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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Most often asked question

I got to reminiscing about my five plus years on the road this afternoon.  What a marvelous time I’ve had so far.  Yes, there have been those times that I’d rather forget about; like time in repair facilities and a drunken construction worker, but overall it’s been a wild ride.  I’m anxious to see what the next five years has to hold.

Other than the “You drive that thing yourself?” question, the most often asked question that I get is, “What’s been your favorite place?”  For the first four years of my travels, I’ve been at a loss to pick a favorite location.  I just couldn’t choose between Bryce Nat’l Park, or Laguna Atascosa NWR in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, or the fish hatchery experience in Oregon, or any of the other hundreds of experiences I’ve had.  I won’t even go into all the fantastic people I’ve met along the way. 

43 Yellowstone NP 2010

But, this afternoon I finally decided to come up with an answer to that question.  The two months I spent last summer exploring Yellowstone National Park has to rank at the top for me.  If you ignore the crowds, the raw wildness of this place calls to me much like Alaska does.  The wildlife, the geo-thermal activity, and the incredible vistas just hold a special place in my heart. 

48 Craters of the Moon NM

Second to Yellowstone, for me, would have to be the time I spent traveling the scenic byways of Idaho.  I’ve driven many a scenic byway in other states, but they pale in comparison to the back roads of Idaho.  We all have our own ideas of what captures our spirit, and these two areas do it for me.  I, however, plan to continue to look for other places in the country that may dethrone these two icons for me. 

53 Anahuac NWR 2010

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in my list of favorite places.  After all, I have returned there enough times to make it my home away from the road for parts of most winters.  In about two weeks, I’ll be wandering my way back down there for another three months.  I know I’ll enjoy my time there, but Yellowstone, Idaho, and Alaska will still continue to call to my spirit.

Where are your favorite places of the heart?  I know AL, and the Bayfield Bunch, would choose the southwest desert, but how about the rest of you?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

25 comments:

  1. Hmmm, the Oregon coast, the southwest desert around Tucson, The Texas Gulf Coast, Palo Duro Canyon in TX, San Diego. I like them all and many more for different reasons.

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  2. I've definitely got to get to Idaho some time. Sounds wonderful.

    I don't think I've found my favorite place yet but I love the Atachafalaya Swamp - I have done lots of paddling/camping there. Ditto for the Boundary Waters. I totally enjoyed Joshua Tree Nationl Park and then there was the solo night paddle on Lake Bowman in Glacier National Park. I was paddling a narrow lake - later I found it was only 6 miles long but the moon came up over a snow-tipped mountain and made an edge of silver on the lake.

    I think my favorites will change with time as I get to experience more of them.

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  3. Central and North Idaho
    Oregon Coast
    Northern Montana
    Southwest Colorado (San Juans)
    I haven't had the opportunity to experience the southwest in cool weather, and I don't like it in the heat no matter how pretty it is.

    I haven't been there in years, but I always wanted to go back to the Kaibob plateau in Arizona.

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  4. We get the same question, Judy. I think my favorite place, as far as most beautiful, would be Homer, Alaska. The views of the snow capped mountains and glaciers were incredible. John says wherever we are is his favorite! We also get asked where we are going to settle down, to which we do not have an answer yet. Hopefully, we will have some time before we have to cross that bridge. Ann

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  5. oregon coast for me!!..place like no other..but we need to see more before we can really say that!..

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  6. I've been around the US many moons ago when I traveled with my mom so I've seen a lot. Yes over the years the memories fade so I'll eventually need to head out again someday with hubby to refresh myself. I've lived in the desert for 14 yrs but after just returning back to my home state (Spokane, Washington) I have to say The Pacific Northwest has my heart. Idaho is a hop, skip, jump from me! Cheers! ~M

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  7. Those white beaches of the Florida Panhandle, and all the different cacti of the South West. But have to go with the Oregon Coast as many readers are saying, but then i am a tad partial :)

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  8. So I guess that Flying J truckstops didn't make it on your list? ;c)

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  9. That is a good question and we get it often,as well. I never really have answer. When we finish this summer tour, we will have spent a good amount of time in every state except four- Alaska, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.

    I would say that every state has some great places-that is why we keep going-we will never see it all.

    Certainly Yellowstone is high on the list, Custer State Park, the Badlands, Big Bend and so many more make it hard to pick.

    But as my last post shows my peculiar interests, even the less impressive is part of what makes this country so amazing.

    I hope to still find that most magic of places-the best place:)

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  10. Great post topic! Love the photos, as usual. It's nice to see some mention of Idaho. You don't hear/see people talking about traveling there much but it's one place I've always had a yearning to see. Backroads sounds good.

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  11. Do you remember the Dennis the Menace comic book we had as children? The one of Dennis and his family going on Vacation? Well ,he visited Arizona.Since then (it's been 53 years)till now My ideal place has AZ. Running through the desert washes in a borrowed VW. Getting up close and personal with a jumping chola at Organ Pipe.And many more experiances from the top to bottom of the state make it my choice. That's where I plan to eventually land....
    Kurt

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  12. The national parks of the west are at the top of my list. They are all so different from each other and all are worth seeing, and a travel bargain, besides. The Oregon coast is also a favorite of mine.

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  13. Our favorite spot is the Palm Springs/Desert Hot Springs area. It must be - we're going back for our 5th consecutive winter!

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  14. Such a toughie. Alaska, of course, is #1 for us here in the US ... in particular, the wide open expanses and bears of the Katmai Peninsula. Yellowstone is way up there, followed by the Grand Canyon at winter time. And I could never tire of the Canadian Rockies. All time favorite, though, has to be the Antarctic, and South Georgia Island ... pristine nature at its absolute best.

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  15. I have to agree with you about the Scenic Byways 0f Idaho!

    I drove from Weiser, ID to Jackson, WY on mostly Byways and saw a most beautiful part of this country.

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  16. Great pictures. We loved Yellowstone and can not wait to get back. I also love Bryce Canyon.

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  17. Loved Yellowstone and Idaho too...But to me, the most fabulous trip and place was driving the Dalton Highway across the tundra, over the Brooks Range, and ending at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska..We saw Musk Ox, Snow Geese, Grizzlies...sooo much. And we did it the first week of September, so the ground cover was brilliant red..Yep, that's numero uno for us!!

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  18. We've only had a year on the road so there are so many places yet to see but from last year's travels I would have to pick Zion NP. It was too snowy to see Bryce Canyon then and I've heard it is even better.

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  19. Every time we stay somewhere for the first time, we say it's our favorite (except the desert) We really loved the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington...Then there are very specific places like Acadia National Park and Glacier National Park. We'll just have to keep traveling and seeing them again so we can decide what our number one choice is!

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  20. I have been in 49 of the 50 states ( I don't drink, so they can't get me to Hawaii), I lived in Idaho and it is truly beautiful. I miss the place. For those of you that have traveled Maine, my favorite place is Great Pond, it is gorgeous. The Pacific Northwest is very beautiful, Crescent Lake in WA, Crater Lake in OR, and the Gulf Coast is very pretty. I think we all have to face one fact: We live and travel in the most beautiful and varied country in the world.

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  21. Whichever one I'm exploring at the moment. Otherwise, picking a favorite place is like picking a favorite child--they all have something to offer.

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  22. Good post! Certainly Alaska is very high on my list. However, I feel like Big Bend may be my all time favorite (at least for now).

    John
    connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

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  23. I have been in all but 15 states and have lived in 5 of them. So far I think that I like the Oregon Coast at any time, although the desert in the early Spring is beautiful. I can't wait until I can get out there and explore the rest of this great country.

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  24. I almost forgot to come and leave a comment... I read this on my phone and couldn't leave a comment then! I'm so glad you picked Yellowstone! For the very same reasons (other than the geo-stuff) it is by far our first choice! And for that reason, in our year of traveling to celebrate the big 4.0. we are currently in Island Park so that next Sunday 9/4 we will be inside Yellowstone for the date!!! We've been here countless times, have our "own" spot, and both agreed it was the place to be!

    Along with Yellowstone, the beaches near Forks call my name...

    But, we are easily pleased by most anything nature has to offer up!

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