Lets Share those Special Spots!
Its winter time, and almost New Years, so often I just reflect, opened up Google Maps of the US and………. Name 1-10 spots that you had only run across (discovered) in your travels, spots you had not...
Forum Discussion
I don't know if I'll get to 10, but here are a few. Not all are necessarily picked for the scenery. Some are for history, some are for the isolation.
Pea Ridge National Military Park I didn't know about this historical place until I was in the area.
In Nevada, there are a couple of real scenic CG's off of I-80 between Wells and Elko. Check out Angel Lake CG above Wells and Thomas Canyon CG up Lamoille Canyon east of Elko. Once there, you won't believe you are in NV. There are many NFS and BLM CG's hidden in the mountains throughout the state. Most are free and except for weekends, you'll have the entire CG to yourself.
So many visit Moab for the magnificent scenery of Arches and Canyonlands NP's. But for a little different experience, drive the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. You get up high in elevation (and much cooler, too). Great views of the red rock territory from an almost aerial perspective. Take a picnic dinner, find a nice pull off, and watch the sunset from up there.
Not my usual recommendation but the Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas has an amazing FREE collection of art work. Yeah, the museums in DC are nice (and many free), but if you find yourself in the middle of the country, check out this art museum.
Speaking of Arkansas and as a geologist, one of the finest caves in the country is Blanchard Springs Cavern north of Mountain View. Because this cave wasn't discovered until relatively recently, there was little desecration of the cave. In other words, the stalactites and stalagmites haven't been broken off. There is a CG near the caverns, but it isn't recommended for larger rigs.
On the subject of caves, we really enjoyed Lava Beds NM in northern CA. There are many lava tubes open for exploration. What's cool is one can go in many of the lava tubes without a guide. Go in one entrance and come out another. Interesting campground also.
Outside of Ely NV is Cave Lake SP. Yeah, there's "Cave" in the name, and it may exist, but the nice thing about this park is the lake and you're in the middle of the desert. We use this park as a stop on our trips along US 50 through NV. Nice CG.
Another out-of-the-way SP we have used is Red Rock SP in western OK. In a hidden canyon down below the open prairie, it is protected from the winds. A creek flows through the canyon, there are climbing areas on the red rocks, and there's even a pool in the summer. A real oasis in the "middle of nowhere".
For an interesting hot springs experience, try hiking up the Boulder Creek trail above Elwha in the northeastern part of Olympic NP. A couple of miles up there are some natural hot springs and people have build small pools to soak in. Interesting to go in the fall when it's a little cool and the leaves are changing.
I know Busskipper was probably looking for something a little different than these from me, but these are all places worth visiting.
Pea Ridge National Military Park I didn't know about this historical place until I was in the area.
In Nevada, there are a couple of real scenic CG's off of I-80 between Wells and Elko. Check out Angel Lake CG above Wells and Thomas Canyon CG up Lamoille Canyon east of Elko. Once there, you won't believe you are in NV. There are many NFS and BLM CG's hidden in the mountains throughout the state. Most are free and except for weekends, you'll have the entire CG to yourself.
So many visit Moab for the magnificent scenery of Arches and Canyonlands NP's. But for a little different experience, drive the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. You get up high in elevation (and much cooler, too). Great views of the red rock territory from an almost aerial perspective. Take a picnic dinner, find a nice pull off, and watch the sunset from up there.
Not my usual recommendation but the Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas has an amazing FREE collection of art work. Yeah, the museums in DC are nice (and many free), but if you find yourself in the middle of the country, check out this art museum.
Speaking of Arkansas and as a geologist, one of the finest caves in the country is Blanchard Springs Cavern north of Mountain View. Because this cave wasn't discovered until relatively recently, there was little desecration of the cave. In other words, the stalactites and stalagmites haven't been broken off. There is a CG near the caverns, but it isn't recommended for larger rigs.
On the subject of caves, we really enjoyed Lava Beds NM in northern CA. There are many lava tubes open for exploration. What's cool is one can go in many of the lava tubes without a guide. Go in one entrance and come out another. Interesting campground also.
Outside of Ely NV is Cave Lake SP. Yeah, there's "Cave" in the name, and it may exist, but the nice thing about this park is the lake and you're in the middle of the desert. We use this park as a stop on our trips along US 50 through NV. Nice CG.
Another out-of-the-way SP we have used is Red Rock SP in western OK. In a hidden canyon down below the open prairie, it is protected from the winds. A creek flows through the canyon, there are climbing areas on the red rocks, and there's even a pool in the summer. A real oasis in the "middle of nowhere".
For an interesting hot springs experience, try hiking up the Boulder Creek trail above Elwha in the northeastern part of Olympic NP. A couple of miles up there are some natural hot springs and people have build small pools to soak in. Interesting to go in the fall when it's a little cool and the leaves are changing.
I know Busskipper was probably looking for something a little different than these from me, but these are all places worth visiting.
