job that only they can do.

So you have come to find one of the many fish or creatures of the wetlands, you have explored the blogs, and you visited the Port of Mobile, but what about the rest of the day? It must be time to discover some down home Southern cooking! Mobile has some of the best places to taste and see, the delicacies of the South. These Southern eateries are waiting for you to discover what Southern cooking is all about. Welcome to the Deep South where food is “finger licken good.”

Gumbo Is The Star Of The Deep South

Deep in the South is a hidden gem, a star of the culinary world. This is a thick soup filled with local Lump Crab, Bay Scrimp, Scallops, Hickory Smocked Conecuh Sauage, and Okra. All this, is served with rice. Welcome to the world of Southern Culinary Delights. The culinary mysteries of Southern cooking await in Mobile, Alabama USA. The weather is turning cold, and as you walk the beaches of Mobile, you begin to dream of Gumbo. Now is the time, and Mobile the place, for a Gumbo adventure!

There are many varieties of Gumbo in Mobile and the Mobile Seafood Bay shares one of it’s many recipes for those that want to go home and still have a good Alabama Gumbo.

Mobile Bay Seafood Gumbo

Shared from the www.allrecipes.com

Melt the clarified butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until a pinch of flour sprinkled into the oil will just begin to bubble. Whisk in the flour to form a thick paste the consistency of cake frosting. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the flour turns the color of melted chocolate, about 45 minutes. Slowly whisk in the water and bring to a simmer. Whisk until no lumps of roux remain; set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Stir in the onion, okra, and green bell pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and begun to brown, about 30 minutes.
Stir the tomato paste into the okra mixture until no lumps of tomato paste remain. Add the tomatoes, garlic, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, seafood seasoning, and roux-thickened water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 1 hour.
Stir the shrimp, crab, and oysters into the gumbo, recover, and cook 20 minutes longer.

Moe’s in Mobile, Alabama

If you are wanting to taste some good old Southern BBQ, then it is time to visit Moe’s. Started by three University friends that loved all things Southern, Moe’s is known for it’s fresh meat done daily, and quality beer. When you go to Moe’s, you join the rival for all things Southern. At Moe’s Original BBQ you never get yesterday’s smoked meats, but each days all meat is prepared fresh. You will also find at least eight to ten side dishes, that are all southern. And of course, those southern deserts are straight from paradise. These are the recipes of generations of Alabama’s best southern cooks. So take the next step and join in the rival of Southern Soul Food at Moe’s. The atmosphere is family oriented, relaxed, and filled with that Southern spirit.

Restaurant hours: Sun – Wed: 11 am – 9 pm
Restaurant hours: Thu – Sat: 11 am – 10 pm
The Bar is open Daily: 11am – 2am

Hickory Smoked BBQ Steak

Is there any better way to close that perfect day than to dine on Hickory smoked BBQ Steak? In Alabama, it is expected that first your steak is carefully smoked over a bed of Hickory Chips, and then the rub is applied and it is placed on the BBQ grill. It is slowly and perfectly grilled. There is no finer steak, than a Alabama Hickory Smoked BBQ Steak.

Now that you have a taste of what awaits you in Mobile, Alabama, it is time to plan a real Southern adventure, deep in the heart of the Bayou, in Mobile, Alabama USA.

The Mobile Alabama area is the real deal with a diverse culture, and long term historical areas to explore. When researching out the area you may need to consider looking at allot of content. Most people stop at Wikipedia but consider going deeper with these additional terms, and search for a extended amount of content.

mobile alabama

history of mobile al

A Birmingham Adventure In The Rain

July 2, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

There Is Nothing Quite Like The Rain In The Deep South

You have just arrived in Birmingham, Alabama and are anxious to explore the city. Expecting a bright Southern day, you open the curtains and see that it is raining. Next you can not help but notice that this is no ordinary rain, but a very heavy southern rain that seems to be nonstop. You quickly find out that when it rains in Birmingham, it pours, with no end in sight.

If a down day is no issue, you can check with your motel to see if you can get a copy of the movie, “Sweet Home Alabama.” It is a fun movie with a tad bit of cultural information. If there is a market close by, you might want to make a “Balogna Cake,” and like the actor in the movie, you will have it to take out of the refrigerator. It is quite easy and fun to make, just take 8 oz of softened cream cheese and mix in 2 tablespoons grated onion and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce. Then take 1 pound of sliced Balogna and put one slice on a plate, then a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture. You do this until all the Balogna is used. Then frost your cake with the remaining cream cheese mixture. Place cake in the refrigerator and cool completely. After enjoying your movie, just slice in thin slices and serve on crackers. Now this is a real southern treat!

For those that don’t mind getting out a little, there are numerous museums in Birmingham just waiting to be discovered. If you have kids, McWane Center is a marvelous hands on children’s museum that will even keep the adults happy. They also have an IMAX in the museum to delight the kids, though sometimes it seems a little deafening. This will keep the children occupied for hours. You will hardly notice the rain.

For the art lovers, there is the Birmingham Museum of Art. This is free art museum with many traveling exhibits that change quite frequently. The museum is rather large, with things for the whole family.

Birmingham is also host to many types of night life. Here you will find many concerts and plays, and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra has many local venues. There are many first class concerts throughout the city. Birmingham is is an exciting place for those who like the night life.

Another major museum is the Museum of Civil Rights. Here you discover what happened during the struggles for Civil Rights in the United States. The location of the museum is in the area where many of the marches and demonstrations took place. It is a window into the history of our country. The things you see, are not easily forgotten.

Throughout the city are many restaurants and small local cafes. Many of these eateries specialize in some of the unique southern specialties, like “Bologna Cake.” Yes, sometimes Birmingham has a rainy day, but there are plenty of rainy day options………….and tomorrow, will most likely be sunny.

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My Alaska Hiking Blog Tips

Some basic first aid kit supplies to consider when or hiking in here.

My Alaska Hiking Blog Bird Watching Tips

Here are a few birds you might see along the way.

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Alaska Marine System Highway Ferry’s

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Comparative Essay

Education, Economic Growth, and Success

China and the United States

US China Education Comparison

US / China Education Comparison of how students prepare.

Conclusions of US China Education Comparison

References:

US China Education Comparison

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John J Gentry

ExploreTraveler

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Head Harbour (East Quoddy) Lighthouse

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Skagway Alaska Gateway To The North

Skagway Proper

Travel Tour Highlights

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The Long Snouted Indian Gharial

Flamboyant Flamingo At The Flamingo Lagoon

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The Little Norway of Petersburg Alaska

The Little Norway of Petersburg Alaska

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Mobile Bay Seafood Gumbo

Restaurant hours: Sun – Wed: 11 am – 9 pm Restaurant hours: Thu – Sat: 11 am – 10 pm The Bar is open Daily: 11am – 2am

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Restaurant hours: Sun – Wed: 11 am – 9 pm
Restaurant hours: Thu – Sat: 11 am – 10 pm
The Bar is open Daily: 11am – 2am