I just wanted to write a quick note to say that I’ve been posting less because I’ve had some health issues, specifically ear problems, and we’ve had to cancel a couple of trips in last couple of months. I am not 100%, but doing better and I think on the road to recovery.

The good news is that I have been able to get out more recently and will hopefully be getting back to normal. I am working on a post from our trip to Texas and we also took a trip to Portland, Maine as well as some small day trips that I hope to post about soon.

Coming up next month, we’ll be heading to North Carolina to visit The Biltmore and the Great Smoky Mountains. I can’t wait to be back in a National Park!!

Rome is best known for classical art and architecture but the city will open its first contemporary art museum, the National Museum of XXI Century Arts (MAXXI for short), on May 30th. The complex will be comprised of two sections, one for art and the other for architecture but the main draw may be the building itself. Designed by famed architect, Zaha Hadid, the concrete structure seems impossibly light and bright with skylights and cantilevered ramps and windows. It may be time to cash in that coin you threw into the Trevi fountain and head back to Rome!

National Museum of XXI Century Arts

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them Las Vegas is one of my favorite places, especially because I love nature so much. The truth is, there are probably more National Parks in driving distance of Las Vegas than any other big city! I love getting the best of both worlds. One of the easiest ways to get away from the craziness of the strip for a while is to take a 30 minute drive over to Red Rock Canyon. Once you arrive, you can enjoy the scenery by driving the 13 mile loop through the park or get out and take a hike if you have more time. It’s absolutely stunning and a great way to recharge before you head back to the slots!

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Until December 30, 2010 one of the most fascinating exhibits on our solar system is on show at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany (located 30 minutes north of Dusseldorf). In addition to large scale models of all the planets, the display includes an astounding replica of the moon measuring 82 feet in diameter, suspended 330 feet in the air. It is surely an awesome sight!

Gasometer Oberhausen

The drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas can be pretty boring but, if you have an hour to spare, there is a little known side trip though an amazing place called the Mojave National Preserve. Although the park is huge, you can get a great taste of it by turning off of I-15 onto Kelbaker Road in Baker, CA and getting back on 15 by turning up Cima Road. Along the way, you’ll see lava beds, an old train depot, mountains, sand dunes and the largest Joshua tree forest in the world!

Mojave National Preserve

Head over to My Adventures to read about our trip to Joshua Tree National Park in California. You can also check out pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: December 2009

Joshua Tree is one of the lesser known and visited properties in the National Park System. This is most likely because it is in the middle of the desert and there isn’t much close by. The closest big city is Palm Springs at 1 1/2 hours away. Despite it’s low key status, it’s a great park and the highlights can easily be visited in a day.

Highlights:

-The stars of the park are, of course, the joshua trees that dot the landscape. Despite their name, they are actually yucca plants with furry looking “trunks”. Unlike most vegetation, they thrive in dry climates and many of the desert wildlife depend on them for food an water.

-Set on top of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Key’s View is the most picturesque spot in the park. From here you can see the entire Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. The weather wasn’t great when we visited but the scenery was worth braving the winds.

-Joshua Tree is very popular with rock climbers because a big part of the park is covered with giant rocks. Even if you don’t have the desire or ability to scale them, they are still awe inspiring to look at. We especially liked Cap Rock, which looks like it’s wearing a baseball cap and Skull Rock, so called because it strongly resembles a skull.

-Driving through the park there are a lot of wide open spaces so it’s a bit of a surprise to come upon the Cholla Cactus Garden, an area covered with multi-colored cholla cactuses. Although they look fluffy, they are, obviously, prickly so you can get close, but watch yourself!

Everyone knows I love national parks and while I adore the grandness of the Grand Canyon and vast diversity of Yellowstone, there is something quite refreshing about a simple park like Joshua Tree. It may not be flashy, but that also makes it much less crowded and the sense of peace and tranquility that comes from being alone in nature is what the parks are really all about.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Joshua Tree Links:
Joshua Tree Official Site

With summer just around the corner, the weather will soon be perfect for day trips and, if you have a dog, I bet he’s going to want to join you! I love this Pet Trek travelling dog food system because not only does it hold food and water, but a toy bone bone pops out of the handle so your friend has a toy for the ride!

$19.99 Amazon