Dinosaur Ridge - Colorado

The best times I ever had were this summer.  Going across parts of the US that are the most beautiful with people with whom are the best on the planet!  One of these such places was Dinosaur Ridge, traversing the Dakota Hogback, in Colorado.  

This is only a 1.5-mile trail, but it is steeped in history.  Not as awe-inspiring as I was expecting, but it was still amazing!  This trail is covered with dinosaur fossils and tracks, but was not originally called Dinosaur Ridge.  This stretch was renamed by the USGS to reflect what the area shares with its patrons.  There are a variety of different sites along the trail that describe geologic and ecologic features.  These range from explanation of hogback land forms, to the nature of oil and gas in the Denver Basin, to dinosaur tracks and mangrove swamps.    It was as though nature was giving us a history lesson right before our eyes.  If your imagination is good enjoy, you might even be able to imagine what it was like during the time of the dinosaurs---looking at their tracks and fossils...

For a free expedition, it is definitely worth it!  Amazing experiences with amazing people...cherish the times....Definitely check it out if you are in the Denver area!

Manitou Cliff Dwellings - Colorado

Colorado is definitely my favorite state!  So scenic, so beautiful, and you never run out of things to do!  The only drawback--no ocean!  :-(  So, as this is my favorite state (and I only spent a few days there), I will probably do several posts on it (as many as I can stretch out).  But for now, my first is about the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. 

This is a little treasure that was discovered around Coloardo Springs.  These dwellings are about 700 years ago by the Anasazi, and from what sources say were transported to Manitou Springs probably from a more remote section of western Colorado or New Mexico.  Even with this mystery, the best aspect of this attraction is that it's just not a viewing experience!  You can actually get inside the dwellings and feeling your way around.   

These dwellings are amazingly preserved, and you walk through many rooms.  Some rooms even have multiple stories, with ladders allowing you to gain access.  There is no place within the dwellings that is off limits, and it's amazing to see how they must have lived.  It was hot the day I went; however, inside the dwellings were amazingly cool.  And the view from the "windows" is absolutely spectacular!  Bright blue sky and clouds floating your way!

If you're in the Colorado Springs area, or on your way to Pike's Peak, make a stop here!  It's well worth the history lesson!  I thought it might be a little bigger, but still an unexpected and amazing stop! 

Sequoia National Park - 2009

Think of the tallest tree that you've ever seen....I know for me it was the beautiful trees of Sequoia National Park! With the soft snow starting to fall around me, I couldn't help but become enchanted by this Muir/Shire paradise! Truly a geographer's playground! All I wanted to do is run around and explore this extraordinary place! What a beautiful sight! To this day it is still unreal to me the size of these trees. To put their size into perspective, the National Parks Service (2009) state that the tallest Sequoia trees are on average as tall as a 26-story building! Some of these trees are estimated to be as old as 1800-2700 years! Pictures just do not do justice to the majesty of these trees!

This park is also home to the largest tree (by volume) in the world: General Sherman. The National Parks Service publishes the statistics on this magnificent tree, but to summarize its height is over 80 meters, with a circumference of over 30 meters at the ground!

Though I only spent a short amount of time there, I fell in love with this place...the awe and majesty of the area is something everybody should experience! I for one cannot wait to go back! There are an number of different things one can do at this park from hiking to camping to rock climbing. Or, if you are in a hurry, you can just drive around and stop to be inspired by these beautiful sights! For more information, please visit the National Park Service's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks homepage!